This thesis reports on a research study based on data from experimental teaching. Students were invited, through real-world problem tasks that raised central conceptual issues, to invent major ideas of calculus. This research focuses on work and thinking of the students, as they sought to build key ideas, representations and compelling lines of reasoning. This focus on the students' and their agency as learners has brought about a new development of the psychological and logical perspectives, as well as, highlighted students' choices in academic and social roles. Such choices facilitated continued learning among these students.

This master thesis investigates how the Swedish regional libraries are perceived as support for public libraries in their work with competence development and the libraries' ability to utilise this support. It focuses on the strate­gies, and obstacles involved in implementing new knowledge following the activities. The thesis uses mixed methods, including both a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interviews con­ducted. The questionnaire was aimed towards workers in public libraries while the interviews were conducted primarily with public library managers. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were carried out on the data, which related to 537 questionnaire respondents and five interviews. The theory used in the analysis covers organizational theory and Jay Hall’s model of the competence process. The study reveals that the organisation around competence development varies depending on the type of activity and library. Follow-up is commonly conducted through meeting structures or written reports. Successful implementation strategies include fostering a positive work environment and thorough pre-planning, while major obstacles are primarily resource constraints and a lack of clear alignment with the organisation's goal. Continued education provided by the regional libraries are generally viewed positively, examples that they do not always meet local needs. The regional libraries are described as organising a substantial number of activities, which do not always align proportionately with the worker's capacity to participate. This thesis provides a deeper understanding of the competence development efforts in public libraries and the role of regional libraries as a support function. This is a two years master’s thesis in Library and Information Science.