This dissertation investigated the role of school food and food policy in three low-income, urban, predominantly African-American schools. Using critical policy analysis, this study examined two different school food programs, both of which complied with the National School Lunch Program nutritional guidelines. It employed ethnographic case study methods, including observations and interviews with a total of 59 participants over the course of two years. Findings indicated that feeling hungry interfered with students’ ability to pay attention during class, and students still felt hungry after eating prepackaged school breakfasts and lunches. On the other hand, students reported feeling more full, satisfied, and ready to learn after eating freshly-prepared foods. Additionally, participants described improved engagement within classrooms, as well as a more positive climate in the lunchroom with the fresh meals. While the tone was usually punitive and disciplinary during the prepackaged mealtimes, during the fresh meals served family-style, with students and faculty eating together, the tone was celebratory and communal. These findings indicate school food is an important, yet under-researched, aspect of schooling, with many fruitful avenues for future research and practice. / Urban Education

In the technological world that characterizes the 21st century society, new specialized developments are applied immediately to the different social environments and, especially, in education. Language teaching is no stranger to this unstoppable progress, thanks to the widespread implementation of the internet and of the web 2.0 in particular. New technologies help and can sometimes replace the more traditional systems used in foreign language teaching by favoring autonomous learning at any time and in any place. In this doctoral thesis, I review the literature on foreign language learning motivation, styles, and strategies applied to autonomous online platforms. This is done to present and describe the theoretical underpinnings of the COMALAT virtual learning platform, which was designed and created at the University of Alicante as a European Project in cooperation with the University of Siegen in Germany and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. Then, I report on a quantitative study that explores the attitudes, learning styles and strategies of 80 A2-B1 level EFL university students that make use of COMALAT. Besides determining the profile of the participants, the study aims to demonstrate the effects of previous training in online language learning strategies. As main conclusions, the following stand out: (a) the students’ use of this platform increases their level of foreign language learning as they can adapt it at their own pace and dedication; (b) the virtual learning environment provides a greater learning effectiveness by combining materials which consider the different learning styles; and (c) the application of the appropriate online learning strategies can help students to solve the different learning problems they may encounter while doing a self-directed online language course.

Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) courses are critical for any computer science curriculum. DSA courses emphasize concepts related to procedural dynamics and Algorithm Analysis (AA). These concepts are hard for students to grasp when conveyed using traditional textbook material relying on text and static images. Algorithm Visualizations (AVs) emerged as a technique for conveying DSA concepts using interactive visual representations. Historically, AVs have dealt with portraying algorithm dynamics, and the AV developer community has decades of successful experience with this. But there exist few visualizations to present algorithm analysis concepts. This content is typically still conveyed using text and static images. We have devised an approach that we term Algorithm Analysis Visualizations (AAVs), capable of conveying AA concepts visually. In AAVs, analysis is presented as a series of slides where each statement of the explanation is connected to visuals that support the sentence. We developed a pool of AAVs targeting the basic concepts of AA. We also developed AAVs for basic sorting algorithms, providing a concrete depiction about how the running time analysis of these algorithms can be calculated. To evaluate AAVs, we conducted a quasi-experiment across two offerings of CS3114 at Virginia Tech. By analyzing OpenDSA student interaction logs, we found that intervention group students spent significantly more time viewing the material as compared to control group students who used traditional textual content. Intervention group students gave positive feedback regarding the usefulness of AAVs to help them understand the AA concepts presented in the course. In addition, intervention group students demonstrated better performance than control group students on the AA part of the final exam. The final exam taken by both the control and intervention groups was based on a pilot version of the Algorithm Analysis Concept Inventory (AACI) that was developed to target fundamental AA concepts and probe students' misconceptions about these concepts. The pilot AACI was developed using a Delphi process involving a group of DSA instructors, and was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument to gauge students' understanding of the basic AA topics. / Ph. D. / Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) courses are critical for any computer science curriculum. DSA courses emphasize concepts related to how an algorithm works and the time and space needed by the algorithm, also known as Algorithm Analysis (AA). These concepts are hard for students to grasp when conveyed using traditional textbook material relying on text and static images. Algorithm Visualizations (AVs) emerged as a technique for conveying DSA concepts using interactive visual representations. Historically, AVs have dealt with portraying how an algorithm works, and the AV developer community has decades of successful experience with this. But there exist few visualizations to present concepts related to algorithm efficiency. This content is typically still conveyed using text and static images. We have devised an approach that we term Algorithm Analysis Visualizations (AAVs), capable of conveying efficiency analysis concepts visually. In AAVs, analysis is presented as a series of slides where each statement of the explanation is connected to visuals that support the sentence. AAVs were tested through a study across two offerings of CS3114 at Virginia Tech. We found that students using AAVs spent significantly more time viewing the material as compared to students who used traditional textual content. Students gave positive feedback regarding the usefulness of AAVs to help them understand the efficiency concepts presented in the course. In addition, students using AAVs demonstrated better performance than students using text on the efficiency part of the final exam. The final exam was based on a pilot version of the Algorithm Analysis Concept Inventory (AACI) that was developed to target fundamental efficiency concepts and probe students’ misconceptions about these concepts. The pilot AACI was developed through a decision making technique involving a group of DSA instructors, and was shown to be a valid and reliable instrument to gauge students’ understanding of the basic efficiency topics.

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo establecer las pautas de diseño de arquitectura sensorial en la implementación de espacios de aprendizaje para niños autistas en el CEBE “La Victoria” en el distrito de La Victoria, debido a que los espacios son deficientes e inadecuados, lo cual no contribuye a la habitabilidad de los niños autistas, ni logran una reinserción social mediante la adquisición de habilidades sociales y comunicativas. Teniendo como finalidad analizar el contexto físico-espacial de los espacios de aprendizaje del CEBE, para generar una clasificación del impacto de los factores arquitectónicos a través de la arquitectura sensorial que permitan identificar las características de los espacios y desarrollar lineamientos de diseño en los espacios de aprendizaje del CEBE. Para esto se ha empleado la metodología de nivel descriptiva, con un enfoque cualitativo, tipo básica y con un diseño descriptivo; aplicando las técnicas de observación, estudio de documentos y entrevista a especialistas. Y así, se ha obtenido los resultados sobre el estado actual de los espacios, las características que requieren dichos espacios de aprendizaje según las necesidades de los niños autistas y las condiciones que necesitan los ambientes de enseñanza para los niños con autismo. / This research aims to establish sensory architecture design guidelines in the implementation of learning spaces for autistic children in the CEBE "La Victoria" in the district of La Victoria, because the spaces are deficient and inadequate, which does not contribute to the habitability of autistic children, nor do they achieve social reintegration through the acquisition of social and communication skills. With the purpose of analyzing the physical-spatial context of the learning spaces of the CEBE, to generate a classification of the impact of the architectural factors through the sensory architecture that allow to identify the characteristics of the spaces and develop design guidelines in the learning spaces of the CEBE. For this, the methodology of descriptive level has been used, with a qualitative approach, basic type and with a descriptive design; applying the techniques of observation, study of documents and interview with specialists. And so, the results have been obtained on the current state of the spaces, the characteristics that these learning spaces require according to the needs of autistic children and the conditions that the teaching environments need for children with autism.

The use of online courses continues to increase despite the small amount of research that exists on the effectiveness of online educational environments. The little research that has been conducted has focused on evaluating factors taken into consideration during the adoption of online learning environments. One notable benefit often cited is the ability to incorporate multimedia such as video games. Although game researchers and developers are pushing for the use of video games for educational purposes, there is a lack of research on the effectiveness of serious video games. When paring the increasing use of online educational environments, the push to use serious video games, and the lack of research on the effectiveness of online learning environments and video games, there is a clear need for further investigation into the use of serious video games in an online format. Based on current literature, no other known study has conducted an analysis comparing a serious game-based and non-game based online course; making this a unique study. The purpose of this study was to compare student learning experiences and outcomes between a serious game-based and non-game based online American History course. The data sources were data provided from Florida Virtual School (FLVS) and student and teacher interviews. Random samples of 92 students were statistically analyzed. A group of 8 students and 4 teachers were interviewed. FLVS data provided were analyzed using an independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney test and the student and teacher interview were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results of an independent t-test revealed that there was a significant (p > .01) difference in the mean number of days necessary to complete the course (MGB = 145.80, SDGB = 50.64, MNGB = 112.63, SDNGB = 49.60). The Mann-Whitney results indicated a significant difference between course performance and the type of American history course (Z = -5.066, p > .01); students in the serious game-based online course had an A average whereas students in the non-game-based online course had a B average. The thematic analysis of the relationship between student performance and motivation in both courses indicated that students and teachers of the game-based online course provided more reasons for student motivation than the students and teachers in the non-game-based online course. The thematic analysis of what aspects do students perceive as helpful and/or hindering to their learning indicated that students and teachers of the game-based online course provided more desirable, more helpful, less undesirable, and less hindering aspects for their course than the students and teachers in the non-game-based online course. As a result of the unique nature of this study, the findings provide new information for the fields of research on online learning, serious video gaming, and instructional design as well as inform instructional-designers, teachers, education stakeholders, serious video game designers, and education researchers.

The study involved BTec National (level 3) engineering students studying at a large Further Education College in the South West region. The disciplines of Electrical/Electronic, Mechanical, Operations and Maintenance, Manufacturing, Telecommunications and Fabrication where all included in the study. Several students were sent by their employers on day release programmes and apprenticeships, and these formed the majority of the part time students. There were also other employed students who attended full time for terms 1 and 3 as part of a block release programme. The remaining students were full time, and mainly 16-18 years old. The study focused upon the core mathematics module everyone studied, and mathematical resources which were available through a virtual learning environment. The resources used layering, enabling earlier work to be built on and applied. Two separate cohorts were studied after substantial changes had been made to the qualification standards. The main findings were that the mathematics resources were very useful support, had a significant positive impact on student success, and enhanced the student experience. They helped part time students, especially, to improve their confidence and their achievements. The unlimited availability of these resources were a major consideration in their usefulness. The use of layering within the mathematics unit enabled better recall and comprehension.

Michael Moore's theory of transactional distance, developed in the age of correspondence schools, contributed greatly to theory building in distance education. The theory needs revision, however, when applied to web-based learning environments, specifically by defining transactional distance to include students' relationships with other elements in the learning environment that prohibit their active engagement with learning. The new theoretical model of transactional distance has four dimensions: transactional distance between student and student (TDSS), transactional distance between student and teacher (TDST), transactional distance between student and content (TDSC), and transactional distance between student and interface: online course management system (TDSI). A preliminary item pool of more than 200 items to measure the constructs of TD, TDST, TDSS, TDSC, and TDSI was generated and sent to a panel of experts for review. Items that the reviewers considered weak or very weak in terms of relevance to the constructs and/or clarity and conciseness were eliminated. After a pilot test and further revisions, the proposed scale of transactional distance was administered to a sample of 100 college students. Confirmatory factor analyses and exploratory analyses indicated that the measurement models, especially after modifications, possessed good fit for the data, and the modified scales possessed factorial validity. Reliability analyses indicated that the scales possessed strong internal consistency, with Cronbach alpha coefficients ranging from 0.8169 to 0.9530. Structural equation modeling procedures tested for the causal relationship between the four dimensions and students' general sense of transactional distance in web-based courses. Results indicate that the proposed model of transactional distance is acceptable. The strongest factor that affected students' sense of transactional distance and engagement with learning was found to be transactional distance between student and students (TDSS), followed by transactional distance between student and teacher (TDST), and then by transactional distance between student and content (TDSC). The findings have implications for the development of a revised theory of transactional distance in online education, and provide strong support for constructivist learning theories and social learning theories, reinforcing the importance of establishing learning communities in online learning environments.

Ce travail a pour principal objet d’étude la dynamique sociale développée dans le cadre des activités d’apprentissage des langues en ligne en contexte institutionnel. En s’appuyant sur les propositions faites par la théorie de l’activité, cette thèse présente une analyse de la finalité, du cadre instrumental et du cadre social de l’activité d’apprentissage des langues en ligne en contexte institutionnel et de leur évolution dans le système de l’activité.Cette recherche fournit également une méthode d’analyse permettant d’évaluer l’impact de différents types de tâches et d’environnements virtuels d’apprentissage sur l’intensité de la dynamique sociale développée au sein des groupes d’apprenants d’une langue en ligne en contexte institutionnel. La méthode d’analyse utilisée s’appuie aussi bien sur l’analyse quantitative des traces écrites des communications/productions des apprenants que sur l’analyse du contenu de ces traces.Nous montrons qu’il est possible de développer une dynamique sociale de communauté virtuelle au sein de groupes d’apprenants d’une langue en ligne en contexte institutionnel. Le développement d’une telle dynamique est favorisé par la mise en œuvre de tâches d’apprentissage des langues et d’environnements virtuels d’apprentissage permettant l’action sociale authentique dans des cadres sociaux qui dépassent le cadre formel de l’institution éducative. / Drawing on the proposals made by the activity theory, in this study, we considered learning as a conscious act directed toward a goal. This goal can be achieved through the use of appropriate artifacts and the participation of the individual within a social community. In this perspective, we studied the purpose, the instrumental framework and the social framework of online language learning activities in institutional context and their evolutions in the activity system.We showed that the evolution of the purpose of the act of language learning (development of language competence) inevitably involves the evolution of educational artifacts (language learning tasks), that of technical artifacts (virtual learning environments), as well as the nature of the social dynamics of the learning activity.We particularly focused on social dynamics developed in online language learning activities in the institutional context. In this perspective, we conducted a field study to analyze the intensity of the social dynamics developed through three learning activities involving three different combinations of tasks and virtual environments. The results of the field study confirmed the theoretical foundation of our thesis. Indeed, the types of tasks and virtual learning environments that we presented in the theoretical part as consistent with learning through authentic social action proved to promote significantly more intense social dynamics in the specific context of our field study.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka flexenheter och flexteam som startades i en av Sveriges kommun, för att anpassa lärmiljöer till elever med funktionsnedsättningar, framför allt elever inom autism och ADHD. Undersökningen bygger på följande frågor: Vad är syfte med denna valda organisation? Hur bidrar organisationen till tillgänglighet för denna grupp elever? Vilka utmaningar och utvecklingsområden kan identifieras inom den valda organisationen? Kvalitativ forskningsmetod användes i studien och semi-strukturerade intervju och fokusgruppsintervjuer genomfördes för att samla in empirin. Teoriansatsen bygger på Bronfenbrenners systemteori samt Nilholms specialpedagogiska perspektiv. Resultatet visar att flexenhetens- och flexteamens organisation erbjuder tillgängliga lärmiljöer för denna grupp elever genom flexkompetens och det kompensatoriska perspektivet men, att det kritiska perspektivet spelar också roll i den flexibla organisationen. Utmaningar och utvecklingsområden ligger i implementering av arbetssätt och förhållningssätt hos andra lärare så att dessa elever kan inkluderas ide vanliga klassrummen. Det långsiktiga målet för kommunen är att alla lärare anpassar undervisning och miljö till dessa elever med hjälp av erfarna flexpedagogerna. / The purpose of this study is to elucidate why one of Sweden’s municipalities chose to implement a new way of including students with neuropsychological deficits, especially ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The municipality decided to offer adapted resource rooms and flexible well-trained teachers to this group of students as a way of ensuring them accessible learning environments. The questions raised in this research are the following: what is the aim of the implementation of this flexible organisation to this group of students? In which ways does this organisation contribute in providing an inclusive learning environment to these students? What are the challenges and areas of improvement within such an organisation? The research method is based on semi-structured interviews with, on the one hand, flexible teachers in two of the municipality’s schools, and on the other hand, the developer of this flexible organisation for this group of students. As theoretical frame, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory as well as Nilholm’s special education perspectives were used in this study. The results of the research show that this organisation really offers accessible learning environments to this group of students by using the compensatory and critical perspectives. The challenges are that the other teachers need to learn from them in order to be able to really include these students in mainstream regular classes. The long-term goal of this municipality is to see all the students with special needs included in regular classes with the help of flexible teachers, trained in these students’ special needs. The flexible teachers’ mission is to help the other teachers and show them that inclusion of these students in mainstream regular classes is a possible mission.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-27T13:45:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MARIA APARECIDA CANDINE DE BRITO.pdf: 1530470 bytes, checksum: 151403b5373cfcfcfa9d0b6b5e546191 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-10 / This study aimed to analyze the process of pedagogical mediation in semipresencial subject matters taken in virtual learning environments (VLE) in Pedagogy courses. It had two primary goals: characterizing the pedagogical mediation in semipresencial subject matters taken in VLE in Pedagogy courses; identifying the didactic mediation practices employed by the teachers teachers in VLE, and relating them to the basis of Cultural Historical Theory. As for the concept of mediation, this study was based on Vygotsky and other scholars Cultural Historical Theory. For pedagogical mediation through the use of digital technologies in education our references were: Toschi, Freitas, Durán and Peixoto. We aimed to clarify the following issues: How does the pedagogical-didactic mediation take place in semipresencial subject matters taken in VLE? What teaching practices characterize pedagogical mediation practices in semipresencial subject matters taken via VLE offered by the Pedagogy course? What relationships can be identified between the mediation concept based on the Cultural Historical Theory and the mediation practices employed by the teachers in the VLE pedagogical process? This qualitative study was carried out in two higher education institutions in Goiânia assessing five teachers conducting semipresencial subject matters in the Pedagogy courses. Data was gathered through questionnaires, interviews, VLE peerwatching, as well as the analysis of both pedagogical process and lesson plans. We compared both field research data and review of literature on pedagogical mediation in distance education and in VLE in light of the Cultural Historical theory. Data analysis pointed towards three types of mediation practices which we labeled as: practices related to the course dynamics and the use of VLE tools; communication and pedagogical-didactic practices. These were not isolated practices. Rather, they related back to specific aspects of each mediation process developed. We concluded that the teacher must be aware of how and when to make the pedagogical interventions with the aid of technology. This depends on how such mediation is planned, organized and carried out in the students knowledge acquisition process so as to meet the pedagogical agenda. It is crucial that the teachers practices are grounded in an educational theory that allows for the mediation of the students knowledge acquisition process. To do so, it is necessary to implement technology-based teacher training projects so that they can reassess their practice, and improve it in light of learning theories which guide the pedagogical mediation of semipresencial VLE- taught subject matters. / A pesquisa teve como objetivo principal analisar o processo de mediação pedagógica em disciplinas semipresenciais nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem (AVA) dos cursos de Pedagogia. Apresentou os seguintes objetivos: Caracterizar mediação pedagógica nos AVA em disciplinas semipresenciais dos cursos de Pedagogia; identificar as ações de mediação didática dos professores dos professores nos AVA e relacioná-las com os fundamentos da Teoria Histórico-Cultural. Quanto ao conceito de mediação a pesquisa fundamentou-se na Teoria Histórico-Cultural, de Vygotsky e alguns teóricos. Quanto à mediação pedagógica com uso das tecnologias digitais na educação as referencias foram: Toschi, Freitas, Durán, Peixoto Buscou-se esclarecer as seguintes questões: Como ocorre a mediação didático-pedagógica nos AVA das disciplinas semipresenciais? Que ações docentes caracterizam as práticas de mediação pedagógica nos AVA das disciplinas semipresenciais oferecidas pelo curso de Pedagogia? Que relações podem ser identificadas entre o conceito de mediação fundamentado na Teoria Histórico-Cultural e as ações de mediação dos professores no processo pedagógico nos AVA? A pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, foi realizada em duas instituições de educação superior de Goiânia, tendo como sujeitos cinco docentes que atuam em disciplinas semipresenciais nos cursos de Pedagogia. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários, entrevistas, observação das aulas nos AVA, análise de projeto pedagógico do curso e dos planos de ensino. Foi realizado o cotejamento entre os dados da pesquisa de campo e a revisão de literatura sobre mediação pedagógica na EaD e nos AVA, com base no referencial da Teoria Histórico-Cultural. A análise dos dados apontou para três tipos de ações de mediação que denominamos: ações quanto ao funcionamento do curso e uso-operação das ferramentas do AVA; ações de comunicação e ações pedagógico-didáticas. Essas ações não ocorreram isoladas, mas relacionadas aos aspectos específicos de cada processo de mediação desenvolvido. Concluímos que o docente precisa saber como e quando fazer as intervenções pedagógicas com uso das tecnologias, o que depende da maneira como ele planeja, organiza e conduz a mediação do processo de conhecimento pelo aluno para que cumpra com a sua finalidade pedagógica. É necessário que o professor seja orientado por uma teoria de ensino que o instrumentalize em sua prática pedagógica de modo a que ele possa mediar o processo de construção do conhecimento do aluno. Para tanto, é necessário implementar projetos de formação de professores com tecnologia para que eles possam rever a prática, entendê-la e aprimorá-la à luz de teorias de aprendizagem que venham nortear a mediação pedagógica nos AVA das disciplinas semipresenciais.