This study examines science teachers' beliefs and ideas about science prior to and following a one and a half day workshop on Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Witsuwit'en knowledge of science. It is part of a wider study initiated by the Aboriginal Enhancements Branch of the BC Ministry of Education to determine why Aboriginal students are not enrolling in the sciences. A broad range of qualitative methodologies were applied, including pre and post instructional questionnaires, an experiential field trip to traditional Witsuwit'en territories as well as an instructional workshop and a dialogue process. Aspects of Indigenous methodology were included that were central to the lived experience of the Witsuwit'en people whose territories we were on and with whom the research was being conducted. Post-workshop questionnaire responses indicated that teachers' developed a broader understanding of Witsuwit'en Traditional Knowledge systems and a deeper respect for the contributions of the local First Nations to the sciences.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of the current study was to determine how the recognition of prior learning (RPL) process at the University of the Western Cape prepares mature adult students to be successful. These mature adult students gain knowledge, skills and attitudes through an alternative manner, which is acknowledged by the University of the Western Cape (UWC). During the portfolio development course, these mature adults students are expected to reflect on their prior knowledge in order to identify, formulate and document their prior learning according to the specification of the institute. This process stimulates cognitive competencies, introduces them to the formal education discourse, and improves their academic language skills. An interpretive research method was used to collect data. The qualitative data which was collected stems from a self-administered questionnaire, semi-structured individual interviews and also the textual data in the portfolios of the mature adult students who participated in this study. All interviews were recorded on a tape recorder with the consent of the respondents and were transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to analyse the data. The results and findings of the study indicate that a holistic approach is followed at UWC to develop the mature RPL students academically. All role players at UWC are involved including their top management. The implementation of RPL at the institute is a top priority where the mature adult students are given the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Support systems are also available to improve the academic performances of these adult students. The results indicated that these students are committed to their studies, are motivated to be successful at the higher education institute, and with the support of the mentors they progress academically. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal hoe die erkenning van voorafleer (EVL)-proses by die Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland (UWK) die ouer volwasse student voorberei om suksesvol te wees. Hierdie volwassenes se kennis, vaardighede en houdings wat op 'n alternatiewe manier opgedoen is (hulle voorafleer) word deur die UWK erken. Die ouer volwassenes word deur middel van reflektering in die portefeulje-ontwikkelingskursus die geleentheid gebied om hulle voorafleer te identifiseer, te formuleer en te dokumenteer volgens die spesifikasies van die instelling. Algaande word hulle kognitiewe vaardighede gestimuleer, hulle maak kennis met die formele opvoedingsdiskoers, en verbeter hulle akademiese taalvaardighede. 'n Interpretatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gebruik om data in te samel. Die kwalitatiewe data wat ingesamel is, spruit voort uit 'n self-geadministreerde vraelys, semigestruktureerde individuele onderhoude, asook die tekstuele data in die portefeuljes van die volwasse studente wat aan die studie deelgeneem het. Alle onderhoude is met die toestemming van die respondente met 'n digitale opnemer opgeneem en woordeliks getranskribeer. Data-analisering het deur middel van inhoudsanalise plaasgevind. Die bevindinge van die studie dui daarop dat 'n holistiese benadering by die UWK gevolg word om die ouer EVL-studente akademies voor te berei. Alle rolspelers by die UWK word betrek, met inbegrip van hulle topbestuur. Die toepassing en implementering van EVL is 'n topprioriteit by die instelling waar ouer volwasse studente die geleentheid gebied word om tot hulle volle potensiaal te ontwikkel. Ondersteuningstelsels wat akademiese vooruitgang van volwasse ouer studente bevorder, is ook beskikbaar. Die studie het aangedui dat ouer volwasse studente is ook verbind tot hulle studies, is gemotiveer om sukses aan die hoëronderwysinstelling te behaal, en met behulp van die mentors toon hulle akademiese vordering.

Philosophers and others have debated for centuries about the concept of “rights” - what they are, where they came from, how they evolved, on what authority they proceed, and in what formulations. Because rights express values and are not simply rules governing an immutable status quo, there will always be debates over some aspects of human rights. It is precisely because of this uncertainty that the international community, in 1948, through the General Assembly of the United Nations, drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a standard of measurement for the formulation and interpretation of human rights and freedoms. Acknowledged within the Declaration is the universal right to education. One reason for its acknowledgment is the crucial role that education plays in the promotion of equality and the full realization of all other human rights. A second reason concerns the growing appreciation of the relationship that exists between education and increased social and economic benefits. However, despite its pivotal role as a multiplier of human rights and socio-economic benefits, little has actually been written on the right to education to elaborate upon its direction or define its boundaries. Most of what is documented on the right to education comes from legal and political sources, through the voices of judges, lawyers, statesmen, and politicians. Educators, who are generally held responsible for its actual promotion and implementation, have to date contributed very little to our knowledge of the right to education. Clearly this must change. To prevail in practice human rights require not only articulation but interpretation, validation, legislation, enforcement by rule of law and, finally, to be conceived of in a positive formulation. Thus, rights have to be made, and the purpose of this study is to invite educators into the conversation to assist in the making of the right to education by contributing to its interpretations and validating its claims. This inquiry unfolds in twelve chapters. Chapter 1 sets an autobiographical context and includes my own memories and experiences interpreting the right to education as well as the research questions and methodology. Chapter 2 examines the concept of human rights, their evolution, and the basis for their authority. Chapter 3 examines existing interpretations of the right to education in the literature. Chapter 4 examines the meaning of education in the right to education. Chapter 5 examines the compulsory nature of the right to education and the basis for its distinct status among other human rights. Chapters 6 through 8 examine the concepts of equality and equal educational opportunity and their relationship to the promotion of human rights and the right to education. Chapters 9 and 10 examine the ends of the right to education as proclaimed in the Declaration, contrasting these ends with the goals set out by the Ministry of Education in the Province of British Columbia. Chapter 11 examines parental rights to choose the most suitable kind of education in the context of claiming the right to a free education for their children. The final chapter represents an attempt to make sense of the inquiry and the efforts and contributions of research participants and researchers in the literature towards increasing our understanding of the interpretations and implications of the right to education.

ABSTRACT The Nitinaht language and traditional knowledge that was usually transmitted from the older to the younger family members is on the verge of being lost forever. As a member of a Nitinaht family, I have concentrated on finding the Elders in our family, who are spread all over Vancouver Island, in an attempt to try to find a way to preserve this invaluable knowledge and to pass it on to future generations. This information was recorded and will be presented through interactive multimedia, which allows for the transmission of oral information such as stories, photographs, interviews, family trees, history, language and anecdotes. Since modern technology and traditional knowledge seem at the opposite ends of the spectrum, the research also looked into the acceptability of this method of transmission. Much traditional knowledge is confidential, and thus is not part of the written dissertation; however, much information is included without disrespect for our beliefs as ideas for future research. The written documentation includes a history of our family, discussion of the beauty and uniqueness of the Diitidaht (Nitinaht) language, a narration of our last Puku’u basket weaver, and a description of the “Family First” interactive multimedia program.

Using interaction analysis and discourse analysis as a method of data analysis, I take a cultural-historical approach to explore teacher-student and student-student interactions during out-of-classroom science projects. The database is composed of my fieldnotes, videotaped science fieldtrips, and videotaped computer sessions where students worked collaboratively to produce science digital videos, highlighting their experiences during science fieldtrips. This thesis is formed by three studies I conducted with elementary students from a public school in British Columbia, Canada. These three independent and yet interrelated studies have implications for science learning and instruction in general. More specifically, this thesis contributes to the understanding of student-student and teacher-student interactions during collaborative work when they are engaged in science activities that occurred out of the classroom settings, such as fieldtrips and in the computer laboratory.

Emotions play a significant role in the lives of teachers, especially in their interactions with their workplace peers. This research uses a case study approach to explore this topic through the medium of an asynchronous on-line discussion group. Twelve public school teachers, eight women and four men, from BC, Canada, volunteered to participate anonymously in a 12 week on-line forum. The study was guided by three research questions: 1) How do teachers make sense of their emotional interactions with their peers? 2) How do these understandings change through discussion with a group of peers over 12 weeks? 3) What understandings of the emotional processes of school culture emerge when teachers discuss and reflect on these emotional aspects of their work in a collaborative setting? The participants responded to weekly focus questions and also initiated their own discussion topics. They were introduced to alternative perspectives of emotion, including the social constructionist, feminist, and discursive. They were asked to focus on everyday interactions with their peers and to suggest what the emotions they experienced and observed achieved within the group. They were also encouraged to pay attention to the feeling rules in their staff meetings and to notice which emotions they thought were deemed appropriate to be expressed and which were deemed inappropriate. Initially the participants used a number of strategies based on the individualized and psychological perspectives of emotions to make sense of their interactions. During the discussion group they were able to discuss their interactions in a safe non-judgemental setting and to reinterpret them in light of new information. Competition, patriarchy, and neo-liberal education policies were seen to influence the dynamics of the workplace. Two mechanisms which appeared to link the teachers’ individual, private experiences of emotions with the culture of the school were the use of the words “positive” and “negative” and the norms embedded in the feeling rules of each school. These mechanisms both constrained and allowed the expression of certain emotions, opinions, and points of view in the workplace, thereby highlighting the political role of emotions. Symbolically the forum represented a collective space within an individualized world.