This article describes the planning, the procedure, any complications, opportunities, and limitations within an analysis of the meetings and with the help of interviews of the examinees as well as the examiner and the recording clerk and thus shows a first-hand experience report which is decisive for the future. For this purpose, a list of reflections will be created, which can be used to prepare similar exams. This list will be structured in didactics, information technology, organisation, and preparation and examination regulations. Building on that, we created a timeline with a corresponding check list of actions and considerations which can be used in similar cases.

In der Dissertation wird der Frage nachgegangen, welche kognitiven Prozesse der Informationsverarbeitung von wissenschaftlichen Daten beim konzeptuellen Lernen von biologischen Inhalten eine Rolle spielen. Dafür wird ein theoriebasiertes Modell des data-based scientific reasoning beschrieben, welches ebenfalls Aspekte der visuellen Wahrnehmung einbezieht. Dabei kann eine Synthese sogenannter bottom-up- und top-down-Effekte die visuelle Wahrnehmung der dargestellten Daten beeinflussen. Von Interesse sind hierbei Charakteristika der Repräsentation der Daten, sowie die individuellen Vorstellungen zum Kontext und ob, die Daten diese stützen oder widerlegen (anomale Daten). Weiterhin wird in der Arbeit die Rolle von data-based scientific reasoning auf wissenschaftliche Modellierungsprozesse untersucht, da Modellieren als übergreifende wissenschaftliche Praxis gesehen werden kann. In vier empirischen Studien wurden kognitive Prozesse beim Umgang mit Daten bei angehenden Biologielehrkräften, mit Fragebögen, Eye Tracking und lautem Denken untersucht. Die Ergebnisse der durchgeführten Studien heben die Rolle der visuellen Wahrnehmung als entscheidenden Schritt beim data-based scientific reasoning hervor. In Bezug auf Charakteristika der Repräsentation erscheint es notwendig, die visuelle Aufmerksamkeit der Lernenden auf spezifische Merkmale zu lenken und mit entsprechendem konzeptuellem Wissen zu verknüpfen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass anomale Daten zwar mit wissenschaftlich adäquatem Wissen erklärt werden, dies aber nicht automatisch zur Änderung ursprünglicher Vorstellungen bezüglich des Kontexts führt. Diese Tendenz scheint mit Unsicherheit gegenüber den Daten verbunden zu sein. Darüber hinaus spielen anomale Daten eine zentrale Rolle in wissenschaftlichen Modellierungsprozessen. Die Ergebnisse der entsprechenden Studie deuten darauf hin, dass hoch ausgeprägte Kompetenzen des data-based scientific reasoning mit elaborierten Modellierungsprozessen zusammenhängen. / The thesis focusses on the relevance of reasoning with scientific data for conceptual learning in biology. It aims to contribute to the question which cognitive processes are involved when learners encounter data sets that support or contradict their individual expectations. Therefore, a theoretical model of data-based scientific reasoning is described that is grounded on a general model of information processing. In this model, aspects of visual perception are emphasized. However, visual perception is influenced by a synthesis of so-called bottom-up and top-down effects. Furthermore, the theoretical perspective on the role of responses to anomalous data for scientific practices was extended by investigating how learners react and integrate anomalous data during modeling processes. In four empirical studies cognitive processes leading to responses to anomalous data in science education were investigated by applying a mixture of questionnaires, eye tracking techniques, and think aloud. The findings of the conducted studies highlight the role of perceptual processes as a key step during data-based scientific reasoning. Regarding representational characteristics it seems necessary to guide learners´ visual attention and connect specific features with corresponding conceptual knowledge. However, the findings suggest that a use of adequate scientific knowledge for explaining anomalous data does not lead to a change in initial conceptions regarding the context, since participants of the studies still tended to maintain their initial expectations. This tendency seems to be linked to a high need for encompassing information and a connected uncertainty towards the perceived data. Furthermore, anomalous data play a central role during modelling processes. The results of the corresponding study, indicate that sophisticated competencies of data-based reasoning with anomalous data relate to elaborate modeling processes.

No description available.

No / This paper reports the findings of a study which was carried out to evaluate the educational preparation of cancer and palliative care nurses in England. The study was carried out in three stages and covered the following areas; documentary analysis of curriculae, assessment of practice, patients and professionals views of threshold and expert practice. The findings suggested that although there was widespread compliance with a national standard for cancer nursing, this was not the case for palliative care nursing. There was uncertainty about what should be assessed in practice and ambiguity about what was actually assessed. Partnership with children and their parents, clinical skills, multi-disciplinary working, and personal attributes were the main foci for expectations of threshold practice but an expert panel had difficulty in describing the attributes of higher level practice. The paper also describes how some of recommendations from the study are being taken forward in current policy and practice.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Although interprofessional education (IPE) opportunities can help prepare students for future practice and patient-centered care, many health professions students in the country are not educated in an environment with opportunities to learn with, from, or about students from other health professions. With upcoming curricular changes at the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) and the Indiana University School of Nursing (IUSN), IPE remains at the forefront of these changes in both schools. To date, few studies have explored student, faculty, and administrators’ conceptualizations of IPE prior to formal implementation. Additionally, previous studies have not compared IPE conceptualizations across these groups. This multiple-case study explores and compares how groups of stakeholders from the IUSM (Indianapolis) and the IUSN (Indianapolis) conceptualize IPE. Data collection included the examination of discipline-specific public documents and one-on-one interviews (N=25) with pre-licensure students, clinical faculty, and administrators from each school. Coding and extraction of themes transpired through within-case and cross-case analysis and data supported the following findings: the ‘business of medicine’ may prevent IPE from becoming a priority in education; stakeholders’ conceptualizations of IPE are shaped through powerful experiences in education and practice; students desire more IPE opportunities at the institution; stakeholders at the IUSN have a long-standing investment in IPE; and the institution requires a ‘culture shift’ in order to sustain IPE efforts. The findings suggest that IPE belongs in all education sectors and IPE efforts deserve reward and reimbursement. The findings also insinuate that leadership, roles, and team training education belong in IPE and IPE culture requires all individuals’ (e.g., student, faculty, administrators, patients) commitment. Importantly, the institution must continue IPE development, research, and dissemination. These findings can help shape curricula as time progresses, increase the likelihood of developing a successful new curriculum, and prompt ongoing reflection about IPE. This information can influence how institutions approach IPE and may lead to a more successful and informed IPE curriculum in the first years of implementation. And, hopefully what is learned through IPE will be translated into healthcare practice environments.

This study was motivated by a desire to address the challenges of introductory programming courses. Ethiopian universities teach such courses in large classes (80+ students) and students complain about the difficulty of the courses and teaching variation of instructors. The study was set to explore optimum course and learning environment design approaches. The research question raised was: how can a blended learning approach be used to improve large class teaching of programming? In an action design research approach, the study was initiated with redesigning two consecutive courses and a supportive blended learning environment on the basis of existing learning theories and educational design frameworks. Two cycles of action research were conducted for a dual goal of refinement and evaluation of the intervention. The action research was conducted during the 2012/13 academic year with 240 students at the beginning. A predominantly quantitative first cycle of action research produced a mixed outcome. The students’ marks from assessment activities were fairly close to results from two other international universities. A pre- and post-implementation survey of students’ approach to learning showed a slight class level change towards the deep learning approach. Conversely, some students were found at-risk (not progressing well) and certain technologies, particularly program visualisation tools, were found underutilised. The second action research cycle aimed to explain the result from the first round. A grounded action research evaluation of data from focus group discussions, interviews and participants’ memos identified plausible factors for meaningful programming learning in a large class. These factors were use of collaborative and pair programming; alignment of learning and assignment activities; integrated use of e-learning; and use of large class strategies like student mentors and team teaching. A critical realist interpretation of the result of the action research suggested that students can learn programming in large classes, 200+ in this study, with a course and learning environment design that keeps them engaged in learning and assessment activities. The study concludes that improved learning of programming can be possible with the use of students as mentors and changed role-dynamics of instructors, which presupposes adaptation of suitable pedagogical approaches and use of technologies. / School of Computing / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Systems)

Upon IRB approval, a corpus of 1,192 texts consisting of three assignments written by a total of 1,736 first year engineering students was compiled, and 117 pedagogical materials were collected. Using an iterative quantitative-qualitative approach to written discourse analysis, instances of formulaic language (4- and 6-word sequences) were identified in the corpus; formulaic language was then coded for the rhetorical functions expected in problem statements as qualitatively identified in the pedagogical materials. Additionally, three discourse-based interviews were conducted with First-year Engineering Faculty. Interview data was coded for themes of effective communication and used to triangulate the findings from the corpus analysis.

Eingebettet in die Theorie der Weiterbildung nimmt die Dissertation die Forderung der bildungstheoretisch orientierten Biographieforschung auf, den transformatorischen Bildungsbegriff zu präzisieren. Aus der Diagnose einer Stagnation in diesem Bereich wird der Wechsel vom interpretativen zum relationalen Paradigma vorgeschlagen und eine relationale Entwicklungslogik als methodologische Basis relationalen Denkens eingeführt. Mit der Übertragung der Ergebnisse der informellen Axiomatisierung von Robert Kegans strukturaler Entwicklungstheorie auf den Bildungsbegriff wird unter Verwendung weiterer Referenztheorien aus dem Bereich der relationalen Kommunikationstheorien die Präzisierung des Begriffs möglich. Bildung wird als Prozess der Transformation der Regel der Bedeutungsbildung einer Person unter Konfrontation mit der Regel der Bedeutungsbildung nächsthöherer Ordnung definiert und als eine Struktur der Übergänge zwischen Kontext-Regeln beschrieben, die ein Beobachter der Person im Interaktionsprozess zuschreibt. Mit dem hier entwickelten Kontext-Ebenen-Modell der Bedeutungsbildung lassen sich zum einen Zeichen-Arten ZA definieren, die eine empirische Beschreibung des Bildungsprozesses einer Person zulassen, und zum anderen drei Typen von Kontext-Regeln XR bestimmen, die aus der relationalen Entwicklungslogik abgeleitet, die Prinzipien der Bedeutungsbildung als Regeln der Zeichenrelationierung darstellen. Das Kontext-Ebenen-Modell der Bedeutungsbildung steht als Ergebnis einerseits für eine erfolgreiche Präzisierung des transformatorischen Bildungsbegriffs, andererseits für die Leistungsfähigkeit der strukturalistischen Methode im Rahmen des Programms der relationalen Weiterbildungsforschung. / Embedded in the theory of adult education (andragogy) this PhD-thesis takes up the challenge proclaimed by the biography research based on the concept of Bildung and seeks to define the concept of transformational Bildung more precisely. To overcome the identified stagnation in this research field, this thesis proposes a change from qualitative research paradigm to relational paradigm and introduces the relational logic of development as methodology of relational thinking. The application of the results of the informal axiomatization of Robert Kegan’s theory of human development to the concept of transformational Bildung as well as the use of various approaches based on relational communication theories allowed to provide a more precise definition of the concept of transformational Bildung. In this thesis Bildung is defined as a process of transformation of individual’s rules of meaning making caused by a person’s confrontation with the rules of meaning making of a higher order. From the observer’s perspective the structure of the Bildung process can be described as a transition from one context rule to another. The developed model of context levels of meaning making allows defining types of signs (ZA) that enable to measure the levels in the process of Bildung. Furthermore, this model allows determining three types of context rules (XR), which – according to the relational logic of development – represent principles of meaning making seen as rules for relating signs. Thus, on the one hand, the model of context levels of meaning making has succeeded to specify the concept of transformational Bildung and, on the other hand, has proven the effectiveness of the structuralist method for the relational adult education research.

Diversos estudos realizados na área econômica têm mostrado a importância da escolaridade para a melhoria da qualidade de vida das pessoas. Apesar disso, o nível médio de escolaridade no Brasil é de 6,4 anos na população adulta, considerado baixo, se comparado a outros países da América Latina. Em vista disso, na década de 1990, foram instituídas diversas mudanças na forma de gestão do ensino público brasileiro, com objetivo de melhorar sua qualidade e motivar o interesse da criança pela escola. O presente trabalho inseriu-se nessa discussão ao propor uma avaliação da influência que a infra-estrutura escolar e as características familiares exercem sobre a freqüência e o atraso no ensino fundamental. Dadas as diferenças regionais existentes no Brasil, fez-se uma comparação entre os estados de São Paulo e Pernambuco. Para tanto, foram feitas análises de regressões, utilizando-se do modelo próbite, e as bases de dados foram o censo demográfico, o censo escolar e as transferências do Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento da Escola (FNDE), do ano 2000. Tais análises concentraram-se nas escolas públicas, da área urbana, dos dois estados. Além disso, foram realizadas interações entre variáveis das características familiares e variáveis da infra-estrutura escolar, a fim de verificar as formas mais eficientes de se colocar e manter a criança na escola, garantindo-lhe o avanço nos estudos. Questionou-se, portanto, se é mais interessante para o governo investir na melhoria da qualidade das escolas, ou em iniciativas que melhoram as condições socioeconômicas da família. Foram, também, realizadas simulações para avaliar os impactos de uma melhoria na qualidade das escolas, versus uma melhoria das condições socioeconômicas das famílias, na freqüência e no atraso escolar do estudante. Os resultados mostraram que políticas públicas voltadas para um aumento do salário, ou da escolaridade do professores, assim como para uma melhoria dos equipamentos disponíveis na escola, beneficiarão mais as crianças pertencentes a famílias com chefes pouco escolarizados e/ou com uma baixa renda familiar per capita. Além disso, percebeu-se que em Pernambuco, a política pública de maior impacto sobre a freqüência escolar foi o aumento do salário do professor e sobre o atraso escolar foi o aumento da escolaridade do chefe de família. Para São Paulo, a melhor opção seria aumentar a renda familiar per capita, tanto no caso da freqüência, quanto no caso do atraso escolar. Conclui-se, então, que a adoção de políticas públicas deve levar em consideração o lugar onde as mesmas serão adotadas, bem como os objetivos a serem atingidos na área da educação. Acredita-se, no entanto, que políticas voltadas para melhorar as características familiares geram resultados somente no longoprazo. Por isso, sugere-se que no curto-prazo sejam priorizadas as políticas capazes de melhorar a qualidade das escolas públicas que oferecem o ensino fundamental, na área urbana, dos dois estados. Sugere-se, também, que os investimentos públicos na área da educação priorizem Pernambuco, em função das diferenças socioeconômicas existentes entre os dois estados. / Many studies in the economic field have showed the importance of education to increase the wellbeing of the society. However, the adult population in Brazil has, on average, 6.4 years of education, which is considered low when compared to other Latin American countries. Trying to improve the educational indicators, in the 90’s, many changes were implemented in the Brazilian public school system. The objective of the present study is to evaluate school infrastructure and family characteristics affecting children’s decision to study or to drop out from school (frequency and school delay in primary and secondary levels). The analyses were concentrated in public schools located in the urban areas of Pernambuco and São Paulo states. Demographic census, school census and government spending data from 2000 were used to run a Probit model, whether a child was in school or not and whether a child was in lower grade for his age or not. Interactions between family’s characteristics and school infrastructure, as well as some simulations, were done to verify what would be the best possible resource allocation to improve children’s education. The results showed that public policies that increased teacher’s schooling or teacher’s salaries, and policies that improved the school’s equipments would benefit more children from low income families and/or with low educated parents. Moreover, in Pernambuco, the teacher’s salary caused the greater impact in the children’s frequency to school, while the teacher’s schooling had the larger impact in the children’s school delay. On the other hand, in São Paulo, the best option would be to increase per capita family income, either to increase frequency or decrease delay in school. It is known that policies to improve families’ characteristics will produce results more in the long run. Therefore, policies that would improve the schools’ infrastructure and consequently the quality of the schools are suggested in the short run. Moreover, the investment should focus Pernambuco due to the lower socio-economic indicators compared to São Paulo.

Acompanha produto. / A Resolução de Problemas consiste em uma metodologia de ensino que se empenha em instigar os alunos na busca e apropriação de estratégias adequadas para que respondam tanto perguntas escolares quanto questões cotidianas. Na Metodologia da Resolução de Problemas, o problema demanda do aluno uma carga cognitiva e motivacional maior do que em outras metodologias. O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar as contribuições da Metodologia da Resolução de Problemas (MRP) no Ensino de Ciências nos anos finais do Ensino Fundamental, a partir das problemáticas locais. Para isto, a pesquisa foi planejada em três etapas: Planejamento do Trabalho Pedagógico; Planejamento e Aplicação da Metodologia da Resolução de Problemas; e Obtenção dos Resultados da Pesquisa. Os resultados desta pesquisa foram analisados em termos qualitativos. Para isso, foram analisados questionários e atividades realizadas pelos alunos, bem como fatores observacionais durante a aplicação da MRP. Por fim, foi escrito um Caderno Pedagógico destinado aos professores no intuito de difundir e motivar os professores de Ciências no Nível Fundamental, na aplicação da Metodologia da Resolução de Problemas em suas aulas. / The Problem-Based Learning (PBL) consists of a teaching methodology that strives to instill students in the search and appropriation of appropriate strategies to answer both school and daily questions. In the Problem-Based Learning, the problem demands from the student a greater cognitive and motivational load than in other methodologies. The objective of this research is to evaluate the contributions of the Problem-Based Learning in Science Teaching in the final years of Elementary Education, based on local problems. For this, the research was planned in three stages: Pedagogical Work Planning; Planning and Application of Problem-Based Learning; and Obtaining Search Results. The results of this research were analyzed in qualitative terms. For this, we analyzed the questionnaires and activities carried out by the students, as well as observational factors during the application of MRP. Finally, a Pedagogical Notebook was written for teachers in order to disseminate and motivate Science teachers at the Fundamental Level, in the application of the Problem-Based Learning in their classes.