Diversas pesquisas apontam para uma força da tradição imperando nas aulas de Língua Portuguesa. As teorias linguísticas chegam às escolas, mas abalam timidamente as aulas de gramática normativa tradicional. Nossa pesquisa segue um percurso que parte de nossa experiência profissional, de nossas indagações, para tentar investigar as nuances, dentro de um determinado contexto escolar, que dificultam o processo de aliar a teoria à prática na sala de aula. Partimos da hipótese de que este apego à tradição e o foco em atividades metalinguísticas pouco contribuem para uma aprendizagem significativa da língua. Tendo em vista testes nacionais e internacionais que apontam inadequações no uso da modalidade escrita da língua (leitura e produção escrita) pelos alunos que concluem o Ensino Fundamental e a ênfase histórica das aulas de Língua Portuguesa em atividades gramaticais de metalinguagem (nomenclaturas e classificações), questionamo-nos como as aulas de Língua Portuguesa podem ser reconfiguradas para potencializar o desenvolvimento das habilidades linguísticas dos alunos. Assim, realizamos um estudo qualitativo com duas professoras e suas cinco turmas de 9º ano, em uma escola pública municipal de São Paulo. As professoras nos forneceram dados por meio de relatos escritos de suas vivências, questionário e conversações informais cotidianas. Realizamos Avaliação Diagnóstica e Formativa (ADeF) do desempenho linguístico dos alunos, analisamos cadernos de alunos indicados pelas professoras como os melhores de suas turmas, planejamos e conduzimos uma oficina de linguagem (atividades linguísticas e epilinguísticas) com esses alunos. Alguns dos resultados indicam que as dificuldades das professoras em aliar teoria e prática estão relacionadas com a formação inicial e preliminar de cada uma e não necessariamente com a formação universitária e contínua em que se constitui o conhecimento teórico; levantamos fortes evidências de que a maneira como ensinamos reproduz ou é fortemente influenciada pela maneira como aprendemos; constatamos que a ausência da ADeF como prática efetiva se apresenta como um importante elemento que dificulta o conhecimento (por parte do professor) do que considerar no processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Ainda foi possível verificar que ADeF não compõe um critério de formação das turmas. Um professor pesquisador que busque aliar teoria e prática deve estar preparado para enfrentar inúmeros desafios e criar oportunidades para crianças e jovens se desenvolverem, preparando-se para se envolverem com as incertezas do cotidiano. Isso pode significar quão importantes serão, para professores e alunos, as novas vivências, por meio de oficinas contendo práticas mais eficazes para podermos nos desvencilhar de algumas amarras do passado, ou seja, da formação preliminar ou formatação preliminar a que fomos submetidos. / Previous knolwedge and school context underlying theory application to practice: diagnostic testing and formative assessment as a starting point to language and epilanguage activities Several studies point to the power of tradition that rules Portuguese classes. Language theories get to schools but little they influence or change the traditional, prescriptive grammar-based classes. This study starts off from our own professional experience and the questions arisen within a specific context in order to investigate the nuances that make it difficult to relate theory to practice in the classroom. We begin with the hypothesis that this attachment to theory and the focus on metalinguistic activities contribute very little to meaningful language learning. With national and international exams in mind, which point at the inappropriate use of the written language (reading and writing skills) students who are finishing middle school have, and also with the historical emphasis on metalinguistic grammar activities the Portuguese language classes have (exploring synthatic categories and classifying), we enquire how Portuguese language classes can be reconfigured to optimize students development of linguisctic skills. Thus,we undertook a qualitative study with two teachers and their five groups of 9th graders in a public municipal school in São Paulo. We gathered data from the teachers by means of written reports of teaching experience, questionnaire and daily informal talks. Students also took a diagnostic formative test (in Portuguese, ADeF) in order to have their linguistic performance assessed and we analized the notebooks of the best students in the classes, according to the teachers. We also planned and carried a language workshop with the students, which included linguistic and epilinguistic activities. Some results indicate that some of the difficulties teacher have in applying theory to practice are related to their schooling, not necessarily from their university undergraduation courses or continuing teacher education courses in which the theoretical knowledge is built. Strong evidence showed that the way we teach reproduce or is strongly influencced by the wahy we learn. We also xxx that the lack of ADef as an efficient practice is an important element that makes it difficult for teachers to decide to what to consider in the teachinglearning process.Moreover, it was possible to identify that ADeF is not an criteria used to form the groups. A teacher-researcher that aims to relate theory and practice should be prepared to face several challenges and create opportunities to children and youngsters, preparing them to deal with the daily uncertanties. This may mean how important new experiences will be to teacher and students in workshops that contain more efficient practices so that we can undo some of the knots from our past schooling or preliminary formatting

Både nationella och internationella undersökningar visar att svenska elevers studieresultat i fysik har försämrats. Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka om elever kan få bättre studieresultat om deras arbete enligt kursplaneringen kontrolleras kontinuerligt så att de är i fas med planeringen. Genom att kontrollera kontinuerligt får man dels möjlighet att upptäcka elever som halkar efter men också hur bra undervisningen har tagits emot av eleverna. Undersökningen gjordes i två parallella gymnasieklasser som läste grundkursen i fysik och pågick mellan två provtillfällen. Båda klasserna hade samma lärare, kursbok, kursplanering och prov. Ur planeringen valdes några grundläggande uppgifter och tilldelades ena klassen medan den andra utgjorde kontrollgrupp. Testgruppseleverna fick sina lösningar kontrollerade och fick återkoppling. Effektstorleken av interventionen bestämdes och jämfördes med referensgruppens. Resultatet visade att testgruppen hade fått bättre studieresultat efter ingreppet. Även om resultatet är signifikant så är det för osäkert med tanke på antalet elever (16 st) som deltog i studien för att kunna generaliseras. Eftersom deltagandet i undersökningen var frivilligt och icke-betygsgrundande så var antalet inlämningar inte så många som det hade förväntats. Arbetet är tidskrävande både ur elev- och lärarperspektiv men synliggör varför lärare bör kontrollera sina elever och hur detta kan genomföras. / Swedish and international studies show that Swedish students' results in physics have deteriorated. The aim of this study is to investigate whether students can achieve better study results if their work according to the course planning is checked continuously so that they are in phase with the planning. By continuously checking, one gets the opportunity to discover students who are lagging behind but also to see how the teaching has been absorbed by the students more generally. The study was done in two parallel upper secondary classes studying the basic course in physics and occurred between two test periods. Both classes had the same teacher, course book, course plan and exams. A few basic tasks where selected and assigned from the course plan and given to the test group but not to the control group. The test group students got their solutions checked and got feedback. The effect size of this intervention was measured and compared to the control group. The result showed that the test group had achieved a better result after the intervention. Even if the result was significant, it is too uncertain to be generalized, in view of the small sample size (16 students) who participated in the study. As participation in the survey was voluntary and non-grading, the number of submissions was not as many as it had been expected. The approach is time consuming both for teacher and student, but it makes visible why teachers should check their students and how this can be implemented.

<p>Biochemistry is part of life science: a fast developing multidisciplinary area. The overall aims of this thesis and the work underlying it were to find ways in which to develop competence in biochemistry at university level and to assess complex learning. A particular interest was the development of experimental work as a means to promote learning.</p><p>The study focuses on changes made in two educational settings. The aim of the changes was to develop competence, amongst both students and teachers. Therefore, the research in the three first papers has in some aspects, and to different extent, the characteristics of action research. Broadly, the changes can be described as making experiments more open, with multiple formative and authentic assessment methods involving both students and teachers. The empirical studies included questionnaires, interviews, questions asked during experimental work, written material as formulated objectives, examination questions and answers, reports, other products; and grades/judgements made by teachers and students. Collected data were analyzed in several different ways. Statistical methods included the use of mean values, paired T-tests, Spearman rank correlation coefficients and Principal Component Analysis. Interview data as well as some questionnaire data were analyzed using analytical induction techniques. Some categories were based on thematic content analysis, while others were based on Bloom’s taxonomy. Students’ attitude positions were categorized according to Perry’s framework. </p><p>The main results can be summarized as follows; </p><p>The students’ learning was improved by open ended versions of experimental work, according to both their and the researchers’ opinions. Planning, approaching problems from different perspectives and evaluating the results of their own experimental work promote the students’ capacity for higher order cognitive thinking. However, the synthesis level constitutes a threshold and particular support is needed for students with a more dualistic view of teaching, learning and experimental work. </p><p>Introducing formative and authentic assessment is a way to help students to make progress, and to develop competence. The importance was clearly demonstrated of involving both teachers and students in discussions of aims and criteria and of making them explicit. Feedback from teachers’ and students’ own reflective activities about subject content, and their learning as well as affective factors were shown to be central for complex learning. Based on our studies, areas were identified for the critical development of competence and for promoting learning in biochemistry at university level. These areas are; multidisciplinary and complex learning, communication skills of different types, metacognitive perspectives, attitude development, and affective factors. </p><p>The students see experimental work as crucial for their learning and therefore important in terms of assessment. Therefore, experimental work can and ought to be assessed. However, similarities and discrepancies were observed between students’ and teachers’ perspectives for both the aims and assessment of experimental work. Our conclusion is that a combination of assessment methods is needed in order to be able to make a high qualitative assessment.</p>

Biochemistry is part of life science: a fast developing multidisciplinary area. The overall aims of this thesis and the work underlying it were to find ways in which to develop competence in biochemistry at university level and to assess complex learning. A particular interest was the development of experimental work as a means to promote learning. The study focuses on changes made in two educational settings. The aim of the changes was to develop competence, amongst both students and teachers. Therefore, the research in the three first papers has in some aspects, and to different extent, the characteristics of action research. Broadly, the changes can be described as making experiments more open, with multiple formative and authentic assessment methods involving both students and teachers. The empirical studies included questionnaires, interviews, questions asked during experimental work, written material as formulated objectives, examination questions and answers, reports, other products; and grades/judgements made by teachers and students. Collected data were analyzed in several different ways. Statistical methods included the use of mean values, paired T-tests, Spearman rank correlation coefficients and Principal Component Analysis. Interview data as well as some questionnaire data were analyzed using analytical induction techniques. Some categories were based on thematic content analysis, while others were based on Bloom’s taxonomy. Students’ attitude positions were categorized according to Perry’s framework. The main results can be summarized as follows; The students’ learning was improved by open ended versions of experimental work, according to both their and the researchers’ opinions. Planning, approaching problems from different perspectives and evaluating the results of their own experimental work promote the students’ capacity for higher order cognitive thinking. However, the synthesis level constitutes a threshold and particular support is needed for students with a more dualistic view of teaching, learning and experimental work. Introducing formative and authentic assessment is a way to help students to make progress, and to develop competence. The importance was clearly demonstrated of involving both teachers and students in discussions of aims and criteria and of making them explicit. Feedback from teachers’ and students’ own reflective activities about subject content, and their learning as well as affective factors were shown to be central for complex learning. Based on our studies, areas were identified for the critical development of competence and for promoting learning in biochemistry at university level. These areas are; multidisciplinary and complex learning, communication skills of different types, metacognitive perspectives, attitude development, and affective factors. The students see experimental work as crucial for their learning and therefore important in terms of assessment. Therefore, experimental work can and ought to be assessed. However, similarities and discrepancies were observed between students’ and teachers’ perspectives for both the aims and assessment of experimental work. Our conclusion is that a combination of assessment methods is needed in order to be able to make a high qualitative assessment.

Syftet med denna studie är att få kunskap om hur sex danslärare uppfattar sitt arbete med bedömning i dans i gymnasieskolan, inom de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna från 2011. Studien avser också undersöka hur danslärarna går tillväga under feedbacksamtal i dansämnet. Mitt syfte för studien grundar sig i att jag själv har ett starkt intresse för bedömning och hur jag kan utveckla olika bedömningsmetoder. De metoder jag har använt mig av i studien är tre kvalitativa intervjuer, samt tre intervjuer via mail. Intervjupersonerna har valts på grunderna att de undervisar elever inom det estetiska programmet inriktning dans, samt att de undervisar elever enligt de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna. Resultatet visar att samtliga danslärare anser att ämnes-och kursplanerna styr deras bedömningsarbete, men även deras undervisningsplanering av kurser och lektioner. Alla lärare uppfattar att de nya ämnes-och kursplanerna från 2011 är tydliga. Resultatet visar också att danslärarna arbetar med formativ bedömning (bedömning för lärande) under läsåret och summativt inför betygsättning, då de tittar på allt insamlat material. En svårighet som alla lärarna uppger, är att få tiden att räcka till allt arbete som bedömning omfattar. På feedbacksamtal arbetar danslärarna formativt och vill både säga något om hur eleverna ligger till men också hur de ska arbeta vidare. Förutom omdöme och betyg på feedbacksamtal, vill alla lärare i undersökningen, även lyfta och stärka elevernas självförtroende och förmedla deras positiva utveckling. / The aim of this study is to gain knowledge of how six dance teachers view their work regarding assessment in Dance, in upper secondary school, within the new subject-and course syllabus from 2011. The study also aims to find out how the dance teachers go about in the feedback development dialogue in dance. The aim of the study is based upon my interest of assessment and how I further can find and develop different methods of assessment. The methods of the study are based on three qualitative interviews, as well as three interviews via e-mail. The interviewees have been chosen to participate in the study due to their students who major the Esthetic Programme, orientation Dance. The interviewees have also been chosen due to teaching within the new subject-and course syllabus. The result of the study demonstrate that the dance teachers find that the subject-and course syllabus is steering all of their work with assessment, as well as planning of courses and lessons. They also perceive the new subject-and course syllabus as very explicit. The result also shows that the dance teachers use formative assessment (assessment for learning) during the academic year. Summative assessment is used before grading, when they assess the students’ development and achievements. All teachers perceive one difficulty with assessment. They account for a shortage of time when it comes to assessing all elements of each course. During the feedback development dialogue in dance, the teachers are communicating in a formative way and present the students’ current position in the learning process, and how to reach further. In addition to rating and grading in the feedback development dialogue, all the teachers want to reinforce and strengthen the self-confidence of their students and also emphasize the students’ positive development.

Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att undersöka hur lärare i idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan, år 7-10, arbetar med kunskapsbedömning och dokumentation av kunskap. Vidare syftade studien till att undersöka vilken eventuell inverkan Lgr 11 kommer ha på detta arbete. Studiens frågeställningar var: Hur resonerar lärare i idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan kring bedömning och betygssättning? Hur har lärare i idrott och hälsa i särskolan dokumenterat sina elevers utveckling med Lpo 94 som ramverk/ styrdokument? Med vilka verktyg/på vilka sätt har elevernas kunskaper bedömts med Lpo 94 som ramverk/ styrdokument samt hur uppfattar lärare i idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan Lgr 11? Metod Intresseförfrågningar skickades ut till ca 50 aktiva idrottslärare i idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan, år 7-10. Åtta lärare svarade positivt till medverkan varav två av dessa, efter vidare kontakt, sållades bort på grund av att de var verksamma i annan skolform än grundsärskolan. Intervjuer genomfördes sedan med de sex informanterna, på en tid och plats som passade informanterna. Intervjuerna var ca 40 min långa, semistrukturerade och frågeområdena omfattade tankar kring betyg och bedömning generellt, hur bedömningsarbetet sett ut med Lpo 94 som styrdokument, samt hur lärarna uppfattade Lgr 11. Intervjuerna behandlade även frågor rörande hur lärarna kunde föreställa sig att undervisningen skulle kunna se ut med Lgr 11 som styrdokument. Resultat Lärarna uppgav att deras huvudsakliga syfte med bedömningsarbetet var att samla information för att kunna anpassa undervisningen. Fem av sex ställde sig frågande till betyg i särskolan. Hälften av de tillfrågade lärarna uppgav att bedömning i särskolan är problematiskt på grund av att elevgruppen är heterogen. Lärarnas dokumentation av elevernas utveckling skiljde sig åt, några dokumenterade ingenting medan andra hade välutvecklade system. I samtliga fall bedömdes eleverna genom observation. Lärarnas samlade intryck av Lgr 11 var att kraven ävarhögre än i Lpo 94 men tre av dem menade att de är väldigt oinsatta i särskolans nya kursplan för idrott och hälsa. Slutsats Lärarnas skiftande inställning till kunskapsbedömning och dokumentation av bedömning kan relateras till deras uppfattning av syftet med ämnet idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan. Vidare verkade det som att implementeringen av Lgr 11 inte fått särskilt stort fokus i idrott och hälsa i grundsärskolan på de skolor som informanterna i denna studie var aktiva. Anledningen till denna brist på fokus kan dock ej urskiljas ur resultaten i denna studie, utan kräver en annan studie med ett annat fokus. / Abstract Aim The aim of this study has been to investigate how teachers in physical education and health in schools for intellectually disabled, year 7-10, incorporates assessment and documentation of knowledge in their practice. The aim of the study was also to investigate what possible effect the introduction of the new curriculum and syllabi of Lgr 11 will have on their work. The questions this study asked were: How do teachers in physical education and health in schools for intellectually disabled argue about assessment and grading? In what way have teachers in physical education and health in schools for mentally disabled documented the progression of their pupils, with Lpo 94 as a framework? What tools of assessment have been used with Lpo 94 as a framework? and How do teachers in physical education and health in schools for intellectually disabled perceive Lgr 11? Method An inquiry of participation was sent to 50 active teachers in physical education and health in schools for intellectually disabled, year 7-10. Eight teachers agreed to participate in the study. Two of these eight teachers were excluded due to the type of school they worked in did not match the intended form of the study.  Interviews were then conducted with the six informants, at a place and time that suited the informants. The interviews were approximately 40 min long, semi-structured and the questions covered thoughts on grading and assessment in general, how the assessment process with Lpo 94 as a framework had been carried out along with  how the teachers perceived Lgr 11 and their thoughts on how their lessons will look, with Lgr 11 as a framework. Results The main purpose of the assessment process is gathering information to be able to make sure that the lessons maintain an appropriate level of difficulty, according to the interviewed teachers. Five out of six teachers questions the usage of grades in schools for intellectually disabled. Every other teacher claims that assessment in schools for intellectually disabled is difficult, mainly because of the heterogeneity of the groups of pupils. The way the different teachers document their pupils development differs from one-another, some teachers do not document the development at all, while some have elaborate methods for documentation. All of the teachers state that they assess their pupils through observation. The teachers’ collected impression of Lgr 11 is that the demands are higher than in Lpo 94 but three of the teachers mean that their familiarity with the new curricula for Physical education and health is poor. Conclusions The way the teachers in this study work with assessment and documentation of knowledge differs from one another. Some of the teachers seem to emphasize the importance of a functioning assessment process more than others. This can be related to what the teachers perceive as the purpose of physical education and health in schools for intellectually disabled. Furthermore it seems like the implementation of Lgr11 in physical education and health-classes has not received the attention needed in the schools in which the informants in this study are active. The reason for this lack of attention cannot be distinguished in the results of this study. Another study with a different focus would be necessary to investigate this matter.

Genomförda undersökningar visar att formativ bedömning förbättrar elevers inlärning och förståelse. Den svenska läroplanen från 2011 ger tydliga indikationer på att formativ bedömning ska inkluderas i undervisningen. Vår diskussion i denna uppsats är därför aktuell och den visar hur forskare artikulerar fenomenet formativ bedömning. Litteraturstudien inkluderar information om vad formativ bedömning innebär och förslag på hur man kan arbeta utifrån ett sådant arbetssätt. Vår studie visar att de viktigaste komponenterna inom formativ bedömning är att tydliggöra målen, återkoppling samt själv- och kamratbedömning. Beskrivningarna av dessa resulterar i en analys där vi diskuterar det formativa arbetssättet. Både positiva och negativa aspekter tas upp. Vårt syfte med denna uppsats är att införskaffa djupare kunskaper om formativ bedömning likväl för oss själva som för redan aktiva lärare. Vi har en föraning om att många lärare inte har tillräckliga kunskaper kring ämnet och vår förhoppning är att denna uppsats kan fungera som ett verktyg för lärare som arbetar med eller skulle vilja arbeta med formativ bedömning. / Previous research shows that formative assessments improve pupils’ learning and understanding. Also, the Swedish Curriculum 2011 gives clear guidance that formative assessment should be included in school. Our discussion in this essay is therefore needed and it deals with how researchers articulate the phenomenon formative assessment. The study includes information about what formative assessment means and suggestions for how to work with it are given. The main parts within formative assessment are to clarify learning goals, feedback and self- and peer assessment. The information about these main parts ends in an analysis where a discussion about formative assessment and its positive and negative effects takes place.   Furthermore, the purpose of this essay is to inherit deeper knowledge about formative assessment as well for ourselves as for teachers already on duty. We anticipate that many teachers do not have sufficient knowledge about formative assessment and our expectation is that this essay can function as a tool for teachers who work or would like to work with formative assessment.

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Au cours des dernières années, les pratiques de l’évaluation comme aide à l’apprentissage (c’est-à-dire l’auto-évaluation, l’évaluation par les pairs, la rétroaction) dans la salle de classe ont été de plus en plus considérées comme des éléments essentiels (Black & Wiliam, 1998; Harlen & Winter, 2004; van de Watering & van der Rijt, 2006). Cependant, dans le domaine de l’apprentissage d’une langue seconde la recherche sur ce sujet est plutôt limitée. En nous fondant sur les études de Colby-Kelly et Turner (2007) et de Lyster et Ranta (1997), nous avons mené une recherche exploratoire visant à combler ce besoin. L’objectif général était de comprendre comment l’évaluation formative se réalise dans deux cours d’anglais intermédiaire à l’Université de Montréal, et de comparer comment ces pratiques sont perçues et vécues par la professeure et ses étudiants. Trois questions de recherche étaient posées: 1. Quelle est la nature de l’évaluation formative dans une salle de classe d’anglais langue seconde? 2. Est-ce que les pratiques de la professeure reflètent ce qu’elle pense de l’évaluation formative? 3. Quels sont les correspondances et différences entre les croyances de la professeure et les perceptions de ses étudiants quant aux bénéfices de l’évaluation formative pour l’apprentissage de l’anglais langue seconde? La collecte de données comprend des observations en classe, des entrevues auprès de la professeure et des questionnaires pour les étudiants. Pour répondre à notre première question de recherche, nous avons analysé la rétroaction donnée par la professeure pendant une production orale réalisée par ses étudiants à partir de la typologie de feedback et de uptake de l’étude de Lyster et Ranta (1997). En ce qui a trait à la deuxième question de recherche, nous avons fait des entrevues avec la professeure en vue d’expliciter ses perceptions relativement à l’évaluation formative. À la fin du trimestre, nous avons comparé ses réponses avec sa pratique à partir des enregistrements vidéo produits en classe. Finalement, pour répondre à notre dernière question de recherche nous avons comparé les réponses données par la professeure aux entrevues avec les réponses des étudiants à un questionnaire adapté à partir de celui de Colby-Kelly et Turner. Finalement, nous présentons et discutons les résultats les plus significatifs obtenus dans cette étude qualitative Nous concluons cette thèse en proposant de avenues pour des recherches futures. / During the last twenty years, assessment practices for improving student learning (i.e., self-assessment, peer assessment, feedback) in the classroom has been considered as essential (Black & Wiliam, 1998; Harlen & Winter, 2004; van de Watering & van der Rijt, 2006). In the field of second language learning, however, research in this area is quite limited. In order to address this gap, an exploratory research , based on Colby-Kelly and Turner’s (2007) and Lyster and Ranta’s (1997)studies has been conducted . The general objective was to understand how formative assessment is practiced in two Intermediate Oral English courses at the Université de Montréal and to compare how these practices are perceived and performed by the teacher and the students. Three research questions were pursued: 1. What is the nature of formative assessment in a second language classroom setting? 2. Do the teacher’s assessment practices reflect what she thinks about formative assessment? 3. What are the coincidences and differences between teacher’s perceptions and her students’ perceptions regarding the benefits of formative assessment for learning English? Data collection instruments consist of teacher interview guidelines, students’ questionnaire and classroom observation grids. In order to answer the first question, the feedback given by the teacher during the students’ oral performance has bee analysed using the types of feedback and uptake in Lyster and Ranta’s (1997) report. For the second research question, I interviewed the teacher at the beginning of each session and I elicited her beliefs about classroom-based formative assessment practice. At the end of the session I the teacher’s answers have beeb compared and contrasted with her actual performance, which was videotaped during the course. Finally, regarding the third question, teacher’s answers in the interviews have been compared with students’ answers on a questionnaire – adapted from Colby-Kelly and Turner’s one. The most significant results of this qualitative research are presented and discussed. In the conclusion, directions for future research are proposed

Since 2006 Swedish compulsory school teachers are required to use individual developmentplans (IDPs) as part of their assessment practices. The IDP has developed through two major reforms and is currently about to undergo a third in which requirements for documentation are to be reduced. The original purpose of IDP was formative: a document containing targets and strategies for the student's future learning was to be drawn up at the parent-pupil-teacher meetingeach semester. The 2008 reform added requirements for written summative assessments/grade-like symbols to be used in the plan. This thesis aims to generate knowledge of the IDP as a tool in terms of what characterizes IDP documents as well as teachers' descriptions of continuous IDP work. It contains four articles. The first two are based on 379 collected IDP documents from all stages of compulsoryschool, and the last two build on interviews with 15 teachers. Throughout, qualitative content analysis has been used for processing data. The analytical framework comprises Latour's conceptual pair inscription – translation, Wartofsky's notions of primary/secondary/tertiary artifacts, and Wertsch's distinction between mastery and appropriation, which together provide an overall framework for understanding how the IDP becomes a contextually shaped tool that mediates teachers' actions in practice. Moreover, the activity theoretical concept of contradictionis used to understand and discuss dilemmas teachers experience in relation to IDP. In article 1, targets and strategies for future learning given to students are investigated and discussed in relation to definitions of formative assessment. Concepts were derived from the data and used for creating a typology of target and strategy types related either to being aspects (students' behavior/attitudes/personalities) or to subject matter learning. In article 2, the distribution of being and learning targets to boys and girls, respectively, is investigated. The results point to a significant gendered difference in the distribution of being targets. Possible reasons for the gendered distribution are discussed from a doing-gender perspective, and the proportion of being targets in IDPs is discussed from an assessment validity point of view. In article 3, teachers' continuous work with IDPs is explored, and it is suggested that IDP work develops in relation to perceived purposes and the contextual conditions framing teachers' work. Three qualitatively different ways of perceiving and working with IDP are described in a typology. Article 4 elaborates on dilemmas that teachers experience in relation to IDP, concerning time, communication, and assessment. A tentative categorization of dilemma management strategies is also presented. Results are synthesized in the final part of the thesis, where the ways in which documents are written and IDP work is carried out are discussed as being shaped in the intersection between rules and guidelines at national, municipal and local school level, and companies creating solutions for IDP documentation. Various purposes are to be achieved with the help of the IDP, which makes it a potential field of tension that is not always easy for teachers to navigate. Several IDP-related difficulties, but also opportunities and affordances, are visualized in the studies of this thesis. / <p>Svensk sammanfattning: s. 111-126.</p>