Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:35:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3048.pdf: 1915874 bytes, checksum: 962a55044bd6a20d81cc5f613820507a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-22 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / This thesis was developed with the objective of elucidating the factors that has caused the low academic performance in public schools. To make possible this achievement of this job was used to reconstruct the history of education with reference to public school in the municipalities of São Bernardo do Campo, Diadema and São Paulo state; dedicated special attention to curriculum and teaching program between 1930 and 2008. Analyzing the primary and secondary sources, was identified and marked the influence of two meaningful theoretical perspectives on the composition of the curriculum: one the one hand the traditional teaching influenced by many currents of humanism, and others, the New School, influenced pragmatism, more recently the ideas of the New School was revived by constructivism. To be properly exposed the results of this research and analysis developed the thesis has been separated into five chapters that is concerned with the exhibition of historical facts and analysis the documents founded relative to the current model of education and education policy accomplish between the decade of 1930 and 1990, and to expose the theoretical analysis for the ideal that guided reforms in educational policy in the period portrayed analysis of philosophical principles of pragmatism and constructivism and the facility of taking a critical parameter as the basis of humanism and purpose of new positivism. In conclusion it was emphasized the predominance of pragmatist ideal in education policy under slopingly the pedagogy sphere and reflect professional development in prejudice of scientific, cultural and humanistic development, as a cause of low quality of education. / Esta tese foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de identificar os fatores que têm provocado o baixo rendimento escolar nas escolas públicas. Para tornar possível a realização desta tarefa, recorreu-se à reconstituição da história da educação, tomando-se como referência a rede pública de ensino dos municípios de São Bernardo do Campo e Diadema e do estado de São Paulo, dedicando atenção especial ao currículo e aos programas de ensino entre 1930 e 2008. Ao se analisar as fontes primárias e secundárias, verificou-se a influência bem marcante de duas correntes teóricas na composição do currículo: de um lado, o ensino tradicional, influenciado pelas diversas correntes do humanismo, e de outro, a Escola Nova, influenciada pelo pragmatismo. Mais recentemente, o ideário desta última foi revigorado pelo construtivismo. Para serem expostos adequadamente os resultados desta pesquisa e análises desenvolvidas, a tese está dividida em cinco capítulos, nos quais realizamos a exposição dos fatos históricos e análise dos documentos encontrados, referentes ao atual modelo de educação e às políticas educacionais realizadas entre as décadas de 1930 e 1990. Além disso, também realizamos análises teóricas referentes ao ideário que norteou as reformas nas políticas educacionais no período retratado análise dos pressupostos pragmatismo e do construtivismo e desenvolvemos uma reflexão crítica tomando como parâmetro as bases do humanismo e os propósitos do neopositivismo. Na conclusão foi ressaltada a predominância do ideário pragmatista nas políticas educacionais, sob o viés da pedagogia das competências e da formação do profissional reflexivo, em detrimento da formação científica, cultural e humanística, como uma causa da baixa qualidade do ensino.

This study focused on the experiences of Black male student-athletes in Division I sports and used critical race methodology to present counter narratives. These narratives highlighted successes and heightened awareness about the needs and concerns of an extremely important, but often silenced, population. The purpose of this research was to examine the experiences of Black male student-athletes in the Division I revenue-generating sports of basketball and football. This study examined how Black males perceived the effectiveness of the NCAA supports in place for their academic success, degree attainment, and postcollegiate leadership and career opportunities. This dissertation also sought to understand the extent to which the legacy of racism in the United States has impacted the collegiate experience of these athletes. This research utilized critical race theory to frame the counter narratives of Black male student-athletes participating in this study. Through counter stories, the researcher offered suggestions that more effectively serve NCAA Black male student-athletes during their transition into and beyond Division I university sports participation as a strategy to achieve social justice for a historically marginalized group.

Epistemological development and its relationship to critical thinking has been postulated in educational psychology since the 1970’s. By empirically examining epistemological development in relationship to thinking critically, a richer understanding of overall student development and instructional needs could be achieved. By taking into account a student’s epistemological development, issues unique to these stages could inform how to most effectively work with students to promote critical thinking development. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential relationship between collegiate epistemological development and critical thinking skills by examining differences in critical thinking skills at different levels of epistemological development. The hypothesis of the study was that students reporting an epistemological level of either Absolutist or Evaluativist would have higher critical thinking scores than students reporting a Multiplist level. The instruments employed were the Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) and the Kuhn epistemological instrument. The study population of 157 students was taken from a medium-sized private institution in the southeastern United States. The data indicated that the majority of the study population, 87%, identified as the Multiplist level of epistemological development, according to Kuhn’s definitions. Overall critical thinking scores for the sample was lower than expected but still within reported ranges. Analysis of variance tests were performed on the data and failed to indicate a statistically significant relationship in overall epistemological developmental level and four of the five individual epistemological judgement domains. This finding was not anticipated, challenges current theoretical understanding of this relationship, and indicates a need for further investigation of the nature of the relationship between critical thinking and epistemological development in the higher educational setting.

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perspectives that classroom teachers and school administrators have regarding corporal punishment as an alternative method to correct or change negative classroom behaviors. With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act, schools have been forced to identify instructional and administrative practices that will increase student achievement while decreasing students' negative classroom behaviors. Negative classroom behaviors among students can interfere with the learning process and impede teachers' instructional delivery. The theories of Piaget and Kohlberg provided a conceptual basis for understanding the behaviors and developmental changes of school-age children. The research questions examined the perceptions of classroom teachers and school administrators concerning corporal punishment use or nonuse as a deterrent to negative student classroom behaviors. Data collection involved 5 survey questions, one-on-one interviews with teachers and administrators, and review of archival records provided by Texas rural school districts. Data for this case study were analyzed at 2 levels. At the first level, the specific analytical techniques of coding and categorization were used, and at the second level, the comparative method was used to analyze the coded and categorized data to determine emerging themes that served as the basis for the findings of the study. The study has positive implications for social change in the educational environment, in that the findings may be applied to efforts to control negative classroom behaviors and may thus promote academic excellence, leading to improved grades and standardized test scores.

Researchers have long been concerned in documenting the nature of associations between parenting styles and academic achievement in adolescents. Social learning theory has shown how domains such as individualism, collectivism, and ethnicity are associated with parent behavior. Research suggests compatibility between individualism and authoritative parenting and collectivism with authoritarian parenting styles, which could have critical implications in the relationship between parenting styles and academic achievement. Despite the robust research on parenting styles, no research has investigated the moderating roles of individualism and collectivism. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the associations between parenting style and academic achievement and whether some of the associations were moderated by ethnicity, individualism, and collectivism. The sample consisted of 225 parents who were recruited via an online newsletter sent by school personnel. Parenting styles were measured by the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire while individualism and collectivism variables were measured by the Self-Construal Scale. Correlation coefficients calculated the associations between parenting styles and academic achievement, while the regression analyses addressed the moderator hypotheses. Authoritative parenting had a significant positive correlation with GPA, while both authoritarian and permissive parenting styles had a significant negative correlation with GPA. Within the moderator hypotheses, neither ethnicity nor individualism and collectivism served as a significant moderator between parenting styles and GPA. These findings may inform parents and educators of the importance of parenting styles on education, beyond the explanatory power of ethnicity or value system.

While the number of students using web-based social networks has increased, the effects of such networks on education have been unclear. Therefore, this research used a case study approach to study the relationship between social connectivity and the use of Facebook in a higher education classroom as well as the relationship between age and the use of Facebook. The intent was to understand the perceived impact of the use of a social media tool on bonding, bridging, and linking. The conceptual framework was built around the theories of social capital of Lin, Portes, Putnam, and Woolcock. The research questions addressed how the use of Facebook impacted social connectivity as part of the required interactions in a traditional undergraduate classroom and how different generations used Facebook in that setting. A self-selected sample of 13 out of 13 potential participants was used to acquire demographic data and to capture learner perceptions of their Facebook experience by way of a questionnaire and a focus group. NVivo10 content analysis software used thematic coding derived from multiple close readings of the collected data to surface relationships supporting the presence of social capital. The results indicated that learners' use of Facebook influenced bridging, bonding, and linking within the classroom; however, learners wanted to keep their academic social networking separate from their personal use. The study also noted how students from different generations use Facebook in different ways. Understanding the role of social media tools may assist in innovative curriculum development that employs social networking tools, as well as help faculty determine how to use such tools to create a deeper learning experience for students.

As with traditional healthcare providers, emotional-social intelligence (ESI) plays a role in the holistic practitioner-client relationship. It is important to determine if students in holistic healthcare programs increase their ESI, and subsequently better serve their clients. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to determine if online education can develop students' ESI at levels similar to that of traditional programs. This study is based on the theory of ESI and transformative learning theory. The sample consisted of 95 students in an online program and 61 in a traditional program. Multiple linear regression, ANCOVA, and Pearson Correlation's were used to explore the relationships between the independent variables professional standing, program delivery method, program progress, and number of classes with elements consistent with transformative learning theory, and the dependent variable emotional-social intelligence, as measured by the EQ-i 2.0 survey. The results of the study revealed no significant differences in the development of ESI between online and traditional methodologies, except within the self-expression category, for which online was higher. The number of transformative classes taken had no effect on the dependent variable. The positive social change implications of this study include a better understanding of the development of ESI for holistic healthcare, which could lead to a greater potential for success, as well as being better able to contribute to the stability of their communities through meeting the needs of those seeking their services. In addition, determining the relationship between transformative theories of learning and ESI development may assist in creating courses better suited to increasing students' ESI.

The need for preparing our youth to live in an interdependent world on this finite planet has become urgent since the beginning of the nuclear age at the end of World War II. There is a need to extend the loyalty of the citizen tor the nation-state to human needs seen from a global view. The involvement of the United States in the international community already is extensive because of its predominant power. This involvement is not reflected in our education, either from the amount of time devoted to social studies in our schools or in the emphasis on international relations in that curriculum. To achieve the global view which our changing society demands it is suggested that some unifying concepts be chosen which cross the various social science disciplines namely, the concepts of change (both violent and non-violent), conflict, authority or power, order, freedom and responsibility. These concepts enable the teacher, using a problem-solving approach, to raise questions which make values explicit, and provide flexibility in subject matter and range of student ability. In a global context, the following specific goals would be encouraged: overcome ethnocentrism, recognize the diversity of faces that the U.S. presents to the world, seek a transnational view based on human rights, emphasize the problem rather than the institution, and seek foreign points of view in source materials. During the 1960s there have been 80me innovations in both subject matter and method in teaching social studies, ranging from entire school systems to single schools and classes, and there are a number of new curricula materials coming out of projects funded by both government and private sources. This thesis has l.dent1tied a number of these with the idea that the teacher who is interested in presenting a global orientation now has a growing number of tools to choose from. He need not wait to construct a new curriculum but can supplement and reorient his approach in his own classroom. However, this implies that the teacher baa a global view already. Opportunities for foreign studies are becoming widespread and, hopefully, more and more teachers will feel they are an essential part of their preparation. Unfortunately, there is very little course preparation for the global view at the college level, where the largest proportion of teachers will develop.-or not develop--an international awareness. The community at the state or local level can often be of considerable help in encouraging this kind of experience for its teachers. It is probable that the more activist role of today’s student has been a factor in the trend toward using the inquiry, or discovery, method in the classroom. Certainly, this method has the advantage, for a global view, of using concepts which' can present controversial subject matter in an open-ended way. It uses the techniques of a scientific approach and enables the social studies to introduce more social science findings of current global concern. Discussion of values becomes an essential element. Such discussion begins with the student's experience, and by exposing him to a clash of personal beliefs there is evidence that motivation is increased and a possible shift in attitudes occurs. The teacher who aims to teach from a global viewpoint will need help, both in keeping abreast of the current curricula and in having available the most recent findings of social science and educational research which could affect the attitudes of his students. In particular, the area of conflict studies has potential for resolving international problems. The teacher, thus, has a key role in preparing future citizens to meet the changes of a global society.

The use of hybrid learning (a blend of face-to-face and distance learning) is rapidly increasing in higher education. However, educational leaders have raised concerns about the proliferation of hybrid programming as an efficiency measure without appropriate attention to learning. This study examined the relationship between social, teaching and cognitive presence, pedagogical design, and students' perspectives on hybrid learning effectiveness. Data from thirty-nine undergraduate courses representing 1,886 students were analyzed to identify indicators of best hybrid practice. Aspects of social and teaching presence significantly influenced students' perceptions of learning, including facilitation of student interactions, assignment feedback and guidance, effective use of class time, and organizational integration of course concepts. Recommendations for hybrid institutional initiatives and programming include attention to framing "presence" in hybrid settings, using integrated inquiry to encourage integrated course design, and encouraging communities of inquiry to promote cross-institutional investigation of hybrid effectiveness.

In this study the trends of social work were examined and the importance of the family in social work practice was identified. The changing role of the school and its relevance to the total welfare of the child was historically documented. The components of the family life education movement were analyzed as were the social forces which contributed to its growth and development. The incorporation of family life education into the schools was reviewed. The active involvement of several disciplines and numerous national organizations, as well as the federal government, was identified in this process. The opposition to family life education being taught in the schools was identified as the problem to be examined in this study. The writer postulated that parents would be in favor of the school's teaching family life education if their knowledge concerning what was being taught was correct. Furthermore, it was hypothesized that if parents did not have correct information they would be more likely to disagree with the school's teaching family life education. A randomly selected parent sample was drawn from an elementary school to test the hypothetical relationship between variables. A pre-test contributed to the development of a questionnaire that was better suited for use in this study. Nine representative family life education topics were included in a matrix format and five questions were asked to measure their knowledge and attitudes. Personal data concerning the age, occupation, ages of children, education, and church affiliation was supplied by the parents. A second instrument was designed to assess what was actually being taught by the teachers of the school. The same topics were used as on the parents' questionnaire. The final response rate for the parents was 87. 5% and for the teachers the return was 65. 3%. Limitations in the data collected prevented the verification of the hypothesized relationship between the variables. However, the parents of this study reflected higher levels of education than anticipated as 60% had completed various levels of college. Their occupations indicated a higher amount of professional and white collar workers than blue collar workers. These parents supported the school's teaching of the family life topics by a definite majority. However, opposition was expressed by 17% of the sample to "human sexuality" being taught. Another 14% opposed teaching "about one's family." A significant finding of this study was the widespread uncertainty by the parents concerning what was being taught. For seven of the nine topics 40% to 60% of the sample was uncertain if it was being taught. Concern for the training and beliefs of those teaching the topics was expressed by 20% of the sample. Further study in the area of the causes of the parental ambivalence concerning the teaching of family life education and the need to compare this study' s findings and the personal profile of these parents to other schools was indicated. The paradox between the parents' support of the school teaching family life education and the uncertainty as to what was actually being taught suggests a need for further study into the causes of this phenomena.