Effective mentoring during teaching practice plays a crucial role on student-teacher learning in order to achieve the required results and goals of higher institutions of learning. This dissertation builds upon how mentor-teachers provide mentoring in an effort to obtain the best possible learning experiences for student-teachers and it contributes to the body of knowledge in the field of mentoring during teaching practice. However, mentor-teachers may be unsure of their role of how-to mentor student-teachers. Thus, affecting the efficacy of such a relationship of mentoring. Although a number of studies have examined the teaching practice programme, there is a considerable lack of literature on how mentor-teachers understand their role in supporting student-teachers during teaching practice. The purpose of this study was to investigate how mentor-teachers understand their role as mentors in order to develop student-teachers during teaching practice. The data for this qualitative study were collected through semi-structured individual interviews of eight mentor-teachers and six student-teachers. The dissertation draws strongly on the work of Peter Hudson who developed the 5-factor mentoring model. The data collected from these interviews were analysed and presented as emerging themes. The study found that many mentor-teachers showed an understanding on what mentoring is, however, they were not sure of what is expected of them as mentors and that tertiary institutions need to do more in order to ensure that mentor-teachers are trained for their role in supporting student-teachers. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to determine fourth-year pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the influence of mentor lecturers on their Professional Teacher Identity (PTI) while on teaching practice. The problem underpinning this study was that the students may not be able to mediate the merging of the academic world with the world of work if the influence of the mentor lecturer is lacking. The significance of this study lies in the student perceptions of the mentor lecturers’ role. The data were collected through the Fourth Years Initiative for Research in Education (FIRE) project. Students reflected in groups on the development of their PTI and the role their mentor lecturers played in this development. In this qualitative, descriptive case study, a document analysis was conducted on transcriptions of the posters that the students created in workshops. The conceptual framework combined a mentorship and a PTI model. The results showed that in PTI development, the mentor lecturers’ influence ranked sixth out of nine. The students felt misunderstood and unsupported. The findings indicate either that the role of the mentor lecturer is a redundant feature of the BEd programme, the mentor lecturer is not meeting the students’ needs, requiring revisitation of the programme, or this millennial generation sample is not open to critical self-reflection and critique. Similar studies may access the mentor lecturers’ perceptions of their own PTI and their influence on their mentees’ PTI development, and why passion for a subject is not a statistically significant influencer of PTI. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Humanities Education / MEd / Unrestricted

We live in an increasingly interconnected world where being bilingual or multilingual is the norm. Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is an effective way to practice important skills for global citizens. The importance of the ability to communicate across cultures in other languages is increasing globally in schools through the expanding use of languages and the inclusion of bilingual education opportunities. It is in school that students can become proficient language users while they learn the content of other language areas. This study presents an overview of four teachers' perceptions of implementing CLIL at the primary school level in Sweden. Hence, the aim is to highlight the effectiveness of CLIL and determine what underlying factors seem to be beneficial and/or challenging when using the method. Four qualitative interviews complemented with four lesson observations were conducted in three international primary schools. The results revealed several success factors, such as heightened skills in oral communication and cognition, increased intercultural awareness and language development. Although the findings showed several beneficial factors, some challenges emerged. For example, the teachers mentioned difficulties in convincing colleagues to participate and in addressing students’ different academic levels in English, as well as the potential loss of vocabulary in their first language when using English exclusively. In sum, perceptions about language and language learning have been shown to highlight both benefits and challenges in using methods such as CLIL. However, CLIL does appear on balance to be effective in that it promotes content learning as well as enhances students’ multilingual development.

Integrated learning systems (ILS) are effective ways to increase academic achievement for students, including those with disabilities. However, many teachers do not fully or properly implement this type of educational technology in their classroom teaching. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to examine the perceptions of high school educators and administrators toward ILS use. The study was grounded in Ely's conditions of change theory. Research questions focused on educators' perceptions of barriers toward implementation of an ILS in the classroom. Participants included 8 inclusive secondary school teachers and 2 local administrators in a rural school system in a southeastern U.S. state. Administrator participants were familiar with the ILS USATestPrep (UTP) and teacher participants had either limited or discontinued their use of that ILS in the classroom. Data were collected through the use of semi structured interviews and then analyzed for key themes. Findings showed that barriers of time, leadership, and available resources affected full implementation of the technological program in the local setting. Recommendations for future technology implementation included encouraging school leaders to provide teachers with time for implementation and pursue grant funding to minimize the impact of insufficient technological resources. Improving access to an ILS such as UTP may help teachers enhance the learning of students including those with disabilities and foster positive student successes and social change in the school and community environments.

This autoethnographic study details the researcher’s experiences as a high school student and as a new teacher—which eventually led to the creation, implementation, and 8-year life cycle of Mount Logan Discovery, a sixth-grade integrated outdoor experiential learning program in a public middle school. Routine field experiences established academic background knowledge, fostered relationships, built confidence, and provided purpose for curriculum standards. Perspectives of parents, students, colleagues, administrators, and donors add detail. This study responds to calls qualitative studies that focus on how outdoor programs are conducted, the descriptions of experiences and perceptions of students and parents, and how participants were changed through outdoor experiential learning programs. The primary research question was: What are the lived experiences of the researcher as a founder of a public middle school outdoor experiential learning program, from its inception to its closure? Though outdoor experiential learning is the main theme, this study is also about teaching reading and writing in authentic contexts, integrated science, and the struggle for constructivist-minded educators to humanize schools within high-stakes testing culture. From a theoretical standpoint, this is a story of constructivism in praxis. Participants described that outdoor field experiences improved their attitude towards school, their overall confidence, fostered relationships, established a strong classroom community, and boosted their academic performance. Students and parents emphasized the impact integrating literacy with field programs had on their writing and reading skills. Other themes that surfaced include the role of field experiences in building character and allowing students to find joy and happiness in the learning process. Parents and students alike indicated outdoor field experiences had a lasting impact on participants lives. The analysis also identifies six steps for putting principles of constructivism into practice in schools, recommendations for implementing new programs, and components of effective field programs. The narrative spurs parents, educators, administrators, and lawmakers to reflect on what really matters in schools. Until we change the way schools are evaluated, outdoor experiential learning programs like Mount Logan Discovery, and other attempts to enrich students’ educational experiences, will always exist on the fringes and in the shadows of public education, fighting for sustainability.

English has been on the rise on the global stage for the last half century, and is now the most studied second language, being used regularly in international academia, social and mainstream media and international relations. In Sweden, the increase in the use of English is particularly noticeable in the country’s higher education system, with recent studies reporting a significant increase in English as the language of instruction. Although Sweden has a generally high proficiency in English, recent reports show a number of students feel insecure in using English at universities. A possible pedagogical method to address students' uncertainty is Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). While there is much research regarding CLIL, the research is divided on its efficacy best practices, and research is limited in the Swedish context. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the beliefs and practices of CLIL among upper secondary English teachers in Sweden in order to add to the body of knowledge surrounding CLIL use, especially in the Swedish context. Data collection was done with a survey sent out to 260 schools in Sweden. The results of the study are limited in scope and depth due to very low response rates (n=8), but tentative conclusions may be drawn from it that support earlier findings, such as the importance of certain contextual factors in the school. The study concludes that CLIL is indeed an appreciated tool among the teachers asked, and that any teacher who is considering using it should ensure that the school environment is one that facilitates CLIL rather than hinders it.

An integrated learning experience with preschoolers.

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between time spent on an integrated learning system (ILS) entitled, SuccessMaker®, as a supplement to traditional mathematics instruction on achievement as measured by standardized achievement tests of elementary students. The variables of grade-level, ability level, and gender were also considered. The population consisted of students who were second-, third-, and fourth-graders during the 1997-98 school year. Data were gathered that covered the three-year period beginning in 1997 and ending in 2000. The final sample consisted of 348 students who participated in Computer Curriculum Corporation© mathematics instruction and who completed the Terra Nova in 1997-98, 1998-99, and 1999-2000. Analysis of Variance was used to identify any relationship between variables. The study's investigation of the relationship between ILS use and mathematics achievement could assist educators in planning for use of technology as a supplement to traditional instruction. While the information gleaned is specifically beneficial to Greeneville City Schools, other school systems seeking information on the relationship between ILS use and achievement will find this study constructive, especially when viewed in conjunction with the existing body of literature. Findings in this study were mixed. ILS use was associated with positive effects, negative effects, and no effects. It was noted that negative effects occurred during the year with the lowest overall usage. No interaction effects were found in any of the models, indicating that the ILS did not have differing effects for boys or girls or for students of varying ability levels. Positive effects of the ILS, Math Concepts and Skills (MCS), on math composite scale scores were noted at grades two and three, while students at grades four, five, and six were either unaffected or negatively affected by the use of MCS. Math Investigations (MI), although used on a very limited basis during the course of this study, had a positive effect overall on math composite scale scores. Clearly, when math gain was the dependent variable, there were no effects demonstrated by use of MCS or MI.

No description available.

Is it possible for technological �spaces� to be created that can provide a community atmosphere � one in which learners are not restrained by pre-determined syllabi and have the ability to direct their learning according to their own interests, pace and goals? If so, it would be notable to discover which kinds of interactions might be possible, or might eventuate, and how the participants in such a learning �space� would organize themselves. Also of interest would be the kinds of power structures that emerged through participant interaction, the direction/interactions undertaken by the participants and the improvements that could be made in order to respect and accommodate the differences between learners in a social online learning space. In order to further study this hypothesised need to investigate these questions, this researcher developed an online, English as a Second/Foreign Language learning environment for advanced adult learners of English. She reviewed the appropriate literature in order to theorise how to commence this research direction and investigated various learning platforms and software tools. The result was the development of a multiplatform environment which consisted of a content management system and a 3D microworld. Tools, exercises and content were developed and/or gathered as starting points for learners and the various software had to be learnt in order to orient others on their use. Finally, the environment was trialed over a four week duration with a group of advanced to native speakers of English (volunteers) and the results have been presented in this thesis for discussion. The trial, entitled the ILE Project, attempted to study the problems involved in the technical development of such spaces, to observe the interactions between the learners in a 3D microworld and uncover issues relating to its implementation. Some issues raised by the project concerned techno-literacy, personality-driven interaction differences and organizational power shifts within the 3D community. This thesis closes with an argument that redefines the notion of the learner autonomy, proposes certain modifications to both the pedagogic and technical structure of the online environment and discusses the issues raised in this research. The latter discussion would require further re-conceptualization of the spaces, stakes and support structures that educators can create/provide in an attempt to improve online language learning.