Spelling is often a lightning rod in discussions on literacy. The general public, as well as educators, often judge the state of literacy by the occurrence of accurate, conventional spelling (Templeton & Morris, 1999). The purpose of this study was to reveal how students employ strategies in their spelling and how spelling strategies were being taught in their classrooms. This study also sought to uncover teachers, parents, and students perspectives and knowledge regarding spelling.<p>Case studies of six elementary school students were conducted. Each student was interviewed, along with their teachers and one of their parents. Students also filled out a self-reflection form. Students and teachers were observed in their classroom setting.<p>Findings indicated that students used a variety of strategies. The primary strategy articulated was sounding out; the better spellers also used analogy and visualization. Students knew and often used the strategies encouraged by their teachers and parents. The literature linked the processes of reading, spelling and writing. Most of the participants mentioned the connection between reading and spelling, but failed to recognize the importance of writing for spelling. A third finding was that the teachers had adopted new methods for teaching spelling but had not altered their role to provide for increased learning.<p> Implications for practice include suggestions for combined methods for teaching spelling, explicit teaching of strategies for all students, and teacher education that includes reflection and action (Ritchie & Wilson, 2000, p. 88).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-79).

Based on first-person interviews and lesbian archival documents, this thesis explores the stories of eleven white, middle-class, self-identified lesbians who were born between 1949 and 1960 and who come of age beginning in the 1970s. It traces their life trajectories and examines such themes as the coming out process as it related to family, religion, and other life events; the cultural and political environment that influenced them; their involvement in various forms of lesbian feminist political activism; their varied professional contributions, and their reflections on the future of “the lesbian” as an embodied gendered, sexual, and political identity. In documenting their narratives, my aim is to add their voices and their experiences of struggle, survival, and accomplishment to the Canadian historical canon. / Graduate / 0334 / jantrainor2010@gmail.com

ANALYSIS AND INFORMATIVE INTERVIEWS TO AID IN THE PERFORMANCE PRACTICE OF THE CONCERTO FOR MARIMBA AND STRING ORCHESTRA BY ERIC EWAZENThe research found in this document will assist in a performer's preparation of Dr. Eric Ewazen's Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra. In order to give an informed performance of the work, it is this author's belief that an understanding of the collaboration between the composer and the premiering artist, Ms. She-e Wu, as well as the impact Ms. Wu's artistry had on Dr. Ewazen is paramount. Also, knowledge of Dr. Ewazen's compositional style, reference to his other works for percussion, and an understanding of the structure of the work will assist future performers in demonstrating a well-versed and rewarding performance of the piece. This study presents insightful interviews from both the composer and the premiering artist. These interviews offer a wealth of understanding into the composition and performance of the work. The performance practice suggestions offer tools to interpret and prepare the piece. Though the Concerto may be a challenge for many marimbists, this author hopes that future performers find the rewards in this well-constructed and exciting work after reading this document.

Nature is in many ways considered a source to both physical and mental health among people. Trends in today’s society reveal that children become more distanced to nature. Seen from the perspective of sustainable development this trend is considered crucial: it is of importance that children in their early ages experience nature positively in order to develop a dedication towards environmental issues as adults. The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers use outdoor learning as an educational tool. Research data were collected through a series of interviews. Teachers from two different primary schools were interviewed, and one of the schools is oriented towards outdoor education. The data were analyzed based on the teachers’ ideas of children’s attitudes towards, and possibilities to, spending time in their natural surroundings. The results show that all participating teachers are of the opinion that children today generally spend less time outdoors. This could partly be connected to the increased range of technical products that makes spending time indoors more appealing. The parents’ influence in terms of passing on their attitudes towards nature to their children is considered an important factor. The teachers use their understanding of the pupils’ needs of outdoor experiences as a starting point in their outdoor educational activities. All participating teachers emphasize health, outdoor activities, environmental education and both personal and social development as significant parts of outdoor education. Our conclusion based on this study emphasizes the ability to mediate sustainable approaches towards nature as an important part of teachers’ work in outdoor education. The teachers are committed to their work with passion and consequently they provide positive nature experiences to the pupils. Perhaps emotion and empathy for nature is the most significant part of what teachers pass on to their pupils through outdoor education with an aim for sustainable development.

My examination project during spring 2011 has been carried out in collaboration with DuoBad, a bathroom furniture company situated in Alsterbro, Småland. Their focus is to develop, manufacture and market bathroom furnitures with genuine craftsmanship. Through their partnership with some of the most influential manufacturers of quality bathroom products they can create an entirely new room to enjoy.I initiated the collaboration with DuoBad for the examination project and have not started from a specific task, but together with the company I have been focused on adding new thinking regarding storage in bathroom furniture.The goal with the project has been to, together with DuoBad, develop a conceptual set of bathroom furniture that provides new ways of storing.The project was a close collaboration with users where experience gained through contextual interviews became the main source of inspiration.The result of the project is a bathroom furniture serie called Mill. The name comes from the manufacturing technique of milling, which is the identifying form language of the product.

An individual's sex and associated gender-role expectations exert a primary influence on one's sense of self and nearly all the individual's interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this research project is to investigate how male counsellors experience the phenomenon of being a man, relative to issues associated with his sex and gender-role expectations, in the field of counselling. Because the emphasis is on the experience of sex and gender-role issues for male counsellors a phenomenological research method was chosen. Seven male counsellors were interviewed. The investigator conducted two interviews with each counsellor. The initial interview was designed to elicit the person's experiences of the phenomenon of being a male counsellor. After a preliminary analysis of this interview, a summary was prepared and shared with the respondent during the follow up interview. The purpose of this meeting was to verify the interpretation of the previous interview and to offer the individual an opportunity to supplement or modify his remarks. The interviews were transcribed by the investigator and analyzed using a method described by Karlsson (1993). The analysis of the data yielded three general categories of experience. They were experiences related to gender-role stereotyping, the experience of erotic feelings and the experience of being a man in a field in which they are a minority. A fourth category, which described the experience of the interviews, was included to further illuminate the results. for counsellor training, consultation The findings are discussed in light of previous research and include suggestions and further research.

This project presents an overview of the social interactions that play a role in the development of a work culture that many nurses find hostile. strong evidence that many factors are related to the nursing shortage contributing role in creating a hostile nursing work culture. These factors include patient workload, a lack of consistent mentoring, gender inequality, stealing, and educational disparity among nurses. Some proposed achieving a more cohesive work culture and providing more effects may require providing veteran nurses with training in the latest me It could also be helpful to provide strong leadership training, emphasize team building, develop more team cohesion over individualism, and aggressively recruiting men to alleviate the nursing shortage. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Older adults of the 21st century have not grown up with information and communication technology and may not have used computers in their working lives. However, they have experienced the many technological changes of the 20th century. Some changes have fundamentally altered communication, entertainment, and the kinds of knowledge and skills that are sought and valued. These changes are difficult to ignore because of their pervasiveness. In order to actively participate in their lifeworlds older adults face an imperative to adapt and meet new challenges. The purpose of this research was to investigate and interpret the lived experience of laterlife computer learners in non-formal learning environments. The research focused on the interpretation and understanding of the learning experience from the perspective of participants. Hence there is an ontological thread that is grounded in the lifeworld of older adults in Sydney, Australia. A hermeneutic phenomenological methodology was considered suitable because of its emphasis on understanding the lived experience of humans. A qualitative method was used in this study because it enabled existential insights into the learning experience from the perspective of learners and privileged their voices. Fourteen older adults volunteered to participate and were interviewed. Participants identified themselves as laterlife beginning computer learners. Interviews were audio-taped and analysed using an interpretative case study approach. Other analytic tools used were grounded theory, thematic analysis and narrative inquiry. Existential themes were identified and interpreted within a framework of wellbeing. The research found that participants engaged in learning optimistically and that they believed in their abilities and also in the worth of the learning they were undertaking. The learners believed the outcomes from learning would lead to greater opportunity for participation in their lifeworld. Without computer skills and knowledge they believed they would be ignored and relegated to a peripheral position as observers in their lifeworld. By undertaking learning they believed they were taking control of their current and future lives, acting in defiance of developmental theories that suggested ageing was a stage of life and not a process. However, the sense of agency and purpose was not without its pressures and hurdles and learning was perceived to be difficult, dynamic, frustrating and immensely satisfying. Their purposes and expectations were situated in the changing nature of the world and a desire to continue to live their lives authentically, as participants and not spectators. Laterlife computer learners in this study were seen to be learning and growing their lives into a future of their making.

The existing scholarship on women in China suggests that gender inequality still exists against the background of the country’s reform and opening in recent years. However, the situation of women in enterprise ownership and leadership seems to indicate that under the surface of women being disadvantaged, some of them are playing a more active and significant role in China’s economic development. Based on a series of interviews with women enterprise owners, wives of enterprise owners and women managers conducted in three localities in three difference provinces of China, this research aims to discover the deeper socio-political realities of leading women in enterprises. By analyzing information on these women’s personal experiences, career and families, this thesis investigates their status at work and at home, as well as their connections with local politics. The research results suggest that although traces of gender inequality can still be found in these women’s lives, they appear to be actively engaged in the business establishment and operation and gradually casting off the leash of domestic responsibilities. At the same time, these women have developed strong connections with the Party-state, not necessarily in their own right, but largely through their family ties. The research has also highlighted that the varied socio-economic development of each locality has its effects on these women’s development.