This study aims to explore teachers’ experiences of an invitational learning environment in culturally diverse Foundation Phase classrooms. Foundation Phase teachers as well as members from the School Management Team were identified as participants to create in-depth information on the topic of research. An interpretivist research paradigm was used to portray the lived experiences and personal responses of the participants. A combined theoretical framework consisting of the Open Systems Theory and The Invitational Learning Theory guided this research. The literature in this study provides a detailed discussion of Invitation Education (IE) the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in creating invitational learning environments, the relationship between culture and invitational educational, the effects of the environment on invitational teaching and learning. Semi-structured interviews, observation and visual data formed the data collection instruments in this study. Data were coded, examined and emerging themes were identified. The teachers and school management team members who participated in this study shared their insight in invitational learning environments, their methods for creation as well as the challenges that prevented their creation. This research summarised teachers experiences in creating an invitational learning environment and provided valuable techniques to create invitation and methods for overcoming challenges. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Early Childhood Education / MEd / Unrestricted

This study was an investigation of Kolb's experiential learning model and learning styles (LS) in adult students of different learning environments. Previous research utilizing Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) produced results that were often contradictory to expectations based on Kolb's model. Many of these studies were limited in sample sizes or to particular participant education or career fields. The purpose of this study was to identify significant differences in LS of adult students of 3 different learning environments-online, classroom, and combination (blended). A convenience sample of adult learners (N = 180) from a social media site and an online university's participant pool were divided into the 3 learning groups and administered the LSI-3 online. The research questions explored the relationship between LS and demographics (age, sex, ethnicity, course level, and grade point average) and sought to identify differences in LS between learning environments. The results of Spearman's rho suggested that LS may be related to age in online learners and to grade level in classroom students, supporting earlier research suggesting that LS change as one progresses in his or her education program. No relationship between any demographic and LS was identified in the combination group. Results of Kruskal-Wallis analysis showed no significant difference in LS between learning groups, though the majority of the sample population were identified as divergent learners in all groups, also supporting results found in earlier research. This research is significant and may lead to positive social change by aiding in the development of more effective learning environments to provide for better learning experiences by students as well as identifying areas in need of future research.

Studiens syfte är att få djupare kunskap om förskollärares uppfattningar om hur de utformar inkluderande lärmiljöer i verksamhetens inomhusmiljö, där barnens intressen och behov blir tillgodosedda så det bidrar till fortsatt lärande. I studien har vi använt oss av en kvalitativ metod där vi har genomfört halvstrukturerade intervjuer med tio stycken verksamma förskollärare. För att kunna analysera våra resultat har vi använt oss av en fenomenografisk metodansats och analysmodell. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten är ett sociokulturellt perspektiv där vi använt oss av de teoretiska begreppen artefakter, mediering och närmaste utvecklingszonen. Med hjälp av den teoretiska utgångspunkten samt analysmodellen har vi kunnat genomfört två olika analyser av vårt resultat. Resultatet i studien visar variation på vad förskollärare ser för olika möjligheter och begräsningar i utformningen av inkluderande lärmiljöer samt hur lärmiljön bidrar till lärande och utveckling. Slutsatserna påvisar att förskollärares förhållningssätt är en viktig aspekt vid utformningen av inkluderande lärmiljöer och att det endast är förskollärares egen kreativitet som kan sätta stopp för utformningens arbete. / The aim of this study is to gain deeper knowledge about preschool teachers´ perceptions of how they design inclusive learning environments in the indoor environment, where the children´s interests and needs are confirmed so that it contributes to continued learning. In the study we used a qualitative method where we performed semi-structured interviews with ten active preschool teachers. In order to analyze our results, we used a phenomenographic method approach and analysis model. We used a theoretical perspective, and it was a sociocultural perspective where we have used the concept of artefacts, mediating and the zone of proximal development. With the help of the theoretical perspective and the phenomenographic analysis model, we have been able to make two different analyses of our results. The results of this study showed variation on what preschool teachers see for different opportunities and limitations in the design of inclusive learning environments and how it´s contributes to learning and development. The conclusions show that the approach of preschool teacher is an important aspect in the design of inclusive learning environments and that only preschool teachers ‘own creativity can be an obstacle.

No description available.

The purpose of our study is to increase knowledge about how preschool teachers support children's development and learning through the aesthetic forms of expression in preschool education. We chose to use a qualitative study with a phenomenographic methodological approach and this method is based on interviews in a semi-structured form. Through the choice of method, we wanted to capture the preschool teachers' different perceptions of aesthetic forms of expression. Our results show that there are different views on aesthetics and how it is experienced by children and educators. What emerges in our study is that preschool teachers describe that aesthetic forms of expression are about giving children opportunities for varied learning. The result also emphasizes that aesthetic forms of expression are integrated through projects in teaching, which the preschool teachers emphasize is important. They mention that children learn differently and have different conditions for absorbing knowledge and therefore it is good to vary the teaching with aesthetic expressions. Another result that has emerged from our interviews is that aesthetics support children's development and learning because children explore and learn through their senses and use the body in aesthetic forms of expression. / Syftet med vår studie är att öka kunskapen om hur förskollärare gynnar barns utveckling och lärande genom de estetiska uttrycksformerna i förskolans utbildning. Vi valde att använda oss av en kvalitativ studie med en fenomenografisk metodansats och denna metod bygger på intervjuer i en semistrukturerad form. Genom metodvalet ville vi fånga förskollärarnas olika uppfattningar kring estetiska uttrycksformer. Vårt resultat visar att det finns olika synsätt på estetik och hur det upplevs av barn och pedagoger. Det som framkommer i vår studie är att förskollärarna beskriver att estetiska uttrycksformer handlar om att ge barn möjligheter till ett varierat lärande. I resultatet lyfts även att estetiska uttrycksformer integreras genom projekt i undervisningen, vilket förskollärarna lyfter är viktigt. De nämner att barn lär olika och har olika förutsättningar för att ta till sig kunskap och därför är det bra att variera undervisningen med estetiska uttryckssätt. Ett annat resultat som har kommit fram utifrån våra intervjuer är att estetik gynnar barns utveckling och lärande för att barn utforskar och lär genom sina sinnen och använder kroppen i estetiska uttrycksformer.

This thesis is a part of Master Degree within the field of Special Education at Malmö University. The purpose of the research is to elucidate how the supportive material Assessment Tool for Accessible Education of the Swedish National Agency of Special Needs Educations and Schools is being used by educational institutions in Sweden and how it contributes to the change in the learning environment among preschools and schools. The reading provides valuable knowledge for how the agency can develop their support to educational institutions, as well as for the actors of the field to make the learning environment accessible to the students. The study looks at similarities and differences between the inclusive learning environments based on previous research, and the accessible learning environment based on Assessment Tool for Accessible Education. A lot of similarities can be found in the pedagogic and social aspects, while the differences become prominent in aspects of the physical environment which can only be found in accessible learning environments. Further, pros and cons of supporting individual needs in relation to the learning environment are discussed and what consequences it may give rise to for disabled students. Research questions are as follow; Does the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contribute to a change in the learning environment? What developing processes contribute to the change? How should institutions be supported in order to develop the accessible learning environment?Mixed methods have been used for collection of data; a poll was answered by 425 people and interviews were held with nine focus groups from four different institutions, including one group of students. The theoretical frame of the analysis follows the organization theory; learning organization and rational-analytic, interactional, and political perspective. The empiric has been worked through thematically and is presented in a chronological order from when people first came in touch with Assessment Tool for Accessible Education, how the work has been implemented and processed at the institutions, and a description of what changes has been processed and its effects upon the learning environment. Obstacles and factors of success experienced by the respondents as well as the need of support for development are also presented. The results of the research show that the assessment tools contribute to a change in how the pedagogues approach the knowledge of how the learning and development of the students is affected by the learning environment when organizational development exists within the institution. Development launches when structural and cultural conditions exist and are processed which in turn leads to development of the learning organization. The research looks at the consequences when these conditions are lacking. Further, when good conditions exist the learning environments develop. The research shows changes that have been processed through the physical, pedagogic, and social environment. Also, all students receive a higher level of accessibility than disabled students. The conclusion is that the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contributes to a higher level of knowledge regarding the significance of the learning environment which implies changes, provided that organizational development exists within the institution. Keywords: Accessible Learning Environment, Disabilities, Inclusive Learning Environments, Learning Organization, Organization theory, Process

Synthetic Learning Environments (SLEs) represent a hybrid of simulations and games, and in addition to their pedagogical content, rely on elements of story and interactivity to drive engagement with the learning material. The present work examined the differential impact of varying levels of story and interactivity on learning. The 2x2 between subjects design tested learning and retention among 4 different groups of participants, each receiving one of the 4 possible combinations of low and high levels of story and interactivity. Objective assessments of participant performance yielded the unexpected finding that learners using the SLE performed more poorly than any other learning group, including the gold-standard baseline. This result is made even more surprising by the finding that participants rated their enjoyment of and performance in that condition highest among the four conditions in the experiment. This apparent example of metacognitive bias has important implications for understanding how affect, narrative structure, and interactivity impact learning tasks, particularly in synthetic learning environments.

The thesis investigated the use of combination of sections using learning steps in the development of courseware presentation in the 3D Virtual Worlds platform. The technical objective of the study is to present the design of multisection strategy in developing healthcare course in 3D Virtual World online environment. The main aim of this study is to know the effects of multisection [objective, tutorial (with or without video), quiz and test] sections incorporation in an online 3D Virtual World towards the usability. The empirical research described in this thesis comprised three experimental phases. In the first phase, an initial experiment was carried out with 21 users to explore the usability and learning performance of courseware created using 3D the Virtual World platform of Second Life. The second experiment phase involved an experiment conducted with 30 users to investigate their perception, satisfaction and performance of the role of each main section involved in Virtual World courseware. In the third phase, a total of 30 users experimentally examined a unique approach to the use of video segment added in the Tutorial section of the OTQT framework. The overall obtained results demonstrated the usefulness of the tested multisection to enhance the development of healthcare course in an online learning of 3D Virtual World program. These results in three experiments provided a set of unique and empirically derived guidelines for the design and the use of three multisection frameworks to generate more usable courseware in the 3D Virtual Worlds of an online learning interface. For example, when designing avatars as animated virtual lecturers in e-learning interfaces, specific facial expression and body gestures should be incorporated due to its positive influence in enhancing learners¿ attitude towards the learning process.

Syftet med vår kvalitativa studie är att undersöka några förskollärares resonemang kring arbetet med lärmiljöers utformning, samt studera lärmiljöer ur ett tillgänglighetsperspektiv. Genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer med verksamma pedagoger och observationer på deras respektive avdelningar kunde datamaterial samlas in. Detta material har vidare analyserats med hjälp av tematisk analys och de valda teoretiska perspektiven – systemteoretisk perspektiv och The Theory of Affordances. Det som framkommit av det analyserade datamaterialet är att struktur både kan gynna och hämma barns handlingsmöjligheter i lärmiljöerna. Ur ett systemteoretiskt perspektiv påverkar miljön barnen som vistas i den. Tillgängligheten bör anpassas efter de barn som vistas i lärmiljöerna, vilket i sin tur ska ge barn en känsla av självtillit. Däremot kan pedagoger, genom sin barnsyn och sitt sätt att utforma lärmiljöerna, sänka barns självförtroende om inte kraven balanseras. Lärmiljöers tillgänglighet kan påverka barns kreativitet beroende på vad för material och hur materialet erbjuds och presenteras. Därmed spelar det roll i vilken utsträckning förskolorna får ekonomiska resurser för att köpa in material, men även investera i kompetensutveckling för pedagogerna. Kompetensen kring specialpedagogik och inkluderingsarbetet är av största vikt i utformningen av tillgängliga pedagogiska lärmiljöer, då barnen enligt lag och riktlinjer har rätt till en tillgänglig och god lärmiljö. Vi har kunnat identifiera att flertalet förskolor använder sig av pedagogisk dokumentation som en strategi för att kartlägga barns individuella behov och de handlingsmöjligheter som lärmiljöerna erbjuder, för att kunna justera lärmiljön på det mest optimala viset för barngruppen. Dock sker inte detta på ett systematiskt sätt, utan en enda förskola arbetar kontinuerligt med att reflektera över lärmiljön och göra justeringar i utformningen då arbetet med lärmiljöer enligt forskning bör vara föränderlig. Slutligen har vi kunnat studera att tydliggörande pedagogik är en strategi som används på samtliga förskolor på ett eller annat sätt och att det krävs mer forskning om bildstöd i förskolan, då det är ett outforskat område. Många barn är inskrivna i förskolan idag och det ställs höga krav på förskolepedagoger i förskolan idag att möta varje barns unika behov, men det krävs även att resurser och kunskap går i linje med de kriterierna.

Since culturally diverse people need to collaborate in the 21st century, Higher Education adopted global citizenship education (GCE) to promote a cosmopolitan mindset. Learners in the digital era can use various modes of communication, exerting individual agency so that learners can construct global minds through their communication experiences. Blended learning based on learner-centered knowledge construction may provide extended spaces where learners can shape a personally trusted and collectively consensual vision of the global mind. A qualitative evaluation case study explored learners' perception shifts regarding autonomous identity formations and confidence-trust-building in a blended course under GCE. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, semi-structured in-depth online interviews and document analyses on the archive data were adopted to triangulate learners' perceptions and instructors' observations. Findings showed that individuals could shape their global citizen identities through a performative loop of reflection and interaction provided via a blended format. The participants' comfort zone levels influenced different identity formation paths. However, their goals, in the end, were aligned under the idea of engaging in local community activities through lifelong commitment. Intrapersonal and interactional forms of communication solidified self-confidence and collective trust through synergically linked blended learning activities. Overall, global citizen identities have gradually evolved while self-confidence and trust in others have gradually increased through different communication steps. The significance of the study lies in reinforcing the results of prior research about performativity-oriented GCE through a community of people practicing in blended learning environments. Members' hands-on activities while building self-confidence and collective trust through communication helped them shape their collective identity. In these processes, individuals' intrapersonal communication seemed to play an insightful role in effectively connecting reflective and interactive activities. Enhanced credibility by replicating this GCE model in future studies will ensure various organizations and institutions adopt it to shape their members' global visions and build group cohesion.