A progressiva virtualização dos materiais educacionais e a ascendente proliferação de linguagens híbridas na internet vêm desafiando a educação a concentrar-se não somente na dimensão inteligível, como também nas qualidades sensíveis presentes nos recursos de aprendizagem. A semiótica tem oferecido subsídios teóricos e metodológicos para o refinamento e qualificação na comunicação desses recursos, enquanto objetos estratégicos de significação a serem percebidos pelo educando. A pressuposição trabalhada nesta tese é de que há um descompasso nos inúmeros modos de gerar som e imagem em movimento, preponderantemente apoiados em saberes técnicos e tecnológicos, em detrimento de teorias com perspectiva de leitura da multiplicidade de produções culturais da contemporaneidade. Tem como objetivo compreender os processamentos expressivos e os mecanismos semânticos de articulação intra e intersistêmicas de diferentes linguagens no audiovisual, que resultam da reunião de traços das partes heterogêneas em uma totalidade de significação. Como referencial teórico-metodológico, utilizam-se conceitos da semiótica discursiva, focalizando o estudo das linguagens sincréticas. Essa teoria ofereceu as bases para articular as dimensões sensíveis e inteligíveis ao conceito de sincretismo no exame do corpus selecionado. O recorte para investigar essa articulação circunscreve um exercício de leitura de três vídeos, qualificados como textos sincréticos: Fallingwater (2007), L’altro (2009) e Jarbas Agnelli: Birds on the wires, a história e a música por trás de uma foto (2009). A análise qualitativa focalizou os procedimentos de sincretização, através das relações estabelecidas entre as diferentes linguagens, identificadas ora por superposição de traços, ora por homologação de categorias. Destas análises é possível depreender que as substâncias visuais, verbais e sonoras não podem ser pensadas como meros recursos da expressão que reforçam ou enfatizam elementos do conteúdo. Essas substâncias não somente podem criar efeitos de iconicidade pela sua figuratividade, como também chamam atenção para a enunciação, participando efetivamente da construção do sentido nas experiências de leitura. Tais relações desvelam um universo complexo pautado por conceitos como complementação, reiteração, contraste e diferenciação de elementos topológicos, eidéticos e cromáticos do plano de expressão, em articulação com os componentes sintáticos e semânticos do percurso gerativo de sentido que integra o plano de conteúdo. Destaca-se a pertinência dos elementos de análise constituídos por esses dois planos da linguagem, nas suas relações com as dimensões do sensível e do inteligível, para a compreensão dos textos contemporâneos de natureza multifacetada e polissêmica. Observa-se que os efeitos de sentido produzidos por meio dos processos de sincretização das diferentes linguagens nos vídeos estudados contribuem para a pesquisa na área da educação, por desvelar as inter-relações dos termos subjacentes ao texto sincrético como um todo. Em situações de ensino e aprendizagem, eles permitem aos sujeitos docente e discente desenvolverem reflexões e competências de leitura, ao propiciar as análises dos eixos da manifestação e da imanência em textos audiovisuais. / The progressive virtualization of educational materials and the rising proliferation of hybrid languages on the internet have challenged education to focus, not only on the intelligible dimension, but also the sensible qualities present in learning resources. Semiotics has offered theoretical and methodological support for the refinement and qualification on communicating these resources, as objects of strategic signification to be perceived by the student. The assumption worked in this thesis is that there is a mismatch in the many ways of generating sound and moving images, mainly supported by technical and technological knowledge, in preference to theories in reading perspectives of the multiplicity of contemporaneity cultural productions. This work aims at understanding the expressive processes and semantic mechanisms of intra and inter-systemic linkages of different languages in audiovisual, which result in reunited features of the heterogeneous parts into a totality of signification. As a theoretical and methodological framework, we use the concepts of semiotic discourse, focusing on the study of syncretic languages. This theory has provided the basis for articulating both sensible and intelligible dimension to the concept of syncretism in the examination of the selected corpus. The clipping to investigate this linkage circumscribes an exercise in reading three videos, described as syncretic texts: Fallingwater (2007), L'altro (2009), and Jarbas Agnelli: Birds on the wires, a história e a música por trás de uma foto (2009). Qualitative analysis focused procedures of syncretization through the relationships established between different languages, sometimes identified by overlapping features, other times by approval of categories. From these analyzes it is possible to conclude that the visual, verbal, and sound substances cannot be thought of as mere resources of expression that reinforce or emphasize elements of the content. These substances can not only create effects of iconicity by its figurativeness, but also draw attention to the enunciation, effectively participating in the construction of meaning in reading experiences. These relationships reveal a complex universe guided by concepts such as complementation, reiteration, contrast, and differentiation of topological elements, eidetic and chromatic in the expression plan, along with the syntactic and semantic components of the generative process of meaning that integrates the content plan. The relevance of the analysis made by these two plans of language, in its relation with the dimensions of the sensible and the intelligible, to understand the multifaceted and polysemic nature of contemporary texts, is highlighted. It is observed that the effects of meaning, produced through syncretization processes of different languages in the videos studied, contribute to research in the area of education by unveiling the interrelationships of the terms underlying the syncretic text as a whole. In situations of teaching and learning, they enable that faculty and students develop reflections and reading skills, by providing analyzes of the axis of manifestation and immanence in audiovisual texts.

A progressiva virtualização dos materiais educacionais e a ascendente proliferação de linguagens híbridas na internet vêm desafiando a educação a concentrar-se não somente na dimensão inteligível, como também nas qualidades sensíveis presentes nos recursos de aprendizagem. A semiótica tem oferecido subsídios teóricos e metodológicos para o refinamento e qualificação na comunicação desses recursos, enquanto objetos estratégicos de significação a serem percebidos pelo educando. A pressuposição trabalhada nesta tese é de que há um descompasso nos inúmeros modos de gerar som e imagem em movimento, preponderantemente apoiados em saberes técnicos e tecnológicos, em detrimento de teorias com perspectiva de leitura da multiplicidade de produções culturais da contemporaneidade. Tem como objetivo compreender os processamentos expressivos e os mecanismos semânticos de articulação intra e intersistêmicas de diferentes linguagens no audiovisual, que resultam da reunião de traços das partes heterogêneas em uma totalidade de significação. Como referencial teórico-metodológico, utilizam-se conceitos da semiótica discursiva, focalizando o estudo das linguagens sincréticas. Essa teoria ofereceu as bases para articular as dimensões sensíveis e inteligíveis ao conceito de sincretismo no exame do corpus selecionado. O recorte para investigar essa articulação circunscreve um exercício de leitura de três vídeos, qualificados como textos sincréticos: Fallingwater (2007), L’altro (2009) e Jarbas Agnelli: Birds on the wires, a história e a música por trás de uma foto (2009). A análise qualitativa focalizou os procedimentos de sincretização, através das relações estabelecidas entre as diferentes linguagens, identificadas ora por superposição de traços, ora por homologação de categorias. Destas análises é possível depreender que as substâncias visuais, verbais e sonoras não podem ser pensadas como meros recursos da expressão que reforçam ou enfatizam elementos do conteúdo. Essas substâncias não somente podem criar efeitos de iconicidade pela sua figuratividade, como também chamam atenção para a enunciação, participando efetivamente da construção do sentido nas experiências de leitura. Tais relações desvelam um universo complexo pautado por conceitos como complementação, reiteração, contraste e diferenciação de elementos topológicos, eidéticos e cromáticos do plano de expressão, em articulação com os componentes sintáticos e semânticos do percurso gerativo de sentido que integra o plano de conteúdo. Destaca-se a pertinência dos elementos de análise constituídos por esses dois planos da linguagem, nas suas relações com as dimensões do sensível e do inteligível, para a compreensão dos textos contemporâneos de natureza multifacetada e polissêmica. Observa-se que os efeitos de sentido produzidos por meio dos processos de sincretização das diferentes linguagens nos vídeos estudados contribuem para a pesquisa na área da educação, por desvelar as inter-relações dos termos subjacentes ao texto sincrético como um todo. Em situações de ensino e aprendizagem, eles permitem aos sujeitos docente e discente desenvolverem reflexões e competências de leitura, ao propiciar as análises dos eixos da manifestação e da imanência em textos audiovisuais. / The progressive virtualization of educational materials and the rising proliferation of hybrid languages on the internet have challenged education to focus, not only on the intelligible dimension, but also the sensible qualities present in learning resources. Semiotics has offered theoretical and methodological support for the refinement and qualification on communicating these resources, as objects of strategic signification to be perceived by the student. The assumption worked in this thesis is that there is a mismatch in the many ways of generating sound and moving images, mainly supported by technical and technological knowledge, in preference to theories in reading perspectives of the multiplicity of contemporaneity cultural productions. This work aims at understanding the expressive processes and semantic mechanisms of intra and inter-systemic linkages of different languages in audiovisual, which result in reunited features of the heterogeneous parts into a totality of signification. As a theoretical and methodological framework, we use the concepts of semiotic discourse, focusing on the study of syncretic languages. This theory has provided the basis for articulating both sensible and intelligible dimension to the concept of syncretism in the examination of the selected corpus. The clipping to investigate this linkage circumscribes an exercise in reading three videos, described as syncretic texts: Fallingwater (2007), L'altro (2009), and Jarbas Agnelli: Birds on the wires, a história e a música por trás de uma foto (2009). Qualitative analysis focused procedures of syncretization through the relationships established between different languages, sometimes identified by overlapping features, other times by approval of categories. From these analyzes it is possible to conclude that the visual, verbal, and sound substances cannot be thought of as mere resources of expression that reinforce or emphasize elements of the content. These substances can not only create effects of iconicity by its figurativeness, but also draw attention to the enunciation, effectively participating in the construction of meaning in reading experiences. These relationships reveal a complex universe guided by concepts such as complementation, reiteration, contrast, and differentiation of topological elements, eidetic and chromatic in the expression plan, along with the syntactic and semantic components of the generative process of meaning that integrates the content plan. The relevance of the analysis made by these two plans of language, in its relation with the dimensions of the sensible and the intelligible, to understand the multifaceted and polysemic nature of contemporary texts, is highlighted. It is observed that the effects of meaning, produced through syncretization processes of different languages in the videos studied, contribute to research in the area of education by unveiling the interrelationships of the terms underlying the syncretic text as a whole. In situations of teaching and learning, they enable that faculty and students develop reflections and reading skills, by providing analyzes of the axis of manifestation and immanence in audiovisual texts.

The impact of Internet technology on critical thinking is of growing interest among researchers. However, there still remains much to explore in terms of how critical thinking can be fostered through online environments for higher education. Ten years ago, Garrison, Anderson, and Archer (2000) published an article describing the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework which provided an outline of three core elements that were able to describe and measure a collaborative and positive educational experience in an online learning environment, namely teaching presence (design, facilitation, and direct instruction), social presence (the ability of learners to project themselves socially and emotionally), and cognitive presence (the extent to which learners are able to construct and confirm meaning through sustained reflection and discourse). This dissertation extends the body of research surrounding the CoI framework and also the literature on developing critical thinking in online environments by examining and exploring the extent to which teaching and social presence contribute to cognitive presence. The researcher was able to do this by offering 189 learners enrolled in 10 research methods courses and educational research courses an opportunity to use an innovative online resource (Research Design Learning Resource – RDLR) to assist them in learning about educational research and developing research proposals. By exploring how participants used this resource the researcher was able to gain insight into what factors contributed to a successful online learning experience and fostered cognitive presence. Quantitative and qualitative research approaches (mixed methods) were used in this study. The quantitative results indicated that both social and teaching presence had a strong positive relationship with cognitive presence and that learners generally perceived to have a positive learning experience using the RDLR. The qualitative findings helped elaborate the significant quantitative results and were organised into the following themes: making connections, multiple perspectives, resource design, being a self-directed learner, learning strategies, learning preferences, and barriers to cognitive presence. Future directions for critical thinking in online environments are discussed.

Technology has become a fundamental yet dynamic component of modern society, affecting almost every structure within it. However, education has been slow to change relative to the acceptance and use of technology in teaching and learning contexts. This research seeks to begin to bridge this technological chasm by examining what considerations a teacher instructional designer needs to be mindful of when designing a substantial Web-based learning resource. The researcher employs a qualitative methodology through the compilation of field notes and narratives describing the experiences and observations of a classroom teacher employing the ADDIE instructional design model to develop a Web-based learning resource for two high-school level Marketing courses. The researcher has maintained a unique triad of professional roles throughout this project, including teacher, instructional designer, and researcher. The findings of this research emphasize the interrelationships between the three key conceptual areas: reflective practice, instructional design, and Web design.

Technology has become a fundamental yet dynamic component of modern society, affecting almost every structure within it. However, education has been slow to change relative to the acceptance and use of technology in teaching and learning contexts. This research seeks to begin to bridge this technological chasm by examining what considerations a teacher instructional designer needs to be mindful of when designing a substantial Web-based learning resource. The researcher employs a qualitative methodology through the compilation of field notes and narratives describing the experiences and observations of a classroom teacher employing the ADDIE instructional design model to develop a Web-based learning resource for two high-school level Marketing courses. The researcher has maintained a unique triad of professional roles throughout this project, including teacher, instructional designer, and researcher. The findings of this research emphasize the interrelationships between the three key conceptual areas: reflective practice, instructional design, and Web design.

Technology has become a fundamental yet dynamic component of modern society, affecting almost every structure within it. However, education has been slow to change relative to the acceptance and use of technology in teaching and learning contexts. This research seeks to begin to bridge this technological chasm by examining what considerations a teacher instructional designer needs to be mindful of when designing a substantial Web-based learning resource. The researcher employs a qualitative methodology through the compilation of field notes and narratives describing the experiences and observations of a classroom teacher employing the ADDIE instructional design model to develop a Web-based learning resource for two high-school level Marketing courses. The researcher has maintained a unique triad of professional roles throughout this project, including teacher, instructional designer, and researcher. The findings of this research emphasize the interrelationships between the three key conceptual areas: reflective practice, instructional design, and Web design. / Education, Faculty of (Okanagan) / Graduate

Van der Horst, H van R. / With the introduction in 1998 of Outcomes-Based Education in South Africa, educators will no longer be passive recipients of a curriculum developed within the ivory towers of a Department of Education. Curriculum development will be the task of every educator at the site of delivery. Media articles have painted a gloomy picture of the calibre of educator expected to manage the demands of Outcomes-Based Education. The researcher is of the opinion that there are many dedicated educators willing to accept the historic nature of the journey which lies ahead of them, and who, with the adoption of an encouraging, supportive approach to professional development, will be willing to work with, adapt, modify and improve the Outcomes-Based curriculum presented to them. Educators need to assume responsibility for the professional development of Learning Programmes and the learner support materials to ensure that learners get to grips with the new curriculum. This task can be achieved through high-quality in-service education, training and re-training of educators. This study describes workshops developed by the researcher to familiarise the educators with the Specific Outcomes Framework of Curriculum 2005, and to develop an in-depth understanding of the Specific Outcomes without which, the educators would be at a loss to develop meaningful Learning Programmes. Examples of Learning Programmes developed by some of the participating educators over a period of twelve months indicate the levels of proficiency attained through close monitoring and assistance offered by the researcher. Outcomes-Based Education has been successful where all involved have taken on the challenge to do their best and as we collectively strive to improve the standard of education in South Africa, let us, in the words of Jane Hofmeyer (Article (b),Sunday Times, 25/10/98), "look forward to the day when every child as an educational birthright, can claim access to competent, caring and committed teachers and schools that are organised for success." / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

South Africa‟s recent participation in the national, regional and international studies revealed that the South African learners perform poorly in mathematics when compared with other same-level learners in other participating countries. In response to the results, the Department of Basic Education implemented intervention strategies such as Foundations for Learning and the Systemic Evaluation among others to enhance learner performance in mathematics. This study investigated the role of Grade R teachers in creating a conducive environment for learning numeracy using schools in the Vhuronga circuit of the Vhembe District in South Africa as case studies. The investigation encompassed: (a) the extent to which Grade R teachers create a conducive environment for learning numeracy; (b) how Grade R teachers are implementing the numeracy curriculum and (c) classroom factors that influence approaches teachers employ during numeracy teaching. A qualitative methodology using case study research design was adopted for collecting data in Grade R classrooms at Vhuronga. Interviews, observation, and document analyses ensured valid data. Qualitative data analysis involved coding and categorizing patterns from field notes in order to identify themes for discussion. The study established that inadequate resources which include limited classroom space, lack of appropriate learning materials, furniture, and in-service teacher training programmes, were impediments that restricted Grade R teachers from creating a conducive environment for learning numeracy. The study further established that whole-class teaching dominated numeracy lessons. A few teachers who taught small classes implemented a variety of play-based activities that encouraged interaction and exploration of adequate learning materials in small-groups in order to create a conducive environment for learning numeracy. In contrast, most teachers with large classes considered the classroom layout fixed. The teachers arranged the desks in rows and engaged the whole-class in similar learning activities. Additionally, the study established the need for ongoing training to refine and update teachers‟ skills in creating well organized classrooms that are conducive for numeracy learning. The study recommends that the Department of Basic Education should create opportunies for Grade R teachers to participate in regular in-service training that emphasize practical work, in order to strengthen their capacity in creating conducive classrooms for learning numeracy and ensure quality education. / Mathematics Education / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Van der Horst, H van R. / With the introduction in 1998 of Outcomes-Based Education in South Africa, educators will no longer be passive recipients of a curriculum developed within the ivory towers of a Department of Education. Curriculum development will be the task of every educator at the site of delivery. Media articles have painted a gloomy picture of the calibre of educator expected to manage the demands of Outcomes-Based Education. The researcher is of the opinion that there are many dedicated educators willing to accept the historic nature of the journey which lies ahead of them, and who, with the adoption of an encouraging, supportive approach to professional development, will be willing to work with, adapt, modify and improve the Outcomes-Based curriculum presented to them. Educators need to assume responsibility for the professional development of Learning Programmes and the learner support materials to ensure that learners get to grips with the new curriculum. This task can be achieved through high-quality in-service education, training and re-training of educators. This study describes workshops developed by the researcher to familiarise the educators with the Specific Outcomes Framework of Curriculum 2005, and to develop an in-depth understanding of the Specific Outcomes without which, the educators would be at a loss to develop meaningful Learning Programmes. Examples of Learning Programmes developed by some of the participating educators over a period of twelve months indicate the levels of proficiency attained through close monitoring and assistance offered by the researcher. Outcomes-Based Education has been successful where all involved have taken on the challenge to do their best and as we collectively strive to improve the standard of education in South Africa, let us, in the words of Jane Hofmeyer (Article (b),Sunday Times, 25/10/98), "look forward to the day when every child as an educational birthright, can claim access to competent, caring and committed teachers and schools that are organised for success." / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Magister Educationis - MEd / This thesis is a record and analysis of as well as a commentary on an emancipatory.educational action research project in which I participated at three educare centres serving 0 - 6 year old children in Nyanga, Philippi and Old Crossroads of Cape Town, South Africa. The study sprang from my need to examine closely the work I was doing as a volunteer in the hope of maximizing my efforts to bring about sustainable change in these challenging settings. . Ultimately my goal was safe, healthy and stimulating educare. I chose what I perceived to be a few important areas for improvement which reflected both the teachers' prior educare training as offered in several non-governmental organizations in Cape Town as well as ideas which I contributed from my own readings and studies. Room arrangement to ease flow and promote independent, individual learning was one area. Establishing routines in a daily programme that encouraged children to become interested and responsible members of the educare community, that fairly divided teacher tasks and that increased child/teacher interactions was another area for improvement. The thesis includes a discussion in Chapter 3 of emancipatory educational action research as a good vehicle for the work I undertook with all the teachers in each of the three centres. Central to this choice was my participation in change including change within myself as a volunteer in-service field worker. Flexibility in timing, including delays and many repetitions, were a feature of my work with women whose lives of grinding poverty were at the mercy of tragedy and disaster as well as time-consuming tasks making for absenteeism. The main benefit of this form of research was its potential for growth in self-esteem and empowerment in individual teachers as they witnessed the benefits of their planned work multiply at the centres. I divided the work at each centre into three phases. The first included getting to know the centre, its teachers and children and making decisions around what tasks to undertake. In the same phase the teachers and I began to work on the identified areas. In the second phase, I introduced the teachers to teachers at other successful educare centres so that linkages could be established that would strengthen the work we were doing and broaden their base of support. Ultimately, I intended that this would allow me to decrease my presence and input gradually while change continued at the three centres. The third phase involved the teachers at a centre plowing back their new skills into the wider network of Mustadafin Foundation educare centres in which they were involved and which needed similar assistance. I have presented a new understanding for sustainable change resulting from this study and it is my hope that donors and others involved in community upliftment will understand that continued input and follow-up involvement need to accompany material gifts and intensive upgrading. Finally, I have written what I hope is a very readable thesis so that the teachers involved can read their own and each others' stories as I have done my best to record and interpret them.