The researcher proposes working toward a more integrated approach of faith formation in the local church - where one's immediate family plays the central role and the congregation as the extended family functions as a support system. The church as family becomes a community where faith formation is continually nurtured as a lifelong process and by means of all the ministries of the church. The conscious furthering of faith formation should, therefore, not be confined to the ambit of the Sunday School. Its target group cannot be limited to children and adolescents, but should be be broadened to include the adult members, thus serving the totality of the congregation. The researcher proposes an approach where the different generations are not separated in the process of faith formation, but become an integrated learning community where all the different age groups and generations learn from each other and with each other. / Die navorser stel `n meer geïntegreerde benadering tot geloofsvorming binne die plaaslike gemeente voor - waar die gesin of familie die sentrale rol speel en die gemeente as geloofsfamilie as `n ondersteunende sisteem funksioneer. Die gemeente as familie word `n leergemeenskap waar geloofsvorming `n lewenslange proses is en plaasvind binne al die bedienings van die gemeente. Die navorser stel voor dat geloofsvorming nie net beperk moet word tot die tradisionele kategese of "Sondagskool" wat grootliks gerig is op kinders en adolessente nie, maar verbreed moet word om alle gelowiges van alle ouderdomme in te sluit en so die gemeente as geloofsfamilie te dien. Die navorser stel `n benadering voor waar die verskillende generasies nie van mekaar geskei word in die proses van geloofsvorming nie, maar `n geïntegreerde leergemeenskap vorm waar al die verskillende ouderdomsgroepe en generasies saam met mekaar, asook by mekaar kan leer. / Social work / M. Diac. (Youth Work)

The implementation of educational reform in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imposes a change agent role on secondary school department heads however the assistance-intensive process is inhibited by the current educational structure. As the concept of teacher empowerment becomes accepted, some department heads have the ability to develop a professional learning community while others are unable to do so. The present study considers the present and ideal role of the department head as a change agent facilitating the implementation of educational reform in the UAE. A sequential mixed method mode of inquiry with two phases was employed. In phase one, department heads were profiled from a self, superior and subordinate perspective and a conceptual framework related to patterns of effective change agent behaviour was developed. Findings show that effective change agent characteristics of department heads included priorities related to change implementation and teacher support, a collaborative leadership style, seven strategies related to a participatory, supportive and facilitative approach and ten skills that motivate, energise and encourage teachers. The identification of two ineffective department heads by teacher informants in phase one provided an opportunity to study the work of effective and ineffective department heads as cases in-depth. Case study findings confirm the conceptual framework because effective heads were rated high for all characteristics identified, while ineffective heads were rated low. All department heads accepted the change agent role unofficially with no additional time release, but effective heads took ownership of the process and empowered teachers while ineffective heads provided assistance on request. Effective heads used interpersonal skills and asserted themselves as technical experts while ineffective heads were passive and were considered to be traditional teachers. Strategies and skills employed by effective heads included resource linking, collaborative problem solving, facilitation, support and administration/organisation while ineffective department heads used resolution giving and providing technical assistance. Time constraints, restrictive school schedules and role ambiguity were identified as major impediments to the change agent role of department heads in his study. Nevertheless, the new curriculum is being implemented in all of the departments studied verifying that the department head is an untapped resource in the change process. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Education Management)

The diploma thesis focuses on a European activity eTwinning and its implementation within the system of education. The theoretical part of the thesis introduces the activity and its main principles, as well as its goals and management. The emphasis is also put on its position within the conception of lifelong learning. The thesis presents the development of the activity since its lunch in 2005 until now, describes its original direction to be followed at the beginning as well as the gradual changes that happened during its further implementation. The practical part defines the main internet tools offered by eTwinning to its users and describes those in detail. In the last part, three eTwinning projects are presented as good practice examples from the Czech Republic. The main aim of the diploma thesis is to present the European activity in as broad context as possible and from different points of view. All the data used are based on relevant literature and other sources.

我們認為，在網路教育的中的Amazon.com尚未成形之際，有關教育網站的任何分析與研究，其實就是嚐試對於一連串「什麼是教育網站？」的問題，給予較具體及系統性的回答；據此，本研究從整理「網路教育」的定義開始，歸納包括Michael G. Moore及Bill Gates等學者專家對網路教育的觀察及想法，推導出教育網站幾個可能的「想像空間 (構面)」[第2-1節]；並且，整合相關的「教育理念」、「網站經營邏輯」與「網路科技」到各構面中作為觀察 (或比較) 各網站差異的指標 [第2-3節]；此外，環顧實際的競爭環境，文中在構面要素的選擇上，也絕大部份以能夠直接從介面進行觀察為主要考量。最後，為了滿足網路經濟□「一夕數變」的動態需要，我們進一步推演構面間的邏輯關係、分析方法及觀察程序，使「構面」及「構面要素」更能輔助作為網站經營長、短期的決策依據 [第3章]。 研究發現，由歸納定義形成「構面」及「構面要素」的網站分析方法，可以系統性地整理出網站經營要素，協助經營者適度界定營運範疇 並妥善分配資源比重。以「教育網站」為例，本研究所採用的分析方法，可以有效幫助經營者脫離空泛的想像，更具體地將經營重心縮小到「結構」、「對話」、「社群」、「軌跡」四個構面及其相對應的構面要素上。 我們也發現，不僅「教育網站」四個「網路經營」構面間有嚴謹的演化邏輯 (Ch.2-3-5.3)，構面背後的「教育理論」更同時存在相同的邏輯基礎 (Ch.2-3-5.7 )。這使得本研究可據之以推論104人力網站為「教育網站」再合適不過的「定位型」聯盟 (Ch.3-1-2)；推論亞卓市形成「幽靈課程」及「幽靈學生」 的原因 (Ch.3-1-3)；並決定研究中的各變數關係如何構築一個完整的研究架構(Ch.3-3)。 根據上述邏輯基礎，我們另外發現，一個同時滿足「網路經營」、「網路科技」、「教育及學習理論」的「網路教學情境」設計 (Ch.2-3-5.6)，如何模擬出「真正的」教育網站風貌。同時，在此情境下的網路學習方式，也讓吾人有機會重新思考如何增進教育網站「忠誠度」：在「個人」先備知識與「社群」分類知識游走間摧化；一種有別於其它非教育性質網站的獨特作法 (Ch2-3-5.6；Ch.3-1-2)。 我們還發現，妥善設計一個觀察程序，可以組合本研究中的部份結果成為進行網站比較時的觀察標準；如此可以協助經營者在面對不同型式同樣標榜教育功能的各式「教育網站」時，有能力更深入也更完整探討其間的差異所在 (Ch3-4-1)。 我們更發現，由於「構面」及「構面要素」除了能夠動態組合、方便賦予權重指標，同時還能因應變動的競爭環境，靈活增刪構面要素而不影響決策系統；整個研究因此提供了「決策系統可程式化」的機會 (Ch3-2-1；Ch3-2-2；Ch3-3)。

在社會變遷的衝擊下，提升教師專業具有迫切性與必要性；目前教師的在職訓練、專業發展方式及實施途徑面臨許多限制，而網路學習具有通訊成本低及不受時空限制的特性，開啓了教師進修的新契機。 本研究以參與桃園縣e化學習平台【閱讀策略教學課程】之中小學教師為研究對象，以建立能促進教師社群成員參與互動討論意願，以及提昇教師教學關注程度之網路社群經營機制為目標，最終達成塑造以網路學習社群提升參與網路課程教師學習成效之教師專業發展模式，樹立成功實施的準則。 為達成上述之研究目的，本研究先以文獻分析法，針對研究相關資料進行蒐集與整理，作為研究發展與問卷設計之基礎，並規畫實際教學實驗，進行實徵觀察與研究。為增進成員間的互動與討論，本研究將課程畫分三階段實施包括推薦機制、激勵機制及專家引導網路社群經營機制，並同時輔以三次「閱讀策略教學關注階層問卷」進行調查，以呈現教師網路社群成員對於閱讀策略教學關注階段差異；並進一步探究不同背景變項之教師教學關注提昇之差異性，以及社群成員間互動對話內容之關注階層變化情形。課程結束後，實施「網路學習滿意度」問卷，探究三種經營機制之得分情形與教師閱讀策略教學關注階段之間是否具有相關性。最後，課程結束後約半年，以e-mail方式寄發「閱讀教學調查問卷」，追蹤社群成員實施閱讀策略教學之現況、所面對的困難，以追蹤瞭解參與網路課程對於其教學工作之助益。 茲將本研究所蒐集資料之量化與質化分析結果，歸納以下結論： 一、實施本研究所提出三階段社群經營機制之網路課程，可有效提昇教師閱讀策略教學關注。 二、不同背景變項之社群成員，對閱讀策略教學關注程度的差異不大。 三、網路社群經營機制與教師閱讀策略教學關注程度提昇具有顯著相關性。 四、社群成員因本研究所提出之三階段社群經營機制，有效促使雙向性對話熱絡，使得互動討論內容之關注階層提昇及部分關注階層呈現顯著向上提升變化。 五、社群成員對於網路經營機制普遍感到滿意，顯示本研究所提出之三階段學習社群經營機制確實對於教師專業成長具有助益。 六、基於學習社群經營之網路課程確實能提昇教師教學專業知能，並促使教師關注教學專業的實踐與對於學生的學習成效助益。 最後，研究者再根據研究發現，針對網路社群經營機制、開課團隊與教育單位提出具體建議，並針對未來可以繼續研究方向提出具體建議。 / Under the impact of social changes, it is urgent and necessary to enhance the capabilities of teaching professional to cope with this constantly changing environment. To date, the approaches of in-service training and professional development for teachers and their implementations face with many restrictions. While web-based learning has the features of low communication costs and without the constraints of time and space, it offers teacher a new opportunity to pursue further educations. 　　The subjects of this study are recruited from primary and secondary school teachers who participated in the program of "Reading Strategy Instruction Course" provided by Taoyuan County e-learning Platform. The objective is to establish operational mechanisms of online community that encourage the willingness of the members of teacher's community to participate in interactive discussions, and promote the level of teacher's instruction concern. Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to build up a teaching professional development model that utilizes the functions of web-based learning community to enhance the performances of the teachers who participated in the web-based learning, and set up the principles for future successful implementation. 　　To achieve the research purposes, this study first conducted literature analysis to collect and collate relevant information as a basis for researching and developing the design of questionnaires. The experimental teaching courses were designed for empirical observations and researches. In order to promote interactions and discussions among members, the courses were divided and carried out in three phases, including recommendation mechanism, incentive mechanism, and expert guidance mechanism of online community. And at the end of each phase, a "Questionnaire for the Level of Teachers’ Reading Strategy Instruction Concern" was administered to investigate and to present the different levels of the web community teachers' concern towards reading strategy instruction at different phases. Furthermore, two issues were explored in the study, namely, how the different background variables affect the teacher's instruction concern levels, and the changes in concern level of the contents by interactive dialogue among community members. At the end of the Course, the questionnaire of "Web Learning Satisfaction" was implemented, in order to examine the attained scores of the three operational mechanisms and the correlations between the scores and the teacher's levels of instruction concern of Reading Strategy. Finally, about six months after the end of course, the questionnaire of "Reading Instruction Survey" was sent by e-mail to the community members to track the implementation status of Reading Strategy Instruction, the difficulties, and to track and understand the benefits to teaching from participating in online courses. 　　The conclusions of quantitative and qualitative analyses of the information collected in this study are summarized in the following points: First, in this study, the proposed three-phase implementation of the operating mechanisms of the web community programs can boost effectively the teachers' instruction concern of reading strategy. Second, the differences of instruction concern towards reading strategy among the community members from different background are not significant. Third, the web community operational mechanisms are significantly correlated with promoting the levels of teachers' instruction concern. Fourth, community members benefit from the three-phase community operational mechanisms proposed by this study, in terms of effectively and warmly promoting two-way dialogue, improving the concern level towards the content of interactive discussions, and some parts of concern level presenting significant upward changes. Fifth, community members were generally satisfied with the web operational mechanisms proposed in this study, showing the three-phase operational mechanisms of learning community are useful to the professional development of teachers. Sixth, the web programs based on the operations of learning community can really enhance the teachers' professional knowledge and ability of teaching, promote the teachers' concern of professional practice, and benefit students' effective learning. Finally, according to the findings of the research, the specific operational mechanisms of web community, course delivery team, and educational unit are recommended, and the directions for future study are proposed.

L'objectiu de la recerca és mostrar com, mitjançant l'escriptura col·laborativa, elsestudiants de filosofia de 1r de Batxillerat aprenen a desenvolupar les competènciesfilosòfiques de problematitzar, conceptualitzar i argumentar, les quals hem anomenat"veu filosòfica".És un estudi descriptiu i exploratori, amb un disseny d'anàlisi de cas que combina lesmetodologies quantitativa i qualitativa. Se situa en el context natural de l'aula.Aquest context s'ha organitzat com a comunitat d'aprenentatge i pretén esdevenir uncontext dialògic i multivocal combinant la interacció entre iguals i l'ensenyament del'escriptura per elaborar textos argumentatius filosòfics.L'estudi analitza, d'una banda, la qualitat filosòfica dels textos individuals i conjuntselaborats per quatre equips al llarg de la intervenció (curs 08-09), i d'altra banda, laqualitat filosòfica dels processos d'escriptura col·laborativa de dos equips en cincsessions per publicar un text filosòfic a la revista de l'institut. Per últim, també analitzales percepcions pel que fa al context d'ensenyament i d'aprenentatge dels 48 estudiants iel professor que han participat en la intervenció.Els resultats mostren que hi ha millores en la qualitat filosòfica dels escrits delsestudiants, especialment els individuals. Quant a l'anàlisi de la qualitat filosòfica delsprocessos d'escriptura col·laborativa, s'observen les dificultats dels estudiants perpassar del nivell abstracte al concret i com l'escriptura col·laborativa permet concretar ireformular les idees per construir coneixement en l'àmbit de la filosofia. Per últim, lespercepcions dels estudiants i del professor aporten valoracions positives que reforcenaquest context educatiu i a la vegada elements per millorar-lo. / El objetivo de la investigación es mostrar cómo, mediante la escritura colaborativa,los estudiantes de filosofía de 1º de Bachillerato aprenden a desarrollar las competenciasfilosóficas de problematizar, conceptualizar, y argumentar, que hemos llamado como"voz filosófica".Es un estudio descriptivo y exploratorio basado en un diseño de análisis de caso quecombina metodología cuantitativa y cualitativa. Se sitúa en el contexto natural del aula.Este contexto se ha organizado como comunidad de aprendizaje y pretende potenciarun contexto dialógico y multivocal combinando la interacción entre iguales y laenseñanza de la escritura para elaborar textos argumentativos filosóficos.El estudio analiza por un lado, la calidad filosófica de los textos individuales yconjuntos elaborados por cuatro equipos a lo largo de la intervención (curso 08-09), ypor otro lado, la calidad filosófica de los procesos de escritura colaborativa de dosequipos a lo largo de cinco sesiones para publicar un texto filosófico en la revista delinstituto. Por último, el estudio también analiza las percepciones respecto al contexto deenseñanza y de aprendizaje de los 48 estudiantes y el profesor que han participado en laintervención.Los resultados muestran que hay mejoras en la calidad filosófica de los escritos delos estudiantes, especialmente los individuales. En el análisis de la calidad filosófica delos procesos de escritura colaborativa, se observan las dificultades de los estudiantespara pasar del nivel abstracto al concreto y cómo la escritura colaborativa permiteconcretar y reformular las ideas para construir conocimiento en el ámbito de la filosofía.Por último, las percepciones de los estudiantes y del profesor aportan valoracionespositivas que refuerzan este contexto educativo y a la vez elementos para mejorarlo. / The aim of this research is to study how through collaborative writing philosophystudents in High School learn to develop philosophical skills (to ask questions, toconceptualize, and to argue). These skills we have termed as "philosophical voice."It is a descriptive and exploratory study based on case analysis. It combinesquantitative and qualitative methodology and it is situated in the natural classroomcontext.This educational setting is organized as a community of learning and aims topromote a dialogic and multivocal educational context through the combination of peerinteraction and the teaching of writing to develop philosophical argumentative texts.The study analyzes one the one hand, philosophical quality of individual and grouptexts elaborated by four teams over the academic course intervention. On the otherhand, it analyzes the collaborative writing process quality of two teams over fivesessions to publish a philosophical text in the High School's Journal. Finally, the studyalso examines the perceptions of the learning context of 48 students and a teacher whoparticipated in the intervention.The results show, first, that there are improvements in the quality of thephilosophical writings of the students, especially the individual text. Moreover, theanalysis of the collaborative writing process show the students' difficulties in movingfrom abstract to concrete level and how writing can helps to reformulate the ideas intopractice and to build knowledge in the field of Philosophy. Finally, perceptions ofstudents and teacher provide positive feedback to reinforce the educational context and,at the same time, elements for his improvement.

The researcher proposes working toward a more integrated approach of faith formation in the local church - where one's immediate family plays the central role and the congregation as the extended family functions as a support system. The church as family becomes a community where faith formation is continually nurtured as a lifelong process and by means of all the ministries of the church. The conscious furthering of faith formation should, therefore, not be confined to the ambit of the Sunday School. Its target group cannot be limited to children and adolescents, but should be be broadened to include the adult members, thus serving the totality of the congregation. The researcher proposes an approach where the different generations are not separated in the process of faith formation, but become an integrated learning community where all the different age groups and generations learn from each other and with each other. / Die navorser stel `n meer geïntegreerde benadering tot geloofsvorming binne die plaaslike gemeente voor - waar die gesin of familie die sentrale rol speel en die gemeente as geloofsfamilie as `n ondersteunende sisteem funksioneer. Die gemeente as familie word `n leergemeenskap waar geloofsvorming `n lewenslange proses is en plaasvind binne al die bedienings van die gemeente. Die navorser stel voor dat geloofsvorming nie net beperk moet word tot die tradisionele kategese of "Sondagskool" wat grootliks gerig is op kinders en adolessente nie, maar verbreed moet word om alle gelowiges van alle ouderdomme in te sluit en so die gemeente as geloofsfamilie te dien. Die navorser stel `n benadering voor waar die verskillende generasies nie van mekaar geskei word in die proses van geloofsvorming nie, maar `n geïntegreerde leergemeenskap vorm waar al die verskillende ouderdomsgroepe en generasies saam met mekaar, asook by mekaar kan leer. / Social work / M. Diac. (Youth Work)

The implementation of educational reform in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) imposes a change agent role on secondary school department heads however the assistance-intensive process is inhibited by the current educational structure. As the concept of teacher empowerment becomes accepted, some department heads have the ability to develop a professional learning community while others are unable to do so. The present study considers the present and ideal role of the department head as a change agent facilitating the implementation of educational reform in the UAE. A sequential mixed method mode of inquiry with two phases was employed. In phase one, department heads were profiled from a self, superior and subordinate perspective and a conceptual framework related to patterns of effective change agent behaviour was developed. Findings show that effective change agent characteristics of department heads included priorities related to change implementation and teacher support, a collaborative leadership style, seven strategies related to a participatory, supportive and facilitative approach and ten skills that motivate, energise and encourage teachers. The identification of two ineffective department heads by teacher informants in phase one provided an opportunity to study the work of effective and ineffective department heads as cases in-depth. Case study findings confirm the conceptual framework because effective heads were rated high for all characteristics identified, while ineffective heads were rated low. All department heads accepted the change agent role unofficially with no additional time release, but effective heads took ownership of the process and empowered teachers while ineffective heads provided assistance on request. Effective heads used interpersonal skills and asserted themselves as technical experts while ineffective heads were passive and were considered to be traditional teachers. Strategies and skills employed by effective heads included resource linking, collaborative problem solving, facilitation, support and administration/organisation while ineffective department heads used resolution giving and providing technical assistance. Time constraints, restrictive school schedules and role ambiguity were identified as major impediments to the change agent role of department heads in his study. Nevertheless, the new curriculum is being implemented in all of the departments studied verifying that the department head is an untapped resource in the change process. / Educational Studies / D.Ed (Education Management)

This study reports on the use of action research methodology to generate a critical reflective collaborative setting. The aim was to infuse the institution with the results of this study in order to stimulate debate on the issues regarding change in practice and systems. The suitability of Internet communication technologies, more specifically the online learning community, is evaluated as a delivery mode that would address today’s learning needs. This required the collaborative construction of knowledge in a community setting with the teacher enabling communication and interaction, and facilitating and stimulating the sharing and testing of ideas and constructs. But such a learning scenario was found to be significantly challenging to the current print-based learning experience. It implied a challenge to teaching and support staff as well as the questioning of the efficiency and legitimacy of current instructional design staff and procedures used. The teaching responsibilities and commitment in the online community was outlined as against current print-based teaching practice. The current development and production culture, which restricts innovation and change in practice and systems significantly, came under pressure. The success of the online learning community in the Unisa context was nevertheless significant and it has the potential to serve as an opportunity to re-examine print-based production and delivery and to devise strategies and solutions to increase the quality significantly. / Faculty of Education / D. Ed.

An examination of the research regarding the problems associated with student academic writing indicated that two abilities, writing abilities and information literacy skills, intersect, and that an accepted term for this intersection is information literacy. The University of Central Florida’s Information Fluency Initiative recognized information literacy as a key component in developing students’ information fluency skills. This qualitative case study of the initiative used semi-structured interviews, study of documents, and observations to gather data in order to describe how the university planned, developed, and implemented the initiative. Study of relevant literature, narrative analysis (Tierney & Lincoln, 1997), inductive analysis (Hatch, 2002) and the elements of educational criticism (Eisner, 1998) informed the analysis of data. Participants in the Information Fluency Initiative identified as successful the creation of online information literacy modules by librarians and faculty, program-wide efforts to embed information fluency into curriculum, and individual faculty projects. Additionally, the initiative encouraged a scholarly approach to the study of information fluency with the implementation of an annual Information Fluency Conference held at the University of Central Florida and publication of a peer-reviewed Information Fluency Journal. Results from the study suggested that administrative support for the initiative and the leadership’s empowerment of faculty and librarians to undertake leadership roles were important factors in the initiative’s success. Results also suggested that collaboration between faculty, librarians, and instructional technologists to construct curriculum produced a professional learning community that proved valuable to participants both professionally and personally.