Overexpression of Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase - cytosolic (PEPCK, encoded by Pck-1 gene) has been found to be associated with the prevalence of hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. The Pck-1 enzyme catalyzes the rate limiting step in endogenous glucose production. The aims of this study are to develop a Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish and validate it as a potential tool for the screening of novel anti-diabetic compounds. 3.6 kb zebrafish Pck-1 promoter fragment was cloned and a Pck-1:eGFP expression vector was constructed. After DNA microinjection, we generated Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish with strong eGFP expression in developing liver. Validation studies confirmed that Pck-1:eGFP zebrafish embryos responded to treatment of glucose, cAMP and dexamethasone, metformin and rosiglitazone similarly to that of humans. This novel Pck-1:eGFP reporter fish line can serve as a tool for the screening and development of novel anti-diabetic drugs that may have potential in the treatment of T2DM.

Overexpression of Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase - cytosolic (PEPCK, encoded by Pck-1 gene) has been found to be associated with the prevalence of hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. The Pck-1 enzyme catalyzes the rate limiting step in endogenous glucose production. The aims of this study are to develop a Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish and validate it as a potential tool for the screening of novel anti-diabetic compounds. 3.6 kb zebrafish Pck-1 promoter fragment was cloned and a Pck-1:eGFP expression vector was constructed. After DNA microinjection, we generated Pck-1:eGFP reporter zebrafish with strong eGFP expression in developing liver. Validation studies confirmed that Pck-1:eGFP zebrafish embryos responded to treatment of glucose, cAMP and dexamethasone, metformin and rosiglitazone similarly to that of humans. This novel Pck-1:eGFP reporter fish line can serve as a tool for the screening and development of novel anti-diabetic drugs that may have potential in the treatment of T2DM.

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien var att undersöka om och hur lärare i ämnet idrott och hälsa, utbildade vid GIH arbetar normkritiskt utifrån faktorerna klass, kön och etnicitet. Vidare har ett syfte varit att undersöka vilka pedagogiska verktyg som de har fått från GIH för att förbereda dem att arbeta med dessa faktorer. Frågeställningar: Hur arbetar lärarna normkritiskt i sin undervisning utifrån klass, kön och etnicitet? Hur har lärarutbildningen vid GIH förberett lärarna att arbeta normkritiskt med dessa faktorer? Metod Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ utgångspunkt där djupintervjuer användes som metod. Urvalet bestod av fem idrottslärare som undervisar i gymnasieskolan. Samtliga respondenter har gått lärarprogrammet på GIH och arbetat maximalt tre år som idrottslärare. En intervjuguide utformades utifrån syftet och Lindströms modell av Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). Vilken även användes vid analys av resultatet. Resultat Resultatet visar att de intervjuade lärarna till viss del arbetar normkritiskt när det gäller genus genom att ge utrymme för diskussion och genus-uppgifter. Resultatet visar även att lärarna i studien uppvisar pedagogiska ämneskunskaper när det gäller normer kring genus, något som saknas när det gäller normer kring klass och etnicitet. Vidare visar resultatet att alla respondenter fått en teoretisk utbildning från GIH när det gäller normer kring genus och en del praktiska kunskaper för tillämpning i undervisningen. När det kommer till teoretiska kunskaper gällande normer kring både klass och etnicitet delger alla respondenter att dessa kunskaper har ingått minimalt i undervisningen på GIH. De didaktiska kunskaperna kring samma normer menar alla intervjuade lärare att det saknades helt eller endast diskuterade vid ett fåtal tillfällen. Slutsats   Lärarna uppvisar liknande arbetssätt när det handlar om normkritisk pedagogik. Lärarna arbetar inte normkritiskt enligt Lindströms pedagogiska ämneskunskaps modell. Dock arbetar de normkritiskt till viss del då det handlar om genus, men detta arbete saknas när det kommer till faktorerna klass och etnicitet. Lärarna arbetar snarare aktivt med de normer och den värdegrund som styrdokumenten anger samt låter eleverna arbeta med genus på ett uppgiftsorienterat sätt. Att det ser ut på detta sätt kan kopplas till GIH:s lärarutbildning då den lägger fokus på genus medan de andra faktorerna hamnar i skymundan. / Aim The aim of the study was to investigate if and how Physical Education (PE) teachers, with an education from the Swedish school of sports and health science (GIH) and a maximum work experience of 3 years work with norm critical teaching according to the study factors social class, gender and ethnicity. Moreover, an aim has been to investigate what kind of pedagogical tools the interviewed teachers have received from GIH to prepare them how to teach with these factors in mind. Research questions: How do the teachers work norm critical in their teaching according to social class, gender and ethnicity? How has the teacher education at GIH prepared the teachers to work norm critical with these factors? Method The study was carried out in a qualitative perspective and in-depth interviews were used as research method. One PE teacher teaching in the Swedish compulsory school participated in the pilot interview and five PE teachers teaching at Swedish high schools participated in the study. All respondents in the study have finished a teacher program at GIH and a maximum of 3 years’ working experience as a PE teacher. An interview guide was created according to Lindström’s model of PCK. Results The Result shows that the interviewed teachers work in a norm critic way to some degree when it come to gender through discussions and gender tasks. Furthermore the result shows that the respondents show some sort of Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) when it comes to norms regarding gender, something that they do not have when it comes to norms regarding social background and ethnicity. Moreover the result shows that the respondents have acquired a theoretical knowledge and some practical knowledge about gender norms from GIH. When it comes to theoretical knowledge concerning social background and ethnicity norms all the respondents agree that this knowledge have been included minimally in their education. The didactical knowledge about these norms was not included in their education or was discussed at very few occasions. Conclusions The teachers of the study show similar working methods regarding norm critical pedagogy. According to Lindström’s PCK model, the teachers do not work norm critical. Though, they do in some extent work norm critical regarding gender, but this work does not exist regarding the factors social class and ethnicity. The teachers under study rather work actively with the norms and value principle stated by curriculum. Furthermore they work with gender in a task oriented way. The reason for this can be linked to GIH’s teacher program since the education focus on gender, the other factors, social class and ethnicity only is emphasized briefly during the education.

Submitted by CARLOS HUMBERTO ZULUAGA TRUJILLO (carhuzt@gmail.com) on 2017-05-23T14:54:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Zuluaga Trujillo, Carlos Humberto.pdf: 4310567 bytes, checksum: 6e300ca43ab40befff846f88256054d7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-23T18:26:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 zuluagatrujillo_ch_dr_bauru.pdf: 4310567 bytes, checksum: 6e300ca43ab40befff846f88256054d7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-23T18:26:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 zuluagatrujillo_ch_dr_bauru.pdf: 4310567 bytes, checksum: 6e300ca43ab40befff846f88256054d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-28 / Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado (AIUP) / Na presente pesquisa se identifica o Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo (PCK) como aquele conhecimento resultante da transformação de conhecimentos base do ensino que pode associar-se ao desenvolvimento profissional do professor. No propósito de caracterizar este conhecimento e promover seu desenvolvimento, o presente trabalho indaga sobre a identificação e desenvolvimento do PCK do professor de Química em relação ao tema Ligação química. Assumiu-se como princípio fundamental do desenvolvimento do PCK, o processo reflexivo em coletivos docentes, em relação à modelagem como estratégia didática no Ensino de Ciências, acompanhado do trabalho colaborativo na construção de uma unidade didática sob este mesmo enfoque. Metodologicamente esta pesquisa foi abordada segundo a perspectiva do estudo de caso, no qual foram selecionados dois estudos de caso, correspondentes a duas professoras participantes do processo formativo que representam casos de interesse particular, ao considerar aspectos como as diferenças em suas formações profissionais e suas experiências como professoras de Química. Na identificação do PCK das professoras foram utilizados dois instrumentos de reconhecida importância, a CoRe e os PaP-erS, cuja construção possibilitou a reflexão das professoras sobre seus conhecimentos. O processo formativo foi caracterizado pela discussão e a reflexão sobre diferentes temáticas relacionadas ao uso dos modelos e da modelagem no Ensino de Ciências, encaminhadas a mobilizar cada um dos componentes do PCK (MAGNUSSOM et al.,1999). No final do processo, utilizou-se novamente como instrumento de análise o desenvolvimento de uma CoRe e a análise da unidade didática construída pelo grupo colaborativo de professores. Estes dois instrumentos, ao serem contrastados com a informação obtida no começo do processo e as narrativas emergidas no desenvolvimento do mesmo, permitiram reconhecer o desenvolvimento do PCK. Assumiu-se como método de análise de dados a Análise Textual Discursiva (MORAES, 2003), método de particular interesse, considerando a natureza holística do PCK do professor, no qual se envolvem diferentes dimensões de seu conhecimento profissional. Através deste processo de análise foram reveladas características importantes em relação a cada um dos componentes do PCK e seu desenvolvimento. Do presente estudo derivam-se conclusões relacionadas com o valor dos processos de reflexão docente e a construção coletiva de conhecimento no desenvolvimento do PCK do professor; o valor da formação em processos de modelagem, no desenvolvimento de conhecimentos associados aos diferentes componentes do PCK; as relações encontradas no desenvolvimento de alguns componentes, com outros conhecimentos bases do ensino; as dificuldades conceituais dos professores no ensino da Ligação química e sua relação com os componentes do PCK e o caráter particular do PCK e seu desenvolvimento, sujeito a diferentes aspectos relacionados com o desenvolvimento professional do professor. / In this research, the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) is identified as the knowledge produced by the transformation of the teaching basic knowledge which can be related to the teacher’s professional development. Aiming to characterize this knowledge and to promote its development, this investigation inquiries into the identification and development of the Chemistry teacher’s PCK in relation with the topic “chemical bonding”. It was assumed as a fundamental principle of the development of the PCK, the reflective process in teaching groups, in relation to modeling as didactic strategy in Science Teaching followed by the collaborative work in the design of a didactic unit under the same approach. Methodologically, this investigation was approached from the perspective of case study in which two case studies were selected corresponding to two teachers who participated in the formative processes that represent cases of particular interest, when considering aspects such as differences in their professional development and their experience as Chemistry teachers. In the identification of the PCK of the teachers, two instruments of recognized importance were used, CoRe and the PaP-erS, whose elaboration made possible the reflection of the teachers on their knowledges. This formative process was characterized by the debate and reflection over different topics related with the use of models and the modeling in Science Teaching with the purpose of mobilizing each of the PCK components. (MAGNUSSOM et al., 1999). At the end of the process the CoRe was used again as analytical instrument of the development and the didactical unit analysis built by the collaborative group of teachers. These two tools, by being compared with the information obtained at the beginning of the process and the narratives that emerged during the development of the investigation, allowed the acknowledgment of the development of the PCK. As a method of data analysis the “discursive textual analysis” was used (MORAES, 2003) which is a method that has a particular interest considering the holistic nature of the teacher’s PCK, in which different dimensions of their professional knowledge are involved. Through the analysis, researchers could recognize important characteristics regarding each one of the PCK components and their development. From this study, investigators could reach conclusions related to the value of the reflexive process of the teachers and the collective construction of the knowledge in the development of the PCK, with the basic knowledge’s for teaching, the teachers’ The conceptual difficulties of teachers in the teaching of Chemical Bonding and its relation to the components of the PCK and the particular character of the PCK and its development, subject to different aspects related to the professional development of the teachers.

Este trabalho visou ampliar os conhecimentos sobre avaliação em longo prazo de cursos de formação continuada para docente em Educação a Distância (EaD), enfocando Ensino de Botânica e percepção de professores da rede pública estadual de São Paulo sobre aspectos do Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo (PCK). O objetivo específico foi avaliar a percepção dos docentes participantes de uma disciplina de Botânica, inserida no curso de especialização para professores de Biologia (EspBio), pertencente ao programa REDEFOR (Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente), em relação às influências de tal disciplina na prática docente atual, sobre alguns aspectos relacionados ao PCK, segundo o modelo de Rollnick et al. (2008): 1. Conhecimento Específico de Botânica; 2. Importância da Botânica no Ensino Médio; 3. Escolha de Práticas de Ensino, Estratégias e Materiais Didáticos; 4. Seleção dos Conteúdos Específicos; 5. Dificuldades dos Alunos em relação à aprendizagem de Botânica. Visando atingir tais objetivos, utilizamos como instrumento de coleta de dados questionários virtuais distribuídos para todos os participantes (cerca de 800) das duas versões (2010/2011 e 2011/2012) do curso, onde obtivemos retorno de 75 deles, ou seja, uma taxa de resposta de 9,3%. As respostas das oito questões foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo segundo Bardin (2009), onde os dados foram agrupados em cinco Eixos de Análises (EA), correspondentes aos aspectos do PCK destacados nos objetivos específicos. Os principais achados referentes a esses eixos são: EA1. 93% dos participantes declararam que houve ampliação em seu conhecimento específico sobre Botânica a partir da disciplina e destacaram, principalmente, o aprimoramento conceitual e a influência positiva em suas práticas docentes, que se tornaram mais dinâmicas, contextualizadas, motivadoras e com caráter mais prático, bem como se tornaram mais confiantes para ensinar a temática; EA2. A importância de ensinar Botânica, principalmente associada a relação das plantas com nosso cotidiano e com as questões ambientais e ecológicas, foi amplamente reconhecida pelos professores (93%), bem como a influência da disciplina nessa valorização (67%). Porém, 33% não declarou tal influência, visto que já possuíam esta ideia antes da disciplina; EA 3. Grande parte dos professores (76%) destacou a influência da disciplina na prática docente atual, tanto por utilizar recursos e estratégias disponibilizados na mesma (72%), quanto por ter obtido inspiração para novas abordagens (63%), como aulas mais práticas, dinâmicas e contextualizadas. 17% dos professores tiveram dificuldades para implementar as propostas apresentadas pela disciplina, principalmente devido a entraves do contexto de ensino. EA 4. A influência da disciplina Botânica na seleção de conteúdos conceituais foi relatada por 64% dos professores, que descreveram mudanças relacionadas com as formas de trabalhar os conteúdos (estratégias, recursos e abordagens), e não relacionadas à sua seleção propriamente dita, mas destacaram a melhora no conhecimento de Botânica, que permitiu mudanças positivas na seleção e abordagem desses conteúdos em sala de aula. Já 29% dos docentes não relataram mudanças após a disciplina e isso foi, em grande parte, justificado pela pouca flexibilidade curricular no contexto de alguns professores ou por condições ruins de trabalho docente. EA 5. 73% dos participantes declararam que a disciplina os ajudou a refletir sobre as dificuldades específicas que os alunos enfrentam ao estudar Botânica, onde relatos foram destacados para diminuir as dificuldades de seus alunos, buscando um processo de ensino e aprendizagem mais dinâmico e contextualizado, que valorize as concepções iniciais dos estudantes. Quanto aos temas específicos: evolução, filogenia, fotossíntese e ciclos reprodutivos foram considerados pelos professores como aqueles de aprendizagem mais difícil. Assim, pudemos detectar, nos diferentes EA, elementos ligados às manifestações presentes no modelo de PCK de Rollnick et al. (2008), principalmente Estratégias Instrucionais de um Conteúdo Específico, Representações e Saliência Curricular, indicando que os conhecimentos docentes foram mobilizados prática docente. Nosso estudo aponta a necessidade de valorizar e investir no aprimoramento do PCK de Botânica em cursos de formação continuada de professores no contexto brasileiro, sendo a EaD uma alternativa viável e importante. O professor necessita de outros conhecimentos associados, além do específico, como o conhecimento dos alunos, do contexto e pedagógico geral, para ter melhores condições de desenvolver e refletir sobre sua prática docente / This dissertation aimed to broaden the knowledge about the long-term evaluation of continuing courses for Distance Education, gathering Botanical teaching and the perception of teachers of public São Paulo state network schools about the aspects of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). The specific objective was to evaluate the perception of these teachers who participated in the Botanical discipline - part of the specialization course of Biology teaching (EspBio) and also part of the program REDEFOR (Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente) - about the influence of such discipline in their current teaching practice, analyzed through the aspects related to PCK, according to Rollnich et al. (2008) model: 1. Specialized knowledge of Botanic; 2. The importance of Botanical teaching in high school; 3. Choice of Teaching Practices, Strategies, and Didactic Materials; 4. Selection of Specific Contents; 5. Difficulties of the Students related to Botanic learning. In order to achieve these objectives, we used virtual questionnaires given to all participants (about 800) of the two versions (2010/2011 and 2011/2012) of the course, and we obtained a return of 75 participants, a response rate of 9.3%. The responses of the eight questions were submitted to the content analysis according to Bardin (2009), where the data were grouped into five Analysis Axes (EA), corresponding to the aspects of the PCK highlighted in the specific objective above. The main findings regarding these axes are: EA1. 93% of the participants declared that there was an increase in their knowledge about Botanic after they did the discipline, mainly, in the conceptual improvement and positive influence in their teaching practices, which became more dynamic, contextual, motivating and more practical, as well as they become more confident to teach the subject; EA2. The importance of teaching Botanic, mainly associated with the relation of plants to our daily life and with the environmental and ecological issues, was widely recognized by teachers (93%), as well as the influence of the discipline in this valorization (67%). However, 33% did not declare such influence, since they already had this idea before the discipline; EA 3. A big portion of the teachers (76%) emphasized the influence of the discipline in their current teaching practice, both for using resources and strategies already available in this discipline (72%), and for having been inspired by its new approaches (63%), such as had more practical, dynamic and contextualized teaching classes. 17% of the teachers had difficulties in implementing the proposals presented by the discipline, mainly due to obstacles in the teaching context. EA 4. The influence of the Botanic discipline on their selection of conceptual content was reported by 64% of the teachers and they described these changes related to the way of working contents (strategies, resources and approaches), not related to their selection, but also noticed the improvement in their Botanical knowledge, which allowed positive changes in the selection and approach of these contents in the classroom. 29% did not report changes after taking the discipline and this was, for the most part, justified by their lack of curricular flexibility in the context of some teachers or poor conditions of teaching work. EA 5. 73% of the participants stated that the discipline helped them to think about the specific difficulties students may face when studying Botanic, where reports were highlighted to reduce the difficulties of their students, seeking a more dynamic and contextualized teaching and learning process, that values the learning concepts of their students. Specific subjects like evolution, phylogeny, photosynthesis and reproductive cycles were considered by teachers as those of more difficult learning process. Thus, we could detect, in the different AE, elements linked to the manifestations present in the PCK model of Rollnick et al. (2008), mainly Instructional Strategies of a Specific Content, Representations and Curriculum Outline, indicating that teaching knowledge was in fact mobilized. Our study points out the need to value and invest in the improvement of Botanic PCK model for continuing teaching courses in the Brazilian context, and the EaD is a viable and valuable alternative path. The teacher needs other associated knowledge, as well as specific knowledge, such as students\' knowledge, context, and general pedagogy, in order to have better conditions to develop and influence their teaching practice

Syftet med föreliggande studie är att med avstamp i tanken om det livslånga lärandet, via teorier om situerat lärande, vilka utvecklats av Jean Lave och Etienne Wenger och i kombination med teorier om informellt lärande och lärande gemenskaper, undersöka hur aktivt deltagande i en facebookgrupp för förskoleanställda kan förstås som bidragande till dessas kompetensutveckling. Mina två frågeställningar fokuserar på vilka kategorier av pedagogisk kompetens som väcker störst engagemang samt vilka språkhandlingar deltagarna nyttjar för att skapa förutsättningar för lärande i diskussionerna. Genom att besvara dessa frågor kan jag visa att en majoritet av diskussionerna går att placera i någon av Lee S. Shulmans kategorier för pedagogisk kompetens (PCK) och därmed kan beskrivas som praxisrelaterade. Jag kan också beskriva de språkhandlingar som tydligast skildrar en lärande ambition hos deltagarna som varande rådgivning respektive tips. Med hjälp av dessa språkhandlingar kan deltagarna tränga in i de pedagogiska frågeställningarna och skapa förutsättningar för ny eller utvidgad kunskap under diskussionens gång. Studiens resultat visar att facebookgruppen dessa diskussioner äger rum i kan beskrivas som en lärande gemenskap. Här ägnar sig deltagarna åt ett frivilligt, demokratiserat, informellt lärande i syfte att utveckla den egna pedagogiska kompetensen eller verksamheten. Av resultatet har jag kunnat göra ytterligare observationer: Med utgångspunkt i hur diskussionerna i den dominerande kategorin (KEC) präglades av att vara mer praktik- än praxisnära resonerar jag i diskussionsdelen angående hur detta kan vara ett tecken på att de anställdas förutsättningar att utöva sitt uppdrag även påverkar deras förutsättningar för fortsatt lärande och utveckling – så kallad ”beprövad erfarenhet” – kring detta uppdrag. Jag ser också hur informellt lärande har både styrkor och svagheter som tjänar på att utforskas ytterligare. Kanske, reflekterar jag, ligger det informella lärandets egentliga värde i dess förmåga att komplettera och – om det tillåts – transcendera det formella? Sammanfattningsvis kan studien på en övergripande nivå förstås som en slags hyllning till det informella lärandet. Frågan är inte hur, utan i hur hög grad och på vilket sätt deltagandet i dessa lärande gemenskaper utvecklar deltagarnas kompetens och i förlängningen även praxis.

This study is concerned with how competent mathematics teachers develop pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in statistics teaching. Pedagogical content knowledge was used as the theoretical framework that guided the research and data collection. The study’s methodology consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the six identified mathematics teachers undertook a conceptual knowledge written exercise. The result of this exercise was used to select the best four performing teachers for the second phase of the study. The second phase consisted mainly of lesson observations, interviews, written documents in the form of completed questionnaires, written diaries or reports, document analysis designed to produce rich detailed descriptions of participating teachers’ PCK in the context of teaching statistics concepts at school level. The concept mapping exercise was used to indirectly assess participating teachers’ content knowledge and their conceptions of the nature of school statistics and how it is to be taught. The qualitative data obtained were analysed to try to determine individual teachers’ content knowledge of school statistics, related pedagogical knowledge, knowledge of learners’ conceptions in statistics teaching, knowledge of learners’ learning difficulties as well as how they developed their PCK in statistics teaching. The analysis was done based on iterative coding and categorisation of responses and observations made to identify themes, patterns, and gaps, in school statistics teaching. Commonalities and differences if any, in the PCK profiles of the four participating teachers were also analysed and determined. The results of the study showed that overall, individual teachers develop their PCK in school statistics teaching by: (a) formally developing their knowledge of the subject matter in a formal undergraduate educational programme, as well as subject matter content knowledge during classroom practice; (b) using varied topic-specific instructional skills such as graphical construction skills in teaching statistical graphs; (c) using diagnostic techniques (oral questioning and pre-activity, class discussions and questioning) and a review of previous lessons to introduce lessons, and to determine learners’ preconceptions in statistics teaching ; (d) Using teaching strategies that can help to identify learners’ learning difficulties as well as intervention to address the difficulties; (e) continually updating their knowledge of school statistics by attending content knowledge workshops and other teacher development programmes designed to improve content knowledge and practice. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

Thesis (M. Ed. (Science Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Learners’ performance largely depends on the pedagogy used. This study explored the use of Computer Simulations (CS) to teach plants biodiversity to grade eleven learners Mankweng Circuit. A randomised Solomon Four-Group design was used. Sixty-six learners from two schools equipped with computers were randomly assigned to the Experimental Group (EG), and 66 learners from two other schools without computers were the Control Group (CG). A performance pre- and post-test was used to the EG taught using CS and to the CG taught using Chalk-and-Talk Method (CTM). Also, Focus Group Discussion Interviews (FGDI) were conducted with 12 learners: six from each of the EG and the CG to collect information regarding their attitudes towards the methods used to learn biodiversity. The quantitative data were analysed using a T-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while the qualitative data were analysed thematically. The results show that the learners in the EG performed better than those in the CG (T-test; p < 0.05), (ANOVA; p < 0.05). Hypothesis one which states that learners in the EG who were taught using CS will perform better than those in the CG taught using CTM is accepted. Also, hypothesis two, which states that learners’ performance in the pretest will not vary in the EG and the CG is accepted. Also, hypothesis three which states that there will be no statistically significant differences in achievements between boys and girls in the EG is established. Thus, the CS method is a useful tool to enhance learners’ performance. Keywords: Computer simulations, PCK, TPACK, Quasi-experiment, Solomon four group design, Learner’s performance

Several misconceptions show up when learners answer questions on Chemical Equilibrium during examinations. Literature from other researchers shows similar trend of misconceptions (Johnstone, 2000; Morais, Paiva and Barros, 2007; Adesoji and Babatunde, 2008) for example, ‘apply pressure to the reactants’ (Johnstone, 2000). This shows that Chemistry has no meaning to these learners and they end up with misconceptions as they try to memorise facts in order to pass examinations. Learners are taught before writing these examinations, but how are they taught the concepts of Chemical Equilibrium? A descriptive approach was used on an exploratory survey conducted in Thohoyandou Cluster among Physical Science (Chemistry) FET band Educators. Cluster sampling of 40 educators from 18 randomly sampled schools responded to questionnaires. Five ‘well experienced’ educators who have been producing ‘good’ results at Grade 12 NSC examinations and two Physical Sciences subject advisors were interviewed. Using Spearman Brown Split-Half statistical method a 0,891 reliability coefficient was obtained. Research results show lack or under utilisation of laboratory equipment, teaching strategies which promote rote learning. Lack of confidence of educators due to deficiency in topic content knowledge and pedagogical skills which promote conceptual understanding were identified. Problem of English language leading to communication breakdown between educator-learners and between learner-subject leading to emergency of knowledge gaps in learners. Educators consider professional development through re-training and workshops on subject content matter and teaching strategies as the way forward to improve the quality of teaching. Topic specific PCK focusing on problem-solving strategy was recommended as a means to increasing educators’ efficiency in teaching and enhance learners’ comprehension and achievement in Physical Science. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (Chemistry Education))

Le questionnement de la thèse émerge d'un contexte de réforme, en France, de l'enseignement des sciences en lycée qui met au centre du curriculum les démarches d'investigation (DI). Notre étude se situe au moment exact de la décision institutionnelle d'intégrer les DI dans l'enseignement de la chimie en classe de seconde. La mise en place des DI engendre une nouvelle complexité du travail des enseignants qui questionne à la fois leurs pratiques, leurs ressources et leurs connaissances professionnelles. Nous nous sommes proposé de saisir le développement professionnel des professeurs en chimie, particulièrement tourné vers les DI, à partir de leur documentation, c'est-à-dire du travail sur les ressources qu'ils réalisent pour accomplir leur enseignement, particulièrement de la part de ce travail qui prend place au sein de collectifs. L'étude est conduite sur deux études de cas. Dans la première, il s'agit d'un professeur que nous avons suivi, sur deux années consécutives, au sein d'une diversité de communautés professionnelles, parmi lesquelles une communauté associative a pris une place prépondérante. La deuxième étude de cas concerne une enseignante suivie sur une année au sein de communautés ordinaires d'un établissement scolaire. Dans les deux cas, l'étude s'intéresse plus particulièrement à l'enseignement du thème de la quantité de matière en classe de seconde, du fait de l'importance et de la complexité de ce thème d'enseignement au niveau du lycée. La thèse propose des développements théoriques et méthodologiques pour saisir le travail des enseignants, dans ses composantes individuelles et collectives, dans son unité et sa dynamique, en classe comme hors classe. Elle met en évidence le potentiel qu'a le travail collectif pour le développement professionnel des enseignants dans la perspective de DI.