Support teachers learning difficulties (STLD) have made a significant contribution to the provision of support for students experiencing learning difficulties and learning disabilities in Queensland state primary schools over almost forty years. During the 1990s with the implementation of an inclusive curriculum in schools, and in recent years, with changing systemic expectations of how academic performance might be improved, these teachers have increasingly participated in collaborative models with their classroom colleagues to provide for students experiencing various barriers to learning. This study focuses on the nature of exemplary practice as perceived through the eyes and voices of six exemplary STLD teachers. In keeping with this intent, a process of selecting the participants for in-depth study was instigated in a professional community of state primary STLD teachers located in a Brisbane education district to determine at the grass-roots what an exemplary STLD teacher might “look like”, and which six teachers in that community might contribute to the community‟s understanding of exemplary STLD teaching practice. These contributions are represented in six case studies, referred to as “portraits” and were co-constructed, that is through a dialogic process between the participant and me. Each portrait communicates an aspect of teaching practice and the experiential knowledge that underpins it. The term “exemplary” has been adopted consciously to denote “that serves as an example” (Harper, 2001) in contrast to the term “expert”, which frequently carries a technical connotation. A mixed methodology was adopted (Lincoln & Guba, 2003) in this qualitative study in anticipation of the need to draw upon various methods that in combination might assist in viewing, conceptualizing and harnessing the dynamic complexity expected to be evident in grassroots practice. First, various expressions of constructivism contributed, with the major influence being social constructivism to denote a “house” or a community of professionals in ongoing dialogue. 6 This provides the framework within which the study has been undertaken. Second, phenomenology, most particularly the work of Moustakas (1994) and van Manen (1990, 1994, 1995, 2007), is the primary source for the inspiration (van Manen) and the methods and tools (Moustakas) to explore the nature of their practice. Phenomenological approaches were adopted with the expectation they could assist in highlighting the essence of each individual‟s practice while allowing for the eliciting of experiential themes that are of importance to the professional community of STLD teachers. Finally, studies of practical teacher knowledge (Elbaz, 1983) in association with narrative inquiry (Connolly & Clandinin, 1988) have provided further insights into how the collective expression of these teachers might be displayed. The primary preoccupation of the portraits is the teachers‟ provision of support for individual students, and the nature and quality of the relationships enlisted in the service of making this provision. The teachers‟ transactions on behalf of these students are indicative of a raft of values, ideals, collaborative and communication skills which might be subsumed by the term relatedness, and the ability to see astutely the elements in various situations that need attentiveness. Their practice in action appears to be best encapsulated by Van Manen‟s (1995) term “pedagogical tact”, a term borrowed to capture the nature of the pedagogical relationships infused into their personal and professional selves. Three views of practice are provided to display and illuminate the nature of the six exemplary teachers‟ collective practice – View 1: “From the inside” which reveals the metaphors that inhabit their practice and the significance they have for their practice; View 2: “From the outside” which, through the vehicle of a narrative highlights a STLD teacher and a classroom teacher undertaking a collaborative process of providing for Dayne a student experiencing significant difficulties; View 3: “Thinking together” which provides an edited script elicited from a conversation of the participating exemplary STLD teachers. Collectively, the three views reveal what is at the heart of learning support for the six teachers. In addition, aspects of practical knowledge that are particularly pertinent to learning support practice are discussed. 7 Finally, the effectiveness of the methods adopted for the study is explored. First, the screening process successfully enabled the selection of participants who had developed their craft to a sophisticated degree enhanced by their own “personal signature” (Eisner, 1991). Second, the adoption of a combination of a social constructivist framework and phenomenological approaches provided appropriate vehicles to enable the construction of six portraits of practices that exemplified significant aspects of practice. Third, the difficulties of authenticating the portraits using a cohort of critical friends from the STLD community and forging links with the community are discussed. Finally, I raise the possibility of embedding the portraits in professional development contexts where early career STLD teachers may wish to reflect on their practice.

Support teachers learning difficulties (STLD) have made a significant contribution to the provision of support for students experiencing learning difficulties and learning disabilities in Queensland state primary schools over almost forty years. During the 1990s with the implementation of an inclusive curriculum in schools, and in recent years, with changing systemic expectations of how academic performance might be improved, these teachers have increasingly participated in collaborative models with their classroom colleagues to provide for students experiencing various barriers to learning. This study focuses on the nature of exemplary practice as perceived through the eyes and voices of six exemplary STLD teachers. In keeping with this intent, a process of selecting the participants for in-depth study was instigated in a professional community of state primary STLD teachers located in a Brisbane education district to determine at the grass-roots what an exemplary STLD teacher might “look like”, and which six teachers in that community might contribute to the community‟s understanding of exemplary STLD teaching practice. These contributions are represented in six case studies, referred to as “portraits” and were co-constructed, that is through a dialogic process between the participant and me. Each portrait communicates an aspect of teaching practice and the experiential knowledge that underpins it. The term “exemplary” has been adopted consciously to denote “that serves as an example” (Harper, 2001) in contrast to the term “expert”, which frequently carries a technical connotation. A mixed methodology was adopted (Lincoln & Guba, 2003) in this qualitative study in anticipation of the need to draw upon various methods that in combination might assist in viewing, conceptualizing and harnessing the dynamic complexity expected to be evident in grassroots practice. First, various expressions of constructivism contributed, with the major influence being social constructivism to denote a “house” or a community of professionals in ongoing dialogue. 6 This provides the framework within which the study has been undertaken. Second, phenomenology, most particularly the work of Moustakas (1994) and van Manen (1990, 1994, 1995, 2007), is the primary source for the inspiration (van Manen) and the methods and tools (Moustakas) to explore the nature of their practice. Phenomenological approaches were adopted with the expectation they could assist in highlighting the essence of each individual‟s practice while allowing for the eliciting of experiential themes that are of importance to the professional community of STLD teachers. Finally, studies of practical teacher knowledge (Elbaz, 1983) in association with narrative inquiry (Connolly & Clandinin, 1988) have provided further insights into how the collective expression of these teachers might be displayed. The primary preoccupation of the portraits is the teachers‟ provision of support for individual students, and the nature and quality of the relationships enlisted in the service of making this provision. The teachers‟ transactions on behalf of these students are indicative of a raft of values, ideals, collaborative and communication skills which might be subsumed by the term relatedness, and the ability to see astutely the elements in various situations that need attentiveness. Their practice in action appears to be best encapsulated by Van Manen‟s (1995) term “pedagogical tact”, a term borrowed to capture the nature of the pedagogical relationships infused into their personal and professional selves. Three views of practice are provided to display and illuminate the nature of the six exemplary teachers‟ collective practice – View 1: “From the inside” which reveals the metaphors that inhabit their practice and the significance they have for their practice; View 2: “From the outside” which, through the vehicle of a narrative highlights a STLD teacher and a classroom teacher undertaking a collaborative process of providing for Dayne a student experiencing significant difficulties; View 3: “Thinking together” which provides an edited script elicited from a conversation of the participating exemplary STLD teachers. Collectively, the three views reveal what is at the heart of learning support for the six teachers. In addition, aspects of practical knowledge that are particularly pertinent to learning support practice are discussed. 7 Finally, the effectiveness of the methods adopted for the study is explored. First, the screening process successfully enabled the selection of participants who had developed their craft to a sophisticated degree enhanced by their own “personal signature” (Eisner, 1991). Second, the adoption of a combination of a social constructivist framework and phenomenological approaches provided appropriate vehicles to enable the construction of six portraits of practices that exemplified significant aspects of practice. Third, the difficulties of authenticating the portraits using a cohort of critical friends from the STLD community and forging links with the community are discussed. Finally, I raise the possibility of embedding the portraits in professional development contexts where early career STLD teachers may wish to reflect on their practice.

Esta tese discute a importância da dimensão interativa na relação pedagógica no b-learning. Por dimensão interativa entende-se um conjunto de elementos que proporcionam aprendizagens satisfatórias, levando-se em conta, não só os aspectos pedagógicos, mas também os aspectos organizacionais e tecnológicos. O estudo processa-se ao longo de dois semestres (2010/11) com alunos do Curso de Mestrado em Ciências da Educação, área de especialização de Tecnologia Educativa, do Instituto de Educação da Universidade do Minho. Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo exploratória, de natureza predominantemente qualitativa, construída por meio de estudo de caso. No sentindo de situar o trabalho no campo das Ciências da Educação, numa perspectiva psicossocial, tem-se como pistas de investigação a psicologia sócio-histórica e a comunicação como processo social. Desta forma, interligam-se os conceitos de relação interpessoal, interação, comunicação e linguagem. Para análise dos dados, fez-se o cruzamento de informações de diversos instrumentos de pesquisa (questionários e interações síncronas nos chats) e recorreu-se, como suportes teóricos de análise, aos axiomas da comunicação, apresentados por Watzlawich, Beavin e Jackson (1967); às competências comunicativas docentes de Bitti e Zani (1997) e às categorias de valores docentes de Almeida (2002) - uma releitura baseada nas conferências de Ítalo Calvino (1995). Os resultados emergentes deste estudo apontam para as dimensões: relacional, comunicativa, cognitiva e tecnológica, nesta ordem de importância, como dimensões interativas importantes nas relações pedagógicas b-learning (componente presencial) e relacional, comunicativa, tecnológica e cognitiva (componente online). Por meio dos indicadores, que definiram as dimensões, foi possível identificar características/requisitos docentes que os alunos consideram fundamentais na relação pedagógica presencial, a saber: Afetividade, Atitude, Proximidade e Interação/Interatividade (dimensão relacional); Linguagem Verbal, Papel do Professo, Linguagem Não-Verbal, Respostas/Feedback e Disponibilidade (dimensão comunicativa); Planejamento e Domínio dos Conteúdos (dimensão cognitiva); e Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias e Recursos Físicos, Materiais e Técnicos (dimensão tecnológica). Em se tratando da relação pedagógica online, tem-se basicamente os mesmos indicadores, com exceção do indicador Domínio dos Conteúdos. Destacam-se para o componente presencial, os indicadores Atitude e Afetividade (dimensão relacional), Linguagem Verbal (dimensão comunicativa), Planejamento (dimensão cognitiva), e Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias (dimensão tecnológica). Já para o componente online, tem-se Interação/Interatividade (dimensão relacional), Papel do Professor (dimensão comunicativa), Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias (dimensão tecnólogica) e Planejamento (dimensão tecnológica). De maneira geral, observa-se que há diferenças entre componentes presencial e online, quanto à ordem de importância dos indicadores. Valoriza-se mais a Atitude e Afetividade no presencial e Interação/Interatividade no online (dimensão relacional). Na dimensão comunicativa, preza-se como fundamental o Papel do Professor, no presencial, e Interação/Interatividade, no online. Para as dimensões cognitiva e tecnológica, reconhece-se os mesmos indicadores tanto no presencial como no online, qual sejam: Planejamento e Domínio dos Conteúdos, atentando-se para a mudança de posições em que a dimensão cognitiva aparece na 3ª posição, no presencial, e na 4ª posição, no online, e a dimensão tecnológica aparece na 4ª posição, no presencial, e na 3ª no online. Para além desses dados, ao se fazer a relação das dimensões já mencionadas com as variáveis sexo, idade e formação não se percebem diferenças significativas. / This thesis refers to the importance of pedagogical relationship in interactive blended learning. Interactive dimension is understood here as a set of elements that provide satisfactory learning, taking into account pedagogical aspects but also organizational and technological aspects. The study took place over two semesters (2010/11) with students from the Master in Educational Sciences, specialization in Educational Technology, Institute of Education, University of Minho. It is an exploratory type research, predominantly qualitative in nature, built through a case study. In order to situate the work in the field of Education Sciences, from a psychosocial perspective, we have taken, as an investigative lead, the socio-historical psychology and communication as a social process. Thus, the concepts of interpersonal relationship, interaction, communication and language are interconnected. For data analysis, it was done the crossing of information from various research instruments (questionnaires and synchronous interactions in chat rooms) and, as theoretical analysis supports, were used the axioms of communication, presented by Watzlawich, Beavin and Jackson (1967), the communication skills of teachers Bitty and Zani(1997) and Almeida (2003) categories of teaching values,, a reading based on lectures by Italo Calvino (1995). The results emerging from this study indicate the communicative, cognitive and technological dimensions,, in that order of importance, as important dimensions of interactive learning in b-learning pedagogical relationships (classroom component) and relational, communicative, and cognitive technology (online component). Through the indicators, which define the dimensions, it was possible to identify the teaching features / requirements that students consider important in classroom teaching relationship. They are: Affection, Attitude, Proximity and Interaction / Interactivity (relational dimension), Verbal, Role of the Teacher, non-verbal language, Responses / Feedback and availability (communication dimension), planning and content area (cognitive dimension), and, Domain and Use of Physical Resources and Technologies, Materials and Technical resources (technological dimension. In the case of online pedagogical relationship we have got the same indicators, with the exception of the Mastery of Content indicator. As to classroom component, the indicators Attitude and Affect (relational dimension), Verbal (communication dimension), Planning (cognitive dimension), and control and use of technology (technological dimension) are highlighted. As to online component, instead,, we have the indicators Interaction / Interactivity (relational dimension), Role of the Teacher (communication dimension), Use and Mastery of Technologies (technological dimension), and Planning (technological dimension). In general we observe that there are differences, between classroom and online components, as to the order of importance of indicators. Attitude and Affect in the classroom and Interaction / Interactivity in online (relational dimension) are more valued. In the communication dimension, the role of teacher is appreciated as fundamental in classroom learning, whereas Interaction / Interactivity is in online. As to cognitive and technological dimensions , the same indicators are recognized in both classroom and online, namely Planning and Mastery of Content, paying attention to the change of positions, where the cognitive dimension appears in 3rd position in classroom, and 4th in online, and the technological dimension appears in 4th position in classroom and 3rd in online. Beyond these data, when making the relationship between the dimensions mentioned above with the variables sex, age and education, we do not realize significant differences.

Esta tese discute a importância da dimensão interativa na relação pedagógica no b-learning. Por dimensão interativa entende-se um conjunto de elementos que proporcionam aprendizagens satisfatórias, levando-se em conta, não só os aspectos pedagógicos, mas também os aspectos organizacionais e tecnológicos. O estudo processa-se ao longo de dois semestres (2010/11) com alunos do Curso de Mestrado em Ciências da Educação, área de especialização de Tecnologia Educativa, do Instituto de Educação da Universidade do Minho. Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo exploratória, de natureza predominantemente qualitativa, construída por meio de estudo de caso. No sentindo de situar o trabalho no campo das Ciências da Educação, numa perspectiva psicossocial, tem-se como pistas de investigação a psicologia sócio-histórica e a comunicação como processo social. Desta forma, interligam-se os conceitos de relação interpessoal, interação, comunicação e linguagem. Para análise dos dados, fez-se o cruzamento de informações de diversos instrumentos de pesquisa (questionários e interações síncronas nos chats) e recorreu-se, como suportes teóricos de análise, aos axiomas da comunicação, apresentados por Watzlawich, Beavin e Jackson (1967); às competências comunicativas docentes de Bitti e Zani (1997) e às categorias de valores docentes de Almeida (2002) - uma releitura baseada nas conferências de Ítalo Calvino (1995). Os resultados emergentes deste estudo apontam para as dimensões: relacional, comunicativa, cognitiva e tecnológica, nesta ordem de importância, como dimensões interativas importantes nas relações pedagógicas b-learning (componente presencial) e relacional, comunicativa, tecnológica e cognitiva (componente online). Por meio dos indicadores, que definiram as dimensões, foi possível identificar características/requisitos docentes que os alunos consideram fundamentais na relação pedagógica presencial, a saber: Afetividade, Atitude, Proximidade e Interação/Interatividade (dimensão relacional); Linguagem Verbal, Papel do Professo, Linguagem Não-Verbal, Respostas/Feedback e Disponibilidade (dimensão comunicativa); Planejamento e Domínio dos Conteúdos (dimensão cognitiva); e Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias e Recursos Físicos, Materiais e Técnicos (dimensão tecnológica). Em se tratando da relação pedagógica online, tem-se basicamente os mesmos indicadores, com exceção do indicador Domínio dos Conteúdos. Destacam-se para o componente presencial, os indicadores Atitude e Afetividade (dimensão relacional), Linguagem Verbal (dimensão comunicativa), Planejamento (dimensão cognitiva), e Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias (dimensão tecnológica). Já para o componente online, tem-se Interação/Interatividade (dimensão relacional), Papel do Professor (dimensão comunicativa), Domínio e Uso das Tecnologias (dimensão tecnólogica) e Planejamento (dimensão tecnológica). De maneira geral, observa-se que há diferenças entre componentes presencial e online, quanto à ordem de importância dos indicadores. Valoriza-se mais a Atitude e Afetividade no presencial e Interação/Interatividade no online (dimensão relacional). Na dimensão comunicativa, preza-se como fundamental o Papel do Professor, no presencial, e Interação/Interatividade, no online. Para as dimensões cognitiva e tecnológica, reconhece-se os mesmos indicadores tanto no presencial como no online, qual sejam: Planejamento e Domínio dos Conteúdos, atentando-se para a mudança de posições em que a dimensão cognitiva aparece na 3ª posição, no presencial, e na 4ª posição, no online, e a dimensão tecnológica aparece na 4ª posição, no presencial, e na 3ª no online. Para além desses dados, ao se fazer a relação das dimensões já mencionadas com as variáveis sexo, idade e formação não se percebem diferenças significativas. / This thesis refers to the importance of pedagogical relationship in interactive blended learning. Interactive dimension is understood here as a set of elements that provide satisfactory learning, taking into account pedagogical aspects but also organizational and technological aspects. The study took place over two semesters (2010/11) with students from the Master in Educational Sciences, specialization in Educational Technology, Institute of Education, University of Minho. It is an exploratory type research, predominantly qualitative in nature, built through a case study. In order to situate the work in the field of Education Sciences, from a psychosocial perspective, we have taken, as an investigative lead, the socio-historical psychology and communication as a social process. Thus, the concepts of interpersonal relationship, interaction, communication and language are interconnected. For data analysis, it was done the crossing of information from various research instruments (questionnaires and synchronous interactions in chat rooms) and, as theoretical analysis supports, were used the axioms of communication, presented by Watzlawich, Beavin and Jackson (1967), the communication skills of teachers Bitty and Zani(1997) and Almeida (2003) categories of teaching values,, a reading based on lectures by Italo Calvino (1995). The results emerging from this study indicate the communicative, cognitive and technological dimensions,, in that order of importance, as important dimensions of interactive learning in b-learning pedagogical relationships (classroom component) and relational, communicative, and cognitive technology (online component). Through the indicators, which define the dimensions, it was possible to identify the teaching features / requirements that students consider important in classroom teaching relationship. They are: Affection, Attitude, Proximity and Interaction / Interactivity (relational dimension), Verbal, Role of the Teacher, non-verbal language, Responses / Feedback and availability (communication dimension), planning and content area (cognitive dimension), and, Domain and Use of Physical Resources and Technologies, Materials and Technical resources (technological dimension. In the case of online pedagogical relationship we have got the same indicators, with the exception of the Mastery of Content indicator. As to classroom component, the indicators Attitude and Affect (relational dimension), Verbal (communication dimension), Planning (cognitive dimension), and control and use of technology (technological dimension) are highlighted. As to online component, instead,, we have the indicators Interaction / Interactivity (relational dimension), Role of the Teacher (communication dimension), Use and Mastery of Technologies (technological dimension), and Planning (technological dimension). In general we observe that there are differences, between classroom and online components, as to the order of importance of indicators. Attitude and Affect in the classroom and Interaction / Interactivity in online (relational dimension) are more valued. In the communication dimension, the role of teacher is appreciated as fundamental in classroom learning, whereas Interaction / Interactivity is in online. As to cognitive and technological dimensions , the same indicators are recognized in both classroom and online, namely Planning and Mastery of Content, paying attention to the change of positions, where the cognitive dimension appears in 3rd position in classroom, and 4th in online, and the technological dimension appears in 4th position in classroom and 3rd in online. Beyond these data, when making the relationship between the dimensions mentioned above with the variables sex, age and education, we do not realize significant differences.

One of the most fundamental and meaningful statements that can be made about the human being, is that man is always in a certain relationship towards his fellow-man and the objects in his livingenvironment. With this statement as vantage-point it has been attempted to study the realization of the pedagogical relationships in psychopedagogical perspective and to analyse the becoming of the child within these relationships, against the background of the categories experiencing-willing-experience as becoming. The child is a person-in-the-world of objects and people, and as fellow-being he finds homself in certain relationships, because man is intentional and ever involved. Psycho-pedagogics deals with the discovering of the psychological life of the child in education and also reveals becoming and learni~ as its equal basic structures. It has furthermore become clear that "becoming and learning" are actualised, inter alia, by means of "learningas- becoming., and "experiencing-as-becoming" and exist as prerequisite for the adequate realization of pedagogical relationships (trust, knowledge and authority). Furthermore, a psychopedagogical analysis has been made of educational procedures and subsequently the structures of the pedagogical situation has been dealt with. Special attention was given to the trust-understanding and authority relationships against the background of the child's becoming-actualising-forms, namely: "Emancipating as experiencing-willing and living-becoming", "Exploring- as-experiencing, willing and living-becoming", "Distantiating-as-experiencing, willing-and living-becoming", "Differentiating-as-experiencing, willing-and living-becoming" and "Objectivating- as-experiencing, willing-and living-becoming". Mention was made of the stability which must be present in the child's experience world, and that experience as well as the will in the child's becoming within pedagogical relationships, depend on the degree of rational execution of these relationships, in order to reach adequate actualisation. The adequate actualisation of the pedagogical relationships pre-shapes the child's later actions as adult in his relationship towards his fellow-man, It was also been attempted to consider pedagogically the development of the various pedagogical relationships in which the child finds himself against the background of his becoming, with particular emphasis on the pre-school years, the primary school phase and the secondary school phase, Subsequently certain psychopedagogical criteria for the evaluation of the child's becoming within the realized pedagogical relationship- structures were elucidated, The thesis concludes with various remarks regarding the recognition of deviation from pedagogical relationships and suggested remedial steps, / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 1976. / gm2014 / Early Childhood Education / Unrestricted

No description available.