Mathematics has been seen to act as a ‘critical filter’ in the social, economic and professional development of individuals. The Island of Mauritius relies to a great extent on its human resource power to meet the challenges of recent technological developments, and a substantial core of mathematics is needed to prepare students for their involvements in these challenges. After an analysis of the School Certificate examination results for the past ten years in Mauritius, it was found that boys were out-performing girls in mathematics at that level. This study aimed to examine this gender difference in mathematics performance at the secondary level by exploring factors affecting mathematics teaching and learning, and by identifying and implementing strategies to enhance positive factors. The study was conducted using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology in three phases. A survey approach was used in the Phase One of the study to analyse the performance of selected students from seventeen schools across Mauritius in a specially designed mathematics test. The attitudes of these students were also analysed through administration of the Modified Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scale questionnaire. In Phase Two a case study method was employed, involving selected students from four Mauritian secondary schools. After the administration of the two instruments used in Phase One to these selected students, qualitative techniques were introduced. These included classroom observations and interviews of students, teachers, parents and key informants. Data from these interviews assisted in analysing and interpreting the influence of these individuals on students, and the influence of the students’ own attitudes towards mathematics on their learning of mathematics. / The results of Phases One and Two provided further evidence that boys were outperforming girls in mathematics at the secondary level in Mauritius. It was noted that students rated teachers highly in influencing their learning of mathematics. However, the teaching methods usually employed in the mathematics classrooms were found to be teacher-centered, and it was apparent that there existed a lack of opportunity for students to be involved in their own learning. It was also determined that parents and peers played a significant role in students’ learning of mathematics. After having analysed the difficulties students encountered in their mathematical studies, a package was designed with a view to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject at the secondary level. The package was designed to promote student-centred practices, where students would be actively involved in their own learning, and to foster appropriate use of collaborative learning. It was anticipated that the package would motivate students towards learning mathematics and would enhance their conceptual understanding of the subject. The efficacy of the package was examined in Phase Three of the study when students from a number of Mauritian secondary schools engaged with the package over a period of three months. Pre- and post-tests were used to measure students’ achievement gains. The What Is Happening in This Class (WIHIC) questionnaire also was used to analyse issues related to the affective domains of the students. An overall appreciation of the approaches used in the teaching and learning package was provided by students in the form of self-reports. / The outcomes of the Third Phase demonstrated an improvement in the achievement of students in the areas of mathematics which were tested. The students’ perceptions of the classroom learning environment were also found to be positive. Through their self-reports, students demonstrated an appreciation for the package’s strategies used in motivating them to learn mathematics and in helping them gain a better understanding of the mathematical concepts introduced.

The current study is an attempt to provide insights into the nature of tensions and consistencies between teachers’ belief-practice relationships and how these impact on teaching practices. The study aims to address three main research gaps. Firstly, it explores EFL teachers’ belief-practice consistency level in relation to the teaching of speaking, an understudied curricular domain. Secondly, the phenomenon is examined from two major perspectives: teachers’ perceptions of their own pedagogical contexts and their core-peripheral belief systems, thus using a multi-perspective approach which is usually not the case with other studies in the field. Finally, the study took place in Kazakhstani secondary school EFL classrooms, a geographical context which has not featured at all in the language teacher cognition literature to date. Using a multiple-case design and multiple methods of data collection, the research project explored the relationship between four EFL teachers’ stated beliefs and classroom practices in relation to the teaching of speaking. The teachers were interviewed and observed over a period of nine months. The findings provide evidence of how speaking instruction unfolded in the classroom and the multiplicity of factors which shaped teacher decision-making and behavior. Specifically, the insights from my study highlight the impact of a) teachers’ perceptions of their pedagogical contexts, b) their core and peripheral beliefs, and c) the interaction of all these factors on the enactment of their speaking instruction beliefs. These findings carry important implications for the field of language teacher cognition, and for teacher education and professional development.

Submitted by Rosina Valeria Lanzellotti Mattiussi Teixeira (rosina.teixeira@unisantos.br) on 2015-04-23T19:34:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda Casqueiro Souza da Silva.pdf: 2087364 bytes, checksum: 635c797af6817fe3047d13dae94c0349 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-23T19:34:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fernanda Casqueiro Souza da Silva.pdf: 2087364 bytes, checksum: 635c797af6817fe3047d13dae94c0349 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-06-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This study is the result of the investigation carried out during my Master's course in Education at Universidade Católica de Santos ¿ UNISANTOS, on Teacher Training and Professionalization line of research. The research aimed to investigate the professionalization of tutors on Distance Learning courses (EaD), in order to have a glimpse of the perception this professional might have about his professionalization and understand, within the context in which these professionals are inserted, the difficulties they face when working as tutors on Undergraduate Distance Learning courses. The research adopted a qualitative approach, was conducted with tutors who work in undergraduate courses in a higher education institution in Santos/SP, and had as theoretical basis studies of Gonzalez (2005), Moraes (1997), Tardiff & Lessard (2011), Valente (2002), Belloni (2009), Santos (1991), Garcia (1999), among others, who dealt with issues concerning distance learning, teaching work and the latest educational paradigms. The empirical research used initially, as a methodological tool for data collection, 39 questionnaires, which were answered by tutors of undergraduate courses. On the second phase, a focus group was created, with participation of three tutors. The investigated issues were related to the area in which the tutors operate: continuing education, working conditions, relationship with peer teachers, mentoring experiences and difficulties found within this work environment. The data from this survey revealed conflicts regarding tutor role and his identity, as well as difficulties to understand what the mentoring job entails, and the lack of knowledge about cyber education settings, involving professionalism based on actions and changes, for which there are scarce opportunities for reflection. Results also pointed to controversies, among which, lack of structure for the mentoring work, including number of students per tutor and the small number of continuing education courses. Aspects on the devaluation of this professional suggest further investigation, once there is a remarkable growth on the field of distance learning, and teachers need to be prepared to perform their role as teacher trainers. / Universidade Católica de Santos (UNISANTOS), na linha de pesquisa Formação e Profissionalização Docente. A pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar a profissionalização do tutor na EaD, com vistas a conhecer a percepção desse profissional sobre a sua profissionalização e compreender o contexto no qual está inserido e as dificuldades que os professores enfrentaram na tutoria dos cursos de graduação a distância. A pesquisa, de abordagem qualitativa, foi realizada com tutores que atuam em cursos de Graduação em uma instituição de ensino superior de Santos-SP, e teve como base teórica os estudos de Gonzalez (2005), Moraes (1997), Tardiff e Lessard (2011), Valente (2002), Belloni (2009), Santos (1991), Garcia (1999) entre outros autores, que trataram de temas ligados à educação a distância e ao trabalho docente. A pesquisa empírica utilizou inicialmente, como instrumento metodológico de coleta de dados, 39 questionários, que foram respondidos por tutores de cursos de Graduação. No segundo momento, foi realizado um grupo focal, que contou com a participação de três tutores. As questões investigadas versaram sobre assuntos relacionados à área em que atuam: formação continuada, condições de trabalho, relações com os professores envolvidos, experiências de tutoria e dificuldades encontradas neste contexto de trabalho. Os dados da pesquisa revelaram alguns conflitos existentes em relação à identidade e o papel do tutor, como também dificuldades de compreensão sobre a tutoria, além da falta de conhecimento sobre o cenário educacional virtual, que envolve profissionalização embasada em ações e mudanças, para as quais existem poucas oportunidades de reflexão. A pesquisa apontou também controvérsias, entre elas, a falta de condições para o trabalho da tutoria, incluindo o número de alunos sob a responsabilidade dos tutores e as poucas ofertas de cursos de formação continuada. Além disso, foram sinalizados aspectos quanto à desvalorização desse profissional, o que demanda novos estudos, já que há um crescimento notável da modalidade de ensino a distância e os professores precisam estar preparados para exercer seu papel de formadores de professores.

nÃo hà / O trabalho de tese teve por objetivo avaliar a concepÃÃo de ensino, aprendizagem e prÃtica avaliativa, de professores de MatemÃtica, do Ensino MÃdio, de escolas da cidade de Fortaleza. No intuito de atingir o objetivo, partiu-se da perspectiva metodolÃgica de MORIN, pela qual o mÃtodo à um caminho a ser traÃado, à medida que a pesquisa se desenvolve. Utilizou-se a tÃcnica de amostragem e determinou-se a quantidade de 15 escolas, da rede pÃblica, e 10 escolas privada, que seriam pesquisadas, de um universo de 282 escolas. No entanto, o trabalho de pesquisa foi feito em 13 escolas particulares e 17 pÃblicas, sendo entrevistados, ao final, 57 professores de MatemÃtica, em efetivo exercÃcio profissional. Para a coleta de dados foi elaborado um roteiro de entrevista contendo 14 assertivas e 1 questÃo aberta. Para cada assertiva o entrevistado respondeu, inicialmente, à escala (concordo, concordo em parte, discordo) e, a seguir, justificou sua escolha externando sua opiniÃo de forma mais detalhada. Para o registro desse procedimento, usou-se um gravador de fita cassete. Cada entrevista foi gravada, em sua Ãntegra, e depois transcrita usando-se o editor de texto Word for Windows. A anÃlise dos dados foi feita em duas etapas: uma descriÃÃo das respostas por meio da EstatÃstica Descritiva, utilizando-se o programa Statistical Parckage of Social Sciences (SPSS) e uma elaboraÃÃo de categorias por meio do mÃtodo de reduÃÃo fenomenolÃgica de HUSSERL. As categorias finais â prÃtica tradicional de ensino, visÃo renovada de ensino, ensino deficitÃrio, aprendizagem deficiente, Ãnfase no trabalho do professor â direcionaram a anÃlise feita para caracterizar a concepÃÃo dos professores de MatemÃtica, do Ensino MÃdio, sobre ensino, aprendizagem e prÃtica avaliativa. Partindo-se da anÃlise, apontou-se que o professorado possui idÃias consolidadas advindas de suas vivÃncias e prÃticas profissionais, que, estando internalizadas, precisam ser operacionalizadas na prÃtica. Boa parte das idÃias, do professorado, converge para as determinaÃÃes legais expressas nos ParÃmetros Curriculares Nacional para o Ensino MÃdio. / This study has as its objective the evaluation the teaching, learning and assessment practices of mathematic teachers at Intermediate Level Schools in the city of Fortaleza. To attain this object the methodological perspective of MORIN was used. Morin insists that method is a route to be followed as the research develops. The sample was technically arrives at and it determined that 15 public schools and 10 private ones be used in the research from a universe of 282 schools. However, the study in fact covered 13 private schools and 17 public schools. Fifty seven mathematics teachers, currently teaching, were interviewed. The data was collected through interviews containing 14 closed questions and one open one. In each closed question the person being interviewed initially answered as follows on the scale: I agree, I agree in part, I disagree. This was followed by justifying his choice or opinion in more precise detail. All interviews were fully recorded on a tape recorder. Afterwards these recordings were transcribed and edited by the text editor Word for Windows. An analysis of the data was carried out in two stages: a description of the answers by means of Descriptive Statistics, using the program Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) and the elaboration into categories using the phenomenological method of reduction of Husserl. The final categories â traditional practice of teaching, renewed vision of teaching, deficient teaching, emphasis in the work of the teacher, - directed the analysis being carried out to characterize the conception of mathematic teachers at Intermediate Level regarding teaching, learning and academic assessment. The results showed that the teachers have consolidated ideas concerning their professional practice that when internalized need to be put into operation in practice. A considerable part of the teachers ideas are in accordance wit the legal determinations expresses in National Curriculum Parameters for Intermediate Teaching.

Submitted by Sandra Mendonça (sandra.mendonca@unioeste.br) on 2017-05-16T15:20:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ELIS CALEGARI.pdf: 5188969 bytes, checksum: b665290dd944cb68a9d86a568da9216f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-16T15:20:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ELIS CALEGARI.pdf: 5188969 bytes, checksum: b665290dd944cb68a9d86a568da9216f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-15 / This essay will be discussed the process of teacher's continuous training and some ramifications in the education practice. The context this essay was a school of Francisco Beltrão municipal education system, Paraná. The municipal school Juscelino Kubitschek, since 2010, has a singular process of organization this education practices, from now on teacher's continuous training. The focus this essay is in the practices realized in 2013 and 2014, study survey. The general objective of this research is to characterize a continuing training experience of teachers at school, trying to understand the reflection of movements mobilized actions and their consequences in pedagogical practices of teachers. Therefore, in the first chapter will be approached the conceptions and discussions about the teacher's continuous training, as certain analysis are directed about the relations of teacher's continuous training with education practice and teaching work, emphasize, the continuous training centered in school. In the second chapter will be described and analyzed the context of involve the school, the goals to movement of reflection about the education practice and partnership between the school and college. In the third chapter, has some practices that were results of the process of school, specially the "collective moment" as practice of school in the continuous training, the practice of planning for work project achieved for the school, and the forms that the school achieved to work the scholarly collective from now on the practice of self-organization with students. From a qualitative study, we sought to develop as a kind of research the Case Study. The data collection was by means of observations and records as field diaries, semi-structure interviews and analysis of documents. While bibliography discuss, permeate the debates of continuous training situating the categories: continuous training in school, education practice, teaching work, professionalization, partnership between school and college, and planning. In conclusion, the discusses about the continuous training coming have some decades occupying the debate spaces that treat of improvement in quality of education and the connection with the development of education practices. In the context of research, in consideration the indicative of differentiation methodological, performs relation the performance of professionals of school, the form as the collective routing are assumed in individual and collective scope and the external questions that hamper the formation of the pedagogical project with purpose of actions well defined. Therefore, highlight the dimensions of process from now of coordination of actions in the practice of continuous training, of management and collective planning of pedagogical practice from now on the reconstruction of methodology of planning for work project and formation of pedagogical devices that orient the teaching work with the collective of students. Stand out, that has a field comprehensive of potentialities and questions holding and analyzed in continuous training to articulate the dimensions theoretical-practical that involves the all this experience. / Este estudo discute o processo de formação continuada de professores e alguns desdobramentos nas práticas pedagógicas. O contexto da pesquisa foi uma escola da rede Municipal de Francisco Beltrão, Paraná. A Escola Municipal Juscelino Kubitschek vivencia, desde o ano de 2010, um processo singular de reorganização das práticas pedagógicas, a partir da formação continuada de professores. O enfoque deste estudo situa-se, porém, nas práticas concretizadas nos anos de 2013 e 2014, período da pesquisa. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa é caracterizar uma experiência de formação continuada de professores na escola, buscando compreender os movimentos de reflexão, ações mobilizadas e seus desdobramentos nas práticas pedagógicas dos professores. Nesse sentido, no primeiro capítulo abordar-se-á concepções e debates acerca da formação continuada de professores, como certas análises se direcionam às relações da formação continuada com as práticas pedagógicas e o trabalho docente, enfatizando, assim, a formação continuada centrada na escola. No segundo capítulo serão descritos e analisados o contexto que envolve a escola, os motivadores para um movimento de reflexão sobre a prática pedagógica e parceria entre Escola e Universidade. No terceiro capítulo a ênfase recai sobre alguns resultados do processo da escola, especificamente o "momento coletivo" como prática da escola de formação continuada, a prática do planejamento por projeto de trabalho alcançado pela escola, e as formas que a escola alcançou para trabalhar a coletividade escolar a partir da prática de auto-organização dos educandos. A partir de uma abordagem qualitativa de pesquisa, buscou-se desenvolver como tipo de pesquisa o Estudo de Caso. A coleta de dados deu-se por meio de observações e registros sob a forma de diários de campo, entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise de documentos. Enquanto discussão bibliográfica, permeou-se os debates da formação continuada situando as categorias: formação continuada na escola, prática pedagógica, trabalho docente, profissionalização, parceria colaborativa entre escola e Universidade, e planejamento. Constatou-se a partir desses estudos, que as discussões sobre a formação continuada vêm há algumas décadas ocupando, de forma significativa, os espaços de debate que tratam da melhoria na qualidade da educação e a sua estreita ligação com o desenvolvimento das práticas pedagógicas. No contexto da pesquisa, levando em consideração o indicativo de diferenciação metodológica implementada, apresentam-se entraves relacionados à atuação dos profissionais da escola, a forma como os encaminhamentos coletivos são assumidos no âmbito individual e coletivo e as questões externas que permeiam e dificultam a constituição de projeto pedagógico com finalidades de ações bem definidas. Neste sentido, ressaltam-se dimensões do processo a partir da coordenação de ações no âmbito da prática de formação continuada alcançada, da gestão e planejamento coletivo da prática pedagógica a partir da reconstrução da metodologia de planejamento por projeto de trabalho e da constituição de dispositivos pedagógicos que orientam o trabalho dos professores com a coletividade dos educandos. Destaca-se, ainda, que há um campo abrangente de potencialidades e questões a ser explorado e analisado na formação continuada para se articular as dimensões teórico-práticas que envolvem a totalidade desta experiência.

Ce travail de thèse interroge la construction par les enseignants de l’école élémentaire de la matière « sciences et technologie » qui recouvre diverses configurations de l’éducation scientifique et technologique. La variabilité curriculaire de l'éducation scientifique à l'école élémentaire et la diversité des enseignants sont en contraste avec la tendance d'uniformisation des pratiques d'enseignement prescrites et recommandées. Ce travail de thèse porte alors sur la manière dont s'actualise cette tension entre diversité des contenus pris en charge par des enseignants eux-mêmes très divers, d'une part, et prescriptions et recommandations tendant à uniformiser les pratiques d'enseignement d'autre part. Un point de vue didactique est mobilisé pour analyser les pratiques d'enseignement déclarées et effectives. Ce travail de thèse se situe dans une approche compréhensive et exploratoire et est organisé selon une étude de cas multiples. L'analyse des pratiques déclarées et effectives montre que les enseignants construisent deux types de contenus, d’une part des contenus de connaissances et d’autre part des contenus de pratique scientifique ; que la démarche d’investigation est construite de deux manières, l’une cumulative où c’est l’enseignant qui dirige la construction des savoirs pas à pas, l’autre où l’enseignant laisse d’avantage l’élève construire les savoirs selon son propre cheminement. L’analyse de la pratique effective montre que les médiations des enseignants varient selon les contenus et impliquent, plus particulièrement, deux types d'engagement des élèves dans l'activité (élèves chercheurs / élèves trouveurs). Dans le cadre d'un dispositif d'accompagnement des enseignants (l'ASTEP), nous mettons en évidence un partage des rôles caractérisé par une distinction marquée tant par le temps et l’espace occupés que par les types de médiations didactiques mobilisés par l'enseignant et l'accompagnateur. / My thesis questions the construction of their subject by "Science and Technology" teachers. This designation, in elementary school, covers various configurations of science and technology education. The curricular variability of science education in elementary school and the diversity of the teaching team contrast the trend towards uniformity of prescribed and recommended teaching practices. Our thesis thus focuses on how this tension develops, on the one hand in the diversity of contents under the responsibility of very diverse teachers and, on the other hand, the prescriptions and recommendations tending to standardize the teaching practices. A didactic point of view has been mobilized for the analysis of declared and actual teaching practices. This thesis is based on a comprehensive and exploratory approach and it is organized according to a multiple case study. The analysis of the declared and actual practices shows that teachers construct two types of contents: on the one hand, knowledge contents and, on the other hand, contents of scientific practice. The inquiry approach is constructed in two ways, one cumulative in which the teacher directs the construction of knowledge step by step, the other when the teacher lets the students construct their knowledge along their individual progress. The analysis of actual practice shows that teacher mediations vary according to the content and, more particularly, they involve two types of student commitment in the activity (research students / finder students). From the interaction between content and context of the teaching practice, within the framework of a system of teacher support (ASTEP), we highlight a sharing of roles characterized by a distinction based as much on time and space as on the types of didactic mediations mobilized by the teacher and their assistant.

This dissertation in practice was designed to provide an evaluation case study of two institutions, one college and one university, in the field of online learning and quality assurance. The writer evaluated these two institutions of higher learning to discover what online teaching criteria are required and what quality assurance processes are being used to assess the quality of the institutions* online courses. An analysis of the data revealed that both institutions were at the appropriate stage of development, support, training and quality assurance measures for their sizes, online populations and for the length of time they have been involved in online learning. Findings revealed that both institutions had a quality assurance process in place that is appropriate to their location, population and faculty. There is much to be learned by examining the two different credentialing and quality assurance approaches to online teaching and learning that these two different institutions employ for anyone interested in improving their institutions* processes.