This thesis explores children’s and pedagogues’ participation in project work in a Swedish preschool inspired by the pedagogical philosophy of Reggio Emilia and its associated participatory agenda. The overall aim is to investigate how children are involved in the shaping of project work in everyday interactions. The study examines how children’s participation and involvement in project work, as it unfolds over time, is organized and negotiated in interaction; what children and pedagogues are oriented to and what communicative, embodied, visual, and material resources that are used. The empirical material was collected during a six months long video ethnographic study among four to five years old children. The video recordings and field notes collected during participant observations are analyzed from an ethnomethodological and a socio-cultural perspective. The study sheds light on how both children and pedagogues are active agents in the constitution of project work and the various communicative and material resources that they draw upon when participating in project work. The findings highlight how the pedagogues work to create conditions for children’s participation and how this work is intimately connected to and dependent on children’s agency. Moreover, it is shown that the pedagogues are creating conditions to facilitate children’s participation through various activities that at first glance appear as controlling. Among other things the pedagogues vary how wide ranging content is allowed. When participating in project work the children are treated and act as competent. They relate to tasks as active subjects and participatory agents in that they coordinate various resources to solve problems and to create products. In their interpretations and reinterpretations of a given task, the children take into account as well the pedagogues’ instructions as their own and other children’s interests. / Forskarskolan: Globalisering, literacy och utforskande lärprocesser: Förskolebarns språk, läsande, skrivande och matematiserande

The purpose of the study was to examine how teachers and children interpreted the project and understood its values. To this end, it was necessary to focus on four defining parameters which affect the investigation: structure of pre-school project work, content and delivery, the methods used by teachers during the project, which pedagogical documentation was used (and how), and how the project determined the approach, the curriculum goals and values. Using a qualitative approach, regular unsystematic observations were made over five days, during which three teachers, two pedagogues, two pre-school teachers, and one nanny from the same kindergarten were interviewed regarding children in three age groups: 1-2 years old, 3 years old, and 4-5 years old. The results of my investigation showed that the teachers were divided on how to apply the project as a working method. Children's active role in the pre-school project varied depending on the extent to which teachers adopted children perspective in everyday practice. The teachers used the documentation to evaluate, make visible processes of learning in children and reflect on the educational work of the projects. / Reggio Emilia

Vom 20.4. bis 15.10.2007 präsentiert die Professur und Studienrichtung Technisches Design der Fakultät Maschinenwesen der TU Dresden in der Bereichsbibliothek Dre•Punct einen Querschnitt von Projektarbeiten aus Lehre und Forschung. Sie zeigen das Entwerfen und Gestalten von Maschinen, Anlagen und Geräten im Kontext der Ingenieur- und Naturwissenschaften.

Tyrimo objektai: Sportininkų rengimo ir reabilitacijos centras M.K. Čiurlionio g. 115a, Druskininkai, Žemės ūkio technikos prekybos ir aptarnavimo centras, Saviečių k., Pelėdnagių sen., Kėdainių raj. sav., Administracinio pastato 1G3p rekonstravimas Savanorių pr. 118/ Aukštaičių g. 1, Kaunas. Tyrimo tikslas: išanalizuoti vandentvarkos projektų įgyvendinimo sąmatų sudarymo pagrindines problemas ir pasiūlyti galimus jų sprendimo būdus. Tyrimo uždaviniai:  Išanalizuoti sportininkų rengimo ir reabilitacijos centro M.K. Čiurlionio g. 115a, Druskininkuose parengtas sąmatas ir palyginti jas tarpusavyje;  Išanalizuoti žemės ūkio technikos prekybos ir aptarnavimo centro, Saviečių k., Pelėdnagių sen., Kėdainių raj. sav. parengtas sąmatas ir projektą;  Išanalizuoti administracinio pastato 1G3p rekonstravimo Savanorių pr. 118/ Aukštaičių g. 1 projektą ir palyginti su sąmata;  Apibendrinti visų objektų problemas ir pasiūlyti galimus jų sprendimo būdus. Tyrimo metodai: analizavimui buvo panaudotas statistinės analizės metodas, buvo išanalizuoti trys skirtingi projektai ir nustatytos pagrindinės problemos, kurios iškyla skaičiuojant sąmatas vandentvarkos projektams. Tyrimo rezultatai: ○ Pirmoje dalyje aptariama projekto samprata literatūroje. Taip pat apžvelgiama, kokie yra šiuo metu Lietuvoje vykdomi pagrindiniai ir svarbiausi vandentvarkos projektai. Šiame skyriuje aptariamos pagrindinės sąmatinės programos ir jų skirtumai. ○ Antrojoje dalyje dėmesys skiriamas Sportininkų rengimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Objects of the research: projects of Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Druskininkai, Farm Machinery Sales and Service Center in Saviečiai village (Eldership of Pelėdnagiai, Kėdainiai districtrict Municipality), Office Building 1G3p Reconstruction in Savanorių str.118 / Aukštaičių str. 1 in Kaunas. Aim of the research: analysis Problems of Creating Estimates for Water Management Project Implementation and propose possible solutions. Objectives of the research: 1. To analyze Sports Training and Rehabilitation Center in Druskininkai prepared estimates and compare them with each other; 2. To analyze Farm Machinery Sales and Service Center in Saviečiai (Eldership of Pelėdnagiai, Kėdainiai districtrict Municipality) prepared estimates of the project; 3. To analyze Office Building 1G3p Reconstruction project in Kaunas and compared with estimate 4. To summarize all facilities issues and propose possible solutions. Research methods: The statistical analysis method was used for the survey: three different projects were examined and the main problems that arise in calculating the estimates for water management projects were determined. Research results: ○ Part One discusses about what is the project. Also addresses what is currently implemented water projects in Lithuania. This section presents the basic budgeting programs and their basic principles. ○ Part Two focuses on the projects of Sports Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Druskininkai, Farm... [to full text]

Inovacijų vadyba suaugusiųjų švietime projektinės veiklos aspektu taikytina tuomet, kai minėtų paslaugų teikimas neatitinka šiandieninių reikalavimų ir teikiamų galimybių. Projektinė veikla skatina pažangias idėjas, nes projekto kūrimas reikalauja kūrybos, investicijos, turinčios padėti įgyti daugiau patirties ir duoti naujų rezultatų, diegti inovacijas tobulinant suaugusiųjų švietimo paslaugas. Mokslinė problema – koks inovacijų vadybos pobūdis projektinės veiklos aspektu suaugusiųjų švietime laiduotų sėkmingą paslaugų teikimą? Tyrimo tikslas – teoriškai išanalizuoti ir empiriškai pagrįsti inovacijų vadybos pobūdį projektinės veiklos aspektu suaugusiųjų švietime. Tyrimo objektas – inovacijų vadyba ir projektinė veikla suaugusiųjų švietime. Tyrimo uždaviniai: • Atlikti inovacijų vadybos suaugusiųjų švietime projektinės veiklos aspektu teorinę analizę. • Išanalizuoti KU TSI inovacijų vadybos pobūdį projektinės veiklos aspektu suaugusiųjų švietime instituciniu lygmeniu. • Ištirti KU TSI andragogų vadovų, andragogų lektorių, andragogų organizatorių, andragogų besimokančiųjų požiūrį į suaugusiųjų švietimo inovacijų vadybą projektinės veiklos aspektu. Tyrimo metodai : teorinė analizė, atvejų analizė, stebėjimas, dokumentų analizės, apklausa. Apibendrinta teorinio ir empirinio tyrimo analizė patvirtino tyrimo hipotezę – inovacijų vadyba projektinės veiklos aspektu laiduos sėkmingą paslaugų teikimą... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Innovation management as project work in adults’ education is applied when the mentioned education does not comply with the present requirements and possibilities. Project work encourages smart ideas as project composition requires creativity. It as well results in investment which helps to acquire more experience and achieve new results. Moreover, it stimulates to implement innovations by improving the services of adults’ education. Scientific problem – what format of innovation management in the aspect of project work would lead to a successful services supply in adults’ education? The aim of research – to make theoretical analysis and present empirical substantiation of the innovation management format in the aspect of project work in adults’ education. The object of research – innovation management and project work in adults’ education. The tasks of research: • To perform theoretical analysis of the innovation management in the aspect of project work in adults’ education. • To make documentation analysis of KU TSI innovation management as project work in adults’ education. • To investigate the attitude of KU TSI andragog managers, andragog tutors, andragog coordinators, andragogy learners towards innovation management as project work in adults’ education. Methods of research: theory review, analysis of cases and documents, observation, interview. The analysis of theoretical and empirical research approves research... [to full text]

In this paper the project for 15-year-old students with the title Ancient Greece and Rome and the sub-title Is the Legacy of Ancient Greece and Rome really the Cradle of European Civilization? is introduced. It shows how to connect mathematics with art, history, physics, geography and philosophy by studying ancient Greek scientists and their achievements. Collaborative teaching is introduced. The major aim of the project was to show mathematics as a part of human civilization and to follow its development through history. Some topics from theory of numbers and geometry were studied. One part of the project was also a theatre performance, which should make the students aware of the difficulties of many dedicated mathematicians to find the answers to some problems from the ancient times.

Abstract This study discusses what 7th grade pupils tell about their writing in a cross-curricular project. The aim is to open up pupils’ points of view about writing at school. The participants of the study were 11 boys and 15 girls who had started a music class in upper comprehensive school. The material of this study comprises essays and learning diaries produced by the participants, as well as individual and group interviews of the participants. The study takes a narrative approach in both theoretical and methodological questions when trying to interpret and understand how the pupils see writing from their point of view. Collaborative writing is based on narrative starting points, so that by the narrative process one can learn new things and produce more comprehensive stories. The multidimensional examination of the material is based on narrative analysis, combining both thematic and linguistic analyses. The results indicate that the pupils’ narration expresses different kinds of conceptions of writing. Besides the traditional and creative conceptions of writing, writing is also seen as social action. The participants’ development as writers seems to be significant when they express the goals of their writing. The challenges of writing are mainly associated with the writing process. The pupils seem to regard collaborative writing as an inspiring method that enables them to practice interaction skills, such as giving and getting constructive feedback. Collaborative writing makes it possible to constitute shared meanings and to produce collective narratives. This study addresses writing at upper comprehensive school from a new perspective, as the voices of pupils have so far been quiet. The study increases understanding about pupils’ writing and the meaning of collaborative writing. The results imply that in teaching it would be important to support the writing process of each pupil. For the teacher pupils’ narration offers ways to reflect on his or her work and to develop it. The results may be helpful in developing practical teaching of writing and the teacher education in general. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan seitsemäsluokkalaisten kerrontaa kirjoittamisestaan oppiainerajat ylittävässä projektissa. Tavoitteena on avata oppilaiden näkökulmia koulukirjoittamiseen. Tutkimukseen osallistui yksitoista poikaa ja viisitoista tyttöä, jotka olivat aloittaneet opiskelun yläkoulun musiikkiluokalla. Aineisto koostuu oppilaiden laatimista Kirjoittajan polkuni -teksteistä, heidän ryhmä- ja yksilöhaastatteluistaan sekä oppimispäiväkirjoistaan. Kerronnallisuus on tutkimuksen teoreettinen ja menetelmällinen lähestymistapa, kun halutaan tulkita ja ymmärtää, millaisena kirjoittaminen näyttäytyy oppilaiden näkökulmasta. Yhdessä kirjoittaminen pohjautuu kerronnallisiin lähtökohtiin, jolloin kerronnan kautta opitaan uutta ja tuotetaan aiempaa kokonaisvaltaisempia kertomuksia. Tutkimusaineiston moniulotteinen tarkastelu perustuu kerronnalliseen analyysiin, jossa yhdistetään temaattista ja kielellistä analyysia. Tulokset osoittavat kerronnan ilmentävän erilaisia kirjoittamiskäsityksiä. Perinteisten ja itseilmaisua lähellä olevien käsitysten lisäksi kirjoittaminen näyttäytyy sosiaalisena toimintana. Kirjoittajana kehittyminen näyttää merkitykselliseltä kertojien esittäessä kirjoittamisensa tavoitteita. Kirjoittamisen haasteet liittyvät lähinnä kirjoitusprosessiin. Yhdessä kirjoittaminen osoittautuu projektissa oppilaita innostavaksi työtavaksi. Se mahdollistaa yhteistyötaitojen kehittämisen muun muassa rakentavan palautteen antamisen ja vastaanottamisen avulla. Yhdessä kirjoittaminen avaa mahdollisuuksia yhteisten merkitysten muodostamiseen ja yhteisöllisten kertomusten tuottamiseen. Tutkimus tarjoaa uuden näkökulman yläkoulun kirjoittamista koskevaan keskusteluun, jossa oppilaiden äänenpainoilla on ollut toistaiseksi vähän sijaa. Tutkimus lisää ymmärrystä oppilaiden kirjoittamisesta ja yhdessä kirjoittamisen merkityksestä. Opetuksessa on tärkeä tukea kaikkien oppilaiden kirjoitusprosessia. Oppilaiden kerronta avaa näkökulmia opettajan oman työn reflektointiin ja kehittämiseen. Tutkimustuloksia on mahdollista hyödyntää kirjoittamisen opetuksessa ja sen käytänteiden kehittämisessä sekä yleensä opettajankoulutuksessa.

Digital games are today avaliable on all kinds of different platform. Games and game thinking is also increasingly being applied within non-traditional contexts. This thesis explores the term "gamifiation" which can be defined as "the use of game design elements in non-game contexts". The purpose of the study was to identify and give perspective on the discourse surrounding the use and applicability of the term today. More specifically, it explores the possibilities of the potentially value creating ability in the context of work, and focused on the application of gamified software in the context of project work. To understand the power in using game elements in non-game context, the field surrounding motivation in games is explored, as well as the discourse surrounding gamification. Through a qualitative survey using semi-structured interviews the potential use and value of gamification in the project context was investigated. Three approaches to gamification, a rejective, a commercial and an academic are presented. Self-determination theory is used to understand motivation in games.This and the insights resulting from the interviews, the survey of the field, and the theoretical understanding of project work are used to give a perspective on the use of game elements in project work. Among the recommendations are designing for a particular context and different user groups, connecting the use of interface elements with the users intrinsic needs for competence, autonomy and relatedness, using gamification as a part and not the focus of the design process, and adding percieved user values, or "fun" to motivate users. Gamification is suggested for appliance as a means to attract staff and clients to a project, motivating users to learn or achieve or motivating users to engage with the system in a certain way.

Vom 20.4. bis 15.10.2007 präsentiert die Professur und Studienrichtung Technisches Design der Fakultät Maschinenwesen der TU Dresden in der Bereichsbibliothek Dre•Punct einen Querschnitt von Projektarbeiten aus Lehre und Forschung. Sie zeigen das Entwerfen und Gestalten von Maschinen, Anlagen und Geräten im Kontext der Ingenieur- und Naturwissenschaften.

Project teams advance a common goal by working together on projects that require a diverse set of skills and are difficult for 1 person to complete. In this study, there was an exploration of the antecedents to groupthink in project teams from the perspectives of project managers. Many companies use project managers to complete critical objectives; avoiding groupthink is crucial to their success. The purpose of this research was to understand why project teams are susceptible to groupthink and what precautions managers can take to avoid it. The conceptual framework utilized in this study was Janis' concept of groupthink, which is reaching consensus without adequate examination of ideas. The study was a qualitative, phenomenological design involving semistructured phone and face-to-face interviews with 16 project managers from a variety of industries with at least 10 years of experience and who hold a project management professional designation. The main research question was: how does groupthink occur and how can project managers mitigate the adverse consequences of groupthink? Data analysis consisted of open sentence analysis and axial coding of patterns in the data using NVivo 11. The key research finding was that project managers with more experience are better at mitigating groupthink. Project managers expressed that groupthink can lead project teams to advance flawed decisions that may cost people their jobs or result in loss of life. This study may affect positive social change by preventing flawed decisions that could adversely impact society. Future researchers should explore possible ways that project managers can develop strategies that can identify and prevent groupthink from occurring.