O presente trabalho disserta sobre a realização de uma pesquisa-intervenção educacional (Viezzer & Ovalles, 1995; Sorrentino, 1999), relacionada às questões das águas do município de Saltinho/SP, cabeceiras da Bacia Hidrográfica do Ribeirão Piracicamirim. Com ele, pretende-se fornecer subsídios para a compreensão metodológica de processos de Educação Ambiental voltados à participação de educadoras nos processos de conservação ambiental dos mananciais de abastecimento público do município de Saltinho/SP. Utilizou-se princípios da pedagogia da autonomia (Freire, 1997), como pratica educacional emancipatória, através de um curso de formação de educadoras ambientais, avaliado qualitativamente a partir de dados coletados através de observação participante, questionários, entrevistas e produtos educacionais gerados. Os resultados do estudo evidenciam que 1) Os conhecimentos das educadoras sobre as questões dos recursos hídricos e biodiversidade local antes do processo de educação ambiental são muito pequenos e pontuais e após as atividades de educação ambiental há um incremento dos mesmos evidenciado em falas, ações e projetos político pedagógicos das escolas; 2) Formação de educadores ambientais abrangendo todo o corpo docente do sistema municipal de ensino de Saltinho provoca mudanças significativas nos projetos político pedagógico da escola; 3) O aumento do ?repertório? teórico sobre as questões ambientais sugere mais reflexões e embasamentos aprofundados para o desenvolvimento de práticas pedagógicas dentro e fora da sala de aula; 4) Conscientização sobre as bacias hidrográficas locais e biodiversidade deflagra sonhos e desejos de agir na defesa das águas pelas educadoras, sendo observados nos diversos trabalhos extra curriculares gerados durante e após o desenvolvimento do processo de educação ambiental; 5) Construção conjunta de conhecimentos envolvendo pesquisador e educadoras, potencializa ações de práticas pedagógicas envolvendo as questões ambientais locais bem como maior integração entre o corpo docente da escola; 6) Inserção do pesquisador no dia-a-dia da comunidade escolar, se torna uma ferramenta metodológica importante de produção científica no campo sócio-ambiental. / The present work dissert about a research - intervention educational (Viezzer & Ovalles, 1995; Sorrentino, 1999), relate to waters questions in municipal district Saltinho/SP, in Piracicamirim River watershed. Intend to issue subsidy for understand Environmental Education Methods for teachers participation in environmental conservation process in public supply fountainhead in municipal district Saltinho/SP. Used the principles of autonomy of pedagogy (Freire, 1997), like a practice freedom educational, through a course for teachers about environmental education, valued qualitative data collect through of participation observation, questions, interview and educational products. The results of study showed that: 1) The teachers knowledge about water resources and local biodiversity before environmental education are little and punctual and after the environmental education actives there is a increase itself showed in speaks, actions and school?s politic pedagogy; 2) The environmental education qualify surrounding all teachers of municipal education system in Saltinho provoke meaningful change in projects politic pedagogy; 3) The increase theory repertory about environmental questions propose more reflection and deep knowledge for a development of pedagogic practices inside and outside classroom; 4) Conscientious about local watersheds and biodiversity provoke in teachers dreams and wishes for defend waters, observed in a various works in environmental education; 5) Building knowledge between researcher and teachers, potency many actions of practice pedagogic surrounding a local environmental questions and larger integration between school teachers; 6) The researcher enter in school community now a days is a important methodological instrument for scientific production in social environmental area.

There is an increase in the popularity of alternative certification programs; however, some administrators are still reluctant to hire these graduates to teach within their schools. With the shortage of certified teachers in Mississippi, some school districts have no choice but to hire alternatively certified teachers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if students taught by teachers trained in alternative teaching programs had significantly different changes in language arts scores on the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 nd edition, as compared to fellow students who were taught by teachers trained in traditional teaching programs. Scores from the 2008--2009 Mississippi Curriculum Test 2nd edition were used for base line data. Scores from the 2009--2010 Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 nd edition were used to determine what degree of growth had taken place. The results were analyzed by using the educational software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to conduct independent t tests. Data are presented using descriptive statistics. Results of the t tests confirmed that students taught by both types of teachers had some degree of success. Seventh grade students who were taught by traditional route teachers showed the greatest amount of growth difference. With the continuing debate over teaching certification programs, studies such as this can help create social change by providing statistical evidence of the effectiveness shown by teachers certified through both programs. School officials can use these results to help in making hiring decisions of potential teacher candidates. The end result is to provide students with the best possible teacher regardless of certification type.

The focus of this thesis was to explore educational professionals' everyday experience of English educational policies; narrowing its focus to policy which promotes an inclusion agenda. The findings are presented in three sections with the first two papers prepared in accordance with the author guidelines of the journals proposed for submission. The first paper offers a review of literature which represents teacher relationship (see Braun, Maguire and Ball, 2010; Fullan, 2006; Luttenberg, Imants and van Veen, 2013; Luttenberg, van Veen and Imants, 2013; Wexler, 2002) with English educational policies. Teacher perspectives illustrate how the implementation and practice of policy heavily guides practice, both in terms of pedagogy and content, and detail the difficulties teachers have in establishing professional identity whilst trying to accommodate policy into practice. It is suggested that in order for teachers to adopt new educational policies they need to be able to take some ownership of both the policies themselves and of their own professional development; but most importantly, that they need the space to engage in dialogue around their practice to do this. The first paper provided a frame for the second by offering a description of the current climate teachers find themselves in and by discussing what might be needed to bring about the professional development necessary to embed policy into practice. The second paper then presents a description of a collaborative action research project within an English high school; a group of educational psychology, teaching, support and pastoral professionals worked collaboratively to develop person-centred practice through their engagement in an inquiry group. The inquiry group engaged in dialogue around practice; exploring their own personal and professional values as well as the values embedded within person-centred practice. This paper offers an account of the inquiry group's journey, highlighting key themes as identified by the group: ownership of, and confidence in, the learning process; developing reflective practice; and the challenge of engaging others in the learning process. The findings suggest that an action research approach can facilitate the learning and development necessary to embody collaborative person-centred practice. The third paper then offers a critical appraisal of the role that educational psychology can have in disseminating findings and promoting teacher development; in particular through the facilitation of collaborative action research within the school context.

Online learning has revolutionized higher education in the United States. In 2007, there were 3.9 million students taking at least 1 online course. Assessment in online instruction is a new experience for teachers because of the recent advent of online course delivery. Current research on online learning does not address instructor experiences with learning assessments. This gap may contribute to online instructors being inadequately prepared to teach online. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore online instructors' experiences with assessments in their undergraduate social science courses. The study was guided by constructivism as well as theories associated with assessment for the college classroom. The main and secondary research questions focused on the participants' experiences with assessment in the online learning environment and the challenges and benefits of assessment in that learning environment. Data were collected with in-depth, semistructured interviews and analyzed via Moustakas's modification of van Kaam's method. The main themes are: (a) instructors use a combination of assessment practices, (b) changes to assessments are based on student feedback, and (c) academic honesty. The present study promotes positive social change by providing members of the online learning community with a better understanding of instructors' assessment processes, as well as the challenges and benefits those instructors face in assessing learning in online classes, all of which may contribute to improved instruction for online students.

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Many preschool students enter kindergarten without the oral language and phonetic awareness skills necessary for academic success. Qualitative research is also limited about the instructional practices preschool teachers use to improve the literacy skills of their students. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers used developmentally appropriate instructional practices to improve the literacy skills of preschool students. The conceptual framework was based on the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky in relation to language development. A multiple case study research design was used. Participants included 6 teachers from 3 different preschool programs in an urban school district in the eastern United States. Data were collected from individual interviews with preschool teachers, observations of literacy instruction in classrooms, and related program documents. For the single case analysis, coding and category construction were used to analyze the interview data, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the observation data. A content analysis was used to analyze the documents. For the cross case analysis, data were examined across all cases for emerging themes and discrepant data. A key finding was that preschool teachers used developmentally appropriate instruction to improve oral language, phonological awareness, and written expression and supported play through learning centers; however, limited teacher--child interaction was found in relation to quality of feedback and language modeling. This study contributes to positive social change by providing educators with a deeper understanding of the need to improve the literacy skills of young children.

The increasing populations of students with special academic needs included in general education classrooms in American public schools are providing a growing teacher preparation challenge. The purpose of this study was to analyze both strengths and weaknesses in how general education teachers perceived their pre-service preparation for teaching in mixed-ability classrooms. A constructivist learning theory paradigm was used to interpret shared experiences of general education teachers working in mixed-ability public elementary schools. The research question was centered in how this group of teachers assessed preparation to provide instruction for Autism Spectrum Disorder, English Language Learners (ELL), general education, gifted, and Inter-Related Resource students. A sequential explanatory mixed methods research design was used in the study, and a teacher survey and interviews with teacher focus groups served as data collection instruments. Triangulation of data sources and peer review ensured reliability and validity of findings. Comparison of categorical sample data using percentages revealed that teachers did indeed identify differences in their perceived training. Teacher focus group data was then coded and analyzed to reveal; a need for more in-depth training for general education certification to better meet the specific needs of Autistic, ELL, gifted, and Resource students; sustained environmental support; and comfort in essential professional knowledge and abilities. Recommendations include the addition of specific special education coursework for general education certification in higher education and ongoing in-service training for public school teachers. Adopting these recommendations in both arenas may affect positive social change by increasing the likelihood of retaining general education teachers in American public schools.

Teachers may benefit more from a professional learning community (PLC) than from professional development initiatives presented in single day workshops. The purpose of this program evaluation study was to identify characteristics of an effective PLC and to determine how the members of the PLC have benefitted from the program. Fullan's educational change theory provided the framework for the study, which refers to learning experiences of teachers when collaborating with peers. The sample consisted of 9 biology teachers during the 2012-2013 school year. Data were collected through online surveys and face-to-face interviews regarding effective PLCs. The online survey questions were asked to identify the characteristics of PLCs. Interviews were conducted to examine how biology teachers benefited from PLCs. Survey data were analyzed for descriptive statistics. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis for emergent themes. According to study findings, PLCs are used for shared teaching vision and practices. Sustained use of PLCs in schools could help create supportive professional learning environments for teachers to improve their teaching practices through purposeful collaboration.

A b s t r a c t: CLIL is an innovative approach how to improve foreign language teaching. Thanks to the globalization, language education became one of the main priorities in most of the states, European countries, especially. However, foreign language education has been intensively discussed over the past two decades, there are still some important questions to answer. What is the best time to start with foreign language teaching? Which methods shall we use? When shall we start with the intensive foreign language teaching? Third grade, second grade or even earlier? I suggest CLIL and, particularly, language showers, could be a suitable solution how to prepare children for the future foreign language teaching. The main goal of my thesis is to find what kind of CLIL activities are suitable for the second grade where I actually teach. More specifically, I will carry out action research which will be based on videorecordings of three CLIL lessons. I will also try to analyse my linguistic and didactic mistakes. The analysis should help me to find solutions which will improve my CLIL teaching. Within the thesis, I will also try to diagnosticate my own pedagogical type which will help me to recognize the characteristics which will play important role during the reflective process of my CLIL teaching. The aim of...