Literature’s role in the foreign language classroom has been extensively researched, and the benefits of enjoyable reading firmly established. But could teachers benefit from a new perspective in the form of Critical Literacy Pedagogy when choosing and teaching literary works? Critical Literacy Pedagogy, CLP, is a method of critically examining literature to detect possible power structures e.g. concerning ethnicity and gender. This study examines how teachers and students value a number of criteria and aspects in connection to what literature is used in the class. Two empirical web-based questionnaire surveys were conducted on a total of 23 teachers and 42 students in upper secondary school in Sweden. The results are primarily presented quantitatively with the complement of excerpts from the written answers to the open-ended questions, and has then analyzed with the help of CLP, to see if the method has a possible role in EFL-teaching in upper secondary school in Sweden.   In the present study, the participating teachers valued practical characteristics, such as level of difficulty, higher than conceptual characteristics, such as the sexual orientation of an author or character, when choosing what literary works to teach. These ratings were seen as problematic when compared to the teachers’ concrete exemplifications of taught works. Moreover, both teachers and students rated the possibility of critical and ethical discussion very highly in regard to the chosen works. A comparison between the ratings and the exemplified works indicate that CLP could be a valuable method when choosing what literature to teach.

Magister Educationis - MEd / This research has employed an intentional teaching model to investigate the algebraic reasoning of grade 9 learners from a low socio-economic background. It has also sought to study how learners engage with algebra to make generalizations and to scrutinize any misconceptions deriving from the experience. They looked for patterns, paid attention to aspects of the patterns that are important and then generalized from familiar to unfamiliar situations. Algebraic reasoning underpins all mathematical thinking including arithmetic because it allows us to explore the structure of mathematics. This study is based on the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement which states that learners are expected to investigate patterns to establish the relationships between variables, as well as represent and analyse the change of patterns. The study also had a huge emphasis on algebra. According to Mphuthi & Machaba (2016): “Algebraic expressions form part of the senior phase CAPS curriculum in South Africa. A substantial amount of time is allocated to this section on evaluating expressions and simplifications of algebraic expressions in grade 7-9.” The study is premised on a qualitative research paradigm and a design-based research methodology for data collection. A set of tasks based on algebraic patterns and generalizations was given to an opportunistic sample of 20 grade 9 learners in a school in Delft, a low socio-economic suburb about 30 kilometres from Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Three weeks after completing the tasks, learners were interviewed to identify their reasoning and how they felt about the tasks. The results of the study show that the majority of the learners struggled with tasks especially when asked what the rules they could derive from the patterns. Learners did not seem to understand what they were doing because they were unable to articulate the given tasks in words and did not have knowledge of concepts like the perimeter.

L’évolution du vivant est un concept majeur pour les sciences biologiques contemporaines, mais également un objet d’enseignement complexe. En France, l'évolution du vivant est introduit dès l’école primaire. Cet enseignement ne devient explicite qu’en fin de la scolarité obligatoire. Cette étude vise à mieux comprendre comment les conceptions de collégiens français sur l’évolution du vivant se modifient tout au long du collège et comment leurs conceptions du hasard peuvent influencer leur acceptation et leur compréhension de ce concept. Pour cela, un questionnaire, UnRESt est élaboré et permet d’étudier les conceptions de plus de 1600 collégiens de l'évolution du vivant et du hasard, et d’établir les relations éventuelles entre ces deux types de conceptions. Il est construit sur la base des résultats obtenus dans des études exploratoires (questionnaire ouvert, discussion à visée philosophique). L’étude révèle que, quel que soit le niveau de classe, la moitié des collégiens interrogés acceptent l’évolution du vivant, et un tiers d’entre eux semblent avoir une compréhension en désaccord avec une pensée évolutionniste. Selon les espèces étudiées, une vision explicative 'transformiste' subsiste chez les élèves. L’étude révèle également que l’acceptation et la compréhension de l’évolution du vivant sont en lien avec les conceptions du hasard. En particulier, les résultats témoignent d’un obstacle dans l’utilisation du mot hasard au sens de contingence, ainsi qu’une influence de leur vision du hasard ‘probabliste’ sur leur compréhension des mécanismes d’évolution. Cette recherche appelle à laisser une place plus importante au hasard dans l’enseignement au collège. / Evolution of living species is a major concept for the contemporary biological sciences, but also a complex object of teaching. In France, the evolution of living species starts in primary school. This teaching becomes well identified only at the end of compulsory schooling. This study aims a better understanding on the change of the conceptions of secondary school students along junior high school and how their conceptions of randomness can influence their acceptation and their understunding of this concept. Consequently, a questionnaire, UnRESt has been elaborated to study the mainstream conceptions of more than 1600 students about the evolution of living and randomness and to find potential links between these two types of conceptions. The UnRESt ingineering is based on exploratory studies (open-ended questions, philosophical discussion). The study shows that a half of the students accept the evolution of living species and a third of them seems to have an understanding in opposition with an evolutionist understanding. According to the species studied, a ‘transformist’ vision is favoured by student. They highlights also that the acceptation and the understanding of the evolution are related to the students’ conceptions of randomness. More specifically, the results show an obstacle in the use of the word randomness with the meaning of contingency and an influence of their vision of ‘probabilist’ randomness on their understanding of the evolution mechanisms. The research concludes on the place to give to the scientific concept of randomness in the teaching in secondary school.

This study uses a discourse analysis from the perspectives of James Paul Gee (2005; 1999) in order to establish a socio-situated view of why grade 10 students often experience difficulties in representing mathematical word problems into appropriate equations and expressions that enable a solution to the problems. A discursive methodology was used to throw light on the difficulties that students experience that was different from the perspectives adopted previously, viz. from a view of the structure of the problems, from a pedagogic point of view and a cognitive understanding. An initial case study in one school in which four students were selected revealed that a master model existed that students were enacting when doing and talking about their experiences with word problems, viz. that word problems are obfuscatory. This master model rendered the students relatively mathematically helpless within a Discourse of school mathematics word problems. In order to more fully understand these findings an extended study was set up in which the methodology and analytic framework were refined. This extended study saw four students at each of three different sites selected to participate. The findings of this extended study were that the students enacting a situated Discourse model were more enabled within the Discourse of school mathematics word problems, whilst those enacting a deficit Discourse model were either peripheral or outside of that Discourse. This study contributes in that the constructs for the phenomena and the analytic tools within the context of school mathematics needed to be pioneered, adapted and refined over a period of time to address aspects particular to school mathematics. This resulted in a view from a socio-situated perspective which saw a shift in seeing what students do with the problem to what students do in the social setting associated with the problem. From this shift in focus came a new understanding of student difficulties with word problems that gave rise to a sub-Discourse within the Discourse surrounding school mathematics word problems, and students finding themselves in this sub-Discourse becoming marginalised through enacting a deficit Discourse model because they are unable to ascribe to the success model, or situated Discourse model.

Student Number : 0107553H - MSc research report - School of Science Education - Faculty of Science / One of the most important challenges of the secondary school science teacher is to help learners to obtain, analyze and evaluate evidence using experimental and investigative methods. The understanding and application of concepts of evidence play a central role in setting up valid experiment and is usually ignored in the secondary school science curriculum. Recognizing the significance and value of an understanding of evidence in developing learners’ ability to carry out appropriate experimental work in science, the question arises of learners’ understanding of ‘concepts of evidence’ in experimental design. In this study the researcher endeavored to answer some of the questions concerning learners’ understanding of evidence: What understanding do learners entering the Further Education and Training (FET) band have of the concepts of validity in experimental design? What is the effect of an intervention on their understanding of concepts of validity? How well do learners show their ability to apply concepts of evidence to an assessment task? The study investigated the ability of a sample of grade 10 Physical Science learners, in one Gauteng Province secondary school to use and understand the concepts of evidence before and after an intervention, and their ability apply these ideas about evidence in an assessment sheet task. First, a survey of learners’ understanding of the concepts of validity was conducted using a written diagnostic test, consisting of three probes that had been previously used to diagnose learners’ understanding of validity in experimental design. Second, an evaluation of changes in such understanding due to a specific teaching intervention was completed using the same diagnostic test. Finally, the 2004 Grade 9 Common Tasks for Assessment (CTA) investigation task was administered to the same subjects in order to investigate whether or not their understanding of concepts of evidence would be apparent in this CTA investigation task. Several key findings emerged from the data. The major findings of this study were that the sample investigated began the study with a level of understanding equal to a group of Foundation University students tested in a previous study and that their understanding did not change much during the intervention. In fact, analysis of the results from the probes in the diagnostic test revealed that learners had little problem choosing the independent variable and controlling variables. However, the findings from the probes indicated that the intervention did not seem to have had a major effect since the difference in the number of responses between the pre-test and post- test was relatively small. Moreover, the results also revealed that it was possible to analyze learners’ responses using the existing model of learners’ understanding of validity, and that the majority of learners fell into Level C in the model which refers to the application of previous understanding in a new situation. The results from the CTA investigation task revealed that learners’ understanding of concepts of evidence could be demonstrated in new science context. In fact, the results revealed that learners showed ability to apply their understanding of concepts of evidence in experimental design to the assessment task. Moreover, the CTA results indicated that the understanding of identifying variables, constructing graphs; describing the relationship between variables in a graph; formulating the investigative questions were the most applied concepts of evidence by learners. Finally, the results of this study highlight the need for providing secondary science learners with opportunities to practice and develop concepts of evidence. In the light of these findings it is recommended that children need to be explicitly taught about the purpose of science investigations and introduced to important ideas about evidence if their ability to perform investigation tasks is to be improved.

I denna studie har syftet varit att besvara hur globaliseringsprocessen framställs i läroböcker för gymnasieskolan utifrån ekonomiska, politiska och sociala perspektiv, klargöra eventuell förändring över tid samt besvara på vilket sätt läroböcker ska värderas utifrån teoretiska aspekter. Det har gjorts genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med ett operationaliseringsschema som stöd. Resultatet visar att det ekonomiska perspektivet är överrepresenterat i läroböcker när det handlar om globaliseringsprocessen. Politiska och sociala perspektiven behandlas inte alls i samma utsträckning som det ekonomiska perspektivet. Av de underkategorier som undersöks – orsaker, konsekvenser och aktörer – var det konsekvenserna av globaliseringen som behandlade till största del. Enligt teorin var handel en ekonomisk orsak till globaliseringen. Enligt materialet var handel en konsekvens av globaliseringen. Samtidigt var teknisk utveckling enligt teorin en ekonomisk konsekvens medan materialet presenterade teknisk utveckling som en orsak till globaliseringen. Detta indikerade på att läroböckerna inte fullt vilade på samma vetenskapliga grund som föreslogs i det teoretiska ramverket. Slående var materialets likheter mellan den tidigare och senare upplagan. I många fall var behandlingen av globaliseringsprocessen identiska mellan upplagorna. / The purpose of this study has been to answer how the globalization process has been presented in textbooks for upper secondary school by economic, political and social perspectives, bring clarification to any possible changes over time that may occur and answer how textbooks should be evaluated based on theoretical aspects. A qualitative content analysis has been made with an operationalization scheme as a support. The result show that the economic perspective is overrepresented in the textbooks when globalization process is being processed. The political and social perspectives is not processed the same amount as the economic perspective is being processed. Of the subcategories – cause, consequence and participants – the consequence of the globalization was processed mostly. The economic cause of globalization according to the theory was trading. According to the material trading was one of the consequences of the globalization. Meanwhile the technical development was according to the theory an economic consequence in the meantime the material presented technical development as a cause of the globalization. This indicated that the textbooks did not fully rest on the same scientific basis as suggested in the theoretical framework. The materials similarities between the earlier and later edition was striking. In many cases the processing of the globalization process vas identical between the editions.

Denna litteraturstudies syfte är att undersöka hur läsning av skönlitteratur påverkar elevers läs- och skrivförmågor bland elever på högstadiet genom tidigare forskning. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka sambandet mellan skönlitterär läsning och elevers eget kreativa skrivande samt vilka faktorer som påverkar högstadieelevers egna kreativa skrivande. Uppsatsen utgår från två frågeställningar om på vilka sätt eleverna kan använda sig av de kunskaper de får av skönlitterär läsning i sitt eget skrivande samt hur deras kunskaper kan utvecklas. Studien har hela tiden utgått ifrån det sociokulturella perspektivet. Utifrån tidigare forskning har resultatet visat att det underlättar elevers eget kreativa skrivande om de även är läsare. Elevers skönlitterära läsning påverkas även av den sociokulturella miljö de växer upp och lever i. / <p>Svenska</p>

This essay examines Dirie’s and Miller’s Desert Flower and its depiction of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the effect that this violation has had on the narrator. The analysis has been conducted through the critical lens of trauma studies with emphasis on how bearing witness of traumatic events can serve as healing and empowerment in the struggle to end FGM. As the multicultural classroom has grown extensively over the past years, the demand for an intercultural awareness is placed on the schools, where the pupils are to be given the chance to develop an understanding and acceptance of people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This essay argues that, in spite of the dilemmas that often occur when teaching trauma as a sensitive and controversial issue, Desert Flower can in fact be used in the EFL classroom to engender intercultural awareness as well as offering the pupils a chance to develop self-actualization and social consciousness.

Esta dissertação versa sobre o ensino de Sequências e Séries na educação básica. A questão é entender em que medida o uso da Teoria dos Registros de Representação Semiótica se mostra favorável à criação de atividades que sejam propícias à aprendizagem dos alunos. Foram elaboradas dez atividades sobre Sequências e Séries e foi feita uma aplicação de quatro destas atividades com alunos de 1a série do ensino médio. Com esta aplicação, procurou-se buscar evidências de que o uso de diversos registros de representação semiótica favorecem a aprendizagem dos alunos em Matemática. Como escopo secundário, buscamos também investigar a concepção de infinito que os alunos manifestaram durante a aplicação das atividades. Antes, porém, buscamos na história da Matemática diferentes maneiras de como filósofos e matemáticos concebiam e utilizavam o infinito. Visto que Sequências e Séries também são assunto tratados no ensino superior, foram abordadas algumas dificuldades de transição ensino básico/ensino superior tendo em vista diferenças culturais entre os dois níveis de ensino. Concluímos que o uso de materiais concretos para representação de objetos matemáticos se mostrou favorável à compreensão dos alunos e a concepção de infinito dos alunos está predominantemente ligada a ideia de infinito potencial. / The subject of this research is about teaching and learning sequences and series in primary education. The research question is to understand how favorable is the use of the theory of semiotic representation registers to create activities that help students to learn. Were created ten activities about sequences and series and four of these were chosen to be used in a classroom with 1st year students of a secondary school. By observing these activities being used in classroom, evidences were searched to evaluate if including different semiotic representation registers facilitates student\'s learning on mathematics. As a secondary aim, the student\'s infinity conception is investigated in the classroom. We also researched mathematics\' history to find different conceptions adopted by philosophers and mathematicians on infinity. As sequences and series are also studied in college, some transition difficulties (from High School to College) were discussed considering cultural differences between the two educational levels. It was concluded that concrete teaching materials to the students\' comprehension and the students\' concept of infinity is mainly linked to potential infinity.

Este trabalho tem como tema de estudo a Resolução de Problemas no ensino e aprendizagem da Matemática na Educação Básica e insere-se no projeto Ensino de Matemática na Escola Elementar, no âmbito do programa Observatório da Educação (OBEDUC/CAPES), desenvolvido no IME-USP. Seu objetivo é investigar de que maneira as práticas de Resolução de Problemas podem ser implementadas na sala de aula e como essas práticas são vivenciadas pelos alunos. Para tanto, propôs-se desenvolver realizar e analisar uma experiência em Resolução de Problemas com alunos da 1a série do Ensino Médio de uma escola pública de São Paulo/SP, inspirada na competição internacional Rali Matemático. Em geral, durante a busca da solução de um problema em Matemática, as ideias precisam ser organizadas a partir da representação de objetos matemáticos e de relações entre eles. Com isso, entendendo que diferentes tipos de representações matemáticas são ferramentas úteis na atividade de resolução de problemas, buscamos analisar o papel de diversas representações semióticas nos processos de resolução dos alunos. A estratégia metodológica envolveu um estudo experimental de intervenção, organizado em três fases, cuja análise dos dados coletados foi de natureza qualitativa, à luz das pesquisas na área, bem como da teoria dos registros de representação semiótica de Raymond Duval. Os resultados mostraram que, mesmo sem obter respostas completas e corretas, grande parte dos grupos apresentou tentativas de representações dos tipos discutidos nas etapas iniciais do experimento, ou, ao menos, maneiras mais organizadas de tratar os dados e expor suas ideias. Conclui-se que a escolha do contexto do Rali Matemático foi validada, por ter facilitado a implementação das atividades baseadas na Resolução de Problemas, nas quais os alunos foram participantes ativos nos processos de resolução e reconheceram o importante papel das representações semióticas nesse tipo de situação. / The topic of this research is Problem Solving in teaching and learning Mathematics in primary education. It fits into the project Ensino de Matemática na Escola Elementar within the program Observatório da Educação (OBEDUC/CAPES), developed by IME-USP. The goal of this study is to investigate the way in which problem solving practices can be implemented in classroom and what are students experiences with them. For the purpose of this study, we propose to develop, realize and analyze a problem solving experience with 1st year students of a state-run secondary school in Sao Paulo/SP, based on international competition Mathematical Rally. In general, when solving a mathematical problem, ideas have to be organized from a representation of mathematical relations and objects. With this in mind, and understanding that different types of mathematical representations are useful tools in problem solving activities, this study investigates the role of different semiotic representations in students problem-solving processes. Therefore, the methodology used was involved a 3-phase experimental intervention study with qualitative data analysis based on research in this area, as well as on Raymond Duvals theory of semiotic representation registers. Even though the right answers were not found, the research points that most of groups tried to represent similarly of previous stage, or at least more organized ways to deal with data and expose their ideas. It can be concluded that the choice of \"Math Rally\" as context was validated as it facilitated the use of activities based on problem solving. The students actively participated of the solving process and understood the role of semiotic representations on similar kind of situations.