A língua inglesa na formação do estudante do ensino médio integrado à Educação Profissional Técnica (EMIEPT) é uma área que tem suscitado pesquisas em várias vertentes. A compreensão desse contexto, mais especificamente localizado no Instituto Federal do Paraná (IFPR), é a preocupação principal desta pesquisa pela complexidade e diversidade das questões que compõem esse cenário. Para tanto, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa de natureza descritivo-interpretativa, dividida em duas fases: indexação de pesquisas realizadas em contextos semelhantes e coleta de dados em campo no IFPR. O desenho da pesquisa viabilizou o afunilamento das tendências que caracterizam o EMIEPT, de forma mais geral, para a compreensão do contexto mais específico por meio do levantamento de concepções e práticas dos professores do IFPR, identificadas em planos de ensino, questionários e entrevistas. No total foram analisados os dados obtidos a partir de 22 planos de ensino, 18 questionários e seis entrevistas, os quais tiveram como informantes os professores de LI do IFPR. Os resultados da primeira fase evidenciam um movimento crescente de pesquisas realizadas no EMIEPT por professores que atuam no contexto. Essa evidência evoca tanto a necessidade de busca de soluções para conflitos inerentes ao contexto como a necessidade de formação continuada, apontada em várias pesquisas. A análise dos dados da segunda fase aponta, entre outros, que os profissionais que ensinam LI no IFPR recebem pouca formação continuada sobre os fundamentos filosóficos e epistemológicos da modalidade de ensino na qual atuam. O resultado das análises das entrevistas corrobora os dados levantados nos questionários, mostrando as tendências no trabalho do professor de LI do IFPR, suas preocupações e dificuldades. Os resultados obtidos por meio da análise dos planos de ensino bem como a construção das relações entre os dados das duas fases da pesquisa permitiram o levantamento das contradições, sobreposições e convergências presentes no multifacetado cenário do ensino de LI no EMIEPT do IFPR. Os resultados apontam, também, que nesse contexto de ensino prioriza-se a formação geral do estudante, e a integração com a formação profissional fica restrita a aspectos superficiais. Conclui-se que o cenário demanda dois tipos de ações que podem contribuir para o ensino de LI: formação continuada em serviço e engajamento político dos profissionais que atuam na área. / English language education within Vocational Secondary School Education (Ensino Médio Integrado à Educação Profissional Técnica EMIEPT) is a prolific area that has generated research in various angles. Understanding this context, more specifically placed at the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR) is the main concern of this research due to the complexity and diversity of the issues that make up this scenario. We develop a descriptive-interpretative research organized in two phases: research indexation in literature and field work. The research design enables us to narrow down the tendencies from the broader ones that characterize the EMIEPT towards the ones that are context-related within the IFPR by identifying concepts and practices of IFPR teachers through the analysis of twenty-two teaching plans, eighteen questionnaires and six interviews. The results of the literature indexation show a growing research movement in EMIEPT carried out by teacher-researchers who work in this context. This evidence evokes both the need for finding solutions to conflicts inside the context and the need for continuing education. The analysis of the questionnaires shows that the professionals who teach English language at IFPR receive little continuing education on the philosophical and epistemological foundations of EMIEPT. The results of the interviews analysis corroborate the data showing tendencies in English language teaching practices at IFPR, mainly teachers concerns and difficulties. The results obtained through the analysis of teaching plans and cross-analysis between the data of the two phases of the research allows us to describe the contradictions, overlaps and similarities present in the multifaceted scenario of English Language education in the EMIEPT at IFPR. The results also show that this teaching context gives priority to student general education and the integration with vocational education is restricted to superficial aspects. In conclusion, the scenario claims for two types of actions that could contribute to the improvement of quality in English language education: continuing education for teachers and political engagement of professionals working in the area.

This master's thesis focuses on popular literature and its place on czech secondary schools with a research on how much this kind of literature is involved in the reading lists for the Maturita exam. Based on examples we will try to give some proposals not only for what literature lessons should look like and which questions should be answered by the students but we will also prepare worksheets for the Maturita exam where selected parts from works of popular literature will be used. As initial sources we will use basic dictionary works, guides for elementary and secondary schools, Trávníček's researches on reading and reading culture and also expert works concerning popular culture and literature for children and adolescents.

This dissertation pays attention to opinions of parents and students on the prestige of various types of education on secondary schools in Písek. The dissertation presents conclusions of several Czech as well as international studies, dealing with the matter of secondary school education. Further on it describes some circumstances influencing secondary school education. It also introduces historical development and the present of Czech secondary school education and the system of secondary school education in some of other European states. It characterises various secondary schools in Písek and also looks at a secondary school student from the psycho-sociological point of view. The data obtained from a personal qualitative research are further on interpreted an evaluated and in the following discussion compared with the findings of the initial research. The most prestigious type of secondary education amongst students as well as their parents is general secondary school education followed by specialized secondary school education and finally vocational education. It is evident that the parents' evaluation differs and is also influenced by the importance for further professional life. Cultural capital also plays a very important role. Parents prefer the type of specialized secondary school education followed by a graduation exam. The prestige of all types of secondary school education has recently been decreasing especially due to the absence of entrance examinations and badly established education financing system and a high number of private secondary schools.

A língua inglesa na formação do estudante do ensino médio integrado à Educação Profissional Técnica (EMIEPT) é uma área que tem suscitado pesquisas em várias vertentes. A compreensão desse contexto, mais especificamente localizado no Instituto Federal do Paraná (IFPR), é a preocupação principal desta pesquisa pela complexidade e diversidade das questões que compõem esse cenário. Para tanto, desenvolvemos uma pesquisa de natureza descritivo-interpretativa, dividida em duas fases: indexação de pesquisas realizadas em contextos semelhantes e coleta de dados em campo no IFPR. O desenho da pesquisa viabilizou o afunilamento das tendências que caracterizam o EMIEPT, de forma mais geral, para a compreensão do contexto mais específico por meio do levantamento de concepções e práticas dos professores do IFPR, identificadas em planos de ensino, questionários e entrevistas. No total foram analisados os dados obtidos a partir de 22 planos de ensino, 18 questionários e seis entrevistas, os quais tiveram como informantes os professores de LI do IFPR. Os resultados da primeira fase evidenciam um movimento crescente de pesquisas realizadas no EMIEPT por professores que atuam no contexto. Essa evidência evoca tanto a necessidade de busca de soluções para conflitos inerentes ao contexto como a necessidade de formação continuada, apontada em várias pesquisas. A análise dos dados da segunda fase aponta, entre outros, que os profissionais que ensinam LI no IFPR recebem pouca formação continuada sobre os fundamentos filosóficos e epistemológicos da modalidade de ensino na qual atuam. O resultado das análises das entrevistas corrobora os dados levantados nos questionários, mostrando as tendências no trabalho do professor de LI do IFPR, suas preocupações e dificuldades. Os resultados obtidos por meio da análise dos planos de ensino bem como a construção das relações entre os dados das duas fases da pesquisa permitiram o levantamento das contradições, sobreposições e convergências presentes no multifacetado cenário do ensino de LI no EMIEPT do IFPR. Os resultados apontam, também, que nesse contexto de ensino prioriza-se a formação geral do estudante, e a integração com a formação profissional fica restrita a aspectos superficiais. Conclui-se que o cenário demanda dois tipos de ações que podem contribuir para o ensino de LI: formação continuada em serviço e engajamento político dos profissionais que atuam na área. / English language education within Vocational Secondary School Education (Ensino Médio Integrado à Educação Profissional Técnica EMIEPT) is a prolific area that has generated research in various angles. Understanding this context, more specifically placed at the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR) is the main concern of this research due to the complexity and diversity of the issues that make up this scenario. We develop a descriptive-interpretative research organized in two phases: research indexation in literature and field work. The research design enables us to narrow down the tendencies from the broader ones that characterize the EMIEPT towards the ones that are context-related within the IFPR by identifying concepts and practices of IFPR teachers through the analysis of twenty-two teaching plans, eighteen questionnaires and six interviews. The results of the literature indexation show a growing research movement in EMIEPT carried out by teacher-researchers who work in this context. This evidence evokes both the need for finding solutions to conflicts inside the context and the need for continuing education. The analysis of the questionnaires shows that the professionals who teach English language at IFPR receive little continuing education on the philosophical and epistemological foundations of EMIEPT. The results of the interviews analysis corroborate the data showing tendencies in English language teaching practices at IFPR, mainly teachers concerns and difficulties. The results obtained through the analysis of teaching plans and cross-analysis between the data of the two phases of the research allows us to describe the contradictions, overlaps and similarities present in the multifaceted scenario of English Language education in the EMIEPT at IFPR. The results also show that this teaching context gives priority to student general education and the integration with vocational education is restricted to superficial aspects. In conclusion, the scenario claims for two types of actions that could contribute to the improvement of quality in English language education: continuing education for teachers and political engagement of professionals working in the area.

M.Ed. (Multiculturality and Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Digitalization through the use of Information and Communication Technologies is a phenomenon which has a great influence on our way of living. Organizations and society at large are not left behind. With the ubiquitous nature of technological devices, the need for digital competency in the constantly changing and advancing digital landscape is of utmost importance. In 2020, people’s lives and everyday activities were altered on a global scale, due to the outbreak of a viral disease named COVID-19, which resulted in a worldwide pandemic. Educators were suddenly faced with teaching challenges, due to the need for adoption of electronic learning tools and technologies for delivery of learning activities. Transitioning from traditional face-to-face teaching to distance learning was seamless for teachers who were digitally competent. However, the same transition for those with little or no digital competence and experience, resulted in great challenges in the delivery of academic activities through electronic learning platforms.The educational system however is still recuperating from the COVID-19 induced online method of teaching. The digital competence of teachers and their perceived experience during the transitioning phase has therefore become of great importance to study in qualitative research within an interpretive case study. As a result, this research work aims to compare responses of teachers who serve at two secondary schools in Greece and Sweden, both of which are located in the European Union. By answering two research questions, this study follows an inductive approach, using educational technology affordance framework. This provides insight into effective delivery of online learning in the education sector. The methodological approach of this research follows data collection through semi-structured interviews, addressed to teachers and validated through IT personnel who work in the selected schools; and the use of additional data collection through documents available online, which are related to the context of study. The data collected were examined using thematic analysis, followed by a general discussion, answers to research questions, and analysis about the theoretical framework. The findings of this research work reveal that there are interrelationships between teachers’ experience with online learning and their digital competencies, and these interrelationships play a major role in determining the successful implementation of digital technologies in academic activities. This is because, despite the challenges faced by teachers during the transitioning phase from traditional teaching method to online delivery, teachers with significantly higher levels of digital competence managed the new digital procedures easily. On the contrary, those with little or no digital competence level found the new procedure a difficult task. Thereby resulting in professional stress during this transition. Hence, the successful implementation of digital technologies into the educational work procedures is highly dependent on the digital skills levels of the teachers who will implement these technologies, as well as suitable and user-friendly platforms.This research work is descriptive, and it contributes to the knowledge as it concerns the need for digital competence among teachers. It provides further clarification on what school management, education specialists and software developers are doing with respect to improving the digital competence level of teachers. In addition to this, the study provides insights on what education policy makers can do to support teachers’ readiness towards digital skill acquisition. This is seen as a necessity to achieve optimum results for a successful future delivery of online education.

The dissertation deals with the effectiveness of the useof motivational elements like different types of crossword puzzles, riddles, rebuses and word plays etc. in teaching chemistry atlower secondary school. First, the database of motivational problems was created. The tasks (problems) are designed for practicing the curriculum of chemistry at lower secondary school in combination with one of the following subjects - mathematics, physics, biology or geography. Partia collection of problems that combine chemistry curriculum with geography or biology are available at http://is.muni.cz/do/rect/el/estud/pedf/cidlova/index.html. The remaining two collections are attached to this dissertation. These problems were subsequently used in an one and half year research focused on the impact of their use in teaching on the relationship of pupils to chemistry and on the results of their education in chemistry at lower secondary school. The research was initiated with a total of 886 pupils of the 3rd grade of lower secondary school. At the beginnig of the second semester these pupils completed an initial questionnaire focused on their relationship to chemistry. At the same time, the same pupils were also exposed to a test focused on chemistry curriculum corresponding to their level of education. The one-semester...

In Sweden upper secondary school education is organised in programmes. One of these programmes is the Technology programme that covers five orientations, one of which is Design and Product Development. This thesis is based on the idea that a clearer link between upper secondary school and the demands of professional life in the area of product development is beneficial to both students and industry. Product development is performed in cross-functional teams were understanding of others competences is important. It is therefore argued that, in order to enhance both teaching and learning, interdisciplinary considerations need to be explored. In this thesis, we turn to engineers and industrial designers. The aim of the present study is to get professional actors’ views on knowledge and skills needed within the field of design and product development and to examine whether there are key areas that facilitate an interdisciplinary approach suitable to focus on for educational purpose. As artefacts play a central role in product development the informants’ views on different products/artefacts are also examined. This reasoning results in an a two-part overall research question (a) What thoughts do professional engineers and industrial designers express regarding necessary knowledge and skills, and (b) what relevance does this have for upper secondary school teaching of product development? This overall research question is examined through two sub- studies, both performed at the same time, one conducted as a semi- structured interview and the other using the repertory grid technique. Twelve engineers and industrial designers are interviewed. The first study examines the informants’ thoughts on knowledge and skills required in their work. The same informants’ interpretations and valuations of artefacts are examined in the second sub-study. In sub-study 1 two topics of significance to the informants are identified. These topics are: [1] To act within the team (Figure 4). The ability to navigate and position oneself within a team is, according to the interviewees, a necessary skill in design and product development work. Its character can be described as including specific vocational knowledge and skills as well as issues of general and interdisciplinary nature as collaborating, compromising, communicating, and leadership. The second topic [2], to CAD (Figure 4) includes both skills with CAD software and the ability to understand relationships between a CAD model on screen and the final product. The third topic [3] - a valuation of artefacts - is the outcome of sub- study 2 (Figure 4). This topic was found interesting and further analysed, resulting in the development of a comparison procedure. The result demonstrates how the interviewees interpret and discuss artefacts’ functionality linked to cultural values. These three topics are found to be relevant for technology education at upper secondary school level geared towards design and product development to explore. To act within the team can inspire the development of activities in which project and teamwork are in focus. The purpose of the CAD model in product development is to visualise a product that does not yet exist. To CAD highlights the complexity of this visualisation ability. In the educational context the students can train this ability by developing digital models into physical models or prototypes. Valuations of artefacts, the interviewees associate artefacts’ functionality with certain characteristics. In education students should learn that we are not neutral in our relations to products and other artefacts. In conclusion, a need for teachers to discuss artefacts from different perspectives such as sustainability, usability, identity and so on is also pointed out. / <p>QC 20150212</p>

Intercultural learning is an aspect in all matters of teaching, including civics. Although it is not specified “how” intercultural learning should be included or defined in civics. In the curriculum LGR 11 for the elementary school the concept of intercultural learning is explicitly included but in GY 11 for the upper secondary school its excluded, at least explicitly. Furthermore, there is ambiguities about the definition of intercultural teaching. Although tolerance, equality, and social justice are aspects that intercultural teaching strives to develop. In relation to the report ICCS 2016 attributes such as tolerance, values and understanding norms in other cultures indicated to be somewhat lacking in students, attributes that intercultural learning is supposed to develop. The purpose of this master thesis is to interview upper secondary school teachers in civics about their perception of intercultural learning, in what ways intercultural learning occurs in teaching and how the teachers perceive support for intercultural learning in GY 11. To study this, I have used semi-structured interviews. Their answers were later analysed through three theoretical aspects based on Lahdenperäs (2004) definition of intercultural learning. These are student-active and experience-based teaching, culture contrastive perspective and emotionally process one’s own ethnocentrism. The result show that intercultural learning is unusual when the interviewed teachers reflect upon their teaching planning. The teachers did not or only barely understood the concept of intercultural learning. After the interviews were analysed, it showed a mixed result about how teachers reflect and understand intercultural learning and how they include it in their teaching. Sometimes the teachers mentioned aspects that indicate the use of intercultural learning and at other times responses indicated otherwise, even aspects that intercultural learning is supposed to oppose. Perceived support about intercultural teaching in the curriculum GY 11 deemed to be somewhat lacking and could be improved upon. Although the teachers mentioned that it might be difficult to include more aspects in the curriculum due to the overload in work it might cause. The results also showed that intercultural teaching might be an area to study further upon because of the interesting reflections by the teachers, that might aid the understanding of how intercultural teaching could be included in teaching. / Interkulturellt lärande är en aspekt som ska ingå i all undervisning, däribland i samhällskunskapsdidaktiken men hur det ska inkluderas och definieras är inte tydligt. I läroplanen LGR 11 finns interkulturellt lärande explicit inkluderat, dock i GY 11 saknas begreppet trots att det är ett ämne som ska inkluderas i all undervisning. Interkulturellt lärande är ett otydligt, brett begrepp som det råder osäkerheter kring i forskning. Interkulturellt lärande ska dock inkludera moment som utvecklar kunskaper kring tolerans, social rättvisa, jämlikhet med elevers olika erfarenheter och utbytet av perspektiv. I relation med egenskaperna interkulturellt lärande ska utveckla så kan betydelsen av interkulturellt lärande ställas mot ICCS 2016 som visade brister hos elevers kunskaper inom områden berörande tolerans, värderingar och normer. Examensarbetets syfte är att ta reda på aktiva samhällskunskapslärares uppfattningar om interkulturellt lärande, hur lärarna inkluderar det i sin undervisning och vilket uppfattat stöd i GY 11 erbjuder, genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Svaren analyseras med hjälp av tre teoretiska aspekter skapade genom Lahdenperäs (2004) definition av begreppet interkulturellt lärande. Dessa utgångspunkter är: Studentaktiv och erfarenhetsbaserad undervisning, kulturkontrastivt perspektiv och känslomässig bearbetning av sin egen etnocentrism. Resultatet visar att interkulturellt lärande är ett ovanligt begrepp att ta hänsyn till i samhällskunskapsundervisningen. Endast en av lärarna kände till begreppet ”interkultur” och kunde ge en generell förklaring av dess definition, dock inte ”interkulturellt lärande”. Analysen visar ett blandat resultat över huruvida lärare reflekterar kring interkulturellt lärande i undervisning. Samtliga lärare gav respons som indikerar på att de emellanåt hade aspekter som berör interkulturellt lärande dock samtidigt gavs aspekter som interkulturellt lärande ska motverka såsom bearbetningen av etnocentrism. Upplevt stöd från läroplanen om interkulturellt lärande kan utvecklas, då det ansågs som ett viktigt ämne men att det finns annan problematik, såsom tidsbrist för ytterligare tillägg i undervisningen. Dock utifrån analysen kunde en slutsats dra att det är ett område som är av värde att studeras vidare inom då intressanta uppfattningar av lärarna visade på faktorer som kan vara användbart i reflektioner om interkulturellt lärande i undervisning.

The main research question of the study was: How can spiritual intelligence (SQ) be developed in secondary school students? This was motivated out of concern for the moral degeneration that secondary school students experience in South Africa. The literature review focused on the nature of SQ and how it can foster adaptive functioning and transformation in adolescents and the complexity of Religion Education (RE) in South African secondary schools. A case was made for developing educational strategies that can develop SQ in adolescents and create educational environments that not only encourages students to engage in dialogue that involves a broader conversation about religion and spirituality, but also supports transformational learning. The empirical investigation to evaluate the approach and educational strategies that were used, implemented a qualitative case study design. Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory and the social constructivist theory were used as conceptual frameworks. Purposive and convenient sampling was employed to select ten Grade 11 students in a secondary school in Gauteng that reflected the demographics of the country’s population. Qualitative data collection included reflective activities and informal conversation interviews. Field notes were kept and all observations were documented in a self-reflective journal. This was followed by a focus group session and semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that the educational strategies had the capacity to develop core traits and mental abilities of SQ, provide peak experiences and enhance virtuous behaviour in adolescents. It was concluded that education should include content around the nature of SQ in conjunction with reflective and experiential activities. SQ provided a platform for epistemic relativity. It was thus concluded that SQ can be deliberately developed in South African secondary school contexts. The recommendations focussed on the role of institutions of higher learning in sensitising stakeholders regarding the relevance of SQ in South African educational contexts; training of in-service teachers; the importance of Life Orientation (LO) as conveyer of SQ and the role of the LO teacher in cascading SQ down to school students. Finally, a SQ training workshop was proposed. The study concluded with recommendations for further research. The limitations of the study were also presented. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)