I det sociokulturella perspektivet som vi har utgått ifrån är synsättet på lärandet att det utvecklas i sociala sammanhang där kommunikation är en central del. Lärandet sker i samspel mellan individer där en genom stöttning och vägledning utvecklar nuvarande kunskaper. I detta arbete har vi beskrivit arbetsmetoder som lärare använder sig av i sin undervisning för att främja kommunikationen i klassrummet. Eftersom kommunikation är en central del i det sociokulturella perspektivet blir detta en lämplig teori att utgå ifrån. Motivation och språkligt självförtroende är grundpelare för att främja kommunikativ interaktion i undervisningen. Dessa komponenter är av betydelse för att lära ett nytt språk eftersom kommunikation gynnar andraspråksinlärning, där målet är att kunna tala det nya språket. I arbetet intervjuades fem lärare där det framkom att komponenter som motivation, språkligt självförtroende och val av arbetssätt är alla centrala för att främja kommunikation. Enligt lärarna är par- och grupparbete nödvändigt eftersom elever lär sig ett nytt språk genom interaktion. / The sociocultural perspective, this essay theory, approach of learning is that it develops in social contexts where communication is a central part. Learning takes place in interaction between individuals where, through support and guiding, one develops current knowledge. In this essay, we have described methods that teachers use in their teaching to encourage communication in the classroom. Because communication is a central part of the sociocultural perspective, it is therefore an appropriate theory to use. When establishing communicative interaction, motivation and linguistic self-confidence are among the pillars. These components are important when learning a new language because communication favors language learning, where the goal is to be able to speak the new language. In this essay, we interviewed five teachers where it emerged that components such as motivation, linguistic self-confidence and choice of methods are all central parts to encourage communication. According to the teachers, pair-and group work is necessary for students because in order to learn a new language, you need to interact.

This research study presents an investigation of interpreter trainees acquiring New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) as a second language (L2) outside their formal classroom learning. This study was motivated firstly by a concern that a considerable reduction in learner and lecturer contact hours within an NZSL interpreting programme would compromise graduate NZSL competency, necessitating a compensatory approach predominantly in the context of the Deaf community. Secondly, the study attempts to address a marked gap in research related to L2 sign language learning from a socio-cultural perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a bilingual context (NZSL and English) in order to gain the ‘inside’ perspectives of six NZSL learners who had just completed a two-year Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting. The interviews sought to uncover the informal NZSL language learning opportunities used by the participants, especially within the social context of the Deaf community, and the individual learner strategies utilised by ‘good learners’ of NZSL. Interview data were transcribed and were analysed by employing qualitative methods. Coding of the data revealed a number of categories which were subsequently examined for salient themes relating to the research questions. The main findings of the study revolved around the significance of L2 learner access to social and material resources, especially within the Deaf socio-cultural context. Of particular significance was the enhancement of learner motivation and confidence as was the frequency and depth of interaction with Deaf people and degree of mediated NZSL learning from NZSL mentors. Of key importance were the social relationships and networks developed with L1 users, which facilitated access to an array of NZSL learning opportunities. Material language learning resources, such as NZSL video samples and equipment were also useful, when interaction with Deaf people was not possible due to heavy study demands, especially in the second year of the programme. Learner involvement in the Deaf community, particularly within Deaf social networks, resulted in significantly improved linguistic, pragmatic and socio-cultural competency. The findings of the study raise two main implications. Firstly, the study highlights the need for NZSL interpreting curriculum enrichment and the resourcing of the programme to foster learner autonomy. Secondly, to date there has been little research on adult L2 sign language learning outside the classroom context and the study may stimulate further studies of the acquisition of sign language as a second language. The study may also be of benefit to autonomous L2 sign language learners and stakeholders in sign language interpreting education around the world.

Abstract: When playing in teams, communication is important, not just communication with words but also non-verbal communication such as gestures and body languish. The purpose with this study is to see how there is a co-op among communicating players , between leaders and players and to examine what meaning communication and culture got  in a youth team. The ambition with this study was to increase our knowledge about communication and communicationculture in the youth floorball team. This study is qualitative and was inspired by an ethnographical method so we got the information from observations of a youth floorball team, totally we made four observations. The result were analyzed and categorized from our observation papers. The results where categorized into four headlines, One and two-way communication, Artifacts, The communicationculture of the youth team and actions. The leader got a very important role as communicator and pedagogical leader for the communicationculture that the individual of the group wants to be used in order to promote the development in the team. In the future, more teams needs to be studied to get a more reliable source of information that can be used on a greater populace.

In school, pupils learn to critically relate to sources of various texts. In the course of time they also learn how to make references and cite properly. Yet, alarming reports show increasing cheating and plagiarism in colleges and universities. Plagiarism prevention services are used today in Swedish high schools. We are questioning how this relates to the sociocultural perspective and curriculum view of imitation as a natural part of the learning process, communication and language. Material from depth interviews, with four teachers in the school subject Swedish about their theoretical and practical approach to students' writing process and writing development are used to deal with the issues of this thesis. The results from the interviews are analyzed in relation to a literature study on the subject. Research on the sociocultural perspective shows that imitation is a natural part of the learning process, communication and language. The form of intertextuality that occurs when texts are imitated and voices are borrowed - dialogism - is not only natural but also necessary for all writing development. We seem to be unable to discern the natural role of imitation in students’ writing development among all respondents.

The overall aim of this study is to investigate how and why teachers in the subjects of English and Modern Languages use group work in their lessons. This has been done with the help of a survey and interviews. The results indicate that all teachers in the study use at least some group work. Group work is often used to help the students practise their verbal skills as well as in teaching them to work together. The study has also shown that teachers find some parts of using group work in their lessons problematic.

The purpose of this study was to find out how SISU reason about cohesion with respect to its own operations, as sports consultants. There is no previous research on how sports consultants using cohesion as a pedagogical tool. However, there is research on cohesion linked to sport. Earlier research sees cohesion as a multidimensional phenomenon. This means that multiple factors determine the experience of cohesion. Such factors include how how-knit the team or group are, individual and joint objectives and that the individuals share common experiences. Previous research also shows that cohesion can be understood only when one understands the context in which the team or group is in.  SISU is a sports educational organization, actively working with the development of sports clubs. Through them sports clubs learn the importance of cohesion in sport. SISU comprises 21 districts and is available in all municipalities from north to south. By its geographical coverage and the large number of sports they are in contact with, they are an influential factor that should not be underestimated. The socio-cultural perspective sees learning as an ongoing process and that people learn and absorb new knowledge both consciously and unconsciously. From a sociocultural perspective conveyed SISU's vision of cohesion directly and indirectly to the sport. The results of this study show that SISU uses several intellectual tools to increase understanding of the importance of cohesion. These tools are also used to create a greater cohesion in sports. The results also show that SISU puts greatest emphasis on the importance of cohesion in sports. For SISU is the cohesion everything. Our conclusion is that SISU talking about cohesion through a series of concepts. These concepts include team spirit, community, group cohesion, group dynamics, friend and family spirit. Our interpretation is that SISU's Sports Consultants talk about cohesion through these concepts and that cohesion is strongly linked to them. These concepts can be seen as dimensions of cohesion. But a specific definition of what the concept of cohesion is not found. / Syftet med studien är att belysa hur idrottskonsulenter på SISU använder begreppet sammanhållning som ett pedagogiskt verktyg i sina kontakter med idrottsföreningar. Det finns ingen tidigare forskning på hur idrottskonsulenter använder sammanhållning som pedagogiskt verktyg i sitt arbete. Däremot finns det forskning på sammanhållning kopplat till idrott. Av de studier vi tagit del av på området ses sammanhållning som ett multidimensionellt fenomen. Det innebär att flera faktorer avgör upplevelsen av sammanhållning. Till dessa faktorer hör hur sammansvetsad laget eller gruppen är, individuella och gemensamma målsättningar och att individerna delar gemensamma upplevelser. Tidigare forskning visar också att sammanhållning kan förstås först när man förstår den kontext som laget eller gruppen befinner sig i.SISU som är en idrottsutbildande organisation, arbetar aktivt med utveckling inom idrottsföreningar. Genom dem lär idrottsföreningarna om sammanhållningens betydelse för idrotten. SISU består av 21 distriktsförbund och finns i alla kommuner från norr till söder. Genom sin geografiska täckning och det stora antalet idrottsföreningar de står i förbindelse med, är de en påverkansfaktor som inte bör underskattas. Det sociokulturella perspektivet ser lärandet som en ständigt pågående process och att människan lär och tar till sig ny kunskap både medvetet och omedvetet. Sett ur ett sociokulturellt perspektiv förmedlas SISU´s syn på sammanhållning direkt och indirekt till idrotten. Resultatet av studien visar att SISU använder flera intellektuella redskap för att öka förståelsen för sammanhållningens betydelse. Dessa redskap används också för skapa en bättre sammanhållning inom idrottsföreningar. Resultatet visar också att SISU lägger största vikt vid sammanhållningens betydelse för idrottsföreningar. För SISU är sammanhållningen allt! Vår slutsats är att SISU talar om sammanhållning genom en rad begrepp. Till dessa begrepp hör laganda, gemenskap, gruppsammanhållning, gruppdynamik, kompisanda och familjär. Vår tolkning är att SISU´s idrottskonsulenter pratar kring sammanhållning genom dessa begrepp och att sammanhållning är starkt kopplat till dem. Dessa begrepp kan ses som dimensioner av sammanhållning. Men en specifik definition om vad begreppet sammanhållning är finns inte.

Denna studie handlar om de barn som tycker att skolan är väldigt lätt och om deras rätt att få stimuleras och utvecklas utifrån deras behov. Syftet med mitt arbete är att ta reda på hur pedagoger uppfattar dessa begåvade elever och hur de arbetar för att stötta dem på ett pedagogiskt utvecklande sätt. Efter att ha gått igenom relevant litteratur inom mitt område så använde jag mig av kvalitativa intervjuer för att få svar på mina frågeställningar och genomförde intervjuer med tre verksamma pedagoger. Mina slutsatser blev att begåvade barn inte är något som det pratas mycket om och att det kanske är lätt att det fokuseras för lite på denna elevgrupp. Mina respondenter hade svårt att skilja på begåvade och högpresterande barn men menade att ett begåvat barn är ett barn som lär sig väldigt snabbt utan några hinder. Alla mina intervjupersoner visade dock en medvetenhet kring vikten av att möta varje individ där hen befinner sig och de menade att man tillsammans med eleven måste finna vad just den eleven behöver arbeta med för att fortsätta utvecklas. Alla barn har rätt att stimuleras och tycka att skolan är viktig och lärorik. / This study is about the children who think that school is very easy and about their right to be stimulated and develop based on their needs. The purpose of my study is to find out how teachers perceive these gifted students and how they are working to support them in an educational developmental way. After going through the relevant literature in my field I used qualitative interviews to answer my questions and conducted interviews with three working teachers. My conclusions are that gifted children are not something that is discussed and it’s easy to forget to focus on this group of students. My respondents found it difficult to distinguish between gifted and high-performing pupils but said that a gifted child is a child who learns very quickly without any obstacles. All my interviewees, however, showed an awareness of the importance of meeting each individual on their level. They also said that they, together with the pupil, have to find out what that particular pupil needs to work on to continue to develop. All children have the right to be stimulated and to think that school is important and educational.

In Kenya, mobile technology is widely used, with more and more people gaining access to the Internet. Mobile technology has the potential to support learning and improve lives, particular those of impoverished people. In this study, 30 Kenyan runners from poor backgrounds and with limited formal education participated. They were provided with a basic smartphone and Internet data bundles for one year so that they could participate in m-learning. The participatory action research approach was used. Sources of data included interviews, observations, fieldnotes, web inquiries, and mobile log files. A sociocultural perspective was used to analyze how the participants learned informally using the smartphones. Findings indicate that the Kenyan runners’ rapid appropriation and mastery of the smartphones was based on their curiosity and interest in sports. The runners’ skills and knowledge increased over time, showing how digital resources improved their training, increased their social interactions, developed entrepreneurial skills, created awareness in and with the rest of society, and improved participation in m-learning. Sociocultural analysis showed that feedback from peers and the tool itself were both significant for learning. The participants themselves influenced the research process. From their interest emerged an online course (MOOC) about human rights. Key challenges in the process were power consumption, lack of electricity, and the availability and cost of Internet access. A lack of critical attitude about content on the Internet was also discernible. The main findings highlight how mobile technology can not only improve daily lives, but also develop new ways for people to participate in mlearning. / I Kenya är användningen av mobilteknologi och Internet utbredd och ökar stadigt. Mobilteknik visar sig ha potential att öka medborgares intressen för lärande och kunskap, och därigenom förbättra livssituationen särskilt för fattiga människor. Den här studien syftade till att med deltagande aktionsforskning analysera hur sådana processer går till. I studien deltog 30 kenyanska löpare från fattiga förhållanden och med begränsad formell utbildning. Deltagarna utrustades med en enkel smartphone med fri surf under ett år och följdes med intervjuer, observationer, webbenkäter och mobilspårning. Deras lärandeprocesser analyserades ur ett sociokulturellt perspektiv om hur teknik tillägnas – approrieras – och används i vardagliga praktiker och utvecklar lärande. Resultaten visade att de kenyanska löparna snabbt approprierade telefonerna och fann utifrån nyfikenhet och intresset för idrott olika sätt att använda dem. Kunskaper och färdigheter utvecklades över tid och de digitala resurserna förbättrade löparnas träning, ökade sociala interaktioner, utvecklade entreprenöriella färdigheter och nya synsätt på sina möjligheter i världen. Den sociokulturella analysen visade även att feedback från andra deltagare och/eller av tekniken i sig hade betydelse för lärandet. Forskningsprocessen påverkades av deltagarna och utifrån deras intresse skapades en on-line kurs (MOOC) om Mänskliga rättigheter. Problem i studien var telefonens energiförbrukning, brist på elektricitet, tillgång till och kostnad för Internet samt deltagarnas kritiska förhållningssätt till Internet. Det övergripande resultatet är att mobilteknologi kan förbättra livsvillkor och skapa nya vägar till lärande.

Detta examensarbete handlar om förebilders och idolers påverkan när det gäller val av instrument och musik, med fokus på elgitarren, samt vilka andra drivkrafter som påverkar detta. Syftet med arbetet är att få kunskap om olika drivkrafter som påverkar viljan att spela ett instrument. Teoretisk utgångspunkt för studien är den sociokulturella teorin. Tidigare forskning inom området behandlar exempelvis sociala normer, förebilders påverkan på människor samt ramfaktorer inom undervisning. Jag har använt mig av den kvalitativa forskningsintervjun som metod, och mina informanter är elgitarrister med varierande ålder och musikalisk bakgrund. Resultatet visar att uppväxtmiljöer och medias påverkan spelar roll i valet av instrument, men för att fortsätta spela efter ungdomsåren krävs en starkare ambition eller förebild. Diskussionen belyser exempelvis idolskapets fram- och baksidor samt hur efterfrågan på idoler förändras med tiden. En slutsats är att förebilder är viktiga, men också föränderliga förutsättningar för bibehållen motivation för spelande. / This is a study of how role models and idols affect the choice of instrument and music, with focus on the electric guitar, and which other driving forces that affect this. The intention with the study is to achieve knowledge about different driving forces that affect the will of playing an instrument. The theoretical point of the study is the sociocultural theory. Earlier studies on the subject are about social values, the affect role models have on people, and the frames of teaching and learning. I have used qualitative interviews, and my informants are electric guitarists with varied age and musical background. The result shows that growing-up environments and the affection from media affect the choice of instrument, but a stronger ambition is needed to keep on playing after the youth has passed. The discussion enlightens for example the positive and the negative sides of idolizing, and how the demand for idols changes through time. One conclusion is that role models are important but also changing conditions for sustained motivation in playing.

The purpose of the study is to investigate educators’ attitudes and didactic positions on popular culture as a form and a means of children’s learning in preschool. The questions posed in the study are:  How do the educators define popular culture, which examples of popular culture do the educators give?  How do the educators describe the spoken and unspoken rules and positions regarding popular culture in preschool practice?  What are the risks and benefits when including popular culture in preschool, according to the educators? In this qualitative study four educators from different preschools have been interviewed. The preschools take as a starting point different educational philosofies. The study is based on Vygotsky’s sociocultural perspective in which children learn through interaction with others. The result of the study shows that popular culture is difficult to define. The educators give examples of cultural activities, games and toys. Popular culture is part of preschool and is made evident through children´s play. All educators show both positive and negative attitudes toward popular culture. It is considered positive when it is inherent in children’s interests and culture. On the other hand it is considered negative because of the possible bad influence on children or because of the risk of taking too much space in the children’s activities. All preschools had restrictions on popular culture in one way or another and the biggest differences can be found between the Waldorf preschool and the Reggio Emilia preschool.