O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar a contribuição que a interação vivenciada em grupos operativos pode oferecer ao desenvolvimento da capacidade de aprendizagem no amplo processo de capacitação docente, numa perspectiva psicopedagógica. Buscou-se perceber como a técnica dos grupos operativos contribuiria para a modificação da pratica pedagógica desenvolvida por professores de aceleração de aprendizagem no sentido de otimizar os resultados do trabalho por eles desenvolvidos junto aos alunos dessas classes.Foram acompanhados, em dinâmica de grupo operativo, vinte docentes de classes de aceleração incluídos em um projeto de capacitação para professores desenvolvido em Mangaratiba, RJ. A tarefa explicita nesse grupo foi a elaboração de temas sobre a aprendizagem dos alunos e dos professores, considerando a auto-estima acadêmica de ambos.A base teórica adotada foi a Epistemologia Convergente, na qual Jorge Visca propõe um modelo específico de intervenção psicopedagógica. Neste modelo, a perspectiva relacional está fundada nas contribuições da psicologia social, conforme é compreendida por Pichon-Riviére. Aí, a técnica dos grupos operativos é utilizada para favorecer o desenvolvimento relacional do grupo participante, otimizando suas possibilidades de aprender. Realizou-se então, uma intervenção psicopedagógica para a capacitação de docentes de classe de aceleração de aprendizagem e um dos instrumentos dessa intervenção foi a vivencia em grupo operativo. A pesquisa acompanhou o desenvolvimento desse grupo observando e interagindo para que se produzissem os movimentos que contribuíram para mobilizar a resignificação do modelo de aprendizagem dos seus membros.Essa resignificação possibilitou ao professor considerar a capacidade para aprender em grupo fator de grande importância na tarefa docente, aspecto considerado original na capacitação realizada. Os resultados qualitativos observados tornaram-se explícitos ao longo da vivencia grupal na significativa mudança da relação do grupo com a produção de conhecimento e da auto-estima profissional dos participantes. A pesquisa concluiu que os processos de capacitação docente devem continuar buscando alternativas mais coerentes com os aspectos que se deseja formar nos professores e apresenta os grupos operativos como estratégia psicopedagógica de excelentes possibilidades na capacitação dos mesmos.Enfatiza ainda, a possibilidade de reconstrução do sentido e pratica da cidadania na dinâmica desses grupos já que neles, os sujeitos encontram oportunidades de redefinição dos papeis que desempenham, pelo exercício da flexibilização dos mesmos. Confirma a certeza de que o professor que poderá ensinar a construir conhecimento deverá, ele mesmo, ter construído o seu como a condição para que possa ajudar o aluno a superar as inúmeras dificuldades inerentes à aprendizagem presentes nas estruturas sociais, nos sistemas escolares e em sua própria historia pessoal. É nessa superação que alunos e professores já marcados pelas vivências de fracasso escolar poderão retomar no grupo social a construção de sua condição cidadã, justificando o empenho realizado pela educação escolar. / The objective of this research was to study the contribution that the interaction lived in operative groups can offer to the development of the learning capacity in the wide process of educational training, in a perspective Psicopedagogy. It was looked for to notice as the technique of the operative groups would contribute for the modification of the he/she practices pedagogic developed by teachers of learning acceleration in the sense of optimizing the results of the work for them developed the students of those classes close to. The intended modification should include lúdico characteristics to favor those students' learning. They were accompanied, in dynamics of operative group, twenty educational of class of acceleration included in a training project for teachers developed in Mangaratiba, RJ. The explicit task in that group was the possible and desirable relationship between the students' learning and the teacher's learning, considering the presence of the lúdico in the different teaching-learning situations. The adopted theoretical base was Convergent Epistemology, in the which Jorge Visca proposes a specific model of intervention psicopedagogic. In this model, the perspective relational is founded in the contributions of the social psychology, as it is understood by Pichon Riviére. There, the technique of the operative groups is used in the perspective of favoring the development relacional of the participant group, optimizing their possibilities to learn. He took place then, an intervention psicopedagogic for the teachers' of class of learning acceleration training and one of the instruments of that intervention was her lives in operative group. The research accompanied the development of that group observing and interacting so that if they produced the movements that contributed to mobilize the resignificação of the model of learning of their members. The resignification of the own learning model made possible the teacher to consider the ludicidade as factor of great importance in the educational task, aspect considered decisive for the effectiveness of the accomplished training. The observed qualitative results became explicit in the significant change of the relationship of the group with the knowledge production and of the participants' professional self-esteem. The research concluded that the processes of educational training should continue looking for more coherent alternatives with the aspects than one want to form in the teachers and it presents the operative groups as strategy psicopedagogyc of excellent possibilities in the training of the same ones. He still emphasizes, the possibility of reconstruction of the sense and he/she practices of the citizenship in the dynamics of those groups since in them, the subjects find to redefine possibilities of the you eat that they carry out, for the exercise of the flexibility of the same ones. It confirms the certainty that the teacher that can teach to build knowledge will owe, him same, to have built yours. It is the condition so that it can help the student to overcome the countless inherent difficulties to the learning presents in the social structures, in the school systems and in his own one it historizes personal. It is in that to overcome that the students already marked by the disapproval existences can retake in the social group his condition citizen's construction, justifying the education pledge accomplished by the teachers.

M.Ed. / The African National Congress' (ANC) victory of the 1994 elections in South Africa, and the consequent establishment of the Government of National Unity, led to far reaching changes in many facets of South African lifestyles. The changing political climate resulted in many policy documents, both of a political and professional nature, coming to light. It seems from these documents that all resources (including educational-, health-, and other professional resources) should be redistributed. The changes that may originate from this redistribution, have implications at both meso- and macro-level of society. In the context of Education, training and practical implementation are directly effected. Suggestions in favour of progressive mainstreaming have already been put forward, and it is clearly stated that mainstreaming together with inclusion are seen as specific medium- to longterm goals. The new South African government sees education as a basic human right and the government aims to make education accessible to all learners. Consequently a need for a system which is more effective and accessible, complying with the needs of a post-apartheid South Africa has developed. Inclusive education is seen as a way of complying with educational needs, also with regards to learners with special educational needs. This implies that all schools will eventually be able to accommodate all learners, including those learners who to date received education in schools for special education. Teachers are seen as the key figures in the change to inclusive education policy. Should the teacher have a negative conception with regards to the new policy, the successful implementation thereof may be threatened. When personal negative conception does not change, motivation is lacking and there is no correlation between what happens in practice and the theory of the policy makers. To investigate and gain insight into the conception of teachers and other remedial personnel with regards to the new education policy is indispensable research for the implementation of the new policy. In the light thereof, the over-all aim of this study is to describe the conceptualization of a group of remedial practitioners, which may serve as a point of departure in developing a new approach to training, and test and expand existing literature.

M.Ed. / The focus of the study is aimed at the personal and professional identity of the educator in the ever-changing milieu of specialised education. Since 1994, numerous changes have started to take place within the South African teaching profession, resulting in far-reaching implications for all educators. These changes include: the introduction and implementation of outcomes based education, a newly structured curriculum, modified assessment practices, the redefinition of the roles of educators and renewed educator appraisal systems. All of these impacted on educators in specialised schools. With the announcement of the Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education – Building an Inclusive Education and Training System, the education system changed to one National Inclusive Education System, which would henceforth acknowledge the fundamental right of each person. The Medical Model, used in the past as relevant classification model for learners with special needs, was replaced with a bio-ecological system theory with several new support structures. Educators in special education, having to redefine their personal and professional identities, experienced a sense of insecurity and personal frustration. Erik Erikson‟s psycho-social theory was used as literary reference, in order to determine whether the shaping of identity was influenced by the transformation process. The relevant study was approached from a qualitative, phenomenological basis, to ensure that the life experiences of the individuals in specialised education can be understood and interpreted. Selected educators and managers with a long-term commitment to specialised teaching, and involved with in-practice teaching institutions, took part in the study. Their descriptions, interpretations and critical self-reflection were captured using structured interviews, participatory education and personal journals. Autobiographical narration was used as a form of story-telling, in order to verbalise the deepest thought processes and feelings of the participants. Four alternating identity dimensions that influenced the shaping of the personal and professional identities of specialised educators, were identified. It was established that the fundamental , developing and transformative identity dimensions alternatively function as integral dimensions, while still promoting a certain personal and professional educator identity within the unique context. The argument, however, has arisen that the optimal ecosocial identity dimension has not been achieved. Hope, competence – which includes an v active caring for a fixed community – and the proficient concern to lobby for the survival of a certain group, has not been accomplished. Due to the fact that the unique group of educators can no longer function optimally in the social community and framework, and as a result of a disturbed and changing support network within the specialised education milieu, it has in conclusion been established that the disintegration of relationship structures has impacted negatively on the optimal shaping of identity.

M.Ed. / Following the ascendance to power of a democratically elected government in South Africa, many things had to be restructured to fit the realities of the time. Education was one of the areas where many changes occurred. The previous education system was replaced with a new system dubbed Curriculum 2005. The new system was outcomes based. Environment is one of the themes included in the new education curriculum which was not in the previous education system. Environment is a cross-curricular theme in the new education system which means it is taught in all the learning areas. Each educator or teacher is expected to integrate the theme in their areas of specialisation. This has compelled the government departments, institutions of higher learning and NGOs to retrain teachers to cope with this challenge. The implementation of Curriculum 2005 is in its third year now. Despite the training efforts that has been put in, teachers still find it difficult to cope with. This study explores the causes of the problems experienced in the formal education system in an attempt to implement EE. Chapter one.(1) outlines the problem and claims that teachers' problems in implementing EE in schools in South Africa emanates from their training. It also outlines the social problems associated with the current problems in formal education if they are not checked. The chapter concludes that it in important for the study to be undertaken so as to isolate the problems that stifle the progress in implementing this theme. Chapter two (2) reviews existing literature in teacher education, theories of learning and environmental education. The links between community education are also reviewed. The chapter attempts to establish whether the existing theory is considered in the practice of EE. An array of problems are revealed as contributing to the current problems affecting the implementation of EE in schools in South Africa and worldwide. The chapter concludes that there is a gap between theory and practice. In chapter three (3) an attempt is made to collect data from the field using four methods namely: oral interview, group focus interview, document analysis and observation. The chapter elaborates how this was done and how the relevant data was collected in order to support or refute the claim made in chapter one. In chapter four (4), data is categorised, coded and analysed. The data is then discussed. It is discovered that field data strongly supports literature reviewed in chapter two (2). The chapter concludes that there are problems that hinder the effective implementation of EE in formal education in South Africa and makes a number of recommendations to be implemented urgently for the situation to be arrested.

A relationship between the perceptions of the Learning Assistance Teacher (LAT), the Classroom Teacher, the School Principal and the District Staff of the role of the LAT is examined through the use of a questionnaire employing a Likert-type scale. The study explored, described and attempted to compare the perceptions of these key observers in one school district in British Columbia. This study involved a comparative study method. Questionnaires were sent to key observers to obtain their perceptions of the role of the LAT within their school. The individuals represented two levels of district organizational structure - within school personnel and district personnel. The within school personnel could be further sub-divided into administrative and teaching personnel. The data were analyzed descriptively, a comparative analysis between the key observers was taken, the inter-group correlation for the key observers was examined, and the relative ranking of responses for the four groups was examined. It is argued that these findings can be attributed, in part, to the speculative conclusions in the following areas: 1. The consultation area of the LAT role is still a significant problem. 2. The out-of-school and within-school groups have differing perceptions. 3. The within-school personnel have highly correlated perceptions which may be due to the level of inservice training and/or written district policy and school objectives and goals for the LAT. 4. The increased level of education for the classroom teacher and LAT may have led to an increasing commonality of perception of the LAT role. 5. This district rates consultation and cooperative planning much higher than Dugoff, Ives and Shotel's (1985) research. This may be due to the increasing trend to service children with mild handicaps within the regular classroom. This district is moving toward total integration. Further research is needed to see to what extent the perceived role matches the actual role, what the desired or preferred role of the LAT is for these key observers, and what value the role has on learner outcomes. Possible pilot studies of other ways to meet students needs are suggested. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

This study examined how technology-mediated distance education is used in special education courses in teacher preparation programs. The data are based on a 30-item survey administered to members of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, who identified themselves as serving in an instructional capacity within institutions of higher education. Technology-mediated instruction was characterized in terms course delivery methods and program attributes. An analysis of instructional design processes revealed that most instructors are largely autonomous and do not rely on a team-based approach. Most make use of course-design and management software. Training is linked to course strategy and evaluation, while experience is associated with implementation. Respondents emphasized communication and student feedback. While both users and non-users of distance education technology foresaw the increased use for course delivery in the future, a notable percentage (13%) of current users indicated a desire to discontinue use.

A well-prepared and qualified special education teacher is crucial to the performance of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). The prominent educators and federal government encourage the use of extended field experiences in preparing qualified special education teachers. The study examined the strengths and weaknesses of extended field experience in terms of the perceptions of the prospective teachers and teachers of students with EBD. Both individual interviews and a focus group were used to collect data. The results revealed that extended field experience benefits prospective teachers in showing the reality of the teachers' world, self-motivation assessment, and professional development. However, there were some improvements that could be made, including more placement selections and more practical knowledge.

Educators today are faced with a worthy goal. Every student, including those with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), must be taught by a qualified teacher. However, recruiting, training, and retaining quality special education teachers continue to confound the field. The purpose of this study was to determine if the completion of a NCATE/CEC (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education/Council for Exceptional Children) approved masters program specializing in EBD from a well-known university increased the confidence in knowledge and skills of special educators, the numbers of special educators, and/or the retention of special educators working with students with EBD. The sample in this study was composed of 199 students who had completed the master's degree in special education who specialized in emotional/behavioral disorders from 1985 to 2005. Data were compiled from 80 students at a response rate of approximately 40%. Additionally, five respondents participated in face-to-face interviews. The data did not lend themselves to the quantitative analysis and thus pose a limitation to the generalizability of this study. However, combined with the qualitative analysis, the study provided a rich analysis of a program whose graduates stay in the field of special education providing services to students with EBD.

Teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders (E/BD) find that myriad concerns for effective teaching (e.g., salaries, increased paperwork, classroom management) challenge their ability to meet personal and professional needs. The push for certified teachers and limited training to work with students with special needs create stressors that can prohibit effective teaching in the workplace. Teacher moral drops and half of newly hired employees leave the profession. Equally important, student outcomes are affected. Demographic information, program practices, and commitment information from special education teachers across the country were examined in this study. These areas of study helped to determine the best indicators for teacher job satisfaction and barriers that threaten satisfactory working conditions. An online survey was designed to capture 29 areas to explore qualifications and working environments for these teachers. Of the 600 targeted teachers, 332 individuals participated in Likert-like scales to determine their degree of satisfaction or dissatisfaction for working conditions, use of intervention strategies, and areas of commitment. Closed-ended and multiple-choice questions were used. Descriptive analyses and tables aided in understanding this study. The resulting factors indicated that, although some respondents pointed to job dissatisfaction within the subset of questions, participants who worked for more than 6 years were less likely to vacate their positions than teachers working for less than six years.

This study was developed to examine the motivations of individuals who chose alternative routes to teacher certification and what they believe were the strengths and weaknesses of their alternative certification preparation (ACP). Data accrued from this study were based on a 55-item online survey and participant information from an online focus group. The study compared the differences between general and special educators in regards to the motivating factors affecting the decision to become a teacher, remain a teacher, and in choosing a non-university-based ACP, as well as the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the ACP. The results from the survey suggest there are differences in the motivating factors affecting general and special educator's decision to become a teacher and to remain a teacher. Additional survey results suggest there are no differences in the reason these two groups chose a non-university-based ACP. The results of the survey and the online focus group were comparable for these two groups. The remainder of this dissertation includes a review of literature related to teacher shortages and teacher preparation including alternative certification. Additionally, information on the results and analysis of the study are discussed, as well as recommendations for future research.