En föränderlig arbetsmarknad ställer nya krav på studenter och nyexaminerade. Formella kompetenser har fått ge plats åt diverse informella egenskaper och färdigheter i syftet att söka och erhålla arbete. Syftet med denna studie är att genom semistrukturerade intervjuer undersöka hur fem sistaårsstudenter på ett civilekonomprogram i Mellansverige resonerar kring anställningsbarhet och vilka strategier de tar till för att påverka sin anställningsbarhet. Resultatet visar slutligen att studenterna reflekterar över sin egen anställningsbarhet först i samband med att de själva börjat söka jobb och att de i huvudsak ser på anställningsbarhet som ett ”mått” för hur attraktivt man är på arbetsmarknaden. Utbildning, extrajobb och engagemang beskrivs vidare som de främsta strategierna för ökad anställningsbarhet bland studenterna. Studenterna ser på sig själva som anställningsbara och ser positivt på sina förmågor att erhålla jobb efter examen.

With the rapid development of Web 2.0 in the field of education, which allows users to interact and collaborate with teachers and peers on the web, many researchers have focused on exploring the developments of using Course Manage System (CMS) in service of L2 writing (e.g., Chun, 2011; Warschauer & Grimes, 2007). Simultaneously, participation in learning and teaching Chinese as a foreign (TCFL) has been accelerating. Learning and teaching Chinese writing plays a significant role in the field of world languages education. In the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and Foreign Language Education (FLE), many studies have examined the effectiveness and efficiency of Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) (e.g., Bitchener, 2008; Ferris, 2010). Existing studies on WCF mostly focused on languages other than Chinese. There were few published studies investigating WCF in a computer-mediated coded WCF Chinese writing setting. This dissertation study applied a multiple-case study design to investigate the effects and students’ views of teachers’ coded WCF in an online multiple-draft Chinese writing setting. Six intermediate-level learners of Chinese completed four writing assignments, four revisions, four surveys, and four interviews. The dissertation employed a theoretical framework from sociocultural theory: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and Scaffolding. Coded WCF and the CMS are considered as scaffoldings, and students’ ability to correct errors is viewed as ZPD. The researcher investigated students’ responses to the computer-mediated coded WCF and the evidence of acquisition in Chinese writing accuracy as reflected in the changes in errors over the course of the semester. In addition, the researcher also explored the students’ attitudes and views of the computer-mediated coded WCF, and the researcher further examined the factors influencing students’ incorporation of teacher feedback in their writing. The researcher employed within-case analysis and cross-case analysis to report the research findings and study results. Based on the findings, the researcher further discussed the effectiveness of WCF, the theoretical implications, the pedagogical implications, and instructional technology implications. The research findings revealed that the student participants generally had lower scores in the revision of the first writing assignment, but the situation improved in the revision of the third writing assignment. The evidence of acquisition in Chinese writing accuracy in the positive changes in errors over the course of the semester was associated with the “transferrable error types” rather than the “non-transferrable error types”. Student participants had dynamic attitudes and views toward the computer-mediated coded WCF. The research findings revealed four main factors influencing students’ incorporation of teacher feedback in their writing: the types of errors and Chinese language proficiency levels, students’ familiarity with the computer-mediated coded WCF, changes in students’ self-modifying skills and strategies, and students’ dynamic attitudes and views toward the computer-mediated coded WCF. This dissertation shed light on the instructional design of online courses and CALL activities in the context of TCFL, and the dissertation also filled up a research gap in computer-mediated WCF in Chinese writing.

This study sought to (a) investigate the effect of Van Hiele theory-based instruction on Grade 11 students’ geometric proofs learning achievement, (b) explore students’ views on their geometry learning experiences, and (c) develop a framework for better teaching and learning of Grade 11 Euclidean geometry theorems and non-routine geometric proofs. The study is based on Van Hiele’s theory of geometric thinking. The research involved a convenience sample of 186 Grade 11 students from four matched secondary schools in the Capricorn district of Limpopo province, South Africa. The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, which combined quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. In the quantitative phase, a non-equivalent groups quasi-experiment was conducted. A Geometry Proof Test was used to assess students’ geometric proof construction abilities before and after the teaching experiment. Data analysis using non-parametric analysis of covariance revealed that students from the experimental group of schools performed significantly better than their counterparts from control group schools. In the qualitative phase, data were collected using focus group discussions and students’ diary records. Results revealed that the experimental group students had positive views on their geometry learning experiences, whereas students from the control group of schools expressed negative views towards the teaching of Euclidean geometry and geometric proofs in their mathematics classes. Based on the quantitative and qualitative data findings, it was concluded that in addition to organizing instruction according to the Van Hiele theory, teachers should listen to students’ voices and adjust their pedagogical practices to meet the expectations of a diverse group of students in the mathematics class. A framework for better teaching and learning of Grade 11 Euclidean geometry theorems and non-routine geometric proofs was thus developed, integrating students’ views and Van Hiele theory-based instruction. The study recommends that teachers should adopt the modified Van Hiele theory-based framework to enhance students’ mastery of non-routine geometric proofs in secondary schools.

This thesis is a report about the research study; it aims to map students' views of the future, importance of goals, learning instrumentality, attribution of choice goals and conceptions of learning by students. This text also deals with the relations of these variables. The research was conducted with 106 students of the same age from a grammar school. These students attended first class of the four-year study programme and fifth class of the eight-year study programme. The variables were compared between boys and girls and between students of four and eight year study programmes. The research study used quantitative and qualitative methods. A modified version of the Inventory of motivational goals importance and learning instrumentality (De Volder, Lens, 1982) was used. It was supplemented by questions about the attributional tendencies. Another method was essays, its subject was "one day in students' future". This method was supplemented by some questions. The qualitative analysis of the data was centred upon content and time analysis and aspects such as satisfaction, realism, elaborateness and alternativeness. The conceptions of learning were analysed by students' answers to the following question: "What do you actually mean by learning?". The categories of conceptions of learning were obtained...

<p>The purpose of this project is to examine students' pespectives on quality in teaching. The characteristics that are described to denote a 'good' and 'less good' teachers are linked to ideas about types of corresponding leadership styles in the classroom. The report is based on surveys of students in Upplands-Bro high school outside Stockholm. In order to get better insight and further knowledge of the subject, the student accounts have been related to current discussions in the literature about good leadership and teaching quality.</p><p>Following the methodology of grounded theory a pilot study was constructed to design the research instruments. In the pilot study I collected students' perceptions on quality-related categories in teaching and leadership which then formed a bases for a survey which was distributed to a larger student sample. The survey includes questions that relate to the middle order, which is based on three criteria that make up the characteristics of a 'good'/ 'less good' teacher and the leadership style that suits students descriptions of good teacher characteristics.</p><p>The results of the study show that a good teacher should have subject knowledge, be good at writing and illustrating the curriculum on the whiteboard and explain and clarify their instruction through good communication. Results of the category 'a less good teacher' show characteristics of a teacher who does not have subject expertise, and who does not vary their teaching styles as well as favors some students over others.</p><p>The discussion concludes the study by highlighting significant implications of the survey for teaching practice. The student perspective reported on in this study, gives evidence for the importance of considering students' perspectives in maintaining quality in teaching practice and classroom leadership.</p><p> </p>

The purpose of this project is to examine students' pespectives on quality in teaching. The characteristics that are described to denote a 'good' and 'less good' teachers are linked to ideas about types of corresponding leadership styles in the classroom. The report is based on surveys of students in Upplands-Bro high school outside Stockholm. In order to get better insight and further knowledge of the subject, the student accounts have been related to current discussions in the literature about good leadership and teaching quality. Following the methodology of grounded theory a pilot study was constructed to design the research instruments. In the pilot study I collected students' perceptions on quality-related categories in teaching and leadership which then formed a bases for a survey which was distributed to a larger student sample. The survey includes questions that relate to the middle order, which is based on three criteria that make up the characteristics of a 'good'/ 'less good' teacher and the leadership style that suits students descriptions of good teacher characteristics. The results of the study show that a good teacher should have subject knowledge, be good at writing and illustrating the curriculum on the whiteboard and explain and clarify their instruction through good communication. Results of the category 'a less good teacher' show characteristics of a teacher who does not have subject expertise, and who does not vary their teaching styles as well as favors some students over others. The discussion concludes the study by highlighting significant implications of the survey for teaching practice. The student perspective reported on in this study, gives evidence for the importance of considering students' perspectives in maintaining quality in teaching practice and classroom leadership.

Syftet med denna studie är att få kunskap om hur elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter/dyslexi upplever skolans stöd i läsning och skrivning. Sex ungdomar mellan 12 och 20 år har intervjuats. Utsagorna har analyserats tematiskt med en fenomenologisk ansats. Resultatet visar att eleverna vill att lärarna ska lyssna och beakta deras åsikter gällande vilket stöd som de behöver, samt var, hur och när detta ska ges. Eleverna upplever skilda svårigheter i läsning och skrivning, vilket även kan resultera i problem gällande de teoretiska ämnena. Praktiska ämnen beskrivs däremot vara lätta och roliga. Att ha tillgång till läroböcker uppges vara viktig, eftersom dessa beskriver och konkretiserar ämnets innehåll. Vidare upplevs datorn kunna ge stöd för skrivandet. Att undervisningen anpassas inom den vanliga klassen föredras av eleverna, men samtidigt kan det även upplevas positivt att ha tillgång till stöd utanför klassrummet. Att ha kamrater, både bland de som befinner sig i liknande svårigheter och andra, beskrivs också vara viktigt. Sociala relationer och lärarnas kompetens bidrar till stor del gällande inställningen till skolan i allmänhet.  Om skolan anpassar organisationen och utvecklar undervisningen, ökar möjligheten till att kunna beakta varje elevs vilja. Det är också viktigt att olika etiska aspekter lyfts fram och diskuteras i skolan, exempelvis gällande lärarnas förhållningssätt gentemot eleverna. Elevernas röster kan ge oss viktig vägledning i arbetet mot en inkluderande skola, om vi bara tar oss tid att lyssna. / Delaktighet, socialt klimat och lärande (VR 2008-4733)

The thesis is dealing with vocational education in Czech Republic. Particularly, it is focused on the comparison of students' and teachers' opinion on the contribution of vocational education to future path of the graduates. It has two parts - theory and research. Theoretical part begins with discussion about vocational and general education on the philosophical and empirical level. The specifics of Central Europe in this discussion are also mentioned. In the next part, system of vocational education in Czech Republic is presented, including its history and current issues. Theory is ended with providing statistics about changes in participation in education since 1989 and about the success of the graduates in the labour market in tertiary education. In practical part, interviews with students and teachers are conducted to find out their opinion about influence of upper secondary vocational education on the future success of the graduates.

This dissertation examines the nature, scope, and significance of a new pedagogical approach to teaching of views on nature of science (VNOS) to high school students. Educational approaches based on teaching ‘correct’ VNOS continue to be dominated by the epistemology of logical empiricism and, as I will point out, these approaches are inadequate to address the issues of VNOS. I assert and the findings presented in this dissertation offer evidence that students’ VNOS are dynamic and context-based. In this research I used filmmaking to explore students’ VNOS. High school students, supported by a professional filmmaking crew, completed a short film entitled, The Shadows of Hope; this film explores the use of scientific knowledge in understanding everyday life problems. The filmmaking environment introduced simultaneously a number of contexts in which students’ VNOS were concurrently collected using mixed methods methodology. The results show that contexts sway students’ VNOS and generate a variety of the VNOS for each student. Evidence shows that there is a common, theme-based pattern to individual students’ set of VNOS. The variety of expressed VNOS seemed natural to the students, with no registered discomfort. However, in this study a contrast between students’ VNOS and their ‘school-based’ understanding of science also became apparent. This is evidence that cognitive dissonance is not sufficient to explain the full spectrum of ways in which students learn, deepen knowledge and arrive to conceptual change. I assert that including cognitive contextual expansion in our understanding of conceptual change is essential to provide a framework that allows to integrate cognitive diversity into the theory of learning, reflecting a perhaps more natural way human mind works. The project’s findings offer evidence that students’ VNOS deepened and expanded through filmmaking; students arrived to a more examined and mature VNOS while enjoying the activity of making a film. There is evidence that cooperation with a professional team provided students with a feeling of respect and pride. Filmmaking offers a robust way of learning, based on collaborative work that enlivens a large number of learning-enhancing activities. Additional resources and a Brief Guide For Teachers are added to this text to support teachers in adopting filmmaking as a unique pedagogical method. / Graduate / 0714 / 0900 / 0533 / akottova@uvic.ca