The aim of this research is to study changes resulting from parents attending a study group designed by class teacher that include reading a chosen book and engaging in teacher¡¦s designated activities relating to grade 1 elementary school mathematics contents; and trying ideas at home with school children. By referring to literature she decided on a study group format and adopted equal interaction and co-operative discussion setting. The math contents are: Number (1-10); Knowing about Geometric Shapes, Classifications (Color, Shapes). Data collection included questionnaire about study group meetings, children¡¦s interviews, parents¡¦ interviews, teacher¡¦s diaries, video tapes of in-class activities. Analyzes of interviews is by Goldin (2000). The findings are four: through the above mentioned study group (1) parents upgraded themselves in math ability and in confidence and set goals relating to different age of children; (2) children were given the opportunities to learn in a variety of ways; (3) promoted parent-child interaction, especially at home; and, (4) enhanced parent-teacher relationships and stimulated creativity in teacher¡¦s instruction.

This qualitative study examined urban middle school teachers' participation in a teacher study group (TSG) focused on culturally responsive teaching (CRT) content. Specifically, the researcher investigated the professional development experiences of five urban middle school teachers participating in a TSG on CRT and examined how these urban middle school teachers described their learning experiences of the CRT content. A purposeful sample of five teachers was used. Data collection was done with open-ended surveys, semi-structured interviews and field notes during the interviews and TSG sessions. The data were transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison. Data were continuously shuffled, sorted and re-organized as part of the constant comparative method. Through this method, key themes about TSGs and teachers' learning experiences emerged and were reported. The data analysis for research question one produced three overarching themes: changes in perception of staff development, building relationships and impact on instruction. Each theme had descriptors that further explain more specific aspects of the data results. The second research question was designed so the researcher could report descriptions of each participant's learning experiences of CRT content from the TSG experience. Two major themes emerged for research question two: personal and professional development. The discussion offers considerable support for the findings of existing research on TSGs and the positive attitude towards this design of professional development. The importance of building relationships in TSGs and the impact this TSG had on instruction are contributed to the literature. In this study the findings are reported in the voices of the participants, which is lacking in the current literature. Also, two major themes of the participants' learning of CRT are presented, personal and professional responsibilities, which are new to the existing literature. In conclusion, this research produced two important results for the educational realm: 1) the tremendous need for schools and school districts to offer our current practitioners better and more meaningful staff development, 2) Trained and certified teachers have little to no understanding of the tenets of culturally responsive teaching methods. CRT practices that are proving meaningful, validating and effective need to be further studied and reported.

The goal of the federally-funded Reading First program is to ensure that all students read well by the end of third grade (Georgia Department of Education, 2006). However, Reading First makes few (if any) provisions for writing in its required 135-minute reading block for literacy instruction. Is it possible to teach reading effectively to young children without involving them in writing? The purpose of this naturalistic study was to investigate how the Reading First framework affected the teaching of writing in primary classrooms in one elementary school that received Reading First funding for three years. Using a social constructivist theoretical lens, the researcher explored these issues in the context of a professional learning community—a voluntary teacher study group—focused on writing instruction. Guiding questions were (1) What are primary teachers’ perceptions of the reading-writing connection for students in kindergarten through third grade? (2) How does the context of a school wide Reading First grant affect primary teachers’ perceptions of the reading-writing connection for students in K-3? (3) In what ways does a voluntary teacher study group focused on the reading-writing connection influence primary teachers’ perceptions of the reading-writing connection and their literacy instruction? Fifteen primary teachers participated in the study during a six-month period. Data sources included an open-ended questionnaire, three in-depth interviews with each participant, audiotapes and selective transcription from ten teacher study group sessions, field notes from observations in 12 of the 15 participants’ classrooms, a final focus group interview, and a researcher’s journal. Data were analyzed inductively using the constant comparative method (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Trustworthiness and rigor were established through methods that ensure credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Findings revealed that the teachers viewed reading and writing as connected processes in literacy instruction. Although the Reading First parameters made them fearful of engaging children in writing during the 135-minute reading block, the teacher study group validated their beliefs and knowledge and empowered them to interweave limited writing activities across the curriculum. Overall, the Reading First requirements prevented teachers from involving children in extensive writing process instruction and writing workshop.

No description available.

Heart valve dysfunction is a relatively common condition in the population, whereas significant heart valve disease is more unusual. The cause of different types of heart valve disease depends on which valve is concerned. Rheumatic heart valve disease, has for a long time been considered to constitute a post-inflammatory condition. During the 1990s it was also shown that the so-called non-rheumatic or degenerative tricuspid aortic stenosis, comprised signs of inflammation. In this study, 118 patients (the VOCIN study group) referred to the University Hospital for preoperative investigation due to significant heart valve disease, were examined regarding signs of inflammation. Twenty-nine aortic valves from patients with significant aortic stenosis were divided into tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valves. The bicuspid aortic stenotic valves revealed signs of inflammation to a similar extent as the tricuspid valves. However, the tricuspid and bicuspid valves differed regarding distribution of calcification. In contrast, inflammation was not a predominant feature in 15 aortic and mitral valves from patients with significant heart valve regurgitation. Gross valvular pathology consistent with rheumatic aortic stenosis was found in 10 patients. These valves revealed a somewhat lower degree of inflammatory cell infiltration, but on the whole, there were no substantial differences when compared to non-rheumatic aortic stenotic valves. They did, however, reveal a similar distribution of calcification as the bicuspid, non-rheumatic aortic valves. The VOCIN study group was compared to an age- and gender matched control group with regard to history and signs of rheumatic disease. There was not any increased prevalence of clinical manifestations of non-cardiac inflammatory disease in patients with significant heart valve disease, when compared to healthy control subjects. However, patients with heart valve disease had significantly increased serum levels of inflammatory markers compared to controls. The increase in inflammatory markers remained significant even in the subgroup of non-rheumatic aortic stenosis devoid of coronary artery disease. These results indicate that a systemic inflammatory component is associated with stenotic, non-rheumatic heart valve disease. The similarities between different forms of calcific aortic valve disease indicate a similar pathogenesis. The question is raised whether aortic stenosis is one disease, mainly caused by a general and non-specific response to dynamic tissue stress due to an underlying malformation of the valve.

This naturalistic investigation examined how the implementation of a teacher study group assisted African-American teachers in instituting culturally relevant pedagogy. Ladson-Billings (1994) coined the term culturally relevant pedagogy to address the need for developing and implementing authentic methods for teaching African-American students. However, teachers also need opportunities to be engaged in learning experiences that will facilitate their growth in this area. Although teacher study groups are a popular form of professional development (Birchak et al., 1998), research on teacher study groups designed exclusively for African-American teachers is absent from the literature. Informed by tenets of sociocultural theory (Lave & Wenger, 1991), critical race theory (Solórzano & Bernal, 2001), and feminist theory (Belenky et al., 1997; Collins, 2000), this study involved participants in what I have termed culturally relevant professional development. Research questions included (1) What are the characteristics of an African-American teacher study group? (2) What are the topics and themes discussed in an African-American teacher study group that is focused on “culturally relevant pedagogy”? (3) How does participation in a teacher study group inform the participants’ views about (a) literacy and the literacy curriculum and (b) their teaching practices? (4) According to the study group participants, how does the African-American teacher study group compare to other professional development experiences in facilitating their growth as learners? (5) How might the participation of a school administrator in a teacher study group assist teachers in their professional growth? Data sources included audiotaped and videotaped study group sessions, field notes from study group sessions, in-depth interviews, field notes from classroom observations, participant journals, and a researcher’s journal. Constant comparison and grounded theory methods (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) guided data analysis. Methodological rigor was established using criteria for trustworthiness (Lincoln & Guba, 1985). Participants reported that culturally relevant professional development is essential to address the specific needs of African-American students. The teacher study group inquiry centered on ways to support African-American male students, ways to address curriculum mandates, the need for administrative support and parental involvement, the importance of spirituality, the need for collegiality and building relationships, and ways to challenge the status quo.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-05-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:52:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_ghg_me_rcla.pdf: 5445741 bytes, checksum: 77f59630a05b3e5437cc37f249e018d1 (MD5) / A problemática da pesquisa aqui apresentada está relacionada ao uso da Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação (TIC) na Educação Matemática. Ela tem por objetivo verificar como um grupo de estudos formado por futuros professores de Matemática se apropria de um software de geometria dinâmica de forma a inseri-lo em sua prática docente e conhecer a natureza das dificuldades que surgiram durante os estudos, preparação de atividades e seu desenvolvimento em sala de aula. Além disso, a pesquisa traz evidências das possíveis contribuições que o trabalho em um grupo de estudos propicia a seus participantes. Para sua realização foi criado um grupo com sete estudantes de licenciatura em Matemática de uma universidade do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Eles estudaram artigos científicos e elaboraram uma oficina com atividades de geometria dinâmica utilizando o software Geogebra. Essas atividades tiveram um caráter investigativo e foram trabalhadas com alunos do primeiro ano do ensino médio de uma escola estadual. Os dados da pesquisa foram coletados através da gravação em vídeo das reuniões do grupo, das anotações dos participantes e do pesquisador no decorrer dos encontros e do material produzido por eles. Os resultados indicam que trabalhar em um grupo de estudos é uma experiência muito importante para professores em formação já que propicia aos envolvidos uma busca por novas estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem, além de ser um espaço no qual os participantes podem expor seus anseios e dificuldades. No grupo aqui apresentado essas questões foram consideradas como possibilidades para o desenvolvimento profissional / The research problem presented here is related to the use of information and communication technology in mathematics education. It aims at verifying how a study group formed for prospective mathematics teachers becomes familiar with a dynamic geometry software; how they include it into their coming teaching practice; how they come to know the nature of the difficulties that emerge during the studies; and how they prepare activities for the classroom. In addition, the research provides evidence of the possible contribution that participating in such study group can provide to its participants. With this aim in mind was created a group of seven undergraduate students in mathematics at a university in the interior of São Paulo. They studied scientific articles and produced a workshop with activities using dynamic geometry software Geogebra. These activities had an investigative nature and were practiced with first year high school students of in a public school. The data were collected through video recordings of group meetings, the notes of the participants and the researcher during the meetings and the material produced by them. This work highlights that participating in a study group can be a very important experience for prospective teachers, as it offers to those involved new strategies for teaching and learning, besides being a space where participants can share their anxieties and difficulties. These issues were seen as opportunities for professional developed

Orientador: Miriam Godoy Penteado / Banca: Maria do Carmo de Sousa / Banca: Rosana Giaretta Sguerra Miskulin / Resumo: A problemática da pesquisa aqui apresentada está relacionada ao uso da Tecnologia da Informação e Comunicação (TIC) na Educação Matemática. Ela tem por objetivo verificar como um grupo de estudos formado por futuros professores de Matemática se apropria de um software de geometria dinâmica de forma a inseri-lo em sua prática docente e conhecer a natureza das dificuldades que surgiram durante os estudos, preparação de atividades e seu desenvolvimento em sala de aula. Além disso, a pesquisa traz evidências das possíveis contribuições que o trabalho em um grupo de estudos propicia a seus participantes. Para sua realização foi criado um grupo com sete estudantes de licenciatura em Matemática de uma universidade do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Eles estudaram artigos científicos e elaboraram uma oficina com atividades de geometria dinâmica utilizando o software Geogebra. Essas atividades tiveram um caráter investigativo e foram trabalhadas com alunos do primeiro ano do ensino médio de uma escola estadual. Os dados da pesquisa foram coletados através da gravação em vídeo das reuniões do grupo, das anotações dos participantes e do pesquisador no decorrer dos encontros e do material produzido por eles. Os resultados indicam que trabalhar em um grupo de estudos é uma experiência muito importante para professores em formação já que propicia aos envolvidos uma busca por novas estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem, além de ser um espaço no qual os participantes podem expor seus anseios e dificuldades. No grupo aqui apresentado essas questões foram consideradas como possibilidades para o desenvolvimento profissional / Abstract: The research problem presented here is related to the use of information and communication technology in mathematics education. It aims at verifying how a study group formed for prospective mathematics teachers becomes familiar with a dynamic geometry software; how they include it into their coming teaching practice; how they come to know the nature of the difficulties that emerge during the studies; and how they prepare activities for the classroom. In addition, the research provides evidence of the possible contribution that participating in such study group can provide to its participants. With this aim in mind was created a group of seven undergraduate students in mathematics at a university in the interior of São Paulo. They studied scientific articles and produced a workshop with activities using dynamic geometry software Geogebra. These activities had an investigative nature and were practiced with first year high school students of in a public school. The data were collected through video recordings of group meetings, the notes of the participants and the researcher during the meetings and the material produced by them. This work highlights that participating in a study group can be a very important experience for prospective teachers, as it offers to those involved new strategies for teaching and learning, besides being a space where participants can share their anxieties and difficulties. These issues were seen as opportunities for professional developed / Mestre

In the U.S. federal system, 'crisis commissions' are powerful instruments of social learning that actively mediate the politics of disaster and reform. Typically endowed with the legal authority to establish causes of dramatic policy failures and make recommendations to prevent their recurrence, commissions can prompt major governmental reorganizations. Yet commissions are also frequently accused of being influenced by dominant interests and faulted for articulating incomplete or politically expedient narratives of failure. Even when commission conclusions are accepted, the reforms they propose are not always adopted. Using the 9/11 Commission as a conceptual backdrop, this dissertation explores the relationship between disaster, public investigation, and reform by undertaking a detailed study of the Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Investigation Board and Iraq Study Group. Together, the cases constitute a study of the national security state seeking to correct failures across different domains of state power: border security, war-making capability, and dominance in space. I argue that commissions, as one-shot diagnostic and therapeutic instruments, are more effective than standing political institutions at confronting entrenched ways of seeing and knowing in complex systems of the national security state, which are defined by the interaction of ideology, large bureaucracies, and advanced technologies. The ability of commissions to see critically for society itself is not given but rather constructed through investigative and deliberative processes that must overcome the action of political interests. Commission credibility is therefore not an essential trait that derives a priori from the inherent stature of its members, but is rather the output of the investigative phase as commissions identify, compile, and publicize errors made by the state. In this adversarial process, an aggressive professional staff emerges as a determinant of commission success, leading to an important distinction between investigative commissions with 'super staffs' and advisory commissions that lack them. Process tracing recommendations over a multi-year period nevertheless reveals dynamics of agency and resistance at play between commissions and the institutions they attempt to reform, highlighting the partial success commissions are likely to achieve at coercing entrenched institutions to implement their recommendations.

The purpose of this action research study was to observe, participate in, and tell the story of teachers involved in a professional development experience. Professional development is an important tool to assist teachers in improving their teaching abilities. After a review of the literature on various forms of professional development and some personal experience with a variety of professional development activities, I created a collaborative study group (CSG) that included three teachers. Their work together was studied using a narrative approach to action research. The stories of these three teachers and their experiences with an informal professional development activity are shared in narrative prose that honors the voices of the participants. The data were analyzed through an iterative process that revealed the content and process of the professional development experience and allowed me to evaluate the activity. Over the six-month study the participants explored a range of issues such as education challenges, students the teachers were working with, and the personal and professional lives of teachers. The teachers discussed educational issues related to helping students (them), the individual teachers (me), and the teachers' relationships with each other (us). The CSG was a unique and informal professional development experience that empowered the participants to take charge of their personal and professional growth as teachers. This study provides evidence that teachers do not need to rely on school or district initiatives for professional development activities but can seek out other teachers to design meaningful and effective professional development.