Este trabalho tem o intuito de investigar a necessidade de um programa de formação e desenvolvimento profissional docente para professores de cursos de engenharia e outras ciências exatas; e propor um modelo viável e apropriado para este programa. O foco deste estudo foi averiguar, por meio de questionários, a percepção e opinião de professores da Escola Politécnica da USP (em três consultas distintas: todos os professores, professores recém-contratados e professores que já haviam participado de processo formativo oficial da Escola); de alunos de pós-graduação da Escola Politécnica da USP que cursaram disciplina de preparação pedagógica; e de um grupo de diversos professores que não são da USP. Foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica para entendimento de características importantes do ensino superior no país, evolução do perfil dos estudantes, educação em engenharia como área de pesquisa e questões que envolvem formação de professores como verificação da necessidade, políticas públicas e institucionais. O presente trabalho traz também alguns exemplos de iniciativas de formação docente existentes no Brasil e em outros países, não apenas específicos para professores de engenharia, sendo possível conhecer tais exemplos com certa profundidade e seus resultados. Baseada na análise dos questionários e nos exemplos pesquisados, esta tese apresenta uma argumentação sólida sobre a necessidade de implementação de programa de formação e desenvolvimento profissional docente na Escola Politécnica da USP, bem como uma proposta para tal programa e para aprimoramento e criação de disciplinas de preparação pedagógica para a graduação e pós-graduação. Os resultados e sugestões apresentados neste trabalho podem, certamente, ser extrapolados para outros casos e instituições. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the need for teachers training and professional development program for STEM teachers and propose a viable and appropriate model for this program. The focus of this study was to investigate, through questionnaires, the perception and opinion of teachers of Polytechnic School of USP (in three different inquires: all teachers, newly hired teachers and teachers who had already participated in some pedagogical classes offered by the School), postgraduate students of the Polytechnic School of USP who attended a pedagogical preparation course and a group of several non-USP teachers. A literature review was carried out to understand some important particulars of higher education in the country, the evolution of the students\' profile, engineering education discipline, and issues involving teachers training such as verification of need, public and institutional policies. The present work also presents some examples of existing teachers training initiatives in Brazil and in other countries, not only specific for engineering teachers. It is possible to know these initiatives with a certain depth and its results, when they are available. Based on the analysis of the questionnaires and the examples studied, this thesis presents a solid argument about the need to implement teachers training and professional development program at the Polytechnic School of USP, as well as a proposal for such a program and for the improvement and creation of pedagogical preparation courses for undergraduate and graduate students. The results and suggestions presented in this thesis can certainly be extrapolated to other cases and institutions.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:32:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FLAVIA WEGRZYN MARTINEZ.pdf: 2205214 bytes, checksum: b3b91755587c9dd6df131a3c8ac799e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study presents an analysis on the pedagogic training offered in the Degree Course on Biological Sciences of the State University of Northern Paraná- UENP, Jacarezinho/PR campus. This study was based on schoolars such as Bourdieu (1989, 2004), Rosso (2007, 2010), Diniz-Pereira (1999, 2006), Nóvoa (1995), Imbernón (2011), Gimeno Sacristán (1999), Gauthier (1998), Shulman (1986), and others. We understand the teachers training field, particularly concerning the degree course on Biological Sciences, as a social field with specific interests and dispute between biological disciplines and pedagogical disciplines. Therefore, our reflections are grounded on the following objective: a) to discuss the articulation of pedagogical disciplines supported by Education and specific disciplines forming the Degree Course in Biological Sciences; b) to understand how the initial pedagogical training provides teachers with sufficient assistance to exercise their profession. The foundation we bring to discussion on the central concepts of praxeology by Pierre Bourdieu, field and habitus, aiming at establishing a dialectical articulation between individuals and social structures. In order to develop the methodological foundation, we applied the qualitative research, in turn, our considerations and theoretical subsidies were grounded on reflections by Richardson (1999) and Triviños (1987). The data collection was carried out using closed questionnaire answered by seven (7) teachers, semi-structured interview with seven (7) teachers and the coordinator of the Biological Sciences Course. We also conducted a document analysis on the Course Pedagogical Project. The orientation on the process of data analysis presented a discussion carried out by the categories concerning the Content analysis (BARDIN, 1977). The research results indicate that the teachers understand the importance of the initial pedagogical training in a degree course nevertheless they believe that such training offered in the course is not sufficient to offer the foundations for teaching functions. They also point out the presence of dichotomy between biological disciplines and pedagogical disciplines as well as a disarticulation between both áreas and their respective teachers. / O presente estudo realiza uma análise sobre a formação pedagógica oferecida pelo curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná- UENP, campus de Jacarezinho/PR. Este trabalho foi construído com base em estudiosos como Bourdieu (1983, 1989, 2004a), Rosso (2007, 2010), Diniz-Pereira (1999, 2006), Nóvoa (1995, 1999), Imbernón (2011), Gimeno Sacristán (1999), Gauthier (1998), Shulman (1986, 1987), entre outros. Compreendemos o campo de formação de professores, em particular o de licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas, como campo social que possui interesses específicos, no qual permeiam relações de disputas entre as disciplinas biológicas e as disciplinas pedagógicas. Assim, apoiamos nossas reflexões acerca dos seguintes objetivos: a) discutir como se encontram articuladas as disciplinas pedagógicas, sustentadas pelo campo da educação com as disciplinas específicas que compõem o currículo do curso de licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas; b) compreender se a formação pedagógica inicial oferece subsídios suficientes ao exercício da docência. Trazemos como fundamento para discussão os conceitos centrais da praxiologia, de Pierre Bourdieu, campo e habitus, visando estabelecer a articulação dialética entre os indivíduos e as estruturas sociais. Para o desenvolvimento da fundamentação metodológica, valemos-nos da pesquisa qualitativa, já nossas considerações e subsídios teóricos se apoiaram nas reflexões de Richardson (1999) e Triviños (1987). A coleta de dados foi realizada a partir de questionário fechado respondido por sete (7) professores, entrevista semiestruturada com sete (7) professores e o Coordenador do curso de Ciências Biológicas. Realizamos também análise documental do Projeto Pedagógico do curso (PPC). Para orientação do processo de análise de dados, a discussão foi realizada pelas categorizações a partir da análise de Conteúdo (BARDIN, 1977). Os resultados da pesquisa indicam que os docentes compreendem a importância da formação pedagógica inicial num curso de formação de professores, entretanto, acreditam que na mesma ainda não é suficiente para oferecer subsídios para o exercício da docência. Indicam também a presença de dicotomia entre as disciplinas biológicas e pedagógicas, assim como a desarticulação entre ambas as áreas.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T14:31:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandra G Unbehaum.pdf: 1718030 bytes, checksum: a42829b23de5f90d2b12131bc8b88781 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-31 / This research deals with teachers training, and particularly focuses on the training of teachers for basic education. The study sought to gain an understanding in the aspects involved on the inclusion of gender issues into the curriculum of teachers training in the classroom, specifically in pedagogy courses offered by Brazilian public universities. It was assumed that despite a suitable environment gender is already a consolidated field of research and there are educational policies favorable to it the issues related to this field have only a secondary status in the curriculum of teacher's training. It was hypothesized that there are tensions and resistance movements in the general field of education, which implies, therefore, the need of more articulation of those two fields (education and gender), in order to the second be able to influence the curriculum of teacher's training. Through interviews, a total of eleven university research-teachers participated in this study, eight of them been women. All the subjects were linked to public universities, where they taught in graduate and undergraduate courses; they were also leaders and co-leaders of research groups, in programs in which gender is one of the main topics of interest. It was possible to conclude that have been advances in the introduction of gender in teachers training, with this theme receiving a crossing approach in regular disciplines as well as in the proposition of elective or optional courses. Moreover, it was noted a lack of agreement in establishing the content of gender as an obligatory discipline or as a transversal one. Conflicts in relation to theoretical conceptions of the field, impacting on the spheres of academic debate, were found / Esta pesquisa trata da formação de professores e, particularmente, centra-se na formação de professores para a educação básica. O estudo procurou obter uma compreensão dos aspectos envolvidos na inclusão das questões de gênero no currículo de formação de professores, especificamente em cursos de pedagogia oferecidos por universidades públicas brasileiras. Supõe-se que, apesar de um cenário favorável um campo consolidado de pesquisa e de políticas educacionais sensíveis a ele as questões relacionadas a este tema têm apenas um status secundário no currículo de formação de professores. Postula-se que há tensões e movimentos de resistência no campo geral da educação, o que implica, portanto, a necessidade de maior articulação desses dois campos (educação e gênero), a fim de o segundo ser capaz de influenciar o currículo de formação do futuro professor. Por meio de entrevistas, um total de onze docentes-pesquisadores participaram deste estudo, oito deles foram mulheres. Todos os indivíduos estavam ligados a universidades públicas, onde ensinam na pós-graduação e em cursos de graduação; eles também eram líderes e colíderes de grupos de pesquisa, em programas em que o gênero é um dos principais temas de interesse. Foi possível concluir que tem havido avanços na introdução de gênero na formação de professores, com este tema recebendo uma abordagem transversal em disciplinas regulares, bem como na proposição de disciplinas eletivas ou opcionais. Além disso, notou-se a falta de acordo em estabelecer o conteúdo de gênero como uma disciplina obrigatória ou como tema transversal. Conflitos em relação a concepções teóricas do campo, impactando nas esferas de debate acadêmico, foram também encontrados

This study aimed to increase efficacy for teaching mathematics in pre-service early childhood teachers through the presentation of five video lessons on topics in early childhood mathematics. Each lesson entailed reading a short essay on a topic related to children's mathematical thinking and then watching a short video of a child engaged in a relevant task and a clinical interview with an adult. This study also examined pre-service teachers' knowledge of mathematical development (KMD) and intellectual modesty, or the awareness of the limits of one's knowledge, as possible mediators of change in efficacy. Results showed that the video lessons did significantly increase efficacy for teaching mathematics, but that KMD and intellectual modesty were not significant mediators of the change in efficacy. In effect, confidence appeared disconnected from competence. Follow-up analyses revealed the importance of rich mathematical content within the videos in producing increased confidence and competence.

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two video-based interventions, one guided, the other non-guided, on pre-service early childhood education teachers' understanding of students' mathematical thinking. Five web-based lessons on various topics in children's mathematical development were created for this study. Each contained a short reading introducing a videotaped clinical interview of a young child performing a mathematical task. The unguided group then watched a 2-minute video, while the guided group watched the same video segmented into short clips and then answered open-ended questions at each break. The main goal was to examine the effectiveness of the use of videotaped clinical interviews in professional development. More specifically, I was interested in the types of experiences offered by the guided and unguided versions, as compared to those of the control group. The results of this study showed that both the guided- and unguided-video experiences were successful in changing the way prospective teachers interpreted children's mathematical thinking. While the results show it was possible to use videos to improve prospective teachers' interpretive abilities, it was not possible to improve their ability to apply the interpretations to developing appropriate teaching activities.

Education plays a vital role in any society; so much so, that countries strive to have not only adequate, but excellent educators in their classrooms. The aim of this study was to understand how beginning secondary mathematics teachers define success and to what experiences they attribute that success. Specifically, the central research question addressed was, "To what degree were significant attributes or experiences, important to the success of the first year teaching, learned pre-teacher education program, during a program, or post-program?" The practical goal of filling classrooms with great educators needs to be informed by research on how best to recruit highly qualified candidates into the field of mathematics education and how best to facilitate the teacher preparation process. This study employed a mixed methodology, using a sample of beginning secondary mathematics teachers to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on when they reported gaining influential knowledge or experiences. In particular, input from those who have had some success as beginning mathematics teachers was desired. The interview protocol designed for these participants added depth to the survey responses. Emphasis was placed on the relative importance of the three stages, pre-, during, and post-program, in developing common attributes associated with good teaching. Two characteristics were generally discussed as developing pre-program: being a self-starting and hard-working individual, and holding a belief that every student can learn. Beginning teachers viewed these traits as important for their success. Participants also felt that they acquired both practical classroom tools and educational theory from their teacher education program; having program instructors model pedagogy and mathematical instruction, and having opportunities to practice incorporating theory into their teaching were also seen as important. These aspects distinguished particularly prominent roles that the teacher education program played in shaping its graduates. Classroom management and being flexible and adaptive to different contexts were the most notable qualities frequently reported as being learned post-program. The study's results have implications for informing the types of students a mathematics education program should try to attract or recruit and defining areas where practicum or internship components might be incorporated into the teacher education process.

What is good mathematics teaching? The answer depends on whom you are asking. Teachers, researchers, policymakers, administrators, and parents usually provide their own view on what they consider is good mathematics teaching and what is not. The purpose of this study was to determine how beginning teachers define good mathematics teaching and what they report as being the most important attributes at the secondary level. This research explored whether there was a relationship between the demographics of the participants and the attributes of good teaching. In addition, factors that influence the understanding of good mathematics teaching were explored. A mixed methodology was used to gather information from the research participants regarding their beliefs and classroom practices of good mathematics teaching. The two research instruments used in this study were the survey questionnaire and a semi-structured interview. Thirty-three respondents who had one to two years of classroom experience comprised the study sample. They had graduated from a school of education in an eastern state and had obtained their teacher certification upon completing their studies. The beginning mathematics teachers selected these four definitions of good teaching as their top choices: 1) have High Expectations that all students are capable of learning; 2) have strong content knowledge (Subject Matter Knowledge); 3) create a Learning Environment that fosters the development of mathematical power; and 4) bring Enthusiasm and excitement to classroom. The three most important attributes in good teaching were: Classroom Management, Motivation, and Strong in Content Knowledge. One interesting finding was the discovery of four groups of beginning teachers and how they were associated with specific attributes of good mathematics teaching according to their demographics. Beginning teachers selected Immediate Classroom Situation, Mathematical Beliefs, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, and Colleagues as the top four factors from the survey analysis that influenced their understanding of good mathematics teaching. The study's results have implications for informing the types of mathematical knowledge required for pre-service teachers that can be incorporated into teacher education programs and define important attributes of good mathematics teaching during practicum.

The release of the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics in 2010 resulted in a new focus on mathematical modeling in United States curricula. Mathematical modeling represents a way of doing and understanding mathematics new to most teachers. The purpose of this study was to determine the conceptions and misconceptions held by teachers about mathematical models and modeling in order to aid in the development of teacher education and professional development programs. The study used a mixed methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey of a large sample of practicing and prospective secondary teachers of mathematics in the United States. The purpose of this was to gain an understanding of the conceptions held by the general population of United States secondary mathematics teachers. In particular, basic concepts of mathematical models, mathematical modeling, and mathematical modeling in education were analyzed. Qualitative data were obtained from case studies of a small group of mathematics teachers who had enrolled in professional development which had mathematical models or modeling as a focus. The purpose of these case studies was to give an illustrative view of teachers regarding modeling, as well as to gain some understanding of how participating in professional development affects teachers' conceptions. The data showed that US secondary mathematics teachers hold several misconceptions about models and modeling, particularly regarding aspects of the mathematical modeling process. Specifically, the majority of teachers do not understand that the mathematical modeling process always requires making choices and assumptions, and that mathematical modeling situations must come from real-world scenarios. A large minority of teachers have misconceptions about various other characteristics of mathematical models and the mathematical modeling process.

The history of science is rich in examples of the importance of theories and hypotheses. Among the various disciplines of science, theories and hypotheses have been important in guiding research, including such large ideas as the atomic theory, theory of evolution, laws of motion in physics, and plate tectonics. One of the major ways science progresses is to gather evidence in relation to theories and hypotheses and to refine our explanations of how natural events occur both at very small scales of space and time or at the level of the universe. This dissertation research focused on understanding science teachers' conceptual models about theories, and the use of corroborating evidence based on a critical rationalist stance in science. The study explored a sample of science teachers' level of understanding of critical rationalism, and issues in modeling science within a `critical rationalist', post-positivist framework. During the initial phase of the research, a pilot study was done to gather contextual evidence obtained from a sample of teachers' views on the nature of science (NOS) who responded to an online questionnaire. Subsequently, a more comprehensive study based on the findings from this initial pilot study was done. In the subsequent more comprehensive study, an online learning module on NOS, containing core concepts within a critical rational stance, was presented to a second sample of pre- and in-service teachers. This module specifically focused on how theories are initiated and rigorously tested under the highest risk conditions within a critical rationalist model. It also explained why this is a more productive approach than an exclusively verificationist cognitive framework underlying some logical positivist approaches. The results of a pretest, and post-test assessment, following the completion of the online learning module, provided robust evidence that the teachers who initially demonstrated significantly weak understandings of a critical rational stance improved to a level where they reached a preset benchmark level of accomplishment established by the researcher prior to the online intervention. The pretest results of the comprehensive study also aligned well with the results of the pilot study. That is, science teachers' pre-learning views on scientific theories and experimentation fall mostly within inductive verification-based models, more closely aligned with a positivistic worldview, outside of a contemporary critical rationalist view of a hypothetico-deductive or falsification approach. In this study, a convenient and reliable method of online learning and associated assessment instruments regarding critical rationalist understanding of NOS is presented and evaluated. The evaluation of the pre- and post-learning assessments, and analyses of questionnaire responses by the participants, showed that the use of the online learning module significantly improved science teachers' cognitive understandings of the nature of science, and that the learners generally reported favorable responses about the learning experiences based on quantitative and qualitative evidence. Based on this initial evidence, the online learning module and related assessment instruments appear to be a valuable resource for assessing teacher understanding of a modern critical rational view of science, and as a potentially productive way to introduce pre-service and in-service teachers to these modern views of NOS through application of the online learning module.

The purpose of this study is to determine how well traditional elementary preparation programs and alternative elementary certification programs are perceived by teacher candidates, to prepare them to teach mathematics to the standards required today. Using a qualitative design, this study examines how various ranked elementary teacher preparation programs and alternative certification programs are preparing elementary teachers to teach the mathematics envisioned in the CCSSM. Participants in this study all attended an undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program or an alternate route certification program. To paint a holistic picture of elementary teacher preparation in mathematics, each undergraduate elementary teacher preparation programs was ranked in a different level in the NCTQ Teacher Preparation Review. Qualitative surveys and interviews were used to gather data on participants' perceptions of their preparation in mathematics. Twenty-five participants agreed to take part in this study. Participants filled out a two-part survey. The first part of the survey asked background questions on their coursework and field experiences in mathematics along with a survey on their beliefs about their ability to teach mathematics. The second part was a pedagogy survey that asked participants how they would teach particular mathematics concepts that now require a conceptual understanding in the CCSSM. Seven participants agreed to participate in a follow up interview to further investigate their experiences in mathematics preparation in their teacher education programs. The data showed that there is little consistency in the mathematics education of elementary teachers within a teacher preparation program and across different teacher preparation programs. There is little standardization in the coursework for participants from different preparation programs and participants within the same program. The interviews revealed that the degree to which participants were able to teach mathematics in their field experiences also varied within and across teacher preparation programs. Furthermore, the interviews also unveiled that the CCSSM were also studied and utilized in different capacities within and across institutions. Lastly, the data from the surveys disclosed that the majority of participants feel that they have the ability to be effective teachers of mathematics yet the majority of participants teach mathematics for a procedural understanding.