M.Ed. / Science teachers in South Africa had to cope with the implementation of a host of new policies and curricula during the past years. New policies were implemented within a short space of time and teachers struggled to cope. The professional development teachers received during the implementation phase did not provide sufficient support to teachers and manifested in teacher overload, confusion and stress. For science teachers this resulted in lack of content knowledge, laboratory skills and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), to name a few. The consequence was learner underperformance in science during international and local assessments. The aim of this study is to add to current knowledge pertaining to the professional development of science teachers. The lived experiences of the science teachers during implementation of a new curriculum, their problems and needs, as well as the professional development that they received in their community of practice by keystone species were researched. A qualitative case study with a phenomenological flavour was chosen as research design. A single school was selected and data generated using interviews, observations, photos and artefacts. The findings suggest that the needs and problems of the science teachers in this case study are not sufficiently addressed through professional development programmes. No keystone species could be identified amongst the science teachers and the community of practice was found to be a pseudo-community of practice. The science teachers experienced problems with learner-centred teaching methods and practical investigations. In addition, there appears to be a general lack of applying shoestring science. The teachers experienced negative feelings and many of them lacked a sense of agency. To overcome the problems it is recommended that a community of practice be developed and nurtured for the science teachers. This should be supplemented by properly planned professional development programmes offering shoestring science, PCK and personal wellbeing programmes. The establishment of cluster groups (as ecologies of practice), in which Natural-, Life- and Physical Sciences teachers support one another, is also a recommendation of this study.

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Orientador: Laura Noemi Chaluh / Banca: Adriana Varani / Banca: Cinthia Magda Fernandes Ariosi / Resumo: A presente pesquisa foi realizada na e com uma escola pública de educação infantil, localizada no município de Rio Claro, cuja Proposta Pedagógica, as ações da professora coordenadora e o olhar para com as crianças e a comunidade apresentam um diferencial. Trata-se de uma escola que na organização do trabalho pedagógico e no espaço escolar refletem uma concepção outra de educação infantil. O objetivo geral da pesquisa consistiu em compreender o papel do professor coordenador na organização, acompanhamento e articulação do trabalho pedagógico da escola, levando em consideração as relações entre os sujeitos, as dificuldades, tensões, contradições, num contexto de composição entre o se constituir professor coordenador e a constituição de uma nova escola. Trata-se de uma pesquisa narrativa que toma como objeto de estudo a prática da coordenadora pedagógica e sua relação com professores e agentes educacionais. Os dados foram construídos a partir: das escritas elaboradas por três professoras, por duas agentes educacionais e pela professora coordenadora; documentos da escola (Proposta Pedagógica, Plano de Trabalho da professora coordenadora, atas de reuniões pedagógicos administrativas, atas dos Horários de Trabalho Pedagógico Coletivo e dos Horários de Trabalho Pedagógico Individual). A análise dos dados foi realizada a partir do paradigma indiciário. O trabalho desvela questões acerca: da legitimidade do professor coordenador como formador na escola; da importância de levar em con... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This survey was conducted on and with a public elementary school, located in the municipality of Rio Claro which pedagogical proposal, the actions of the teacher coordinator and look at the kids and the community have a differential. It is about a school t hat in the Organization of pedagogical effort and school enviroment reflect a distinct conception of early childhood education. The rese a rch's overall objective consist in understand the role of the teacher coordinator in the organization, monitorization a nd pedagogical tasks articulation in the school, taking as consid e ration the relationship between the subject, t h e difficulties, tensions, contradictions, in a context of composition between becoming a teacher coordinator and the establishment of a new sch ool. It is a narrative res e arch that takes as object of study the practice of pedagogical coordinator and your relationship with teachers and educational agents. The data were constructed from the writings compiled by three teachers, two educational agents and the teacher coordinator; school documents (pedagogical proposal, work plan of teacher coordinator, teaching administrative meetings minutes, proceedings of pedagogical work collective and Indi vidual pedagogical work hours), The data's analysis was per formed from indicting paradigm . It is believed that the contributions of this work may unveil questions about formative function of teacher Coordinator at school, on the issue of relations that waged in the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Laura Noemi Chaluh / Banca: Emilia Freitas de Lima / Banca: Maria Rosa Rodrigues Martins de Camargo / Resumo: Esta pesquisa objetivou analisar e compreender as experiências vivenciadas pelo professor em início de carreira, no contexto de um grupo de formação de professoras iniciantes da rede pública e particular do interior do Estado de São Paulo, sob minha coordenação. No grupo, com reuniões mensais, foram desenvolvidas propostas articuladas a discussões acerca do fazer docente. Algumas questões que nortearam este estudo foram: Quais são as relações que o docente em início de carreira estabelece na escola? Qual a importância destas relações e como marcam as ações cotidianas do professor na vida escolar? Como as experiências vividas afetam e constituem o "ser" professor? Como a escola recebe e acompanha os professores iniciantes no processo de inserção na escola? Como metodologia, assumi a perspectiva de pesquisa narrativa de experiências do vivido, a partir de Lima; Geraldi e Geraldi (2015), em que me apropriei de uma experiência significativa vivida - coordenadora e formadora do grupo de formação de professores iniciantes - como objeto de investigação. A produção dos dados se deu a partir das gravações dos encontros em áudio; diário de campo da formadora com registros das observações; diário de bordo do grupo, com registros e reflexões feitos por uma professora iniciante a cada mês (a partir do vivido no grupo) e pela captura de imagens, através da fotografia. A análise foi realizada através de pistas, indícios e sinais que puderam revelar características peculiares apresentadas pe... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This research aimed analyze and understand the teacher experiences at the beginning of career, in the context of a beginners teachers formation group in public and private schools in the a countryside of the State of São Paulo, under my coordination. In the group, with monthly meetings, proposals were developed articulated to discussions about teaching practice. Some questions that guided this study were: What are the relationships that the teacher at the beginning of career establishes in the school? What is the importance of these relationships and how do they mark the daily actions of the teacher in school life? How do the lived experiences affect and constitute the "being" teacher? How does the school receive and accompany the beginners teachers in the insertion process in school? As methodology, I assumed the narrative research perspective of lived experiences, starting from Lima; Geraldi and Geraldi (2015), where I took advantage of a significant lived experience - coordinator and trainer of the beginner teachers training group - as an object of research. The data production started from the audio recordings of the meetings; trainer's field diary with observations records; group logbook, with records and reflections made by a beginner teacher each month (from the experience in the group) and by capturing images through the photograph. The analysis was performed through clues, vestige and signs that could reveal peculiar characteristics presented by the group, in the par... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Vânia de Fátima Martino / Resumo: Esta pesquisa tem como objeto de estudo a prática dos orientadores educacionais das escolas de Educação Básica (Educação Infantil – Fase I e II e Ensino Fundamental-1º ao 5º ano) da rede municipal de Franca/SP, buscando investigar a atuação desses profissionais e sua consonância com os documentos, teorias, legislações e orientações oficiais que regem a prática pedagógica desses especialistas da educação, no município em questão. O orientador educacional (OrE), ao lado do diretor, do coordenador pedagógico, do pedagogo e do pedagogo da Sala de Recursos Multifuncionais, faz parte da equipe gestora das escolas municipais de Franca/SP. Partimos do pressuposto de que a atuação do orientador educacional é muito importante no contexto escolar, visto que seu papel deve estar direcionado para a formação integral do aluno, contribuindo com seu desenvolvimento cognitivo, social e emocional, ajudando o professor a compreender a realidade das crianças e atuando também como um elo entre escola-família-comunidade. Para tal investigação, optamos como escolha metodológica a abordagem qualitativa e um estudo analítico-descritivo. As fontes para o tratamento do objeto foram bibliográficas, documentais e a pesquisa de campo. A partir da revisão bibliográfica sobre a Orientação Educacional (OE), apresentamos a trajetória histórica desta profissão no Brasil, assim como alguns conceitos e abordagens dos principais teóricos sobre o tema, dentre eles: Heloísa Lück, José Carlos Libâneo, Mirian Grinspu... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The purpose of this research is to study the practice of educational counselors on the Basic Education (Preschool - Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten- as well as Elementary School - 1st to 5th grade) schools of the municipal network of Franca/SP. It also seek to investigate the performance of these professionals and their consonance with the documents, theories, laws and official guidelines that govern the pedagogical practice of these education specialists in this county. The educational advisor, along with the director, pedagogical coordinator, pedagogue and pedagogue of the Multifunctional Resources Room, is part of the management team of the municipal schools of Franca/SP. It was assumed that the role of the educational supervisor is very important in the school context, since his role should be directed towards the integral formation of the student, contributing to his cognitive, social and emotional development, besides to help the teacher to understand the reality of the children and acting as a link between school-family-community. For this investigation, it was chosen as methodological choice the qualitative approach and a descriptive analytical study. The sources for the treatment of the object were bibliographical, documentary and field research. From the bibliographic review on Educational Guidance (OE), we present the historical trajectory of this profession in Brazil, as well as some concepts and approaches of the main theoreticians on the subject, among them: H... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Science, 2002.

Research report submitted to the Faculty of Science University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, in part completion for the Master of Science Degree, / Three case studies were conducted involving Andrew, Ferrial and Mary. A number of aspects relating to their experiences were explored and are described in this report. In addition to their personal accounts, their views about the nature of science, science teaching and learning were sought. The study also surveyed HDE students' knowledge of certain concepts related to chemical bonding and acids and bases. The case studies were observed during their teaching practice to establish how the aspects mentioned above relate to their practices in the classroom. Data was collected through intervews, journals, classroom observation both in their science methodology classes and during teaching practice and diagnostic tests. It was found that school backgrounds influenced Ferrial's and Mary's perceptions of the HDE programme. They both appreciated those aspects of the metholodologies that were directly linked to preparation for teaching, such as the mini lessons, test design, the practical work, and enriching their knowledge of science concepts through discussing science content. Both were very anxious about their competence in teaching science. They considered the assignment work excessive, irrelevant, and frustrating and were sometimes not sure what was expected. Ferrial felt .they were given too much work. Andrew, on the other hand did not seem to find any problems. He liked the practical approach followed in the classes and appreciated the suggestions made. His experiences were more of a personal nature and related to the fact that he was engaged in part time teaching. Their conceptions of science, teaching and learning were modified rather than changed during the year of study. They were not always successful in trying out their theories of teaching and learning and applying the suggestions made in the HDE courses because such moves were sometimes unacceptable to their students or cooperating teachers. In Andrew's situation implementation of suggestions were impeded by lack of appropriate facilities. It was also found from this study that student teachers had several erroneous ideas about chemical bonding and acids and bases irrespective of the depth of their chemical background. It was further found that discussing chemical bonding helped the students change some of their ideas to more acceptable ones. / Andrew Chakane 2018

This research was conducted in the particular context of the 2009 new language in education policy in Rwanda. The problem examined within this context, concerns the attitudes and motivation of teachers and students from different language backgrounds (both Anglophone and Francophone) as they have experienced the shift from French and/or English as MoI to the sole use of English as medium of instruction (MoI) in education, all the way from the Primary School stage up to and including tertiary institutes. In this unique context where English was being used as MoI whilst simultaneously learning the language, the aim of this study was to investigate an often overlooked psychological aspect of the language policy shift literature, viz., Teachers’ and Students’ Attitudes and Motivation toward learning English; and toward using it for teaching and learning. Through the lens of Gardner’s (1985) second language (L2) motivation construct as a theoretical framework; this study used quantitative and qualitative methods of enquiry in the context of Mixed Methods approach, to ascertain implementers’ reaction amid challenges of policy change. The study established that, in a quasi monolingual society with Kinyarwanda as the national language, Teacher Training College (TTC) teachers and students form a diverse community of language users; that they converge on knowledge and use of English despite this diversity; that they hold positive attitudes toward learning the language and using it as MoI; and that the main reason for these positive attitudes is that the use of English as MoI offers an opportunity to learn the language. This study thus recommends that all stakeholders in the education enterprise in Rwanda be sensitized on the necessity to distinguish between the tasks of learning English and using it for teaching and learning.

This study was planned to explore “the role of e-learning on the professional development of student-teachers in Cameroon”. The researcher’s concern with elearning was sanctioned by the need for a teaching and learning strategy that can help institutions of learning address their problems and improve on their outcome. Seven (7) specific hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study also sought to find out challenges faced by student-teachers in the implementation of e-learning. The study involved a mixed methodological approach. In this respect, a survey of 796 student-teachers drawn from eight (8) Primary Government Teacher Training Colleges and three (3) Higher Teacher Training Colleges was carried out. Also, an experiment with 191 student-teachers of the Higher Teacher Training College was conducted using blended learning. Purposive sampling, cluster sampling, simple random sampling and systematic random sampling techniques were applied where necessary to obtain the sample. Moreover, in the survey, data was collected using a questionnaire while the experimental phase generated data in terms of scores from the first and second test respectively. The student t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Correlation Coefficient were used to test the research hypotheses. Findings of this study offer new evidence that elearning has a significant influence on the professional development of studentteachers in Cameroon. Findings revealed that slow Internet lines or access speed constitute a serious challenge to effective e-learning in Cameroon (Mean = 3.2852). Findings further suggest that Internet-Based Problem Solving and Computer-Based Direct Instruction have an unprecedented role in fostering the professional development of student teachers in Cameroon. Based on this result, recommendations are made to training institutions to embrace ICTs and become more flexible by adopting learning approaches that are dynamic and multi-dimensional as problems in education are becoming more complex. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)