Abstract Studies show that teachers struggle to teach one of the core aspects of history teaching in Sweden, namely use of history. This problem was the reason behind the creation of this overview. The aim of this overview is to examine the theories that surround the didactical concept of use of history. The methods used to establish the ground of this overview are inquiries in several databases and review of scientific publications. The results show that the concept of use of history includes many different aspects that can be emphasized depending on the perspectives that researchers apply. Followingly, history didacticians have developed different possible frameworks to tackle the teaching of this concept in the classroom. However, teachers are not always aware of how teaching can be done and their views on history affect their perspectives. Nonetheless, the overview shows how it can be done in an effective way and that the use of history can be a functional tool to develop students’ historical consciousness. Since the use of history and historical consciousness are core aims in the Swedish curriculum of history, this overview can be helpful for teachers.

Det finns en bred variation av hjälpmedel som existerar i syfte att stödja matematikundervisning. Ett av dessa hjälpmedel kan benämnas konkreta material. Syftet med denna studie är dels att undersöka hur forskningsfältet kring konkreta material ser ut, dels att undersöka vilka utmaningar användandet av konkreta material medför. Konkreta material är fysiska (ej digitala) material som går att manipulera i syfte att stödja inlärningen av olika matematiska begrepp. Forskningsfältet har sammanställts genom en systematisk litteraturstudie. Resultatet visar att ett flertal kategorier inom forskningen kan urskiljas, där en kategori specifikt lyfter hur gynnsam användningen av konkreta material är. Resultatet visar också att det finns många utmaningar som läraren måste ta hänsyn till för att användandet av konkreta material ska bli meningsfullt. Diskussionen lyfter att ett flertal av artiklarna skulle gynnas av ett kritiskt perspektiv, samt att fler empiriska studier med ett kritiskt förhållningssätt inom området skulle behövas. / There is a wide variety of aids that exist to support mathematics teaching. One category of these aids can be referred to as manipulatives. The purpose of this study is partly to examine what the research field around manipulatives looks like, and partly to examine what challenges the use of manipulatives entails. Manipulatives are physical (not digital) materials that can be manipulated in order to support the learning of various mathematical concepts. Through a systematic literature study, the research field has been compiled. The result shows that a number of categories can be distinguished within the research, where one category specifically highlights how favorable the use of manipulatives is. The results also show that there are many challenges that teachers must take into account in order to use manipulatives in a meaningful way. The discussion highlights that several of the articles would benefit from a critical perspective, and that more empirical studies with a critical approach in the field would be needed.

In this knowledge overview the purpose was to explore the impact of the creative learning process on teaching and how creativity engages the students in mathematics. Articles were collected to answer two main questions for the knowledge review (SAG). The focus is to define the creative learning process and see the impact of creativity in both students' ability to grasp knowledge and their engagement in mathematics education. It also contains the traditional teaching method and how that affects students' creativity and engagement. The discussion section analyzes the findings from the result section. Questions were raised about which students were included in the research. The study points out the relevance and bearing in mind relative teaching approaches and the possibility of using creativity in education to enhance students' engagement and their academic performance. In the end further research will be proposed.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of directed discovery-based teaching methods (hands-on learning) and weekly quizzes on short-term learning and long-term retention of course material in an introductory geosciences laboratory course. Assessment of learning was accomplished using percentages of correct responses to questions on two tests, using percentages from the first semester of the study as a baseline to which data from each subsequent semester were compared to determine the effects of the study variable that was introduced. Student evaluations of value, meaning, and enjoyment of the course were also investigated through the use of an essay question at the end of the second test. The study revealed that directed discovery-based methods were successful for the teaching of some subject material, but not for all, and that the method did not necessarily enhance learning of scientific vocabulary. Weekly quizzes resulted in improved learning in all subject areas. Simultaneous use of traditional and directed-discovery teaching methods as well as weekly quizzes is recommended.

No description available.

With the call for a change in the way students are prepared to meet the demands of the 21st century, new teaching methods are under investigation. Problem-based learning is one such method believed to encourage the skills students need to succeed. The purpose of this study is to outline the implications for using this approach to teach digital technology skills. Through this developmental study, a learning module was designed and developed for instruction in an eighth grade technology class. The research study also included an expert review and evaluation of the module through implementation in a middle school in southern New Jersey. The findings are presented and implications include the need for a shift in several aspects of education; a shift in how students are taught, a shift in the role teachers assume through this approach, and a shift in how teachers are trained to implement this teaching approach. Finally, recommendations are made for instructional designers seeking to develop a model for instruction in a problem-based learning environment. / Ph. D.

In a time of high stakes tests and mounting pressures in favor of standardized curricula at all levels, teachers continue to work in the best interests of their students as is evidenced by their statements both public and private, their continued commitment to their profession, and their political actions. Indeed, many advocate loudly and repeatedly for their students and for maximal opportunities for those same students. Without doubt, many of these teachers aspire to help learners of all ages and from all sociocultural strata develop into not only critical readers, consumers, and even critical civic participants, but into citizens with active critical consciences and a lively critical consciousness of their own culture and the cultures of others. In this study, the author observed and interviewed two middle school teachers and two high school teachers—all English teachers—for purposes of examining the participants' teaching practice for identifiable acts and statements involving the promotion of critical literacy among learners in the teachers' classrooms. The observations and interviews were conducted across a contiguous three-day period for each participant during the same class period each day. Participants self-selected dates and class period, and also were aware of the purpose of the study, i.e. to look for critical literacy practices in teaching. All observations and interviews were coded inductively and used Strauss and Corbin's (1998) three-step coding process for grounded theory of open, axial, and selective coding. Teachers' observed actions and statements were subsequently analyzed in a constant comparative analysis. / Ph. D.

Abstract Culture is a significant part of the Swedish curriculum for compulsory school, despite this there is no definition of the concept. Therefore, it was found interesting to explore what understanding teachers who teach social science in primary education possess, and how they integrate culture in their teaching methods. As culture is a wide concept, the current study focused on two definitions of culture, the aesthetics and the anthropological. The study enlightened different views of culture and how students consume and construct culture. We chose to do an interview study where the reflexive interview technique was used. Open questions that were relevant were utilized which made it possible to ask follow up questions. Furthemore, the study contained interviews with six different teachers. To analyze the material from the interviews content analysis was used. The result of the analysis showed that the aesthetic concept of culture is more common in both the teachers' understandings and teachings. Some of the teachers emphasized the anthropological parts of culture. The participants often connected the concept with other subjects than social science. The study showed that the teachers integrated culture in social science through different out of schedule activities. Moreover, this work is often connected to the school's cultural mission and specific days. It was further recognized that culture is not a part of the day to day education in social science and has a development potential. Furthermore, there seems to be a lack of concrete teaching methods when working with culture. If there had been concrete teaching methods, it would favor the teachers in their everyday work. The study contributed with an understanding of how teachers integrate culture in their day to day education, and enlightened their understanding of the concept of culture. The results from the study can support future teachers in their profession. By widening their knowledge about the concept and the benefits of including it in their lesson plan, they can elaborate their teaching.

Det finns en bred variation av hjälpmedel som existerar i syfte att stödja matematikundervisning. Ett av dessa hjälpmedel kan benämnas konkreta material. Syftet med denna studie är dels att undersöka hur forskningsfältet kring konkreta material ser ut, dels att undersöka vilka utmaningar användandet av konkreta material medför. Konkreta material är fysiska (ej digitala) material som går att manipulera i syfte att stödja inlärningen av olika matematiska begrepp. Forskningsfältet har sammanställts genom en systematisk litteraturstudie. Resultatet visar att ett flertal kategorier inom forskningen kan urskiljas, där en kategori specifikt lyfter hur gynnsam användningen av konkreta material är. Resultatet visar också att det finns många utmaningar som läraren måste ta hänsyn till för att användandet av konkreta material ska bli meningsfullt. Diskussionen lyfter att ett flertal av artiklarna skulle gynnas av ett kritiskt perspektiv, samt att fler empiriska studier med ett kritiskt förhållningssätt inom området skulle behövas. / There is a wide variety of aids that exist to support mathematics teaching. One category of these aids can be referred to as manipulatives. The purpose of this study is partly to examine what the research field around manipulatives looks like, and partly to examine what challenges the use of manipulatives entails. Manipulatives are physical (not digital) materials that can be manipulated in order to support the learning of various mathematical concepts. Through a systematic literature study, the research field has been compiled. The result shows that a number of categories can be distinguished within the research, where one category specifically highlights how favorable the use of manipulatives is. The results also show that there are many challenges that teachers must take into account in order to use manipulatives in a meaningful way. The discussion highlights that several of the articles would benefit from a critical perspective, and that more empirical studies with a critical approach in the field would be needed.

The problem of this study was to determine, if possible, whether any significant difference in achievement existed when eighth-grade social studies were taught by two distinct methods, namely, the traditional and the progressive.