Reports and consultative documents published at national level since about 1980 have indicated that British Industry must look to modern technology and also educate and train its workers on a 'broad base', with an 'integrated' approach. Traditionally, and still very much the mode of operation, teaching has been confined within subject boundaries. A research group was established by Professor Bajpai consisting of the author, Mr Rod Bond (Burleigh Community College, Loughborough) and a few others working overseas to investigate a teaching strategy based on an interrelated approach to teaching mathematics. Measurement was chosen as the first topic of investigation using this approach which then formed the basis for further research undertaken by the two research workers of the group whose work is reported in the form of two theses. This thesis aims to show that mathematics is naturally related to science and technology in industrial practice and that when taught in an interrelated way it would be more interesting and have more relevance to real applications in technology-based employment at craft and technician levels. To help establish the case experiments carried out by the author are referred to; these include a few case studies, a questionnaire survey and results analysed from more than five hundred basic mathematics tests. The various kinds of mathematics taught in further education are described and compared with mathematics in a practical context as seen from a case study within an engineering training school. Next a survey of mathematics at work shows that, like the training school, there is a task associated with the mathematics which is also related to science or technology or both. Another case study in the pharmaceutical industry lends further support to the way mathematics is used in industry. Much of the mathematics also seems to be basic and used in association with measurement and a particular task. It was decided by the research group that a tape/slide programme on measurement for students and educators should be developed by the author and tested in different situations. Teaching modules on relevant mathematical topics based on the interrelated approach were constructed for students with strong support from industry in the form of materials and advice. Testing of these modules, in their original and revised forms after feedback, is described. These trials were also carried out in other establishments. Modules based upon the interrelated approach developed by the author formed a basis for promoting the underlying philosophy behind this approach. These were presented to educators in in-service training and staff development programmes in the north western region of the UK with success. Observations and conclusions drawn clearly indicate that this type of method makes mathematics more interesting and relevant for students of different abilities and backgrounds. Finally pointers are given in the thesis as to the wider use and promotion of this approach for teaching mathematics in further education.

Coteaching is a teaching strategy that requires 2-teachers to collaborate in developing a course syllabus, selecting materials, and assessing students' work. The research problem, addressed in this study, was an appeal to educate the diverse adult population whose needs could not be addressed through traditional instructions at Rex College. Because of a high number of enrolled adult students, coteaching at Rex College was used to improve student success for academically underprepared students in a Set for Success program. The purpose of this study was to examine the coteaching strategies used at Rex College so that teaching guides and/or professional training development workshops could be implemented to provide consistency in the program. The conceptual framework of this study was based on the constructivist theory that knowledge is constructed and internalized by an individual in a social setting. The research question for the qualitative study was designed to focus on the experiences of the faculty members at Rex College. A purposeful sampling method was used, and 15 participants, who provided first-hand information, were selected for interviews and field observations. The interview data was analyzed by creating a matrix grid to code key words or phrases from each participant's responses and linked to the interview questions. The findings were interpreted and used as themes for the narrative. The results indicated the effectiveness in teacher collaboration and planning as compared to traditional classroom approach. A positive social change may result as (a) students demonstrate success in completing studies and develop job skills; (b) instructors find collegiality in their relationship and develop new teaching skills; and (c) attrition is decreased at Rex College.

本研究旨在了解新竹市協同教學中、外籍英語教師之信念及其對實踐影響。 比較中、外籍老師們的信念及查看他們的信念是否顯現在教室行為中。 本研究採用質性研究方法選擇了一對有一年協同教學經驗的中、外籍英語教師在某新竹國小任教。在這個案研究中，資料收集有兩個月的時間，主要來源為訪談、信念問卷、觀察、文件分析。資料分析後涵蓋比較中、外師的以下信念: (1) 中、外籍教師優勢與劣勢; (2) 協同教學; (3) 英語; (4) 語言學習及學習者; (5) 句型在英文教學中的角色。 本研究以根據以上之五個議題討論結果，進一步提供相關建議，作為教育學者們及中、外籍教師們做參考。 / The purpose of this study is to investigate the beliefs and practices of team teaching native English speaking teachers (NESTs) and non-native English speaking teachers (non-NESTs) in Hsin Chu City. The teachers’ beliefs are compared and contrasted, and checked to see if they are manifested in the classroom practices. This study adopted a qualitative research method and selects a pair of NEST and non-NEST who have a year of team teaching experience in an Elementary school in Hsin Chu city. In this case study, the data collection lasted for two months, and the instruments for collecting data included interviews, beliefs inventories, classroom observations, and document analysis. The data is analyzed to present the teachers beliefs in the following areas: (1) the advantages and disadvantages of being native and non-native English teachers, (2) team teaching (3) the English language (4) language learning and learners (5) the role of sentence structures in English language teaching. Finally, pedagogical implications and suggestions derived from previous discussions are presented mainly for policy makers and NESTs and non-NESTs.

O foco deste trabalho é a realização de estágio supervisionado em grupos na formação inicial de professores. A pesquisa acompanhou quatro equipes, formadas por dois a quatro estagiários, em duas situações: nas aulas da disciplina Metodologia do Ensino de Inglês, do curso de Licenciatura da Faculdade de Educação da USP, e nas aulas no estágio supervisionado dessas equipes nos minicursos de inglês, nessa mesma instituição. Os dados apresentados aqui foram coletados em 2006 por meio do contato prolongado com os sujeitos da pesquisa, utilizando instrumentos tais como observações de aulas, conversas informais, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e questionários, dentre outros. Buscou-se assim delinear uma descrição qualitativa e detalhada dos sujeitos e de sua experiência de estágio, tendo como interesse principal aspectos relacionados ao próprio trabalho em grupo. Foram observadas quatro principais dimensões do estágio em equipe. A primeira dizia respeito à escolha dos parceiros para formar o grupo. O contato prévio com os colegas e também a conveniência de horários foram identificados como sendo os principais fatores considerados nessa decisão. O segundo aspecto observado na pesquisa foi o da organização das equipes para a preparação das aulas. Como tal atividade não era prevista na grade curricular, devendo ser realizada pelos estagiários em suas horas livres, eles geralmente articulavam a preparação dos materiais a distância, por telefone e e-mail. A terceira característica do trabalho em grupo nos minicursos estava relacionada ao ensino em equipe nas aulas propriamente ditas. Nessa situação, a ansiedade ao ser observado pelos pares foi notada, assim como a dinâmica dos grupos no que se refere à divisão de papéis em sala de aula. A última dimensão do trabalho em grupo analisada na pesquisa foi a existência de líderes informais nas equipes. Mostrou-se que a emergência de líderes não poderia ser explicada por apenas uma única motivação, como maior experiência profissional ou maior conhecimento do conteúdo, estando, em vez disso, inter-relacionada com características do líder propriamente dito, dos demais integrantes do grupo e do contexto como um todo. / The focus of this study is group work in the teaching practicum in initial teacher education. The research observed four groups, made up of two to four student-teachers, in two situations: during classes in the discipline English Teaching Methodology, which is part of the Teaching License course of FEUSP (School of Education of the University of São Paulo), and during the practicum classes of these groups in the English minicourses, in that same institution. The data presented here were collected in 2006 by means of extended contact with the research subjects, using tools such as class observations, informal conversations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, among others. The aim was to make a qualitative and detailed description of the subjects and their experience in the teaching practicum, the main interest lying on aspects related to group work. Four main dimensions of group work were observed in the practicum. The first was related to the choice of partners to form a group. It was observed that previous contact with colleagues and also schedule constraints were the main factors taken into account in this decision. The second aspect observed in the research was the organization of the teams to prepare classes. The student-teachers had to use their free time for this activity, since it was not included in the regular class timetable. For this reason, they usually arranged the preparation of materials by phone or e-mail. The third characteristic of group work in the minicourses was connected to team teaching in the classrooms. In this situation, feelings of anxiety for being observed by one\'s peers were detected and the group dynamics regarding the alternation of roles in the classroom were also analyzed. The last dimension of group work investigated in the research was the existence of informal leaders in the teams. It was shown that the emergence of leaders could not be explained by a single motivation (such as greater professional experience or greater knowledge of the content); instead, it was interrelated with characteristics of the leaders themselves, of the other group members and of the context as a whole.

O foco deste trabalho é a realização de estágio supervisionado em grupos na formação inicial de professores. A pesquisa acompanhou quatro equipes, formadas por dois a quatro estagiários, em duas situações: nas aulas da disciplina Metodologia do Ensino de Inglês, do curso de Licenciatura da Faculdade de Educação da USP, e nas aulas no estágio supervisionado dessas equipes nos minicursos de inglês, nessa mesma instituição. Os dados apresentados aqui foram coletados em 2006 por meio do contato prolongado com os sujeitos da pesquisa, utilizando instrumentos tais como observações de aulas, conversas informais, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e questionários, dentre outros. Buscou-se assim delinear uma descrição qualitativa e detalhada dos sujeitos e de sua experiência de estágio, tendo como interesse principal aspectos relacionados ao próprio trabalho em grupo. Foram observadas quatro principais dimensões do estágio em equipe. A primeira dizia respeito à escolha dos parceiros para formar o grupo. O contato prévio com os colegas e também a conveniência de horários foram identificados como sendo os principais fatores considerados nessa decisão. O segundo aspecto observado na pesquisa foi o da organização das equipes para a preparação das aulas. Como tal atividade não era prevista na grade curricular, devendo ser realizada pelos estagiários em suas horas livres, eles geralmente articulavam a preparação dos materiais a distância, por telefone e e-mail. A terceira característica do trabalho em grupo nos minicursos estava relacionada ao ensino em equipe nas aulas propriamente ditas. Nessa situação, a ansiedade ao ser observado pelos pares foi notada, assim como a dinâmica dos grupos no que se refere à divisão de papéis em sala de aula. A última dimensão do trabalho em grupo analisada na pesquisa foi a existência de líderes informais nas equipes. Mostrou-se que a emergência de líderes não poderia ser explicada por apenas uma única motivação, como maior experiência profissional ou maior conhecimento do conteúdo, estando, em vez disso, inter-relacionada com características do líder propriamente dito, dos demais integrantes do grupo e do contexto como um todo. / The focus of this study is group work in the teaching practicum in initial teacher education. The research observed four groups, made up of two to four student-teachers, in two situations: during classes in the discipline English Teaching Methodology, which is part of the Teaching License course of FEUSP (School of Education of the University of São Paulo), and during the practicum classes of these groups in the English minicourses, in that same institution. The data presented here were collected in 2006 by means of extended contact with the research subjects, using tools such as class observations, informal conversations, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires, among others. The aim was to make a qualitative and detailed description of the subjects and their experience in the teaching practicum, the main interest lying on aspects related to group work. Four main dimensions of group work were observed in the practicum. The first was related to the choice of partners to form a group. It was observed that previous contact with colleagues and also schedule constraints were the main factors taken into account in this decision. The second aspect observed in the research was the organization of the teams to prepare classes. The student-teachers had to use their free time for this activity, since it was not included in the regular class timetable. For this reason, they usually arranged the preparation of materials by phone or e-mail. The third characteristic of group work in the minicourses was connected to team teaching in the classrooms. In this situation, feelings of anxiety for being observed by one\'s peers were detected and the group dynamics regarding the alternation of roles in the classroom were also analyzed. The last dimension of group work investigated in the research was the existence of informal leaders in the teams. It was shown that the emergence of leaders could not be explained by a single motivation (such as greater professional experience or greater knowledge of the content); instead, it was interrelated with characteristics of the leaders themselves, of the other group members and of the context as a whole.

This collective case study examined the factors affecting the collaborative relationship between teachers and early childhood educators (ECEs) teaching together in elementary schools as Early Learning Teams in the first year of implementation of full-time kindergarten in Ontario. There are six major adjustments required concurrently by the Ontario government’s new policy in all kindergarten classrooms: team-teaching (sharing instruction, not just classroom management); supporting ECEs as new staff; changing from theme-based to inquiry-based; balancing the School District’s literacy goals with provincial play-based curriculum; double the instructional time, and the increased number of children in the classroom (up from 19 to 24-30). Two of the four classrooms studied in a rural Ontario school district were full-day, every day kindergartens (FDK) for 4 and 5 year olds and the other two were alternate full-days. Data were collected through classroom observations and interviews with principals, kindergarten teachers and ECEs. Case study theory guided the collection and analysis of data with open coding of transcripts, active code notes and memos to help answer the question of how to best implement FDK programs in Ontario. Results indicated that the FDK Team relationship itself enabled and constrained classroom instructional strategies, which would in turn have an impact on student outcomes. Collaborative practice involved a process that was affected by both internal factors (such as teacher foreknowledge of ECE skills), and thirteen external factors which arose from government and school district mandates, as well as practices of the school principal. Examples are: planning time, pay differential, hiring practices and adjusting to the new curriculum at the same time as the team adjusts to team teaching. The collaboration of more than 9,500 teacher and ECE teams is key to the success of Ontario’s new full-time early learning program. The education sector needs to adopt the long-established business practice of supporting team development through recognizing progressive teaming stages, such as those identified by Tuckman (1965). Recommendations are made for principals, school districts offices, government policy, FDK teachers, ECEs, and colleges that provide ECE training. A mnemonic for the four attributes evident in high-functioning collaborative integrated teaching teams (RISE) is proposed.

This collective case study examined the factors affecting the collaborative relationship between teachers and early childhood educators (ECEs) teaching together in elementary schools as Early Learning Teams in the first year of implementation of full-time kindergarten in Ontario. There are six major adjustments required concurrently by the Ontario government’s new policy in all kindergarten classrooms: team-teaching (sharing instruction, not just classroom management); supporting ECEs as new staff; changing from theme-based to inquiry-based; balancing the School District’s literacy goals with provincial play-based curriculum; double the instructional time, and the increased number of children in the classroom (up from 19 to 24-30). Two of the four classrooms studied in a rural Ontario school district were full-day, every day kindergartens (FDK) for 4 and 5 year olds and the other two were alternate full-days. Data were collected through classroom observations and interviews with principals, kindergarten teachers and ECEs. Case study theory guided the collection and analysis of data with open coding of transcripts, active code notes and memos to help answer the question of how to best implement FDK programs in Ontario. Results indicated that the FDK Team relationship itself enabled and constrained classroom instructional strategies, which would in turn have an impact on student outcomes. Collaborative practice involved a process that was affected by both internal factors (such as teacher foreknowledge of ECE skills), and thirteen external factors which arose from government and school district mandates, as well as practices of the school principal. Examples are: planning time, pay differential, hiring practices and adjusting to the new curriculum at the same time as the team adjusts to team teaching. The collaboration of more than 9,500 teacher and ECE teams is key to the success of Ontario’s new full-time early learning program. The education sector needs to adopt the long-established business practice of supporting team development through recognizing progressive teaming stages, such as those identified by Tuckman (1965). Recommendations are made for principals, school districts offices, government policy, FDK teachers, ECEs, and colleges that provide ECE training. A mnemonic for the four attributes evident in high-functioning collaborative integrated teaching teams (RISE) is proposed.

The dissertation explores teacher professional development as a strategy for improving school performance. The theoretical part defines school quality, teacher quality, and instruction quality. It further talks about teacher professional development, specifically strategies that involve teacher's reflective practices and teacher collaboration. The practical part of the dissertation examines the characteristics and impact of a five year support model of school based teacher professional development. The process was closely observed through case studies of four subjects in a particular school. The findings reveal that the implemented model contributed to the changes in the principal's leadership style, school culture and climate the most. KEYWORDS Teacher professional development, school quality, teacher quality, instruction quality, teacher collaboration, teacher coach, team teaching.

No description available.

The thesis is divided in two parts. The first theoretical part defines the term cooperation and deals with the question of cooperation and individualism in school environment. It also reflects the documents where cooperation is explicitly mentioned. It shows the influence of school culture and climate on the development of cooperation, and it studies the climate of teacher-staff, and the role of the leadership in teachers' cooperation. The thesis further tries to map the reasons for refusing cooperation and define the environment that would encourage and support cooperation among teachers. At the same time, it identifies obstacles that prevent cooperation. It is aimed at mapping the areas and forms of cooperation used in school systems and various levels in which the teachers are wiling to cooperate. The practical part contains an exploratory study aimed at discovering the actual situation in teachers' cooperation in Primary/Lower Secondary Schools in the capital city Prague and a good practice examples that present options of cooperation among teachers in a Primary and Lower Secondary School in Prague 2.