The aim of this qualitative case study was to investigate the process of the enactment of a project-based learning method in an Advanced Placement American Government and Politics course and the effects of contextual factors, the beliefs of the teacher, and environmental factors had on the planning and implementation of PBL-aligned tasks. This study also investigates the experiences and perceptions of students in an Advanced Placement American Government and Politics course that enacted project-based learning. The study was conducted to add to the literature on project-based learning. Research on the steps a teacher takes to enact project-based learning can enhance understanding of the method and provide an increased understanding of implementation. This was a qualitative case study. The research was gathered using narrative inquiry, examination of documents, and observations to investigate teacher enactment of a project-based learning task. Semi-structured video-elicitation interviews, document analysis, and observations were conducted to investigate the experiences and perceptions of students who used project-based learning tasks in an Advanced Placement American Government and Politics class. The research of a teacher enacting project-based learning resulted in the identification of teacher’s beliefs as the foundational element for constructing pedagogy. Through the enactment of project-based learning, three themes emerged: the need for communication, alignment of tasks to key concepts, and flexibility. The perceptions of students in an Advanced Placement American Government and Politics course confirmed the importance of student choice, the value of collaborative and social learning experiences, and the desire to discuss controversial issues.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / Frederick Burrack / One of the most important roles of a conductor is to prepare an ensemble to perform, not only accurately but expressively, utilizing physical gestures and facial expressions. For many music students, the development of physical gestures that elicit expressive performance are typically introduced in a beginning undergraduate conducting course. This is important in establishing a framework for understanding the technical aspects of conducting, considering that many beginning student conductors lack a basic comprehension of conducting fundamentals. However, the interpretative and expressive principles of conducting are equally important as basic technique and are often more difficult to teach to undergraduate students. There is an overwhelming amount of gestural skill that should be experienced and explored by a beginning undergraduate conductor. Despite a students’ best efforts in the classroom and in the practice room, expressive conducting skills that represent internal musical intentions remain a primary challenge with novice conducting students. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of a beginning undergraduate conductor as they learned to conduct and develop their considerations and skills of conducting to elicit expression. Through case study, exploring the experiences of an undergraduate music student enrolled in a beginning conducting course from a Midwestern university exposed valuable information that could become helpful when designing instruction. The findings addressed the research questions of the study and revealed additional aspects of the learning experience from the perspective of the participant. Through reflection, navigation of self, guided video elicitation, discussion of expressive conducting, and acknowledgement of prior musical expectations and intent, the participant discovered the differences between their perceived expressive gestures and the realization of an audible response from an ensemble.

Given the importance of emotional self-regulation to a child’s ability to develop social competence and prosocial behavior, and the significant role early childhood teachers play in supporting young children’s emotional self-regulation, it is important to explore the concept from the perspective of teachers, or from the socio-cultural context through which they (i.e., teachers) make sense of the world. This study used an exploratory case study methodology to explore the understandings of emotional self-regulation among three Head Start teachers working with varying socio-cultural contexts and to identify the socio-cultural perspectives that influenced their ability to effectively apply their understandings. Findings indicate that while the participants’ definitions of emotional self- regulation were aligned with those that are commonly used in the field, it was their implementation of strategies that diverged, reflecting the influence of learning goals and varying socio-cultural contexts.

This qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of three Kuwaiti pre-service teachers with guided reflection and the extent to which video technology facilitates reflection. The data sources were semi-structured and video-elicited interviews, field notes, and researcher reflective journals. The study was guided by two research questions: In what ways does video elicitation facilitate Kuwaiti pre-service teachers’ reflections? What do Kuwaiti pre-service teachers reflect about? I used Rogoff’s Sociocultural Theory (2003; 1995) as my conceptual lens for this study which stresses the importance of cultural contexts in all areas of education. I developed a concept I call “third-eye” thinking to define a multifaceted approach to education and reflection. I also developed a concept I call “cultural spheres of influence” to describe the multitude of cultural influences that shape individuals and groups in unique ways. This study also depended on guided reflection to complement the process of video elicitation. The findings of my study indicated that video elicitation provided concrete material as a basis for reflection. My findings showed that Kuwaiti early childhood preservice teachers reflected on various topics including: teaching tools and materials, strategies and techniques, everyday problems and challenges, classroom dynamics and management, and evaluators and the evaluation process. This research contributes to the existing body of literature by giving reflection a new culturally-rooted definition based on its application by Kuwaiti pre-service teachers and through a careful consideration of the cultural spheres of influences that shaped who the participants were and what they brought to the reflective process.

À partir d’une analyse quali-quantitative comparée (AQQC-QCA), conçue par Ragin (1987), nous proposons un modèle théorique sur l’émergence et la transmission des pratiques de résistance culturelle des jeunes des quartiers populaires de Medellín (Colombie), Paris (France) et São Paulo (Brésil). Nos résultats indiquent que les pratiques de résistance culturelle hybride de ces jeunes se produisent selon deux scénarios. Le premier (i.e., M[P+A] → R) apparaît lorsque des communautés morales à forte identité collective (i.e., dont les membres ne sont pas nécessairement localisés dans la même zone géographique) se nourrissent des flux d’information de stigmatisation en provenance de la sphère médiatique centrale de la ville (SMCV), et disposent soit de ressources informationnelles offertes par la mise en place de politiques publiques d’intervention populaire, soit d’un accès libre et répandu aux technologies d’information et communication liées à Internet (TICi). Le second (i.e., OA → R), émerge lorsque l’utilisation des TICi par ces jeunes augmente et qu’ils ont la perception que le gouvernement ne s’intéresse pas à eux, à leurs demandes et besoins. Le contexte actuel globalisé d’échanges présentiels/virtuels d’informations a) modifie les réseaux culturels hybrides des communautés morales, et ; b) construit l’expérience urbaine des individus à partir d’espaces publics hybrides. Notre proposition théorique sert, plus largement, à comprendre l’évolution de la « symbole-sphère » des communautés morales périphériques de la ville à l’ère du numérique, ainsi que la nature de l’information développée par Schumann et Logan (2005) et Logan (2012). / Based on a qualitative comparative analysis (QQA), a method developed by (Ragin, 1987), we propose a theoretical model of the emergence of transmission of the cultural resistance practices of the low income youth from popular neighborhoods of Medellín (Colombia), Paris (France) and São Paulo (Brazil). Our results indicate that the cultural resistance practices of this population appears in two different settings. The first one (M[P+A] → R) happens when the moral communities (that is, not necessarily located in the same geographical area) reach a strong cultural identity, feeds on stigmatizing information flows from the central media sphere of the city (SMCV), and have either information resources offered by the set of public policies of popular intervention or widespread and free use of information and communication technologies related to the Internet. The second one (OA → R), occurs when the use of the TICs by this youth wins density following the growing perception that the government is not interested in attending theirs demands and needs. The current context of global exchange of real and virtual information a) modifies the cultural hybrid networks associated with moral communities and b) builds an urban experience of individuals starting with hybrid public spaces. Our theoretical proposition serves a better understanding of the evolution of the symbolosphere of the peripheral moral communities in the cities of the digital age and the nature of the information as developed by Schumann et Logan (2005) et Logan (2012). / A partir de un análisis cualitativo comparado (QCA), método concebido por Ragin (1987), proponemos un modelo teórico sobre la emergencia y la transmisión de las prácticas de resistencia cultural de los jóvenes de barrios populares de Medellín (Colombia), Paris (Francia) et São Paulo (Brasil). Nuestros resultados indican que las prácticas de resistencia cultural híbrida de estos jóvenes se producen en dos escenarios. El primero (M[P+A] → R) aparece cuando las comunidades morales (i.e., no necesariamente ubicadas en la misma zona geográfica) con una fuerte identidad colectiva, se alimentan de flujos de información estigmatizantes procedentes de la esfera mediática central de la ciudad (SMCV), y disponen ya sea de recursos informacionales ofrecidos por la existencia de políticas públicas de intervención popular, o bien de un acceso generalizado y libre a las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación relacionadas con Internet (TICi). El segundo (OA → R) emerge cuando el uso de las TICi por parte de estos jóvenes aumenta y tienen la percepción de que el gobierno no se interesa en ellos, ni en sus demandas ni en sus necesidades. El contexto global actual de intercambio presencial y virtual de información a) modifica las redes culturales híbridas asociadas a las comunidades morales, y; b) construye la experiencia urbana de los individuos a partir de espacios públicos híbridos. Nuestra propuesta teórica sirve, de manera general, para entender la evolución de la “simbolosfera” de las comunidades morales periféricas urbanas en la era digital, así como la naturaleza de la información propuesta por Schumann et Logan (2005) et Logan (2012). / Com base em uma análise qualitativa comparativa ou “Qualitative Comparative Analysis” (QCA), método desenvolvido por (Ragin, 1987), propomos um modelo teórico da emergência e da transmissão de práticas de resistência cultural entre jovens de baixa renda em territórios populares de Medellín (Colômbia), Paris (França) e São Paulo (Brasil). Nossos resultados indicam que as práticas de resistência cultural híbrida desses jovens seguem dois roteiros. O primeiro (M[P+A] → R), quando as comunidades morais (ou seja, não necessariamente localizados na mesma área geográfica) alcançam forte identidade coletiva, alimenta-se de fluxos de informação estigmatizantes oriundos da esfera de mídia central da cidade (SMCV) e dispõem seja de recursos de informação oferecidos pelo conjunto de políticas públicas de intervenção popular, seja de um aceso generalizado e livre as tecnologias de informação e comunicação relacionadas à Internet (TICi). O segundo (OA → R), quando o uso das TICs por esses jovens ganha densidade na medida em que amadurecem a percepção de que o governo não está interessado em atender suas demandas e necessidades. O atual contexto global de troca presencial e virtual de informações a) modifica as redes culturais híbridas associadas a comunidades morais e b) constrói a experiência urbana de indivíduos a partir de espaços públicos híbridos. Nossa proposta teórica serve, mais amplamente, para entender a evolução da “simbolosfera” das comunidades morais periféricas das cidades na era digital e a natureza da informação tal como desenvolvida por Schumann e Logan (2005) e Logan (2012).