Through the development and implementation of modified learning contexts, the current study encouraged undergraduate teacher education students to modify their approaches to learning by reducing their reliance on surface approaches and progressively adopting deeper approaches. This outcome was considered desirable because students who employed deep approaches would exit the course having achieved higher quality learning than those who relied primarily on surface approaches. It was expected that higher quality learning in a preservice teacher education program would also translate into greater self-confidence in the management of teaching tasks, leading to improvements in students� teaching self-efficacy beliefs. Altered learning contexts were developed through the application of action research methodology involving core members of the teaching team. Learning activities were designed with a focus on co-operative small-group problem-based learning, which included multiple subtasks requiring variable outcome presentation modes. Linked individual reflection was encouraged by personal learning journals and learning portfolios. Students also provided critical analyses of their own learning during the completion of tasks, from both individual and group perspectives. Assessment methods included lecturer, peer and self-assessment, depending on the nature of the learning task. Often these were integrated, so that subtasks within larger ones were assessed using combinations of methods. Learning approach theorists (Biggs, 1993a, 1999; Entwistle, 1986, 1998; Prosser & Trigwell, 1999; Ramsden, 1992, 1997) contend that learning outcomes are directly related to the learning approaches used in their development. They further contend that the approach adopted is largely a result of students� intent, which in turn, is influenced by their perception of the learning context. The present study therefore aimed to develop an integrated and pervasive course-based learning context, constructively aligned (after: Biggs, 1993a, 1996), achievable within the normal constraints of a university program, that would influence students� adoption of deep learning approaches. The cognitive processes students used in response to the altered contexts were interpreted in accordance with self-regulatory internal logic (after: Bandura, 1986, 1991b; Zimmerman, 1989, 1998b). Longitudinal quasi-experimental methods with repeated measures on non-equivalent dependent variables were applied to three cohorts of students. Cohort 1 represented the contrast group who followed a traditional program. Cohort 2 was the main treatment group to whom the modified program was presented. Cohort 3 represented a comparison group that was also presented with the modified program over a shorter period. Student data on learning approach, teaching efficacy and academic attributions were gathered from repeated administrations of the Study Process Questionnaire (Biggs, 1987b), Teacher Efficacy Scale (Gibson & Dembo, 1984) and Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale (Lefcourt, 1991). In addition, reflective journals, field observations and transcripts of interviews undertaken at the beginning and conclusion of the course, were used to clarify students� approaches to learning and their responses to program modifications. Analyses of learning approaches adopted by Cohorts 1 and 2 revealed that they both began their course predominantly using surface approaches. While students in Cohort 1 completed the course with approximately equal reliance on deep and surface approaches, students in Cohort 2 reported a predominant use of deep approaches on course completion. The relative impact of the modified learning context on students with differing approaches to learning in this cohort were further explained through qualitative data and cluster analyses. The partial replication of the study with Cohort 3, across the first three semesters of their program, produced similar effects to those obtained with Cohort 2. The analyses conducted with teaching efficacy data indicated a similar pattern of development for all cohorts. Little change in either personal or general dimensions was noted in the first half of the program, followed by strong growth in both, in the latter half. While a relationship between learning approach usage and teaching efficacy was not apparent in Cohort 1, developmental path and mediation analyses indicated that the use of deep learning approaches considerably influenced the development of personal teaching efficacy in Cohort 2. The current research suggests that value lies in the construction of learning environments, in teacher education, that enhance students� adoption of deep learning approaches. The nature of the task is complex, multifaceted and context specific, most likely requiring the development of unique solutions in each environment. Nevertheless, this research demonstrates that such solutions can be developed and applied within the prevailing constraints of pre-existing course structures.

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Since reading difficulties is a growing problem in Society and a problem that hinders Children to take an active part in every day life, I wanted to investigate how the School Library can be an educational resource for students with reading difficulties. Using qualitative interviews, I have gained insight into how three school librarians and two teachers work with Students with reading difficulties at two different Schools.The Respondents feel that they have the Knowledge necessary to work with students with reading difficulties, but Wish they had more Resources in terms of Time and Staff to help Students achieve School Goals even better. There are always new assistive technology for Students with Reading Difficulties, and an important part of the Educational work of the School Library, is to be informed of the Facilities available and how they work. I show, in my Research the importance of cooperation between school libraries and teachers to provide the students with reading difficulties the love of reading and work to promote reading. It is important that the School Librarian is an integral part of the School's Team to take full advantage of every opportunity to help the Reading Impaired Students with Information and finding the right Reading Level. Other important aspects that I see as very important to help the Reading Impaired Students in their Reading Development, is that they are given a lot of time and a Peaceful and Stimulating Environment to read and learn in.

The study of noncovalent interactions between aromatic rings and various functional groups is a very popular topic in current computational chemistry. The research presented in this thesis takes steps to bridge the gap between theoretical prototypes and real-world systems. The non-additive contributions to the interaction energy in stacked aromatic systems are measured by expanding the prototype benzene dimer into trimeric and tetrameric systems. We show that the three- and four-body interaction terms generally do not contribute significantly to the overall interaction energy, and that the two-body terms are essentially the same as in the isolated dimer. The sulfur-pi interaction is then studied by using the hydrogen sufide-benzene dimer as a prototype system for theoretical predictions. We obtain higly-accurate potential energy curves, as well as an interaction energy extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. Energy decomposition analysis using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory shows that the sulfur-pi interaction is primarily electrostatic in nature. These theoretical results are then compared to an analysis of real sulfur-pi contacts found by searching protein structures in the Brookhaven Protein DataBank. We find that the most frequently seen configuration does not correspond to the theoretically predicted equilibrium for sydrogen sulfide-benzene, but instead to a configuration that suggests an alkyl-pi interaction involving the carbon adjacent to the sulfur atom. We believe our findings indicate that environmental effects within proteins are altering the energetics of the sulfur-pi interaction so that other functional groups are preferred for interacting with the aromatic ring.

Personer med autismspektrumtillstånd tillhör gruppen som ökat mest inom insatsen daglig verksamhet. Då insatsen tillkom utformades den främst efter personer med utvecklingsstörning eller med stora fysiska funktionshinder. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur daglig verksamhet är anpassad efter personer med Aspergers syndrom. Utifrån intervjuer med personal på daglig verksamhet visar resultaten på att daglig verksamhet fungerar bra och är anpassad efter individuella behov. Samtidigt visar resultaten på att en utveckling av daglig verksamhet behövs men upplevs svår att genomföra. Slutsatserna är att det kan vara svårt att anpassa en verksamhet efter personer med Aspergers syndrom då de inte alltid beskriver vilka behov de har, att behov kan se väldigt olika ut individer emellan samt att deras förmågor kan ses som både styrkor och svagheter. En slutsats är även att arbetet med målgruppen bör kompletteras med arbete utifrån en samhällsnivå för att en utveckling mot en anpassad verksamhet ska möjliggöras. / People with autism spectrum disorders belong to the group that has increased most within the daycare center. At the introduction, the daycare center was primarily designed for people with intellectual or major physical disabilities. The study's purpose is to examine how daycare center activities are adapted for those with Asperger’s syndrome. Interviews with daycare center staff show that the activities function well and are adapted for individual needs. However, the results also show that a development of the activities is needed but believed difficult. The conclusions are that it seems to be difficult to adapt activities for people with Asperger’s syndrome since they not always describe their needs, that their needs may be very individual, and that their abilities can be seen as both strengths and weaknesses. Another conclusion is that the work with the target group should be complemented with work at a community level, to enable development towards adapted activities.

Darbe atlikta teorinė ugdymo individualizavimo bendrojo lavinimo mokyklose sampratos analizė ir nustatyta, kad ugdymo turinio individualizavimo procesą lemia veiksnių kompleksas: parengta ir galiojanti įstatyminė norminė bazė, reglamentuojanti specialųjį ugdymą, visuomenės nuostatos bei galiojantys stereotipai, konkrečios ugdymo įstaigos kultūrinis ir socialinis kontekstas, specialiųjų ugdymo(si) poreikių įvertinimo, skyrimo ir organizavimo procese dalyvaujančių asmenų požiūris, žinios, gebėjimai ir tokios jų subjektyvios savybės kaip pareigingumas, atsakomybė ir pan. Iškeltos hipotezės: 1. Pedagogai, adaptuodami bendrojo ugdymo programas, susiduria su sunkumais įvertindami vaiko gebėjimus, formuluodami tikslus, turinį ir parinkdami tinkamus metodus. 2. Tikėtina, kad tinkamai struktūruota ir aiški ugdymo turinio adaptavimo strategija gali turėti teigiamos įtakos pedagogų kompetencijai individualizuoti ugdymo turinį specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turintiems mokiniams. Turinio (content) analizės metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas – atskleidus ir įvertinus bendrųjų programų turinio adaptavimo ugdymo praktikoje teigiamus ir neigiamus aspektus, parengti programų adaptavimo strategiją bei įvertinti jos veiksmingumą individualizuojant specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turinčių mokinių ugdymo turinį. Atlikta anksčiau ir naujai rengtų adaptuotų programų lyginamoji analizė. Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo norima nustatyti ir įvertinti naujai parengtos ugdymo adaptavimo strategijos... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In the thesis there was done theoretical analysis of conception of educational individualization at comprehensive school and it was settled that individualization process of educational content is determined by a complex of factors: prepared valid juridical normative base, regulating special training, public provisions, and effectual stereotypes, cultural and social context of a certain educational institution, attitude, knowledge, abilities and such their subjective features as dutifulness, responsibility, etc. of people, who participate in the process of estimation, designation and organization of special training needs. Interposed hypothesis: 1.Pedagogues, adapting programmes of general education, meet difficulties in assessing a child’s abilities, formulating aims, content and choosing appropriate methods. 2. It is believed that a suitably structured and clear educational content adaptation strategy may have positive influence for pedagogues’ competence to individualize educational content for schoolchildren having special educational needs. By the method of content analysis there was done a research, the aim of which was after having opened and estimated positive and negative aspects of content adaptation of general programmes in educational practice, to prepare strategy of program adaptation and estimate its effectiveness individualizing educational content for the schoolchildren having special educational needs. There was done a comparative analysis of earlier and... [to full text]

Adapted physical activity has great influence on disabled people’s life quality. Participating in such activities the disabled become more integrated than those who don’t take part in such activities. Perception of physical competence of disabled people helps us improve social integration of those people. This survey should show the link between applied physical activity and the situation how disabled understands their physical competence. Definite and systematic physical activity has positive influence on the perception of the disabled physical competence. The aim of the survey is to define the influence of adapted physical activity on the disabled people’s perception about their physical competence. The objectives: 1. Define the real physical competence of the disabled; 2. Define the perception of physical competence; 3. Evaluate the influence of adapted physical activity on the perception of physical competence of the disabled. The survey was carried out from November, 2005 to April, 2006 in Siauliai Day Care and Activity Centre “Goda”. 30 clients from this institution took part in the experiment. In November, 2005 estimations according to the modified test for mentally handicapped individuals by Ulrich and Yun were carried out in order to define physical competence and how the mentally handicapped perceive it. During the survey the experimental group clients had some educational activity twice a week. The aim of the adapted physical activity was to increase... [to full text]

Darbo tikslas – Nustatyti taikomosios fizinės veiklos poveikį autistų savarankiškumo įgūdžių ugdymui. Hipotezė – Autistiškų vaikų savarankiškumo įgūdžių pagerėjimas po taikomosios fizinės veiklos programos taikymo. Darbo objektas – Autistiškų vaikų savarankiškumo įgūdžiai. Tyrimo problema: Taikomoji fizinė veikla – ugdymo metodas, kurio poveikis autizmo sutrikimą turintiems vaikams, nepakankamai tiriamas ir aptariamas, nors teigiama, kad fizinė veikla autistams būtina lygiai taip pat kaip ir komunikavimo, bendravimo ugdymas, elgesio modifikavimas ir kt. Šiuo metu mes neturime pakankamai atliktų tyrimų ir informacijos, apie autizmo sutrikimą turinčių vaikų, fizinės veiklos įpročius ir unikalius poreikius, fizinei veiklai kylančius trukdžius ir skatinimo veiksnius, kuriai veiklai jie teikia pirmenybę ir būtent kokia fizinė veikla, geriausiai ugdo tokių vaikų funkcinius gebėjimus. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti autistų savarankiškumo įgūdžių pasireiškimo lygmenį, atsižvelgiant į amžiaus grupes. 2. Nustatyti ir palyginti, autistų savarankiškumo įgūdžių raidos ypatumus ir pokytį, tarp vertinimų, atsižvelgiant į amžiaus grupes. 3. Nustatyti taikomosios fizinės veiklos poveikį autistų savarankiškumo įgūdžių ugdymui. Atlikus tyrimą, galima daryti tokias išvadas: 1. Įvertinus, autistų savarankiškumo įgūdžius, atsižvelgiant į amžiaus grupes nustatyta, kad blogais savarankiškumo lygmens rodikliais pasižymėjo 5 – 7 metų vaikai autistai, kai tuo tarpu 4 metų ir jaunesni, bei 8 metų ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Work goal – determine the impact of the adapted physical activities onto the training of the autists' skills. Hypothesis – improvement of autistic children's self-sufficiency skills after application of adapted physical activity programme. Work object – Autistic children's self-sufficiency skills. Research problem: Adapted physical activities - training method whose impact onto children with autism disorder has not been sufficiently researched and discussed, though it is claimed that physical activities to autists are equally mandatory as training of communication and interaction, behaviour modification and etc. Currently, we do not have sufficient researches made and information collected about the physical activity skills of the children with autism disorder and their unique needs, barriers arising for physical activities and promotion factors, which activities they prefer and which physical exercises mostly train such children's functional abilities. Research tasks: 1. Evaluate the level of demonstration for the autists' self-sufficiency skills referring to their age groups. 2. Determine and compare the development peculiarities of the autists' self-sufficiency skills and an alteration among assessments referring to the age groups. 3. Determine the impact of the adapted physical activities onto the training of the autists' selfsufficiency skills. After the research such conclusions may be made: 1. After assessing the autists' self-sufficiency skills referring to the age... [to full text]

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The aim of this study is to explore criteria characterizing music teacher’s strategies when trying to adapt their teaching to individual students. The interaction of three music teachers with their students was explored in case studies in different parts of Sweden (a pre-study, and the main study consisting of two parallel studies). The research interest especially concerns teaching class ensemble addressing teenagers in the tuition provided under the curriculum of Swedish secondary and upper secondary school.  This study adopts the perspective of cultural psychology according to which learning is understood as being relational, taking place in a cultural context, depending on available cultural resources and affected by it. Cultural tools are considered mediators of meaning and crucial for learning. Of special interest to the present study are the ways in which teachers distribute knowledge to their students. Many-sided data were collected in all case studies: series of lessons were observed and video-documented; preliminary results were followed up in semi-structured interviews with the teachers, respectively. The results show similarities in the use of general strategies; e.g. peer-teaching and -learning in the classroom and flexibility in using and developing cultural tools. Results also show three diverging practices; rehearsal-room practice, supervisor-practice and ensemble-leading-practice. The results are discussed from a societal perspective, in light of Swedish School history. Issues concerning the government of the School and equivalence are addressed.  An unexpected result is that the concept “individually adapted ensemble teaching” may be understood very differently among music teachers actively involved in teachers’ education. The need for development of professional concepts is further underlined by the findings that teachers develop new cultural tools within different practices. This is discussed related to the framing of the central curricula.