Despite the extensive research into teachers’ lives in recent decades, relatively little of it has focused on the experiences of motivated teachers. Past research has tended to focus upon the issue of retention in a profession that is dominated by regulation and performance measures. This thesis offers an original contribution to the field by exploring the experiences of established teachers who consider themselves to be motivated and who successfully navigate the tensions between the current education landscape and their personal values about teaching. The research provides insights into the complex context within which teachers work and the ways in which they manage this complexity. The methodology is grounded in the principles of adaptive theory which enables the analysis of subjective experience alongside analysis of pre-existing theories to reveal links between teachers’ actions and the structures and systems which affect them. As such, the research offers a new lens through which to consider the complex nature of teachers’ professional lives. The research consists of in-depth interviews with six teachers over the course of a year. The research findings reveal how successful teachers are able to adapt behaviours to negotiate tensions and take control of their own practice. The teachers in this study demonstrate curiosity and critical awareness of the issues in education that go beyond their daily practice. They have a deep understanding of their own values and the factors that influence them and are therefore able to position themselves within the profession and the organisation within which they work. This enables them to take positive action rather than merely cope with the challenges they face. The findings have implications for teacher training and development programmes and the ways in which they enable teachers to navigate and shape their own professional lives.

Abstract Because of the rapid development of mobile communications, the bandwidth efficiency and the communication quality have become interesting issues for researchers. Multipath fading and multiple-access interference (MAI) are the main barriers of performance improvement. Fortunately, spread spectrum techniques have an inherent ability of anti-interference and anti-multipath. Thus, the commercialized CDMA systems are developed on the basis of spread spectrum techniques. Recently, smart antennas using adaptive array techniques have been applied in CDMA communications. There are two different approaches to realize smart antenna systems: one is named as ¡¥switching-beam arrays¡¦; the other is called ¡¥tracking-beam arrays¡¦. Switching-beam arrays use a number of fixed beams at an antenna site. The mobiles select the beam that offers the best signal enhancement and interference reduction. On the other hand, tracking-beam arrays can adjust their pattern to track desired signals, reduce interference, and collect correlated multipath power. In this thesis, several smart antenna systems based on tracking-beam arrays in DS-CDMA systems are developed. The proposed smart antennas comprise two main structures, i.e., the direction-of-arrival (DOA) tracking and the dynamic beamforming. The improved recursively updated method and the Kalman filter algorithm are employed to track the mobiles¡¦ DOAs. By referring to the estimated DOA, the minimum- variance-distortionless-response (MVDR) dynamic beamformer produces a main beam to target on a certain mobile and simultaneously, interferences from other mobiles are suppressed. Therefore, the MAI in DS-CDMA systems can be suppressed properly at all times. Besides, the inherent processing gain in DS-CDMA systems is utilized to break through the limit that the number of mobiles must be smaller than that of sensors. The proposed smart antennas work properly even the number of mobiles exceeds that of sensor. Simulation results show that the advantages of the proposed technique over the conventional tracking-beam arrays.

This thesis investigates the experiences of Children’s Centre leaders of the National Professional Qualification in Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL) who find themselves in a newly developed role and lacking a professional identity. Its aim is to explore the developing professional identities of NPQICL participants from their own perspectives, focusing on ways in which their professional identities are developing and how, correspondingly, these might be better supported on the NPQICL. Clarification of core ideas embedded in these aims theoretically and conceptually reveals that professions are publicly shaped in line with established traditions, and therefore often prescribed. Processes of professional development are correspondingly seen as largely publicly organised processes of professional learning and/or acculturation. However, a key area for research is the interface between publicly shaped expectations of those learning to be professionals and the particular needs and expectations of course participants themselves especially with regard to how they see themselves as Children’s Centre leaders. Because this area is fluid, uncertain and shaped partly by professionals themselves it is hard to investigate. A flexible Adaptive Theory research design is selected along with an array of conceptual tools (orienting concepts and a conceptual cluster) which can be modified, discarded or replaced according to the demands of data collected. Using a relatively open-ended data collection device also allows a wide range of potentially revealing data to be ‘storied’ for analysis in order to preserve their individualised nature. Although a process of subjective self-conceptualisation in role can be used to explain how NPQICL participants adapt to expectations from the wider professional community and social context, there is a need to explain how public influences and individual co-constructions of professional identity shaped by professionals themselves are synthesised in individual responses to fluid, uncertain professional identities. The research aims are met by modelling the process of developing a professional identity on the NPQICL as an ‘autobiography’. This conceptual device brings together public and individual influences into a synthesis and allows insight into the experiences of individuals. It explains some of the success of the NPQICL course and some of its dynamics including how the development of Children’s Centre leaders’ identities can be supported in a professional learning programme.

The experiences of dyslexic adults in education as well as the 'caring professions' of nursing, teaching and social work continue to be fertile ground for academic study. This study extends the range of current academic knowledge of dyslexia in the workplace by exploring the experiences of dyslexic police officers across England and Wales. The context is the extension of disability-related equality legislation to the police service in 2004. The overarching aim of the study is to examine the experiences and perceptions of dyslexic police officers who are 'on-the-streets' and not in the classroom environment. This research is underpinned by the principles of the social model of disability (Oliver 1990) and in it, dyslexia is understood not as a stand-alone difference but rather as an aspect of neurodiversity (Cooper 2009) A qualitative and exploratory research strategy was adopted. Data was collected by way of self-completed questionnaires and from face-to-face semi-structured interviews with twenty-five serving or recently resigned dyslexic police officers from ten police services from across England and Wales. The data was analysed using Layder's theory of domains and his adaptive theory (Layder 2005 & 2013). This study identified that the overwhelming majority of dyslexic police officers experienced a broad range of attitudinal, procedural and police 'barriers' to their full integration into the police organisation. All of the participants in this study had disclosed to their employing police service that they were dyslexic. Participant understanding of dyslexia and disability was deeply rooted within the medical model rather than the social model. The study identified substantial evidence of bullying, and discrimination was identified across the broad range of police services as well as significant failings in the provision of workplace assessments by Job Centre staff. Despite this treatment very few participants complained or sought redress. The dominance of the medical model of disability in wider society, together with negative aspects of police 'occupational' culture, were identified as key factors in the participants' decision making processes. This research concludes that institutional disablism in terms of dyslexia is widespread across some police services in England and Wales despite the extension of the disability discrimination legislation to the police service. The research concludes with some recommendations for policy and practice.

Delivered through the medium of a Community of Philosophical Inquiry, this thesis outlines the experience of engaging prisoners in philosophical conversation, thereby articulat-ing the relevance of this type of education for those in long-term confinement. The research, which took place in two prisons, explores the role of prison education, community dialogue and active philosophising in encouraging personal development. With similar populations but contrasting characters, HMPs Grendon and Full Sutton provided the backdrop to grounded, ethnographically-led research. The research design reflects the exploratory nature of the approach. Derek Layder’s adaptive theory has provided a methodological framework, whilst the theoretical framework draws on desistance literature, prison sociology, and philosophical pedagogy to enhance and develop understanding of the emergent themes. However, as a criminological piece of research, it sits within the criminological, and more specifically, prison sociological paradigm. The thesis culminates in a discussion of personal development that articulates the role of education in developing growth identities among prisoner-participants. The research de-scribes the role of philosophical dialogue in developing trust and relationships between and among the participants; the relevance of this type of education to prisoners’ psychological wellbeing; and the significance of the subject-matter to participants’ perspectives. The thesis argues that prison promotes the formation of a hyper-masculine ‘survival’ identity. It goes on to argue that education, and more specifically philosophy education, can play a role in culti-vating growth identities that encourage personal exploration, self-reflection, and development of new interests and skills among prisoners.

Orientador: Carlos Roberto Minussi / Resumo: Esta pesquisa será dedicada ao desenvolvimento de uma metodologia com vistas à compreensão e ao exame do comportamento do hábito de consumo de eletricidade residencial, via análise de similaridade, baseado no uso de uma rede neural da família ART (Adaptive Resonance Theory). Trata-se de uma rede neural composta por dois módulos ART-Fuzzy, cujo treinamento é realizado de modo não supervisionado. No primeiro módulo, serão usadas, como entrada, as informações que caracterizam os hábitos de consumo e a situação socioeconômica. A saída do primeiro módulo junto com os dados referentes aos equipamentos eletroeletrônicos da residência compõem a entrada do segundo módulo que, finalmente, produz informações, na saída, relativas ao diagnóstico pretendido, ou seja, a formação de agrupamentos similares (clusters). Todo o processamento da rede neural modular é realizado com dados binários, os quais são gerados a partir de informações quantitativas e qualitativas. As redes neurais da família ART são estáveis e plásticas. A estabilidade refere-se à garantia de sempre produzir soluções, ou seja, não se observa problemas relativos à má convergência. A plasticidade é uma característica que possibilita a execução do treinamento de forma contínua sem destruir o conhecimento adquirido previamente. É um recurso pouco observado nas demais redes neurais disponíveis na literatura especializada. Com essas propriedades (estabilidade e plasticidade), combinada com o processamento de dados essencialmente ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Submitted by Daniela Sbizera Justo null (sbizera@yahoo.com) on 2016-09-20T14:14:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese-Daniela Sbizera Justo.pdf: 5782774 bytes, checksum: 483d11758263a9d6c3a3d4c89fe66919 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-09-22T19:44:56Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 justo_ds_dr_ilha.pdf: 5782774 bytes, checksum: 483d11758263a9d6c3a3d4c89fe66919 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-22T19:44:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 justo_ds_dr_ilha.pdf: 5782774 bytes, checksum: 483d11758263a9d6c3a3d4c89fe66919 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-25 / Esta pesquisa será dedicada ao desenvolvimento de uma metodologia com vistas à compreensão e ao exame do comportamento do hábito de consumo de eletricidade residencial, via análise de similaridade, baseado no uso de uma rede neural da família ART (Adaptive Resonance Theory). Trata-se de uma rede neural composta por dois módulos ART-Fuzzy, cujo treinamento é realizado de modo não supervisionado. No primeiro módulo, serão usadas, como entrada, as informações que caracterizam os hábitos de consumo e a situação socioeconômica. A saída do primeiro módulo junto com os dados referentes aos equipamentos eletroeletrônicos da residência compõem a entrada do segundo módulo que, finalmente, produz informações, na saída, relativas ao diagnóstico pretendido, ou seja, a formação de agrupamentos similares (clusters). Todo o processamento da rede neural modular é realizado com dados binários, os quais são gerados a partir de informações quantitativas e qualitativas. As redes neurais da família ART são estáveis e plásticas. A estabilidade refere-se à garantia de sempre produzir soluções, ou seja, não se observa problemas relativos à má convergência. A plasticidade é uma característica que possibilita a execução do treinamento de forma contínua sem destruir o conhecimento adquirido previamente. É um recurso pouco observado nas demais redes neurais disponíveis na literatura especializada. Com essas propriedades (estabilidade e plasticidade), combinada com o processamento de dados essencialmente binários, confere ao sistema neural uma ampla capacidade de produzir objetivos que podem ser facilmente modificados visando atender requisitos preestabelecidos pelos usuários (consumidor, empresa do setor elétrico). Neste sentido, o resultado esperado é a obtenção de informações referentes à similaridade de consumidores, à qual pode-se vislumbrar alguns benefícios, por parte dos consumidores, como melhorar o hábito de consumir energia elétrica, oferecendo também, por meio do conhecimento dos consumidores similares, a obtenção de melhores estratégias de negociação com os fornecedores, principalmente, no caso de sistemas smart grids. Neste novo paradigma do setor elétrico, há uma forte tendência do(s) consumidor(es) escolher(em) livremente a empresas fornecedoras de energia elétrica. Além disso, é discutida uma melhor forma para a realização da previsão de carga em pontos da rede elétrica onde há uma maior incerteza, e.g., nos barramentos mais próximos do consumidor (transformadores etc.), i.e., as incertezas no contexto da previsão de carga total do sistema são aumentadas à medida que se adentra a partir da carga global até chegar ao consumidor final, em especial ao usuário residencial. A base de dados, para a fase de treinamento da rede neural, é construída a partir de informações disponibilizadas por consumidores voluntários via o preenchimento de formulário. Realizada a fase de treinamento, a rede neural adquire um conhecimento incipiente afeito de ser aperfeiçoado ao longo do tempo, quando se implementa o recurso da plasticidade. / This work develops a methodology to understand and analyze the behavior of residential electricity consumption by similarity analysis, based on a neural network of ART (Adaptive Resonance Theory) family. The neural network is composed of two Fuzzy-ART modules whose training are non-supervised. At the first module, the inputs are information that characterize the consumption habits and the socio-economic situation. The output of the first module with the data referred to electro-electronic equipment available at the residence compose the input of the second module, which finally produces information at the output related to the diagnosis proposed, i.e. the formation of clusters. All the neural network processing is realized with binary data, which are generated from quantitative and qualitative information. ART family neural networks are stable and plastic. The stability assures that it always produces a solution, i.e. there is no convergence problem. The plasticity is a characteristic that allows executing the processing continuously without losing the knowledge previously learned. Those advantages are seldom observed in other neural networks available at the specialized literature. Considering these properties (stability and plasticity), combined with the data processing exclusively binary, the neural network is capable to be modified when necessary to attend pre-defined requests by the users (consumers, distributers, etc.). Therefore, the expected result is to obtain information referred to the similarity with consumers, and with this information, the consumers can improve their habits or even negotiating with the producers in case of smart grid systems. This new electrical system paradigm, the tendency is that the consumers can arbitrarily choose the electrical distributers. Furthermore, the work discusses the best way to realize load forecasting in points where there is uncertainty, e.g., on the busses near the consumers (transformers), i.e., the uncertainties considering the global forecasting increase if the information of residences is not considered. The database for the training phase of the neural network was built by a quiz form filled by some volunteer consumers. Afterwards, when finishing the training phase, the neural network acquires knowledge that along time can implement the plasticity resource.