Published Article / The relationship between the big five personality traits, Extraversion, Agreeableness Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience and deep and surface approaches to learning forms the basis of this article. The findings of a research study in this milieu will be presented to prove that earlier studies in this field have been upheld, but that an important deviation has occurred on certain levels of personality. A students way of learning implies the type of learning that is taking place. Ultimately we as lecturers want to encourage deep learning as this stimulates retention of information, important in production of students that are ready for employment.

Colleges and universities throughout this great land are charged with the awesome responsibility of developing our youth into becoming productive, contributing citizens. More specifically, within these colleges and universities, instructors are instrumental in the development of students. Experiential learning, and, more importantly, reflective writing are important components of college instructors? repertoires. Learning is not complete without proper reflection. The purpose of this study was to examine upper-level undergraduate students? perceptions of learning in an agricultural leadership course that emphasized experiential learning methods. Specifically, this study examined student attitudes regarding experiential learning and if students used a surface or deep approach to learning. The respondents to the study included the students enrolled in ALED 340: Professional Leadership Development. This study employed procedures associated with mixed methods research. Within the quantitative portion of this study, the students were required to complete the revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire pre-intervention and post-intervention. The intervention consisted of teaching strategies associated with experiential learning with an emphasis on reflective writing. Based upon the students? self-reported answers, it was determined that post-intervention scores for the Deep Approach Scale and the Surface Approach Scale were statistically similar to the students? pre-intervention scores. Teaching strategies associated with experiential learning with an emphasis on reflective writing did not have an influence on the way the students approached learning. Within the qualitative portion of the study and as a course requirement, the students were asked to keep a reflective journal. Upon completion of the course, the students were asked to prepare a reflective paper, which served as a comprehensive reflection of the course. Three themes emerged from the students? reflective journals and papers?the students? perceptions of experiential learning, the indicators of a deep approach to learning, and how learning was maximized. In conclusion, the students benefited greatly from receiving instruction associated with experiential learning, and the students did foster a deep approach to learning, regardless of their answers to the revised two-factor Study Process Questionnaire. Reflection completed the learning process for the students enrolled in ALED 340: Professional Leadership Development.

This thesis investigates students? perceptions about their workload and their approaches to learning, employing a regional polytechnic as a case study. Data was collected using a mixed methods approach. The convenience sample consisted of 269 full-time undergraduate students who completed a questionnaire indicating whether they perceived the workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times, and those who did specified the reasons for their perceptions. All respondents also completed a modified ASSIST instrument to indicate the approach to learning they adopted. Analysis of the questionnaire data indicated that the majority of students perceived their workload to be heavy or unmanageable at times with the main reason given as too many assessments due around the same time. The issues raised from the data confirmed the results of other studies and pointed to a range of issues both internal and external to the institution. Thirty follow-up interviews were conducted to further investigate the issues raised in the questionnaire. A complex picture emerged from the interview data of a number of inter-related aspects in the teaching-learning environment that impacted on perceived workload and approach to learning, including assessment and overloaded curricula, motivation, time management problems resulting from part-time jobs or family commitments, and lecturer support. Trends or patterns signalled by the data provided an important first step to assist in planning changes in the teaching-learning environment at the regional polytechnic. The main recommendations were centred on a long term, collaborative action-research project to be set up within a programme, to review curricula, create a more stimulating and responsive teaching-learning environment, foster learning communities, and ensure a consistent approach to developing generic skills. The aim of the recommendations was to ensure students are motivated to learn, engaged, and have the skills and information needed to be effective learners, which in turn has the potential to change perception of workload and impact on approach to learning.

In a globally interdependent world, teachers are charged with preparing learners for a complex, interactive world. This educational challenge requires teachers to develop learners with critical, creative and conceptual minds, while still teaching the required content. Therefore developing the individual learner's ability to construct personalised meaning for new concepts is a prerequisite for the classroom. So is the development of the learner's ability to solve increasingly complex problems in the learning area as well as in daily life. This revivefies the question of how to plan, structure and assess in order to accommodate these requirements while enhancing learner abilities and achiement. / Teacher Education / D.Ed. (Didactics)

Em 1974, Marton e Säljö introduziram conceitos qualitativos para as posturas de aprendizagem de estudantes universitários, através de uma atividade de leitura. Os resultados mostraram a presença de duas posturas de aprendizagem para o cumprimento das atividades: uma delas denominada de profunda, onde os estudantes consegue estabelecer relações com o conhecimento prévio, compreendendo de forma profunda o significado do texto; a segunda, denominada de superficial, foi adotada por estudantes preocupados apenas em reter informações, sem que conseguissem estabelecer qualquer tipo de relação com outros conhecimentos. Inspirados por esse trabalho, outros autores começaram a avaliar a presença dessas posturas em diversos países, culturas e estruturas de ensino, e sempre verificaram a presença das posturas profunda e superficial, onde os estudantes profundos obtinham melhores resultados de aprendizagem. Em trabalhos de cunho qualitativo, como os desenvolvido por Biggs, outra categoria foi encontrada e denominada de estratégica. Os estudantes presentes nesse grupo, assumem motivações e estratégias para a obtenção de bons resultados escolares. Considerando as diferenças entre esses grupos de estudantes, procuramos, primeiramente, identificá-los dentre um grupo de 302 alunos da terceira série do Ensino Médio de uma Escola Pública da zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo. Inspirados pelo trabalho de Biggs e pela metodologia LPQ, desenvolvi um instrumento modificado para essa classificação. Identifiquei dez estudantes com postura profunda à aprendizagem (4 do diurno e 6 do noturno), 34 com postura estratégico-profunda (18 do diurno e 16 do noturno) e 258 indefinidos (170 do diurno e 88 do noturno). A partir da identificação dos estudantes profundos e estratégico-profundos, avaliou-se que qualidades são esperadas do bom professor por esses alunos. Os resultados mostram que os estudantes profundos valorizam um professor profissional compromissado, dedicado, com sólida formação específica e pedagógica, e que compreende as diferenças entre os estudantes, é atencioso, repeitoso, amigável. Os demais estudantes, além das características anteriores, valorizam um rigor relacionado à disciplina e à exigência das atividades de avaliação. / In 1974, Marton and Säljö introduced qualitative concepts to identify learning approaches in a reading situation with college students. The results showed two postures adopted to perform these activities: one called deep approach, in which students can establish relationships based in their prior knowledge, understanding the meaning of the text in a deeply and, a second one, called surface approach, which was assumed by students concerned just for withholding information, without relating with another knowledge. Inspired by this work, authors evaluated the presence of these attitudes in different countries, cultures and educational systems, and verified the presence of the deep and surface approaches, where deeper students achieved better results of learning . Considering a qualitative approach, as developed by Biggs, another category was found and defined as the strategic approach. The students of this group use motivations and strategies to get high scores in assessments. Considering the differences among these groups of students, as the first step, I identified in a group of 302 third graders students of a Public High School, located in the western side of city of Sao Paulo. Inspired by the work of Biggs and LPQ methodology, we developed a modified instrument for this classification. I identified ten students with deep approach to learning (4 in the daytime and 6 in the nighttime), 34 students with deep strategic approach (18 in the daytime and 16 in the nighttime) and 258 undefined students. From the deep and deep-strategic students\' identification, we evaluated which qualities of good teacher are expected by these students. The results showed that deep students valued a professional teacher, committed, dedicated, highly qualified and pedagogic, that understand the differences between students, is attentive, court orders, friendly. And that other students, in addition to previous characteristics, are demand knowledge related to the content and the requirement of the evaluation activities.

A iniciação científica (IC) tem como objetivo formar pesquisadores e profissionais que contribuam para o avanço científico-tecnológico do país. Estudos têm evidenciado benefícios da IC: complementação acadêmica e profissional, desenvolvimento pessoal e de pensamento crítico. Além disso, são observadas mudanças qualitativas na relação do estudante com a aprendizagem: o conhecimento ganha significado e sentido, e sua compreensão torna-se profunda. Graduandos com essas características foram descritos por Marton e Säljö (1976) como estudantes com abordagem profunda à aprendizagem. Estes utilizam a metacognição de modo eficiente através de mecanismos de autorregulação. A metacognição foi definida por Flavell (1979) como a capacidade de pensar sobre a própria cognição. A sociedade atual tem exigido, cada vez mais, a formação de profissionais autônomos, críticos, capazes de resolver problemas e aprender para o resto da vida, características presentes em estudantes com abordagem profunda à aprendizagem. Os cursos de farmácia têm passado por mudanças curriculares para atender às novas exigências da profissão. Instigada pelos trabalhos sobre o tema e a necessidade de aperfeiçoar o ensino realizei pesquisa qualitativa através de entrevistas, nas quais os alunos falam sobre a experiência na IC. Pretendo, assim, contribuir para o aprimoramento da orientação como prática pedagógica e para a melhoria dos cursos de graduação. Em 2014, foram coletados depoimentos que evidenciaram a adoção de abordagens profundas à aprendizagem e a utilização de mecanismos metacognitivos. A fim de confirmar esses resultados, foram realizadas novas entrevistas em 2015. A comparação dos depoimentos evidenciou aspectos da orientação na IC, confirmados em conversas com professores orientadores desses estudantes. Os três docentes que participaram desta etapa revelaram e reiteraram ações pedagógicas eficientes: focar no aluno e não na pesquisa, identificando expectativas, dificuldades e potencialidades dos graduandos; considerar a IC como complementação da formação acadêmica e profissional; selecionar alunos com interesse e disponibilidade de tempo para dedicar-se aos estudos e à pesquisa; encarar a defasagem conceitual e procedimental dos estudantes, responsabilidade do orientador, ajudando-os na superação dessas dificuldades mesmo em detrimento do desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais complexas; organizar ambientes de trabalho que promovam relações interpessoais saudáveis. / The purpose of undergraduate research (UR) is to educate researchers and professionals so they may contribute for the scientific/technological advancement. Studies have shown the benefits of UR: academic and professional supplement, personal development and critical thinking. In addition, qualitative changes in the relationship between the student and learning have been observed: knowledge acquires a meaning and has a sense, and his/her understanding becomes profound. Undergraduate with such characteristics have been described by Marton and Säljö (1976) as students with a deep approach to learning. They utilize metacognition in an efficient way through mechanisms of self-regulation. Metacognition was defined by Flavell (1979) as the capacity to think about one´s own cognition. At this time society is looking for professionals who are independent, critical and able to solving problems and prepared to lifelong learning, features that are found in students with a deep approach to learning. Pharmacy courses have undergone curriculum changes in order to meet the new requirements of the profession. Instigated by the researches about this topic and the need to improve teaching, I conducted a qualitative research by means of interviews, in which students talk about their experience in UR. My intention is thus to contribute for the improvement of mentoring as a pedagogical practice and for the improvement of the undergraduate courses. In 2014, interviews provided evidence that the deep approaches to learning had been adopted as well as the use of metacognitive strategies by the undergraduate research students. With the aim of confirming such results, new interviews were conducted in 2015. By comparing the interviews aspects of the UR mentoring were found, confirmed by talks with the professors who supervised those students. The three professors participating in this stage revealed and reiterated efficient pedagogical actions: focus on the student, not on the research, to identify expectancies, difficulties and the potential of undergraduates; they consider UR as a complement to academic and professional education; they select students who are interested and have time available to dedicate themselves to research; they see conceptual and procedural gap of students as a responsibility of the mentoring, who can help them overcome such difficulties even to detriment of the development of more complex research; they organize the work environment to foster healthy interpersonal relations.

Em 1974, Marton e Säljö introduziram conceitos qualitativos para as posturas de aprendizagem de estudantes universitários, através de uma atividade de leitura. Os resultados mostraram a presença de duas posturas de aprendizagem para o cumprimento das atividades: uma delas denominada de profunda, onde os estudantes consegue estabelecer relações com o conhecimento prévio, compreendendo de forma profunda o significado do texto; a segunda, denominada de superficial, foi adotada por estudantes preocupados apenas em reter informações, sem que conseguissem estabelecer qualquer tipo de relação com outros conhecimentos. Inspirados por esse trabalho, outros autores começaram a avaliar a presença dessas posturas em diversos países, culturas e estruturas de ensino, e sempre verificaram a presença das posturas profunda e superficial, onde os estudantes profundos obtinham melhores resultados de aprendizagem. Em trabalhos de cunho qualitativo, como os desenvolvido por Biggs, outra categoria foi encontrada e denominada de estratégica. Os estudantes presentes nesse grupo, assumem motivações e estratégias para a obtenção de bons resultados escolares. Considerando as diferenças entre esses grupos de estudantes, procuramos, primeiramente, identificá-los dentre um grupo de 302 alunos da terceira série do Ensino Médio de uma Escola Pública da zona oeste da cidade de São Paulo. Inspirados pelo trabalho de Biggs e pela metodologia LPQ, desenvolvi um instrumento modificado para essa classificação. Identifiquei dez estudantes com postura profunda à aprendizagem (4 do diurno e 6 do noturno), 34 com postura estratégico-profunda (18 do diurno e 16 do noturno) e 258 indefinidos (170 do diurno e 88 do noturno). A partir da identificação dos estudantes profundos e estratégico-profundos, avaliou-se que qualidades são esperadas do bom professor por esses alunos. Os resultados mostram que os estudantes profundos valorizam um professor profissional compromissado, dedicado, com sólida formação específica e pedagógica, e que compreende as diferenças entre os estudantes, é atencioso, repeitoso, amigável. Os demais estudantes, além das características anteriores, valorizam um rigor relacionado à disciplina e à exigência das atividades de avaliação. / In 1974, Marton and Säljö introduced qualitative concepts to identify learning approaches in a reading situation with college students. The results showed two postures adopted to perform these activities: one called deep approach, in which students can establish relationships based in their prior knowledge, understanding the meaning of the text in a deeply and, a second one, called surface approach, which was assumed by students concerned just for withholding information, without relating with another knowledge. Inspired by this work, authors evaluated the presence of these attitudes in different countries, cultures and educational systems, and verified the presence of the deep and surface approaches, where deeper students achieved better results of learning . Considering a qualitative approach, as developed by Biggs, another category was found and defined as the strategic approach. The students of this group use motivations and strategies to get high scores in assessments. Considering the differences among these groups of students, as the first step, I identified in a group of 302 third graders students of a Public High School, located in the western side of city of Sao Paulo. Inspired by the work of Biggs and LPQ methodology, we developed a modified instrument for this classification. I identified ten students with deep approach to learning (4 in the daytime and 6 in the nighttime), 34 students with deep strategic approach (18 in the daytime and 16 in the nighttime) and 258 undefined students. From the deep and deep-strategic students\' identification, we evaluated which qualities of good teacher are expected by these students. The results showed that deep students valued a professional teacher, committed, dedicated, highly qualified and pedagogic, that understand the differences between students, is attentive, court orders, friendly. And that other students, in addition to previous characteristics, are demand knowledge related to the content and the requirement of the evaluation activities.

A iniciação científica (IC) tem como objetivo formar pesquisadores e profissionais que contribuam para o avanço científico-tecnológico do país. Estudos têm evidenciado benefícios da IC: complementação acadêmica e profissional, desenvolvimento pessoal e de pensamento crítico. Além disso, são observadas mudanças qualitativas na relação do estudante com a aprendizagem: o conhecimento ganha significado e sentido, e sua compreensão torna-se profunda. Graduandos com essas características foram descritos por Marton e Säljö (1976) como estudantes com abordagem profunda à aprendizagem. Estes utilizam a metacognição de modo eficiente através de mecanismos de autorregulação. A metacognição foi definida por Flavell (1979) como a capacidade de pensar sobre a própria cognição. A sociedade atual tem exigido, cada vez mais, a formação de profissionais autônomos, críticos, capazes de resolver problemas e aprender para o resto da vida, características presentes em estudantes com abordagem profunda à aprendizagem. Os cursos de farmácia têm passado por mudanças curriculares para atender às novas exigências da profissão. Instigada pelos trabalhos sobre o tema e a necessidade de aperfeiçoar o ensino realizei pesquisa qualitativa através de entrevistas, nas quais os alunos falam sobre a experiência na IC. Pretendo, assim, contribuir para o aprimoramento da orientação como prática pedagógica e para a melhoria dos cursos de graduação. Em 2014, foram coletados depoimentos que evidenciaram a adoção de abordagens profundas à aprendizagem e a utilização de mecanismos metacognitivos. A fim de confirmar esses resultados, foram realizadas novas entrevistas em 2015. A comparação dos depoimentos evidenciou aspectos da orientação na IC, confirmados em conversas com professores orientadores desses estudantes. Os três docentes que participaram desta etapa revelaram e reiteraram ações pedagógicas eficientes: focar no aluno e não na pesquisa, identificando expectativas, dificuldades e potencialidades dos graduandos; considerar a IC como complementação da formação acadêmica e profissional; selecionar alunos com interesse e disponibilidade de tempo para dedicar-se aos estudos e à pesquisa; encarar a defasagem conceitual e procedimental dos estudantes, responsabilidade do orientador, ajudando-os na superação dessas dificuldades mesmo em detrimento do desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais complexas; organizar ambientes de trabalho que promovam relações interpessoais saudáveis. / The purpose of undergraduate research (UR) is to educate researchers and professionals so they may contribute for the scientific/technological advancement. Studies have shown the benefits of UR: academic and professional supplement, personal development and critical thinking. In addition, qualitative changes in the relationship between the student and learning have been observed: knowledge acquires a meaning and has a sense, and his/her understanding becomes profound. Undergraduate with such characteristics have been described by Marton and Säljö (1976) as students with a deep approach to learning. They utilize metacognition in an efficient way through mechanisms of self-regulation. Metacognition was defined by Flavell (1979) as the capacity to think about one´s own cognition. At this time society is looking for professionals who are independent, critical and able to solving problems and prepared to lifelong learning, features that are found in students with a deep approach to learning. Pharmacy courses have undergone curriculum changes in order to meet the new requirements of the profession. Instigated by the researches about this topic and the need to improve teaching, I conducted a qualitative research by means of interviews, in which students talk about their experience in UR. My intention is thus to contribute for the improvement of mentoring as a pedagogical practice and for the improvement of the undergraduate courses. In 2014, interviews provided evidence that the deep approaches to learning had been adopted as well as the use of metacognitive strategies by the undergraduate research students. With the aim of confirming such results, new interviews were conducted in 2015. By comparing the interviews aspects of the UR mentoring were found, confirmed by talks with the professors who supervised those students. The three professors participating in this stage revealed and reiterated efficient pedagogical actions: focus on the student, not on the research, to identify expectancies, difficulties and the potential of undergraduates; they consider UR as a complement to academic and professional education; they select students who are interested and have time available to dedicate themselves to research; they see conceptual and procedural gap of students as a responsibility of the mentoring, who can help them overcome such difficulties even to detriment of the development of more complex research; they organize the work environment to foster healthy interpersonal relations.

In a globally interdependent world, teachers are charged with preparing learners for a complex, interactive world. This educational challenge requires teachers to develop learners with critical, creative and conceptual minds, while still teaching the required content. Therefore developing the individual learner's ability to construct personalised meaning for new concepts is a prerequisite for the classroom. So is the development of the learner's ability to solve increasingly complex problems in the learning area as well as in daily life. This revivefies the question of how to plan, structure and assess in order to accommodate these requirements while enhancing learner abilities and achiement. / Teacher Education / D.Ed. (Didactics)

This thesis project explores the application of the ecological approach to learning in Virtual Reality (VR), investigates the role of educational games in language learning, creates a playground and a modified game for Swedish language, and proposes the concept VR wor(l)ds for language learning and practice. Following an Interaction Design methodology and drawing from ecological psychology, game studies and user research, the qualities of a virtual language learning environment are established. By modifying and playtesting charades game and then sketching in VR two main levels are being formed. A Playground, that first serves as an introduction where players explore and interact with the language, and then a gamespace that is designed to host a Charades Mod in VR. Lastly, two prototypes are developed and tested to finalise the proposed concept of the VR wor(l)ds. The final concept contributes to the understanding of approaching VR language learning games with a focus on player’s experience.