Thesis (M.A.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page (viewed July 10, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 76-81).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Miami University, Dept. of Botany, 2004. / Title from second page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references.

Σκοπός των γλωσσικών μαθημάτων είναι να καταστήσουν τους μαθητές ικανούς να χρησιμοποιούν ορθά τη γλώσσα ως θεμελιώδη κώδικα επικοινωνίας με το περιβάλλον. Τα αναλυτικά προγράμματα των σχολικών μονάδων αποτελούν τον πυρήνα της εκπαιδευτικής διαδικασίας σε όλες τις βαθμίδες εκπαίδευσης σε όλες τις χώρες του κόσμου, γιατί κατά κάποιον τρόπο αποτελούν ένα είδος «πυξίδας» στα χέρια των εκπαιδευτικών που τους κατατοπίζουν αναφορικά με την ύλη και τη μέθοδο διδασκαλίας. Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι η σύγκριση του Προγράμματος Σπουδών για τη γλώσσα στις τρεις τάξεις του Γυμνασίου προς το Γ´ επίπεδο του Αναλυτικού Εξεταστικού Προγράμματος Πιστοποίησης Επάρκειας της Ελληνομάθειας του Κέντρου Ελληνικής Γλώσσας που απευθύνεται σε αλλόγλωσσους μαθητές. Με τη σύγκριση αυτή γίνεται προσπάθεια να εντοπιστούν κενά και παραλείψεις στα δύο Προγράμματα Σπουδών για τη γλώσσα, προκειμένου να συμπληρωθούν και να αποσαφηνιστούν τυχόν ασάφειες. / The aim of language classes is to make students capable of using language correctly in order to communicate. Curriculum is the basis of the educational process all over the world. The present study focuses on the comparison between the Greek language curriculum in Greek High Schools and the 3rd level of the curriculum for the examination and the certification of competence of the knowledge of Greek by the Greek Language Centre. The two curricula are intended for students of different backgrounds: those who have Greek as mother tongue, and those who have Greek as second / foreign language. The purpose of the present study is to pinpoint the gaps and the omissions in both language curricula.

A tese de doutorado Formação Continuada de Professores: da abstração reflexionante à tomada de consciência tem como objetivo analisar o processo de tomada de consciência de professores, em formação continuada, e as possíveis transformações que ocorrem, a partir dele, no fazer pedagógico. O referencial metodológico utilizado é o da pesquisa qualitativa e participante. A coleta de dados ocorreu a partir de um grupo de estudos organizado especialmente para este fim, com professores de uma escola estadual de uma cidade do interior do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo desse fenômeno grupal organizou-se a partir de três dimensões de análise: Processo de abstração: possibilidades de compreensão, criação e recriação de novas coordenações de ações na formação continuada de professores; Da ação à conceituação e da conceituação à ação: os caminhos percorridos na formação continuada de professores rumo ao processo de tomada de consciência; Teoria, questionamentos, trocas de experiências e de idéias. A principal fonte teórica desse trabalho foram os estudos de Jean Piaget sobre os processos de tomada de consciência e de abstração reflexionante. Os resultados dessa pesquisa apontam para a tomada de consciência que acontece, na formação continuada de professores, devido a alguns aspectos que se inter-relacionam: Primeiro, o planejamento dos estudos embasou-se na discussão das dificuldades, necessidades e experiências dos professores participantes; segundo, o indispensável estudo teórico num processo de formação continuada; terceiro, o trabalho coletivo dos participantes como desencadeador do processo de tomada de consciência. Constatou-se ao final da pesquisa que a transformação do fazer pedagógico acontece processual e lentamente na estrita dependência da tomada de consciência. / The doctorate thesis The continued formation of teachers: from reflecting abstraction to attainment of consciousness has as objective to analyze the teachers’ process of attainment of consciousness, in continued formation and the possible transformations that occur, starting from it, in the pedagogical realization. In this research it is used, as methodological reference the qualitative and participating research. The data collecting occurred with a study group specially organized for this purpose with teachers of a state school from Rio Grande do Sul countryside. The study of this group phenomenon was structured through three analyses dimensions: Abstraction Process: possibilities of comprehension, creation and re-creation of new coordination of actions in the continued formation of teachers; From action to conception and from conception to action: the way gone trough in the continued formation of teachers in the direction of the process of becoming conscious; Theory, questioning and exchange of experience and ideas. The main theoretical source of this work was Jean Piaget’s studies about attainment of consciousness and reflecting abstraction. The results of this research indicate that the attainment of consciousness, in the continued formation of teachers, occurs because of some aspects that are interrelated: First, the studies planning had as basis the discussion of the difficulties, necessities and experiences of the participating teachers: second, the essential theoretical studies in a process of continued formation; third, the participants collective work as an activator the process of attainment of consciousness. By the end of this research, it was verified that the transformation of the pedagogical realization occurs through procedures and slowly and in straight dependency of the attainment of consciousness. / La tesis doctoral Formación Continuada de Profesores: de la abstracción reflexionante a la toma de conciencia tiene como objetivo analizar el proceso de toma de conciencia de profesores, en formación continuada, y las posibles transformaciones que ocurren, a partir de él, en el hacer pedagógico. En este trabajo el referencial metodológico utilizado es la investigación cualitativa y participante. La recolección de los datos ocurrió a partir de un grupo de estudios organizado especialmente para esta finalidad, con profesores de una escuela estatal de una ciudad del interior de Rio Grande do Sul. El estudio de ese fenómeno grupal fue organizado a partir de tres dimensiones de análisis - Proceso de abstracción: posibilidades de comprensión, creación y recreación de nuevas coordinaciones de acciones en la formación continuada de profesores; De la acción a la conceptualización y de la conceptualización a la acción: los caminos recorridos en la formación continuada de profesores rumbo al proceso de toma de conciencia; Teoría, cuestionamientos e intercambio de experiencias e ideas. La principal fuente teórica de este trabajo fueron los estudios de Jean Piaget sobre los procesos de toma de conciencia y de abstracción reflexionante. Los resultados de esta investigación apuntan para la toma de conciencia que se dá en la formación continuada de profesores, debido a algunos aspectos que se interrelacionan: Primero, la planificación de los estudios tuvo como base las dificultades, necesidades y experiencias de los profesores participantes; segundo, el indispensable estudio teórico en un proceso de formación continuada; tercero, el trabajo colectivo de los participantes como factor desencadenante del proceso de toma de conciencia. Se constató al término de la investigación que la transformación del hacer pedagógico acontece de manera procesal y lenta en la estricta dependencia de la toma de conciencia.

No description available.

A tese de doutorado Formação Continuada de Professores: da abstração reflexionante à tomada de consciência tem como objetivo analisar o processo de tomada de consciência de professores, em formação continuada, e as possíveis transformações que ocorrem, a partir dele, no fazer pedagógico. O referencial metodológico utilizado é o da pesquisa qualitativa e participante. A coleta de dados ocorreu a partir de um grupo de estudos organizado especialmente para este fim, com professores de uma escola estadual de uma cidade do interior do Rio Grande do Sul. O estudo desse fenômeno grupal organizou-se a partir de três dimensões de análise: Processo de abstração: possibilidades de compreensão, criação e recriação de novas coordenações de ações na formação continuada de professores; Da ação à conceituação e da conceituação à ação: os caminhos percorridos na formação continuada de professores rumo ao processo de tomada de consciência; Teoria, questionamentos, trocas de experiências e de idéias. A principal fonte teórica desse trabalho foram os estudos de Jean Piaget sobre os processos de tomada de consciência e de abstração reflexionante. Os resultados dessa pesquisa apontam para a tomada de consciência que acontece, na formação continuada de professores, devido a alguns aspectos que se inter-relacionam: Primeiro, o planejamento dos estudos embasou-se na discussão das dificuldades, necessidades e experiências dos professores participantes; segundo, o indispensável estudo teórico num processo de formação continuada; terceiro, o trabalho coletivo dos participantes como desencadeador do processo de tomada de consciência. Constatou-se ao final da pesquisa que a transformação do fazer pedagógico acontece processual e lentamente na estrita dependência da tomada de consciência. / The doctorate thesis The continued formation of teachers: from reflecting abstraction to attainment of consciousness has as objective to analyze the teachers’ process of attainment of consciousness, in continued formation and the possible transformations that occur, starting from it, in the pedagogical realization. In this research it is used, as methodological reference the qualitative and participating research. The data collecting occurred with a study group specially organized for this purpose with teachers of a state school from Rio Grande do Sul countryside. The study of this group phenomenon was structured through three analyses dimensions: Abstraction Process: possibilities of comprehension, creation and re-creation of new coordination of actions in the continued formation of teachers; From action to conception and from conception to action: the way gone trough in the continued formation of teachers in the direction of the process of becoming conscious; Theory, questioning and exchange of experience and ideas. The main theoretical source of this work was Jean Piaget’s studies about attainment of consciousness and reflecting abstraction. The results of this research indicate that the attainment of consciousness, in the continued formation of teachers, occurs because of some aspects that are interrelated: First, the studies planning had as basis the discussion of the difficulties, necessities and experiences of the participating teachers: second, the essential theoretical studies in a process of continued formation; third, the participants collective work as an activator the process of attainment of consciousness. By the end of this research, it was verified that the transformation of the pedagogical realization occurs through procedures and slowly and in straight dependency of the attainment of consciousness. / La tesis doctoral Formación Continuada de Profesores: de la abstracción reflexionante a la toma de conciencia tiene como objetivo analizar el proceso de toma de conciencia de profesores, en formación continuada, y las posibles transformaciones que ocurren, a partir de él, en el hacer pedagógico. En este trabajo el referencial metodológico utilizado es la investigación cualitativa y participante. La recolección de los datos ocurrió a partir de un grupo de estudios organizado especialmente para esta finalidad, con profesores de una escuela estatal de una ciudad del interior de Rio Grande do Sul. El estudio de ese fenómeno grupal fue organizado a partir de tres dimensiones de análisis - Proceso de abstracción: posibilidades de comprensión, creación y recreación de nuevas coordinaciones de acciones en la formación continuada de profesores; De la acción a la conceptualización y de la conceptualización a la acción: los caminos recorridos en la formación continuada de profesores rumbo al proceso de toma de conciencia; Teoría, cuestionamientos e intercambio de experiencias e ideas. La principal fuente teórica de este trabajo fueron los estudios de Jean Piaget sobre los procesos de toma de conciencia y de abstracción reflexionante. Los resultados de esta investigación apuntan para la toma de conciencia que se dá en la formación continuada de profesores, debido a algunos aspectos que se interrelacionan: Primero, la planificación de los estudios tuvo como base las dificultades, necesidades y experiencias de los profesores participantes; segundo, el indispensable estudio teórico en un proceso de formación continuada; tercero, el trabajo colectivo de los participantes como factor desencadenante del proceso de toma de conciencia. Se constató al término de la investigación que la transformación del hacer pedagógico acontece de manera procesal y lenta en la estricta dependencia de la toma de conciencia.

Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction / Margaret G. Shroyer / The goal of this research study was to identify the factors that influence community college students’ educational attainment as future teachers. In this naturalistic case study, three forms of data collection were used to answer the research question: 1) documents and reports; 2) student surveys; and 3) student interviews. The case for this study was the teacher preparation program at a mid-sized community college, Butler Community College (Butler), in El Dorado, Kansas. The population of the study included 83 elementary education majors enrolled in the teacher preparation program at the community college. Document and report analysis provided a detailed description of the teacher preparation program at Butler Community College, to include Butler’s role in teacher education. Survey analysis provided a demographic profile of the research population, as well as the barrier and support factors that influenced the educational attainment of these elementary education students. Interviews were conducted with a select group from the population (22 students) who had completed all of the education courses at Butler Community College and were ready to transfer to a four-year teacher education program. Interview analysis provided a detailed demographic profile of participants, as well as a more detailed description of the specific barriers and supports elementary education students experienced while attending Butler. The barriers and support factors were categorized as: 1) institutional barriers or supports; 2) instructional barriers or supports; and 3) personal barriers or supports. The greatest barriers students experienced were personal barriers, such as time management and financial issues. The major institutional barrier was lack of staff support, primarily advising support. Instructional barriers, such as the irrelevance of general education curriculum or problems with a specific course curriculum, were only minor barriers for students. The greatest overall support students experienced at the community college was in the form of instructional support, both faculty support and practical education coursework with accompanying field experiences. The major institutional support was staff support, namely, advising. Family support was cited as the major personal support.

This thesis explores the implications of cultural resources for educational attainment and socioeconomic progression among Caribbeans in Britain - one of Britain's most disadvantaged [social] ethnic groups - since the 1940s. More specifically, it offers, first, a review of Caribbeans’ experiences in education and socioeconomic domains in Britain, as have been researched throughout the decades since the World Wars, and explores, second, how cultural resources through which Caribbeans understand their social world and mediate their experiences therein impact upon their educational attainment and socioeconomic progression. Cultural resources, as implied in studies undertaken by DeGraaf (1986; 1989; 2000) in the Netherlands, are acquired in settings such as the family and schools in which individuals are socialised, i.e., learn their culture and how to live in their social world. These settings are held to be influenced by cultural and societal factors that are interrelated and are, in effect, sociocultural (Wertsch, 1994; 1995). Such settings are posited in this thesis as vital to understanding Caribbeans’ educational and socioeconomic outcomes. This is demonstrated through adopting a sociocultural approach from which analyses was undertaken into the experiences of ten families of three generations and ten individuals - all of Caribbean descent - who participated in a quasi-ethnographic inquiry that formed the empirical part of the study. The participants had a range of educational, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, which characterised a purposive sample that they formed. Their accounts of their experiences, which were the source from which inferences about their educational attainment, socioeconomic progression, and cultural resources are made, were elicited through ethnographic interviews, participant observations, and researcher’s diaries, and are presented in this thesis as family case study analyses and sociocultural settings analyses. The inquiry revealed that the participants across the whole sample were socialised in a key set of sociocultural settings that were identified in their accounts of their experiences as family, community, religion, education, and occupation. In-depth interrogation of patterns in their lived experiences in these settings revealed that their socialisation processes were diverse and, consequently, reflected in diversity in their acquisition and usage of a common set of cultural resources that were discovered and, through analyses, reified as familial influence, community orientation, religiosity, familiarity with formal education processes, and occupational aspiration. Diversity in their acquisition and usage of these resources in the various settings reflected in diverse patterns of educational and socioeconomic outcomes across the three generations. However, two distinct patterns are herein defined and discussed as a ‘trajectory of advancement’ and a ‘trajectory of urgency’. The former characterises the outcomes of participants who had attained educationally and progressed in socioeconomic terms across generations in their family, and the latter characterises the outcomes of participants who had not attained educationally and remained disadvantaged in socioeconomic terms across generations in their family. These findings are tentative, but they suggest, nonetheless, that cultural resources are salient in shaping Caribbeans’ educational and socioeconomic outcomes. Such findings are significant in that they interrupt the ways that Caribbeans’ experiences and outcomes in education and socioeconomic domains have been understood historically and, at the same time, offer the sociocultural approach as another way from which to understand these experiences and outcomes. In addition, the sociocultural approach from which these finding are derived and the concept of cultural resources are introduced, in this thesis, in an understanding of patterns of educational and socioeconomic outcomes that persist across generations. This understanding, it is herein suggested, is crucial to any debate surrounding persistently low achievement in education and socioeconomic domains among social groups - particularly among groups such as Caribbeans that are disadvantaged in education and socioeconomic domains.

Les différences de genre quant à l’exposition et l’impact d’événements de vie stressants contribuent à expliquer la prévalence différentielle de difficultés d’adaptation comme la dépression ou les problèmes extériorisés. Cette recherche vise à déterminer si de tels processus différentiels s’appliquent également à une autre dimension clé de l’inadaptation des adolescents, soit le décrochage scolaire. Pour ce faire, les événements de vie stressants ont été évalués auprès d’un échantillon d’adolescents âgés de 14 à 18 ans (N= 545, 52 % de garçons), recruté suivant un devis à cas témoins appariés et divisé en trois catégories : 1) des élèves ayant récemment abandonné leurs études; 2) des élèves appariés résilients et 3) des élèves normatifs. Lorsque tous les types d’événements stressants étaient considérés simultanément, l’exposition globale, de même que le lien entre cette exposition et le décrochage scolaire, était similaire pour les adolescents et adolescentes. Toutefois, des différences entre les genres ont émergé pour certains types spécifiques d’événements, les garçons étant particulièrement exposés aux événements en lien avec la performance (échec scolaire, suspension) et les conflits avec des figures d’autorité (enseignants, police), alors que les filles étaient particulièrement exposées à ceux impliquant des problèmes relationnels avec des membres de la famille, des pairs ou des partenaires amoureux. Une association spécifique aux garçons a également été observée entre les événements de vie stressants liés à la performance et aux conflits avec les figures d’autorité. Les implications théoriques et pratiques de ces résultats sont abordées en discussion. / Gender differences in exposure and reactivity to stressful life events contribute to explain adolescent girls’ and boys’ differential sensitivity regarding adjustment difficulties like depression or behavioral problems. However, few studies focus on stressful life events in relation to school dropout and even fewer studies analyze this link considering gender differences in adolescence. This research aims to fill this gap. For this purpose, individual interviews were conducted to assess stressful life events in a sample of academically vulnerable adolescents between the age of 14 and 18 years old (N= 545, 52% boys). This sample included three different groups of participants: 1) students who had recently dropped out of high school, 2) matched students at risk, that were persevering in school and 3) normative students. Global exposure was the same for boys and girls, when all the types of stressful life events were considered as a whole. However, gender differences emerged for specific stressful life events, with boys being more exposed to stressful life events related to performance (e.g., school failure, suspension) and conflicts with authority figures (e.g., teachers, police officers), and girls with stressful life events involving relational conflicts with family, peers and romantic partners. Moreover, stressful life events related to performance and conflicts with authority figures were significantly associated with dropout only for boys. It thus appears important to take into account those gender differences in order to better understand the unfolding of school difficulties that can lead to serious mental health and well-being issues later in their life.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Minimal attention has been devoted to examining the dimensionality of self-control. The present study tested a multidimensional model of self-control in which dimensions were based on the nature of the behavior required (i.e., persistence, initiation, cessation, or prevention). A total of 336 undergraduates completed measures of self-control and psychological well-being. Seventy-four of these participants completed behavioral self-control tasks representing the proposed subtypes. Participants’ GPAs were obtained from the Registrar. Stop self-control was inversely related to previously-validated measures of persistence (β = -.61, p = .010) and prevention (β = -.56, p = .040) self-control and demonstrated differential predictive ability of persistence and prevention compared to the other proposed subtypes. Initiation self-control was inversely related to life satisfaction (β = -.35, p = .012) and demonstrated differential predictive ability of life satisfaction compared to stop self-control. These results were interpreted with caution due to inadequate power and questionable validity of several of the behavioral self-control tasks. Both handgrip persistence (r = -.25, p = .033) and blinking prevention (r = -.29, p = .023) were associated with depression. These pairwise correlations were not significantly different from each other, suggesting that no conceptual distinction should be made between persistence and prevention self-control. Confirmatory factor analyses of self-report data revealed that items clustered based on domain rather than on type of behavior required for self-control exertion. Thus, the structure of self-control remains unclear. Limitations of the present study and implications for future research are discussed.