Since the mid-1980s, the Saskatchewan Department of Education has approved the instruction of Native Studies courses in provincial high schools. In hope of enhancing the instruction of these courses, this study focused on the perspectives of Non-Aboriginal teachers who were assigned to teach Native Studies. Through a questionnaire, personal interviews, and a focus group, nine Non-Aboriginal high-school teachers examined the following aspects of the courses: formal and informal training of instructors , goals of the courses, key content and pedagogical methodologies, major challenges, and recommendations for improving the delivery of the classes.<p>The literary context for the research was based upon three major areas: Non-Aboriginal teachers' perspectives on teaching Aboriginal students, preparing teachers to teach Native Studies, and preparing teachers to instruct Native Studies to Aboriginal students. Due to the 'single-group' nature of Native Studies curricula, considerable literature examination was focused on multicultural education models.<p> The research data of the study revealed that the majority of interviewees have minimal formal education experience with Aboriginal content or epistemology. In addition, most of the study participants indicated little, if any, informal cultural contact with Aboriginal peoples. Study participants generally acknowledged the limitations of their scant academic and experiential interaction with Aboriginal cultures, and recommended means of various education stakeholders improving the situation.<p>The study also exposed a variety of teacher perspectives about the goals of the courses. While there was unanimity regarding the efficacy of the courses, most teachers believed the goals of Native Studies varied depending on the cultural composition of the class. In addition, a couple of teachers inferred that a major objective of Native Studies courses is the promotion of an anti-establishment' political message. Some teachers also indicated a quandary regarding whether the course curricula required them to "teach Aboriginal culture, or teach about Aboriginal culture."<p>In terms of course content and teaching methodologies, there were numerous opinions on `what was important'. All the interviewees viewed history as a significant ingredient to a `good' Native Studies class, but some of the teachers expressed a reluctance to delve into such issues as Aboriginal spirituality, racism, and 'white-privilege'. There was also hesitation amongst many of the respondents to incorporate traditional Aboriginal epistemologies into course methodologies because they wanted to personalize instruction, not base it upon cultural generalizations.<p>In addition to the aforementioned issues and corresponding challenges associated with the background training for the courses, the goals of the courses, and the content and methodology of the courses, the study participants highlighted other concerns with the teaching of Native Studies: irrelevant curricula, lack of materials, poor course funding, student absenteeism, student perception that the courses are for 'non-academics', lack of flexible timetabling for experiential learning, and lack of staff knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal cultures. All administrative levels of the education system were identified by the interviewees as influential in helping to mitigate the difficulties associated with the instruction of Native Studies.

Since the mid-1980s, the Saskatchewan Department of Education has approved the instruction of Native Studies courses in provincial high schools. In hope of enhancing the instruction of these courses, this study focused on the perspectives of Non-Aboriginal teachers who were assigned to teach Native Studies. Through a questionnaire, personal interviews, and a focus group, nine Non-Aboriginal high-school teachers examined the following aspects of the courses: formal and informal training of instructors , goals of the courses, key content and pedagogical methodologies, major challenges, and recommendations for improving the delivery of the classes.<p>The literary context for the research was based upon three major areas: Non-Aboriginal teachers' perspectives on teaching Aboriginal students, preparing teachers to teach Native Studies, and preparing teachers to instruct Native Studies to Aboriginal students. Due to the 'single-group' nature of Native Studies curricula, considerable literature examination was focused on multicultural education models.<p> The research data of the study revealed that the majority of interviewees have minimal formal education experience with Aboriginal content or epistemology. In addition, most of the study participants indicated little, if any, informal cultural contact with Aboriginal peoples. Study participants generally acknowledged the limitations of their scant academic and experiential interaction with Aboriginal cultures, and recommended means of various education stakeholders improving the situation.<p>The study also exposed a variety of teacher perspectives about the goals of the courses. While there was unanimity regarding the efficacy of the courses, most teachers believed the goals of Native Studies varied depending on the cultural composition of the class. In addition, a couple of teachers inferred that a major objective of Native Studies courses is the promotion of an anti-establishment' political message. Some teachers also indicated a quandary regarding whether the course curricula required them to "teach Aboriginal culture, or teach about Aboriginal culture."<p>In terms of course content and teaching methodologies, there were numerous opinions on `what was important'. All the interviewees viewed history as a significant ingredient to a `good' Native Studies class, but some of the teachers expressed a reluctance to delve into such issues as Aboriginal spirituality, racism, and 'white-privilege'. There was also hesitation amongst many of the respondents to incorporate traditional Aboriginal epistemologies into course methodologies because they wanted to personalize instruction, not base it upon cultural generalizations.<p>In addition to the aforementioned issues and corresponding challenges associated with the background training for the courses, the goals of the courses, and the content and methodology of the courses, the study participants highlighted other concerns with the teaching of Native Studies: irrelevant curricula, lack of materials, poor course funding, student absenteeism, student perception that the courses are for 'non-academics', lack of flexible timetabling for experiential learning, and lack of staff knowledge and appreciation of Aboriginal cultures. All administrative levels of the education system were identified by the interviewees as influential in helping to mitigate the difficulties associated with the instruction of Native Studies.

Language teaching usually focuses on linguistic knowledge, such as vocabulary and grammar, but that is not the whole picture for language learning. To build effective intercultural communication networks, language and culture study is fundamental. Language is the medium of cultural messages. This paper explores Chinese learners’ culture learning through their language courses. Based on cultural information provided in the textbooks (Integrated Chinese Level I & Level II), I designed a cultural knowledge questionnaire to collect data and analyze learners’ culture competence and problems when learning culture. After multiple rounds of modifications, the questionnaire was distributed to different levels of Chinese language learners, Chinese native speakers, and other language speakers at a public university in western Massachusetts. The questionnaire was also distributed to intermediate level Chinese students at a public university in Virginia. The results show differences among different levels of students and different questions, but no difference in heritage students’ performance nor in different universities. The data analysis of the questionnaire also provides insights for textbooks editors, Chinese instructors and educators. Culture learning is a continuing process that requires enough accurate and up-to-date cultural knowledge in textbooks as well as effective and appropriate teaching by instructors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected demographic variables and the attitudes of teachers toward the oral English of their Indigenous students in Saskatchewan and Queensland.<p>Data were collected by administration of the Indigenous Students Oral English Questionnaire to a total of 217 teachers from schools throughout northern and central Saskatchewan, Canada and Queensland, Australia. The independent variables in the study were: culture, language teaching experience, education, age and sex. The dependent variable was the attitudes of the teachers toward the validity and acceptability of the Indigenous students' oral English.<p>Results of a factor analysis produced four attitudinal factors: Dialect Description, Difference/Deficit, Acceptability/Unacceptability, and Adequacy/Inadequacy. Seven hypotheses were analyzed by one-way analyses of variance to determine if any significant differences existed among the attitudinal factors on the basis of the demographic characteristics of the respondents. <p>The findings of this study must be considered in relation to the following limitations: the size and nature of the sample, the difficulty of measuring attitudes, and the existence of cultural bias. *<p> The study concluded with the following findings;<p>1. The cultural background of the teachers did not relate to differences in attitudinal judgements toward the oral English of Indigenous students.<p>2. The language background related to differences in attitudes toward language variation. Teachers who either spoke or understood an Indigenous language or Indigenous English were more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>3. The language and culture of the teachers in combination was found to relate to differing attitudes toward language variation. Those teachers who were both of Indigenous ancestry and either spoke or understood an Indigenous language or Indigenous English were more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>4. The years of teaching experience of the teachers was related to attitudinal differences toward language variation. There was a general trend for teachers with less experience to be more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>5. The-post-secondary education of the teachers was related to their attitudes toward language variation. The teachers with three to four years of post-secondary education and more specialty courses in linguistics, Indigenous education/studies, ESL/ESD, sociology of education, cross-cultural education, cultural anthropology, and language teaching methodologies were more positive and accepting of the speech of their Indigenous students. Length of training was not related to differing attitudes among Canadian teachers.<p>6. The demographic characteristic of age was found to be related to differences in attitudes toward language variation. The younger teachers tended to have more positive attitudes toward the speech of Indigenous children. The variable of sex was important only for the Canandian group.<p>Further findings indicated that the attitudinal factors most likely to be related to demographic characteristics were Difference/Deficit and Adequate/Inadequate. The respondents who tended to be more positive toward the students language generally described it as Different but also Adequate for classroom use. It was concluded that the variables of language, teaching experience, education, age and sex related significantly to teacher attitudes towards the oral English of Indigenous students. It was also found that culture and language in combination related to differences in attitudinal judgments. It was further concluded that since these characteristics were found to be important, teacher education programs need to examine assess, and design preservice, and inservice programs for the teachers of Indigenous children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between selected demographic variables and the attitudes of teachers toward the oral English of their Indigenous students in Saskatchewan and Queensland.<p>Data were collected by administration of the Indigenous Students Oral English Questionnaire to a total of 217 teachers from schools throughout northern and central Saskatchewan, Canada and Queensland, Australia. The independent variables in the study were: culture, language teaching experience, education, age and sex. The dependent variable was the attitudes of the teachers toward the validity and acceptability of the Indigenous students' oral English.<p>Results of a factor analysis produced four attitudinal factors: Dialect Description, Difference/Deficit, Acceptability/Unacceptability, and Adequacy/Inadequacy. Seven hypotheses were analyzed by one-way analyses of variance to determine if any significant differences existed among the attitudinal factors on the basis of the demographic characteristics of the respondents. <p>The findings of this study must be considered in relation to the following limitations: the size and nature of the sample, the difficulty of measuring attitudes, and the existence of cultural bias. *<p> The study concluded with the following findings;<p>1. The cultural background of the teachers did not relate to differences in attitudinal judgements toward the oral English of Indigenous students.<p>2. The language background related to differences in attitudes toward language variation. Teachers who either spoke or understood an Indigenous language or Indigenous English were more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>3. The language and culture of the teachers in combination was found to relate to differing attitudes toward language variation. Those teachers who were both of Indigenous ancestry and either spoke or understood an Indigenous language or Indigenous English were more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>4. The years of teaching experience of the teachers was related to attitudinal differences toward language variation. There was a general trend for teachers with less experience to be more positive toward the speech of their Indigenous students.<p>5. The-post-secondary education of the teachers was related to their attitudes toward language variation. The teachers with three to four years of post-secondary education and more specialty courses in linguistics, Indigenous education/studies, ESL/ESD, sociology of education, cross-cultural education, cultural anthropology, and language teaching methodologies were more positive and accepting of the speech of their Indigenous students. Length of training was not related to differing attitudes among Canadian teachers.<p>6. The demographic characteristic of age was found to be related to differences in attitudes toward language variation. The younger teachers tended to have more positive attitudes toward the speech of Indigenous children. The variable of sex was important only for the Canandian group.<p>Further findings indicated that the attitudinal factors most likely to be related to demographic characteristics were Difference/Deficit and Adequate/Inadequate. The respondents who tended to be more positive toward the students language generally described it as Different but also Adequate for classroom use. It was concluded that the variables of language, teaching experience, education, age and sex related significantly to teacher attitudes towards the oral English of Indigenous students. It was also found that culture and language in combination related to differences in attitudinal judgments. It was further concluded that since these characteristics were found to be important, teacher education programs need to examine assess, and design preservice, and inservice programs for the teachers of Indigenous children.

In the current globalizing society, teachers are provided opportunities to move across their national borders to seek learning, professional development, and working opportunities. Technology-related professional development is particularly valued for teachers' sojourn to the technology intensive cultures. This qualitative cross-case study explored the K-12 Chinese language teachers' changes of teachers' application and perspective toward educational technology in cross-cultural teaching context through the lens of transformative learning theory. The qualitative data is collected from the interviews with 20 teacher participants in the four stages of cross-cultural sojourning: pre-departure, currently sojourning, post-sojourn, and immigrated. A qualitative cross-case analysis is conducted to compare the characteristics of teachers in different cases, and developed the complete process of the cross-cultural technology adoption and perspective. Factors contributed to the changes are also identified. Five issues related to the process are discussed. Implications and future directions were also included.

Today’s world is vastly impacted by the effects of immigration and globalization. The cultural diversity in the student population in the United States continues to grow steadily along with the immigrant population. Although there is a large body of research that is concerned with culturally responsive teaching in music education, preservice teacher preparation to address and serve diverse communities, as well as issues of recruitment of diverse educators, there is a gap in the literature when it comes to the perspectives of international music educators in the United States. Researchers have provided information on diverse student populations and resources for music educators of non-diverse backgrounds, but the voices of international music teachers have not yet been heard. International music teachers could possess unique insights, and might be able to relate to students in a way that most music teachers cannot. They are also equipped with different experiences due to their own diverse backgrounds. In this study, interviews of international music teachers provide a conduit to gain understanding of their experiences, reflections and suggestions in order to provide an unexplored perspective for the field of music education.

Submitted by admin tede (tede@pucgoias.edu.br) on 2016-10-07T11:56:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 WILMA LUIZA PINTO.pdf: 6317120 bytes, checksum: 84504dd557e2c4fa0ad273ec42d85fcd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-07T11:56:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WILMA LUIZA PINTO.pdf: 6317120 bytes, checksum: 84504dd557e2c4fa0ad273ec42d85fcd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-30 / This paper deals with the theme "Learning Assessment" thought from the subject and its cultural and social relations. Linked to line Teaching Theories of research and pedagogical processes, consisted of a literature review and analysis of documents. We investigated answer to the following problem: "What is the meaning of the evaluation from the perspective of cultural-historical subject" To answer the same, has listed it as a general objective: Explain the assessment of learning in a culturalhistorical perspective. It conducted literature publications from 1990 to 2015 in three platforms online: Journals Portal Improvement Coordination of Higher Education (CAPES), Brazilian Journal of Pedagogical Studies (RBEP) and Magazine Study of Educational Evaluation (EAE) the Carlos Chagas Foundation, in order to see how the issue is addressed by researchers in the proposed period. From survey of the state of knowledge was possible to find seven categories: For mative Assessment, Teacher Training, Evaluation Tools, Error The Assessment, Evaluation Policy, evaluation practices in inclusion and teaching practices. The themes addressed by researchers, some appear in very small numbers, indicating that discussions on some of these issues is still low before all the complexity that involves evaluative act. He attempted to show categories that are present in the Theory Historical-cultural: Mediation and Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), also considering the importance of the interactions in this perspective. The study investigated the relevance of these mediations at school to make significant teaching and learning. It analyzed some assessment tools, assigned by a school located in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, which has its pedagogical proposal based on the Theory Historical-cultural, considering that such instruments are sources of data collection that allow the mediations. It can be considered, from this work, that when it seeks a focused evaluation to the subject, we think this inserted in the middle, able to express themselves, to interact, to interfere and contribute to the search and acquisition of knowledge. In this sense, the time of teaching and learning is intrinsically related to culture, to the history of each individual, because learning does not get out of this and not out of the midst of which it is part. The assessment thus constitutes an exchange space, demonstrations, interactions, actions that do not finish each quarter, semester, academic year, but that gives clues to reflect on the construction and reconstruction of the whole learning process. / O presente trabalho aborda o tema “Avaliação da Aprendizagem” pensada a partir do sujeito e suas relações culturais e sociais. Ligada à linha de pesquisa de Teorias de Ensino e Processos Pedagógicos, consistiu em um levantamento bibliográfico e análise de documentos. Investigou-se resposta para o seguinte problema: “Qual o sentido da avaliação na perspectiva do sujeito histórico-cultural?” Para responder ao mesmo, elencou se como objetivo geral: Explicitar a avaliação da aprendizagem numa perspectiva histórico-cultural. Foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico de publicações no período de 1990 a 2015, em três plataformas on line: Portal de Periódicos da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento do Ensino Superior (CAPES), Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos (RBEP) e Revista Estudo Sobre Avaliação Educacional (EAE) da Fundação Carlos Chagas, a fim de perceber como o tema é abordado pelos pesquisadores no período proposto. A partir levantamento do estado do conhecimento foi possível encontrar sete categorias: Avaliação Formativa, Formação Docente, Instrumentos de Avaliação, O Erro na Avaliação, Políticas de Avaliação, Práticas Avaliativas em Inclusão e Práticas Pedagógicas. Das temáticas abordadas pelos pesquisadores, algumas aparecem em números muito pequenos, demonstrando que as discussões sobre algumas dessas temáticas ainda é pouca diante de toda a complexidade que envolve o ato avaliativo. Buscouse evidenciar categorias que se fazem presentes na Teoria Histórico-cultural: Mediação e Zona de Desenvolvimento Proximal (ZDP), considerando também a importância das interações nesta perspectiva. O estudo investigou a relevância dessas mediações no espaço escolar para tornar significativo o ensino aprendizagem. Analisou-se alguns instrumentos de avaliação, cedidos por uma escola localizada na cidade de Aparecida de Goiânia, que tem sua proposta pedagógica fundamentada na Teoria Histórico-cultural, considerando que tais instrumentos são fontes de coletas de dados que possibilitam as mediações. Pode se considerar, a partir deste trabalho, que quando se busca uma avaliação voltada para o sujeito, se pensa neste inserido no meio, capaz de se expressar, de interagir, de interferir e de contribuir com a busca e apropriação dos conhecimentos. Neste sentido, o momento de ensinar e aprender se relaciona intrinsecamente com a cultura, com a história de cada indivíduo, já que a aprendizagem não se dá fora do deste e nem fora do meio ao qual ele faz parte. A avaliação, dessa forma, se constitui um espaço de trocas, de manifestações, de interações, de ações, que não se finaliza a cada bimestre, semestre, ano letivo, mas que dá pistas para se refletir sobre a construção e a reconstrução de todo processo ensino aprendizagem.

This thesis explores how three international volunteers taught in rural Indigenous communities in Ecuador. It positions this exploration in the complexities and dilemmas of International aid education (IAE) projects and cross-cultural volunteer teaching. The study uses literature on anti-colonial theories, Indigenous knowledges and culturally relevant teaching (CRT) as a conceptual framework to understanding IVTs perceptions of and approaches towards cross-cultural teaching and its relationship with Indigenous students’ lived experiences. Onsite observations and interviews with international volunteer teachers’ (IVTs) and discussions with local teachers and volunteer program director are used in a cross-comparative analysis, which examines how their teaching was sensitive to and reflective of these Indigenous peoples’ ways of knowing and learning. The findings show that the three IVTs varied greatly in their understanding and enactment of CRT. The thesis concludes by exploring the implications of IAE and sets out recommendations for creating more culturally relevant education for Indigenous students.

This thesis explores how three international volunteers taught in rural Indigenous communities in Ecuador. It positions this exploration in the complexities and dilemmas of International aid education (IAE) projects and cross-cultural volunteer teaching. The study uses literature on anti-colonial theories, Indigenous knowledges and culturally relevant teaching (CRT) as a conceptual framework to understanding IVTs perceptions of and approaches towards cross-cultural teaching and its relationship with Indigenous students’ lived experiences. Onsite observations and interviews with international volunteer teachers’ (IVTs) and discussions with local teachers and volunteer program director are used in a cross-comparative analysis, which examines how their teaching was sensitive to and reflective of these Indigenous peoples’ ways of knowing and learning. The findings show that the three IVTs varied greatly in their understanding and enactment of CRT. The thesis concludes by exploring the implications of IAE and sets out recommendations for creating more culturally relevant education for Indigenous students.