The purpose of this research is to explore preservice teachers’ attitudes and beliefs towards mathematics, mental and written computations, and mental computation anxiety, to investigate their use of different mental computation strategies using different approaches (i.e., Direct Teaching (DT) and Open-Approach (OA)) among the three different groups, and to identify how the use of preservice teachers’ mental computation strategies affects their flexibility regarding mental computation. The participants were preservice teachers (PTS). Three classes were used for this study: two classes in a mathematics class (Course A) for experimental groups and one class for the control group. One class from professional education courses was selected. A mixed methods design was used, more specifically, the Mathematics Attitude Survey (MAS) was administrated before and after intervention to examine PTS’ attitudes towards mathematics, mental and written computation, and mental computation anxiety. In addition, to determine whether there is any statistically significant difference among the three groups, the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. Then, the MAS was analyzed descriptively. Next, a pre-and post-Mental Computation Test (MCT) was given to investigate PTS’ mental computation knowledge in relation to whole numbers, integers, and rational numbers (i.e., fractions, decimals, and percentages). A one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to determine if there were significant differences in mental computation performance among the three groups (i.e., DT, OA, and Control) with different instructions. Further, before and after intervention, face-to-face interviews were given to both the experimental and control groups to identify how they arrived at their answers. During interviews, 38 interviewees in the pre-interviews and 36 in the post-interviews for all groups participated. The interview items were selected from the pre-and post-MCT problems. Three levels of problems (i.e., high, medium, and low difficulty) for each operation were selected. The results of the MAS showed that with respect to the attitudes towards mathematics, PTS were generally shown positive attitudes towards learning mathematics and were aware of the importance of learning mathematics; however, in reality, about half of them did not want to spend time on learning or studying mathematics. In terms of PTS’ attitudes towards mental and written computation, PTS were aware that learning mental computation is more useful in real life situations and provides benefits in their mathematics learning. However, they do not feel comfortable and safe when using mental computation because of their lack of confidence and teaching abilities. For the mental computation, PTS showed slightly higher anxiety levels from pre-to post-tests. The findings of Mental Computation Test (MCT) revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in post-MCT scores between the different instructional groups when adjusted for pre-MCT scores. In particular, PTS using Open-Approach (OA) performed better than the PTS in the group using Direct Teaching (DT). The PTS in the control group performed worst. Significant differences between pre-and post-MCT performance were found among the three groups in solving multiplication, fraction, and decimal operations. The results of interviews suggest that there was an association between each interviewee’s quintile level and their flexibility in the use of the mental computation strategies. Regarding the whole number operation strategies, the results revealed that the interviewees in the middle and upper quintiles in both DT and OA used more than two different strategies with higher accuracy and were more likely to use the strategies. Interviewees in the middle and upper quintiles for the DT and OA groups were more likely to use the strategies that reflect efficient number facts or number-sense (e.g., Adding by place, Decomposing, & Compensation). The mental image of the Traditional method was frequently observed in the OA group. In contrast, for the lower quintiles, alternative strategies were not provided for both groups. The interviewees in the control group offered the smallest range of strategies. For the integer and rational operations, the interviewees in the DT group showed strategies that focused more on conceptual understanding. Surprisingly, the interviewees in the OA group were more likely to apply teacher-taught methods, including the Traditional method. The control group was not able to provide any alternative strategies. Plans for future research are set forth to add to the body of knowledge that exists regarding mental computation.

Syfte och frågeställningar: Syftet med studien är att undersöka vilken effekt har kamratåterkopplingsmodellen har i samband med idrottsundervisning i jämförelse med kontrollgruppen som utövar direkta instruktionsmodellen. Samt vilken av inlärningsteorierna har störst effekt. Vår hypotes är att kamratåterkopplingsmodellen är den inlärningsteori som ger bäst effekt vid inlärning av elevers färdighetsförmågor i momentet basket. Momentet behandlar öga-hand motoriken i form av basket. Metod: Ett före och efter test som innefattade 35 skott från straffkastlinjen – 4,25 m från baslinjen genomfördes. Deltagarna utför 5 övningskast för att därefter kasta 30 försök i 3 block (10 försök/block). Kasten graderas via ett poängsystem och dokumenteras. Totalt var det 6 tillfällen, ett testtillfälle innan experiment, 4 lektioner på 60 minuter/lektion där gruppen fördelades slumpmässigt in i två grupper med en bestämd inlärningsmetod per grupp samt ett testtillfälle efter avslutat experiment. Urvalet utgår från en målpopulation i årskurs 5 och använder sig av ett icke-slumpmässigt urval med ett bekvämlighetsurval på målpopulationen. I studien deltog totalt 28 elever, hälften killar (n=14) hälften tjejer (n=14). Two way repeated measures ANOVA utfördes för att analysera en eventuell statistisk signifikant interaktionsterm. Därefter granskades huvudeffekten för båda faktorerna och avslutades med ett post hoc test för att förstå eventuella skillnader. Resultat: I studiens resultat går det att urskilja att majoriteten av testpersonerna i respektive grupp har förbättrat sitt totala resultat från det första testtillfället till det slutliga resultatet. Det var dock inte en tillräcklig förändring av resultatet för att kunna urskilja något signifikantvärde hos någon av grupperna. Detta då skillnaden mellan för- och eftertest för gruppen med den direkta instruktionsmodellen inte visade på någon signifikans (p=0,758) och detsamma gäller gruppen med kamratåterkoppling (p=0,598). Slutsats: Enligt resultatet från denna studie går det inte att tyda vilket av de två pedagogiska tillvägagångssätten som är det mest effektiva för att leverera önskade lärandemål och färdigheter i undervisningen. I och med detta menar vi att det fortfarande saknas betydande mätningar som jämför olika undervisningsmetoder och strategier som lärare kan använda sig av för att uppnå kompetensbaserade resultat. / Aim: The purpose of the study is to investigate what effect the peer teaching model has in connection with sports education in comparison with the control group that exercises the direct instructional model And which of the learning theories has the greatest effect. Our hypothesis is that peer teaching is the learning theory that gives the best effect when learning skills abilities in basketball. The moment is about eye-hand motor skills in the form of basketball. Method: A pre- and post test that included 35 shots from the penalty shootout - 4.25m from the baseline was completed. The participants perform 5 exercises tries to then throw 30 tries in 3 blocks (10 tries / blocks). The tries were graded through a scoring system and documented. In total there were 6 occasions, one pre-test, 4 lessons in 60 minutes / lesson, where the group was randomly divided into two groups with a specific learning method per group and a post-test. The selection is based on a target population at grade 5 and uses a non-random selection with a comfort selection on the target population. In the study, a total of 28 students participated, half boys (n = 14) as girls (n = 14). Two-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed to analyze any statistically significant interaction term. Thereafter, the main effect was examined for both factors and concluded with a post hoc test to understand any differences. Results: The results of the study show that the majority of test subjects in each group have improved their overall result from the first test case to the final result. However, there was not a sufficient change in the result to be able to discern any significant value in any of the groups. This is because the difference between pre- and post-test for the group with the direct instruction model showed no significance (p = 0.758) and the same applies to the group with peer feedback (p = 0.598). Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it is not clear which of the two pedagogical approaches is the most effective in delivering desired learning objectives and skills in teaching. By this we mean that there are still no significant measurements that compare different teaching methods and strategies that teachers can use to achieve competency-based results.

xiii, 126 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Given the staggering prevalence of 12-22% of school children with mental health problems and the paucity of effective mental health services available, it is essential that professionals examine alternative methods for providing social and emotional support to children (Greenberg, Bumbarger, & Domitrovich, 2001). Rather than continuing with a service delivery approach that is reactive, fragmented, and inefficient, professionals are called to consider a more preventive approach that ensures the health of all children. A public health model of intervention can provide a conceptual framework for mental health service delivery in its aim to serve an entire population and to provide multi-tiered support (universal, targeted, indicated) that increases in intensity based on the needs of individual persons (Coie et al, 2000). Members of the Oregon Resiliency Project, a research effort at the University of Oregon, have spent the last several years developing one such set of SEL curricula, appropriate for children in grades pre-k-12, the Strong Kids programs, Strong Start: K-2 , (Merrell, Parisi, & Whitcomb, 2007), is a component of Strong Kids , developmentally applicable to kindergarten through second grade students. The purpose of this study was to implement a pilot or feasibility study that examined the impact of Strong Start on first grade students' social-emotional knowledge skills, with a particular emphasis on emotion knowledge, social behavior and affect. Pretest data collection of Strong Start began in Fall 2007 in 4 classrooms in a suburban, northwestern school district. Implementation of the intervention occurred in Winter 2008 and posttest data were gathered in Spring 2008. Results indicated that Strong Start was implemented with integrity, and that significant increases in students' knowledge about emotion situations and significant decreases in students' internalizing behaviors were associated with exposure to the program. Limitations of this study as well as directions for future research are discussed. / Committee in charge: Kenneth Merrell, Chairperson, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Cynthia Anderson, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Elizabeth Stormshak, Member, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; John Seeley, Member, not from U of 0; Sara Hodges, Outside Member, Psychology

Le Programme de formation de l’école québécoise situe l’élève au cœur de ses apprentissages. L’enseignant peut faciliter le développement des compétences en offrant une rétroaction permettant à l’élève de progresser dans ses apprentissages. Il est difficile pour les enseignants de faire des annotations pertinentes et efficaces en mathématique, car l’accent est mis sur le concept travaillé et non sur la démarche mathématique. C’est pourquoi, nous avons porté notre regard sur l’incidence que peut avoir l’enseignement explicite des stratégies ainsi que sur les annotations faites par l’enseignant sur les copies des élèves en ce qui a trait au développement de leurs compétences à résoudre des problèmes complexes en mathématique. Nous avons opté pour une recherche qualitative et collaborative pour vivre un échange avec l’enseignant et vivre une interinfluence entre le praticien et le chercheur. La qualité des sujets a été favorisée. La technique d’échantillonnage retenue pour le choix de l’enseignant a été celle de cas exemplaires, tandis que celle que nous avons choisie pour les élèves était l’échantillonnage intentionnel critérié. La recherche a duré du mois de novembre au mois de mai de l’année scolaire 2008-2009. Comme instruments de cueillette de données, nous avons opté pour des entrevues avec l’enseignant et des mini-entrevues avec les élèves à deux moments de la recherche. Nous avons consulté les travaux corrigés des élèves dans leur portfolio. Notre étude fait ressortir l’apport de l’enseignement stratégique de la démarche mathématique. Les résultats précisent que les annotations de type méthodologique ont été celles qui ont été les plus utilisées et ont permis une meilleure compréhension chez l’élève. De plus, elles favorisent le transfert d’une situation à l’autre et permettent à l’élève d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats. / The Programme de formation de l’école québécoise (PFEQ) places the student in the center of his learning. The teacher can facilitate the development of the student’s skills by offering a feedback that allows the student to progress in his learning. It is difficult for the teacher’s to make relevant and effective annotations in math, because the emphasis is placed on the concept that was worked on and not on the mathematical process. This is the reason why we decided to concentrate our research on the incidence the teacher’s annotations can have on the development of the student’s mathematical skills. We opted for a qualitative and collaborative research to experiment an exchange with the teacher and live an inter influence between the practitioner and the researcher. The quality of the subjects was favoured. The teacher was chosen according to the sampling of exemplary case techniques and the students were chosen according to the intentional criteria sampling technique. The research lasted from november till may of the school year 2008-2009. Interviews with the teacher and mini interviews with the students at two moments of the research were used to collect data. We also consulted the corrected work placed in the pupil’s portfolios. Our study highlights the contribution of strategic teaching of the mathematical approach. The results specify that methodological annotation was mostly used and aims at a better understanding of the student. Furthermore, this type allows the transfer from a situation to another and allows the student to obtain better results.

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