This study provides selected research findings on which decisions can be based in planning an in-school, publicly funded, Cree immersion program from kindergarten to grade 8 in Saskatchewan. The study was an analysis of language education research relating to the learner in immersion programs. Consequences of immersion education for student linguistic, psycho-social, and educational development were examined and reported. Immersion programs for French, and to a lesser extent, for heritage languages in Canada, have been extensively researched. Immersion programs for Indian languages are few and are relatively unreported. There is, however, an increasing interest in the creation of immersion programs in Indian schools. The analysis of research relating to publicly-funded French, heritage language, and Indian language immersion programs in Canada revealed support for the creation of an early total Cree immersion program. It could have neutral or positive effects on student linguistic, psycho-social, and educational development, under specific program conditions. The following consequences for students were projected: 1. a positive effect on Cree language proficiency. Native-like proficiency levels would not necessarily result. 2. a neutral or positive effect on cognitive development.3. a positive effect on attitudes toward the Cree language and culture, and a strengthening of Indian identity. 4. a neutral or positive effect on self-concet. 5. a lessening of social distance between the generations.6. a positive effect on attitudes toward language learning and the immersion experience. 7. a positive effect on student understanding of cultural, social, and political aspects of Indian/non-Indian relations.8. a neutral effect on English language and literacy development. Temporary lags in English literacy skills could be expected until after the teaching of English reading. Skill levels could become equivalent to those of comparable students in regular programs within one school year, with the possible exception of spelling.9. a neutral or positive effect on overall educational achievement. Greater understanding of their Indian culture, lowered drop-out rates, and improved work study skills could be predicted. Certain program characteristics which were identified as essential if all of the projected neutral or positive consequences were to be realized include: 1. an early total immersion program model. 2. an immersion centre setting.3. introduction of Cree literacy before English literacy.4. adequate Cree language resource materials, for all subjects and grades taught in Cree.5. fluently bilingual and biliterate qualified teachers with specialized training in bilingual education.6. subjects to be taught in Cree to be selected dependent on the availability of resource materials and qualified teachers.7. a carefully planned and implemented program. A Cree immersion program could result in enhanced cognitive and linguistic abilities to the extent that Cree were spoken in students' homes, and that students had opportunities to use Cree outside of the school. Under identified program conditions, early total Cree immersion could have at least neutral 'effects on student self-concept, cognitive development, English language development and academic achievement. It could have positive effects on student Cree language proficiency, attitudes toward the Cree language and culture, attitudes toward language learning, sociopolitical perceptions, communication within the family, retention rates, work study skills, and knowledge about Indian cultures. Cree proficiency attained by students might not be native-like, but could be at a level which would allow them to learn through Cree, and to continue learning the Cree language and culture.

Secondary agricultural education programs provide students an opportunity to gain a wide variety of knowledge about agriculture, as well as, the career opportunities within agriculture. The National FFA Organization is available for all youth enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program with a mission to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success. In order to continue to have youth interested in agricultural colleges and the potential for pursuing agricultural careers, students must be educated about those program areas. Student perceptions of these program areas can greatly influence their motivation enroll in secondary agricultural education programs, join the National FFA Organization, and pursue agricultural career. This study used a survey method to determine the perceptions of students not enrolled in a high school agricultural program of secondary agricultural education programs, the National FFA Organization, and agricultural careers, as well as, determine the demographic characteristics of those students.

The North Carolina Public Schools, like other schools in the southeast, have experienced phenomenal growth in their ELL student populations in the last 15 years. This fairly recent influx of ELL students raises questions about the extent to which the schools, and more specifically, the teachers, are prepared to meet the needs of their linguistically diverse students. Unfortunately, few studies to date have investigated how teacher education programs (TEPs) and professional development opportunities are addressing this aspect of teacher preparation. This dissertation addresses the lack of current research as it pertains to both TEPs and professional development experiences of middle school working in the North Carolina Public Schools. Using a mixed methods design that combined survey research with open-ended interviews of focal participants, the author revealed that teachers had had limited preparation experiences at both the TEP and professional development levels. However, those who had had these experiences overall did exhibit some capacity to adapt instruction and relate to their ELLs in positive ways. The preparation, however, also lacked sociolinguistic awareness and awareness about the theoretical foundations that underlie these practices. The author concluded by relating the findings to the current research and discussed recommendations and implications for TEPs and professional development in North Carolina and the southern context.

<p>Cilj rada je da se ukaţe na prednosti i ograniĉenja kvalitativnih istraţivaĉkih pristupa u saznavanju i unapreĊivanju pedago&scaron;ke stvarnosti, kao i da se ukaţe na mogućnosti i probleme kombinovanja kvalitativnih i kvantitativnih metoda u prouĉavanju odreĊenih pedago&scaron;kih problema. U prvom delu rada, razmatraju se teorijske pretpostavke koje leţe u osnovi kvalitativnih istraţivaĉkih pristupa, predstavljajući ih kao kritiĉke i kao komplementarne kvantitativnim pristupima. Diskutujemo o posebnim pitanjima koja smatramo vaţnim za polje kvalitativnog pedago&scaron;kog diskursa: o kriterijumima nauĉnosti, strategijama formiranja uzorka i relevantnosti ovih istraţivanja za praksu i planiranje obrazovne politike. Detaljnije su razmotrena tri kvalitativna istraţivaĉka pristupa: studija sluĉaja, etnografski pristup i akciono istraţivanje, odnosno dometi i ograniĉenja primene ovih pristupa u prouĉavanju pedago&scaron;kih fenomena. Na kraju prvog dela rada, raspravljamo o mogućnostima i ograniĉenjima istraţivaĉkih nacrta u kojima se kombinuju kvalitativne i kvantitativne metode. U drugom delu rada, na primeru na&scaron;eg akcionog istraţivanja u osnovnoj &scaron;koli ilustrujemo doprinos ovog pristipa saznavanju i menjanju pedago&scaron;ke stvarnosti. Reĉ je o razvijanju i evaluaciji alternativnog programa razredne nastave, ĉija je jedna od osnovnih karakteristika primena grupno-istraţivaĉkog modela uĉenja. U istraţivaĉkom nacrtu kombinovani su kvalitativni i kvantitativni postupci i tehnike za prikupljanje podataka. Detaljnije je prikazan deo rezultata istraţivanja koji se odnosi na primenu grupno-istraţivaĉkog rada uĉenika u nastavi na tematski organizovanim nastavnim sadrţajima Poznavanja dru&scaron;tva u ĉetvrtom razredu, kao ilustracija mogućnosti akcionog istraţivanja da doprinese lak&scaron;em uvoĊenju inovacija u pedago&scaron;ku praksu. U tom smislu, kao poseban doprinos istraţivanja, dajemo predlog za izmene u programskim sadrţajima ovog predmeta i pristupima za njihovo izuĉavanje.</p> / <p>The goal of this paper is to point out to the advantages and limitations of qualitative research approaches in learning about and advancing the pedagogical reality, as well as to point out to the possibilities and problems of combining qualitative and quantitative methods in studying certain pedagogical problems. In the first part of the paper, we discuss theoretical assumptions underlying qualitative research approaches, presenting them as critical and complementary to quantitative approaches. We discuss special issues that we consider important for the field of qualitative pedagogical discourse: the criteria of scientific nature, the strategies for sample formation and relevance of these types of research for practice and planning of educational policy. Three qualitative research approaches have been considered in more detail: case study, ethnographic approach and action research, that is, the scope and limitations of application of these approaches in studying pedagogical phenomena. In the end of the first part of the paper, we discuss the possibilities and limitations of research designs that combine qualitative and quantitative methods. In the second part of the paper, on the example of our action research in primary school, we illustrate the contribution of this approach to learning about and changing the pedagogical reality. We are dealing with the development and evaluation of an alternative program of primary school, which has as one of its basic characteristics the application of group-investigation model of learning. This research design combines qualitative and quantitative procedures and data collection techniques. There is a more detailed presentation of that portion of research results that refers to the application of group-investigation work of pupils in class on topically organised teaching contents of Social Science in the fourth grade, as an illustration of the possibilities of action research to contribute to the easier introduction of innovations in educational practice. In that sense, as a special contribution of this research, we provide a suggestion for changes in program contents of this subject and approaches to their studying.</p>

This research study was designed to investigate the relationship between participation in a nursing education program and the factors of stress, physical illness, anxiety, and self-concept experienced by the participants. Also, the study examined the relationship between age of participants and these same factors. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine if beginning and ending nursing students differ in stress, physical illness, anxiety, and self-concept, (2) to examine the relationship between age of nursing students and stress, physical illness, anxiety, and self-concept, (3) to provide information that may help develop a theoretical base concerning stressful life events and illness in nursing students, and (4) to provide information that may be beneficial with regard to future research involving stress, physical illness, anxiety, self-concept, and age in nursing students.

This qualitative case study describes the character of the Florida Arts and Community Enrichment (FACE) program, a community arts organization, and the role it plays in the lives and education of children and adolescents with at-risk tendencies. To gain an insider’s perspective of the organization, I conducted research as a participant observer. The participatory action research model enables participants and the researcher to share knowledge as equal partners in research, while the appreciative inquiry method focuses on the organization’s best qualities as a starting point for future improvement. To collect a variety of data, this study incorporated on-site interviews recorded on audiocassette, photographs, historical documents, student art, and observations recorded in the researcher’s journal. Based on two years of observation and data collection, I learned about FACE’s employees and students. Its employees do not earn a substantial amount of money, however, they do their jobs because of their love for the arts and the children. FACE’s students greatly enjoy attending their organization because it provides them with a safehaven, meaningful friendships, positive relationships with caring adults, and a place to explore their many talents. In addition to learning about the participants, four emergent themes developed. First, I learned the type of arts organization that best serves children with at-risk tendencies. Based on what I found at FACE, I argue that an arts organization should be child centered, located close to children’s homes, unique, offer comprehensive services, and operate as active learning centers. Second, I discovered the type of characteristics of a community arts organization’s leader. Third, I learned that FACE, like most child centered arts organizations, is more recreational than school. FACE balances fun activities such as structured play with educational activities to capture its students’ interests. Fourth, although FACE’s students attend an arts organization located on the grounds of a public housing project, some students had negative images of children living in project housing. Implications for educational practice showed that children like their art organization better than school because they felt more valued and respected at their program. Organizations like FACE capture their interests and make them feel good about themselves. With this in mind, arts organizations appear to be an inexpensive way to reduce risk factors in the nonschool hours to children with at-risk tendencies because they give them something meaningful to do with their free time. Learning lessons from what works well at FACE, schools can benefit their students with at-risk tendencies by integrating the arts into academic subject areas, incorporating the community into the classroom, giving children a choice of what they would like to participate in or how to create a project, and most importantly, providing them with a nurturing environment. / Dissertation / PhD

A avaliação possui um papel importante no processo de ensino-aprendizagem e sua prática deveria estar de acordo com os objetivos educacionais, contribuindo assim na sua obtenção. A avaliação das aprendizagens tem reconhecida capacidade de modificar o currículo, daí a importância do seu estudo. A forma como a avaliação se organiza e se desenvolve não é independente das concepções de ensino-aprendizagem apresentadas pelo professor e pode ter influência na representação que os alunos fazem da ciência e na aprendizagem da ciência. Neste trabalho, apresentamos o resultado de um estudo de caso realizado com dez professores de Química em exercício, atuantes em escolas públicas e particulares e também participantes do Programa de Pós-Graduação Interunidades em Ensino de Ciências da Universidade de São Paulo. Nossos dados estão baseados em entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com estes professores e análises de documentos desenvolvidos pelos professores e suas respectivas escolas, a saber: planejamento de ensino anual, projeto político pedagógico e avaliações. As respostas às entrevistas foram categorizadas e relacionadas a modelos didáticos conforme descritos na literatura por: transmissão/assimilação, descobrimento e construtivista. Os projetos políticos pedagógicos e os planejamentos foram categorizados de acordo com a literatura em ênfase em Educação Geral e em Química e, dentre estas, ainda em sub-categorias. As provas elaboradas pelos professores foram categorizadas em produtivas e reprodutivas, utilizando características descritas na literatura. As concepções de ensino-aprendizagem inferidas dos discursos dos professores, bem como as concepções expressas nos documentos que definem suas práticas (planejamentos de ensino e projetos políticos pedagógicos) mostram-se bastante coerentes com as direções sugeridas pelas reformas curriculares, expressando modelos de ensino centrados no aluno, e enfatizando aspectos relacionados à valorização do desenvolvimento dos estudantes e do processo de aprendizagem. Nosso estudo revela, entretanto, que as ações em sala de aula, ao menos no que se refere ao processo de avaliação, contrastam com tais idéias. A análise sistemática dos objetivos e da metodologia do processo avaliativo utilizada pelos professores investigados revela-se coerente com uma prática de ensino centrada no conteúdo químico e voltada principalmente à transmissão/assimilação e sugerem que a avaliação praticada pelos professores tem um papel predominantemente certificativo. Tal contradição pode comprometer a representação de ciência e como se aprende ciência, uma vez que, por este modelo de transmissão, a nota da prova e o que se solicita nela servem de referencial para o aluno. A compreensão das funções que a avaliação pode assumir não ocorre espontaneamente sendo necessário a intervenção através de formação contínua, onde se faça a correlação entre a concepção de ensino-aprendizagem, o modelo didático a ser empregado e a avaliação da aprendizagem mais adequada. / Assessment plays an important role in the teaching-learning process, and its practice should be in accordance with the instructional goals, contributing towards their attainment. The assessment of learning is an important subject of study in research in science education, given its recognized capacity to change curriculums. The assessment methodology is dependent upon teaching-learning conceptions, and may impact students´ representations on science and on the learning of science. In this work, results based on a case-study focused on ten Chemistry teachers, practicing in public and private schools, and enrolled in a chemical education master program at the University of São Paulo are presented. The current study is based on the analysis of semi-structured interviews and also includes the investigation of documents produced by these teachers and the schools they work, including the annual teaching plannings, the school´s political pedagogical projects and the applied evaluations. The answers to the interviews were categorized and related to didactic models according to literature descriptions: transmission/assimilation model, discovery learning and constructivist model. Political pedagogical projects and teaching plannings were both categorized according to different curriculum emphases, grouped into two categories: \"General Education\" and \"Chemical Education\". Such emphases are also classified in subcategories, and have been suggested by literature. The exam questions were classified as productives and reproductives, also in accordance to previously described categories. The teaching-learning conceptions that emerge from the analysis of the teacher\'s speeches and the guidelines stated by the documents that define teachers\' classroom practices (teaching plannings and political pedagogical projects) are in close agreement to the educational directions suggested by the curricular restructuring, expressing studentcentered teaching models and giving emphasis to the importance of students´ development and the learning process. Our study reveals, however, that classroom actions contrast to such ideas, at least while assessment procedures are concerned. The systematic analysis of the purposes and methodology of the evaluative process performed by the investigated teachers suggests a strong correlation to a content-based teaching practice, based on a transmission/assimilation model, where the main goal of the assessment practice is certification. Such contradiction may potentially undermine science representation and the learning of science, since, according to a transmission/assimilation model, the obtained grade in an exam and what is requested in the exams are important references to the students. Comprehension as regard to the different roles that the evaluation process may assume does not spontaneously occur. An intervention through teachers\' in-service programs is necessary, focusing on the correlation between teaching-learning conceptions, didactic models and the assessment of learning.

Introdução: O Ambiente Educacional é um dos pilares para o alcance do perfil e das competências definidas na formação do enfermeiro e, portanto, é essencial avaliá-lo, na enfermagem do Brasil, no entanto, não encontramos instrumentos específicos para esta finalidade. Objetivos: conhecer o significado de ambiente educacional para estudantes e professores do Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo; construir e validar um instrumento para avaliação do ambiente educacional desta Escola e avaliar, na perspectiva do estudante, o ambiente educacional da Escola. Material e métodos: O estudo teve duas fases: a primeira foi de natureza qualitativa, na modalidade da análise temática, que, entrevistando três docentes e seis estudantes, buscou conhecer o significado e os elementos constitutivos do ambiente educacional. Com base nesta análise e a fim de atender às demandas específicas dos cursos de graduação em Enfermagem no Brasil, foi desenvolvida a segunda fase da pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, que construiu e validou uma escala psicométrica para avaliação do ambiente educacional. Participaram dessa fase, respondendo ao instrumento, 176 (55%) graduandos matriculados na Escola durante a coleta de dados. Resultados: A primeira fase da pesquisa ambiente educacional, além disso, e assim como a fase quantitativa, foram identificados aspectos relevantes a serem apreciados sobre o ambiente. Dentre eles, destacamos: a necessidade de ajustes entre a metodologia de ensino utilizada para a construção do conhecimento e da identidade profissional, com a pressuposta no projeto político pedagógico; o relacionamento interpessoal nos diferentes níveis que, embora considerado harmonioso, pode ser melhorado; a exigência de discussão dos aspectos éticos do cotidiano, visto que os estudantes tem vivenciado situações de desrespeito; a vida social e as atividades extra-curriculares podem ser intensificadas. Conclusões: Este trabalho propiciou a significação de Ambiente Educacional em uma Escola pública paulistana. Em continuidade, é preciso aplicar o instrumento em outras realidades da enfermagem, para não restringir a validação da escala e também, para aumentar a população e refazer o teste de confiabilidade. Apesar dessa limitação, o conhecimento produzido oferece, a outras instituições de ensino superior, um novo construto para avaliação do processo ensino-aprendizagem. / Introduction: The Educational Environment is one of the pillars upon which the profile and the competences defined in nurse training and, therefore, it is essential to evaluate it in nursing in Brazil, however, did not find specific tools for this purpose. Objectives: To know the meaning of the educational environment for students and teachers of the Undergraduate Nursing School of Nursing, University of São Paulo; construct and validate an instrument to assess the educational environment of this school and evaluate the student\'s perspective, the environment Educational School. Methods: The study had two phases: the first was qualitative in nature, in the form of thematic analysis, which, interviewing three teachers and six students, sought to know the meaning and the elements of the educational environment. Based on this analysis and in order to meet the specific demands of graduate programs in nursing in Brazil, we developed a second phase of quantitative research approach, we built and validated a psychometric scale to assess the educational environment. In this phase, responding to the instrument, 176 (55%) undergraduates enrolled in school during data collection. Results: The first phase of the research educational environment, moreover, and as the quantitative phase were identified relevant aspects to be examined on the environment. Among them include: the need for adjustments between the teaching methodology used to construct the knowledge and professional identity, with presupposed in political pedagogical project; interpersonal relationships at different levels, although considered harmonious, can be improved, the requirement for discussion of ethical aspects of daily life, as students have experienced situations of disrespect; social life and extra-curricular activities may be intensified. Conclusions: This study provided the significance of Environmental Education in a public school in Sao Paulo. In continuation, we need to apply the instrument in other realities of nursing, not to restrict the validity of the scale and also to increase the population and re-test reliability. Despite this limitation, offers the knowledge produced, other institutions of higher learning, a new construct to assess the teaching-learning process.

<p>Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are at the forefront of conversations in education, not only in Indiana, but across the country. This conversation is crossing boundaries from primary and secondary education, to academia, to government agencies, to industry. The inherent focus on STEM comes from an understanding of the impending job shortage in STEM jobs in the next decades. In the discipline of fluid power, the gap between education and industry with jobs is not easy to see because while the gap is known by industry experts there is a lack of literature documenting the gap. Most education is focused on the university level and preparation, and little effort is focused on gaining the interest of students in a K-12 education. </p> <p> Through a partnership between Indiana 4-H, Purdue Polytechnic and the National Fluid Power Association, the creation of the 4-H NFPA Fluid Power Challenge was created to bridge the gap not only in STEM education through 4-H STEM programming, but to also give youth an opportunity to learn more about STEM and fluid power careers through this eight-week opportunity. The program focuses on collecting data on career interest, STEM attitudes, and fluid power interest. The focus of this dissertation is on the relationships between students participating in the 4-H NFPA fluid power challenge, years of participation, gender with career, STEM attitudes, and fluid power interest. </p> Gender and participation were two areas in which significant relationships were found in the data set. The relationship between the two as long as the relationship between before and after participation and career interest creates a picture that both answers the research questions posed in this dissertation, but also links to other research in this area on the matters of gender and STEM interest and careers. This study also highlights the importance of a focus on fluid power, and the impact that is seen specifically in sustained experiences in females who participate in Fluid Power programs. <br>

This study undertook an evaluation of six alternative education programs provided by St Augustine's Education and Training in the Barwon region of Victoria. The impetus for the study has come from the staff of St Augustine's who bravely opened up their programs to closer scrutiny in order to gain a clearer understanding about the needs of the students attending their programs, the theoretical basis of their work and the outcomes of program intervention. A utilisation-focused approach was used and incorporated the following components: a needs analysis using a variety of measures to identify the characteristics of the students and to describe the experiences of students and parents, a qualitative process to articulate the model of psycho-education intervention and issues in service delivery and an impact evaluation to assess the effectiveness of intervention. There were 158 students aged between 6 and 15 years enrolled in programs over a two year period. The results of the needs analysis found that programs were appropriately targeting a marginalised and disadvantaged group of students that typically came from a low socioeconomic background, were significantly behind in their academic achievement, had poor adaptive functioning skills, exhibited a low level of social-emotional development (social-emotional competencies and negative attitudes towards learning) and a high level of psychopathology (mental health symptoms). Using the Survey of Student Assets (Bernard, 2002), the impact evaluation found that programs were successful in increasing the students' social-emotional capabilities and positive attitudes towards learning but did not impact significantly on the students' presenting mental health symptoms and adaptive functioning as measured by the Teachers Report Form (Achenbach and Rescoria, 2001). However, these results are to be interpreted with caution given the small sample sizes used in the analysis. Across the six programs it was found that a total of 89 students (56.3%) experienced a positive outcome destination immediately post-program and these students were maintained in, or transitioned back to mainstream school (n=71) or entered vocational training, education or employment (n= 18). Negative outcome destinations were experienced by 35 students (22.1 %) either because they were excluded (n=3), not engaged (n= 15) or withdrew from program (n= 17). At the end of the study, the remaining 25 students (15.8%) were either referred internally onto another program (n=16) or remained in program (n=9). In predicting outcome destinations, students with positive outcomes, were those that presented with less serious mental health symptoms, in particular they had lower rule-breaking and externalising scores on the Teachers Report Form at referral and a higher level of adaptive functioning in the area of 'working hard'. Students experiencing positive outcome destinations were also those that attended program regularly and for a fewer number of months and were involved in fewer critical incidents whilst attending. The qualitative process evaluation found that the model delivered was grounded in the principles of exemplary practice found in the psycho-educational literature and focused on building positive relationships and a sense of belonging, the provision of hands-on learning activities and rewarding individual achievement. Parents and students generally provided positive feedback however the theme analysis of staff, student and parent interviews and the case study scenarios did identify a number of critical areas to be addressed. These included clarifying the target group and the length and intensity of intervention, improving assessment, planning and transition processes, better collaboration with other services and mainstream schools, the on-site delivery of auxiliary services to meet specific student needs, work to better support and involve parents and to develop a sense of community across the school. A strategic planning process involving key stakeholders to systematically address these areas was recommended.