Le design de jeux est une discipline en plein essor, dont les progrès technologiques et théoriques ne cessent de se perfectionner. L’évolution rapide de la sphère ludique oblige une constante adaptation de la part de cette discipline, autant au niveau professionnel que académique. Il est important de se questionner quant aux impacts de cette évolution sur les programmes de formation en design de jeux. Les programmes se spécialisant dans ce domaine doivent s’adapter en temps réel afin de former des praticiens plus près des attentes et des pratiques retrouvées sur le marché du travail contemporain. En s’appuyant sur le modèle de la recherche ethnographique et phénoménologique en design, l’objectif de l’étude est d’apporter un nouvel éclairage sur la pratique de l’enseignement du design de jeux. Nous observons plus attentivement les apprenants du D.E.S.S. en design de jeux de l’Université de Montréal lors de la réalisation de leur projet de fin d’études, dont l’objectif est la création d’un prototype vidéoludique fonctionnel. Notre approche est de nature qualitative, d’inspiration phénoménologique: nous avons recueilli l’expérience pédagogique de sept étudiants designers ainsi que de deux enseignants. Par l’intermédiaire de l’observation non participante, de carnets de bords, d’entretiens semi-dirigés et de groupes de discussion, il a été possible d’analyser l’expérience en action des participants. Une attention significative est portée à l’égard des différents phénomènes rencontrés par les étudiants lors du processus de conception, de création et de production du projet de fin d’études. Nos résultats tentent de dépeindre, le plus fidèlement possible, l’expérience pédagogique des participants de la cohorte 2019-2020. L’analyse met en perspective les forces ainsi que les insuffisances du contexte pédagogique. L’interprétation a permis l’identification de plusieurs phénomènes et thématiques récurrentes tout au long de l’étude. La conclusion de la recherche mène vers des pistes recommandations prospectives qui concernent le contexte socioculturel, la motivation, le travail d’équipe ainsi que l’encadrement en situation de projet. / The field of video game design is constantly evolving seeing rapid change both in game design theory and technology as the video game industry matures as a whole. This rapid progress requires game design professionals to constantly evolve and adapt to remain pertinent on the market. Thus, it is important to consider the impact of such rapid growth on the academic platform that seeks to support it by providing the industry with qualified graduates ready to meet the ever-growing expectations of employers. Using the ethnographic and phenomenological research models, the objective of the present study is to bring new understanding of the teaching practices of game design by following students through their final project. Consisting in designing and developing a functioning video game prototype, the final project offers the author of this study a unique perspective into the design processes and strategies adopted by the students over the course of the production. Based on the qualitative approach of the phenomenological research model, this study compiled the experiences of seven design students and two teachers through non-participatory observation, logbooks, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Through the observations gathered on the field, this study aims to faithfully portray the academic experiences of the students of class 2019-2020. The analysis of the data collected highlights the strengths of the educational experience as well as underlines its inadequacies and shortcomings which, in turn, lead to reflexive recommendations concerning the sociocultural context, motivation, teamwork, training and pedagogy within a project-based context.

Cette thèse a été réalisée, entre autres, grâce à une subvention reçue du Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture et de son partenaire le ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS) Les analyses contenues dans cette thèse ont été réalisées au Centre interuniversitaire québécois de statistiques sociales (CIQSS), membre du Réseau canadien des centres de données de recherche (RCCDR). Les activités du CIQSS sont rendues possibles grâce à l’appui financier du CRSHC, des IRSC, de la FCI, de Statistique Canada, du FRQSC ainsi que de l’ensemble des universités québécoises qui participent à leur financement. Les idées exprimées dans ce texte sont celles des auteurs et non celles des partenaires financiers. / Ce travail explore le phénomène social que sont l’élaboration et la variation des aspirations scolaires réalistes chez les finissants du secondaire tout au long de leurs études, soit sur une période de huit années. L’idée est de faire ressortir les fac-teurs en jeu, en se référant aux deux concepts sociologiques d’importance dans le milieu de l’éducation que sont l’habitus de Pierre Bourdieu et la rationalité de Ray-mond Boudon. En somme, cette thèse explore dans quelle mesure les facteurs liés à au parcours de l’élève (base de référence pour un calcul rationnel) et à l’héritage so-cioculturel (habitus) peuvent intervenir sur l’élaboration des aspirations scolaires dites réalistes et la variation des aspirations. Les analyses ont été effectuées en deux temps. La première consiste en une régression logistique pour l’analyse transversale selon les données de l’enquête au-près des jeunes en transition (EJET). Analyse qui avait pour intention de faire ressor-tir les principaux facteurs qui interviennent lors de l’élaboration d’une aspiration sco-laire chez les élèves canadiens qui sont à la fin de leurs études secondaires. Par la suite, une seconde analyse a été faite, toujours avec les données d’EJET, afin de poser un regard longitudinal sur ce phénomène afin de prendre connaissance des facteurs qui interviennent tout au long de leur parcours; pour ce faire une régression d’estimation d’équation généralisée a été effectuée. Les résultats tendent à suggérer que l’élève exécute bel et bien un calcul ra-tionnel pour l’élaboration et la variation des aspirations scolaires réalistes, mais un calcul qui est, avant tout, influencé par l’habitus, surtout selon le niveau d’études des parents (capital culturel institutionnalisé). Par ailleurs, ce calcul rationnel serait da-vantage influencé par la moyenne générale déclarée lors des études au secondaire et lors des premières années à la suite des études secondaires. Ainsi peut-on dire que l’élaboration et la variation d’une aspiration scolaire réaliste se conçoivent sur la base d’un héritage culturel et d’un parcours scolaire constitués d’un ensemble d’expériences scolaires récentes, qui pourrait se conceptualiser sous « la rationalité en habitus ». / This thesis investigates the social phenomenon of the elaboration and adjustment of realistic educational aspirations for high school graduates during the ten-year period preceding graduation. Its aim is to determine which factors most affect realistic edu-cational aspirations in the light of two major sociological concepts: Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus and Raymond Boudon’s concept of rationality. In short, this thesis explores the manner in which factors linked to educational experience (the baseline for rational calculating) and to sociocultural heritage (habitus) may affect the cons-truction of so-called realistic educational aspirations and their adjustment The analyses are done in two distinct parts. The first part consists of logistic regres-sion analysis using cross-sectional data drawn from the Youth in Transition Survey (YITS). The aim of this analysis is to identify the main factors that enter into consid-eration during the construction of educational aspirations for Canadian students ap-proaching high school graduation. The second part, also using YITS data, examines this phenomenon with a longitudinal perspective in order to identify which factors affect aspirations throughout Canadian students’ educational experience. This is done using generalized estimating equations (GEE) regression. The results show that young students, predictably, use rational calculation when con-structing and adjusting realistic educational aspirations, but also that such a calcula-tion is highly influenced by the habitus, especially by the parents’ education level (institutionalized cultural capital). Moreover, the students’ calculation proves to be significantly constrained, when assessing the risks of following different educational aspirations, by the self-reported overall high school average and additional grades in the first years of a postsecondary studies.

This case study examined how a group of young girls at a secondary school in northern England made sense of their participation in a gender specific vocational education initiative designed to encourage female interest in skilled trade education and professions. The investigation consists of a qualitative case study that included ‘practical’ and historical components. On the practical side, the study looked at a gender specific initiative (girls only) aimed at Year 9 students (12-14 years old) at Garden Road Community and Technology School. The one-day sessions were held at local area colleges or vocational education and training (VET) training facilities and covered skilled trade fields that are traditionally male-dominated (e.g. automotive, construction and engineering). My methodology for the study consisted of two data sources, interviews and a review of public VET policy-related documents. The data was gathered using two methods, with individual and group interviews as the primary one, and public VET policy-related document analysis as the secondary one. In total, 13 current, 2 former and an additional 2 formerly registered (now graduates who decided to pursue non-traditional vocational education and professions) students at the school were interviewed. Beside former and current students, interviews were conducted with 2 instructors and 1 senior administrator at the school. The selection of government policy-related documents covered 2002 to 2011. The study is framed by a feminist informed genealogy that invokes Foucault’s (1990) notion of ‘biopower’ and Pillow’s (2003) notion of the ‘gendered body.’ Meanwhile, Ted Aoki’s (2003) concepts of curriculum-as-plan and curricula-as-lived are used to analyze and discuss the review of UK government policy-related documents and participant narratives. The theme-based presentation of student narratives centred on the girls’ understanding and experience of: the session process and content; gender; non-traditional VET as educational and occupational options; and the impact of the sessions on their educational and professional choices. The student narratives suggest several things that relate to their understanding of gender and non-traditional VET. First, the sessions proved to be both interesting and informative and students expressed an interest in taking part in more (and) varied gender-specific sessions. Second, traditional constructions of gender and gendered behavior are commonly used in job-related discourse as evidenced by the use of the terms ‘boys jobs’ and ‘girls jobs’ among the students. In addition, students had limited opportunities for exposure to non-traditional VET education and professions; and what knowledge they do have is generally dependent upon family knowledge and experience in the area. From a document review standpoint, the findings show that government commitment in terms of interest and financial backing for VET has been inconsistent. Resultantly, schools are left to identify and maintain a range of community-based partnerships that may not always see gender segregation in VET as a major concern. The significance of this study rests in the presentation of the girls’ ‘lived curriculum’ and ‘gendered’ experiences as points that can offer insight into what transpires within vocational education initiatives and settings. Furthermore, from a feminist perspective the research also highlights the continued need to work with schools on how gender is presented, discussed and understood among students. Failure to consider the gendered nature of discourse about education and professional options that takes place within school and class settings limits students’ perspectives about what is available and possible.

This case study examined how a group of young girls at a secondary school in northern England made sense of their participation in a gender specific vocational education initiative designed to encourage female interest in skilled trade education and professions. The investigation consists of a qualitative case study that included ‘practical’ and historical components. On the practical side, the study looked at a gender specific initiative (girls only) aimed at Year 9 students (12-14 years old) at Garden Road Community and Technology School. The one-day sessions were held at local area colleges or vocational education and training (VET) training facilities and covered skilled trade fields that are traditionally male-dominated (e.g. automotive, construction and engineering). My methodology for the study consisted of two data sources, interviews and a review of public VET policy-related documents. The data was gathered using two methods, with individual and group interviews as the primary one, and public VET policy-related document analysis as the secondary one. In total, 13 current, 2 former and an additional 2 formerly registered (now graduates who decided to pursue non-traditional vocational education and professions) students at the school were interviewed. Beside former and current students, interviews were conducted with 2 instructors and 1 senior administrator at the school. The selection of government policy-related documents covered 2002 to 2011. The study is framed by a feminist informed genealogy that invokes Foucault’s (1990) notion of ‘biopower’ and Pillow’s (2003) notion of the ‘gendered body.’ Meanwhile, Ted Aoki’s (2003) concepts of curriculum-as-plan and curricula-as-lived are used to analyze and discuss the review of UK government policy-related documents and participant narratives. The theme-based presentation of student narratives centred on the girls’ understanding and experience of: the session process and content; gender; non-traditional VET as educational and occupational options; and the impact of the sessions on their educational and professional choices. The student narratives suggest several things that relate to their understanding of gender and non-traditional VET. First, the sessions proved to be both interesting and informative and students expressed an interest in taking part in more (and) varied gender-specific sessions. Second, traditional constructions of gender and gendered behavior are commonly used in job-related discourse as evidenced by the use of the terms ‘boys jobs’ and ‘girls jobs’ among the students. In addition, students had limited opportunities for exposure to non-traditional VET education and professions; and what knowledge they do have is generally dependent upon family knowledge and experience in the area. From a document review standpoint, the findings show that government commitment in terms of interest and financial backing for VET has been inconsistent. Resultantly, schools are left to identify and maintain a range of community-based partnerships that may not always see gender segregation in VET as a major concern. The significance of this study rests in the presentation of the girls’ ‘lived curriculum’ and ‘gendered’ experiences as points that can offer insight into what transpires within vocational education initiatives and settings. Furthermore, from a feminist perspective the research also highlights the continued need to work with schools on how gender is presented, discussed and understood among students. Failure to consider the gendered nature of discourse about education and professional options that takes place within school and class settings limits students’ perspectives about what is available and possible.

Ce mémoire vise à comprendre comment les personnes de minorité vietnamienne de deuxième génération au Québec négocient leur rapport au groupe majoritaire au prisme de leur expérience socioscolaire. Cette recherche part du constat d’un écart entre l’image de la communauté vietnamienne au Québec comme une minorité modèle, c’est-à-dire un groupe minoritaire qui a connu une intégration réussie, et la présence d’une barrière entre le « nous » vietnamien et le « eux » québécois. Je m’intéresse ainsi à saisir ces tensions sous l’angle de rapports majoritaires-minoritaires. Deux concepts principaux ont été mobilisés pour rendre compte de ces négociations : celui de la blanchité et de la racialisation. Les concepts des frontières ethniques et de l’identification ont aussi été retenus dans le but de comprendre comment ces négociations s’articulent au processus d’identification de cette population. Cette recherche qualitative se base sur treize entretiens semi-dirigés et sur une analyse thématique de ceux-ci. Les résultats de la recherche montrent des négociations avec la blanchité et le vécu d’expériences de racialisation dans les interactions avec les acteurs significatifs de la sphère scolaire, tels que les pairs et le personnel enseignant. La blanchité est principalement vécue comme une norme imposée et inatteignable pour les personnes racialisées. Les témoignages des jeunes Vietnamien·ne·s soulignent par ailleurs la racialisation des personnes asiatiques comme étant à la fois des minorités modèles et des éternel·le·s étranger·ère·s. De plus, les récits des participant·e·s mettent en évidence les processus d’exclusion, d’infériorisation et de hiérarchisation auxquels font face les personnes de minorité vietnamienne de deuxième génération au Québec. Ces processus s’articulent également au processus d’identification des participant·e·s et limitent leur choix d’identification. Ces négociations affectent aussi la manière dont les personnes de minorité vietnamienne de deuxième génération appréhendent la culture vietnamienne et la culture québécoise. / This master’s thesis aims to understand how second-generation Vietnamese people in Quebec negotiate their relationship with the majority group through the lens of their socio-educational experience. This research begins with the observation that there is a gap between the image of the Vietnamese community in Quebec as a model minority, that is, a minority group that has successfully integrated, and the presence of a barrier between the Vietnamese “us” and the Quebec “them.” I am interested in understanding these tensions and will be examining them through the lens of majority-minority relations. Two main concepts have been mobilized to examine these negotiations: whiteness and racialization. The concepts of ethnic boundaries and identification were also used in order to understand how these negotiations relate to the identification process of this population. This qualitative research is based on thirteen semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis of them. The research results show negotiations with whiteness and lived experiences of racialization in the participants’ interactions with key actors in the educational sphere, such as peers and teachers. Whiteness is primarily experienced as an imposed and unattainable norm for racialized individuals. The participants’ stories also highlight the racialization of Asian people as both model minorities and perpetual foreigners. In addition, the participants' narratives bring to light the processes of exclusion, inferiorization and hierarchization faced by second-generation Vietnamese people in Quebec. These processes are also articulated in the participants' identification process and limit their choices of identification. These negotiations also affect the way in which second-generation Vietnamese people view Vietnamese culture and Quebec culture.

Traditional research agrees that only effective school principals can fully influence student achievement, and school leaders are pivotal to the success of schools in America. Researchers have linked positive student outcomes to further illustrate the point, including student achievement, to high-quality school leadership. The purpose of this study is to assist state and district education leaders in Mississippi in having a more profound knowledge of which principal demographics and characteristics are more directly correlated with the improvement of accountability scores or student achievement. The results of the correlational and regression analysis to determine the relationship between principal variables and the number of points a school grew when comparing the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school year total accountability points earned. Limitations, implications, and recommendations for both school district leaders and future research are also discussed.

This sociological study explores the past and current higher education (HE) experience of educationalists at Gaza’s universities and how this experience may be evolving in the shifting socio-political context in the Arab World. The thesis is motivated by three questions: 1. What are the perspectives of academic staff in the Faculties of Education at Gaza’s universities on their own past HE experiences? 2. What are the perspectives of students and their lecturers (academic staff) in the Faculties of Education at Gaza’s universities on students’ current HE experiences? 3. How do educationalists in the Faculties of Education at Gaza’s universities perceive the shifting socio-political context in the Arab World, and what current or future impact do they think it will have on the education context at Gaza’s universities? To examine these questions, I conducted an inductive qualitative study. Using 36 in-depth, semi- structured interviews which lasted between (90-300 min), I collected data from educationalists (15 academic staff; 21 students) at two of Gaza’s universities. Due to difficulties of access to the Gaza Strip, the participants were interviewed via Skype from Cambridge. Informed by the literature review, and triangulated with other research activities, such as reviewing participants’ CVs, browsing universities websites, and keeping a reflective journal, a thematic analysis was conducted on the interview data. Theoretically, although this study has benefited from conceptual insights, such as those found in Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and in Pierre Bourdieu’s work on symbolic violence, it is a micro-level study, which is mainly data driven. The findings of this research show that in the past, educationalists were relatively more passive in terms of shaping their HE experiences, despite efforts to become resilient. In the present, students and their lecturers continue to face challenges that impact negatively on their participation and everyday life at Gaza’s universities. However, how the HE experience will evolve out of this context in the future is uncertain. The Arab Spring revolutions have had an influence on Gaza HE institutions’ campuses as they have triggered more awareness of students’ grievances and discontent. Because of some political and educational barriers, however, students’ voices are a cacophony; they remain split between “compliance” and resistance (Bourdieu, 1984, p. 471; Swartz, 2013, p. 39). Previously, Sara Roy (1995) rightly indicated a structure of “de-development” in the Gaza Strip (p.110). The findings from this research show that the impact of occupation and of the changes in the Arab World on the educational context in Gaza are more complex than previously thought. There is a simultaneous process of construction and destruction that is both external and internal to educationalists and which undermines academic work at Gaza’s universities. Based on this, the study concludes by explaining six implications of this complex structure for academic practice at Gaza’s universities, offering nine policy recommendations for HE reform, and highlighting six areas for future research.