Student Number: 0111229X. PhD Thesis. Faculty of Science. School of Education / This study is part of a larger national study, the Learners’ Perspectives Study. The main focus of this particular study is to explore, describe and explain learners’ perspectives regarding the incorporation of the everyday in mathematics. Two Grade 8 mathematics classrooms in two different schools, Umhlanga and Settlers are used as sites for empirical data. Learners’ perspectives are sought through a series of post-lesson interviews with different groups of learners for lessons in which the everyday was summoned for a mathematics lesson. During these interviews, learners whether 1. They welcomed or appreciated the use of the everyday in class or not and 2. The everyday inhibited or enabled easy access to mathematics content. In order to understand the background against which these perspectives are held, mathematics lessons wherein the everyday was incorporated were observed, recorded and transcribed. In addition, teachers’ views about these lessons were explored through interviews and activities which incorporated the everyday were analysed. I used Bernstein’s notions of classification and framing as a theoretical lens through which to account for my observations. It became necessary though, to supplement these through Dowling’s domains of text analysis (esoteric, expressive, public and descriptive). I also introduced the notion of authentic/inauthentic and close/far descriptions. It is a combination of these three broad theoretical frameworks which assisted in the provision of a comprehensive theoretical account. The significance of mathematics-everyday aspect in mathematics education is highlighted by the number of studies, as discussed in the study, and different orientations from which this aspect is engaged. What can be teased out of these studies is that mathematics education debates are seldom informed by the learners’ perspectives. The study suggests that most of the learners who participated in the interviews welcomed and appreciated the use of the everyday in mathematics. However, most learners (particularly from Umhlanga) viewed mathematics as a platform to raise genuine concerns about the everyday used. In contrast, some learners (particularly from Settlers) viewed the everyday as vehicles or see-throughs towards the mathematics content. What this study viii suggests is that, firstly, the everyday is multifaceted and the nature of the context summoned tends to influence views learners hold about the role of the everyday in mathematics. Secondly, the study suggests that learners’ perspectives about the everyday cannot be divorced from the classroom context in which they encounter these everyday contexts.

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar o valor da experiência vivida pelos estudantes da Terceira Idade ao estruturar uma reproposta de vida na aquisição de conhecimento como participantes do Projeto Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade da USP. A proposta desta dissertação é identificar os motivos e os significados do retorno aos estudos para esses homens e mulheres inseridos na Sociedade de Informação e Comunicação, analisar o impacto deste movimento histórico nos próprios estudantes e em que medida eles contribuem para rediscutir o valor do ser velho na sociedade contemporânea. / This research aims to analyze the value of experience by the students of the Third Age to structure a life re-proposed acquisition of knowledge as participants in the Open University Project for Senior Citizens of USP. The purpose of this dissertation is to identify the reasons and meanings of returning to studies at these men and women entered the Society of Information and Communication, analyzing the impact of this historical movement in the individual student and to what extent they contribute to rehash the worth of the old in contemporary society.

As idéias cotidianas influenciam a aprendizagem de conceitos científicos e afetam a educação científica da população, de maneira que é imprescindível compreender sua origem e dinâmica de transmissão para o planejamento de políticas educacionais. As teorias de evolução cultural contribuem para o entendimento da origem, fixação e distorções das idéias cotidianas em um grupo social, esclarecendo a dinâmica de propagação das idéias cotidianas. Verificar e documentar a transmissão cultural de conhecimento cotidiano exige a identificação e comparação das idéias cotidianas empregadas pelas pessoas para explicar os fenômenos naturais com os quais entram em contato, de modo a permitir a descrição de padrões. Essa comparação é viabilizada pela codificação das idéias em modelos explicativos delimitados pela descrição de determinados atributos e características da explicação. Esse procedimento torna possível a quantificação e permite o teste de hipóteses de transmissão cultural. Sabendo-se obter e comparar as concepções de uma pessoa é possível investigar toda uma comunidade, rastreando a disseminação dessas idéias, possibilitando assim o estudo da transmissão do conhecimento cotidiano através das gerações. Essa dissertação propõe um protocolo de pesquisa a ser empregado no estudo de transmissão cultural de idéias cotidianas sobre os fenômenos patológicos hereditários a ser realizado em Serrinha dos Pintos e municípios vizinhos (RN), contribuindo para a descrição da diversidade de idéias cotidianas e investigação os processos de transmissão e fixação dessas idéias ao longo das gerações. / The learning of scientific concepts is largely influenced by everyday knowledge. It is therefore necessary to understand its origins and transmission dynamics for the proper planning of educational policies. The theories of cultural evolution contribute to understanding the origin, fixation and distortions of everyday ideas within a social group, explaining the spread dynamics of everyday knowledge. Checking and documenting the cultural transmission of everyday knowledge requires the identification and comparison of ideas used by people to explain natural phenomena with which they come in contact, in order to allow the description of patterns. This comparison is possible by the consolidation of the ideas in explanatory models defined by the description of certain explanation attributes and characteristics. This procedure makes it possible to quantify and allows testing of hypotheses of cultural transmission. The proper collection and comparison of a single person\'s ideas and thoughts enables us to form an idea of the community as a whole and to track the spread of these ideas. Consequently, enables us to study the transmission of everyday knowledge through the generations. This work proposes a research protocol to be used in the study of cultural transmission of ideas on the everyday phenomena of hereditary diseases to be held in Serrinha dos Pintos and neighboring counties (RN), thus contributing to the description of the diversity of everyday ideas and research processes related to the transmission and fixation of these ideas through the generations.

Esta pesquisa tem por objetivo analisar o valor da experiência vivida pelos estudantes da Terceira Idade ao estruturar uma reproposta de vida na aquisição de conhecimento como participantes do Projeto Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade da USP. A proposta desta dissertação é identificar os motivos e os significados do retorno aos estudos para esses homens e mulheres inseridos na Sociedade de Informação e Comunicação, analisar o impacto deste movimento histórico nos próprios estudantes e em que medida eles contribuem para rediscutir o valor do ser velho na sociedade contemporânea. / This research aims to analyze the value of experience by the students of the Third Age to structure a life re-proposed acquisition of knowledge as participants in the Open University Project for Senior Citizens of USP. The purpose of this dissertation is to identify the reasons and meanings of returning to studies at these men and women entered the Society of Information and Communication, analyzing the impact of this historical movement in the individual student and to what extent they contribute to rehash the worth of the old in contemporary society.

As idéias cotidianas influenciam a aprendizagem de conceitos científicos e afetam a educação científica da população, de maneira que é imprescindível compreender sua origem e dinâmica de transmissão para o planejamento de políticas educacionais. As teorias de evolução cultural contribuem para o entendimento da origem, fixação e distorções das idéias cotidianas em um grupo social, esclarecendo a dinâmica de propagação das idéias cotidianas. Verificar e documentar a transmissão cultural de conhecimento cotidiano exige a identificação e comparação das idéias cotidianas empregadas pelas pessoas para explicar os fenômenos naturais com os quais entram em contato, de modo a permitir a descrição de padrões. Essa comparação é viabilizada pela codificação das idéias em modelos explicativos delimitados pela descrição de determinados atributos e características da explicação. Esse procedimento torna possível a quantificação e permite o teste de hipóteses de transmissão cultural. Sabendo-se obter e comparar as concepções de uma pessoa é possível investigar toda uma comunidade, rastreando a disseminação dessas idéias, possibilitando assim o estudo da transmissão do conhecimento cotidiano através das gerações. Essa dissertação propõe um protocolo de pesquisa a ser empregado no estudo de transmissão cultural de idéias cotidianas sobre os fenômenos patológicos hereditários a ser realizado em Serrinha dos Pintos e municípios vizinhos (RN), contribuindo para a descrição da diversidade de idéias cotidianas e investigação os processos de transmissão e fixação dessas idéias ao longo das gerações. / The learning of scientific concepts is largely influenced by everyday knowledge. It is therefore necessary to understand its origins and transmission dynamics for the proper planning of educational policies. The theories of cultural evolution contribute to understanding the origin, fixation and distortions of everyday ideas within a social group, explaining the spread dynamics of everyday knowledge. Checking and documenting the cultural transmission of everyday knowledge requires the identification and comparison of ideas used by people to explain natural phenomena with which they come in contact, in order to allow the description of patterns. This comparison is possible by the consolidation of the ideas in explanatory models defined by the description of certain explanation attributes and characteristics. This procedure makes it possible to quantify and allows testing of hypotheses of cultural transmission. The proper collection and comparison of a single person\'s ideas and thoughts enables us to form an idea of the community as a whole and to track the spread of these ideas. Consequently, enables us to study the transmission of everyday knowledge through the generations. This work proposes a research protocol to be used in the study of cultural transmission of ideas on the everyday phenomena of hereditary diseases to be held in Serrinha dos Pintos and neighboring counties (RN), thus contributing to the description of the diversity of everyday ideas and research processes related to the transmission and fixation of these ideas through the generations.

Både internationellt och nationellt sett har elevers kunskaper i naturvetenskap försämrats enligt PISA-undersökningarna. Vi har även ute i verksamheten uppmärksammat en brist på kemiundervisning i de lägre åldrarna. Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om ett vardagsnära och experimentellt arbetssätt och synlig- göra det naturvetenskapliga språkets betydelse för yngre elevers kunskapsutveckling i kemi. Studien utfördes som en aktionsforskning vilket innebär att en kunskapsbas skapas om sin egen praktik för att sedan genomföra en forskning som leder till en förändring. Aktionerna vi utförde bestod av två experiment med tillhörande för- och efterarbete. Aktionerna utfördes i en årskur ett och en årskurs två. Sammanlagt av 49 elever deltog 40 elever i studien. Dokumentationen bestod av elevernas stenciler från aktionerna, test, post-it lappar samt video- dokumentation från aktionerna och ljudupptagningar från fokusgruppssamtal. Studiens resulat visar att elevers förståelse för kemi kommer till uttryck genom ett experimentellt arbetssätt på flera olika sätt. Elever uttrycker sin förståelse då de kommunicera kring hypoteser, använder och förklarar begrepp, ger exempel på blandningar och lösningar, hittar kopplingar samt förklarar experimenten och dess resultat. Studiens övergripande slutsats är att ett experimentellt arbetssätt skapar möjligheter för eleverna att känna en glädje för kemin och en tilltro till sin egen förmåga. På vilket sätt lärare och elever använder språket i kemiundervisningen har stor betydelse för elevernas möjligheter att tillägna sig kunskaper i kemi. De didaktiska implikationer vi ser med studien är att det är fördelaktigt att arbeta med experiment i de yngre åldrarna. / Students´ knowledge of science have deteriorated both internationally and nationally PISA studies. We have also experienced a lack of chemistry teaching in the lower ages. The purpose of the study is to contribute with knowledge of an everyday related and an experimental approach and make visible the importance of the scientific language for younger pupils' knowledge in chemistry. The study was conducted as an action research which involves forming a knowledge based on their own practice and then conducts a research that leads to a change. The actions we performed consisted of two experiments with the associated pre- and after work. The study was conducted in year one and two with 40 of 49 students. The documentation consisted of students’ stencils, tests, post-it notes and videodocumentation. The study shows that the students' understanding of chemistry through an experimental approach is expressed in several different ways. Students express their understanding when they communicate about hypotheses, uses and explain concepts, giving examples of mixtures and solutions, find connections, and explain the experiments and their results. The study's overall conclusion is that an experimental approach creates opportunities for students to feel the joy of chemistry and a belief in their own ability. The way in which teachers and students use the language of chemistry teaching is of great importance for the students´ opportunities to acquire knowledge in chemistry. The didactic implications we see with the study is that it is beneficial to work with experiments in the younger ages.

Child safety is a well investigated field of research, as is the field of children’s citizenship. This study explores the intersection between these two areas. The aim of the study is to explore children’s lived citizenship from their everyday knowledge about injury risks and safety. The idea of "lived citizenship" refers to how children understand and negotiate rights and responsibilities, and to how they actually practice their citizenship in their daily lives. In the study, a concept of citizenship is used, defining it as composed of the following dimensions: rights, responsibilities, participation, identity, membership, equal status, respect, and recognition. In the study children in grades 2, 5 and 8 participated in focus group interviews. The results of the study suggest that, although the children had good awareness of risk and safety, they regarded risk as something largely positive, connecting it with opportunities for challenges and exciting adventures. School rules and also traffic rules were frequently called into question by the children, even though they were very well aware of the potential physical or legal consequences. The rules at the children’s sports clubs, in contrast, were not challenged. Talk of injury risks and safety may be understood as individual and collective identity work. When children told stories about injuries and accidents, they were also telling stories about themselves, who they were, and where they belonged. Being adventurous and daring gave status in the groups for both girls and boys.  Drawing on the results an “action zone,” as an analytical concept is suggested. The action zone is about the physical and symbolic dynamic space where children can move and act independently. Some features of the action zone are proposed in terms of boundaries, boundary guards, (rules, norms and authorities), negotiation, boundary crossing, identity, self-management and situated agency. I argue that the concept puts focus on children’s lived citizenship as a whole and that the physical aspect of citizenship is emphasized. / Barnsäkerhet och barns medborgarskap är två områden som var för sig är väl undersökta. Den här avhandlingen tar sitt avstamp i gränssnittet mellan dem, ett inte lika utforskat område. I studien samtalar barn mellan åtta och femton år i fokusgrupper om olycksrisker och säkerhet. Utifrån deras vardagskunskaper om dessa ämnen dras slutsatser om gemensamma föreställningar om levt medborgarskap. Studien visar att risker och olyckor enligt barnen är en del av livet, något som gör det roligare. Tal om säkerhet har således liten relevans i barnens tillvaro. Säkerhetsregler i skolan men också i trafiken ifrågasätts av barnen, trots att de är väl medvetna om såväl risker som tänkbara påföljder. I de idrottsföre­ningar som barnen tillhör, ifrågasätts regler däremot över huvud taget inte. Resultaten visar vidare att barn och föräldrar ofta har nått ett samförstånd runt regler och att barnen i stor utsträckning tar ett eget ansvar. När det gäller delaktighet i skolan, så finns möjligheter för barnen att göra sig hörda i råd av olika slag, även om inflytandet i realiteten tycks vara begränsat. Barnens tal om olycksrisker och säkerhet kan förstås som ett uttryck för identitetsskapande, visar studien. Att vara någon som tar risker ger status i kamratgruppen, för såväl flickor som pojkar. Utifrån resultaten föreslås aktionszon som ett begrepp för att studera barns levda medborgarskap. Aktionszonen avser det dynamiska, fysiska och symboliska utrymme barn har, i tid och rum, att fritt röra sig i och agera självständigt.

The aim of the thesis is to explore socially shared ideas about mental illness in everyday contexts. Drawing on social representation theory, organizations for users of mental health services and self-help groups are regarded as communities where social knowledge is constructed that makes intersubjective understanding of illness experiences possible. In order to investigate such knowledge as a resource in joint construction of meaning, a theoretical model is introduced where a distinction is made between a discursive level of situated ‘representational work’ and an underlying level of sociocultural resources. A focus group study was carried out with 27 participants who label their health problems as anxiety, depression or bipolar disorder, and were members of service user organizations. The focus group conversations were analysed with regard to thematic, interactional and discursive features to answer the questions: 1) how is mental illness represented, 2) how is the mentally ill person represented, and 3) how are others’ views on mental illness represented. The results show how mental illness is represented as a complex phenomenon that is contextualised to a number of frames of reference. Further, the analysis identified different types of resources that are utilized in representational work: local knowledge of the communities, medical concepts, different explanatory models, narrative structures, metaphors and conceptual dichotomies. It also revealed dialogical properties of the representational work that have rhetorical functions for self-presentation as a team performance. The discussion suggests that widely shared resources are put to use in group- and situation-specific representational projects, and that representations that are produced in group discourse can be characterised as ‘polemical social representations’ that respond to a double stigma of mental illness in everyday life where mental illness is regarded as a sign of ‘weakness’ as well as ‘otherness’.