The objective of this dissertation was to advance the knowledge about mathematics instruction regarding the use of exploratory graphical embodiments in Pre-K to College levels. More specifically, the study sought to find out which graphical representations generate the highest learning effect sizes as well as which teaching method is the most supportive when graphical representations are applied. The dissertation is organized into three coherent research studies that correspond to different schooling levels. The primary method of data analysis in this study was meta-analysis supported by synthesis of qualitative and comparative studies. A total of 73 primary studies (N = 9055) from 22 countries conducted over the past 13 years met the inclusion criteria. Out of this pool, 45 studies (N = 7293) were meta-analyzed. The remaining 28 studies (N = 1762) of qualitative or mixed method designs where scrutinized for common themes. The results support the proposed hypothesis that visualization aids mathematics learning. At the primary level, the mean effect size for using exploratory environment was ES = 0.53 (SE = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.42-0.63), the mean effect size for using computerized programs at the grade levels 1-8 was ES = 0.60 (SE = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.53-0.66), and the results of applying congruent research techniques at the high school and college levels revealed an effect size of ES = 0.69 (SE = 0.05, 95% CI: 0.59–0.79). At each of the teaching level, implementing an exploratory environment generated a moderate effect size when compared to traditional teaching methods. These findings support a need for a broader implementation of exploratory learning media to mathematics school practice and provide evidence to formulate a theoretical instructional framework.

This study focused on understanding French language learning from a perspective that began from the participating children’s interests, experiences, and abilities. The study was significant in its use of a Reggio-inspired teaching philosophy and pedagogy in a French Immersion classroom (offering an alternative pedagogy to the more common transmission-oriented and skills-based models of language teaching). The research methodology embedded pedagogical documentation and classroom observation in an ethnographic research tradition. In the study, the teacher-researcher was positioned alongside children, as she learned about the ways in which they learn language through collaborative and authentic experiences, in a transactional setting. With an emphasis on the importance of meaningful learning, the study opens up new possibilities for French Immersion teachers and learners by examining the ways in which English scaffolds French learning, collaboration generates new understanding, and authentic experiences support engaged learning.

Depuis le début des années 1990, l'ordinateur a introduit de nouvelles réalités technologiques dans les pratiques architecturales. Le changement s'est opéré progressivement, aux travers de plusieurs expérimentations, qui ont entrainé l'appropriation de certains logiciels et environnements de programmation, et aussi l'élaboration de nouvelles machines de fabrication. De nombreux architectes ont d'ailleurs expérimenté ces nouvelles technologies dans l'objectif de trouver de nouveaux modes d'exploration de la forme. Ces explorations architecturales constituent un corpus d'étude riche et fécond pour rendre compte des différentes conduites et attitudes adoptées vis-à-vis des technologies numériques. En s'appuyant sur certains penseurs de la technique comme le philosophe Gilbert Simondon, cette recherche a défini des sensibilités singulières propres aux architectes, construites par étapes successives, et modifiant à chaque fois leurs approches du projet. Notre démarche transductive montre que ces sensibilités technologiques s'avèrent à la fois structurantes et structurées par les explorations architecturales. Cette évolution des sensibilités participe autant que les projets à la construction d'un imaginaire numérique, lequel est à l'origine d'inventions architecturales particulières. Ces inventions architecturales propres au numérique ne se sont pas réalisées directement, mais au travers d'une articulation technologique complexe, intégrant les différentes phases du projet-objet. L'analyse de cette chaîne de relation a permis de suivre les tensions entre les désirs architecturaux et les potentialités technologiques qui ont structuré la période étudiée. Cette énergie humaine, déployée et accumulée sur plus de vingt ans d'expérimentations et d'explorations, a finalement laissé des traces sur les différentes couches du bâtiment, révélant par là certains aboutissements du numérique en architecture / Since the beginning of 90s, computers introduced new technological realities in architectural practices. Changes occurred gradually, through several phases of experimentation, and performed by tools (software) or manufacturing machines of all kinds, revealing the different ways architects appropriate technologies. Many architects seized these technological opportunities to find new ways in exploring the form. These architectural explorations constitute a rich and fruitful corpus to understand the different behaviors and attitudes towards digital technologies. Based on philosophers of technique such as Gilbert Simondon, this research defines the sensibilities specific to architects constructed in successive steps and modifying their perceptions of the project. Our transductive approach shows that these technical sensibilities happen to be structured by the architectural explorations and at the same time to structure these explorations. This evolution of sensibility participates in the construction of the architect's digital thinking, which is at the origin of some particular architectural inventions. These architectural inventions specific to digital technologies are not achieved directly, but integrating different phases of the project-object through a complex technical articulation. The analysis of this chain relationship allows monitoring the tensions between architectural desires and technical potentials, which structure the studied period. The human efforts deployed and accumulated over twenty years of experimentation and exploration have finally left their mark on different layers of the building by revealing, thus, some particular achievements of digital technologies in architecture

Si l'accès des personnes aveugles aux technologies numériques a été, ces dernières années, grandement facilité, cet accès reste cependant problématique compte tenu des difficultés importantes à interagir avec les objets graphiques, Dans ce contexte, le Groupe Suppléance Perceptive développe depuis plusieurs années une plate-forme haptique (Tactos) devant favoriser cette interactivité avec les objets graphiques. Le travail mené dans le cadre de cette thèse vise, sur la base d'un premier prototype, à la fois à définir les conditions de son appropriation et de son usage par des personnes aveugles et à proposer un ensemble de spécifications pour la conception des futures versions de Tactos. Notre analyse a plus particulièrement porté sur l'identification de stratégies exploratoires efficientes favorisant l'activité perceptive. La méthodologie employée, inscrite dans une approche constructiviste, met à l'épreuve une démarche de conception minimaliste : le premier prototype est initialement restreint pour mieux caractériser des strategies qui, à leur tour, servent à inspirer la conception. Une étude longitudinale, entreprise auprès de six partenaires aveugles, permet de systématiser l'analyse des capacités perceptives et leur évolution. Les résultats mettent en évidence le caractère décisif de la technique exploratoire et l'avantage d'une comparaison entre la situation traditionnelle de lecture de formes et les explorations médiatisées. Les pistes de conception envisagées associent à la fois technologie de suppléance, l'assistance à l'activité et l'enseignement de stratégies spécifiques.

This dissertation consists of four articles and a summary. The main focus of the studies is students' explorations in upper secondary school mathematics. In the first study the central research question was to find out if the students could learn something difficult by using the graphing calculator. The students were working with questions connected to factorisation of quadratic polynomials, and the factor theorem. The results indicate that the students got a better understanding for the factor theorem, and for the connection between graphical and algebraical representations. The second study focused on a the last part of an investigation, the verification of an idea or a conjecture. Students were given three conjectures and asked to decide if they were true or false, and also to explain why the conjectures were true or false. In this study I found that the students wanted to use rather abstract mathematics in order to verify the conjectures. Since the results from the second study disagreed with other research in similar situations, I wanted to see what Swedish teachers had to say of the students' ways to verify the conjectures. The third study is an interview study where some teachers were asked what expectations they had on students who were supposed to verify the three conjectures from the second study. The teachers were also confronted with examples from my second study, and asked to comment on how the students performed. The results indicate that teachers tend to underestimate students' mathematical reasoning. A central focus to all my three studies is explorations in mathematics. My fourth study, a revised version of a pilot study performed 1998, concerns exactly that: how students in upper secondary school explore a mathematical concept. The results indicate that the students are able to perform explorations in mathematics, and that the graphing calculator has a potential as a pedagogical aid, it can be a support for the students' mathematical reasoning.

Les maladies neuromusculaires, sont susceptibles d’évoluer vers un syndrome restrictif. La faiblesse des muscles respiratoires ainsi que les déformations rachidiennes et thoraciques associées font entrer les patients dans un cercle vicieux qui aggrave progressivement le syndrome restrictif et mène les patients vers l’insuffisance respiratoire. À cette insuffisance respiratoire peuvent se rajouter d’autres facteurs comme la réduction chronique des mouvements de la cage thoracique, les perturbations du sommeil, le dysfonctionnement bulbaire et l’inefficacité de la toux. En conséquence, la dysfonction du système respiratoire peut être d’origine multiple et impose une évaluation précise et ciblée sur la compréhension des mécanismes physiopathologiques pour chaque maladie non seulement pour proposer pour chacune un traitement adapté mais également pour apprécier les nouvelles thérapeutiques ciblées sur la réparation musculaire en émergence pour certaines pathologies neuromusculaires. Il parait donc nécessaire de mieux connaitre l’évolution de certaines pathologies, avec et sans les traitements classiques, et d’améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes physiopathologiques de l’insuffisance respiratoire en combinant les outils classiques d’évaluation de la fonction respiratoire avec des nouvelles techniques d’évaluation qui pourraient être complémentaires.Cette thèse a, par conséquent, pour objectif de renforcer les connaissances sur les dysfonctions respiratoires de certaines pathologies neuromusculaires en utilisant des outils classiques d’évaluation et de proposer nouvelles méthodes d’exploration de la fonction respiratoire des patients neuromusculaires. Ainsi, nous avons exploité les données de deux filières de patients neuromusculaires suivies régulièrement : la Dystrophie Facioscapulohumérale (DFSH) et la Dystrophie Musculaire de Duchenne de Boulogne (DDB). L’analyse de la DFSH nous paraissait importante car l’insuffisance respiratoire est très peu connue et décrite dans cette pathologie. Si, au contraire, l’évolution de la DDB est bien connue, l’effet de la ventilation noninvasive (VNI) sur l’évolution de la fonction respiratoire a été, en revanche, très peu décrit alors que de nouveaux essais thérapeutiques vont bientôt être proposés à ces patients, dont certains sont déjà sous VNI. Ensuite, pour mieux prédire le degré d’amélioration du syndrome restrictif qu’une thérapeutique de réparation musculaire pourrait potentiellement apporter, nous avons développé une mesure des volumes pulmonaires à l’aide d’une assistance des muscles inspiratoire et/ou expiratoire. Nous avons aussi développé et validé une méthode non-invasive et non-volitionnelle de mesure indirecte de la force du diaphragme, de manière à obtenir des résultats indépendants de la motivation du patient, à partir d’un examen indolore pour le patient.De ce fait, cette thèse a pu faire progresser les connaissances sur l’évolution de la fonction respiratoire de certaines pathologies neuromusculaires grâce à l’analyse des mesures classiques de la fonction respiratoire. Elle a aussi validé des nouvelles mesures d’explorations fonctionnelles indépendantes de la force volontaire du patient. / Neuromuscular disorders are liable to induce a restrictive syndrome. The weakness of respiratory muscles andthe associated spinal deformities lead the patients into a vicious circle, which progressively worsens the restrictivesyndrome and evolves into respiratory failure. This respiratory failure may be associated to additional factors such aschronic reduction of thoracic cage motion, sleep disordered breathing, bulbar dysfunction and ineffective cough. Therefore,dysfunction of respiratory system may have multiples origins and requires precise evaluations targeted on thecomprehension of the physiopathologic mechanisms for each disease, as they may not only allow to adapt specificallytreatment, but also to assess the new therapeutics targeted for muscle restoration that are emerging for some neuromusculardiseases. Accordingly, it is essential to acquire knowledge about the specific evolution of the different disorder, with andwithout classic treatments, and also to improve the understanding of the physiopathologic mechanisms of respiratoryfailure, combining the classic evaluation tools of respiratory function with new evaluation techniques which could provideadditional information.This thesis aims to increase the knowledge of respiratory dysfunction of some neuromuscular disorders using classicevaluation tools and also to propose new exploration methods of respiratory function for neuromuscular patients.Thus, we explored data of two specific neuromuscular disorders patients, regularly followed: FacioscapulohumeralMuscular Dystrophy (FSHD) and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The analysis of FSHD seemed important asrespiratory failure is not well known and described for this disease. On the other hand, while the evolution of DMD is wellknown, the impact of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on the evolution of respiratory function has been poorly described,whereas new therapeutic trials will be soon proposed to these patients, some of which are already under NIV.Next, to better predict the improvement of the restrictive syndrome that could be potentially obtained with muscle repairtherapies, we developed a measure of pulmonary volumes, using assistance for inspiratory and/or expiratory muscles.We also developed and validated a painless, noninvasive, non-volitional and indirect method of measurement of thediaphragmatic force, in order to obtain results independent of patients’ motivation.Hence, this thesis was able to advance knowledge of the evolution of respiratory function of some neuromuscular diseases,using traditional evaluation tools of respiratory function. Moreover, it validated new pulmonary function measuresindependent of patient’s voluntary efforts.

No description available.

Thesis explores a theory of proportion, its application within a design-build experiment, while establishing essential elements of design language. / Master of Architecture

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using a dynamic geometry environment together with open-ended explorations on sixth grade students&rsquo / performance in polygons and congruency and similarity of polygons. Two groups of sixth grade students were selected for this study: (1) An experimental group composed of 66 students whom 34 were boys and 32 were girls / and (2) a control group composed of 68 students whom 35 were boys and 33 were girls. While the students in the control group received instruction via traditional methods, the students in the experimental group studied the same topics by open-ended explorations in a dynamic geometry environment. Geometry Test (GT) and Computer Attitude Scale (CAS) were used as data collection instruments. All students had taken the GT as pre-test, post-test, and delayed post test. However, CAS was administered only to the experimental group at the end of the instruction. Furthermore, some qualitative data were collected through video-taped classroom observations and interviews with selected students. Pre-test scores showed no statistical difference between control and experimental group students in terms of their performances in polygons and congruency and similarity of polygons before the study. On the other hand, the results of the post and delayed-post tests which are analyzed by independent t test showed that experimental group achieved significantly better than the control group students. In addition, a statistically significant correlation between CAS and GT was observed. Those results were also supported by the qualitative data. In conclusion, the results indicated that dynamic geometry environment together with open-ended explorations significantly improved students&rsquo / performances in polygons and congruency and similarity of polygons.

This survey study with an art response aims to further understand how the sensory and haptic nature of art therapy materials can aid in healing within the therapeutic process. Specifically, it will explore young children, ages 0-5yrs old, of complex trauma and how they respond to art materials within the therapeutic process. Surveys were distributed to mental health therapists working with the 0-5 year old population in order to gather baseline information about how young children who have experienced trauma, respond to methods of interventions, including art materials. Through analysis of the participants’ survey responses and artwork, emergent themes revealed insight for further research and reinforced the importance of a consistent, nurturing caregiving relationship. These findings and themes illuminated the importance of relationship and revealed inquiries about the sensory and haptic nature of art materials being utilized for assessment in dyadic therapy with children 0-5 years old.