Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been an essential part of the e-Learning ecosystem since the 1990s. LMSs have been developed and widely adopted by higher education institutions around the world. Despite the instructional and financial benefits of using LMSs, the adoption and diffusion of LMSs by faculty members continues to be challenging in higher education institutions, and particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors influencing the adoption of learning management systems (LMSs) by faculty members in Saudi Arabian higher education. The study employed a mixed method approach and applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore these factors. Specifically, the study aims to determine the extent at which Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Social Norms (SN) influence faculty members' Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt the Blackboard LMS. It also examines the moderating roles of age, gender, experience, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Norms (SN), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). The results of the study revealed a strong and positive correlation between performance expectancy and behavioral intention for Blackboard usage. The study also found Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Social Norms to be significant predictors of Behavioral Intention for Blackboard usage. Additionally, the findings show no moderation effects of age, gender, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy, Effort Expectancy, Social Norms, and Facilitating Conditions. Experience was found to have a moderation effect on the relationship between Social Norms and Behavioral Intention. / Doctor of Philosophy / Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been an essential part of the Electronic-Learning ecosystem since the 1990s. LMSs have been developed and widely adopted by higher education institutions around the world. Despite the instructional and financial benefits of using LMSs, the usage rate of LMSs by faculty members continues to be challenging in higher education institutions, and particularly in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors influencing the usage of learning management systems (LMSs) by faculty members in Saudi Arabian higher education. The study employed a mixed method approach and applied the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to explore these factors. Specifically, the study aims to determine the extent at which Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Facilitating Conditions (FC), and Social Norms (SN) influence faculty members' Behavioral Intention (BI) to adopt the Blackboard LMS. It also examines the moderating roles of age, gender, experience, perceived voluntariness, and computer self-efficacy on Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Norms (SN), and Facilitating Conditions (FC). The results of the study revealed a strong and positive correlation between performance expectancy and behavioral intention for Blackboard usage. The study also found Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Social Norms to be strong predictors of Behavioral Intention for Blackboard usage.

Change directed at social justice has been partial at best because it leaves the larger unequal context and structures in place. Social work generally takes place in the context of unequal power relation on individual/cultural/structural levels. The inquiry’s aim is to broaden the perspective on change to facilitate social justice. A qualitative approach that is exploratory and descriptive with a flare of phenomenology was used. Anti-oppressive constructionist research is the point of departure. As such the research attempts to be consistent with values of equality where participants are partners and share in the creation of the inquiry. So in the beginning only preliminary questions designed to provide context and stimulate thought about change are explored. The goals and objectives of the inquiry are to discover and describe the perceptions of activists and literature thus expanding meanings of social justice and how it can be facilitated. In the inquiry, motivation to work for change, what is needed to facilitate social justice, what blocks change for social justice and the values and principles that underlie change for social justice are explored. The inquiry asks the question: How can social workers and the profession of social work facilitate change for social justice? / Social Work / D.Phil (Social Work)

RÉSUMÉ : Problématique : En dépit du nombre croissant de médecins immigrants qui choisissent de s’installer au Québec, et de la pénurie de ces professionnels de la santé, beaucoup d’entre eux ne parviendront pas à exercer leur profession au Québec. Les études réalisées auparavant n’étaient souvent pas spécifiques à l’intégration professionnelle des médecins immigrants au Québec. Et de nouvelles barrières émergeaient à chaque étude, justifiant la nécessité d’une démarche exploratoire pour mieux comprendre le sujet. Objectifs : L’objectif de cette étude est d’identifier et analyser les barrières à l’intégration professionnelle ainsi que les facteurs facilitants perçus par les médecins immigrants diplômés hors Canada et États-Unis qui choisissent de s’installer au Québec. Méthodologie : La stratégie retenue est la recherche synthétique de type étude de cas. C’est une recherche qualitative principalement basée sur l’analyse de 22 entrevues semi-structurées, réalisées avec des médecins immigrants diplômés hors Canada et États-Unis, originaires de 15 pays différents. L’échantillon est de type variation maximale, selon le pays d’origine, la formation initiale, l’expérience professionnelle et selon le parcours personnel au Québec. Le recrutement a été réalisé principalement à l’aide de la collaboration du Centre d'évaluation des sciences de la santé de l’Université Laval, de l’organisme « l’Hirondelle » et du département d’administration de la santé de l’Université de Montréal. Le cadre théorique est celui de Diaz (1993) et les différents thèmes qui ont été abordés dans l’entrevue sont inspirés de la synthèse des barrières et des perceptions citées dans la littérature dont la plupart ne sont pas spécifiques aux médecins immigrants. Ces thèmes généraux sont représentés par les contraintes linguistiques, socioculturelles, informationnelles, financières, procédurales et discriminatoires. Pour ce qui est des thèmes des facteurs facilitants, ce sont : les facteurs financiers, informationnels, d’aide et de support à l’intégration professionnelle. Résultats : Les 22 participants étaient composés de 13 hommes et de 9 femmes, âgés de 29 à 53 ans, originaires de 15 pays différents et ayant une durée de séjour au Québec de 2 à 15 ans. Lors des entrevues, les émergences recueillies grâce aux questions ouvertes ont permis d’appréhender les difficultés spécifiques perçues par les médecins immigrants qui n’ont pas été soulevées ii par la littérature. Les barrières à l’intégration professionnelle perçues par les médecins immigrants sont surtout de nature procédurale, mais également institutionnelles, et dans une moindre mesure, socioculturelles. Les principales barrières procédurales sont relatives aux facteurs informationnels, à l’évaluation des connaissances et des compétences médicales, mais surtout à l’absence de garantie de l’octroi des postes de résidence même après la réussite des examens exigés. Les facteurs facilitants les plus importants sont l’harmonisation des procédures provinciales et fédérales, l’amélioration relative de l’information, le soutien linguistique pour les nonfrancophones et la pénurie des médecins. Conclusion : La réduction des nombreuses barrières identifiées dans cette recherche, permettra non seulement de faciliter l’intégration professionnelle des médecins immigrants, mais également de contribuer à réduire la pénurie de ces professionnels de la santé au Québec. / Problem: In spite of the increasing number of immigrant physicians who choose to live in Quebec, and of the shortage of physicians, many will not succeed in establishing themselves as physicians in Quebec. Previous studies were often not specific to the professional integration of immigrant physicians in Quebec. And new barriers emerged in each study, justifying the need for an exploratory approach to better understand the subject. Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify and analyze barriers to professional integration and facilitating factors perceived by immigrant international medical graduates who choose to install themselves as physicians in Quebec. Method: The strategy adopted is a case study. It is a qualitative research based primarily on analysis of 22 semi-structured interviews, realized with immigrant international medical graduates, native of 15 different countries. The sample retained is of maximum variation type, according to the country of origin, initial training, professional experience and according to the professional stage of integration in Quebec. Recruitment was conducted primarily with the collaboration of the Centre for Evaluation of Health Sciences at Laval University, the organization "l’Hirondelle" and the Department of Health Administration of the University of Montreal. The various themes that were addressed in the interview were derived from the perceived barriers cited in literature, most of which are not specific to immigrant physicians. These general themes are represented by linguistic constraints, socio-cultural, informational, financial, procedural and discriminatory barriers. Facilitating factors that were examined are: financial factors, informational factors, assistance and support to professional integration. Results: The 22 participants consisted of 13 men and 9 women, aged 29-53 years from 15 different countries and with a length of stay in Quebec from 2-15 years. The professional integration barriers perceived by immigrant physicians are primarily procedural, but also institutional, and to a lesser extent, sociocultural. The principal procedural barriers relate to the informational factors, to the assessment of medical knowledge and skills, but especially to the absence of guarantee of residency matching, even after having succeeded in all the required exams. The most important facilitating iv factors are the harmonization of provincial and federal procedures, the relative improvement of information, language support for non-French speakers and the shortage of physicians. Conclusions: The reduction of the many barriers identified in this research, will not only allow to facilitate the professional integration of the immigrant physicians, but also to contribute to reduce the shortage of these healthcare professionals in Quebec.

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of students, administrators, and faculty of one community college on the factors that facilitate or inhibit collegiate student success toward associate degree completion. Degree completion was defined as graduating with an associate degree. The following research questions guided this study: 1) What support systems or resources are in place at the community college to assist students with degree completion? 2) What factors in the college student success course at this community college facilitate or inhibit successful degree completion? The case study was conducted in a single community college inNorth Carolina. Participants included 10 community college professionals and 5 students. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and then transcribed. Pseudonyms were used to maintain participant anonymity. The data were analyzed through the process of coding. Findings identified eight themes in relation to facilitating and inhibiting degree completion at the community college level. These themes were: (a) curriculum, (b) advising, (c) support services, (d) relationships, (e) faculty status, (f) intrinsic motivation, (g) developmental courses, and (h) external factors. Conclusions of the research study and recommendations for further research were determined.

RÉSUMÉ : Problématique : En dépit du nombre croissant de médecins immigrants qui choisissent de s’installer au Québec, et de la pénurie de ces professionnels de la santé, beaucoup d’entre eux ne parviendront pas à exercer leur profession au Québec. Les études réalisées auparavant n’étaient souvent pas spécifiques à l’intégration professionnelle des médecins immigrants au Québec. Et de nouvelles barrières émergeaient à chaque étude, justifiant la nécessité d’une démarche exploratoire pour mieux comprendre le sujet. Objectifs : L’objectif de cette étude est d’identifier et analyser les barrières à l’intégration professionnelle ainsi que les facteurs facilitants perçus par les médecins immigrants diplômés hors Canada et États-Unis qui choisissent de s’installer au Québec. Méthodologie : La stratégie retenue est la recherche synthétique de type étude de cas. C’est une recherche qualitative principalement basée sur l’analyse de 22 entrevues semi-structurées, réalisées avec des médecins immigrants diplômés hors Canada et États-Unis, originaires de 15 pays différents. L’échantillon est de type variation maximale, selon le pays d’origine, la formation initiale, l’expérience professionnelle et selon le parcours personnel au Québec. Le recrutement a été réalisé principalement à l’aide de la collaboration du Centre d'évaluation des sciences de la santé de l’Université Laval, de l’organisme « l’Hirondelle » et du département d’administration de la santé de l’Université de Montréal. Le cadre théorique est celui de Diaz (1993) et les différents thèmes qui ont été abordés dans l’entrevue sont inspirés de la synthèse des barrières et des perceptions citées dans la littérature dont la plupart ne sont pas spécifiques aux médecins immigrants. Ces thèmes généraux sont représentés par les contraintes linguistiques, socioculturelles, informationnelles, financières, procédurales et discriminatoires. Pour ce qui est des thèmes des facteurs facilitants, ce sont : les facteurs financiers, informationnels, d’aide et de support à l’intégration professionnelle. Résultats : Les 22 participants étaient composés de 13 hommes et de 9 femmes, âgés de 29 à 53 ans, originaires de 15 pays différents et ayant une durée de séjour au Québec de 2 à 15 ans. Lors des entrevues, les émergences recueillies grâce aux questions ouvertes ont permis d’appréhender les difficultés spécifiques perçues par les médecins immigrants qui n’ont pas été soulevées ii par la littérature. Les barrières à l’intégration professionnelle perçues par les médecins immigrants sont surtout de nature procédurale, mais également institutionnelles, et dans une moindre mesure, socioculturelles. Les principales barrières procédurales sont relatives aux facteurs informationnels, à l’évaluation des connaissances et des compétences médicales, mais surtout à l’absence de garantie de l’octroi des postes de résidence même après la réussite des examens exigés. Les facteurs facilitants les plus importants sont l’harmonisation des procédures provinciales et fédérales, l’amélioration relative de l’information, le soutien linguistique pour les nonfrancophones et la pénurie des médecins. Conclusion : La réduction des nombreuses barrières identifiées dans cette recherche, permettra non seulement de faciliter l’intégration professionnelle des médecins immigrants, mais également de contribuer à réduire la pénurie de ces professionnels de la santé au Québec. / ABSTRACT: Problem: In spite of the increasing number of immigrant physicians who choose to live in Quebec, and of the shortage of physicians, many will not succeed in establishing themselves as physicians in Quebec. Previous studies were often not specific to the professional integration of immigrant physicians in Quebec. And new barriers emerged in each study, justifying the need for an exploratory approach to better understand the subject. Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify and analyze barriers to professional integration and facilitating factors perceived by immigrant international medical graduates who choose to install themselves as physicians in Quebec. Method: The strategy adopted is a case study. It is a qualitative research based primarily on analysis of 22 semi-structured interviews, realized with immigrant international medical graduates, native of 15 different countries. The sample retained is of maximum variation type, according to the country of origin, initial training, professional experience and according to the professional stage of integration in Quebec. Recruitment was conducted primarily with the collaboration of the Centre for Evaluation of Health Sciences at Laval University, the organization "l’Hirondelle" and the Department of Health Administration of the University of Montreal. The various themes that were addressed in the interview were derived from the perceived barriers cited in literature, most of which are not specific to immigrant physicians. These general themes are represented by linguistic constraints, socio-cultural, informational, financial, procedural and discriminatory barriers. Facilitating factors that were examined are: financial factors, informational factors, assistance and support to professional integration. Results: The 22 participants consisted of 13 men and 9 women, aged 29-53 years from 15 different countries and with a length of stay in Quebec from 2-15 years. The professional integration barriers perceived by immigrant physicians are primarily procedural, but also institutional, and to a lesser extent, sociocultural. The principal procedural barriers relate to the informational factors, to the assessment of medical knowledge and skills, but especially to the absence of guarantee of residency matching, even after having succeeded in all the required exams. The most important facilitating iv factors are the harmonization of provincial and federal procedures, the relative improvement of information, language support for non-French speakers and the shortage of physicians. Conclusions: The reduction of the many barriers identified in this research, will not only allow to facilitate the professional integration of the immigrant physicians, but also to contribute to reduce the shortage of these healthcare professionals in Quebec.

Poststructuralist and other critical analyses of sexuality, gender and identity are used to examine how New Zealand and Danish young adults drew on and challenged available discourses as they responded to representations of sexual interactions in the film Chasing Amy. The conversations about sexual practices in mixed gender, women only and men only focus groups illustrate the complex ways in which people construct their identities using subject positions available to them in different contexts as they responded to the movie, the talk of others and the researcher. The strengths and limitations of this approach to facilitating talk are examined as well as the conversations that occurred. The ways in which researchers in New Zealand and Denmark are themselves discursively positioned as theorists and investigators of gender and sexuality is also examined. The thesis illustrates how multiple connections and differences emerge across national and local environments. Talk about sexual negotiations among young adults recruited through university student networks suggests that assumptions about agency, sexual autonomy, reciprocity and women’s and men’s equal right to enjoy sex are still gendered while also challenging traditional understandings about men, women and sexual pleasure. This was, for example, highlighted in talk about receiving and giving oral sex in long-term heterosexual relationships and the ‘need’ for women to explore their bodies and become ‘capable (s)experts’ through masturbation. The thesis finally explores how gendered collective and individual identities sometimes intersect with social identities associated with ethnicity, religion, nationality and sexual identification. These intersections disrupt attempts in cross-national projects – including this thesis research – to form conclusions about national differences and other social identities.

Change directed at social justice has been partial at best because it leaves the larger unequal context and structures in place. Social work generally takes place in the context of unequal power relation on individual/cultural/structural levels. The inquiry’s aim is to broaden the perspective on change to facilitate social justice. A qualitative approach that is exploratory and descriptive with a flare of phenomenology was used. Anti-oppressive constructionist research is the point of departure. As such the research attempts to be consistent with values of equality where participants are partners and share in the creation of the inquiry. So in the beginning only preliminary questions designed to provide context and stimulate thought about change are explored. The goals and objectives of the inquiry are to discover and describe the perceptions of activists and literature thus expanding meanings of social justice and how it can be facilitated. In the inquiry, motivation to work for change, what is needed to facilitate social justice, what blocks change for social justice and the values and principles that underlie change for social justice are explored. The inquiry asks the question: How can social workers and the profession of social work facilitate change for social justice? / Social Work / D.Phil (Social Work)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:26:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cintia Yuri Takahashi.pdf: 576472 bytes, checksum: 72a6c01f68fe6a3812d3ae924dd62b35 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-06 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Despite the apparent consensus that group learning integrates the learning process from the individual to the organization (SENGE, 1990; KIM, 1993; ROUSSEAU; HOUSE, 1994; NONAKA; TAKEUCHI, 1997; EDMONDSON, 2002), our understanding about group learning remains limited (EDMONDSON; 1999). The general objective of this study is to identify and analyze the factors involved in group learning process of the participants of the Mediating Team Learning course promoted at Senac São Paulo. A qualitative study interviewing 11 participants and four of their colleagues was conducted in order to achieve the bjective. It was identified that it was easier for the participants to listen and concerning the factors that influenced group learning, three kinds of factors were identified: personal, structural and interpersonal. In the work environment such factors can either enable or be an obstacle to learning and it was found that they occur simultaneously and are interrelated. / Apesar do aparente consenso de que a aprendizagem em grupo integra o processo de aprendizagem do indivíduo ao da organização (SENGE, 1990; KIM, 1993; ROUSSEAU; HOUSE, 1994; NONAKA; TAKEUCHI, 1997; EDMONDSON, 2002), entendese que a aprendizagem nos grupos permanece limitada. (EDMONDSON; 1999). O presente estudo teve como objetivo geral identificar e analisar os fatores envolvidos no processo de aprendizagem em grupo, dos participantes do curso Mediando a Aprendizagem nas Equipes, promovido no Senac São Paulo. Para isso, foi conduzido um estudo qualitativo por meio de entrevistas, com 11 participantes, além de entrevista com quatro colegas dos participantes. Identificou-se que os participantes tiveram mais facilidade para ouvir e, quanto aos fatores que influenciaram a aprendizagem nos grupos, foram identificados três tipos: pessoais, estruturais e interpessoais. No ambiente de trabalho, nota-se que esses fatores ocorrem, simultaneamente, estão relacionados entre si e podem tanto facilitar quanto ser um obstáculo à aprendizagem.

There seems to be a lack of synchronisation between the acquisition of skills, knowledge, values, teaching techniques, and so forth from professional learning interventions and the application thereof in practice by teachers in general and language teachers in particular. Those charged with ensuring that teachers‟ development needs, in terms of Collective Agreement 8 of 2003 (DoE, 2003), receive attention, seem to be complying with that prerequisite without establishing whether such interventions really do address the need for development. This study focuses on the quality assurance of workshops meant to address the professional development needs of language teachers. This was explored in terms of learning theories informing methods used when facilitating professional development workshops for teachers and the assessment of teachers during the workshops, including evaluation of the workshops themselves and the quality assurance of those workshops. The study has found, among others, that the methods used during facilitation are not sourced from a variety of professional learning theories, including different learning styles that accommodate teachers who learn differently from others; a variety of assessment methods is not used to assess language teachers during the workshop sessions and quality assurance of the workshops internally and externally scarcely takes place. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

This study examines the significance of understanding learners’ learning styles in relation to an educator’s learning style. The study explores the extent to which an educator and learners make provision for learning style flexibility by knowing and understanding their learning styles. There were reasons for being actively involved in the study. I wanted to know my learning style and to know and understand the learning styles of my learners. Action research was used to focus on the significance of learning style flexibility in my teaching practice, with the aim to developing myself as a professional and improving my teaching practice. Action research develops through a selfreflective spiral, consisting of cycle, each with its own steps of planning, acting, observing, reflecting and planning again for further implementation. Action research was critical in helping me to enhance my competencies and the competencies of learners who participated in my study and enabled me to improve in an ongoing, cyclical fashion. The use of qualitative and quantitative research methods helped me to learn and understand my learning style and learners’ learning styles. Herrmann’s Whole Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) was used to identify my learning style. To identify learners’ learning styles I used a simplified questionnaire that helped me to understand learners’ thinking preferences according to the four quadrants of Herrmann’s model. Learners’ profiles were identified and indicated that they have didderent profiles. Feedback questionnaires for learners and lecturers were used to dtermine feedback on how I facilitate learning and accommodate learners according to their learning styles, and improve myself professionally. Learning style flexibility is an approach that enhances teaching and learning, including the achievement of complex learning outcomes that includes attitudes and personality traits. Educators should move away from a content-driven learning approach to learner-driven approaches that allow learners to discover and construct knowledge on their own. Learning style flexibility and educational change complement each other. Learning style flexibility is significant in teaching and learning and the professional development of educators. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Humanities Education / unrestricted