abstract: The overall purpose of this study was to explore the dynamics of teaching and learning in the context of an informal, online discussion forum. This investigation utilized the Community of Inquiry (CoI) elements of Teaching Presence and Social Presence along with the construct of Learning Presence to examine Adobe® Forums, Photoshop® for Beginners Forum (PfBF) an internet discussion forum designed to provide support for beginning users of Adobe Photoshop. The researcher collected four days of discussion post data comprising 62 discussion threads for a total of 202 discussion posts. During this initial pilot analysis, the discussion threads were divided into posts created by members who were deemed to be acting as teachers and posts written by members acting as learners. Three analyses were conducted. First, a pilot analysis was conducted where the researcher divided the data in half and coded 31 discussion threads and a total of 142 discussion posts with the Teaching Presence, Social Presence and Learning Presence coding schemes. Second, a reliability analysis was conducted to determine the interrater reliability of the coding schemes. For this analysis two additional coders were recruited, trained and coded a small subsample of data (4 discussion threads for a total of 29 discussion posts) using the same three coding schemes. Third, a final analysis was conducted where the researcher coded and analyzed 134 discussion posts created by 24 teachers using the Teaching Presence coding scheme. At the conclusion of the final analysis, it was determined that eighteen percent (18%) of the data could not be coded using the Teaching Presence coding scheme. However, this data were observed to contain behavioral indicators of Social Presence. Consequently, the Social Presence coding scheme was used to code and analyze the remaining data. The results of this study revealed that forum members who interact on PfBF do indeed exhibit Teaching Presence behaviors. Direct Instruction was the largest category of Teaching Presence behaviors exhibited, over and above Facilitating Discussion and Design and Organization. It was also observed that forum members serving in the role of teachers exhibit behaviors of Social Presence alongside Teaching Presence behaviors. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Technology 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:30:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jorge Flavio Ferreira.pdf: 2655368 bytes, checksum: 12cdc535c6b559e777910d1e73f5ca29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-26 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / This study was guided by one basic question: how people learn to work in restaurants and learn about the work practices necessary to operate the business? To meet the objectives of the research strategy was used qualitative case study, adopting a descriptive and interpretive approach, and in addition were collected life histories of individuals involved in social space examined. Were analyzed textual interpretation, complemented by the template approach. The results reveal thirteen categories of informal learning involving teams comprised of kitchen and lounge of three restaurants in a German Club in Sao Paulo, of which eight can be considered natural. Also obtained as a result a set of cognitive, relational and manuals on restaurant workers. Through the life stories was possible to see the organizational cultures that are the backdrop for the occurrence of learning. The work at Club reveals the predominance of the integration perspective. This research contributes to organizational learning theory and the unveiling of the organizational cultures in restaurants, from the perspective interpretationist. / Este estudo foi orientado por uma questão básica: como as pessoas que trabalham em restaurantes aprenderam e aprendem as práticas de trabalho necessárias ao funcionamento do negócio? Para atender aos objetivos da pesquisa foi utilizada a estratégia do estudo de caso qualitativo, adotando-se um enfoque descritivo e interpretativo, e complementarmente foram coletadas histórias de vida dos sujeitos envolvidos no espaço social examinado. Foram realizadas análises textuais interpretativas, complementadas pela abordagem de templates. Os resultados revelam treze categorias de aprendizagem informal envolvendo as brigadas de cozinha e de salão de três restaurantes de um Club alemão, em São Paulo, das quais oito podem ser consideradas singulares. Também se obteve como resultado um conjunto de habilidades cognitivas, relacionais e manuais relativas aos trabalhadores dos restaurantes. Mediante as histórias de vida foi possível descortinar as culturas organizacionais que são o pano de fundo para a ocorrência das aprendizagens. O trabalho no Club revela a predominância da perspectiva de integração. Esta pesquisa contribui para a teoria da aprendizagem organizacional e para o desvelar das culturas organizacionais em restaurantes, sob a ótica interpretacionista.

La recherche, qui fait l’objet de cette thèse, pose la question de la contribution des espaces dits de e-learning dans la formation continue d’enseignants. Elle aborde plus spécifiquement les effets des espaces ou environnements numériques « situés », appelés communautés virtuelles, sur les façons de vivre, d’exercer et d’enrichir sa formation ainsi que d’aborder une nouvelle situation professionnelle. Elle s’intéresse particulièrement aux usages du numérique situés dans des espaces interstitiels où interagissent de façon réciproque des modalités d’apprentissage formel et informel. Le cadre conceptuel et théorique, emprunté au courant ethnologique de la sociologie des usages, porte sur le concept de communauté de pratiques et de pratiques communautiques. Il considère les usages du numérique comme constitutifs de manières de faire singulières ou d’inventions du quotidien grâce à ces espaces et en fonction de différents éléments (ou logiques) qui en facilitent ou en contraignent les usages. Dans le cadre d’une monographie, en procédant à une observation de deux espaces en ligne (un mis à disposition par l’organisme de formation et l’autre avec le support de la messagerie électronique), en menant des entretiens compréhensifs et en analysant le contexte institutionnel, sont croisées différentes sources de données. Les résultats indiquent l’émergence d’espaces interstitiels prenant appui sur des formes de sociabilité électronique. Ces espaces sont localisés à mi-chemin entre des pratiques dans une institution de formation et des pratiques quotidiennes, personnelles ou groupales. Les apports de la recherche sont d’établir un cadre conceptuel et méthodologique ainsi que de parvenir à une meilleure compréhension du rôle de l’apprentissage informel et de la sociabilité numérique dans les contextes de l’usage du numérique et de la formation continue des enseignants. / The research that forms the subject of this thesis interrogates the contribution made by so-called e-learning spaces in the continuous training of teachers. More specifically, the research investigates the effects of ‘situated’ digital spaces and environments, known as virtual communities, on ways of living, practising and enhancing one’s training as well as embarking on a new professional work situation. Particular attention is paid to the use of situated digital technology within “interstitial spaces” where formal and informal modes of learning interact with one another. The conceptual and theoretical framework, taken from the ethnological branch of the sociology of uses, focuses on the concepts of community of practice and community-based practices. That framework sees the uses of digital technology as constituting unique approaches and everyday inventions based on these spaces and depending on the various elements (or logics) that facilitate or hinder the use of them. Distinct sources of data are cross-referenced within the framework of a research monograph, leading onto a study of two online spaces (one made available by the training organisation and the other using electronic messaging), also carrying out comprehensive interviews and analysing the institutional context. The results suggest the emergence of interstitial spaces which build upon forms of electronic sociability. These spaces are located at a midway point between the practices of training institutions and every day personal or group-based practices. The contributions of this research are in its establishment of a conceptual and methodological framework, as well as in the achievement of a greater understanding of the role of informal learning and digital sociability within the contexts of digital technology use and continuous teacher training.

Syftet med denna studie är att karaktärisera det arbetsorganisatoriska lärandet på företag inom tjänstesektorn ur ett genusperspektiv. Den yrkesklass som fokuseras är tjänstemän. För att besvara denna övergripande problematik studeras män och kvinnor och deras tillgång till och upplevelse av lärandet i både formella och informella former. Frågeställningarna handlar om huruvida männen och kvinnornas tillgång till lärande skiljer sig, både vad gäller utbud av formella läraktiviteter som förutsättningar för informellt lärande, samt vilka skillnader det finns mellan könen vad gäller karaktären på det arbetsorganisatoriska lärandet, huruvida det verkar vara tal om ett reproduktivt eller utvecklingsinriktat lärande. Studien bygger på en kvantitativ statistisk enkätstudie om 53 frågor som har besvarats av 73 personer från fem olika företag. Resultaten visar att männen och kvinnornas tillgång till lärande ser olika ut, både vad gäller utbud av formella läraktiviteter som förutsättningar för informellt lärande, på så sätt att männens tillgång till lärande är större; de deltar i större utsträckning i formella läraktiviteter och har bättre förutsättningar för informellt lärande. Det finns även tendenser om skillnader mellan könen vad gäller karaktären på det arbetsorganisatoriska lärandet, på så sätt att det bland kvinnorna i högre grad indikeras ett reproduktivt lärande medan det bland männen i högre grad indikeras ett utvecklingsinriktat lärande. Slutsatsen är att det finns anledning att misstänka att vårt ojämställda arbetsliv återspeglas även på det arbetsorganisatoriska lärandet.

Although there has been a substantial amount of research on the topic of teacher professional development, few studies adequately captured the types and frequency of formal and informal professional learning teachers undertake to improve as educators. The purpose of this study was to examine the types of activities middle and high school mathematics teachers engaged in to improve their abilities as educators, analyzed by the participants’ school setting, years of teaching experience, level of education, degree major, certificate type, and their school’s Title I status. Teachers from two large school districts in Florida participated. The Teachers’ Opportunity to Learn (TOTL) survey was used to collect the data. The TOTL measured the professional learning activities of teachers based on seven learning categories: (a) workshops, (b) teacher collaboration, (c) university courses, (d) conferences, (e) mentoring/coaching, (f) informal communication, and (g) individual learning activities. Teachers were solicited to participate two times; which generated 245 responses for analysis. The results of this study indicated that teachers devoted an extensive amount of time on professional development, with the majority of time spent on informal learning activities. Every participant in the study engaged in at least one professional development activity; most engaged in four or more activities. The activity with the highest amount of participation (99.2%) and greatest amount of time spent (36.62 hours per month) was individual learning activities. Other notable areas of participation were professional development programming, teacher collaboration, and informal communication. When the activities were analyzed by demographic variable, 16 comparisons were found to be statistically significant. Mentoring/coaching activities produced more significant results than any other activity in the study. Analyses also confirmed that the professional learning practices of new teachers were significantly different from their more experienced peers. The findings from this study could serve as the impetus for programmatic changes and policy reform within the education community. School districts could benefit by creating professional development programs that support teacher collaboration, informal communication, and self-directed learning. State education departments could encourage these endeavors by redirecting funding and redesigning certification systems to recognize these non-traditional individualized activities.

Students’ interactions can be an influential component of students’ success in an interactive learning environment. From a participation perspective, learning is viewed in terms of how students transform their participation. However, many of the seminal papers discussing the participationist framework are vague on specific details about what student participation really looks like on a fine-grained scale. As part of a large project to understand the role of student participation in learning, this study gathered data that quantified students’ participation in three broad areas of two student-centered introductory calculus-based physics classes structured around the Investigative Science Learning Environment (ISLE) philosophy. These three broad areas of classes were in-class learning activities, class review sessions that happened at the beginning of every class, and the informal learning community that formed outside of class time. Using video data, classroom observations, and students’ self-reported social network data, this study quantified students’ participation in these three aspects of the class throughout two semesters. The relationship between behaviors of students’ engagement in various settings of an active learning environment and (a) their conceptual understanding (measured by FCI gain) and (b) academic success in the courses as measured by exam scores and scores on out-of-class assignments were investigated. The results from the analysis of the student interaction in the learning process show that three class components, viz. the Review Session, Learning Activities, and Informal Learning Community, play distinct roles in learning. Students who come in the class with better content knowledge do not necessarily participate more in the learning activities of active learning classrooms. Learning Communities serve as a “support network” for students to finish assignments and help students to pass the course. Group discussions, which are facilitated by students themselves, better help students in gaining conceptual understanding. Since patterns of students’ participation do not change significantly over time, instructors should try to ensure greater participation by incorporating different learning activities in the active learning classroom.

Cette recherche porte sur les communautés de pratique (CoP) dans les entreprises. En référence à Wenger et à l'apprentissage situé, il s'agissait d'examiner le(s) rôle(s) des animateurs sur le plan des apprentissages des membres. A partir d'un corpus constitué de 31 entretiens de personnes issues de 21 entreprises, ainsi que de matériaux secondaires variés, j'ai analysé la terminologie employée par les entreprises et par les personnes animatrices, ainsi que les modes de structuration des CoP. Tandis que les questions d'apprentissage apparaissent moins centrales que je le supposais, un processus d'institutionnalisation et de formalisation des communautés et des animateurs ressort clairement. Une majorité des CoP approchées sont mises en œuvre et soutenues intentionnellement, leur fonctionnement se formalise, elles deviennent une modalité de gestion, notamment de gestion des connaissances. Des rôles nouveaux liés à la mise en œuvre et à l'animation émergent. Ce processus s'accompagne d'un processus de professionnalisation et d'une offre marchande à destination des entreprises. Dans ce contexte, le rôle des personnes animatrices demeure parfois ambigu. Alors que les CoP se présentaient comme une théorie, un descripteur des processus d'apprentissage dans des groupes sociaux, elles se sont transformées, ces dix dernières années, en un dispositif de gestion, un instrument managérial, que les entreprises intègrent peu à peu dans leur fonctionnement. Dans une économie de compétition, de plus en plus fondée sur le savoir, elles sont traversées par des enjeux de gestion auxquels elles sont censées répondre, tel un remède à certains maux organisationnels. / This research focuses on communities of practice (CoP) in companies. Referring to Wenger and situated learning, it was to examine the role(s) of the facilitators in terms of member's learning. From a corpus of 31 interviews of people from 21 companies, as well as various secondary materials, I analyzed the terminology used by companies and facilitators and modes of structuring CoP. While learning issues appear less central than assumed, an institutionalization and formalization of communities and facilitators are apparent. A majority of CoP are implemented and supported intentionally, process is formalized, they became a form of management, especially knowledge management. New roles related to the implementation and the facilitation emerge. This process is accompanied by a process of professionalization and provides a market for businesses. In this context, the role of those leaders sometimes remains ambiguous. While CoP presented as a theory, a descriptor of learning processes at work in social groups, these were transformed in the last ten years in a managerial practice, a tool that companies integrate gradually in their operation. In an economy of competition, increasingly knowledge-based, they are traversed by management issues they are supposed to meet, as a remedy for some organizational ills.

This qualitative research study examines six participant's awareness and understanding of a Treatment Literacy (TL) programme implemented by the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in the Western Cape in the period 2001 to 2009. The study investigates what attracted the participants to the TAC; what they learnt and how this was taught; the extent, if any, to which participant's experiences changed their understanding of HIV and AIDS, sexuality, treatment and other health-related practices. To analyse participants' awareness levels, understanding and experiences, I drew on Freire (1970; 1985) and Mezirow (1991; 1994) adult education literature, more specifically literature addressing the social movements and how activists learn and teach in different context (informal and non-formal) such as Newman (1995) and Foley (1999). These perspectives underpin the central argument of the thesis, namely that adult education is contextual and has impact on awareness, understanding and experiences and in this case HIV and AIDS. A primary finding of the study is how the participants in the study perceived the world as central to their learning. Learning is thus a substantially personal experience; however, the development of the individual frequently occurs within a group dynamic. Participants felt that being part of TAC and fighting for access to treatment and helping other people who are either HIV positive or affected by HIV and AIDS, helped them in turn to deal with their own challenges of being HIV positive and affected with HIV and AIDS. Being HIV positive and receiving education from TAC has given participants dignity and the necessary consciousness to obtain control of their life. Participants also reported that the TL programme boosted their confidence and raised their level of awareness and understanding of the topic.

Arbetstillfredsställelse och informellt lärande är två välstuderade ämnen men otillräckligt medstudier har undersökt sambandet dem emellan. En orsak kan vara att arbetstillfredsställelse faller inom ramen för psykologi och informellt lärande faller inom ramen för pedagogik. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att undersöka sambandet mellan arbetstillfredsställelse och informellt lärande. Då tidigare studier tyder på personlighet har betydelse för både arbetstillfredsställelse och informellt lärande har vi valt att addera personlighet som modererande en variabel, för att se hur sambandet påverkas. En kvantitativ metod användes och datainsamling skedde genom webbaserade frågeformulär bestående av 66 påståenden. Frågeformulären bestod av fyra instrument, IPIP-30 (ämnad att mäta personlighetsdimensionerna), instrument för informellt lärande på arbetsplatsen (LPW), instrument för arbetstillfredsställelse och instrument för Work-Life-Balance (COPSOQ) och bakgrundsfrågor (ålder, kön, utbildning, distans under covid-19, personalansvar, år på nuvarande arbetsplats och allmänt hälsotillstånd).  Totalt deltog 225 personer i studien (M = 34år, SD = 12, räckvidd 18–69 år, 91,5% kvinnor). Resultatet vittnar om ett positivt signifikant samband mellan arbetstillfredsställelse och informellt lärande. Neuroticism, extraversion och samvetsgrannhet påvisar signifikans till arbetstillfredsställelse separat, men har ingen interaktionseffekt på sambandet mellan våra två huvudvariabler, vilket innebär att personlighet inte har någon modererande effekt på relationen mellan arbetstillfredsställelse och informellt lärande. Vår slutsats är att informellt lärande verkar ha en betydande roll för arbetstillfredsställelsen och att fortsatta studier på området uppmuntras. / Job satisfaction and informal learning are two well-studied subjects, but insufficient studies have examined the relationship between them both. An explanation could be that job satisfaction being within the framework of psychology and informal learning being within the framework of pedagogy. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and informal learning. As previous studies indicate personality is important for both job satisfaction and informal learning, we have chosen to add personality as a moderating variable, to see how the relationship is affected. A quantitative method was used and data collection was done through web-based questionnaires consisting of 66 statements. The questionnaires consisted of four instruments, IPIP-30 (intended to measurepersonality dimensions), instruments for informal learning in the workplace (LPW),instruments for job satisfaction, instruments for Work-Life-Balance (COPSOQ) and general questions (age, gender, education, distance during covid-19, personnel responsibilities, years at current workplace and general state of health). A total of 225 people participated in the study(M = 34 years, SD = 12, range 18-69 years, 91.5% women). The results testify to a positively significant relationship between job satisfaction and informal learning. Neuroticism,extraversion, and conscientiousness demonstrate significance to job satisfaction separately, but have no interaction effect on the relationship between our two main variables, meaning that personality has no moderating effect on the relationship between job satisfaction and informal learning. Our conclusion is that informal learning seems to play a significant role in job satisfaction and that further studies in this area are encouraged.

Då arbetslivet förändras i snabb takt och det finns förhoppningar och krav på att digitaliseringen ska lösa stora delar av de problem som uppstår vid snabba förändringar inom offentlig verksamhet har denna studie tittat närmare på hur lärandet kan se ut vid digital förändring inom offentlig verksamhet. Uppsatsens syfte var att undersöka och skapa kunskap om hur lärprocessen och lärmiljön vid införandet av nytt digitalt arbetssätt ser ut, utvecklas och fungerar i en hemtjänstgrupp. Detta gjordes genom en kvalitativ undersökning utifrån en fallstudie vid en arbetsplats i en kommun i Mellansverige. Data samlades in genom observation, enkät samt intervjuer med chef och medarbetare. De teoretiska utgångspunkter som används i studien är främst P-E Ellströms perspektiv på lärande i arbetslivet samt Ellström & Ekholm och Kocks perspektiv på lärmiljöer. Dessa teoretiska utgångspunkter används som ett verktyg för att analysera det insamlade datamaterialet. Resultatet visar att lärandet sker genom informellt lärande på arbetsplatsen genom gemensamma genomgångar, individuella uppföljningar samt ett kollegialt lärande. Lärprocessen är både reproduktiv och utvecklingsinriktad, det skiljer dels mellan chef och medarbetare men även inom arbetsgruppen hur lärprocessen tar form. Då arbetssättet är nytt för hela gruppen är mycket reproduktivt lärande men även inslag av utvecklingsinriktat lärande finns i form av vissa ifrågasättanden, innovationer och utvecklande. Lärmiljön på enheten är i stort stödjande utifrån en stöttande ledning, stöttande medarbetare, ett delvis öppet klimat och delaktighet. Det finns även vissa incitament som tyder på en begränsande lärmiljö utifrån bristande resurser i form av utrustning samt tid och även en frustration och tidvis kontrollerande ledning.