Abstract This empirical study investigates how students in secondary school 7-9 learn the English language outside of school, in an informal setting, and how they can benefit from it in a formal setting in school. The usage of digital technology is more common nowadays amongst youngsters than it used to be before. Digital technology has become a part of young people’s daily lives, whether it is for social media, schoolwork, gaming or blogging. Most students in Swedish secondary schools have their own computers, mobile phones, and have the opportunity to borrow an iPad from school, if needed. For this reason, it is relevant and interesting to investigate how students use their informal knowledge of English in a school setting, and how teachers take advantage of that knowledge. The research focused primarily on how the incorporation of extramural English can be used as a motivating factor for students to develop their English language in a formal setting. The results showed that students who are given the opportunity to use their previous knowledge in the classroom, appeared to be more encouraged to engage in classroom activities. They were also more motivated to work with the assignments handed to them. Teachers who involved students’ interests and previous knowledge in the classroom were experienced in the use of different media in the classroom and had good knowledge about students’ daily lives and experiences, something that helped them establish a positive teacher-student relationship. Keywords: extramural English, out-of-school English, teaching materials, motivation, informal- and formal settings, students’ perceptions.

La presente investigación consiste en sentar las bases y proponer un proyecto educativo inicial, primaria y secundaria de manera pertinente en respuesta a las exigencias sociales de un sector vulnerable, las nuevas exigencias pedagógicas y las carencias de infraestructura educativa y deportiva pública con una sola intención proyectual. Ubicado en un asentamiento informal en Villa María del Triunfo, vulnerable y carente de infraestructura y espacio público, la importancia del manejo del vacío como espacio de aprendizaje y de encuentro informal adquiere mayor protagonismo que el espacio construido y definido. El diseño del espacio abierto y el vacío en simultáneo, a través su distribución, materialidad y detalle es lo que le permite a un colegio permitir el ingreso de la comunidad, aprovechar de manera eficiente su infraestructura y darle al proyecto un sentido de identidad local con sus usuarios. Demostrando finalmente que, siguiendo con el esfuerzo, los lineamientos y la nueva visión pedagógica que propone el Ministerio de Educación se es capaz de generar un proyecto de calidad Arquitectónica y Social. / The following research has the purpose of laying the foundations for an architectural design of a public early, primary and secondary school which responds to the social needs of a vulnerable sector in the city, as well as the new approaches to school design and the lack of educational and sports infrastructure with just one architectural intervention. Located in an informal settlement in Villa Maria del Triunfo, lacking adequate public space and infrastructure, the void is seen as an opportunity for informal learning and gathering and thus becoming more important than the built and defined classroom spaces. Designing the void and the enclosed space simultaneously, through its distribution, materiality and detailing is what allows the school to draw the community inside the project, use more efficiently its infrastructure and create a sense of identity between the users and the project. Finally demonstrating that by following the effort, guidelines and new pedagogical vision proposed by the Ministry of Education in Peru it’s possible to propose a building of high architectural and social quality. / Tesis

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The aim of this thesis is to analyze, from general didactic perspective, specifics of French language teaching of adolescent as well as adult students at the beginner level. More specifically, socalled FLE teaching within informal educational environment of a particular language school in Prague is examined. In order to do so, this thesis is divided into two sections. In the first theoretical section, the compilation method is employed, resulting in detailed analysis of selected didactic themes related to the defined aim of the thesis. The second, supporting section consists of specially compiled survey analysis, which focuses on themes covered at the first theoretical part. It is worth noting that perspectives of students are captured as a result of the survey analysis. The major contribution of this thesis is a comprehensive theoretical and practical view on not yet separately compiled methodology of teaching of French language of beginning, predominantly adult students, in the context of Czech informal educational environment.

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This dissertation research study explored how registered nurses (RNs) use mobile devices as tools to support and enhance informal learning in their work settings. The mixed methods inquiry involved select Canadian practicing and regulated RNs who used mobile devices in their workplaces. A sequential explanatory research design collected quantitative and qualitative data using an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quota sampling for the quantitative component yielded 170 usable online surveys. From the survey respondents, interview volunteers were purposively selected and ten (10) interviews were conducted. Descriptive, inferential, inductive, and integrated data analyses were conducted in order to explore strategies, processes, purposes, modes of use (individual [non-collaborative] or collaborative), and age-generational differences associated with RNs’ use of mobile devices for informal learning in the workplace. Findings indicated that the study participants primarily used their handheld devices for self-directed informal learning with non-collaborative strategies or processes in their work settings for accessing online resources for a range of reasons including: evidence-based support, new procedures/treatments, professional development, patient/client teaching, and maintaining competency. Age differences related to the use of mobile devices for informal learning were minimal. However, workplace-related influences including deficiencies in formal educational resources, Internet access, and/or employer support were relevant to the informal learning experiences. Positive perceptions of efficiencies, self-confidence, patient/client safety, patients/clients’ reactions, and the need for sanctioned resources for using mobile technologies in the healthcare workplace were articulated. The findings pointed to the significance of mobile devices as learning tools for RNs’ informal learning for construction of knowledge and meaning-making to inform professional development and continuing competence. / 2013-01

This project outlines the design proposal for an alternative public high school in Toronto, Ontario. For this project the school is re-imagined as a Community Learning Centre. The goal of the Community Centre model is to foster life-long learning in young people which can occur when space emphasizes social interaction, citizenship, and life long learning. The design of the Community Learning Centre is an attempt to align educational priorities with design, to create learning environments that best suit the needs of the users. The focus of the project, is on places between the classrooms where there is opportunity for informal learning to take place. The term schoolscapes is use to describe these spaces. They include all of the places between classrooms and are a way of reimaging the corridors as active, lively and engaging spaces. To support and expand on the idea of schoolscapes, how the environment impacts people and learning, the shifting values in education, and how public space can be related to school interiors, have been investigated. The work of Prakash Nair, Annalise Gehling and Herman Hertzberger, on school design and its correlation to public space have been extremely influential for this project, as has the work of Jan Ghel on lively city spaces. Jan Ghel identifies key features of good public space that can provide the foundation for the design of informal learning spaces. The writing of Nair, Gehling and Hertzberger will be used to support how these characteristics can be applied to the learning environment. The design of the Community Learning Centre explores how the ideals imbedded in public space can be carried over to the interior of a learning environment.

This project outlines the design proposal for an alternative public high school in Toronto, Ontario. For this project the school is re-imagined as a Community Learning Centre. The goal of the Community Centre model is to foster life-long learning in young people which can occur when space emphasizes social interaction, citizenship, and life long learning. The design of the Community Learning Centre is an attempt to align educational priorities with design, to create learning environments that best suit the needs of the users. The focus of the project, is on places between the classrooms where there is opportunity for informal learning to take place. The term schoolscapes is use to describe these spaces. They include all of the places between classrooms and are a way of reimaging the corridors as active, lively and engaging spaces. To support and expand on the idea of schoolscapes, how the environment impacts people and learning, the shifting values in education, and how public space can be related to school interiors, have been investigated. The work of Prakash Nair, Annalise Gehling and Herman Hertzberger, on school design and its correlation to public space have been extremely influential for this project, as has the work of Jan Ghel on lively city spaces. Jan Ghel identifies key features of good public space that can provide the foundation for the design of informal learning spaces. The writing of Nair, Gehling and Hertzberger will be used to support how these characteristics can be applied to the learning environment. The design of the Community Learning Centre explores how the ideals imbedded in public space can be carried over to the interior of a learning environment.

Using interaction analysis and discourse analysis as a method of data analysis, I take a cultural-historical approach to explore teacher-student and student-student interactions during out-of-classroom science projects. The database is composed of my fieldnotes, videotaped science fieldtrips, and videotaped computer sessions where students worked collaboratively to produce science digital videos, highlighting their experiences during science fieldtrips. This thesis is formed by three studies I conducted with elementary students from a public school in British Columbia, Canada. These three independent and yet interrelated studies have implications for science learning and instruction in general. More specifically, this thesis contributes to the understanding of student-student and teacher-student interactions during collaborative work when they are engaged in science activities that occurred out of the classroom settings, such as fieldtrips and in the computer laboratory.