Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an important role in reforming education. The purpose of the study was to describe the management challenges and the type of management approach that developed during the implementation of an ICT network, and what possible contribution the lessons learnt from this case study could make towards management theory. In April 2008 an interactive whiteboard (IWB) network was established in an Mpumalanga town, with one of the province’s foremost schools being partnered with five disadvantaged schools. The management challenges in this network required an approach that deviated from the traditional line-function approach. This study explores the paradigm shift from a mechanistic management view to an organic or distributed model and matrix design. This is a qualitative descriptive case study. I described the reality through the eyes of the participants and the context of the study from my own specific perspective. The intervention established the project as a case: a small geographical area and a small number of individuals chosen. I did a content analysis of my semi-structured interviews, documents and field notes. I arranged the data in different codes and families in Atlas.ti and described the patterns in the data. Findings indicated a difference between the management challenges of the rural schools and the leading school. The management approach was identified as a systems management approach. A balanced matrix management model developed in the leading school, but in the rural schools teachers still reported hierarchically to their HODs and principals. They also reported horizontally to the project manager, administrative officer and HODs of the leading school in their subject groups. This study contributes to current management theory through the description of the matrix model that developed in the leading school, as well as the discussion of the management procedures in the rural schools, and the special roles of the SGBs, principals, project manager, administrative officer and HODs. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / Unrestricted

This research study posits that an altered educational approach to design studio can produce future professionals who apply Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the context of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) to execute designs faster and produce designs that have demonstrably higher performance. The combination of new technologies and social/contractual constructs represents an alternative to the established order for how to design and how to teach designers. BIM emerges as the key technology for facilitating IPD by providing consistent, computable and interoperable information essential to all AEC teams. The increasing trend of BIM adoption is an opportunity for the profession to dramatically change its processes and may potentially impact patterns of responsibility and the paradigms of design. This study showcases a repeatable framework and a theoretical model for the integrated studio using BIM and provides answers to the pedagogical questions raised by BIM, integration, and performance-based design. Using a formative and exploratory action research design, the study proposes a comprehensive pedagogical framework using the established theories of design studio education, building integration, and BIM. The framework was refined and triangulated in a set of focus group studies that include academics, design firms and AEC industry representatives, as well as students. Instrumental case studies implementing the pedagogical framework were conducted as courses in a graduate architecture program. Students' design processes and collaboration schemes were observed using systematic methods that included a broad range of data in conformance with a multi-method research approach. Content analysis of the data provides qualitative evidence for the effectiveness and encountered challenges of BIM methods that is related to proposed studio framework. These findings are corroborated by descriptive statistics and numerical data from the surveys, simulations, reports, and BIM models. Findings of the study illustrate that a carefully designed set of course exercises that incorporate BIM can enhance design processes, increase the depth and the number of alternatives studied, catalyze an interoperable and integrated educational environment, and expand the scope of design learning. Case studies presented here suggest common patterns of collaboration between designers and consultants during the integrated design process using shared BIM models. The findings from the study are synthesized in two theoretical models for the BIM enabled integrated studio and collaborative processes.

There are revealed frontal, cooperative and individual peculiarities of studying methods in this Master`s work. These methods are aimed in Lithuanian, Mathematics and World study lessons in integrated primary class, there is shown how teacher has to plan his/her work and to join frontal, cooperative and individual relations of work forms.Object of research: teaching methods are put into heterogenic primary classes.Problem of research: frontal, cooperative and individual methods of work applying under integrate training conditions.Purpose of research: to reveal how to optimize studying by various work forms in integrate training structure. Tasks of research: 1. After studying didactic sources, psychological literature and juridical documents to investigate frontal, cooperative and individual relation of studying methods in integrate educational system. 2. To establish frontal, cooperative and individual peculiarities of studying methods in Lithuanian, Mathematics and World study lessons. 3. To reveal abilities of studying optimize joing different forms of studying. 4. To prepare recommendations for teachers. Methods of research: 1. Analysis of didactics sources, psychological literature and juridical documents. 2. Qualitative research. Observation of pedagogical process. Observation was done in primary classes of Kaunas secondary regular and special schools where at least one pupil is studying according modify, adapt or special program. There were observed 79 Lithuanian... [to full text]

A person has to realize that in order to achieve the outer harmony, the main thing remains to find the inner harmony. While the main personality’s features are being formed, we have to reveal to the students self – understanding, self – education, self – development’s possibilities. Holistic education can help a person to survive in the society if regarding human virtues as the most important. That led to the research of students’ need for holistic education, its importance and its possibilities at school. Research object – peculiarities of holistic education of 11th graders (specialised forms). Research aim – to find out the possibilities of holistic education, its importance in educational process. Research propositions : To reveal the possibilities of holistic education in developing students’ skills to adapt their knowledge acquired through different subjects, as well as the selft – expression and spread of creative thinking. To offer modular course’s programs and methods for integrated learning of art and litrrature. To analyse teachers’ attitude towards the holistic education. Hypothesis. Creative interpretation of acquired knowledge and understanding of a human being and world’s essence are caused by holistic education. Research methods : Theoretical : philosophical, psichological, pedagogic literature and school’s programs analysis that helped to reveal theoretical basics of analysed problem and to compare the previous analysts’ conclusions with the results of this... [to full text]

A qualitative study was undertaken that explored the conditions for transformative learning (Mezirow, 2000) in a specific form of work-integrated education (WIE), co-operative education, towards the development of a theoretical model. The research question considered was ‘what pedagogical and workplace practices available during WIE contribute to transformative learning?’ WIE students, supervisors and their co-op coordinator were the participants in this study. Four case studies were developed based on evidence from interviewing these participants at the beginning and end of one work term. Aggregated data from the coordinator, student and supervisor interviews were analyzed. The Kelly repertory grid was used as a way to elucidate and rate participant constructs of transformative learning during WIE. Activity theory, which theorizes that expansive learning is a result of a dialectic, mediated process embedded in a socio-cultural context (Engeström, 1987), provided the theoretical framework to examine these constructs and their relationship to the conditions for transformative learning. The findings from the study revealed several results that add to our theoretical models for WIE. First, WIE, including co-operative education, relies heavily on the constructivist perspective of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (Kolb, 1984) yet the participants cited transformative learning from critical-cultural, psychoanalytical, situative and enactivist perspectives (Fenwick, 2000) with each perspective providing a different lens through which critical reflection, the antecedent to transformative learning, could be supported (Mezirow, 1998). Second, critical reflection, in addition to being supported from a variety of perspectives, was found to occur as a result of the resolution of contradictions found in the dialectic and mediated processes explicated by activity theory’s cycle of expansive transition (Engeström, 1987). Third, the enablers (mediators) most involved in contributing to this process were: opportunities for work and learning, a supportive environment, student capabilities, co-workers, supervisors, and assessment and reflection practices. Fourth, within the context of WIE, activity theory introduces the dimensions of time, context and transformative processes (Keengwe & Jung-Jin, 2013) to our understanding of how transformational learning occurs and results in the transformative outcomes of self-formation (Dirkx, 2012), and social transformation (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007). Fifth, the integration of these transformative outcomes into the WIE or workplace was dependent upon the time and value given to transformative processes, institutional requirements and a positive emotional environment that supported the resultant changes to the students’ world view and ability to act (Avis, 2009; Hanson, 2013; Holman, Pavlica, & Thorpe, 1997; Taylor, 2008). The implications of these findings are that WIE theoretical models include considerations of: perspective, socio-cultural context, dialectic and mediated processes and creating a positive emotional space to support the critical reflection necessary for transformative learning. Including these considerations shifts WIE theory from a constructivist perspective towards an enactivist perspective with the potential that programs intentionally support both students’ individual change and the social change of organizations where they work and study. Furthermore, adopting a view of WIE as an interaction between two systems, with the resultant “knotworking”, “boundary spanning” and “co-configuration” (Engeström, 2009), opens up possibilities for innovation and renewal in WIE programs and workplaces. / Graduate / 0515 / 0745 / nmcrae@uvic.ca

A qualitative study was undertaken that explored the conditions for transformative learning (Mezirow, 2000) in a specific form of work-integrated education (WIE), co-operative education, towards the development of a theoretical model. The research question considered was ‘what pedagogical and workplace practices available during WIE contribute to transformative learning?’ WIE students, supervisors and their co-op coordinator were the participants in this study. Four case studies were developed based on evidence from interviewing these participants at the beginning and end of one work term. Aggregated data from the coordinator, student and supervisor interviews were analyzed. The Kelly repertory grid was used as a way to elucidate and rate participant constructs of transformative learning during WIE. Activity theory, which theorizes that expansive learning is a result of a dialectic, mediated process embedded in a socio-cultural context (Engeström, 1987), provided the theoretical framework to examine these constructs and their relationship to the conditions for transformative learning. The findings from the study revealed several results that add to our theoretical models for WIE. First, WIE, including co-operative education, relies heavily on the constructivist perspective of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (Kolb, 1984) yet the participants cited transformative learning from critical-cultural, psychoanalytical, situative and enactivist perspectives (Fenwick, 2000) with each perspective providing a different lens through which critical reflection, the antecedent to transformative learning, could be supported (Mezirow, 1998). Second, critical reflection, in addition to being supported from a variety of perspectives, was found to occur as a result of the resolution of contradictions found in the dialectic and mediated processes explicated by activity theory’s cycle of expansive transition (Engeström, 1987). Third, the enablers (mediators) most involved in contributing to this process were: opportunities for work and learning, a supportive environment, student capabilities, co-workers, supervisors, and assessment and reflection practices. Fourth, within the context of WIE, activity theory introduces the dimensions of time, context and transformative processes (Keengwe & Jung-Jin, 2013) to our understanding of how transformational learning occurs and results in the transformative outcomes of self-formation (Dirkx, 2012), and social transformation (Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007). Fifth, the integration of these transformative outcomes into the WIE or workplace was dependent upon the time and value given to transformative processes, institutional requirements and a positive emotional environment that supported the resultant changes to the students’ world view and ability to act (Avis, 2009; Hanson, 2013; Holman, Pavlica, & Thorpe, 1997; Taylor, 2008). The implications of these findings are that WIE theoretical models include considerations of: perspective, socio-cultural context, dialectic and mediated processes and creating a positive emotional space to support the critical reflection necessary for transformative learning. Including these considerations shifts WIE theory from a constructivist perspective towards an enactivist perspective with the potential that programs intentionally support both students’ individual change and the social change of organizations where they work and study. Furthermore, adopting a view of WIE as an interaction between two systems, with the resultant “knotworking”, “boundary spanning” and “co-configuration” (Engeström, 2009), opens up possibilities for innovation and renewal in WIE programs and workplaces. / Graduate / 0515 / 0745 / nmcrae@uvic.ca

Universities are becoming more accountable for their own funding and for establishing their own societal relevance. As Governments respond to the demands of industry and commerce to fit graduates for the workplace, universities are being asked to provide students with the knowledge and skills for learning and working in an ever-changing workplace. There is a strong implication here that the traditional theory-based learning associated with higher education needs to be augmented (and complemented) by an experiential component that enables students to develop a 'feel' for the workplace and 'an instinct' for what they are likely to be doing when they are working. Demands for such a change are not only coming from industry: students are asking that their university programs be made more 'relevant' to the reality of work rather than merely for the next step in the higher education ladder which requires the 'skills of research'. Recently there has been a strong move throughout the western world towards 'cooperative education' or 'work-integrated education'. Local initiatives at individual institutions are beginning to emphasise the importance of universities developing more symbiotic relationships with the industries in which their graduates are likely to be employed. In Australia, Griffith University has, for example, set up through its Griffith Institute of Higher Education (GIHE) The Griffith Graduate Project, which is attempting to develop an institution-wide policy in this area so that a concerted and coordinated response can be made. As convenor of a Griffith University workplace-based experiential course in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, I find this study has provided an opportunity to examine the key determinants of success for a workplace-based course and to consider in detail the teaching and learning processes involved. The aim was to examine the fine-grained processes underlying the construction of new knowledge as students accommodate to the demands placed upon them. The methodology adopted was based on an interpretive constructivist paradigm and addressed a number of questions that considered the roles of the different stakeholders in a specific workplace-based course, the formal and informal expectations held of them, and the role-conflicts these stakeholders tended to experience. This meant that the basic process followed was inductive rather than deductive, worked from the specific to the general and required a methodology that did the same. Because the nature of the work in criminal justice agencies often must deal with feelings and emotion, it was assumed that the students' emotional responses could affect their learning so the methodology allowed for the subjective interpretations and responses (both appropriate and inappropriate) made by all stakeholders and the data was collected as verbatim reports of both factual reports and feeling responses. These were then analysed according to the students' own reports of learning and key principles of procedure for the design and implementation of such courses across the career spectrum were extracted. The values and approaches of action research were central to the responsive case study methodology that was developed. The study found that at its best, the course was conducted according to principles that enabled the student to experience an intuitive 'felt reality' while still making decisions on a strong cognitive base. The acquisition of knowledge appeared to depend on transactions that occurred between teacher and learner, supervisor and student in the workplace milieu. The thesis concludes with a number of recommendations and implications for developing best practice in the field. Ways in which the findings may be incorporated into university policy are also considered, as are the implications for change in the design, conduct and teaching of university professional studies courses.

Eglė Meškauskaitė. Cognitive maturity for school of preschool-aged children with defective sight in the context of integrated education. Scientific adviser: prof. habil.dr. Vytautas Gudonis. Vilnius Pedagogical University, Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, Department of Pedagogy, Branch of special education. – Vilnius, 2005. In order to determine cognitive maturity for school of preschool-aged children with defective sight in the context of integrated education 50 children with defective sight from the kindergartens of Kaunas and Vilnius, in respect of whom integrated education is applied, and 50 children with good sight from the kindergartens of Kaunas, Kulautuva and Raudondvaris have been examined. The research is based on a questionnaire which has been developed in accordance with the “General Programmes and Education Standards. Preschool Education” (2003). The data processing has revealed that the maturity of children with defective sight for school in the context of having an interest in the self, the own body, adults, knowledge of the close natural environment and the world, performance of practical tasks is not only lower than the one of children with good sight, but even higher. No differences between children with good sight and children with defective sight have been established as regards other principal capacities connected with children’s cognitive maturity for school, as set out in the general programmes and education standards. It has been established that... [to full text]

Magistriniame darbe aptariamas bendraklasių ir jų tėvelių bei pedagogų požiūris į integruotai ugdomus sutrikusio intelekto SP mokinius ,Vilniaus apskrities pagrindinėje mokykloje. Pateikti tėvų, pedagogų ir vaikų anketinės apklausos duomenų analizės rezultatai, išvados . Išvados: 1. Intelekto sutrikimus lemia endogeniniai ir egzogeniniai faktoriai: endogeniniai – nėštumo metu motinos patirtos traumos, persirgtos infekcinės ligos, gimdymo traumos, paveldimumas ir chromosomų patologija; egzogeniniai faktoriai – vaikų persirgti infekciniai susirgimai( meningitai, meningoencefalitai, encefalitai), galvos traumos ir kt. 2. Intelekto sutrikimų turinčių SP mokinių specialieji ugdymosi poreikiai konstatuojami mokyklų specialiojo ugdymo komisijoje ir PPT. 3. Dauguma mokyklos bendruomenės narių nepritaria sutrikusio intelekto SP mokinių integruotam ugdymui - 48% pedagogų nepritaria, nes trukdo kitų mokinių ugdymui klasėje, 29% - nepritaria, nes neįžvelgia tokių mokinių ugdymo tęstinumo, 21%- pritaria, 2%- į šį anketos klausimą neatsakė; - 79% - tėvų nepritaria intelekto sutrikimų turinčių SP mokinių integruotam ugdymui, tačiau moko savo vaikus būti draugiškais su visais bendraklasiais, 14%-visapusiškai pritaria, 7% - pritaria, nes augina SP turintį vaiką.; - draugauja su ”kïtokiais” bendraklasiais 90% mergaičių ir 40% berniukų; vengia bendrauti, nes nesupranta jų elgesio 3% mergaičių ir 25% berniukų; 3% mergaičių ir 26% berniukų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / In master dissertation is discussing classmates, parents and teachers opinion to integrated education of mentality disorder SR(special requirements) students in Vilnius district secondary-school. Parents, teachers and children questionnaire information analysis results, findings are given. Conclusions: 1. Mentality disorders determine endogenous and exogenous factors: endogenous – during pregnancy period mother‘s experienced injury, recovered infectious diseases, birth traumas, inheritance and chromosomes pathology; exogenous factors:- children recovered infectious diseases ( meningitis, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis ), head traumas and etc. 2. SR students with mentality disorder special education requirements are stated at schools special education commission and PPS (pedagogical psichological service). 3. Majority of school community members disapprove to mentality disorder SR students integrated education. 48% - of teachers disapprove , because it disturbs other students education in class, 29% disapprove, because don‘t observe such students education succession, 21% approve, 2% had‘t respond to this question. 79% - of parents disapprove to having mentality disorder SR students integrated education, however teach their children to be friendly with all classmates, 14 % comprehensively approve, 7% approve, because bring up a child who has SR. Communicate with „different“ classmates 90% of girls and 40% of boys, avoid to communicate because misunderstand their behavior... [to full text]

Italijos integruoto ugdymo modelis unikalus tuo, kad visiems negalią turintiems moksleiviams suteikia teisę ir galimybes ugdytis visiškos integracijos sąlygomis. Specialiųjų ugdymosi poreikių turinčių moksleivių integracija į bendrojo lavinimo mokyklas šioje šalyje vyksta jau beveik keturiasdešimt metų, todėl remiantis sukaupta patirtimi pastaruoju metu ypatingai susidomėta integruoto ugdymo kokybės problema. Šiame tyrime siekiama įvertinti integruoto ugdymo kokybę empirinio tyrimo pagalba, išskiriant pagrindinius integruoto ugdymo kokybės indikatorius, t.y. tam tikrus reikšmingus integracijos proceso aspektus, kurie padėtų rasti atsakymą į klausimą, ar integruotas ugdymas konkrečiu pasirinktu atveju (t.y. Romos mokyklose) vyksta kokybiškai. Tyrimo objektas. Integruoto ugdymo kokybė Italijos integruoto ugdymo sistemoje. Tyrimo tikslas. Ištirti integruoto ugdymo kokybės indikatorius Romos mokyklose. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Apibūdinti pagrindinius Italijos integruoto ugdymo modelio teisinius, istorinius ir praktinius aspektus. 2. Aktualizuoti integruoto ugdymo kokybės sampratą Italijos integruoto ugdymo modelio kontekste. 3. Remiantis moksline literatūra, teisiniais šaltiniais ir jau atliktais tyrimais išskirti pagrindinius integruoto ugdymo kokybės indikatorius. 4. Įvertinti išskirtus integruoto ugdymo kokybės indikatorius Romos mokyklose. Tyrimo metodai. Mokslinių ir teisinių šaltinių analizė. Empirinis tyrimas: pedagogų anketinė apklausa. Statistinė tyrimo duomenų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The model of integrated education in Italy is unique because it gives to all students with special needs the right to be educated in regular classes of regular schools. In this country the integration of students with special educational needs into regular schools is in process for almost forty years now; therefore having such cumulate experience the problem of the quality of integration is becoming particularly important. Thus this research is aimed at evaluation of the quality of integrated education using empirical analysis: identifying main quality indicators of integrated education intended as significant aspects of integration process which could help answering the question if integrated education model is operating qualitatively in the concrete case of Rome schools. The object of the research. The quality of integrated education in Italy’s integrated education system. The aim of the research. To examine quality indicators of integrated education in Rome schools. The tasks of the research: 1. Define main legal, historical and practical aspects of Italy’s integrated education model. 2. Actualize the conception of integrated education quality in the context of Italy’s integrated education model. 3. Identify main quality indicators of integrated education on the grounds of scientific literature, legal sources and already carried out researches. 4. Evaluate identified quality indicators of integrated education in Rome schools. The methods of the research. The analysis... [to full text]