This research is about six pedagogue´s and their reflections about the size of the children´s group in the preschools. Then I will discuss the pedagogue’s recommendation on the significance of the size of a children´s group learning and development and it´s practical significance for the preschool function. The pedagogue’s statements will be discussed in relation to The Swedish National Agency for Education (TSNAE) guidelines on group size. The theoretical framework of this essay will take an overview of the social cultural perspective, the group size and its significance for both the children´s learning and development, for interaction and communication and TSNAE advice and guidelines. A qualitative approach was used including six interviews in Stockholm. The result of this research shows that the six pedagogue´s concluded that the size of a children´s group can vary according to circumstances but 15 - 18 children are recommended and that is also supported by TSNAE. There is no exact recommendation for an ideal group size from TSNAE, but their guidelines for a group size is based on that children will development on an optimal way. For the pedagogue´s will be able to hear and listen to all children, the pedagogue´s think that it´s important that this can be done if the children group is divided in smaller groups during the day. This is also important for the interaction and to have discussions with the children. It is difficult to individualize the children if they are too many children in the group.    TSNAE general advice for quality says that the children´s group should be suitable size. The size will be according to the preschools prerequisites.

The purpose of this study was twofold: to find out how teachers of English as an Additional Language (EAL) conceived curriculum, teaching and learning and to examine how professional learning and development (PLD) might impact on changes in the teachers’ thinking and approaches. The research was spurred by my own involvement in the revision of the national New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) and interest in the contested nature of curriculum related to English language learning. EAL teachers face challenges addressing the cross-Learning Area positioning of EAL and, at the same time, are afforded significant autonomy. PLD is needed to support teachers to make curriculum decisions that support English language learners’ (ELLs) to develop competency in English language with urgency. This is because ELLs need to manage the English language demands as they engage in the complex learning that is articulated in the NZC, along with their peers. I adopted an action research methodology to explore both how EAL teachers conceived curriculum and how PLD about EAL teaching and learning might impact on shifts in teachers’ understanding. I was a practitioner-researcher as I carried out PLD for two teachers over a period of six months. Those teacher-participants were teachers of EAL from different secondary schools with different professional contexts. Teaching-as-inquiry was the predominant approach of the PLD. This approach was consistent with my action research. The PLD comprised of a range of interruptions to teachers’ everyday work that assisted them to explore their own practice. The research drew on records of these interruptions to provide evidence of changes in teacher-participants’ thinking. The recorded conversations were captured through semi-structured interviews, video-stimulated recall and ‘learning conversations’. This qualitative data was analysed in one cycle which explored teachers’ thinking and actions about EAL curriculum. A second cycle focused my recorded reflections about my practice and on the impact of particular forms of PLD facilitation on shifts in the teachers’ thinking and actions. I created a review of literature for each cycle. This recursive process allowed me to reflect on my role as a PLD facilitator in action. Several themes emerged as the cycles were drawn together to examine how PLD impacted on shifts in teachers’ understanding of curriculum for EAL. One theme that emerged was the value of a culture of inquiry, where my action research was linked with the participants’ teaching-as-inquiry cycles. Another theme related to how PLD could influence teachers’ reconceptualising of curriculum for teaching multilingual English language learners. A third theme was how my PLD facilitation could impact on effective teaching and learning for Pasifika learners. Findings can be drawn from my study for both teacher practice and for PLD facilitation. This research adds to New Zealand research about teaching ELLs, and Pasifika students in particular. It shows how giving attention to both students’ home language strengths and academic English language learning needs can change the way teachers see pathways and work towards improved outcomes for students. The value of inquiry for teachers was confirmed in this action research, as a useful approach for bring about change in teachers’ thinking and approaches to teaching. The PLD interruption process, which included analysis of rich information about students, challenging conversations and the maintenance of respectful relationships was confirmed as an effective combination for engaging teachers in shifting their foci. Self-reflections on my PLD facilitation role, using an inquiry approach, assessed through adult learning principles, provided a useful stocktake which I would recommend for other PLD facilitators.

This case study reports the use of action research to improve teachers’ understanding of critical evaluation. The project involved nine physical educators in a year-long study, designing and conducting workshops for Year 13 Scholarship physical education students in Auckland, New Zealand. The focus of the workshops was on critical evaluation as interpreted within Scholarship physical education. The inquiry-based educational action research incorporated a focus on the concepts of Productive Pedagogies (Hayes, Mills, Christie & Lingard, 2006) to This case study reports the use of action research to improve teachers’ understanding of critical evaluation. The project involved nine physical educators in a year-long study, designing and conducting workshops for Year 13 Scholarship physical education students in Auckland, New Zealand. The focus of the workshops was on critical evaluation as interpreted within Scholarship physical education. The inquiry-based educational action research incorporated a focus on the concepts of Productive Pedagogies (Hayes, Mills, Christie & Lingard, 2006) to improve teachers’ understanding of critical evaluation. Data were collected by interview, observation and written reflections. Teachers began the project with confused understandings of the term critical evaluation. Through their participation in the action research process with a focus on Productive Pedagogies (Hayes et al., 2006) teachers reported an enhanced level of understanding and an improvement in their teaching of critical evaluation.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2007. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-171). Also available for download via the World Wide Web; free to University of Oregon users.

Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 98-102). Also available online in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.

A UML é uma linguagem de modelagem largamente aceite entre profissionais da área de computação para a modelagem de sistemas simples e complexos. Tomando em consideração que os objetos de aprendizagem são entidades digitais, para o seu desenvolvimento, a utilização de metodologias torna-se um imperativo, se o objetivo for o de oferecer ao setor de educação ferramentas capazes de apoiar o processo de ensino aprendizagem. Os objetos de aprendizagem são ferramentas que podem contribuir para o aluno alcançar a aprendizagem significativa, se forem desenvolvidos dentro dos parâmetros considerados facilitadores da aprendizagem significativa. A presente pesquisa propõe uma metodologia alicerçada na aprendizagem significativa, denominada Metodologia de Modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem em UML (MOAUML) baseada em princípios de UML e de Design Instrucional, para a modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem, com vista a facilitar o desenvolvimento de objetos de aprendizagem que favoreçam a aprendizagem. Objetivando a validação da metodologia, equipes com diferentes perfis profissionais, modelaram 9 objetos de aprendizagem entre novos e legados. O resultado das modelagens mostrou que a utilização da MOAUML contribui para a facilidade na modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem, embora tenha sido mais fácil para equipes que já estavam familiarizadas com métodos de modelagem de software. / The UML is a widely accepted modelling language among computer specialists from simple to complex systems. In order to develop learning objects as digital entities, it is very important the utilization of any methodology aiming to deliver to the education sector capable tools for supporting the process of teaching learning. The learning objects are powerful tools that can contribute for student’s achievement of meaningful learning. This fact can be true only if the development procedures satisfied some characteristics considered facilitators of meaningful learning. This study proposes a methodology based on the meaningful learning, designated Modelling of Learning Objects Using UML (MOAUML) based on principles of UML and Instructional Design, for the modelling of learning objects targeting to facilitate the development of learning objects that promote meaningful learning. In order to validate the MOAUML, different teams with distinguish profiles, were modelled 9 learning objects among news and legacies. The results of that process disclosed that the use of MOAUML contributes to the ease of modelling learning objects, although it has been easier for teams that were already familiar with software modelling processes.

abstract: This small case study reviewed research literature and Arizona standards and assessments utilized in the early learning continuum, with a focus on holistic development, specifically in the areas of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development. This conversation has become especially prevalent in the state of Arizona in light of initiatives around school readiness, and policy changes reflected within the state. Much has yet to be determined concerning how the systems approach works in Arizona local education agencies, specifically the depth, consistency, and approach in which nonacademic areas of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skills are addressed in the Arizona standards, local practices and classrooms, and preschool and kindergarten assessments. The study included a content analysis, conducted as a word count, of standards and assessments, as well as a small case study of including high academic achieving district (including semi-structured interviews and classroom observations). Through the data analysis, it was affirmed a culture of learning, reflecting social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development was created within this Local Education Agency. Three categories (environment, individual, and decision making) emerged as a way to describe this culture through a theoretical perspective of sociocultural theory. The study offers an opportunity for discussion of social-emotional development and approaches to learning skill development, connecting to a high academically achieving district, and makes recommendations for policy, practice and further research. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Curriculum and Instruction 2015

A UML é uma linguagem de modelagem largamente aceite entre profissionais da área de computação para a modelagem de sistemas simples e complexos. Tomando em consideração que os objetos de aprendizagem são entidades digitais, para o seu desenvolvimento, a utilização de metodologias torna-se um imperativo, se o objetivo for o de oferecer ao setor de educação ferramentas capazes de apoiar o processo de ensino aprendizagem. Os objetos de aprendizagem são ferramentas que podem contribuir para o aluno alcançar a aprendizagem significativa, se forem desenvolvidos dentro dos parâmetros considerados facilitadores da aprendizagem significativa. A presente pesquisa propõe uma metodologia alicerçada na aprendizagem significativa, denominada Metodologia de Modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem em UML (MOAUML) baseada em princípios de UML e de Design Instrucional, para a modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem, com vista a facilitar o desenvolvimento de objetos de aprendizagem que favoreçam a aprendizagem. Objetivando a validação da metodologia, equipes com diferentes perfis profissionais, modelaram 9 objetos de aprendizagem entre novos e legados. O resultado das modelagens mostrou que a utilização da MOAUML contribui para a facilidade na modelagem de objetos de aprendizagem, embora tenha sido mais fácil para equipes que já estavam familiarizadas com métodos de modelagem de software. / The UML is a widely accepted modelling language among computer specialists from simple to complex systems. In order to develop learning objects as digital entities, it is very important the utilization of any methodology aiming to deliver to the education sector capable tools for supporting the process of teaching learning. The learning objects are powerful tools that can contribute for student’s achievement of meaningful learning. This fact can be true only if the development procedures satisfied some characteristics considered facilitators of meaningful learning. This study proposes a methodology based on the meaningful learning, designated Modelling of Learning Objects Using UML (MOAUML) based on principles of UML and Instructional Design, for the modelling of learning objects targeting to facilitate the development of learning objects that promote meaningful learning. In order to validate the MOAUML, different teams with distinguish profiles, were modelled 9 learning objects among news and legacies. The results of that process disclosed that the use of MOAUML contributes to the ease of modelling learning objects, although it has been easier for teams that were already familiar with software modelling processes.

The aim of this diploma thesis is to analyze and evaluate the employee training system in an auditing company operating on the Czech market. The thesis starts with a theoretical part, which provides basic definitions and description of educational strategies, the process of employee training as well as different training methods. The practical part contains the description of the company and the analysis of its education system and training methods. The main focus of this work lies on technical training, typical of this type of company, and on the area of soft skills education and revitalization of its concept. The analysis includes recommendations for adjustments and improvements of the educational process as a whole or of some of its parts.

The aim of this thesis is to make critical assessment of trainee programs strengths and weaknesses as a selection development banking employer tool for the university graduates. Furthermore, the aim is to deduce essential personal tasks for successful operation of the trainee program. The main focus of attention of this thesis is the process of organization trainee program PRIMA in UniCredit Bank compared with the trainee programs organized by Raiffeisenbank and ČSOB. The practical part of thesis is based on author's human resources work experience in a bank institution, participation on trainee program management and on job fairs held at the universities. The main contribution of this thesis is the comparison of the trainee programs, the list of essential distinct criteria as well as the comparable even identical general content and structure of the trainee programs.