Place-based learning can be facilitated via mobile digital devices. This is relevant both from the perspective of the educational objectives of schools and the aim of creating a greater range of differentiated learning environments. This study is part of a larger project that explores more focused study of the use of digital devices within the context of outdoor learning.    The study was carried out using mainly an abductive approach, leading to results of four categories and a graphic model. Thus new insights have been gained into the ways that modern information and communication technology can facilitate the interface between student and place.    The research results are discussed in relation to experiential learning, affordance, learning object, context and place. The study demonstrates that digital tools can bring new qualities to place-based learning. The interface between humans and natural/urban environments can be developed both cognitively and affectively. There is potential here to both strengthen and transform experiences in the space where virtual and authentic learning environments meet. The conclusion to the study examines the need for further development of both technology and teaching. A holistic perspective that takes into consideration both collaboration and the contexts of different places is necessary when using digital media.

Cloud-based computing in higher education has the potential to impact institutions on a myriad of fronts, including technology governance, flexibility, financial, and intellectual property. As the demand for blended and online education increases, institutions are considering expedient approaches to implementing learning management systems (LMSs). Cloud-based e-learning models, such as personal learning environments and open learning networks, are reported to be among the next generation of LMSs. Saint Anselm College launched a cloud enhanced LMS, HawkLearn, to support several blended courses. HawkLearn was flexible, low-cost, low-maintenance, and targeted to digital natives, accustomed to using web 2.0 based tools and social media. Reporting utilized a case study approach, tracking HawkLearn's evolution from concept to reality. Results yielded data for higher education institutions, evaluating LMS strategies.

Thesis (MPhill)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Community-based placement of students provides an ideal opportunity to develop constructivist learning environments for learning. Students are placed in a low risk obstetric care facility where they required to interview, examine and manage uncomplicated pregnancies under supervision of a lecturer. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of using a validated Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES) to gauge the perceptions of students in a community-based health sciences placement. A further aim of the study was to evaluate whether the learning environment was compliant with constructivism. Methods: An adapted CLES was administered to 99 students and 44 students were interviewed using the instrument scales as a schema. Results: The surveys were analysed and mean scores at or above 20 were obtained, where the 5 different scales would have a maximum score of 30 each. No gender or racial differences were elicited from the survey responses. Interview data supported the data of the survey that demonstrated the constructivist nature of the learning environment. Conclusion: The CLES appears to be an appropriate and useful instrument in evaluating a community-based constructivist learning environment in low-risk obstetric care. Practice Points: Learning environment research instruments developed for other settings may be appropriate to use in more specific training in health sciences education. The adapted CLES proved useful in evaluating a constructivist clinical learning environment.

This study describes the attempt to understand the quality of mediation between people within a community of practice. An innovative chefs’ apprenticeship in a dedicated restaurant provides a setting in which to explore what happens when a group of young people are learning to become fully accepted members of a community of practice. The setting, the social enterprise of Fifteen London, is founded on a passionate belief in the learning potential of all individuals, regardless of background. Conducted over a period of five years this ethnographic study tells the stories of the apprentices; the story of the community; and the story of conducting the investigation. A pilot study completed in 2005 revealed that beyond the mediation observed between individuals, apprentices’ felt their experience of the culture of the learning environment had a greater impact. The thesis explores the theoretical implications of these findings. Drawn from a sociocultural perspective, two theoretical frameworks are applied: Mediated Learning Experience (Feuerstein, Miller and Tannenbaum, 1994) concerned with the mediation between people and its effect on human development; and Situated Learning (Lave and Wenger, 1991) concerned with participation in a community of practice. These frameworks were felt to be useful to an analysis which demonstrates that a community of practice can be analysed according to the framework for Mediated Learning Experience. The symbiosis of these two approaches creates a coherent framework for discourse in which to analyse the learning process itself. A description of the community highlights the complexities of learning, and the challenges of attempting to change the course of human development by means of cultural transmission and social enterprise. I conclude that this learning environment serves as a good example of what can be achieved when innovation works hand in hand with moral purpose.

Learning environment research has typically focused on factors other than the physical environment (e.g., student/teacher relationships, organizational structure). This study investigated the relationship between the physical classroom environment and entry-level undergraduate statistics students’ (N = 844) academic beliefs and performance. Students were taught in either a technology-enhanced active learning classroom or a traditional lecture hall. This study investigated how undergraduate students in an entry level statistics course a) perceived the importance of the physical learning environment, b) conveyed expectations for and experiences of active engagement within that environment, and c) self-reported their personal capability judgments. Data were analyzed by examining mean differences, correlations, and regression. The nested data structure was accounted for using hierarchical linear modeling. Results indicated that, at the end of the semester, students rated the physical learning space as less important to their learning than they did at the beginning, although perceived importance was not influenced by classroom setting. The relationship between classroom type and active engagement expectation/experience offered mix results. Students learning in traditional classrooms reported higher statistics self-efficacy than did those in technology-enhanced statistics classrooms. End-of-course statistics self-efficacy was significantly related to grades earned.

This study examines conceptions of criticality and its instruction in the History learning environ- ment in Sweden, Russia, and Australia as evidenced in one sample upper secondary class in each country. To achieve this, data were collected at macro, micro and meso levels. At the macro level, elements of curriculum theory were used to analyse the policy framework provided to develop students’ criticality in the upper secondary History classroom and to identify the conceptions of criticality as manifested in the policy documents. At the micro level, a content-based, thematic analysis was used to examine how the teachers and student focus groups conceptualise criticality and the ways of its teaching and learning. At the meso level, the conceptions of criticality and its instruction modes identified in the policy documents and interviews were used to analyse the class- room data collected in the selected classes. The combined findings from the three levels of analysis provide a transnational account of criticality and its instruction. They suggest that criticality is conceptualised as a generic skill of questioning at the overarching curriculum level, whereas it is reconceptualised as a discipline- specific skill at the subject level. Discipline-specific conceptions include criticality as source criti- cism, as meaning making from historical evidence, as questioning historical narratives, and as educating for citizenship. The findings indicate that the visionary criticality objectives of the curricula might be obstructed at other policy levels and by the interviewees’ conceptions of criticality as well as the classroom practicalities. Based on the transnational findings, it is proposed that harmonisation between the curriculum contents and time allocation might contribute to the promotion of narrative diversity. As argued in the study, narrative diversity is a prerequisite for criticality as questioning historical narratives. To nurture this form of criticality, the policy makers might consider a shift of attention towards the lower stages of schooling that could equip upper secondary students with necessary background knowledge. Further, harmonisation between the teaching objectives and learning outcomes of basic History courses might help avoid excluding certain groups of students from receiving criticality instruction on unclear grounds. This might ensure the equity of education with regard to criticality instruction for all upper secondary students, as required in the national curricula in Sweden, Russia and Australia. / Bakgrund Att kunna vara kritisk är ett förväntat studieresultat i ämnet historia på gymnasienivå i Sverige, Ryssland och Australien. Genom att lära sig om sitt lands och världens historia i klassrummet skapar elever en nationell identitet. På historielektioner förväntas elever vara kritiska men vad det innebär kan skilja sig åt i olika utbildningskontexter. Denna avhandling syftar därför till att undersöka hur undervisning i att vara kritisk sker på historielektioner i tre gymnasieklasser: en klass i norra Sverige, en i nordvästra Ryssland och en i sydöstra Australien. Mina språkkunskaper och kontakter i länderna har möjliggjort insamling av data som annars sällan jämförs. Metoder Undersökningen är en småskalig primärstudie med fokus på enskilda aspekter inom utbildningssystemet (Ember & Ember, 2001). Den har genomförts inom de ramar för komparativa utbildningsvetenskapliga studier som föreslagits av Phillips (2006). Med utgångspunkt i den anpassade ontologiska modellen av lärmiljön (Bhaskar, 1978; Brown, 2008) och de läroplansteoretiska begreppen formuleringsarenan och realiseringsarenan (Lindensjö & Lundgren, 2014) har jag samlat in data från makro-, mikrooch mesonivå i varje land. På makronivå analyseras de nationella styrdokument som reglerar historieundervisningen på gymnasiet i Sverige, Ryssland och Australien – den avsedda läroplanen. Eftersom gymnasieutbildningen i Australien främst styrs av delstaterna analyseras även styrdokumenten för den aktuella delstaten Victoria. Dessutom tas hänsyn till en rad andra utbildningspolitiska dokument med relevans för studien, såsom kommentarer till läroplaner och kursplaner från de undersökta länderna. Analysen syftar till att identifiera skrivningar som explicit refererar till kritiska perspektiv och tolka statusen av dessa skrivningar i ett utbildningspolitiskt sammanhang. Vidare identifierar jag några ramfaktorer för historieundervisningen i allmänhet, och för undervisning i att vara kritisk i synnerhet. På mikronivå genomförde jag semi-strukturerade intervjuer med lärare och deras elever i varje utbildningskontext. Intervjuguiden testades i en pilotundersökning med lärare och en fokusgrupp med elever som läste ett högskoleförberedande program i norra Sverige. I huvudstudien intervjuade jag tre lärare, en från varje land, och 16 av deras elever. Fyra elevintervjuer genomfördes, där tre elevintervjuer skedde i fokusgrupp och en individuellt. Samtliga intervjuer spelades in och transkriberades, och utvalda delar översattes till engelska. Alla deltagande skolor har gott rykte och ligger i medelstora städer i respektive land. Lärarna i studien är behöriga i historia och har mer än 20 års undervisningserfarenhet. Eleverna var vid studiens genomförande i snitt 17 år gamla. De svenska eleverna gick ett yrkesprogram och läste den obligatoriska kursen Historia 1a1. Eleverna i Ryssland och i Australien gick de program som ger allmän behörighet till studier på högskolenivå. De ryska eleverna läste en obligatorisk historiekurs på basnivå, medan de australiensiska eleverna läste en valbar kurs i Australiens historia. Insamlad intervjudata analyserades innehållsligt. Analysen syftar till att urskilja lärares och elevers uppfattningar om vad det innebär att vara kritisk samt deras erfarenheter och upplevelser av undervisningen i att vara kritisk, något som kan sägas ingå i den erfarna och upplevda läroplanen. På mesonivå observerades 17 historielektioner. Under observationen använde jag två till fyra inspelningsapparater beroende på undervisningsmoment. Inspelningarna kompletterades med fältanteckningar enligt en observationsmall (se Appendix 20). Därefter transkriberades den största delen av inspelningarna och utvalda delar översattes till engelska. Analysen syftar till att undersöka hur undervisningen i att vara kritisk, den genomförda läroplanen, förhöll sig till den avsedda läroplanen samt den erfarna och upplevda läroplanen. Resultat Studiens resultat tyder på att det finns olika formuleringar av vad det innebär att vara kritisk beroende på vilken nivå i styrdokumenten som undersöks. På läroplansnivå uttrycks det som en generisk förmåga att kunna ifrågasätta samt att kunna föra ett resonemang genom att styrka sina påståenden och dra rimligaslutsatser. På kursplanenivå för ämnet historia uttrycks det som en ämnesspecifik förmåga att kunna kritiskt granska källor och att kunna skapa mening utifrån historiska källor. Styrdokumentanalysen identifierar följande potentiella ramfaktorer för undervisning i att vara kritisk i historieklassrummet: den kunskapsorienterade läroplanen i Ryssland, nationella prov i historia i Ryssland och Australien, kursens svårighetsgrad och avsatt lärarledd tid i Sverige och Ryssland. Intervjuanalysen visar på att lärarna och eleverna betonar vikten av att ha ett kritiskt förhållningssätt i skolan och i vardagslivet. Inom ämnet historia uttrycks det, i samtliga länder, som en förmåga att kunna ifrågasätta 167 historiska narrativ. Dessutom förknippas det kritiska förhållningssättet med medborglig bildning i Sverige och Ryssland. Analysen av klassrumsdata tyder på att lärarna undervisar i att vara kritisk på i huvudsak tre sätt. Den svenska läraren fokuserar på att fostra elever till medborgare som delar specifika värderingar, vilket syftar till att undvika upprepade tragedier som förintelsen och försäkra sig om att elever gör ”goda” val i framtiden. Den ryska läraren, som eftersträvar narrativ mångfald i historieklassrummet, ser till att det åtminstone förekommer intra-narrativ mångfald med hänsyn till ramfaktorerna. Den australiensiska läraren undervisar sina elever i att skapa mening utifrån multimodala källor och försöker bidra till narrativ mångfald. Dock kontrollerar läraren vilka alternativa narrativ som får utrymme i klassrummet. Rysk och australiensisk klassrumsdata visar prov på att motstridiga historiska narrativ kan existera i undervisningsdiskursen, medan svensk data visar på ett enda historiskt narrativ under datainsamlingsperioden. Slutsatser Studiens resultat tyder på att läroplanernas ambitiösa förväntade studieresultat för kritiskt förhållningssätt kan påverkas av formuleringar i kursplaner, av lärares och elevers uppfattningar om vad det innebär att vara kritisk samt av andra skolrelaterade omständigheter. För att bidra till elevers möjligheter att ifrågasätta historiska narrativ skulle man kunna fokusera på att förse elever med nödvändiga bakgrundskunskaper i lägre årskurser. Ett ytterligare utvecklingsområde skulle kunna vara att balansera historiekursers omfattning i förhållande till avsatt tid. Slutligen bör förväntade studieresultat för kritiskt förhållningssätt stämma överens med de instruktioner lärarna får om måluppfyllelse även i kursplaner för ”enklare” historiekurser. Detta skulle kunna leda till en mer likvärdig undervisning i att vara kritisk för alla elevgrupper, vi

Purpose: This research considers the design and operation of a non-modular professional doctorate to meet the needs of professionals working in the built environment who wish to obtain a doctoral qualification. It seeks to identify the essential components and support mechanisms to provide an alternative to other forms of doctorate which draws on their strengths while addressing some of their shortcomings. It answers questions regarding the suitability of a programme which can successfully operate within a reasonable timeframe. Research Design: The research is set in a real-life phenomenological paradigm concerning the experience and development of candidates registered for a professional doctorate. The conceptual framework governed both the design of the research and the design of a two-stage curriculum. Regular intervention and evaluation using action research methodology was used to improve practice. The research produced findings through multiple sources of evidence. Data were collected from course documentation, online discussion forums, focus groups, individual reflections and interviews. Findings: The work found that a community of practice consisting of candidates and staff, specifically focused on learning and the continuous development of candidates, provides a suitable vehicle for professional doctorate work. Candidates benefit from engaging in carefully constructed summative and formative assessment with prompt feedback. The assessment informed regular workshops containing an active learning format supplemented through additional support from a virtual learning environment. Crucially, all three components are required to support each other by drawing on their individual strengths. Conclusion: This action research project made a modest but significant contribution to curriculum development at doctoral level. The research developed a model which enabled academic practice to help candidates improve their professional practice. Self-motivated candidates with appropriate supervisory support can complete a professional doctorate within a realistic timeframe when there is carefully constructed synergy between their doctorate, its supporting mechanisms and their own professional practice.

This study attempted to determine, given an individual's learning environment preference as determined by Alone/Peer Oriented scale of the Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (PEPS), if achievement scores could be predicted when given either an individual or a peer-group teaching environment. Participants were graduate students (n = 18) enrolled in a graduate course.

I am interested in the idea that schools should be designed to offer individualized learning."A Science & Mathematics Magnet School at Maymont" explores a type of school that is becoming more familiar and accessible. By allowing students who have an interest in excelling in school and preparing for their future careers to come together and meet one another and experience aneducation that might not otherwise be available can be beneficial in many ways. In most cases, because of the funding required for such specialized schools, class sizes are reduced to meet budgets and the schools are opened to the community to gain funding. Smaller class sizes increase student interaction and aid in forming connections among students and between studentsand teachers. The use of the school as a venue for the community adds needed revenue. Both occurences may be advantageous and positively effect community at the school and surrounding populous levels.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.