ABSTRACT Students attending schools in poor and historically marginalized communities lack access to curricula that combines both relevant science content and investigative practices—components the National Research Council (2012) has identified as necessary for effective learning. This lack of curricular access is also problematic in that it: (1) undermines student interest and value of the discipline; (2) fails to educate students about science issues relevant to their lived experience; and (3) hinders student preparation to convert science content into actionable knowledge (Basu & Barton, 2007; Buxton, 2010; Brkich, 2014). I have designed a pedagogical model for geoscience learning as an attempt to address this educational opportunity gap. Geoscience as a content area is particularly important because students attending schools in poor and historically marginalized communities are more likely to be exposed to poor indoor and outdoor air quality (Pastor, Morello-Frosch & Sadd, 2006), have access to poor quality drinking water (Balazs, Morello-Frosch, Hubbard, & Ray, 2011; Balazs & Ray, 2014), and attend schools located near or on brown fields (areas of high exposure to environmental hazards) (Pastor, Sadd & Morello-Frosch, 2004). Given an overall concern for environmental justice (Pais, Crowder & Downey, 2014) and more specific concerns about recent cases of water quality in Flint, Michigan (BBC, 2016) and the greater Philadelphia area (Milman & Glenza, 2016; Rumpler & Schlegel, 2017), the topic of water quality has curricular relevance and potential to engage students in learning geoscience. Based on the pedagogical model, I designed both a water-quality themed transformative learning experience (intervention), and a comparison experience focused on exploration of geoscience careers. Each experience consisted of activities totaling 220 minutes of instruction that can be completed within 5-6 traditional class periods. I applied a mixed methods approach to examine the student generated data from both experiences. First, I used quantitative analyses to test the efficacy of the model with respect to pre to post and delayed post instructional shifts in interest; self-efficacy; and perceived value, perceived relevance, and application of Earth science content. Secondly, I examined between group comparisons on each measure. Results of repeated measures ANOVA indicated statistically significant and meaningful shifts in knowledge for those students in the intervention group, F(1, 159) = 7.34 p = .007 η2 = .044 (small effect size). Though the analysis did not detect statistically significant gains in interest, results revealed statistically significant and meaningful shifts in perceived value, perceived relevance, and application of Earth science content over time by grade for both the intervention and comparison groups, F(2, 155) =7.13 p = .001 η2 = 0.84 (large effect size; Tabachnick & Fidell, 2013). I confirmed these results using structural equation modeling (SEM) and path analysis. I also applied SEM and path analysis to the student generated data in order to test the theoretical soundness of the model. Interest, Transformative Experience (or TE, is operationalized as perceived value, perceived relevance, and application of Earth science content), and pre-instruction knowledge were all identified as significant pathways contributing to post-instruction knowledge. Output statistics confirmed that the model is both viable and trustworthy and indicated that it explained 34.4% of the variance. Lastly, iterative qualitative content analysis of student written responses during the intervention revealed elements of TE with respect to perceived value, perceived relevance and application of Earth science content confirming that the intervention was transformative. This work integrated knowledge from two disciplines—geoscience and education—to present an instructional model designed to support student interest, self-efficacy, TE, and knowledge. Results have implications for science teaching and learning, specifically that contextualizing science is an effective pedagogy. Additionally, embedding both science content and scientific practices in current socio-scientific issues, including issues of environmental injustice, supports knowledge gains, positive shifts in student perception of Earth science content as relevant, valuable, and useful for problem solving; and positive shifts in student application of science content to their lives outside of the classroom context. / Teaching & Learning

Our society is becoming more and more digital and the outbreak of COVID-19 has stressed this process even more. Thus, the need for online teaching and learning has increased and many new advancements in technology have been made. These advancements have enabled the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and recent years have consequently witnessed increased attention to the use of AI for educational experiences, not least in K-12 schools. However, today little is known about how students perceive AI-based teaching which makes this area interesting to explore further. This study investigated childrens’ perception and learning experience of videos of a human-looking AI instructor, in comparison to videos of a human instructor. If there would appear to be no negative effects on childrens’ learning experience of an AI instructor, this could be used as a basis for developing the growing field of online education applications for children. The study has undertaken a case study approach. Data were collected through user tests and interviews with six children. The respondents were given video instructions by an AI generated instructor and a human instructor in order to evaluate how their perceived learning experience differs between these two. Primary findings indicate that the respondents notice only small differences between the two instructors. However, the answers from the respondents were very diverse, indicating that some respondents preferred the AI instructor while some preferred the human instructor. A lot of interesting findings, such as that children do not seem to be very observant with small malfunctions, are being discussed, indicating that children's learning experience might at least not be negatively affected by an human-looking AI instructor instead of a human instructor. / Vårt samhälle blir allt mer digitaliserat och utbrottet av COVID-19 har påskyndat denna utveckling ännu mer. Således har behovet av onlineundervisning ökat, och likaså har många nya framsteg inom tekniken gjorts. Dessa framsteg har sedan möjliggjort användningen av artificiell intelligens (AI), och följaktligen har man på senare år sett en ökad uppmärksamhet kring användningen av AI inom utbildning, särskilt i grundskolor. Idag är det dock relativt outforskat hur elever uppfattar AI-baserad undervisning vilket gör detta område intressant att utforska vidare I denna studie undersöks barns uppfattning och lärandeupplevelse av videor med en AI-instruktör med mänskligt utseende i jämförelse med videor med en riktig mänsklig instruktör. Om det inte verkar finnas några negativa effekter på barns lärandeupplevelse av en AI-instruktör kan detta användas som en grund för att utveckla det växande området för onlineutbildning applikationer för barn. Studien genomfördes genom en fallstudie. Data samlades in genom användartester och intervjuer med sex barn. Respondenterna fick videoinstruktioner av en AI-genererad instruktör och en mänsklig instruktör för att utvärdera hur deras upplevda lärandeupplevelse skiljer sig mellan dessa två. Resultatet visade på att deltagarna märkte även små skillnader mellan de två instruktörerna. Svaren från deltagarna varierade dock mycket och antyder att vissa deltagare föredrog AI-instruktören medan andra föredrog mänskliga instruktören. Många intressanta insikter diskuteras i denna studie, t.ex., att barn tenderar att inte vara så observanta på små felfunktioner, vilket indikerar på att barns lärandeupplevelse åtminstone inte verkar påverkas negativt av en AI-instruktör med mänskligt utseende istället för en människa.

Clinical learning experiences form an integral part of the student nurse's training, for it is in the clinical setting that students acquire the knowledge, skills and values necessary for professional practice. The purpose of this research was to explore student nurses experiences during clinical practice. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual design was utilised, employing the phenomenological method. Unstructured interviews were conducted with student nurses in their final year of the four year nursing programme at a nursing college campus in the Limpopo Province. Tesch's method of data analysis was used. The findings indicate that there are aspects which impact negatively on student nurses' clinical learning experiences, such as lack of teaching and learning support, lack of opportunities for learning, poor theory-practice integration, and poor interpersonal relationships between the students, college tutors and ward staff. Recommendations to enhance the clinical learning experiences of student nurses were made. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

A quantative descriptive study was used to describe the factors that influence the output in the four (4) year nurse training programme. Data was collected by using a self administered questionnaire to 73 participants sampled by stratified random sampling in the Southern Campus of Free State School of Nursing in the Free State Province. Data was analysed by using SPSS computer version 15. The findings of this study revealed that there were difficult subjects like Fundamental Nursing Science, General Nursing Science, Basic Nursing Science, Psychiatric Nursing Science and Midwifery. These were identified per year level of study. The study revealed that difficulty experienced by students resulted in them failing the indicated subjects. Recommendations were made as to how to address the identified factors especially those regarding subjects that were failed in each level, different teaching strategies that could be used to improve the throughput. / M. A. (Health Studies) / Health Studies

How can one create online educational material that support and motivate students in guiding their own learning and make meaningful instructional decisions? One of the main focuses on designing e-learning is about creating an environment where learners can actively assume control and take responsibility for their own learning with little or no guidance from the tutors. This research aims to discover a new way to design learning that would cater to individual choices and preferences. The idea goes beyond learner-centred design; it is about learner control and direction. As an option, learners should be able to choose to be in the driver’s seat, to direct their own learning journey. As a starting point, this research explores the use of two educational theories - Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) theory as the underpinning instructional design for a Learner-Directed Model to support students’ online learning in both domain knowledge and meta knowledge in the subject of computer programming. One unit material from an online Introduction to Java Programming course has been redesigned based on the proposed Learner-Directed Model for the experimental design study. The study involved a total of 35 participants divided randomly into one Experimental Group and one Control Group. They were assigned to either a Learner-Directed Model (Experimental Group) or a linear model (Control Group). Pre/post tests, survey, follow-up interview as well as log file analysis were instruments used for assessing students’ domain knowledge, meta knowledge and their attitudes for their overall learning experience. Learning experience is further broken down into perceived ease of use and user satisfaction; system usability; learner experience; and perceived controllability. The results of the study have revealed that there is statistically significant difference between the survey results for the Experimental Group and the Control Group. The Experimental Group reported a higher level of overall learning experience and better attitudes in general. However, there was no statistically significant difference existing between the two groups on the domain and meta level knowledge improvement. Based on these results, I have proposed further research directions and put forward a number of recommendations and suggestions on learner-directed e-learning design.

本研究旨在瞭解台南市國小高年級學童英語補習現況與英語補習經驗及其英語學習態度。以台南市公立國小高年級學童為研究對象，進行叢集抽樣，抽取15所學校，30個班級為樣本，以研究者自行編製的「台南市國小高年級學童英語學習態度問卷」為研究工具，採問卷調查法取得443份有效問卷，將所得資料以描述統計、t檢定、單因子變異數分析等統計方法進行分析。獲致本研究結果如下： 一、 台南市國小高年級有七成學童參加英語補習，補習年數以3-4年者最多； 每週補習英語的時數，以4小時以下者最多；學童參加英語補習最主要的動機，以升學與課業需求者最多。 二、 台南市國小高年級學童在一般英語學習態度、學校英語課程學習態度、英語補習課程學習態度為普通偏中上。 三、不同性別之學童在英語學習態度上部分有顯著差異，女學童優於男學童。 四、不同主要照顧者之家長教育程度之學童在英語學習態度的三層面均未有顯著差異。 五、不同英語補習年數之學童，僅在對學校英語課程的看法有顯著差異，補習年數1-2 年者優於3-4年及7年以上者。 六、每週英語補習時數不同之學童在一般英語學習態度有顯著差異；學校英語課程的學 習態度則未有顯著差異；英語補習課程學習態度部分有顯著差異，每週英語補習時 數5小時以上者優於於4小時以下者。 七、不同英語補習動機之學童在一般英語學習態度、英語補習課程的學習態度有 顯著差異，學校英語課程的學習態度部分有顯著差異，英語補習動機為自己 興趣者優於於其他英語補習動機。 / This study aims to understand English cram status quo. cram school learning experience and English learning attitude of the fifth and sixth graders in Tainan City. Totally 443 participants are selected from the fifth and sixth graders in Tainan City. The data are analyzed through descriptive statistics, t-test and one way ANOVA. The major research findings are as follows: 1.Seventy percent of elementary high graders in Tainan City go to English cram schools, and most of them go there at least three to four years. Besides, most of them take English lessons everyweek under four hours. The main motivation is to enter a higher school and have better academic performance. 2. High graders students’ English learning attitude are above the average. 3. Different high graders genders have partly different attitude. Female students are better than male ones. 4. High graders with different primary caregivers of education have no significant difference on three levels. 5. High graders with different attending cram school years have significant difference partly. One to two English learning years are better than those with three to four years and more than seven years. 6. High graders with different English learning hours every week on general English learning attitude have significant differences.Students who learn English in cram school for more than five hours are better than students who learn English in cram school for less than four hours. 7. Significant difference of different motivations were found among general English learning attitude and English courses of going to cram schools. High graders with different motivation on the English courses have significant differences partly. Students who are interested in going to cram school get better grades than the other motivations. / 摘要 i Abstract ii 致 謝 iii 目 次 iv 表 次 vi 圖 次 vii 第一章 緒論 1 第一節 研究背景與動機 1 第二節 研究目的與研究問題 5 第三節 名詞釋義 5 第四節 研究範圍與限制 6 第二章 文獻探討 9 第一節 國小英語教學與英語補習的現況 9 第二節 英語學習態度 22 第三節 英語補習經驗與英語學習態度 27 第四節 英語學習態度的相關研究 37 第三章 研究方法 45 第一節 研究架構 45 第三節 研究工具 47 第四節 研究步驟 57 第五節 資料處理與分析 58 第四章 研究結果與討論 61 第一節 受試學童基本資料、參加英語補習經驗與英語學習態度之分析 61 第二節 不同背景變項的學童在英語學習態度的差異分析 65 第三節 不同英語補習經驗之學童的英語學習態度之差異分析 69 第四節 綜合討論 78 第五章 結論與建議 83 第一節 結論 83 第二節 建議 84 參考文獻 86 附錄一 96 附錄二 100

The aim of this thesis is to verify the practical utility of the Application of Cognitive Functions Scale (ACFS) to determin cognitive development of pre-school children. The theoretical part looks into specifics of the pre-school period and introduces the precise meaning of dynamic assessment, which is typical by its format consisting of three phases: pre- test - intervention - post-test. This part outlines the ACFS method and the influence of an adult on the process of mediated learning experience, which is a vital part of the intervention phase of the dynamic assessment. The empirical part describes the use of dynamic assessment and examines the possibilities of the ACFS method to observe the potential of cognitive functions development of pre-school children. The results show that the ACFS method is well-adapted to identify the potential of cognitive functions development of children and it provides specific and efficient guidelines for further development of their cognitive skills. Keywords: pre-school period, dynamic assessment, mediated learning experience, ACSF method, cognitive development of children

Thesis deals with the use of mediated learning experience in the focus on the communication skills of preschool children. Thesis follows up the theoretical knowledges of preschool education especially content of it and related to main documentes. Thesis describes the development of child in preschool age and describes the speech development and speech impairments. Thesis is focused on the mediated learning experience, its principles, goals and also on the theory of structural cognitive modifiability. In the last part of thesis is describede the program of Feuerstein instrumental enrichment, which is the main part of the research. The goal of thesis is to analysed the use of the Feuerstein instrumental enrichment program in the focus on development of preschool children's communication skills.

Submitted by Mariana Dornelles Vargas (marianadv) on 2015-03-13T19:15:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 inovacao_sala.pdf: 4245360 bytes, checksum: d84268dd34b6d14668100d09dc04b72c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-13T19:15:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 inovacao_sala.pdf: 4245360 bytes, checksum: d84268dd34b6d14668100d09dc04b72c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-13 / Nenhuma / A presente pesquisa objetivou desenvolver, a partir da perspectiva do Design Estratégico, cenários para a inovação da experiência de aprendizagem em salas de aula de ensino superior, levando em conta as possibilidades inauguradas pelas tecnologias digitais. Para tanto, foi realizada uma investigação com delineamento qualitativo, do tipo estudo de caso, junto ao Curso de Design da Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos UNISINOS, curso este caracterizado por apresentar uma proposta diferenciada de educação, apoiada pelo conceito de Programa de Aprendizagem (PA). As fontes de dados que subsidiaram a análise deste estudo, também compreendidas como a pesquisa contextual proposta pelo Design Estratégico, constaram de pesquisa documental, 18 períodos de observações da sala de aula e oito entrevistas com alunos e professores. Da mesma forma, também a Pesquisa Blue Sky integrou-se à coleta de dados estimulando reflexões criativas. Buscou-se, com isso, compreender a experiência de aprendizagem dos alunos e professores em sala de aula a partir da estrutura, das interações e das tecnologias. A análise desse contexto permite, por vezes, apontar o descompasso desses fatores frente aos objetivos do PA. Para a construção dos cenários para a sala de aula, foi desenvolvido o Workshop 2029: Uma Nova Experiência de Aprendizagem, o qual contou com a participação de quatro equipes interdisciplinares que reuniram conhecimentos pertinentes ao projeto. A análise dos quatro cenários, cujo desenvolvimento foi estimulado pela apresentação das pesquisas contextual e Blue Sky realizadas, permitiu identificar interfaces entre os resultados alcançados, evidenciando a idealização do aluno autossuficiente e participativo, bem como a representação do professor como um orientador e um articulador de conhecimentos. Em relação à estrutura, verificou-se a necessidade de maior flexibilidade dos espaços, a qual foi diretamente afetada pelo uso das tecnologias digitais. No que diz respeito à personalização da aprendizagem, evidenciou-se a forte relação do alcance desse objetivo com o uso dos recursos tecnológicos. Tais constatações tornaram clara a importância da tecnologia para pensar a inovação da experiência vivenciada em sala de aula, mas também demonstraram que não é possível promover a inovação desse espaço apoiando-se exclusivamente nos avanços tecnológicos, uma vez que a inovação está em transformar a compreensão acerca da forma como estruturas, interações e tecnologias se conectam. Por fim, ressalta-se a potencialidade do Design Estratégico para projetos vinculados à educação e à inovação. / The current research aimed at developing sceneries for the innovation of the learning experience in university classrooms from the Strategic Design perspective and considering the possibilities inaugurated by the digital Technologies. For such purpose, a study-case type investigation with qualitative outline was carried out at the Design Course of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos UNISINOS, a course that features a differentiated education proposal which has the support of the Learning Program (LP). The sources of the data that fostered the analysis of this study and have been also understood as the context research proposed by the Strategic Design, comprised documental research, 18 periods of classroom observations and 8 interviews with students and teachers. Likewise, the Blue Sky Research also was integrated to the data collection by stimulating creative reflections. Thus, one searched to understand the learning experience of students and teachers in the classroom by considering the structure, interactions and technologies. The analysis of this context sometimes allows pointing out the mismatch of these factors in view of the LPs objectives. In order to construct the sceneries for the classroom, a Workshop was developed with the participation of four interdisciplinary teams that gathered knowledge related to the project. The analysis of the four sceneries whose development was stimulated by the presentation of the context researches and Blue Sky performed, allowed identifying interfaces among the results that have been reached what evidenced the idealization of the self-sufficient and participative student as well as the representation of the teacher as a guide and an articulator of knowledge. Regarding the structure, one verified the need of bigger flexibility of the spaces since it was directly affected by the use of the digital technologies. As to the learning personalization, evidence shows the strong relationship between the achievement of this objective and the use of the technological resources. Such findings made clear the importance of technology in order to think over the innovation of the experiment experienced in the classroom. In addition, it also demonstrated that it is not possible to promote the innovation of this space only with the support of technological breakthroughs since innovation is transforming the comprehension about the way how structures, interactions and technologies connect among themselves. Finally, the potentiality of the Strategic Design stands out for projects in connection with education and innovation.

本文旨在探討學習者的語言學習信念之動態本質。研究對象為兩位北部英語教學所的碩士生，研究方法主要包含半結構式訪談和研究對象自己寫的英語學習歷程，目的在於了解研究對象在人生各個階段的語言學習信念。資料分析方式採用「整體—內容」的分析法。研究結果顯示研究對象的學習信念會依他們和其所在情境的互動關係而改變，而這樣的改變彰顯了學習信念並非固定不變。而是動態的。此外，研究結果發現學習信念和情境、自我、以及身分相關。值得點出的是，雖然學習信念會依情境而改變，但是重點並非情境本身，而是學習者如何看待和解讀情境。除了情境因素，本研究亦探討不同自我（理想自我和應該自我）與身份（核心身份和情境身份）如何影響學習者的語言信念。在所有階段，兩位研究對象都表示努力是語言學習的關鍵，而學習者和所學語言之間的關係會決定學習者願意投入多少心力在語言學習上。最後於文末提出教學和研究上的建議。 / The study aims to explore the dynamic nature of learner belief through investigating two Taiwanese MA-TESOL students' beliefs at different stages of their lives. The participants are two TESOL MA students in a graduate school in northern Taiwan. Data collection methods mainly include written narratives and semi-structured interviews. The data collected are further analyzed using a holistic-content approach. The results of the study show that the participants' beliefs shift in interaction with the context and thus reveal that the nature of learner belief is dynamic. Moreover, the study indicates that learner belief is connected with context, self, and identity. It is noted that what really matters is not the context itself but how learners perceive and interpret the context. Then, the conceptions of ideal self vs. ought-to self and core identity vs. situated identity are introduced to shed light on their relationship with learner belief. Across all stages, while both participants claimed that effort is critical to language learning, it is how they relate themselves to the target language that determine how much effort that they are willing to make into language learning. Finally, it is expected that the study can help educators as well as researchers better understand the dynamic nature of learner belief. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are provided at the end of the thesis.