Studiens syfte är att undersöka vilka tolknings- och handlingsutrymme förskolans styrdokument ger förskollärare, i relation till förskolans uppdrag samt de nationella målen och riktlinjerna i läroplanstexterna och hur detta har förändrats över tid. Teoretiskt perspektiv för studien är läroplansteori samt metodval är en mixad metod mellan kvantitativ och kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultatet av den kvantitativa innehållsanalysen visar på förskjutningar/förändringar i olika tabeller, med en antydan om förskolans ytterligare närmande skolans utbildningskontext med ökad frekvens av begrepp såsom kunskap, undervisning och kvalitetsutveckling. Resultatet i våra kvantitativa tabeller visar i relation till studiens kvalitativa innehållsanalyser, att läroplanstexternas formuleringar riktar sig mer tydligt mot förskollärares ansvar och ökade krav - att arbeta medvetet samt med ämnesdidaktiska kunskaper, för att nå god kvalitet i förskolan. Där ett tydligare formulerat läroplansinnehåll ger ett förstärkt pedagogiskt utbildningsuppdrag. Slutsatser som kan dras är att förskollärarens tolknings- och handlingsutrymme kan både begränsas och/eller möjliggöras beroende på (ämnes)didaktiska ställningstaganden och pedagogical content knowledge (pedagogisk ämnes- och innehållskunskap).

This is a biographical case study of science teachers who teach at schools that have consistently produced good results in the examinations despite disabling teaching conditions such as large, under-resourced classes. The study analysed the life experiences, education, school- and community environment of the teachers in an attempt to identify the critical features that inspire and support their classroom commitment to hands-on / minds-on teaching. Evidence was collected through semi-structured interviews with the teachers to get their stories, with groups of learners to assess how they perceived the teachers in the classrooms, and through informal discussions with the principals (school management) and colleagues, for a richer description. Questionnaires were administered to find out what the situations concerning resources were at the schools. Classroom interactions were observed and analysed for more information on the conduct of the teachers in the process of teaching and learning. It was found that both case study teachers had adequate content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and taught in a way that reflected their understanding and belief of the nature of science (NOS). The view that the two participating teachers have of the nature of science was formed during their own formative school years and influenced the view of the nature of science they instill in their learners. The inadequacy of resources at the schools although a frustration to the teachers, did not deter them from teaching science in an experimental way reflective of the nature of the subject matter. The education implications of this study are discussed in relation to lessons that can be learnt from such inspiring teachers. The significance of the study is seen in the contribution it can make to the existing scholarship on effective science teaching and on teacher development programs including factors contributing to effective science teachers in the present South African climate of having large, under-resourced science classes. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

This study investigated the pedagogical content knowledge supposedly held by two FET mathematics teachers from Mpumalanga Province as they taught quadratic functions in grade 11 classes. The criterion for selecting the two teachers was that they had consistently produced good results (overall pass rate of 80% or more) in the grade 12 mathematics examinations of the National Senior Certificate for the past three years or more and thus, they were classed as effective. The two teachers prepared and taught lessons on quadratic functions in grade 11 whilst they were being observed. The study focused on teacher knowledge base as exemplified in the teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK). Three elements of PCK were investigated; namely; (i) knowledge of the subject matter; (ii) knowledge of teaching strategies and (iii) knowledge of learners’ conceptions. Qualitative research approach using the case study research method was used to collect qualitative data on the pedagogical content knowledge of the two teachers through lesson observations, lesson plan analysis and interviews. Analysis of the results suggests that the two teachers have adequate subject matter knowledge but have limited knowledge on the aspects of teaching strategies and knowledge of learners’ pre-conceptions and misconceptions on the topics of quadratic functions that they taught. The study recommends that teachers be exposed to workshops that deal specifically with the various topic specific teaching strategies and knowledge of learners’ pre-conception and misconceptions on the topic of quadratic functions. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

This South African study investigated a sample of Grade 4 to 7 Natural Sciences teachers’ attitudes towards botany and botany teaching and these teachers’ botany Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). It explored whether a relationship exists between teachers’ attitudes towards botany teaching and their PCK. The study provides an overview of international and South African literature and research on the underrepresentation of botany and the teaching of botany in Natural Sciences classes. Throughout the study insight is provided on the universal problems of plant blindness and negative attitudes towards botany and botany teaching in the Natural Sciences classroom. Data were collected during teachers’ interviews, class observations and analyses of lesson plan documents. The results indicated that most teachers harbour negative attitudes towards botany and botany teaching. There are various reasons for this negativity such as past experiences in botany training, zoochauvinism and plant blindness. The Pedagogical Content Knowledge of teachers in this study was insufficient. It was found that teachers’ attitudes towards botany teaching influence their PCK and teachers’ PCK can, in turn, influence teacher attitudes towards botany, which can affect the teachers’ ways of teaching. This study confirms that problems of plant blindness, zoochauvinism and negativity towards botany and botany teaching that occur elsewhere in the world are also prevalent among South African teachers. This confirmation casts doubts on Natural Sciences teachers’ botany PCK. This study adds to the literature on botany teaching and PCK in the South African context / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / MEd / Unrestricted

This study investigated the comparison between captured and revealed Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) about graphs of motion. The aim of the study was to explore PCK when captured in a written format and discussions (captured PCK) and compare it to the PCK that the same teachers revealed in practice (revealed PCK) when teaching the topic. Four Grade 10 Physical sciences teachers were purposively and conveniently selected as participants of the study. Their PCK was captured through Content Representations (CoRes) and interviews. The revealed PCK on the other hand was gathered through lesson observations. The Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TSPCK) model was used as the framework that guided the analysis of the two manifestations of PCK. The focus was on teachers’ competences in the TSPCK components namely; learners’ prior knowledge including misconceptions, curricular saliency, what is difficult to teach, representations including analogies, and conceptual teaching strategies. The results of this study indicated that teachers’ competences in the TSPCK components varied. This was evident in both the captured and the revealed PCK. Thus it suggested that a teacher’s level of competence in one component is not necessarily an indication of his or her competence in the other components that define PCK, and subsequently in his/her overall captured or revealed PCK. Furthermore, the study suggested that the level of competence in a component in the captured PCK is not necessarily an indication of the level of competence within that component that the teacher would reveal during lesson presentation. The level may be the same, slightly different (higher or lower) or even be drastically different in the lesson than suggested by the captured PCK. A concluding remark was then made that teachers’ captured PCK is not necessarily a true reflection of the PCK they reveal during lesson presentation and that different instruments must be used to reflect on and assess teachers’ PCK in a topic. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / MEd / Unrestricted

Orientador: Zulind Luzmarina Freitas / Resumo: Este estudo vincula-se à linha de pesquisa “Educação Matemática”, do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ensino e Processos Formativos da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus de Ilha Solteira-SP (FEIS-UNESP). A partir do pressuposto de que analisar a prática de sala de aula contribui para a formação continuada do professor, temos o objetivo de compreender o processo de formação continuada vivido por uma professora iniciante ao ministrar a disciplina de Desenho Geométrico e Geometria Descritiva. A questão norteadora do trabalho foi “Quais as contribuições da prática que vão sendo mobilizadas e incorporadas na formação de uma professora em início de carreira?” A pesquisa desenvolveu-se em ambiente natural, durante os meses de março a junho de 2018, nas aulas de Desenho Geométrico e Geometria Descritiva do Curso de Licenciatura em Matemática na FEIS-UNESP. Como eixo teórico central nos valemos dos estudos de Lee Shulman e seus seguidores e de Paulo Freire. Foram feitos registros através de gravações em vídeos/áudios e de anotações da professora em uma caderneta de campo. Os dados que deram origem ao corpus foram problematizados por meio de Análises de Conteúdo, ancoradas no estudo de Moraes (1999). Foram criadas duas Unidades de análise, a primeira intitulada de Matemática Clássica, foi dividida em duas categorias, sendo elas A Severidade da Matemática, com as subcategorias Utilização dos Conceitos Retirados dos Livros de Euclides e A demonstração Matemática... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present study is encompassed in the research line “Mathematical Education”, from the Postgraduate Program in Teaching and Formative Processes of Sao Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, at Ilha Solteira Campus (FEIS-UNESP). Based on the assumption that analyzing the teaching practice contributes to the continuing education of a professor, we aim to discuss the process of continuing education of a professor at the beginning of their career by teaching a during the majors of Geometric Design and Descriptive Geometry. The guiding question of the work was “Which are the contributions of the teaching practice that are mobilized and incorporated in the formation of a professor at the beginning of their career?” The research was developed in a natural environment, between March and June 2018, during the majors of Geometric Design and Descriptive Geometry of the Mathematics Undergraduate Course at FEIS-UNESP. As the central theoretical axis, we used the studies of Lee Shulman and his followers, and Paulo Freire. Records were made through video and audio recordings and the professor's notes in a field notebook. Data that originated the corpus were problematized through Content Analysis, anchored at Moraes‟ (1999) work. Two units of analysis were created, the first titled Classical Mathematics, was divided into two categories, namely The Severity of Mathematics, with the subcategories Use of Concepts Taken from Euclid's Books, and The Mathematical Demonstration; as the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The aim of this study has been to investigate how swimming-education is conducted in schools and if the PE-teachers feel that their knowledge about swimming is enough.Where and by whom is the swimming conducted? What role does the PE-teacher have during the swim practice? How does the teacher think their knowledge in swimming is compared to the criteria of swimming in the school? The method has been a qualitative interview-study, with teacher working in the years 4-6 in schools in Sweden. I made six semi-structured interviews that took between 15-25 minutes each to complete. The results showed that swimming is outsourced in all schools. Instead of being conducted by PE teachers it is conducted by staff working at the pools. One teacher was present at every swim practice and the other five teachers only joined at the swim-test. All teachers thought it was good that someone else took care of the swimming lessons, someone with knowledge and expertise. One teacher was worried about the planning of the lessons and that it felt like the teachers made it up as the lesson went. All planning was made by the staff at the pools, and by the end of year three in school they gave the PE-teacher a document that told them which students that could swim. That document decided if the children had to have extra-teaching in swimming or if they could wait and take the test in year six again. All PE-teachers said that they needed extra education in case they were to conduct the swim practise by themselves, and all teachers wanted more content knowledge in swimming. Five of the teachers said that they could go a course in swimming to increase their content knowledge. One problem noticed in earlier research and by our education minister (Ekström, 2021) is the time allocated for swimming. Time was noticed as a problem in the swim-practise in 1969 (LPO69b) and for me it is a mystery how nothing is happening. Another interesting finding is that when the swim-test is conducted the teachers look at different things. All teachers said that it was the 200 meter that was important and that is to be done to get a grade. Two teachers said that the technique in swimming did not matter, that if the students made it through the 200 meters it was enough. Two teachers said that they also could see other criteria in the curriculum and mentioned how the student’s movement was adjusted to different surroundings. With this study I want to give a picture of how swimming is conducted at six schools in Sweden. Some of the teachers I interviewed said that they had talked to other colleagues and that they were interested to be in this study as well. I did not have time to include more teachers, but if someone wants to extend research in this area there are a good possibility to get teachers to join since they are willing to help for my small, but important work.

Denna kvalitativa studie syftar till att undersöka hur samhällskunskapslärare uppfattar och tolkar det medborgarbildande uppdraget i Sverige samt hur de tar sig an och implementerar politiska kontroversiella samhällsfrågor i undervisningen, som ett led i ämnesdidaktiska överväganden. Det teoretiska ramverk som ligger till grund för denna studie utgår från att lärares didaktiska reflektioner och överväganden grundas på hur de tolkar sitt undervisningsämne och att det är en ständigt pågående och cirkulär process. Vidare har även Mouffes definition av politik samt Hess definition av kontroversiella samhällsfrågor använts för att både avgränsa och synliggöra att det krävs diskussion och motsättningar för att utveckla demokratin. Åtta samhällskunskapslärare har deltagit via semistrukturerade intervjuer och deras utsagor har bearbetats och analyserats genom tematisering. Studiens resultat visade att det medborgarbildande uppdraget tolkades som en viktig förberedelse för eleverna men visade även att det fanns skillnader mellan lärarnas förväntningar. De deltagande lärarna beskrev att samhällets komplexitet och motsättningar behöver förstås och att eleverna behöver möta detta genom diskussion och samtal för att mejsla fram väl genomtänkta och övervägda ställningstaganden, vilka blir till verktyg för att både värna om och utveckla demokratin.

Des projets européens comme Eurydice, des rapports de l’OCDE présentent l'épistémologie comme un élément incontournable de professionnalisation du métier enseignant. Portés par un courant didactique nouveau, des cours d’épistémologie émergent dans l’ensemble des programmes de formation des maitres et ne se destinent donc plus exclusivement aux seuls professeurs de sciences. En Belgique francophone, ils sont introduits officiellement dans un décret sur la formation initiale des instituteurs et des régents en décembre 20001. De cette modification curriculaire, nous avons choisi d’analyser le seul cours qui en porte l’intitulé et qui est proposé à l’article 6 - initiation à la recherche, notions d’épistémologie des disciplines, préparation au travail de fin d’études. Notre étude porte sur l’appropriation de cette injonction à former des enseignants à l’épistémologie. Si la légitimité de tels cours ou d’approches n’est plus à débattre, les démarches ou enseignements demeurent nébuleux. Les concepts de nature of sciences et Pedagogical content knowledge sont alors utilisés pour appréhender, modéliser la question épistémologique dans les discours de quinze formateurs de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles. / Doctorat en Sciences psychologiques et de l'éducation / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This study investigated the relationship between teachers' pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) about electrostatics and learners' performance in the topic. Two in-service and two pre-service physical science teachers, together with their learners, agreed to participate in the study. The PCK of the teachers was viewed as two manifestations; the personal PCK, which is static in nature and the enacted PCK, which is dynamic. A content representation (CoRe) tool and lesson plans were used to collect data that reflected the personal PCK of the teachers. The data for the enacted PCK was collected using classroom observations, and video stimulated recall (VSR) interviews. A topic specific PCK model was adopted as the framework for this study. The model asserts that specific content is transformed for instruction through five components, namely; learners' prior knowledge, curricular saliency, what is difficult to teach, representations including analogies, and conceptual teaching strategies. Guided by the model, I developed two rubrics to assess and quantify the quality of the teachers' personal and enacted PCK on a four-point scale. Learners, on the other hand, wrote a test developed specifically for this study which explored their performance in the fundamental concepts chosen for this study. The performance of the learners was then related to the personal and the enacted PCK of the teachers separately. The results revealed that the personal and the enacted PCK of the teachers, as well as the performance of the learners, varied across fundamental concepts of electrostatics. The variations in the personal and enacted PCK provided empirical evidence that supports the notion that PCK has a concept specific nature. The results also showed that the performance of the learners was better related to the enacted PCK of the teachers compared to the personal PCK. These results imply that it is important to make teaching practice the centre of pre-service teacher education given the direct impact of enacted PCK on learning. Furthermore, exploring PCK at concept level reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the concepts. As such, pre-service teacher education and in-service teacher professional development may be tailored in a manner that addresses the concepts that require intervention. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / PhD / Unrestricted