This study explores ways in which workers understand learning in relation to their work. The participants worked in Ontario women's shelters. The research method applied in this study was phenomenography. Eight women's anti-violence workers shared insights through semi-structured interviews. Four qualitatively different ways of understanding learning in anti-violence work emerged from the data. The study suggests that women's anti-violence workers understand their learning as deeply embedded in their work contexts and in the changes they are trying to effect. The scope and focus of these changes varied. The findings of this study could assist in the development of conceptual frameworks for training anti-violence workers. The researcher also suggests that communities of practice may be critical forums for learning, as they are designed for situated workplace learning, and can evolve with changing contexts.

Although more students are taking courses in statistics before leaving high school, the research base on teaching and learning statistics at the high school level has not accumulated as rapidly (Garfield & Chance, 2000). Very little is known about how secondary school students learn statistics, how the misconceptions they bring to the subject impede their learning, and what should be taught or assessed (Watson & Callingham, 2003). Studies that have investigated these issues tend to focus on the K-5, undergraduate, and graduate levels of education (Groth, 2003). Therefore, more research is needed at the secondary level (Garfield & Chance, 2000). The purpose of this qualitative investigation is to examine how secondary school students' approaches to learning relate to how they assign meaning to statistics. Phenomenography (Marton & Booth, 1997) is the theoretical orientation that frames the study, and it examines the role human experience plays in learning, by reporting variations in the ways participants experience a phenomenon (Dall'Alba & Hasselgreen, 1996). The research questions for the study were: 1) What are the different ways high school students define statistics? 2) What are the different ways high school students learn statistics? 3) What are the different ways students experience learning statistics? The nine participants in the study were high school graduates who completed a course in Statistics or Advanced Placement Statistics while enrolled in high school in a suburban area in the southeast. Data sources were semi-structured interviews and journaling. Using phenomenographic methodology, students' descriptions of the experience of learning were analyzed and coded. An outcome space of the collective experiences was constructed. A hierarchical relationship between students' approach to learning and their learning strategies was found. Also, a hierarchical relationship between students' approaches to learning and the meaning they assigned to statistics was found.

This study explores the qualitatively different ways in which the phenomenon of environmental education is understood or experienced by a purposeful sample of year seven students in Queensland and Saskatchewan. In 'directing the activities of the young', environmental education has, since its genesis, existed in an epistemological quagmire surrounding the development of 'responsible' environmental behaviours. Yet, after some thirty years of research and pedagogical initiative, this is one of only a few studies that have looked at the reality of environmental education through the eyes of young people. Contested and debated, environmental education has received much attention in many countries from educators interested in merging the complexities of the terms environment and education. In the context of this study it is significant to note that environmental education's history bears witness to scholarly discourse and educational initiatives in Australia and Canada. However, while environmental education has continued to expand its presence in pedagogical and didactic endeavour, its history also demonstrates contested ideological foundations regarding its implementation in schools. Queensland and Saskatchewan offer pertinent examples of this contestation. From a global perspective, the goals and objectives of environmental education have been driven, developed and established around international agendas developed at a number of conferences designed and delivered through UNESCO. These global initiatives were then left to local interpretation that often resulted in very different didactic and pedagogic frameworks. Such is the case with Queensland and Saskatchewan where environmental education is situated within a social science framework in Queensland and a science framework in Saskatchewan. However, the pedagogical structure of environmental education was not the focus of this study per se. Instead, this phenomenographic research project looks at how the phenomenon of environmental education is experienced by a group of Year 7 children in each region. These children's experiences of environmental education can be encapsulated in a limited number of qualitatively different conceptualisations. The study finds that, regardless of their country of origin, the children conceptualise environmental education in five ways; Environmental Education as: 'Human Being'. 'Human Escaping'. 'Human Doing'. 'Human Complying'. 'Human Distancing'. Specific components of these conceptions are detailed through 'categories of description' which lend themselves to a structural framework referred to as an 'outcome space'. Through this 'outcome space' it becomes apparent that for the year seven students who participated in this research project, environmental education is, at is best irrelevant, and at its worst depressing. For the goals of environmental education and those who aspire and work towards meeting those goals, this 'cumulative movement of action (environmental education) toward a later result' as noted by Dewey and quoted above, appears to be growing in the wrong direction.

In Melbourne, Australia, current debates regarding the ongoing provision of suburban residential development to meet housing demand tend to focus on its capacity to contribute to the overall achievement of sustainable development at the metropolitan scale. Within this context, sustainability issues are framed as an environmental problem, and the legislative proposals to address them, in general, are technology focused. However there is growing evidence that deeper changes in human behaviour and understanding are required to achieve a sustainable outcome at the residential scale, and that these 'sustainability issues' are in fact environmental symptoms of a wider human problem. This thesis presents the results of an investigation of domestic architecture, as experienced by thirteen people, eleven of whom have voluntarily chosen to design, build and live in sustainable houses in and around Melbourne. The respondents' complex, multidimensional lived experiences of house, home, place and sustainability are explored within a framework based on theories of place. The first of these theories is Heidegger's concept of Being, especially Being-in-the-World, and the way in which this relates to the human experience of place. The second is the related concept of Dwelling, which for Heidegger is the basic character of Being and is intimately connected with building. The third perspective draws heavily from Heidegger's concepts of Being and Dwelling to define place as the experience of rootedness, authenticity, and insidedness, and the absence of these as placelessness. The fourth theory is the genius loci of place, also referred to as the spirit of place. Dwelling is the point of departure for this theory which discusses the way in which architecture concretises the spirit of place, so place may be experienced as an integrated totality. The final theory, articulated by Bachelard, suggests that place, as memory, is the conflation of intimate experience, memory, and imagination. This perspective is explored through the experience of home, especially the memories of home. Using phenomenography as a research approach, the qualitatively different ways the respondents describe their understanding and experience of house, home, place and sustainability, and the relationships between these, are explored. Insight into these understandings and experiences is achieved through the use of unstructured, in-depth interviews and a purposefully designed mixed-media package (cultural probe) which aims to provoke inspirational, creative and emotional responses. Conclusions are drawn regarding the interplay of notions of house, home and place and sustainability, and the ways in which the relationships between these phenomena influence sustainable behaviour.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This research is about university teachers’ experiences of teaching in blended learning environments. In recent years, this type of environments has become increasingly common. Universities have realised the value of the incorporation of eLearning, making teaching more professional and offering higher quality learning experiences. At the same time, pressures from students, who use online resources for many of their everyday activities, and employers, who want future professionals to be skilled information technology users, have also promoted the up-take of eLearning. In this context, the present research took a relational approach to investigate what university teachers think eLearning is good for in their teaching, how they approach teaching when eLearning is involved, and how their perception of the teaching situation affects the use of eLearning. Associations between these elements were also explored. The research had a qualitative and a quantitative stage. In the qualitative stage, 18 university teachers, coming from two research-intensive Australian universities were interviewed. This stage focused on conceptions, approaches and perceptions of the teaching situation; both considering teaching in face-to-face settings and using eLearning. In the quantitative stage, 86 university teachers answered a web-based survey. Three questionnaires were used to explore associations between approaches and perceptions: the ‘approaches to teaching’ inventory, the ‘perception of the teaching situation’ questionnaire, and the ‘approaches to teaching using eLearning’ questionnaire. The last one was developed from the results of the qualitative stage of this research. Results showed that conceptions of teaching ranged from being focused on content and information to being focused on learning and the student. Conceptions of teaching using eLearning showed variation from being focused on information to being focused on communication and collaboration. Conceptions of blended teaching were proposed to emerge from associations between conceptions of teaching and conceptions of teaching using eLearning. In relation to approaches, results showed that approaches to teaching ranged from being focused on content and the teacher to being focused on learning and the student. Approaches to teaching using eLearning varied from being focused on transmission of information to being focused on communication and collaboration. As in the case of conceptions, approaches to blended teaching were also claimed to emerge from associations between approaches to teaching and approaches to teaching using eLearning. Regarding elements influencing teaching, seven factors emerged in relation to approaches to teaching using eLearning: ‘control of teaching’, ‘institutional strategy’, ‘technical support’, ‘pedagogical support’, ‘amount of time needed’, ‘teacher’s skills for eLearning’ and ‘students’ ability and willingness to using eLearning’. Factors influencing teachers’ general perception of their teaching situation were ‘control of teaching’, ‘institutional support’ and ‘students’ characteristics’. Associations between conceptions, approaches and perceptions were explored through ‘teaching profiles’ and ‘orchestrations’ Teaching profiles referred to systematic associations between conceptions and approaches to teaching in face-to-face and online teaching. Three blended teaching profiles emerged: ‘systematically information focused’, ‘dissonant’ (with 5 variations) and ‘systematically learning focused’. Blended teaching profiles associated with perceptions of the teaching situation and teachers’ characteristics led to ‘teaching orchestrations’. Three orchestrations emerged: ‘consonant (information focused) and coherent’, ‘dissonant and coherent’ and ‘consonant (learning focused) and coherent’. Results of the quantitative stage tended to support prior qualitative findings, and also identified ‘incoherent’ associations between approaches to teaching and perceptions of the teaching situation, which had not emerged in the qualitative study. Results of this research were claimed to have practical implications in terms of academic development, the management of teaching and eLearning, and the practice of teaching. In relation to academic development, it was proposed that programs focused on expanding university teachers’ awareness about ways of incorporating eLearning into on-campus education rather than only providing ‘technical’ skills are generated. In relation to management of teaching and eLearning, it was proposed that favourable conditions should be set up for the teachers to perceive they are supported for the incorporation of eLearning into their teaching. Finally, in relation to the practice of teaching, it was proposed that teachers incorporate learning tasks aligned with the communication-collaboration focused approaches to teaching using eLearning, such as blended discussions or knowledge building tasks.

<p>Chinese international students make up the largest group of international students in the United States, especially in the higher education sector. In the context of rising patriotism and nationalism in the China and the U.S. accompanied by deteriorating China-U.S. relationship and some recent incidents that showed Chinese international students’ intense patriotic sentiments, this study explored the ways in which Chinese international students in U.S. higher education perceive patriotism. More specifically, the study aims to answer two research questions: 1. How do Chinese international students in the U.S. conceptualize patriotism? 2. What are the factors that impact Chinese international students’ construction of patriotism? </p> <p>The study adopted phenomenography as the research methodology and recruited 15 participants with varied backgrounds from a Midwest University. In-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed to generate the different categories that described ways of perceiving patriotism. The findings demonstrated five categories of patriotism: irrational patriotism, extreme patriotism, identity patriotism, constructive patriotism and cosmopolitan patriotism. The five categories had complex relationships with identity patriotism at the core. The study also revealed that Chinese international students’ construction of patriotism was impacted by formal education, extracurricular activities, media propaganda, family’s influence, Chinese culture, and their own life experiences. This study revealed the dynamic and multifaceted political stances of Chinese international students and offered more explanations for their patriotic behaviors instead of portraying them as the brainwashed generation. Practical implications and recommendations for future research were offered based on the findings of this study.</p>

Formål – At beskrive variationen i sygeplejerskers opfattelse af deres efterlevelse af anbefalinger for håndhygiejne samt hvilke faktorer sygeplejersker oplever, har betydning for om de udfører håndhygiejne som anbefalet.   Design - Beskrivende og undersøgende undersøgelse med en fænomenografisk forsknings-tilnærmelse. Semi-strukturerede interviews med fokus på sygeplejerskers egen opfattelse af deres efterlevelse af anbefalinger for håndhygiejne.   Ramme – Hvidovre Hospital.   Informanter – 14 sygeplejersker (12 kvinder, to mænd) fordelt på 11 afdelinger, indenfor kirurgiske specialer, medicinske specialer, kvinde-barn specialer og intensivterapi.   Resultat –  Analysen viser, at de interviewede sygeplejersker er af den opfattelse, at de stort set altid efterlever anbefalingerne for håndhygiejne. Endvidere blev der ved analysen identificeret seks forskellige opfattelser af de faktorer, der har indflydelse på, om sygeplejerskerne følger anbefalinger for håndhygiejne: Håndhygiejne er en naturlig handling; Smitterisiko; Akutte situationer, uforudsigelighed og travlhed; Omgivelsernes opmærksomhed; Håndhygiejnefaciliteter; Akkreditering, hygiejneaudit og håndhygiejnekampagne.   Konklusion – Sygeplejerskers oplevelse af, at de udfører håndhygiejne som anbefalet og deres forskellige opfattelser af faktorer, der har betydning for, om de følger anbefalingerne for håndhygiejne bør have indflydelse på de håndhygiejneaktiviteter, der planlægges og iværksættes med henblik på at øge sygeplejerskers efterlevelse af anbefalingerne for håndhygiejne. / Aim – To describe variations in nurses’ ways of experiencing compliance with recommendations for hand hygiene and factors nurses experience as having influence on their compliance with hand hygiene.   Design – Descriptive and explorative study using a phenomenographic approach. Semi-structured interviews, focusing on the nurses’ own experiences regarding compliance with recommendations with hand hygiene.   Setting – Hvidovre Hospital.   Subjects – 14 nurses (12 women, 2 men) from 11 different wards, within the surgical speciality, the medical speciality, the women-child speciality and intensive care.   Results – The analysis shows that the interviewed nurses perceive that they nearly always follow the recommendations for hand hygiene. Furthermore six different perceptions of factors with influence on nurses’ compliance with recommendations for hand hygiene were identified in the analysis: Hand hygiene is a natural action; Infection risk; Acute situations, unpredictability and busyness; The attention of the surroundings; Facilities for hand hygiene; Accreditation, hygiene audit and hand hygiene campaign.   Conclusion – Nurses’ experiences of compliance with recommendation for hand hygiene and the different perceptions of factors influencing wether they follow recommendations for hand hygiene ought to influence the planning and implementations of hand hygiene activities in order to promote nurses’ compliance with recommendation for hand hygiene. / <p>ISBN 978-91-7844-743-5</p>

Learning community literature supports the use of student cohorts to enhance learning through increased peer interaction and common course work. Researchers employed the qualitative method of phenomenography to identify various ways doctoral counseling students conceptualize and experience learning in a cohort over the course of a single academic year. Participants were all 10 members of a single southwestern U.S. university counseling program doctoral cohort of full-time students between 20 and 59 years of age with 5 members 20-29, 4 members 30-39, 1 member 50-59; 8 female, 2 male; 9 White non-Hispanic, 1 African-American. Data were transcripts from 30 one-hour interviews, three for each participant over the course of their first year of study. The research team that analyzed the data consisted of three advanced counseling program doctoral students, each with research methods coursework. Results revealed nine dynamic structural aspects of learning: dialogue, diversity, knowledge, motivation, support, shared experience, relationship development, interpersonal awareness, and conflict. Findings support the use of learning communities in doctoral level counselor education programs. Cohort members demonstrated increasing awareness of the potential learning benefits of cohort interaction and developed more in depth strategies over time to utilize the cohort to enhance learning. Future counselor educators may now with greater confidence design learning communities and curriculum to facilitate doctoral cohort development for optimal student interaction.

This piece is an empirical study of how students experience and conceptualise internationalisation of higher education at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa. The central question of this empirical study is, how do students experience and conceptualise internationalisation of higher education at Wits? The conceptual framework presents Wits within three domains, which are the Official, Pedagogical and Social, as the context within which the university operates. Using a qualitative methodology – phenomenography – that aims to explore the qualitatively different ways in which a group of people experience a specific phenomenon, in this case internationalisation of higher education, four main constructs about internationalisation have emerged from students’ accounts: (I) internationalisation as Wits is striving to be a top global university; (II) internationalisation as the presence of international students; (III) internationalisation as an issue of mutual respect and acceptance, and (IV) internationalisation as enhancing the students’ learning experience. The argument is that, though students converge on these conceptions, their differences regarding the emphasis and significance points to a scenario of unbalanced institutional mediation, with strong mediation within the logic of dominant pedagogical practice in the university, constrained by forms of weak mediation in the social domain.

This research was designed to elicit insights from the implausibly-hushed stakeholders of graduate employability - current undergraduates. (Johnston, 2003; Moreau and Leathwood, 2006; Tymon, 2013). It is argued that previous rare attempts to probe students about employability have utilised methods, frameworks and/ or language that reflect dominant discourses of employability, so encouraging capitulation to existing perspectives; and have focussed mainly on alumni rather than current undergraduates. It is hypothesised that graphic elicitation is an apt data capture practice by reflecting the epistemologies and practice of its thirty-seven final-year graphic design undergraduate respondents at eight art and design institutes across the United Kingdom. My version of graphic elicitation was theatricalised through large sign-writing pens on expansive golden 'safety' blankets, emphasising to respondents both the process and the artefacts of production. The analytical framework was phenomenography, selected for its claim to reveal the range of experiences that respondents have of a target phenomenon (Åkerlind, 2012). This contrasts with other qualitative frameworks that focus on finding commonalities of experience. The multi-step, iterative analysis led to several phenomenographic outcome spaces, elaborating the extent of ways that undergraduates experience and perceive the construct of employability within their education and beyond. The outcomes were incorporated to an interactive interface to address a key criticism of phenomenography - that individuals' conceptions are forsaken by its reductive practice (Säljö, 1997). This element of my practice is proof of concept of an interactive phenomenographic outcome space, in which the categories of the outcome space can be drilled-down to associated underlying conceptions. The thesis describes the reason for, and elaborates, my inquisitive graphic practice with students, and discusses the outcomes. The accompanying praxis document supports the telling, from production of graphic artefact, via photographic recording of the artefacts and iterative analysis, to the phenomenographic outcome spaces and interface. The thesis concludes with an elaboration of what has been revealed, and what might be elaborated by subsequent practice.