In knowledge economy, organizational knowledge is considered to be a critical strategic resource which may help the organization to achieve competitive advantage; therefore, knowledge sharing, as one of the knowledge management processes, attracts the attention of both researchers and practitioners. Knowledge sharing may bring many benefits such as personal development for the employees and knowledge accumulation for the organization. However, at the same time it is very challenging because employees may be very mobile, too occupied to engage in knowledge sharing, or just unwilling to share their valuable knowledge. Nevertheless, although many organizations have started to invest heavily in various knowledge sharing mechanisms, quite often these processes are not effective because various organizational and individual factors impede the usage of those mechanisms. This study seeks to increase the understanding of how and which of such factors affect knowledge sharing in voluntary project-based organizations. Ten in-depth interviews have been conducted with the project managers in AIESEC, the largest international student organization, in order to find out what KS mechanisms they use, and what enables or hinders KS in this organization. It was found that in this organization KS takes place at all organizational levels, and the most popular KS mechanisms are documents and social interaction. Various documents include planning and tracking tools, proposals for sponsors, budget spread-sheets, feedback forms from participants and companies, and reports about functional areas. Social interaction comprises individual and group meetings, including trainings, coaching or mentoring, conversations over the phone and software Skype, discussions in conferences and communication in social groups online. So there is a balance between the KS mechanisms used to personalize and codify knowledge. However, the individualized KS mechanisms dominate on the individualization- institutionalization dimension. Also AIESEC members share all types of knowledge: tacit and explicit, individual and collective. Factors affecting KS can be categorized in 5 groups: Organizational context, Interpersonal and Team characteristics, Cultural characteristics, Individual characteristics, and Motivational factors. As KS in AIESEC takes place quite intensively, not surprisingly more KS facilitators were identified. The most significant ones in each group are as follows: the organizational culture and structure; diversity and strong social ties; willingness to help, and structure and exactness; self-efficiency and personal characteristics such as talkativeness, open-mindedness, empathy, motivation, responsibility and ambitiousness; perceived personal benefits, interpersonal trust, and organizational commitment. The few factors identified that might impede KS in AIESEC are the lack of time, lack of KS regulation and some negative cultural attitudes.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the Applied Learning Academy (ALA) and allow the lessons learned from this public school to emerge from the narrative stories of past students, parents, teachers, administrators, and local business associates who have been directly involved and influenced by the applied learning teaching method. Accountability is critical for all public and charter schools. Districts have been trying to raise the standards with new programs and strategies in an effort to make learning experiences relevant to students? daily lives. Revisiting John Dewey?s philosophy from the progressive movement, project-based, service learning, community partnerships, and portfolio assessment helped to create the applied learning method. In the present study, a qualitative case study approach was utilized to identify successful factors, benefits, and drawbacks of applied learning in order to describe the transition of portfolio assessment, project-based learning, and community-based partnerships within the classroom and to understand the impact and misconceptions of applied learning as experienced through the Recognized Campus, ALA, a 6-8th public middle school within a large urban school district. Participant interviews, field observations, and historical records were collected which indicated that student centered project-based curriculum, small school size creating family relationships, community involvement with partnerships, service learning projects, and metacognitive development from portfolio assessments were the major factors that supported academic rigor and relevance because of the real educational applications in this applied learning middle school. Briefly defined, applied learning is when a problem is seen within the surrounding community, and the solution is generated by the students. This progressive 15-year impact of applied learning ultimately leads to the development of four applied learning schools despite the misconception that applied learning was a remedial or gifted program. Redefining applied learning for a better understanding developed a reconceptualized diagram borrowed from the quantum mechanics model. Reconceptualization expands the interpretation by increasing the intellectual flexibility. As the student becomes energized from the acquired knowledge of learning applicable skills through service learning, project-based curriculum, and portfolio assessment, the student?s academic growth should increase to a higher, educational ?energy level? supported by the critical, situated-learning, and feminist theories.

This study examined seventh grade students&rsquo / perceptions about collaborative learning, peer and teacher support, project based learning, technology integration into Science and Technology lesson and forum. The research included the implementation of collaborative project-based learning during 10 weeks. Students as groups created educational web sites on Science and Technology subjects by working co9llaboratively in Information Technologies lessons. This research was an action research case study. The major purpose of the study was to enhance the collaborative skills of students by applying a new practice. Besides this, it was aimed that all students could use computer more comfortably and by discovering and could use their computer skills in other disciplines. Qualitative data were collected through student interviews, observations, web site evaluation rubrics, and forum archives. It was seen that students enjoyed project-based learning and they gained the habit of working together developed with the help of collaborative group work. Moreover, they started to appreciate peer support and learned to respect each other&rsquo / s ideas. According to results, aware of responsibility of both low-achievers and high achievers increased. The feeling of self-confidence they gained when they completed the project helped them to overcome their fear to use computer. Most of the students preferred using computer in their projects or homework from other disciplines.

The state of STEM education in America's high schools is currently in flux, with billions annually being poured into the NSF to increase national STEM literacy. Hands-on project-based learning interventions in the STEM classroom are ubiquitous but tend to focus on robotics or competition based curriculums. These curricula do not address musical creativity or cultural relevancy to reach under-represented or disinterested groups. By utilizing an analog synthesizer for STEM learning standards this research aims to engage students that may otherwise lack confidence in the field. By incorporating the Maker Movement, a STEAM architecture, and culturally relevant musical examples, this study’s goal to build both self-efficacy and literacy in STEM within under-represented groups through hands-on exercises with a Moog analog synthesizer, specifically the Moog Werkstatt. A quasi-experimental one-group pre-test/post-test design was crafted to determine study validity, and has been implemented in three separate studies. Several age demographics were selected across a variety of classroom models and teaching style. The purpose of this wide net was to explore where a tool like the Werkstatt and its accompanying curriculum would have the biggest impact. Results show that this curriculum and technique are largely ineffective in an inverted Music elective classroom. However, in the STEM classroom, literacy and confidence were built across genders, with females showing greater increases in engineering confidence and music technology interest than their male counterparts.

This report documents the experiences and applications to practice of a secondary science teacher, instructional coach, and educational consultant performing academic research on surface tension in thin films and self-diffusion in nanocomposites in a chemical engineering lab setting. Throughout this experience, the author developed knowledge for and of engineering teaching through authentic learning experiences. These learning experiences will be used as a model to assist mentee teachers in developing authentic learning experiences for students that create an awareness of engineering while fostering engineering habits of mind and an understanding of the engineering design process. / text

One type of instruction that is of particular interest in STEM education is instruction that actively engages students in inquiry and discovery. The author develops an operational definition of instruction for discovery learning (IDL) that adopts some of the fundamental commonalities among many reform-oriented instructional frameworks such as inquiry-based and project-based instruction. Four teachers—who received their bachelor’s degree in mathematics and teacher certification from the same undergraduate teacher-preparation program—and their Algebra I classes were observed with the focus on how particular features of IDL were being implemented in their classrooms. To gain further perspective on classroom practices and interactions, student surveys were administered to a total of 142 students and each teacher was interviewed. The student surveys focused on student orientations toward IDL, attitudes toward mathematics, and their perspective of IDL implementation in their class. Student survey data was analyzed through ANOVA, post hoc tests were used to identify significant pair-wise differences between teachers for which the ANOVA identified significance, and a factor analysis was used to evaluate the component loadings for the survey questions. The surveys revealed significant differences between perceived activities in the classes (p<0.05), but did not show very significant differences between student orientations toward IDL. All four teachers expressed familiarity with and commitment to reform-oriented frameworks such as inquiry-based and project-based instruction, and certainly experienced inquiry-based learning as students themselves in their undergraduate program. However, only one teacher—the one teaching in a New Tech high school that was structured on the framework of project-based instruction (PBI)—showed consistent differences in both student perspectives of IDL and observed implementation of IDL. The author discusses the levels at which these teachers implemented IDL, the differences among student perceptions across the classes, teacher orientations toward mathematics and learning, and the importance of a supportive school culture and administration in order to fully implement IDL and influence both student and teacher orientations toward reform-oriented pedagogy. / text

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A presente tese tem por objetivo investigar como a utilização de um sistema de gerenciamento de projetos e de recomendação de conteúdo, configurado de acordo com o conceito de ABP, pode apoiar os alunos no processo de investigação e de planejamento de projetos. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo sobre as características estruturais e didáticas da aprendizagem baseada em projetos. Verificou-se de que maneira as tecnologias da informação e comunicação apoiam a ABP e como recomendações de conteúdos influenciaram os alunos em suas investigações. Após a realização do levantamento bibliográfico, a metodologia projetual, denominada ‘Projeto E’ foi configurada como modelo ABP. Com base neste, desenvolveu-se um sistema de gerenciamento e planejamento de projetos acadêmicos com dispositivo de recomendação de conteúdos. Em seguida, realizou-se um experimento prático com o uso do sistema para verificar as contribuições do mesmo no processo de ensino de projetos. Para obtenção dos dados, foram aplicados questionários aos alunos participantes, realizadas entrevistas aos professores orientadores, observados os relatórios de projeto e averiguada a frequência de registro de eventos no sistema. A análise e avaliação dos dados foi dividida em oito aspectos considerados importantes para a realização das investigações e planejamento em ABP, a saber: autonomia, discussão, reflexão, colaboração, organização, projetação, apresentação e avaliação. Observou-se que o sistema influenciou positivamente nos seguintes aspectos: livre a organização das equipes, na gestão do tempo, no planejamento projetual, no trabalho a distância, na integração e sincronia dos alunos entre si e com os professores, na compreensão das estruturas metodológicos e no uso de métodos apropriados, nas investigações contextualizadas, na documentação do processo, na discussão e na colaboração entre as equipes, na comparação, revisão e avaliação dos projetos e na equalização da qualidade dos projetos. / This thesis aims to investigate how the use of a project management and content recommendation system, configured in accordance the concept of PBL, can support students in research and project planning process. Therefore, was performed a study on the structural and educational characteristics of project-based learning. Here was also checked how the information and communication technologies support the PBL and how recommendations and content influenced students in their investigations. After the completion of literature survey, the projetual methodology, called Projeto E, was configured as a PBL model and, based on this, was developed a managing and planning projects system for academic content with a recommendation device. Then, a practical experiment is conducted using the system to check out the contributions of them in teaching projects. To obtain the data, questionnaires were administered to participating students, interviews were conducted with teachers, observed the project reports, and ascertained the frequency of the system event log. The analysis and evaluation of data was divided into eight aspects considered important for the investigations and planning in PBL, namely: autonomy, discussion, reflection, collaboration, organization, design, presentation and evaluation. There was observed that the system had a positive effect on the following aspects: easy organization of the teams, time management, in projetual planning, in teleworking, in integration and synchronization among students and teachers, in the comprehension of the methodological structures and the appropriate use of methods, in the research contextualized, in the documentation process, in the discussion and collaboration among teams, in comparison, review and evaluation of projects and in the quality equalizing of the projects.

The main theme of the thesis is to create a suggestion of my own teaching material for teaching the topic Biogeography on the 2nd stage of Primary school with the use of project- based teaching and practical form of teaching. The suggestion of the teaching material is in the form of workbook that contains worksheets for biogeographic projects. There was also created methodological guide for teachers to help them in the organization of these projects. The teaching text itself corresponds to the principles defined in the current educational documents. The theoretical part evaluates the significance and status of the topic Biogeography and Biosphere in the curriculum in the context of the Framework Educational Programme for Elementary Education and the school educational programmes of schools monitored. The next chapters are devoted to the didactic function analysis of current educational textbooks and workbooks for the 2nd stage of Primary schools and evaluate the importance of project- based teaching in the teaching of Geography.

A presente tese tem por objetivo investigar como a utilização de um sistema de gerenciamento de projetos e de recomendação de conteúdo, configurado de acordo com o conceito de ABP, pode apoiar os alunos no processo de investigação e de planejamento de projetos. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo sobre as características estruturais e didáticas da aprendizagem baseada em projetos. Verificou-se de que maneira as tecnologias da informação e comunicação apoiam a ABP e como recomendações de conteúdos influenciaram os alunos em suas investigações. Após a realização do levantamento bibliográfico, a metodologia projetual, denominada ‘Projeto E’ foi configurada como modelo ABP. Com base neste, desenvolveu-se um sistema de gerenciamento e planejamento de projetos acadêmicos com dispositivo de recomendação de conteúdos. Em seguida, realizou-se um experimento prático com o uso do sistema para verificar as contribuições do mesmo no processo de ensino de projetos. Para obtenção dos dados, foram aplicados questionários aos alunos participantes, realizadas entrevistas aos professores orientadores, observados os relatórios de projeto e averiguada a frequência de registro de eventos no sistema. A análise e avaliação dos dados foi dividida em oito aspectos considerados importantes para a realização das investigações e planejamento em ABP, a saber: autonomia, discussão, reflexão, colaboração, organização, projetação, apresentação e avaliação. Observou-se que o sistema influenciou positivamente nos seguintes aspectos: livre a organização das equipes, na gestão do tempo, no planejamento projetual, no trabalho a distância, na integração e sincronia dos alunos entre si e com os professores, na compreensão das estruturas metodológicos e no uso de métodos apropriados, nas investigações contextualizadas, na documentação do processo, na discussão e na colaboração entre as equipes, na comparação, revisão e avaliação dos projetos e na equalização da qualidade dos projetos. / This thesis aims to investigate how the use of a project management and content recommendation system, configured in accordance the concept of PBL, can support students in research and project planning process. Therefore, was performed a study on the structural and educational characteristics of project-based learning. Here was also checked how the information and communication technologies support the PBL and how recommendations and content influenced students in their investigations. After the completion of literature survey, the projetual methodology, called Projeto E, was configured as a PBL model and, based on this, was developed a managing and planning projects system for academic content with a recommendation device. Then, a practical experiment is conducted using the system to check out the contributions of them in teaching projects. To obtain the data, questionnaires were administered to participating students, interviews were conducted with teachers, observed the project reports, and ascertained the frequency of the system event log. The analysis and evaluation of data was divided into eight aspects considered important for the investigations and planning in PBL, namely: autonomy, discussion, reflection, collaboration, organization, design, presentation and evaluation. There was observed that the system had a positive effect on the following aspects: easy organization of the teams, time management, in projetual planning, in teleworking, in integration and synchronization among students and teachers, in the comprehension of the methodological structures and the appropriate use of methods, in the research contextualized, in the documentation process, in the discussion and collaboration among teams, in comparison, review and evaluation of projects and in the quality equalizing of the projects.