This diploma thesis deals with the relationship of the secondary schools of pedagogy students to the subject of biology and its particular areas. The diploma thesis is divided into a theoretical and practical section. The theoretical section surveys the teaching of biology at the secondary schools of teaching based on the Framework educational program for the specialization in preschool and extracurricular pedagogy and pedagogical lyceum and based on the scholastic educational programs of the schools involved in the research. Further, this section also deals with the teaching of biology based on the Framework educational program for preschool education and based on the scholastic educational programs of kindergarten, afterschools and extracurricular facilities. The practical sections deals with the relationship of the secondary schools of pedagogy students to the subject of biology. This is done by using a questionnaire in which the students evaluate their relationship and readiness within their specialization for the practice with respect to biology as a whole on one hand and with respect to its particular areas on the other hand. Key words: students, curriculum, popularity of biology, readiness for practice

Student nurses transitioning to acute care practice often feel unprepared to accept the responsibilities associated with their new role. Lack of self-efficacy in nursing practice contributes to high levels of stress and anxiety as the new nurse enters the workforce which causes turnover during the first year of practice. Little is known about how the type and amount of pre-licensure employment affects the self-efficacy in nursing practice of the student nurse. Using Bandura's social cognitive theory, the purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between type and amount of pre-licensure employment and self-efficacy in nursing practice of student nurses' in their final semester of college. The Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Survey-© was completed by 132 senior nursing students. Data were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression. No significant relationships were noted between the type or amount of work experience and self-efficacy. No significant relationship was noted between type of work experience and self-efficacy in managing a patient care assignment of 2, 3, or 4 patients. A significant positive relationship was revealed for amount of pre-licensure work experience and self-efficacy in management of a patient care assignment for 2, 3, and 4 patients (r = .19, p = .02) and healthcare experience was the best predictor of positive self-efficacy in managing a patient care assignment of 3 (F = 4.60, p = .01) and 4 patients (F = 3.42, p = .04). Findings of this study can influence positive social change in nursing by influencing the development of recommendations regarding the amount of pre-licensure employment which could improve a new nurse's self-efficacy in practice and reduce turnover in healthcare.

This study aims to explore and understand the ways in which social work field instructors assess ‘readiness for practice’, particularly in situations where a BSW student has experienced a placement breakdown or failure. Through the examination of existing literature, themes of gatekeeping, assessments of readiness, field instructors’ relationships with the academic institutions and tensions between the worlds of social work values and gatekeeping emerged. Rooted in an interpretive methodology and supported by in-person interviews, the study sought the feedback and experiences of five BSW field instructors, with the intention of better understanding the ways in which field instructors assessed ‘readiness for practice’. Emphasizing the use of the term ‘readiness’, the findings suggest that assessing readiness for practice is a multi-layered process. They presented some similarities in the skills and values deemed essential for BSW students to possess to demonstrate readiness and discussed some of the problematic behaviours that contributed towards lack of readiness and placement breakdowns/failures. The findings also discussed the tension that field instructors experience in relation to their mentoring and gatekeeping roles and their desires to see an increase in the collaborative relationships with academic institutions. This study encourages field instructors and Schools of Social Work to critically analyze and explore ways in which they can advance their relationship and work collectively to address issues pertaining to lack of readiness for practice. / Thesis / Master of Social Work (MSW)