ABSTRACT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF PRESERVICE BIOLOGY TEACHERS THROUGH REFLECTIVE THINKING Savran Gencer, AySe Ph.D., Department of Secondary Science and Mathematics Education Supervisor : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jale &Ccedil / akiroglu Co-Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren Tekkaya January 2008, 230 pages The study aims to explore preservice biology teachers&rsquo / reflective thinking content and levels by examining the use of a reflective framework integrated into one semester Practice Teaching course. More specifically, this study focused on the development of reflective thinking skills of preservice teachers and their metaphorical images about learning and teaching process. Data were collected through both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The written documents and audiotaped debriefings taken during the activities of reflective autobiography and journal writing, metaphor using, peer coaching, microteaching, and problem discussion along with the summative interview were the main data sources of the qualitative data. The written and transcribed data collected through these sources were then utilized through the selected three case studies in order to reach a deep understanding on their reflective thinking skills and content. The quantitative data were collected through the instruments of Reflective Thinking to evaluate the development of the preservice biology tecahers&rsquo / reflectivity and Metaphorical Images to explore their beliefs about learning and teaching process. Results indicated that the reflective activities offered opportunities preservice biology teachers to reflect on their experiences and strive for a conscious awareness of their professional development through experience, collaboration, guidance, and modeling. All of the participants were able to reflect mostly at the technical level, followed by contextual and dialectical levels of reflective thinking among the content categories of teacher characteristics, instructional processes, classroom management, students, and teaching profession. Results of reflective thinking instrument indicated that all participants individually perceived a developmental reflective thinking skill. Keywords: Reflective Thinking, Reflective Journal, Peer Coaching, Professional Development, Preservice Biology Teacher

Submitted by Caroline Falcao (caroline.rfalcao@ufpe.br) on 2017-06-19T18:11:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-dissertacao-NancyRocancio.pdf: 1306206 bytes, checksum: 5f66a1929b230b91f09288c6e4782aa4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-19T18:11:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 811 bytes, checksum: e39d27027a6cc9cb039ad269a5db8e34 (MD5) 2012-dissertacao-NancyRocancio.pdf: 1306206 bytes, checksum: 5f66a1929b230b91f09288c6e4782aa4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-27 / Pesquisa qualitativa de tipo longitudinal de série de casos,que analisouaspossíveis transformações no uso dos critérios de avaliação de argumentos de estudantes universitários quando estes examinaa qualidade dos argumentos produzidos por seus pares em contexto de debate crítico(FUENTES, 2009). O pressuposto principal desta pesquisa surge a partir do papel mediador conferido à argumentação no desenvolvimento do raciocínio (KUHN, 1991; LEITÃO, 2000), a partir do qual se assume que a participação e prática ematividades de debate crítico –processo de negociação discursiva de caráter argumentativo –mobiliza o surgimento de operações específicas de raciocínio que privilegiam a reflexão sobre o próprio pensamento (FUENTES, 2009). Pressuposto fundamentado nacompreensão da cognição como um sistema complexo de funcionamentos psicológicos,construídos a partir da relação de interdependência entre o sujeito e o ambiente histórico-cultural, que possibilita a interpretação e o entendimento da realidade circundante (cf. VIGOTSKI, 2000/1934; BRUNER, 1991); do papel da linguagem como fundamental na constituição da cognição humana e como parte relevante na construção e transformação do pensamento (Leitão, 2000;2007;2008); e da natureza metacognitiva da argumentação como o mecanismo que instaura a reflexão sobre o próprio pensamento(LEITÃO, 2007b). O cenário de construção do corpus de dados desta pesquisa foi gerado no contexto de implementaçãoda proposta de intervenção pedagógica que teve por base a adaptação para o contexto Brasileiro do Modelo do Debate Crítico(FUENTES, 2009)como recurso para a discussão dos temas curriculares de umcurso de graduação em psicologia. A análise apresentada se deu em dois níveis: o nível microanalítico, em que foi analisado o uso de critérios de avaliação da qualidade dos argumentos produzidos pelos pares ao longo do semestre acadêmico, tomando como referência inicial os critérios força e solidez de GOVIER (2010); e onível macroanalítico,onde analisou-se see comose transforma o uso de critérios de avaliação diante da avaliação da qualidade dos argumentos produzidos por seus pares. Como resultado,comprova-se o uso de critérios dialéticos no exame interno dosargumentos e a emergência de critérios pragmáticos referentesà avaliação do compromisso pragmático dos participantes com a situação de debate crítico (VAN EEMEREN, GROOTENDORST, & SNOECK HENKEMANS, 2008; FUENTES, 2009;2011), mesmo que seu uso não seja incorporado da mesma forma em todos os casos analisados. O ganho progressivo no uso de critérios de avaliação de parte dos alunos parece ser marcado pelo aumento na diversidade e densidade de critérios que passam a utilizar, sobretudo, os de natureza pragmática. / Qualitative research of a longitudinal case series, where the main objective was researching about the development of reflective thinking of university students, through the analysis of possible changes in the use of criteria for evaluating arguments when it’s assessed the quality of arguments produced by their academic pairs (evaluators), while the students participatein an educational experience that provides intensive reflexion and argumentation about curricular themes (Model Critical Debate -MDC -proposed by FUENTES, 2009). The main assumption of the research comes from the arguments given to the mediating role inthe development of reasoning (KUHN, 1991; LEITÃO, 2000), where It’s assumed that the participation and practice in critical discussion -the negotiation process of discursive argumentative character -mobilizes the emergence of specific operations of reasoning, which emphasizes on reflective thinking (FUENTES, 2009). Assumption that is based on the understanding of the following statements: a) cognition as a complex system of psychological operation built from the interdependent relation between the subject and the historical and cultural context, which enables the interpretation and understanding of the surrounding reality (cf. VIGOTSKI, 2000/1934;BRUNER, 1991); b) the role of language as a fundamental part in the constitution of human cognition and in the construction and transformation of thinking (LEITÃO, 2000; 2007;2008);c) the metacognitive nature of the line of argument as a mechanism that establishes a reflection on the reflective thinking (LEITÃO, 2007b). The building scenary of data corpus wasgenerated in the context of implementation of the pedagogical intervention propose, from the Brazilian Model of Critical Debate (FUENTES, 2009), as a resource for discussing curriculum topics in a discipline of Psychology in a public university. The analysis took place at two levels: microanalitical and macroanalitical levels.Microanalític level. It was analyzed the use of criteria for assessing the quality of arguments produced by the academic pairs(evaluators), throughout the academic semester, taking as original reference the criteria of strength and solidity GOVIER (2010). At the macro-analytical level, it was examined, how the assesment criteria were transformed when the evaluation of the quality of the arguments was done by the academic pairs.(evaluators) As a result, It demonstrates the use of criteria in dialectical examination in the intern examinations of the arguments, and the emergence of pragmatic criteria based on the evaluation of participants’pragmatic compromises with the situation of critical discussion. (VAN EEMEREN, GROOTENDORST, & SNOECK HENKEMANS, 2008, FUENTES, 2009;2011) even if its use is not included in the same way by all analyzed cases, the progressive gain in the use of criteria for evaluating the students, seems to be marked by an increase in diversity and density of criteria which use especially those of a pragmatic nature.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of early childhood preservice teachers in a southeastern university as they worked for mastery of phonemic awareness, phonics, and morphemic awareness. Mastery was set at 90% accuracy in a series of tests, which required them to perform different tasks related to the said concepts. One aim of the study was to investigate the preservice teachers’ description of their experiences as they worked for mastery of phonemic awareness, phonics, and morphemic awareness. Another aim was to examine how working for mastery of said concepts influenced their perceptions of preparedness to carry out literacy instruction. This research used a multiple case study method involving 8 preservice teachers who were taking their first literacy methods course. Data were gathered through an online survey, analysis of answered test papers, written responses, individual interviews, and a focus group interview. Qualitative analysis of data revealed the experience brought about awareness of insufficient knowledge, apprehension to teach, and perplexities related to phonemic awareness, phonics, and morphemic awareness among the participants. The most salient perplexities were found to be related to phonemic awareness tasks, application of phonics key terms to real words, and splitting words into morphemes. Findings also revealed that improved understanding of phonemic awareness, phonics, and morphemic awareness enhanced the participants’ perception of preparedness to teach these concepts. Engaging in reflective thinking while working for mastery of these concepts deepened their awareness of unpreparedness, reconnected them to their goal to be effective teachers, and caused them to deliberately act on their challenges in obtaining content knowledge required for quality literacy instruction. The results of this study will have relevance for teacher educators, policy makers, school administrators, and researchers as they address issues related to literacy instruction during teacher preparation, especially in terms of acquisition of strong content knowledge.

Educators have a moral imperative and job-embedded expectation to effectively teach all students, which requires a commitment to continued personal growth. The purpose of this instrumental project study was to explore the lived experiences of first-year teachers and their mentors who teach in a culturally-diverse school district. The conceptual framework was based on supporting adult learning methods through the theories of critical thinking, constructivist perspective, the theory of mentoring, and culturally-instructional teaching. The guiding research questions addressed the perceptions of 5 first-year teachers and 5 mentors regarding individual and shared learning as a result of mentor-mentee relationship. A constant comparison method provided a process for analyzing the semi-structured interviews, observations, and field notes to determine a unit of data. Triangulation of the units of data then informed possible categories that were noted in words and statements. This process continued until saturation of categories was reached. Spreadsheets provided a structure to organize the data along the way and chart tables and taxonomic representation were used to display results. The mentees' results encompassed 19 themes such as feeling valued, safe, supported, trusted, and believed. The recommendations include the development of long-term solutions for supporting beginning teachers during the first 3 years of their profession with mentoring as an essential component. These findings illustrate that formal and informal beginning teacher professional learning is critical to produce high quality instruction, and to ensure that students graduate with globally competitive skills.

This study explores the phenomenon of a personal exploratory field visit to HIV programmes in Malawi and how that informs my future plans to work cross-culturally with HIV. I use hermeneutic phenomenology with the guidance of Heidegger and Gadamer, and draw on Ackermann, Hill, Maluleke, Moltmann, and Thielicke for theological direction. This study analyses how personal formation takes place and how the meaning of that experience can inform future cross-cultural interaction. The data of this study is drawn from a range of people interviewing ‘me’. This includes a pre and post interview in relation to my three week exploratory visit to Malawi, and recorded daily reflections during the visit. Upon return I was interviewed about my experience by ten people from the following areas: nursing, counselling, development, theology, business, medicine, clergy, an Expatriate Malawian, and a women working from a Maori paradigm. These interviews focused on my experience with questions framed from the interviewer’s specialty area. The transcripts become further data for my study. The findings of this thesis suggest that people wishing to work cross-culturally need to understand their motivation for their work, and understand who they are before entering a foreign land. This transformative journey also needs to continue as part of the process of working with people because we can only be effective with change if we are listening and hearing the other’s perspective. It is in being open to this difference between persons that we continue to find ourselves. While perhaps we have a tendency to want to make everybody like us, we can only grow into our full potential in relationship with truly different others. Tensions I experienced demonstrate that there is a complex need to understand how the context controls how HIV is perceived. This requires uncovering some of the deeper issues of HIV and culture, and knowing how to conceptualise these in both positive and informative ways. This thesis asks four key questions for the global-co-worker to work through before embarking on cross-cultural mission: 1. How do you know you should go?; 2. How are you going to make a difference?; 3. Who are you going to be?; and 4. What will sustain your involvement? My own experience has drawn me into a deeper awareness of the need for a vital connectedness of faith, hope and love underpinning the everydayness of such an experience.

As a result of the interactive nature of modern programming languages the perception has developed that proper planning of a solution, reasoned action during the process of problem solving and evaluation of the solution have become less important during computer programming. Learn often rely on the programming language to help them solve a problem, without themselves planning the solution beforehand and then using a computer language to implement the solution. This approach usually leads to using bad programming techniques, resulting in unstructured programmes or rendering the learner unable to solve the problem. The importance of continuous reflection by learners while doing a programming activity has been advocated for quite some time... / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

As a result of the interactive nature of modern programming languages the perception has developed that proper planning of a solution, reasoned action during the process of problem solving and evaluation of the solution have become less important during computer programming. Learn often rely on the programming language to help them solve a problem, without themselves planning the solution beforehand and then using a computer language to implement the solution. This approach usually leads to using bad programming techniques, resulting in unstructured programmes or rendering the learner unable to solve the problem. The importance of continuous reflection by learners while doing a programming activity has been advocated for quite some time... / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

This study explores the phenomenon of a personal exploratory field visit to HIV programmes in Malawi and how that informs my future plans to work cross-culturally with HIV. I use hermeneutic phenomenology with the guidance of Heidegger and Gadamer, and draw on Ackermann, Hill, Maluleke, Moltmann, and Thielicke for theological direction. This study analyses how personal formation takes place and how the meaning of that experience can inform future cross-cultural interaction. The data of this study is drawn from a range of people interviewing ‘me’. This includes a pre and post interview in relation to my three week exploratory visit to Malawi, and recorded daily reflections during the visit. Upon return I was interviewed about my experience by ten people from the following areas: nursing, counselling, development, theology, business, medicine, clergy, an Expatriate Malawian, and a women working from a Maori paradigm. These interviews focused on my experience with questions framed from the interviewer’s specialty area. The transcripts become further data for my study. The findings of this thesis suggest that people wishing to work cross-culturally need to understand their motivation for their work, and understand who they are before entering a foreign land. This transformative journey also needs to continue as part of the process of working with people because we can only be effective with change if we are listening and hearing the other’s perspective. It is in being open to this difference between persons that we continue to find ourselves. While perhaps we have a tendency to want to make everybody like us, we can only grow into our full potential in relationship with truly different others. Tensions I experienced demonstrate that there is a complex need to understand how the context controls how HIV is perceived. This requires uncovering some of the deeper issues of HIV and culture, and knowing how to conceptualise these in both positive and informative ways. This thesis asks four key questions for the global-co-worker to work through before embarking on cross-cultural mission: 1. How do you know you should go?; 2. How are you going to make a difference?; 3. Who are you going to be?; and 4. What will sustain your involvement? My own experience has drawn me into a deeper awareness of the need for a vital connectedness of faith, hope and love underpinning the everydayness of such an experience.

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