Examensarbetet har till stora delar genomförts av två studenter men avslutats av en. Examensarbetet är en studie av kommunikationen under matematiklektioner med fokus på lärarens yttranden. För att undersöka detta använder vi oss av ett sociokulturellt per-spektiv på inlärning. Vi har observerat tre lärare under deras matematiklektioner. Ob-servationerna har varit inriktade på att kartlägga lärarnas yttranden. För att göra det har vi delat in lärarens yttranden i två kategorier. I den ena kategorin ryms yttranden som har till uppgift att reglera arbetet i klassrummet, dvs. att styra eleverna till att arbeta med det tänkta innehållet. I den andra kategorin ryms yttranden som har till uppgift att un-dervisa eleverna om det tänkta innehållet. Resultatet visar att läraren kan tillrättavisa och reglera arbetet på olika sätt. Resultatet visar också att lärarna i vår studie bjuder in eleverna till matematiska samtal under de gemensamma genomgångarna. När eleverna arbetar enskilt är de undervisande dragen till stor del av karaktären lotsning.

Technology is becoming an integral part of teaching and learning in schools. This thesis explored the use of a wiki, a collaborative editable webpage within physical education teacher education. An interpretive inquiry investigated the perceptions of a cohort of 28 final year physical education teacher candidates (PETC) through an online group project. The objective of the assignment was for PETC to develop deeper understanding of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach. Information collected from reflective journals, writing samples and focus groups identified both enabling and constraining factors this wiki brought to the wiki project. Data analyses confirmed that the wiki facilitated collaboration among group members, improved writing skills and enhanced deeper understanding through scaffolding of one’s own ideas as well as those of others. In their efforts to work collaboratively, the students realized that establishing roles and responsibilities and creating more opportunity for communication were necessary ingredients for learning. / October 2008

The purpose of this study was to explore collaborative English language learning beyond formal classrooms. On the basis of Vygotsky¡¦s socio-cultural perspective, specific focus was placed on English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners¡¦ collective scaffolding and tension they experienced during the collaboration. The researcher utilized case study to design this research. Participants were eleven EFL learners who were non-English majors in a university and who joined the same English self-access community together. The period of data collection was from middle-March to early-October, 2009, during which the researcher conducted observation, interview, and document collection. Constant comparison method was used at the early stage of data analysis. Further analysis was influenced by the concepts of tension (Kramer, 2004; Montgomery, 1993; Spielmann & Radnofsky, 2001) and collaborative strategies, such as problematizing move (Ming & Law, 2006; Reiser, 2004). Three findings of this study were reported. First, these learners practiced collective scaffolding by co-shaping norms and co-constructing English knowledge. Second, during collective scaffolding, these learners experienced two kinds of tension. One of the tensions was their shared difficulties in developing English knowledge and maintaining English activities. When these learners could not overcome these difficulties, they terminated their English activities, which was negative for their collective scaffolding. The other tension was their conflictive voices deriving from different perceptions of English learning. When these learners were able to show their empathy toward conflictive voices among peers, they were more likely to handle these conflicts to practice collective scaffolding. Although this study centered on how these EFL learners assisted one another¡¦s learning, it also discovered that most EFL learners in this study highlighted the tutor¡¦s role in helping peer collaboration. Discussions of this study are as follows: 1) these learners¡¦ practice of collective scaffolding echoes Wenger¡¦s (1998) community of practice; 2) tension these learners experienced shows the importance of developing regular and predictable learning routines and maintaining the balance between product-orientation and process-orientation for learning; 3) these learners¡¦ concern about peers¡¦ English proficiency reflects their investment in distributing group resources and cultivating English knowledge. This study provides three implications for English learning and teaching. First, it is suggested that English language learners who participate in English self-access communities respect others¡¦ perceptions of English learning, so that peer collaboration for English learning can be enhanced. Second, English language learners are encouraged to cultivate their autonomous and active learning through developing and joining an English self-access community. Third, English teachers or tutors are encouraged to gain understanding about how to assist peer interaction appropriately in order to support collaborative learning. Finally, four directions for further studies are offered: 1) further studies can compare different English self-access communities to offer multiple perspectives on collaborative learning beyond classrooms; 2) further studies can investigate the assistance of tutors to understand the importance of expert scaffolding in peer collaboration; 3) further studies can analyze the role of a leader in different contexts of an English self-access community to examine how the leader can influence and enhance the practice of collective scaffolding; 4) further studies can examine the influences of distinct genders, majors, and media on collective scaffolding.

This dissertation focuses on the effectiveness of scaffolding in technology-enhanced science learning environments, and specifically the relative merits of computer- and teacher-based scaffolding in science inquiry. Scaffolding is an instructional support that helps learners solve problems, carry out tasks, or achieve goals that they are unable to accomplish on their own. Although support such as scaffolding is necessary when students engage in complex learning environments, many issues must be resolved before educators can effectively implement scaffolding in instruction. To achieve this, this dissertation includes two studies: a systematic literature review and an experimental study. The two studies attempted to reveal some important issues which are not widely recognized in the existing literature. The primary problem confronting the educator is how to determine which of the numerous kinds of scaffolding will allow them to educate students most effectively. The scaffolding forms that researchers create are often confusing, overlapping, or contradictory. In response to this, the first study critically analyzed the ways that researchers have defined and applied scaffolding, and provided suggestions for future scaffolding design and research. Moreover, studies tend to focus only on computer-based scaffolding rather than examining ways to integrate it with teacher-based instruction. Although researchers generally recognize that teacher-based support is important, research in this area is limited. The second study of this dissertation employed a quasi-experimental design with four experimental conditions, each of which include a type of computer-based procedural scaffolding (continuous vs. faded) paired with a type of teacher-based metacognitive scaffolding (early vs. late). Each class was assigned to use one of the four conditions. The findings indicated that students receiving continuous computer-based procedural and early teacher-based metacognitive scaffolding performed statistically better at learning scientific inquiry skills than other treatment groups. Students using faded computer-based procedural and early teacher-based metacognitive scaffolding showed the worst performance. However, among the four groups there existed no statistically significant difference in terms of the effect on students? ability to learn science knowledge. Moreover, teacher-based metacognitive scaffolding did not have a significant impact on either science content knowledge or scientific inquiry skills.

This study aimed to investigate elementary school EFL teachers¡¦ use of scaffolding strategies for enhancing EFL students¡¦ cognitive engagement, and to examine whether the teachers¡¦ beliefs correspond to their strategy use. The three main focuses of the study included: 1) the types of scaffolding strategies used by elementary English teachers to enhance EFL students¡¦ cognitive engagement; 2) the processes of using these scaffolding strategies; 3) the teachers¡¦ beliefs in using these scaffolding strategies. The present study utilized an exploratory-explanatory case study design. Two elementary English teachers participated in this study. Data were collected from interviews and classroom observations during late-August to mid-October 2007. The researcher carried out all the interviews and classroom observations after she got the two teachers¡¦ permission to participate in this study. Five hours of interviews and eleven hours of classroom observations were collected from one teacher, while one and a half hours of interviews and nine hours of classroom observations were collected from the other. The interview data were audio-taped and then transcribed word by word. The classroom observation data were video-taped, and the useful parts were transcribed word by word. The researcher adopted constant comparative method and the template approach for data analysis. The process of data analysis with the use of constant comparative method included categorizing the types of scaffolding strategies from the collected data and analyzing the two elementary English teachers¡¦ beliefs of using scaffolding strategies. In addition, Gallimore and Tharp¡¦s (1990) six teaching strategies were used as a template to confirm that there was no missing code in the data analysis process. The three major findings of this study are as the following: 1) the two elementary English teachers in this study believed that cognitive engagement is classified into three categories: attention, memory, and critical thinking; 2) the two elementary English teachers in this study used scaffolding strategies in different ways to help students achieve different categories of cognitive engagement; 3) the two elementary English teachers¡¦ different beliefs of cognitive engagement played an important role in their use of scaffolding strategies, and they guided students to achieve different levels of cognitive engagement in class based on their beliefs. The findings of the present study, in general, respond to EFL teachers¡¦ perceptions of ZPD (Vygotsky, 1978) and scaffolding (Wood, Bruner, & Rose, 1976) which pointed out the importance of teacher¡¦s role in assisting students¡¦ second language learning. The expected findings discussed are as the following: 1) similar scaffolding strategies for enhancing students¡¦ cognitive engagement found in the present study were recognized in previous studies; 2) teachers¡¦ beliefs played an important role in teachers¡¦ use of scaffolding strategies. Unexpected, or interesting findings discussed are as the following: 1) one teacher in the present study believed that cognitive engagement was a sequential concept; 2) the two teachers in the present study showed different perceptions of the role of EFL teacher in initiating students¡¦ critical thinking; 3) The two teachers in the present study were not aware that students could be active listeners or learners in class; 4) The two teachers in the present study put more emphasis on students¡¦ memory of vocabulary and sentences than on critical thinking. Three pedagogical implications are suggested in this study: 1) Elementary English teachers need to be aware that critical thinking of some students¡¦ might need assistance from teachers; 2) elementary English teachers need to be aware that step-by-step assistance is more likely to help students achieve critical thinking; 3) teacher education should provide related courses about cognitive engagement, and practice teachers should learn how to assist students in engaging cognitively in English class. Finally, this study suggests three directions for further research: 1) the future study should investigate on teachers¡¦ beliefs or perspectives on using scaffolding strategies in class; 2) the future study should take students¡¦ perspectives into account to identify the effectiveness of scaffolding strategies in enhancing EFL students¡¦ cognitive engagement; 3) the future study should take parents¡¦ expectation or perceptions of English teaching into account to investigate how parents¡¦ expectations and feedback influence teachers¡¦ scaffolding strategies.

<p>Tendensen hos pedagogisk hypermedia är att man har tagit fasta på de eventuella effekter som interaktionen i sig anses ha. Med interaktion i det här avseendet åsyftas i mångt och mycket programmets "klickbarhet". Klickbarheten möjliggör för eleven att delta i undervisningen genom att styra avsnittens ordning, svara på frågor, m.m. Denna typ av delaktighet i undervisningen som tekniken erbjuder borde kunna utvecklas och även användas vid tillämpandet av traditionellt inlärningseffektiviserande metoder.</p><p>Inom forskning kring traditionell lärarledd undervisning finns en mängd teorier som pekar på att metakognition är av stor betydelse vid inlärning generellt. Med metakognition avses tänkandet på hur man tänker. I en inlärningssituation representeras det metakognitiva tänkandet av tankar om hur man skall tänka för att lära sig. Denna studie har för avsikt att hitta en teknik för att understödja metakognition vid inlärning i hypermedia. Inlärningseffekten skall studeras hos två grupper, där den ena använder en metakognitionsmetod och den andra en repetitionsmetod.</p>

The aim of this thesis is to investigate, and thereby highlight, the new role of special needs teachers in conducting educational development in the fields of linguistics and literacy. The thesis defines how educational development, as described by special needs teachers, can be conducted and what conditions they perceive for such development. Factors which, according to special needs teachers, promote or hinder the development are discussed. The study uses a qualitative method involving knowledge-creating dialogues, analyzed hermeneutically, with two special needs teachers. Results are then discussed in light of relevant research and sociocultural theory. The study indicates that special needs teachers’ main tool, to support teachers, is diverse use of dialogue. Other examples include scaffolding by way of modelling and coaching in the classroom. The special needs teachers’ stories point to the great possibilities which they have, by virtue of their education and position within schools, to conduct development work. However, it is vital that teachers receive explicit support from their principals, as well as the agreement of teachers and principals on how to promote inclusion within the school's mission and responsibilities. Relevant factors include engaged time, curriculum, teachers’ attitudes, and with which legitimacy special needs teachers conduct educational development.

The general aim in conducting this research is to investigate the teaching and learning of Social Studies in Nigeria and to understand how it is taught and its role in fostering tolerance and appreciation for cultural differences. However, teachers of Social Studies often adopt different methods. Hence, it is important to understand how their teaching impacts upon the day to day lives of Nigerians. This study is made up three discrete studies, each building upon the one before, but all three studies tell a story. Several types of data collection methods were used to obtain the findings. These included interviews, questionnaires and a class-based study. The first study explored qualitatively how ex-students have used the knowledge they gained in Social Studies in their daily lives. The second study was conducted to examine the challenges that teachers’ faced in the delivery of the Social Studies curriculum while the third study focused on the effectiveness of a scaffolded approach in the teaching and learning of Social Studies. The findings revealed that there is a tension in the curriculum between how participants perceived Social Studies and the purpose of Social Studies as defined by the Government in Nigeria. The aims and objectives of the current Social Studies curriculum jar with the issues that some participants identified as being relevant to their daily lives. It also revealed that not all the teachers are Social Studies specialists, there are some non-specialist teachers teaching Social Studies. This may have accounted for diversity of teaching methods and opportunities. It was also reported that the curriculum content in Social Studies is not adequate for addressing the social issues and problems that face Nigeria today. The findings also show that using a scaffolded approach seems to have promoted students’ learning around issues relevant to their lives in Nigeria. The findings from this study revealed that there is a tension in the curriculum; it is my contention that it can be improved by using a scaffolded approach and by ensuring that Social Studies specialists deliver the content.

Writing is a critical element for many of the second language learners that I’ve encountered in my work as a Swedish teacher. Therefore, on the basis of Jerome Bruners theories of reflec-tion and learning, was the purpose with this study to examine the scaffolded structured reflec-tion conversation as a method for writing development. Bruner says that the knowledge be-comes deeper when we consciously reflect over it (Arfwedson 1992:110 f). I have used a qualitative method where I let five students write a text in Swedish on the subject "application for internship". After that I held a conversation with each of the pupils. By asking them questions I wanted them to reflect on their writing process, and the language and content in their written texts. After this I let the students revise the texts, with the invita-tion to use the thoughts from the conversation. By this I wanted to examine to which extent the five reflection conversations led to reflec-tion on the students' own writing, as well as on language and content in the texts. I also wanted to examine how the students changed their texts after the conversations and which factors can be interpreted as being significant for the outcome of the conversations. The study has shown that the outcome of the scaffolded structured reflection conversa-tions is very much dependent on the students' respective inputs and focus of the talks. The results indicate that a person who enters the conversation with a focus on developing his/her writing in general is generally more inclined to reflect than a student who enters with a strong focus on the individual task. These results also finds support in earlier theories of reflection. In accordance with previous research, this study also demonstrated that it is essential that the reflection is based on the individuals’ circumstances and experiences. I had before the conversations constructed a manual with questions, which I used in all conversations. The results show that only those students who during the conversation were within what Vygotskij calls the zone of proximal development, through my questions got the scaffolding that they needed to reflect.

Technology is becoming an integral part of teaching and learning in schools. This thesis explored the use of a wiki, a collaborative editable webpage within physical education teacher education. An interpretive inquiry investigated the perceptions of a cohort of 28 final year physical education teacher candidates (PETC) through an online group project. The objective of the assignment was for PETC to develop deeper understanding of the Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) approach. Information collected from reflective journals, writing samples and focus groups identified both enabling and constraining factors this wiki brought to the wiki project. Data analyses confirmed that the wiki facilitated collaboration among group members, improved writing skills and enhanced deeper understanding through scaffolding of one’s own ideas as well as those of others. In their efforts to work collaboratively, the students realized that establishing roles and responsibilities and creating more opportunity for communication were necessary ingredients for learning.