M.Ed. / The purpose of this research was to examine misconceptions held by pupils about Ecology and make suggestions on how these misconceptions could be eliminated. Although there has been much published research identifying misconceptions in the understanding of biological concepts by pupils, relatively little has appeared locally to indicate how misconceptions in this field might best be eliminated, changed or minimized. As part of this research, Biology pupils were given a test to complete. The main aim of the test was to identify misconceptions that the pupils held after classroom instruction. The pupils were also given a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire was designed to assess pupils' attitude towards Biology in general, Ecology and fieldwork in particular. The pupils' knowledge of Ecology following instruction was further assessed by interviews. Teachers were also given questionnaires to complete. The main aim of the teachers' questionnaire was to determine if fieldwork could play any significant role in the teaching of Biology. Furthermore, the teachers' questionnaires also explored some of the problems or limiting factors experienced by teachers when they undertake fieldwork. This study revealed that pupils held misconceptions about energy flow in the ecosystem, basic ecological terms/concepts, nutrient cycling, the food web, etc. The research also suggested that fieldwork helps pupils to understand certain other sections of the Biology syllabus better. It is recommended, amongst others, that experienced Biology teachers, authors of Biology textbooks, lecturers at in-service training centres, and subject advisors should do all they possibly can to assist their colleagues and pupils to avoid misconceptions about Ecology.

Syftet med den här studien är att bidra med ett elevperspektiv på hur elever i årskurs 3 upplever att bli bedömda och hur de upplever bedömningsmetoder som är vanligt förekommande i svenskämnet. För att besvara studiens syfte och frågeställningar har vi utfört åtta elevintervjuer på två skolor. Materialet har analyserats utifrån det sociokulturella perspektivet och självbestämmandeteorin. Resultatet visar att eleverna upplever bedömning som positiv och motiverande när de har en förståelse för att bedömning är till för att stötta deras lärande. Resultatet visar att eleverna upplever återkoppling från läraren som en värdefull bedömningsmetod. Prov är den bedömningsmetod som skapar viss stress och oro hos eleverna men är ändå uppskattat som bedömningsmetod, eftersom de anser att det är ett konkret sätt att se hur de ligger till kunskapsmässigt. Eleverna upplever att både kamratbedömning och självbedömning stöttar deras lärande men det framgår att det krävs stödstrukturer för att inte bedömningen ska bli för generell eller konkret.

<p>Academic dissertaion for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science at the University of Gothenburg and the University of Borås to be publicly defended on Friday 21 October 2011 at 13.15 in lecture room M402, University of Borås, Allégatan 1, Borås</p>

The diploma thesis, entitled The Profile of a Novice Primary School Teacher, deals with the issue of young teachers starting their teaching practice. The aim of the thesis is to explore how contemporary novice teachers carry out their work, how they percieve it and to what extent they have been prepared for it by their studies. Another aim of the thesis is to compile a profile of a novice teacher which reflects the professional standard of a teacher with a diploma from a faculty of education and practice of one, two, or three years.

The diploma thesis is focused on the research of school cheating in pupils of the second level of elementary schools. Based on a self-reporting questionnaire survey, the aim of the thesis is to find out what motivates the pupils to cheat and what attitude they take to possibly punish detected fraud. Another goal is to find out the frequency of individual types of school cheating, the influence of gender and the learning benefit of school cheating. It has been found that pupils are relatively often used in cheating on the internet at the primary school. Also, there was greater tolerance for cheating when pupils do not attach the importance of punishment for an exposed fraud, rather they would not punish their exposed classmates. Key words: dishonest behavior, unusual cheating, electronic cheating, elementary school pupils, motivation to cheat

<p>One of our big public health problems in Sweden is that human beings are too inactive in outdoor settings. That is why stress related diseases increase and influence humans both mentally and physical. The physical activity is halved among many children when they start school and the older they become the less they enjoy school. It is also an increasing problem that children and youth in today's society have lack of worthwhile experiences in the nature. The aim of this study was therefore to examine how the experience of outdoor environment had importance for health and learning on upper secondary school pupils. The study is used a questionnaire survey where 192 upper secondary school pupils in nature and farm focused programs, respectively social programs participated. Of the result it emerged that the outside environment was a positive place in order to create health and learning. Although social- and farm focused pupils had different opinions about good outside environments and where they rather learned, the pupils at the social program were less pleased with their outside environment at school, although they already had what they wanted. The pupils at the social program also wanted more outdoor education and more practical education, as the farm focused pupils considered positive for health and learning. Our conclusion is that the pupils’ wishes should be noticed and a more varying education, that include the outdoor environment and experiences in nature, should be introduced in more schools, even in the cities, since the school also is an arena where young people spends a lot of their time. If the school creates an interest for nature it can last for the rest of life.</p>

One of our big public health problems in Sweden is that human beings are too inactive in outdoor settings. That is why stress related diseases increase and influence humans both mentally and physical. The physical activity is halved among many children when they start school and the older they become the less they enjoy school. It is also an increasing problem that children and youth in today's society have lack of worthwhile experiences in the nature. The aim of this study was therefore to examine how the experience of outdoor environment had importance for health and learning on upper secondary school pupils. The study is used a questionnaire survey where 192 upper secondary school pupils in nature and farm focused programs, respectively social programs participated. Of the result it emerged that the outside environment was a positive place in order to create health and learning. Although social- and farm focused pupils had different opinions about good outside environments and where they rather learned, the pupils at the social program were less pleased with their outside environment at school, although they already had what they wanted. The pupils at the social program also wanted more outdoor education and more practical education, as the farm focused pupils considered positive for health and learning. Our conclusion is that the pupils’ wishes should be noticed and a more varying education, that include the outdoor environment and experiences in nature, should be introduced in more schools, even in the cities, since the school also is an arena where young people spends a lot of their time. If the school creates an interest for nature it can last for the rest of life.

The presented master thesis describes methods of geology teaching at primary school and deals with the motivation of pupils in a connection with the application of a didactic game in teaching of geology and/or nature science. Data source was sampled via questionnaire in three groups of the respondents, i.e., teachers of geology (nature science), with 9th class pupils of primary school and university students of teaching training in biology. The theoretical part includes general data concerning motivation of pupils, teaching methods and a didactic game. The practical part contains methodology of the research, results of quantitative analysis and the author's didactic computer game which was tested and evaluated by the respondents. The obtained results show that the majority of pupils do not like geology however the integration of the didactic games in lessons can be increased pupil's interest in geology. The research has also found that university students have a different opinion on the teaching of geology than practising teachers. For example university students think that the unpopularity of geology among pupils is caused by teacher's personality, but according to opinion of the teachers it is caused by a general lack of attractivity of the subject. Similarly, the students accused the teacher of insufficient use of didactic games in geology teaching, but the teachers do not integrate didactic games in geology teaching due to lack of time.

The thesis deals with homeschooling. Theoretical part defines the basic concepts of homeschooling and describes the development of a child from six to eleven years of age. There is also analysis of history, development and legislation of homeschooling. The last part describes the practice of homeschooling from the perspective of the family and the institutions. Practical part of the thesis is focused on the search for common characteristics of families and children in homeschooling. This section is based on information obtained through interviews with parents and teachers. Analysis results are reported in the interview evaluation of hypotheses.

Approaches to nourishment and eating habits are formed from early childhood under the influence of family lifestyle, gradually together with the influence of school and society where a child grows. Healthy lifestyle should systematically address all children during the whole school attendance, adequately to their age and needs. Comprehensive link between theoretical and practical influencing of pupils in subjects Human and Health and Education to Health with the possibility of link to school canteen. Then we will be on the good way to cooperation of all the involved parents, healthcare staff, teachers and school canteens leading to the common goal, which is GOOD HEALTH. The aim of the thesis was to assess the role of a children nurse in school environment, namely in school catering. The research tried to analyse catering standards for pupils of primary schools and to find the experience and satisfaction with school catering among parents and to map approaches of children of lower and higher level of primary school to school canteen meals. Quantitative and qualitative research was applied to the thesis. Data collection was performed by means of questionnaires for parents and children from the 3rd to 9th grades and focus group among children of the 1st and 2nd grades of primary school in Jindřichův Hradec. The questionnaires were processed and statistically evaluated by SPSS programme. We applied Parkinson's chi-squared test, a paired sample t-test for graph and table outputs. The focus group was performed in classrooms and in the canteen during break and during lunch at presence of a teacher and the vice headmistress. The research sample consisted of parents of children attending primary school in Jindřichův Hradec and pupils of the 1st to 9th classes of the same school. School catering, which is a frequent topic among professionals as well as the wide public in the whole Czech Republic and the results of our research are obviously an exception. Analysis of catering standards has shown that parents can only partially participate in preparation of menus, as they partially participate in financing of school lunches. From observation of 1st and 2nd class children we have found that children of this age are affected by the social environment they are in during the day. We have found that nearly all the children are satisfied with their meals. Pupils of 3rd to 9th classes formed another group. They commented and assessed canteen meals, where our sample differed from the other researches within the whole Republic. Satisfaction with canteen meals did not substantially differ with age as we expected. The research into satisfaction with school meals among parents has shown that parents of elementary school children are more satisfied that those of the higher level children, so the satisfaction among parents differs between the lower and higher primary levels. The research points out the connection of educational and healthcare systems, that there would be a place for a children nurse in this community, who operated in the school healthcare service before privatization of primary healthcare and still successfully operates there in many countries. It is necessary for community nurses to implement, lead and coordinate the care and for their care to be perceived as legitimate and essential in all spheres. The research results were requested by the vice headmistress of the school in Jindřichův Hradec in advance for possible correction of school catering and they might be also presented at seminars or conferences focused on nutrition and healthy lifestyle of children.