This thesis was an exploration of the relationship between the host cultural knowledge of newcomers and their behavioural and psychological adaptation to the host culture. Utilizing a theoretical and applied approach to this research, 160 international and landed immigrant students at the University of Saskatchewan completed a questionnaire examining their perceptions of Canadian values and social axioms. Values and social axioms are guiding principles and mediating beliefs, respectively, that individuals use to organize, understand and facilitate physical and social functionality within a culture (Schwartz, 1994; Leung et al., 2002). Despite the complexity of the research task, there was marginal support for the main hypothesis that the participants understanding of Canadian cultural knowledge was related to adaptation to a host culture, specifically psychological adaptation. Furthermore, the results indicate that the participants knowledge of Canadian values and social axioms was differentially related to psychological and behavioural adaption to Canada.

This thesis was an exploration of the relationship between the host cultural knowledge of newcomers and their behavioural and psychological adaptation to the host culture. Utilizing a theoretical and applied approach to this research, 160 international and landed immigrant students at the University of Saskatchewan completed a questionnaire examining their perceptions of Canadian values and social axioms. Values and social axioms are guiding principles and mediating beliefs, respectively, that individuals use to organize, understand and facilitate physical and social functionality within a culture (Schwartz, 1994; Leung et al., 2002). Despite the complexity of the research task, there was marginal support for the main hypothesis that the participants understanding of Canadian cultural knowledge was related to adaptation to a host culture, specifically psychological adaptation. Furthermore, the results indicate that the participants knowledge of Canadian values and social axioms was differentially related to psychological and behavioural adaption to Canada.

This small-scale ethnographic research study investigated student perceptions of social identity and agency and the usefulness of the construct of the Community of Practice for struggling writers in the context of a pre-university EAP program. The appropriateness of socio-cultural theories in language teaching and learning today stems from social constructivist and social interactionist theories of the role of language in the discursive construction of society, knowledge and power. This study problematised these constructs in the development of writing for learners in a pre-university Higher Education context. Comparing data from focal students who were struggling with writing and from students who were more successful, the biographies of struggling students and their awareness of their futures, or imagined selves and communities, revealed not only learning histories in which they had radically different identities as learners and writers, but also a lack of clarity about their learning trajectory in the writing program. There was no apparent lack of investment in learning among the focal students, who identified themselves as weak writers, although there was frustration and anger at their predicament. The data suggest that they did not identify with the learning community at the start of the project, probably because they resisted belonging to a community which labeled them as failures. During the study a variety of means were used to elicit participants’ perceptions of their status as novice writers and to support their learning trajectory on an individual basis by elucidating the reasons for and requirements of academic writing. By the end of the study the focal students had developed more awareness of the subject positions the writing trajectory afforded them and had chosen ways in which to continue along their learning path. The Community of Practice appears to have potential as a means of supporting the roles of EAP students and teachers as members of the academic community of practice.

Studien handlar om att utifrån ett sociokulturellt studera hur Arbetsmiljöverket arbetar utefter sina föreskrifter. Syfte: Syftet var att utifrån ett sociokulturellt lärande studera hur Arbetsmiljöverket arbetar genom föreskrifterna för att förebygga ohälsa och åstadkomma hälsofrämjande arbetsmiljöer på arbetsplatser i Sverige. Metod: Genom en kvalitativ intervjustudie genomfördes sammanlagt sex stycken semi- strukturerade intervjuer. Intervjuerna gjordes på Arbetsmiljöverket med fem stycken arbetsmiljöinspektörer och en av föreskriftsförfattarna till föreskriften Organisatorisk och Social arbetsmiljö AFS 2015:4. Studiens resultat analyserades deduktivt genom sociokulturellt lärande. Teoretisk referensram: Studien litteratur fokuserar på pedagogiska och hälsofrämjande områden med fokus på lärande och hälsopromotion. Den pedagogiska utgångspunkten finns i sociokulturellt lärande. Studien berör hälsopromotion som begrepp och strategi, hälsoprevention hälsolitteracitet. Slutsats: Studien visar på betydelsen av dialog, kommunikation och erfarenheter för lärande genom föreskrifterna men även internt lärande på Arbetsmiljöverket. Bristen av kompetens inom hälsofrämjande arbete visar sig vara orsaken till Arbetsmiljöverkets tydliga utgångspunkt i preventivt arbete / The study involves studying based on a sociocultural learing how the Swedish Work Environment Authority is working according to their regulations. The aim: The aim of this study was to from a sociocultral learning study how the Swedish Work Environment Authority is working according to their regulations to prevent illness and to achive health promoting workplaces in Sweden. Method: Through a qualitative interview-study a total of six interviews were conducted at the Swedish Work Environment Authority with five inspectors and one with the authors of the regulation AFS 2015:4. The study’s results were analyzed deductively through a sociocultural learning. Results: The study’s results demonstratet that dialogue, open communication and experiences were important tools to create learning during supervision. Lack of competence in health promoting indicates to be why the Swedish Work Environment Authority has a clear base in preventing illnesn. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework in this essay was inspired and focused on educational and the health subject areas with a focus on learning and health promotion. The pedagogical starting point is sociocultural learning. The study also concerns health promotion as a concept and as a stategy, health prevention and healthliteracy. Conclusion: The study shows the importance of dialogue, communication and experience in order for learning by the regulations but also internally learning by the Work Environment Authority.  The lack of expertise in health promotion proves to be the cause of the Work Environment obvious starting point in preventive work.

As teaching is a highly complex activity, so too is learning to teach. One pedagogy which has been shown to promote teacher learning is the use of small group discussion. This thesis examines the experiences of seven preservice secondary teachers at a New Zealand university who met weekly during their second practicum to discuss their experiences at their placement schools. Individual interviews conducted with five of the participants revealed that students felt positively about the weekly meetings. The preservice teachers appreciated 1) being able to hear about the experiences of other preservice teachers 2) tell others about their teaching 3) being able to seek advice and potential solutions to problems 4) the sense of personal connection and emotional support they gained during the weekly sessions. The students reported that the weekly meetings allowed them to think about their teaching from the perspective of others, and gave them time to reflect about their experiences while on practicum. This study situates these findings within the literature on initial teacher education and offers suggestions for future research using this pedagogy.

I dagens skola handlar det om att kunna förmedla kunskaper som eleverna har nytta av i livet och i sitt valda yrke med omvärldens och branschens krav och förväntningar. Som yrkeslärare skapas mycket eget läromedel och syftet med rapporten är att ta reda på hur ett undervisningsmaterial kan se ut som genererar motivation och som integrerar ett sociokulturellt perspektiv. De begrepp som används i studien är sociokulturellt perspektiv, motivation och läromedel. En översiktlig förklaring av begreppen och en litteraturstudie som beskriver olika teoretiska utgångspunkter genomförs i bakgrunden. Metoder som har nyttjats har varit dels litteraturstudier och dels en kvantitativ enkätundersökning. Resultaten av vår undersökning visar på en kombination av elevernas svar och litteraturens olika teorier. Eleverna föredrar träning, mindre grupparbeten och traditionella prov, men vill gärna ha både teoretiska och praktiska presentationer av läraren. Det finns ett behov att variera undervisningen för att tillgodose elevernas behov, vilket också bör vara signifikant med ett läromedel som även bör stimulera sociokulturellt perspektiv. Motivation hos elever har olika innebörd i skolan och på fritiden. I skolan blir betyg en sporre och motivation förknippas med drivkraft och vilja, medan fritidens motivation associeras med glädje. Diskussioner utifrån våra resultat sker om hur ett kursupplägg eller ett läromedel ska kunna bli spännande och stimulerande för att hitta elevens motivation och drivkraft. / Today’s school is about being able to mediate knowledge that students will find useful in life and in their chosen occupation with the demands and expectations from both society and the branch. Since we are occupational teachers, many teaching aids are created by us, and the purpose of this project work is to find out how teaching aids can generate motivation and integrate a sociocultural perspective. The concepts used in this study are sociocultural perspective, motivation and teaching aids. An overall explanation of the concepts and a literature study which describes different theoretical starting points are implemented in the background. The methods used have been partly literature studies and partly a quantative survey study. The results of our study show a combination of students’ answers and different theories from literature. The pupils prefer training, less group work and traditional tests with a deeper meaning, but they would like to have both practical and theoretical presentations from their teachers. There is a need to vary the teaching methods in order to cater for all the students’ needs, which also should be significant for teaching aids that stimulate a sociocultural perspective. Motivation has a different meaning for the students in school and outside of school. In school, grades are an incentive and motivation is associated with drive force and willingness whereas in leisure time, motivation is associated to pleasure. Our results have generated a discussion as to how the course structure or teaching aids can be exciting and stimulating to encourage student motivation and drive force.

The purpose of this thesis was to study some women's participation in two different kinds of computerised further education organised as distance edu­cation. Both groups used the FirstClass conference system as a tool for bridging distances. One was a university program for teachers in special education and the other was a computerised Network for professional special education teachers, run by the members. The dissertation was grounded in feminist theory and in a socio-cultural perspective on learning. The empirical material consists of questionnaires, interviews and analysis of the communi­cation in both computer conferences. The result showed that the women appreciated the opportunity to study at a distance. They enjoyed the flexibil­ity in time and space and the opportunity to be a part of a fellowship. There were great differences in the pattern of communication and the contents in the two settings. In the Special Education Programme the communication was regular and the inputs were usually related to the literature and examina­tion issues. In the Network the communication was more sporadic. The in­puts were usually short and consisted mostly of information. The contribu­tions in both settings were generally univocal and usually they did not show that the individual participants developed new pedagogical perspectives or views related to the actual question. This investigation showed that it was difficult to establish discussions and co-operation via the computer, espe­cially in the Network. However the women were satisfied with the continu­ing education and felt that the written communication via the computer con­ferences developed their knowledge in special pedagogy and helped them to reflect upon their work as special education teachers. Distance education could however become a gender-trap as it was found to allow the women to combine unpaid work in the family with both paid work and studies. / digitalisering@umu

Abstract This research deals with the strengthening of work-life cooperation in secondary vocational music education leading to basic qualification. The starting point is to examine students' and professional musicians’ action processes in workshops based on a new kind of cooperation in on-the-job learning and to evaluate their suitability to arranging on-the-job learning. The original publications are joined by the framework of sociocultural learning. The purpose of this research is to add understanding about realizing work-life cooperation and learning produced in workshop action in the education of musicians. The pedagogical purpose is to open paths to planning and availing of problem-based learning in on-the-job method which adds to the learner´s involvement. The research is a qualitative case study comprising the total of 143 students and several teachers in the Conservatoire in Oulu and a few professional musicians. The research material (original publications I-III) consists of structured questionnaires, namely: a) students' workshop plans and learning objectives written before the workshops, and b) the written reflective reports after the workshop experiences. The research data was dealt with a theory-based contents analysis. The data was transcribed and tabulated according to a Finnish meta-study categories of learning obstacles and promoters. To widen his understanding of the workshop method the researcher acted as a participating observer in the workshops of Conservatory teachers and professional musicians (6 workshops) the results of which were reported in the original publication IV. The research results show that acting as a musician in a workshop supports learning professional skills and the key competences of lifelong learning. From the pedagogical viewpoint workshop action 1) emphasizes the learner's initiative and taking responsibility, 2) offers work environments typical of music field, 3) builds the action on problem solving and interaction, and 4) changes the role of a visiting professional musician from a source of information and the demonstrator of the “right” performances to a fellow musician. The challenge of vocational teachers is to develop their pedagogical competencies especially in the designing and coordinating learning environments that support students´ learning broadly. This research will bring a new, concrete viewpoint to the planning and implementation of work-life cooperation. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimus käsittelee työelämäyhteistyön vahvistamista musiikkialan perustutkintoon johtavassa toisen asteen ammatillisessa koulutuksessa. Lähtökohtana on tarkastella opiskelijoiden ja ammattimuusikoiden uudenlaiseen yhteistyöhön perustuvien työssäoppimisen työpajojen toimintaprosesseja sekä arvioida niiden soveltuvuutta työssäoppimisen järjestämisessä. Empiiristä tutkimusta yhdistää sosiokulttuurisen oppimisen viitekehys. Tutkimuksen tavoite on lisätä ymmärrystä työelämäyhteistyön toteuttamisesta sekä työpajatoiminnan tuottamasta oppimisesta muusikoiden koulutuksessa. Pedagogisena tavoitteena on avata suuntia opiskelijan osallisuutta lisäävän, ongelmaperustaisen työssäoppimismenetelmän suunnittelulle ja hyödyntämiselle. Tutkimus on laadullinen tapaustutkimus, johon osallistui vuosina 2003–2011 yhteensä 143 Oulun konservatorion opiskelijaa, lukuisia opettajia sekä ammattimuusikoita. Tutkimusaineisto koostuu (osajulkaisut I–III) strukturoiduista kyselyistä, joita ovat: a) opiskelijoiden ennen työpajaa kirjoittamat työpajasuunnitelmat ja oppimistavoitteet sekä b) työpajan jälkeen tehdyt kokemusten kirjalliset reflektoinnit. Aineiston analyysissä käytettiin teorialähtöistä sisällönanalyysiä. Aineisto litteroitiin ja taulukoitiin suomalaisen työssäoppimisesta tehdyn metatutkimuksen oppimista edistävien ja estävien kategorioiden mukaan. Työpajamenetelmään liittyvän ymmärryksen laajentamiseksi tutkija teki osallistuvaa havainnointia konservatorion opettajien ja ammattimuusikoiden työpajoissa (6 kpl), joiden tuloksista raportoitiin osajulkaisussa IV. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että muusikkona toimiminen työpajassa tukee oppimista ammatillisen osaamisen sekä elinikäisen oppimisen avaintaitojen kehittymisen osalta. Pedagogisesta näkökulmasta työpajatyöskentelyssä korostuvat 1) oppijan aloitteellisuus ja vastuun ottaminen, 2) toimiminen musiikkialalle tyypillisissä työympäristöissä, 3) ongelmanratkaisukeskeisyys ja vuorovaikutus, 4) kanssamuusikkous – vierailevan ammattimuusikon muuttunut rooli tietoa jakavasta mestarista ja ”oikeiden” suoritusten demonstroijasta yhtyekumppaniksi. Ammatillisten opettajien haasteena on kehittää pedagogista osaamistaan erityisesti opiskelijoiden oppimista laaja-alaisesti tukevien oppimisympäristöjen suunnittelussa ja koordinoinnissa. Tämä tutkimus tuo uuden, konkreettisen näkökulman työelämäyhteistyön suunnitteluun ja toteutukseen.

The rapid development of technology and the digitalization of learning in today’s societyopens up for challenges and possibilities for the workplace related to creating a learning community.To create a social learning community that highlights open communication and group coherency,which is central when it comes to achieving good results connected to learning. However there aresome doubts if it is possible to create a social presence in network based learning without any physicalmeetings. The purpose of this study was to investigate how interactions, design and course layout onan online course linked to workplaces can affect collaborative learning according to participants. Thefocus has been in searching for patterns with a focus on collaborative learning amongst theparticipants. The study takes a qualitative and quantitative approach, namely mixed methods. Whathas guided the choice of mixed methods lies in the methods that are needed to answer the researchquestions. Through existing material for analysis, literatur and planned interviews. These methodshave been used to generate new knowledge, expand existing knowledge and give new hypothesis forfuture research. The analysis showed that collaborative learning did not reach wanted levels. Theresult also showed that the teachers' different experiences with traditional classroom learning hasbeen a big factor on how they contributed with E-learning towards the participants. The use oftechnical tools has not been easy for some teachers, the analysis of the result showed this to be a keyfactor in the result because teacher presence is important for E-learning. There were also manyindependent variables that have been identified in conjunction with key factors for success inE-learning. / Den snabba teknikutvecklingen och digitalisering av lärandet innebär idag nya utmaningarsamt möjligheter för arbetsplatser vad gäller att skapa en lärgemenskap. Att skapa en stödjande socialgemenskap uppmanar till öppen kommunikation och sammanhållning, vilket är centralt för att uppnåbra resultat när det gäller lärande. Det råder viss tveksamhet till om det går att skapa social närvaro iE-lärande utan fysiska träffar. Syftet med denna studie har varit att undersöka hur interaktioner,design och kursupplägg på en onlinekurs länkad till arbetsplatser kan påverka lärandet hosdeltagarna. Fokus har legat på att söka mönster i det materialet med fokus på det kollaborativalärandet bland deltagarna. Studien tar en kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats, mixad metod. Det som harvarit styrande av detta val ligger i metoderna som behövts för att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor.Detta genom befintlig föremål för analys, litteraturanalys och planerade intervjuer, två övervideokonferens och en genom mail. Dessa metoder har använts till att generera ny kunskap, ökabefintlig kunskap samt ge hypoteser att undersöka vidare. Analysen visade att det kollaborativalärandet inte har nått upp till önskade nivåer. Resultatet visar att lärarnas olika erfarenheter av vanligklassrumsundervisning har påverkat hur de bidragit till E-lärande bland deltagarna. Användandet avtekniken har inte varit lätt för vissa lärare, som i sin tur påverkat hur deltagarna upplever lärarensnärvaro i kursrummet vilket är en nyckelfaktor för E-lärande. Det finns många förändringspunktersom identifierats för att lyckas bättre med E-lärande och därmed har intressanta nyckelfaktorer ocksåframkommit. / <p>Betygsdatum 2021-07-01</p>

The aim of this thesis is to examine what strategies teachers use when they teach listeningcomprehension in order to develop student’s listening skills, and especially if and how they usescaffolding in their teaching. To examine this, seven upper secondary school teachers inSweden were interviewed about their listening comprehension teaching. The qualitative datawere analyzed using a cross case analysis with a combination of framework and IPA analysis.The data was labeled and divided into two themes: general strategies and scaffolding. In thethemes the data was further sorted and categorized into language immersion, raising selfconfidence,division into smaller groups, notetaking, pre-information and connection to theme,collaborative discourses, teacher peer and modeling and finally increasing level of difficulty.All seven teachers discussed several different strategies they use. They often combine strategiesto create the best learning environment for the students. Six out of these seven teachers gaveexamples of scaffolding strategies they use, such as modeling, working with themes and preinformationto support their students. However, as mentioned previously, they were oftencombined with other strategies such as collaborative discourse and smaller groups.