This study examined the perception of teachers among Mississippi Community Colleges and Universities concerning online courses and distance learning. With the enormous expansion in the amount of technical information that has become available during the past few decades, the challenge of retrieving required data has assumed gigantic proportions. In today’s society there is a rapid growth of technology. A quantitative survey was conducted to identify the teachers’ perception of online education. Two community colleges and two universities were selected to participate in this study. These institutions are geographically located in a widespread chain. The questionnaire consisted of 36 items that addressed the demographics and the instructors’ perception of the quality of online education. Specifically, data was collected to assess the adequacy of the instructional, technical, and administrative support for teaching online courses, the problems encountered, and whether WebCT and Blackboard adequately serve the instructional needs of students and instructors.

The purpose of this study was to investigate teacher perceptions of computer-based technology and technology support provided by a rural school division; the extent of teachers’ self reported computer skills, comfort levels, perception of obstacles; and the amount of support, time, and training available to them to accomplish the integration during the course of instruction. This research was conducted during the 2010-2011 school term as a case study of a small rural K-12 school division in southern Virginia, consisting of teachers from each core curriculum from each of the three schools, selected deliberately. The study was divided into three phases: an analysis of the school survey; focus group discussion with teachers; and qualitative data generated from focus group interviews. A major finding was that the teachers contend that classroom practices can be changed if teachers are given time to plan how to integrate technology in instruction, thus better preparing students for the 21st century. To accomplish this changed school leaders need to promote opportunities and remove obstacles that impede effective technology integration, and that additional time, access, and training should be established. Because teacher perceptions impact the success of technology integration and support, it is imperative to provide sufficient time for training on how to utilize available equipment in the classroom. This study also reinforced the importance of understanding teacher perceptions which are as important a resource as the hardware and software in computer-based technology in order to promote the successful integration of computer technology in classrooms.

The purpose of the study was to examine the perception of teacher empowerment in Christian schools in order to ascertain if teachers were encouraged to take on more leadership responsibilities. One hundred forty-four teachers from 9 Christian schools (K-12) that are accredited by the Tennessee of Association of Christian Schools (TACS) participated in the study. The statistical analysis reported in the study was based on 5 research questions. Two instruments were used to collect data. A survey using a 5-point Likert Scale was used to collect data on teacher responsibilities, training, experiences, affiliation, and professional practices. Student achievement test scores from SAT-10 for the 2010-2011, 2011-2012, and 2012-2013 school years for grades 5, 8, and 11 were used to see if there is a correlation between teachers’ perception of empowerment and student achievement. A series of single sample t-tests were used to determine if there were significant differences between 2 independent groups. A Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to measure the relationship between teachers’ empowerment scores and their averaged student achievement test scores.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Education in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (Educational Psychology) in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education, University of Zululand, 2003. / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often creates significant problems in the classroom for both learner and teacher. Many children with ADHD are plagued with extreme behaviour characteristics that often lead to adverse adult reactions and social rejection. It is believed that teachers often prefer Ritalin as a choice of intervention to cope with the demands of teaching. This study investigates how teachers view the characteristic behaviour of children with ADHD and the effect that Ritalin has on those perceptions. The second aim was to find out how teachers felt regarding the social relations of children with ADHD and the effect that Ritalin has on those perceptions. The third aim was to determine whether teacher perceptions of ADHD children were influenced by their characteristics (age, gender, type of school, qualifications and experience). The views/perceptions expressed by teachers in most instances favoured the research authors identified in this study with reference to the characteristic behaviours of ADHD children. However, views expressed on social interactions were not conclusive as the tally produced an even split, identifying perhaps a lack of understanding of what is expected from children with ADHD. The results in both the above descriptions clearly showed a favourable bias toward the use of Ritalin for producing acceptable behaviour. The study further identified that when evaluating certain teachers' characteristics such as: gender, age, qualifications, teaching experience and type of school, the following became evident: • Special education qualifications did not create a better understanding or tolerance of these children, but in fact the opposite was evident • Gender or age did not influence teachers perceptions • The feedback from both private and public schools were similar It is important to note that the limitations identified in this study, stressed the need for future research to be done in this field.

Reading aloud. A phenomenographic study of educators' work with and perceptions of reading aloud in preschools. The purpose of this phenomenographic study is to investigate how preschools teachers work with reading aloud in preschools, as well as to identify educators' different perceptions of this subject. Our intent is also to get an expanded picture of how reading aloud in preschools can contribute to children's language development. The theoretical point of view of this study is based on sociocultural theory. To gather our empirical data, we have conducted qualitative interviews with ten preschool teachers in four different preschools in Sweden. From our study it has become apparent to us that there is variation in the educators'perceptions of reading aloud. Based on the result of this study the approaches and perceptions differ depending on the educators' knowledge and purpose. Although there is a similarity when it comes to their awareness of the importance of reading aloud to children, they all express that reading aloud at early age contributes positively to children's language skills. The result of this study brings attention to the responsibility that every preschool teacher needs to take in order to create an inspiring and effective reading activity. In one of the examined schools, not all of the teachers are allowed to read to the children, due to problems with pronunciation of the Swedish language; the reading time is only done by the teachers who have Swedish as a mother tongue. In addition, the results show a lack of good collaboration between home and the preschools.There are many children who do not show interest in books, and this may be because they have never had reading experiences at home. Thus, according to the respondents, the environment at home affects the childrens’ ability to learn from reading aloud in preschool.

Schools in Hawaii are continuing to struggle with low student performance on their state's mandated test. Principal leadership has been found to have a direct impact on school effectiveness and researchers have indicated that school effectiveness can also be predicted by teachers' perceptions of principal leadership. This quantitative study was an examination of the relationships between teachers' perceptions of their principals' leadership attributes and school effectiveness as measured by the Strive HI Index in the state of Hawaii. The theoretical framework was grounded in Leithwood's core effective principal practices. A 41-item questionnaire from Colorado Education Initiative with a Cronbach's alpha of .95 was given to 124 teachers from 15 elementary schools to rate leadership attributes of the principal. Multiple regression yielded several statistically significant predictors of school effectiveness. Positive predictors were (a) level of teachers' education, (b) teachers' years of experience, (c) prioritization of structured activities, (d) development and implementation of a process to analyze data to improve student learning, and (e) building a positive school climate. The negative predictors were (a) years principal served in the school, (b) years teachers served at the school, and (c) creation of structures for distributive leadership. The outcomes provide administrators with information about the relationship between teachers' views of leadership practices and the school effectiveness index. The potential for positive social change includes raising principals' awareness of teacher perceptions of leadership practices, which may increase efforts to improve practice and ultimately school effectiveness in the study district.

Syftet med studien är att öka insikten kring mobbning i förskolan. Vi är medvetna om att mobbning uppmärksammats i skolan och finner därmed intresse i att ta reda på om det även förekommer i förskolan. Våra frågeställningar utgår från hur förskollärarna uppfattar mobbning och på vilket sätt det förekommer. Ytterligare en frågeställning är hur förskollärarna berättar att de får syn på fenomenet och hur de förklarar att de arbetar för att förebygga uppkomsten. Studiens ämnesområde undersöks med hjälp av kvalitativa intervjuer och sex förskollärare intervjuas. Det teoretiska perspektivet som vi använder är det sociokulturella perspektivet. Resultatet pekar på att förskollärarna definierar mobbning som något som sker under en längre tid och att en systematik ska finnas samt att  viss medvetenhet finns i utförandet. Förskollärarna berättar att mobbning kan ske på olika vis och att flickor och pojkar har olika sätt att utöva mobbning. Gällande det förebyggande arbetet får vi reda på att de diskuterar med barnen om situationer för att göra dem medvetna om sina handlingar och visa på konsekvenser som handlingarna ger, därmed komma på lösningar för att förebygga mobbning. Vår slutsats är att mobbning förekommer i förskolan och att förskollärarna behöver mer kompetens samt konkreta verktyg för att motverka uppkomsten för att det inte ska fortsätta upp till skolåldern. / The purpose of the study is to raise awareness of bullying in kindergarten. We are aware that bullying attention in school and therefore considers interest to find out if it also occurs in preschool. Our questions are based on how preschool teachers perceive bullying and how it occurs. Another issue is how preschool teachers tell us that they see the phenomenon and how they explain their work to prevent the occurrence. The study's subject is examined by means of interviews and six preschool teachers interviewed. The theoretical perspective that we use is the socio-cultural perspective. The results indicate that preschool teachers define bullying as something that takes place over a longer period of time and that a systematic approach should be, and that some awareness is in execution. Early childhood educators tell us that bullying can happen in different ways and that girls and boys have different ways to practice bullying. Regarding prevention work, we find out that they discuss with the children about situations in order to make them aware of their actions and demonstrate the impact that the documents provide, thus coming up with solutions to combat bullying. Our conclusion is that bullying occurs in kindergarten and preschool teachers need more skills and practical tools to counteract the appearance that it will not continue up to school age.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:31:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lizie Mendes Clock.pdf: 1478875 bytes, checksum: 44f62187df3098e91b699c2c89fce52c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This research aims to analyze the conceptions of the state school teachers of the city of Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil, regarding education in building values. The research started from the premise that it is necessary to understand the conceptions that teachers have, as the teaching profession is a social practice, set in a cultural process, historically produced, and the school is a suitable environment for educating students in a democratic society; besides being responsible for the socialization of knowledge. Thus, this study intends to seek contributions from the teachers' conceptions to understand the role they play in school, trying to identify if they recognize their role in the values education and recognize the school as a privileged environment for building values. This is a research developed in a qualitative perspective (CRESWELL, 2014) with teachers of six state schools of the city of Ponta Grossa - PR. Data collection took place in two stages: the first with a questionnaire (N = 51), and the second by carrying out semi-structured interviews (N = 6). Data were analyzed using content analysis (BARDIN, 2011). For the theoretical research framework, we have chosen authors that deal with education and values, as Serrano (2002), Delval (2010), Araújo and Puig (2007), Imbernón (2011) and Gallo (2012). In addition, we situated the research in the historical time of contemporaneity, supported by Cambi (1999). Research results show that the majority of teachers who were surveyed believe that the school might even be a place to educate in values, but the educational institution is performing this function because the family would not be performing its role. There is no great emphasis on school as a privileged environment in order the education in values materializes, according to the surveyed teachers. We also noticed that only one teacher is responsible for the education of values, as a conscious attitude. Most teachers develop this role in relation to values as a passive attitude, which was delegated a demand to them that they judge it is not theirs. It was noticed, with the completion of the investigation, that education in the construction of values does not materialize in only one body. We believe that it materializes when the school reflects on its aims, considering the integral education of the student as one of its purposes, the teacher reviews his/her posture and practices, admitting to him/herself that his/her role favors the constitution of the individual; and the definition of values, here rethought due to a larger context, the society, not as innate or simple internalization but as affective construction of individuals throughout their lives. / Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar as concepções de professores da rede pública estadual da cidade de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, a respeito da educação na construção de valores. A investigação partiu da premissa de que é necessário compreender as concepções que os professores possuem, visto que a profissão docente é uma prática social, inserida em um processo cultural, produzida historicamente, e a escola é um ambiente adequado para educar alunos em um convívio democrático; além de ser responsável pela socialização de conhecimentos. Diante disso, este estudo tem intenção de buscar subsídios a partir das concepções de professores para compreender a função que os docentes exercem na escola, buscando identificar se eles reconhecem seu papel na educação em valores e se apontam a escola como espaço privilegiado para construção de valores. Trata-se de uma pesquisa desenvolvida na perspectiva qualitativa (CRESWELL, 2014) com os professores de seis escolas estaduais da cidade de Ponta Grossa – PR. A coleta de dados aconteceu em duas etapas: a primeira com aplicação de questionário (N=51), e a segunda com a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas (N=6). Os dados foram analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo (BARDIN, 2011). Para o aporte teórico da pesquisa, elegeram-se autores que tratam da educação e de valores, como Serrano (2002), Delval (2010), Araújo e Puig (2007), Imbernón (2011) e Gallo (2012). Além disso, situamos a pesquisa no período histórico da contemporaneidade, amparados por Cambi (1999). Os resultados da investigação apontaram que grande parte dos professores pesquisados consideram que a escola pode até ser um espaço para educar em valores, mas que a instituição educativa está desempenhando essa função pelo fato de a família não estar realizando seu papel. Não há grande destaque para a escola como ambiente privilegiado para que a educação em valores se materialize, por parte dos professores pesquisados. Notou-se, também, que apenas um professor responsabiliza-se pela educação em valores, como uma atitude consciente. A maioria dos professores desenvolvem a função frente aos valores como uma atitude passiva, na qual lhe foi delegada uma demanda que julgam não ser sua. Percebeu-se, com a realização da investigação, que a educação na construção de valores não se materializa apenas em uma instância. Acredita-se que ela se materializará quando a escola refletir sobre seus fins, considerando a formação integral do aluno como uma de suas finalidades, o professor rever sua postura e suas práticas, admitindo, para si, que a sua função favorece a constituição do indivíduo; e a definição dos valores, aqui repensadas pelo contexto maior, a sociedade, não como inatos ou simples internalizações, mas como construções afetivas dos indivíduos durante toda a vida.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Ali Alalou, Dept. of Foreign Language & Literatures . Includes bibliographical references.

This study indented to explore preservice elementary and secondary science teacher&rsquo / s perception of their professional roles and investigate their reasons of choosing teaching as a profession. To explore the perception of professional roles, metaphorical images were also used as a tool. The present study was conducted during the spring semester of 2004-2005 academic year with a total number of 441 (n=287 females / n=153 males and n=1 gender not provided) senior preservice elementary and secondary science teachers who enrolled in the elementary science and secondary science (biology, physics and chemistry) teacher education programs of three different universities in Ankara. Data were collected utilizing a questionnaire developed by Saban (2003) composed of five basic sections which investigates the participant&rsquo / s perception of teaching as a profession and their roles in instruction process and reasons of choosing teaching as a profession. Data of the present study were analyzed utilizing descriptive and inferential statistics. Analysis of the data showed that preservice teachers perceive their roles mostly with student-centered metaphors and define their selves as pedagogical expert who fosters student&rsquo / s social, emotional, and moral growth. Besides, most of the preservice teachers have altruistic reasons to choose teaching as a profession.