Submitted by Daniele Amaral (daniee_ni@hotmail.com) on 2016-09-14T17:46:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissDSV.pdf: 1429158 bytes, checksum: 4ab21e7aca8a24fdf074af3f6b361d60 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-16T19:47:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissDSV.pdf: 1429158 bytes, checksum: 4ab21e7aca8a24fdf074af3f6b361d60 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-16T19:47:52Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissDSV.pdf: 1429158 bytes, checksum: 4ab21e7aca8a24fdf074af3f6b361d60 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-16T19:47:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissDSV.pdf: 1429158 bytes, checksum: 4ab21e7aca8a24fdf074af3f6b361d60 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-28 / Não recebi financiamento / In recent years, we have observed that the presence of the Spanish language teaching in regular schools has been expanded gradually. However, even in the context of teaching-learning favoring of the Spanish language, it is quite frequently to hear from professionals in other fields and language learners that the broad similarity between Portuguese and Spanish facilitates communication among speakers of the two languages, and for that reason, Portuguese speakers would not need to devote themselves so deeply and systematically to the study of Spanish (or vice versa). In the field of Applied Linguistics around the same period, the number of researches focusing on beliefs related to the teaching-learning language process have increased and the results indicate the need for knowledge of teacher beliefs (trainers and training) so that one could achieve critical-reflexive education. From these findings, this ethnographic-based research developed under an interpretative perspective aims to investigate the perceptions and beliefs of Spanish teachers on the teaching of this language for Brazilians, and see how the relationship of the beliefs of these teachers with their context and their practice in the classroom is characterized. The participants of this survey were teachers of Spanish for Brazilians students in the metropolitan region of Campinas, São Paulo, and as instruments for data collection, we used a mixed questionnaire (with open questions and items in scale), interviews with teachers, field notes and recordings lessons in audio and video. This study took place on the basis of discussions on approaches to Teaching, teaching-learning language and beliefs. The data show us that, in general, the practice of teachers is guided by a system of beliefs and assumptions that underlie their approach to teaching. In addition, we also note that both beliefs about the approach of teaching have a strong relationship with the teaching context. / En los últimos años, se observó que la presencia de la enseñanza de la Lengua Española en las escuelas regulares se ha ampliado gradualmente en Brasil. Sin embargo, incluso en este contexto de favorecimiento de aprendizaje de ese idioma extranjero, es bastante frecuente oír de profesionales de otros campos y estudiantes de idiomas, que la gran similitud entre el portugués y el español facilita la comunicación entre los hablantes de las dos lenguas y que por lo tanto no sería necesario un hablante de portugués dedicarse a estudiar con ahínco y sistemática el español (o viceversa). En el campo de la Lingüística Aplicada en el mismo período, se ha incrementado el número de investigaciones que se centran en las creencias relacionadas con el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de idiomas, los resultados indican la necesidad de que el conocimiento de las creencias de profesores (formadores y en formación) es necesario para que se pueda lograr una educación crítico-reflexiva. A partir de estos hallazgos, esta investigación de base etnográfica, desarrollado bajo una perspectiva interpretativa, tiene el objetivo de investigar las percepciones y creencias de los profesores de español en la enseñanza de este idioma en Brasil y verificar cómo se caracteriza la relación de las creencias de estos maestros con su contexto y su práctica en el aula. Los participantes de la investigación fueron profesores de español para brasileños en la región metropolitana de Campinas, São Paulo y como instrumentos para la recolección de datos se utilizaron un cuestionario mixto (con preguntas abiertas y respuestas en escala), entrevistas con profesores, notas de campo y grabaciones de lecciones en audio y video. Este estudio se llevó a cabo sobre la base de los debates sobre los enfoques para la enseñanza, la enseñanza-aprendizaje de lenguas y creencias. Los datos nos muestran que, en general, la práctica de los profesores es guiado por un sistema de creencias y supuestos que subyacen su enfoque de enseñanza. Además, se verificó también, que ambas, creencias y enfoque de enseñanza, tienen una fuerte relación con el contexto de enseñanza. / Nos últimos anos, observamos que a presença do ensino da língua espanhola nas escolas regulares tem sido ampliada gradualmente. No entanto, mesmo nesse contexto de favorecimento do ensino-aprendizagem do idioma, continua bastante frequente ouvir de profissionais de outras áreas e de aprendentes de línguas, que a grande semelhança entre o português e o espanhol facilita a comunicação entre os falantes dessas duas línguas e que, portanto, não seria necessário a um falante de português dedicar-se com afinco e sistematicidade ao estudo do espanhol (ou vice-versa). No campo da Linguística Aplicada, nesse mesmo período, vem aumentando o número de pesquisas com foco nas crenças relacionadas ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas, cujos resultados indicam a necessidade de conhecimento das crenças de professores (formadores e em formação) para que se possa alcançar uma formação crítico-reflexiva. A partir dessas constatações, esta investigação de base etnográfica, desenvolvida sob uma perspectiva interpretativista, teve como objetivo investigar as percepções e crenças de professores de espanhol sobre o ensino desse idioma para brasileiros e verificar como se caracteriza a relação das crenças desses professores com o seu contexto e a sua prática em sala de aula. Os participantes da pesquisa foram professores de espanhol para brasileiros da Região Metropolitana de Campinas, São Paulo e como instrumentos para coleta de dados foram utilizados um questionário misto (com perguntas abertas e itens em escala), entrevistas com professores, notas de campo e gravações de aulas em áudio e vídeo. A realização deste estudo deu-se com base nas discussões sobre Abordagens de Ensinar, ensino-aprendizagem de língua e crenças. Os dados nos mostram que, no geral, a prática das professoras é guiada por um sistema de crenças e por pressupostos que subjazem a sua abordagem de ensinar. Além disso, verificamos, também, que tanto as crenças quanto a abordagem de ensinar têm forte relação com o contexto de ensino.

Neste trabalho de pesquisa, apresentamos uma análise das evoluções nas concepções sobre a abordagem de ensino baseada nas relações entre Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade. Neste contexto, realizamos uma pesquisa pautada pela abordagem qualitativa, no âmbito da formação inicial de professores de Física do nível médio. Os dados da pesquisa foram obtidos ao longo do desenvolvimento das disciplinas de Metodologia de Ensino de Física I e II ministradas no curso de Licenciatura em Física da Universidade de São Paulo. Utilizamos questionários, entrevistas e sínteses produzidas pelos futuros professores, que nos possibilitaram caracterizar as concepções em foco e selecionar sujeitos para dois estudos de caso. Estes sujeitos tiveram suas concepções analisadas segundo uma ordem cronológica e segundo parâmetros que embasaram as categorias de análise que foram definidas com base nos dados e também a partir da literatura pertinente. Três dimensões dentro do ensino em uma abordagem CTS foram consideradas: objetivos do ensino, diversidade temática e metodologia de ensino. A análise evidenciou que os futuros professores reelaboraram suas concepções iniciais ao longo da disciplina gradativamente, em movimentos de aproximação destas concepções a características de um ensino de Física em uma abordagem CTS. Com base em nossa pesquisa, ressaltamos a importância de que estejam presentes nos cursos de Formação de Professores de Física as discussões que envolvam as possibilidades das abordagens de ensino, renovação curricular, bem como a conscientização dos licenciandos sobre as evoluções de suas próprias concepções. / In this research report, we introduce an analysis of the evolutions on conceptions about the teaching approach based on Science, Technology and Society (STS) relationship. In this context, we developed a research reasoned on qualitative approach, on initial Physics teaching formation at high school. The research data, obtained during the development of the discipline Metodologia de Ensino de Física I e II, furnished on Physic under graduating course of University of São Paulo. We used questionnaires, interviews, and written reports made by the future teachers, that gave us the possibility to characterize the focusing conceptions and select future teachers for two case study. These future teachers had their ideas discussed by following a chronological order and through parameters related to the analysis category. These were defined based not only on data, but also from relevant literature. Three dimensions of a STS approach teaching were considered: goals, theme and methodology. The analysis showed that the future teachers elaborated over again their initial conceptions during development of the discipline, in approximation movements of theirs conceptions to a STS teaching approach. Based on our research, we give prominence to importance to be present on Teacher Formation Courses of arguing about possible teaching approaches, curricular renovation and future teachers acquiring knowledge about their own conceptions evolutions.

Outdoor education is believed to be a new teaching approach and method in the education framework which relates to learning through natural places using direct experience. However, the teaching approach that is mostly used in the Gambian schools is based on the traditional approach of teachings as well as many African countries. As a relatively new teaching technique, outdoor education is gaining recognition from many researchers who are developing a keen interest in it. Thus, the aim of the current thesis is to investigate the perceptions of Gambian Basic and Secondary school teachers about outdoor education. in that regard, six (6) Gambian teachers from different teaching subjects, grades, and regions reported their views about outdoor education. A qualitative approach methodology with the use of semi-structured interview was employed to get teachers perceptions. After the data collection, thematic analysis was used for analyzing the collected data from which three (3) themes emerged to report the participants’ opinions. The participants revealed their basic knowledge and perceptions about outdoor education and presented some characteristics and examples of how the practice outdoor education. They emphasized that they view outdoor education as a teaching approach with the use of outdoors. However, according to them, any teaching activity that involves using the outside the four corners of the classroom or the school premises, is considered outdoor education. They noted that outdoor education can take place in the form of excursions, fieldtrips, classes outside the class under a tree or within the school premises. Besides, although the teachers indicated that the main teaching approach, they use is still the traditional teaching and learning approach, they showed willingness to enrich their classes with use of outdoor education. They further revealed that the main places they conduct outdoor education is the school yard, under a tree, a visit to places of interest, excursions to various historical places or museums and the like. The Gambian teachers acknowledged many potentials of outdoor education to the students including stimulation of multi-senses, increased understanding, improved social relation and cooperation, boosting of their health and wellbeing, developing curiosity, and giving students a sense of freedom and happiness. However, participants also revealed several barriers that suppress them from doing outdoor education effectively. Among the barriers mentioned includes, inadequate funding, lack of support from parents and school administrators, lack of pedagogical training, tight schedule, and limited time. Thus, further research is needed to help testifying the results of the current study and give more insight into the field of outdoor education in the Gambia and Africa at large

No description available.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of introducing animated computer instructional aid (ACIA) in the learning of fluid mechanics. It was also intended as a means to evaluate the Constructionist Computer-Animated Instructional Model of Learning (CCAIML), which was developed and proposed for learning fluid mechanics. CCAIML includes the use of ACIA as a learning aid. Three theories underpins CCAIML learning model: the Constructionist learning theory, Media-Affects-learning hypothesis and Multiple representation principle. The study participants were the intact classes of first-time fluid mechanics’ students in Mechanical Engineering in four South African universities, who offer Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The study followed a mixed method approach: involving a static group design and a descriptive survey design. The control groups were the two consecutive, immediately preceding intact groups, who were taught fluid mechanics through the traditional lecturing method. The intervention groups were the non-randomized mechanical engineering students, who were taught by the same lecturer, who taught the control groups the same course material through a traditional approach, but taught the intervention group using the CCAIML learning approach. The findings of the study showed that: - ACIA facilitated the learning of the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention, in CCAIML learning environment; - ACIA aroused the study participants’ interest in the learning of fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention; - The study participants understood the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention better, in CCAIML learning environment, and were able to demonstrate this in the post intervention examination; - CCAIML learning approach encouraged classroom interaction, group and individual knowledge construction, practical demonstration of understanding of concepts and consequently improved classroom dynamics; - The majority of the study participants achieved higher scores in the fluid module taught during the intervention at the post intervention examination, by using CCAIML learning approach compared to the traditional approach; - No relationship was established between the level of study participants’ interest in the software used to aid learning ACIA and the study participants’ post-intervention achievement; and - Where the language medium of the instructional aid was different to that of the classroom medium of instruction, the learners’ achievement was affected. / Mathematical Sciences / Ph.D. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

本研究旨在透過漢字字感教學法，試圖解決前人研究中各式漢字教學法之侷限性，進而發展出能在有限華語教學時數內完成、具有教學成效、符合各類漢字字源演變與特質，且能引起學習者動機，建立字感的漢字教學設計。本研究對字感的定義也同樣是教學目的：學習者經過漢字教學，掌握漢字的大概念後，將所學的知識應用到未學過的漢字上。學習者因而能夠有系統的分析、推測新字的形音義，或者有能力檢視漢字的形音義是否正確合理，如此有助於增進漢字學習效率。 本研究採用教學實驗法，以自編之漢字字感教材，連續十週開設免費班課程，每次上課50分鐘，對初、中級華語學習者進行教學實驗。教材字例以教育部華測會主辦之華語文能力測驗《基礎八百詞》中出現的漢字為主，總共分為五個主題：象形字例教學、指事字例教學、會意字例教學、形聲字例教學、假借字例教學。各教學主題內容主要分為：（1）教學前教師漢字知能建立與教案設計、（2）教學中活動操作步驟、（3）教學後學習評量施測與檢討、（4）學習者課程回饋單。本研究實驗課程合計教授142個漢字。 本研究主要結果如下： 一、字感教學確有教學成效。字感教學可建立教師正確的文字學知識與漢字釋義能力，並協助教師在有限教學時間內，運用本身知能有效率的進行漢字教學，減少學習者學習負擔。 二、字感教學符合教學需求與學習需要。字感教學透過為教育部華語文能力測驗（TOCFL）測驗公布之《基礎八百詞》中常用漢字量身打造教學活動，可以符合華語文教師實際教學需求、學習者學習需要，且讓學習者願意接受、提高學習興趣。 三、字感教學可引起學習動機，有助後續漢字學習。字感教學中的漢字書寫教學讓華語文學習者建立推測漢字「字音、字形、字義」的判斷、自我糾正、自主學習能力，破除漢字難學之迷思。經過有步驟、有系統、有意義、有樂趣、有文化的字感教學後，從客觀的學習評量分析可發現學習者確實能將課堂所學應用至推測與分析未學過的漢字，且可提升華語文學習者漢字書寫能力，從根本改善「動口不動手」的學習結果。 最後，本研究對往後教學實驗可修正與改進的部分提出建議，並期許藉由字感教學，讓全球華語熱因漢字的特色與文化更熱，讓世界各國感受到中華文化的美、智慧與溫度。 / The main purpose of developing the Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach is to solve the restrictions existing in current Chinese character teaching approaches. Due to the limited time and proportion of Chinese character teaching in teaching Chinese as a second language (CSL), a set of lesson plans are made to possess certain efficiency, meet the different origins and property of each character from the six categories of Chinese characters (liùshū), invoke learners’ motive and build their solid perception toward Chinese characters. The goal of the teaching approach, as well as a more detailed definition of Chinese character perception would be: after going through Chinese character teaching approaches and master the big idea of each category of Chinese characters, learners would be able to transfer their knowledge to comprehend the characters they have not learnt yet. Thus, learners could analyze characters systematically, connect the sound, meaning and structure of characters, or observe whether a character is correctly written or pronounced according to its property. Chinese character learning efficiency would then be improved. In order to prove the positive effects of Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach, the following items are practiced: the self-designed lesson plans and teaching materials to beginners and intermediate learners in CSL classroom. The experiment lasts for ten weeks, 50 minutes each time. The characters chosen in experiments are from “Standard 800 Phrases,” which is one of the bases of Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL). The teaching experiments are divided into 5 themes: pictographs, self-explanatory characters, associative compounds, pictophonetic characters, and phonetic loan characters. Each theme’s lesson plan contains: 1. before teaching—building teacher’s competence of Chinese characters; 2. during teaching—listing out activities and steps of teaching; 3. after teaching—assessment and review; 4. feedback sheet from students and teaching efficiency analysis. Throughout the experiment, 142 Chinese characters are taught and comprehended in total. The results of this study are listed as following: 1. Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach is proved to be effective and operative. It provides teacher with appropriate knowledge of etymology and competency to explain the big ideas of different Chinese character categories in a way that is comprehendible to beginners and intermediate learners. 2. Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach meets the need of both teaching and learning. This teaching approach is tailored to suit requirements in practical teaching and helps learners to prepare themselves for taking TOCFL. Besides, according to feedback sheets, students’ interest towards Chinese characters and related cultural issues are invoked. 3. Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach can help learners to analyze characters systematically and connect the sound, meaning and structure of characters even before they are taught. Also, through adequate writing practice, students are familiar with the strokes of Chinese characters. Therefore, they are able to write not only correct, but also make words better-looking. Finally, the reaserch brings up some suggestions to modify and improve the Chinese Character Perception Teaching Approach. The author expect that through this effective and interesting way of teaching characters, the myth of “Chinese characters are hard to learn” would be broken, and let students from all over the world truly feel the warmth, the beauty of Chinese language and culture.

The demand for using the English language as a means of communication has increased substantially around the world because of its status as the language of globalisation, international communication, trade, media, and research (Flowerdew and Peacock 2001). The Saudi Ministry of Education (MoE) has considered this demand and taken significant steps to reform the teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). For example, the aims of and documentation for the TEFL curriculum have been modified to focus on the four basic language skills and to promote students’ communicative competence. However, despite all these efforts, there has been little progress in the area of TEFL in KSA. Classroom teaching practices are still devoted to secondary purposes, such as teaching grammar, translating literary texts, memorisation, rote learning, and preparing for summative exams. This reality may indicate an incompatibility between the government’s efforts to develop TEFL and the practices used by English language teachers in their classes. This incompatibility, however, may also suggest that English language teachers have their own reasons for not teaching English for communicative purposes and are incapable of implementing innovative teaching methods, such as the Communicative Language Teaching approach (CLT). This study therefore explores the challenges faced by Saudi English teachers (SETs) in their teaching practice that might prevent them from teaching for communicative purposes and implementing CLT in their classes. In order to meet this objective, data obtained from interviews, questionnaires and documents were analysed and classified into various categories. The key findings revealed that the current methodological practices of SETs are traditional teaching methods that stress the dominant role of teachers, marginalise students’ interactions, focus on discrete skills, and encourage competitive rather than cooperative learning. Furthermore, by using CHAT theory as a framework, the study explored a range of challenges that SETs face when the implementing CLT. These challenges stem from the individual and contextual levels of SETs’ teaching practice. At the individual level, it emerged that SETs had some misconceptions about some of the main features of CLT, and were not sufficiently confident to run communicative classes and adopt CLT in their teaching practice. The data, moreover, suggested that these shortcomings were a result of the SETs’ pedagogical and linguistic preparation in their pre-service programmes. At the contextual level, the study data suggested that there were two main types of constraint that challenge SETs in terms of teaching for communicative purposes and applying CLT in their teaching practice. Firstly, there were institutional and situational factors (for example the quality of the in-service training programme, examination purposes and classroom structure), and, secondly, socio-cultural factors (such as the traditional view of education, and the status of the English language in the Saudi context) that seemed to be incompatible with teaching English for communicative purposes. The study concludes with recommendations that aim to help improve the current situation of TEFL in KSA. For example, ending the isolation between the key parties involved in EFL teaching and learning in the Saudi context is very important, and changes to pre-service and in-service programmes, as well as at the contextual levels, are also essential.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of introducing animated computer instructional aid (ACIA) in the learning of fluid mechanics. It was also intended as a means to evaluate the Constructionist Computer-Animated Instructional Model of Learning (CCAIML), which was developed and proposed for learning fluid mechanics. CCAIML includes the use of ACIA as a learning aid. Three theories underpins CCAIML learning model: the Constructionist learning theory, Media-Affects-learning hypothesis and Multiple representation principle. The study participants were the intact classes of first-time fluid mechanics’ students in Mechanical Engineering in four South African universities, who offer Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The study followed a mixed method approach: involving a static group design and a descriptive survey design. The control groups were the two consecutive, immediately preceding intact groups, who were taught fluid mechanics through the traditional lecturing method. The intervention groups were the non-randomized mechanical engineering students, who were taught by the same lecturer, who taught the control groups the same course material through a traditional approach, but taught the intervention group using the CCAIML learning approach. The findings of the study showed that: - ACIA facilitated the learning of the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention, in CCAIML learning environment; - ACIA aroused the study participants’ interest in the learning of fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention; - The study participants understood the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention better, in CCAIML learning environment, and were able to demonstrate this in the post intervention examination; - CCAIML learning approach encouraged classroom interaction, group and individual knowledge construction, practical demonstration of understanding of concepts and consequently improved classroom dynamics; - The majority of the study participants achieved higher scores in the fluid module taught during the intervention at the post intervention examination, by using CCAIML learning approach compared to the traditional approach; - No relationship was established between the level of study participants’ interest in the software used to aid learning ACIA and the study participants’ post-intervention achievement; and - Where the language medium of the instructional aid was different to that of the classroom medium of instruction, the learners’ achievement was affected. / Mathematical Sciences / Ph.D. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

The researcher wants to create a learning environment where learners are much more involved in their own learning. The progressive teaching design implies that the contribution of the learner to the development of knowledge is recognised. The educator also acknowledges the learner as a social being reliant on interaction with others to generate meaning. The problem statement for this study is based on the researcher’s opinion that In South African schools rote learning and memorisation are still the main methods of learning. The reason for this is because the majority of educators have been schooled in the traditional educational paradigm where the teaching process essentially revolves around the educator. In such a system learners who can recall facts best and obtain the best grades are regarded as having learnt well. The researcher contests the assertion that the learners learnt authentically. The progressive teaching approach is proffered by the educator as an alternative for the attainment of authentic learning in a grade 10 Economics classroom. In an authentic learning environment learners are prepared to face challenges in the real world through the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learners collaborate and cooperate as members of a group to unravel problems. The researcher makes use of a qualitative research design for this study. The grade 10 Economics class of the researcher is used a case study to ascertain whether a progressive teaching approach can enhance authentic learning. Twelve learners out 26 that indicated that they would participate eventually took part in the study. The research instruments used were the video recorded lessons, teacher observation sheets and learner focused-group interviews. One of the findings from the study was that authentic learning skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking can be developed through the educator using the progressive teaching approach. This is in line with the principles of the CAPS for Economics. Another finding is that although more learner involvement is required for the progressive approach, the role of the educator remains crucial as a knowledge expert and a facilitator in the classroom. A further finding was that learners embraced the co-operative learning strategy which is one of the fundamentals of authentic learning. They enjoyed teaching to and learning from one another in group work. Finally, learners appreciated the use of cartoons and team-games by the progressive educator as additional strategies to further authenticate and enhance the learning experience. In summary the researcher wants to contend that from the literature study, the findings of the empirical research and the recommendation of this study that by working within the parameters of the CAPS for Economics, authentic learning can be achieved via a progressive teaching design. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Master's thesis "the climate of the school class" is divided into two parts - theoretical and empirical. Theoretical part deals with subject matter definition of school climate and subsequent analysis and characteristics of related areas. This is mainly an analysis of social class and school climate, mapping factors that contribute to the climate change. Conduction of the mechanisms involved in the formation of school climate closer to analysing in particular iterms of the actors, teachers and pupils. Furthermore, in this part of the work I explore the definition and description of approaches for investigating social climate with a brief analysis of the specific diagnostic methods. Part of the work is also a framework defining the results of current research activities of domestic and foreign research in the above mentioned area. Empirical part focuses on diagnosis of classrooms'climate at selected high schools in the region. Research is focused on mapping the climate changes with an emphasis on quantitative study through selected diagnostical methods. The aim of this part is to find out how the climate of the class differs at secondary technical schools and secondary vocational schools. Conclusion of the theoretical part is dedicated to the importance of the class climate, together with the...