Master of Technology: Information Technology in the Faculty of Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / Higher education institutions are considered mission central due to the amount of information processing. Consequently the demand for information provision had dramatically increased in modern times. Universities and other large organisations are immensely challenged to produce accurate information hence it is information centric environments with lots of dependencies. This particular study followed a qualitative approach which includes interviews to collect the data which will assist the researcher to understand the problems of information retrieving from the IS and the strategic role of the CIO in higher education. Thematic networks were used to analyse the data and a list of themes were identified.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O objetivo central deste trabalho é analisar se os modelos de educação a distância mediados por Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação - TICs, gerados pelas políticas públicas desenvolvidas no Brasil, focam a formação de profissionais cidadãos ou são um mero instrumento de educação de massa. A pesquisa teve como objetivo o estudo de caso sobre as duas universidades mineiras, para identificar se os modelos de Ead se apresentam como um instrumento eficaz para formação humana e não apenas um mero instrumento de educação de massa, com o intuito único de distribuição de diplomas. Este estudo se torna relevante no sentido de contribuir como um referencial teórico para o modelo de Ead vigente no Brasil, em especial do Ensino a Distância do Estado de Minas Gerais, considerando sua especificidade e complexidade, que se reforçam por seu tamanho geográfico e pela carência de formação profissional dos municípios de Ouro Preto e Juiz de Fora, incluindo a população de seu entorno. O trabalho dos tutores, em conjunto com os professores, é considerado como eixo norteador de qualquer atividade realizada no ambiente virtual de aprendizagem, mesmo considerando que os alunos possuem um manancial de ferramentas disponíveis para a realização de atividades. A presença e atuação desta equipe representa importante papel no processo educativo, na medida em que sua atuação pedagógica tem como objetivo estimular o domínio dos conteúdos disciplinares, bem como das respectivas metodologias, recursos e meios, visando o preparo de ambientes de aprendizagem e a condução de situações educativas. Num aspecto mais amplo, este trabalho pretende ser um referencial para a confirmação de que a Ead pode oferecer de fato uma formação educacional qualificada, trazendo a oportunidade de uma formação crítica e autônoma, contribuindo para a formação humana / The main goal of this dissertation is to determine whether distance education models mediated by information and communication technologies-ICT, generated by public policies in Brazil, focus on the education of professionals or citizens are a mere instrument of mass education. The research was based on a case-study about models of distance learning in two universities. It seeks to determine whether these models constitute an effective instrument for human education and not just a mere instrument of mass education for dispensing diplomas. This study is relevant as it contributes to a theoretical model for distance education practiced in Brazil, especially in the state of Minas Gerais. This case of distance learning was chosen because of its specificity and complexity, and in view of the states size and the lack of training in the municipalities of Ouro Preto and Juiz de Fora, and surroundings. The work of tutors, together with teachers is considered as a guide for all activities in virtual learning environment, even though the students have a wealth of tools available to carry them out. The presence and work of this team plays an important role in the educational process to the extent that their pedagogical action aims to encourage the mastery of subject content, their methodologies, resources and media aimed at the preparation of learning environments and conducting educational situations. In a larger sense, this work is intended as a reference for confirmation that distance education can offer in fact a qualified educational experience creating an opportunity for autonomous education, contributing to human development

The changes resulting from the technical and scientific advances have enabled significant changes in different sectors of society. Within education, the 1990s was highlighted by the educational policies that marked the history of Brazilian education, in view of the intense implementation of educational policies for the use of technological resources within the public schools, from changes in the Neoliberal State. To undertake this research, defined as an analysis, interpreting the creation, consolidation, the shares of the Division of Technology Education (DITE) in the dissemination and integration of technologies in education in public schools of the State of Sergipe, with the timeframe the Between 1994 and 2007. The year 1994, being the systematization of March, with greater emphasis on educational policies for the use of technology in education, and by 2007 be the year that the programs and projects involving ICT has been resized, running seamlessly . The research has a theoretical Cultural History, and the categories of analysis pautaram on the concepts of appropriation and representation of Roger Chartier, who helped in the understanding of the relationship between social subjects and their actions within the DITE aimed at deployment and diffusion of ICT at schools. The contributions of Justin Magellan were also consulted, as DITE realizing the educational institution that has produced an official representation which results in the form of reports and monitoring demands required in addition to materialize, represent and take ownership of ideas that were shared with members society. To write the history of the Division of Technology Education resort to sources from the collection of DITE and the Ministry of Education (projects, reports, newsletters, brochures, work proposals, ordinances, contracts, letters sent and received, internal communications and minutes ); testimonials and academic productions that focused on working with ICT in the state and involved the monitoring of DITE. The triangulation of these sources proves the hypothesis of DITE as an educational institution that disseminated information technology and communication in public Sergipe. / As transformações advindas do avanço técnico-cientifico permitiram mudanças significativas nos diferentes setores da sociedade. No âmbito da educação, a década de 1990 foi destaque pelas políticas educacionais que marcaram a história da educação brasileira, tendo em vista a intensa implantação de políticas educacionais destinadas ao uso de recursos tecnológicos no âmbito das escolas públicas, provenientes de mudanças do Estado Neoliberal. Para empreendermos esta pesquisa, definimos como eixo de análise, interpretar a criação, a consolidação, as ações da Divisão de Tecnologia de Ensino (DITE) na difusão e inserção das tecnologias na educação nas escolas públicas do Estado de Sergipe, tendo como marco temporal o período entre 1994 e 2007. O ano de 1994, por ser o marco de sistematização, com maior ênfase das políticas educacionais para o uso das tecnologias na educação; e 2007 por ser o ano em que os Programas e Projetos que envolviam as TIC foram redimensionados, sendo executados de forma integrada. A pesquisa teve como referencial teórico a História Cultural, e as categorias de análises pautaram-se nos conceitos de apropriação e representação de Roger Chartier, os quais contribuíram, na compreensão das relações existentes entre os sujeitos sociais e suas ações no âmbito da DITE visando à implantação e difusão das TIC nas unidades escolares. As contribuições de Justino Magalhães também foram consultadas, percebendo a DITE como instituição educativa que produziu uma representação oficial que se traduz em forma de relatórios e acompanhamento das demandas solicitadas, além de materializar, representar e apropriar-se de concepções que foram compartilhadas com os membros da sociedade. Para escrever a história da Divisão de Tecnologia de Ensino recorremos às fontes do acervo da DITE e da Secretaria de Estado da Educação (projetos, relatórios, boletins, cartilhas, propostas de trabalho, decretos, contratos, ofícios expedidos e recebidos, comunicações internas e minutas); depoimentos e das produções acadêmicas que versavam sobre o trabalho com as TIC no Estado e envolviam o acompanhamento da DITE. A triangulação dessas fontes comprova a hipótese da DITE como instituição educativa que difundiu as tecnologias da informação e da comunicação na rede pública de Sergipe.

The inception of technology education as a learning area in the South African national curriculum has posed challenges different from those in the other learning areas. Technology education is, compared to subjects such as mathematics and science, still a fairly new subject both nationally and internationally. As a result technology education does not have a large research base or established subject philosophy. This can lead to problems in understanding the nature of technology and other pedagogical problems, such as the fragmentation of curricula in which content is simply parcelled in ‘departments’. One way through which technology can be conceptualized and understood is through technology as knowledge (epistemology). In the absence of an established subject philosophy for technology education, one can draw on frameworks from other disciplines in the field, such as engineering and design practice, for insights into technological knowledge. Educators, however, still need to determine the usefulness of these frameworks to technology education. The purpose of this study therefore, is to investigate the usefulness of an epistemological framework chiefly derived from engineering to be able to describe the nature of technological knowledge, in an attempt to contribute towards the understanding of this relatively new learning area. The conceptual framework for this study was derived mainly from Vincenti’s (1990) categories of knowledge and knowledge-generating activities based on his research into historical aeronautic engineering cases. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research was used to provide insight into the categories of knowledge and knowledge-generating activities used by students at the University of Pretoria during capability tasks. This included an analysis of the questionnaire (quantitative data), which was administered to and completed by the students, as well as a content analysis (qualitative data) of the students’ project portfolios. Findings from this study suggest that the conceptual framework chiefly derived from and used by professional engineers is useful in technology education. The findings also suggest that both the categories of technological knowledge and the knowledge generating activities apply to all the content areas, i.e. structures, systems and control, and processing, in technology education. The study recommends that researchers and educators deepen their understanding of the nature of technological knowledge by considering the categories of technological knowledge and the knowledge-generating activities presented in the conceptual framework. In order to “operationalise” the conceptual framework, educators must consciously attempt to include items of knowledge from each category of knowledge when conceptualising capability tasks for their learning programmes. The framework can then be used as a matrix to evaluate their learning programmes to ensure that all knowledge items (categories and activities) are addressed in each capability task in the technology learning programmes. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The purpose of this study was therefore to address the following primary research question: ‘What effect would a specially designed, developed, implemented and evaluated Material Science (MS) course have on serving teachers in terms of their perceptions and knowledge/understanding regarding content in MS and instructional practice in D&T?’

Um aktuelle naturwissenschaftliche Forschung und neue Technologien in den allgemeinbildenden Unterricht einzubringen, müssen Lehramtsstudierende der Physik und Chemie an der Technischen Universität Dresden Betriebspraktika in Forschungseinrichtungen und Wirtschaftsunternehmen absolvieren. Zu diesem Zweck wird das Betriebspraktikum fachdidaktisch vor- und nachbereitet werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die Nachbereitungsphase zur Verbindung des Betriebspraktikums mit dem Unterricht empirisch erforscht, da bisher fachdidaktische Erkenntnisse über genau diese Phase fehlen. Dazu verfassen die Lehramtsstudierenden einen Praktikumsbericht sowie einen populärwissenschaftlichen Zeitungsartikel und bewerten inwiefern die Arbeitsinhalte für den Unterricht geeignet sind. Das Ergebnis der Arbeit ist ein Katalog von Problemen und Einstellungen, welche die Lehramtsstudierenden in der Nachbereitungsphase bei der didaktischen Rekonstruktion der beobachteten Arbeitsinhalte haben. Die Probleme und Einstellungen sind Ausgangspunkt für die konzeptionelle Gestaltung der Nachbereitungsphase. Es zeigt sich, dass die Einstellungen der Studierenden die Durchführung des Betriebspraktikums und den späteren Unterricht maßgeblich beeinflussen. Die Ergebnisse werden vorgestellt und diskutiert sowie Empfehlungen für die Lehrerausbildung abgeleitet.:1 Einleitung 2 Aktuelle Forschung und neue Technologien im Unterricht 3 Das Betriebspraktikum in der Lehrerbildung – Olle Kamelle oder neue Idee? 4 Ableitung eines Modells zur Analyse des Transfers 5 Empirischer Zugang zur Untersuchung des Transfers 6 Auswertung der Praktikumsberichte 7 Auswertung der Zeitungsartikel 8 Auswertung der Interviews 9 Das Muster hinter den Daten – Eine zusammenfassende Längsanalyse 10 Zu zweit durch das Betriebspraktikum – Chance oder Wagnis? 11 Ein zweites Betriebspraktikum – Gewinn oder Verschwendung? 12 Zusammenfassung und Diskussion 13 Vorschläge für zukünftige Arbeiten Anhang

Denna studie har som syfte att undersöka hur barns konstruktionslek kan bli till ett givande undervisningstillfälle samt vilka könsspecifika skillnader som finns inom teknikämnet. Målgruppen för denna studie är barn i yngre åldrar, så som förskolan och lågstadiet. Metoden som används är en systematisk litteraturgenomgång samt en induktiv tematisk analys. Den forskning som tas fram ska behandla konstruktionsarbete och-/eller genusperspektiv och-/eller teknikundervisning och-/eller teknik. Forskning som samlats in granskas sedan grundligt och analyseras. Den tematiska analysen resulterar i tre huvudteman som är återkommande i all den granskade forskningen. Dessa teman är teknikundervisning, lärarroll och elevroll. Resultatet av studien visar på att barns lek kan bli ett givande undervisningstillfälle på olika sätt. Detta kan bland annat ske genom att läraren engagerar sig i konstruktionsleken i form av frågeställningar där barnen får chans att analysera sin egen lek och utveckla sitt tekniska tänkande. Studien visar även på att könsspecifika skillnader syns i ett flertal faktorer inom ämnet. Några av de mest framträdande faktorerna är att självförtroendet, motivationen och nyfikenheten är betydligt lägre hos flickor än hos pojkar.

The aim of the study is to contribute insights into digital tools in technology education in preschool. The study examines preschool teachers’ perceptions of digital tools and their impact on children's interest in teaching. In order to find this out, the study also examines preschool teachers’ different knowledge and experiences since it can have an impact on how they see and work with these tools. The study's scientific approach is based on a hermeneutic perspective that forms the basis for the qualitative method choice in the form of interviews. It can be stated that the preschool teachers' knowledge varied despite the fact that they had received further education. It was possible to identify some uncertainty about the use of digital tools in technology education. Furthermore, it can be stated that the informants considered several different advantages of digital tools. They saw opportunities to use digital tools through educational development. These opportunities were for example when preschool teachers considered that digital tools added a depth for the education and as a reinforcement of what the children were doing.

The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge about how technology teachers in grades 1-3 perceive their own teaching in the subject technology linked to conditions such as education, time frame, teaching materials, materials and equipment. The study was conducted with the help of qualitative interviews in which eight active and educated technology teachers in grades 1-3 participated. The interviews examined the teachers' individual views on the technology subjectaround the deficits that the Swedish Schools Inspectorate report from 2014 highlights. Furthermore, it was investigated how the teachers' attitudes are affected by the mentioned conditions and whether there were more factors that they considered influenced their teaching in the subject of technology. The analysis of the interviews was inspired by a phenomenography inspired model where the teachers' statements were analyzed and linked to previous research. The results of the survey show that the teacher's competence in the subject of technology is not decisive for whether the teacher feels safe and competent in teaching. The security and competence are rather clarified in how much education the teacher has in technology. It emerged that the conditions of the technology subject are affected by the economy, parts such as materials, equipment and further education are given lower priority financially by both teachers and school management. Conclusions drawn in this study are that technology teaching and teachers' attitudes are largely influenced by how the subject is prioritized by the schoolmanagement. If the subject is not prioritized more by teachers and school leaders, the subject will not be more visible than it already is.

Compared to their peers, low-income students are 90% less likely to graduate within 6 years and are more likely to drop out. At the local site, this problem is also evident in that the retention rate for the Fall 2014-15 cohort was 78.3%, but just 60.2% for those defined as low-income students. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of low-income 1st year college students' perceived confidence in their use of technology and how it influenced their decision to stay in college. Understanding the role technology plays in the decision to stay in college will shed light on ways to offer support to increase retention of these students. The conceptual framework that guided the study was Bruno's confidence based learning methodology. This framework suggests there is a connection between knowledge and confidence. A qualitative descriptive design was used collecting data through a series of 10 open-ended interviews with low-income 1st year college students. The central research question explored how low-income 1st year college students describe their confidence in the use of technology as a factor in their retention. Data analysis consisted of manual coding to identify themes from the interview data. The findings suggested low-income 1st year students do not have confidence in their ability to use technology and remain in college. A policy recommendation to reinstate the information literacy policy for low-income 1st year students could affect social change as additional resources help to raise low-income 1st year college students' confidence using technology and supports them to persist in college.