Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (May 2, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Ed. / From the researcher’s experience as well as in the literature on continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) it seems that teachers in South Africa in general, but in particular technology teachers experienced problems with CPTD. With this in mind, TechnEd launched the Catalyst Project in 2003 with the financial support of Anglo Platinum in the Bojanala Region of the North West province in South Africa. The Catalyst project entails the CPTD of technology teachers from 130 schools which takes place at one central venue (so-called school-focused CPTD). A literature study was done in which a variety of international CPTD models, as well as a model that focuses on the process of developing appropriate CPTD programmes for technology teachers in a South African context were considered, and criteria for sound CPTD were identified. The criteria were used to develop the TechnEd’s school-focused CPTD programme. Although TechnEd has been offering schoolfocused CPTD in partnership with trade and industry, as well as with a department of education to technology teachers, it was still unknown how these teachers experience the workshops. The purpose of this research was to describe a CPTD model where partners from trade and industry, a department of education and a higher education institution are involved, and to determine the teachers’ experience of the CPTD intervention. The research questions addressed in this research were: 1. What are the training needs of technology teachers in South Africa? 2. Which criteria for CPTD can be derived from existing CPTD models? 3. What is the teachers’ experience of the CPTD?An evaluative case study, which drew on qualitative research methodology, was conducted. The participants in the research were technology teachers who are participating in the Catalyst project. Data were collected through the observation of the teachers during the various workshops, open-ended questionnaires (questions were adapted after each workshop to try and get the richest data possible) and interviews. The data were analysed through the constant comparative method in order to derive findings. The main finding is that the teachers experienced the workshops as rewarding and fruitful. This finding is supported by four further specific findings, namely: 1. Teachers felt empowered by the workshops through the development of their technological knowledge (both conceptual and procedural) as well as their pedagogy. 2. Teachers experienced the workshops as being conducive to learning among learners. 3. Teachers experienced the accompanying learning and teacher support material (LTSM) as well as the materials and tools, supplied during the workshops, as informative and helpful, and have a need to use it in their classrooms. 4. Organisational aspects (some over which TechnEd had control, and some over which the department of education had control) regarding the workshops were part of the teachers’ experience. In contradiction to the earlier reference that teachers found CPTD too generic, it seems that teachers experience TechnEd’s CPTD with a specific focus where they are supplied with customised LTSM, material and tools that they can implement in their classrooms, and where they are orientated and trained in the underlying (school and content) knowledge and pedagogy, as rewarding and fruitful.

D.Ed. / As a curriculum initiative Technology Education is in its infancy in South Africa. It has only recently, in 1996, been introduced as a compulsory area of learning in the school curriculum. Technology Education with its particular elements of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values is conceptually different from anything previously taught in the school curriculum. The appropriateness of methodology is of fundamental importance to the success of the subject/learning area and probably represents the most significant factor in the effectiveness of its delivery. It is clear that current approaches to learning and instruction are not geared towards the attainment of the desired outcomes in Technology Education. For example, the opportunities for knowledge construction through engagement in the cognitive processes of critical and creative thinking, decision-making problem solving and designing are overshadowed by traditional approaches to curriculum delivery. This is compounded by the fact that no instructional models, which exemplify appropriate instructional practice in Technology Education exist currently in South Africa. The aim of this study was to design and implement an instructional programme in the learning area Technology at a College of Education, and based on the findings, generate a prospective instructional model which would exemplify appropriate instructional practice and at the same time contribute towards the attainment of the desired outcomes in Technology Education. The qualitative research paradigm, using the contextual case study design was considered the most acceptable research strategy for a project of this nature. A group of 20 second year learners was observed around specific tasks comprising the programme. Data was gathered using a variety of methods, viz. direct observation, questionnaires and interviews to gauge firstly, how the learners had experienced the programme, and secondly, how the teacher educator experienced the programme. From the study it appeared that exposure to the instructional programme proved to be an empowering educational experience for both learners and teacher educator alike. In addition to widening the scope and providing opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, the programme appeared to have provided entrepreneurial opportunities for the participants of the programme. Although the instructional programme catered for knowledge construction using a variety of approaches (both behaviourist and constructivist) the most significant gain for learners seemed to have emanated from both group discussion and group work. Although it cannot be stated conclusively that cognitive development had taken place, positive interdependence, shared responsibility, social skills and enhanced learning were evident. The findings of the research provided the foundation for the design and development of an instructional model in Technology Education.

Orientador: João Antonio Telles / Banca: Ana Mariza Benedetti / Banca: Nelson Viana / Resumo: O contexto teletandem de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas, por meio de ferramentas de comunicação audiovisuais a distância, como o Skype, permite que aprendizes de línguas estabeleçam uma parceria virtual e colaborativa de aprendizagem de línguas, por meio da qual um ajuda o outro a aprender sua língua de proficiência. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar como professores de espanhol vinculados a duas unidades dos Centros de Estudos de Línguas (CEL) em duas cidades do interior do estado de São Paulo, vivenciaram o primeiro contato com o contexto teletandem de aprendizagem de línguas, por meio de um curso de extensão semipresencial. A partir da análise do que os participantes dizem sobre o contexto teletandem, tendo em vista suas experiências como praticantes de teletandem e como possíveis implementadores dessa prática entre seus alunos, foi possível tecer reflexões sobre quais as possíveis implicações das experiências dos participantes para a inserção do contexto teletandem nos CELs e quais as possíveis contribuições desse contexto para a formação continuada de professores. Dentre as atividades requeridas aos participantes no decorrer do curso, foram considerados como procedimentos de coleta de material documentário para esta pesquisa a) os fóruns de discussão, b) os encontros presenciais, c) o perfil de cada participante disponibilizado na ferramenta Perfil, no TelEduc e d) reflexões da pesquisadora, a partir de duas oficinas pedagógicas, uma em cada cidade do curso, por meio das quais a análise dos dados foi apresentada e discutida com os participantes. Os trabalhos que fundamentam teoricamente esta pesquisa foram selecionados e organizados a partir dos quatro eixos temáticos, a seguir: a) teletandem, b) formação continuada de professor para o uso de tecnologia, c)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: As a teaching and learning context, and with the help of technological tools, such as Skype, teletandem allows pairs of foreign language learners to establish virtual collaborative partnerships by helping each other to learn their language of proficiency. The focus of this dissertation in on the analysis of teachers' first contact and experiences with teletandem. Its theoretical framework focuses on (a) teletandem, (b) teachers' continuing education for the use of technology, (c) use of technology in the public school system, (d) computer mediated communciation (CMC), and new technologies of information and communication (TICs). Such framework allowed the selection of texts that considered issues of technology in our times, its impact on teachers' pedagogy and, more specifically, on teachers' participation within the context of teletandem. The participants were teachers of Spanish working in two public high school language centers in two cities in the interior of São Paulo State, in Brazil. The teachers began by experiencing their first contact with teletandem in a blended continuing education course in which they studied the tandem theory. Contemporaneously, they themselves practiced teletandem (Spanish x Portuguese) with their colleagues - teachers of Portuguese from Uruguay. The research documentary materials were generated from these teachers' practical experiences with teletandem and from what they said about them during the continuing education course. Data collection proceedings were (a) on-line discussion forums, (b) face to face reflective sessions, (c) teachers' profiles on the learning platform TELEDUC and (d) the researcher's reflections on two pedagogical workshops given to the participants in each of the two cities where the course was given, and when the researcher had the opportunity to share... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

This thesis explores the perceptions of technology and technology education held by six primary school teachers in Papua New Guinea, and their views of the materials developed to use as a support for teaching technology and the impacts on their perceptions and their teaching practices of technology. Based on the interpretivist paradigm, a case study approach and qualitative data collection methods were used to explore the teachers' views of technology and technology education and how the support materials influenced these perceptions and practices. One to one, semistructured interviews with the teachers, and an analysis of their planning documents were used to collect data. As part of the curriculum reforms, technology education was introduced as a new subject into primary education in PNG in 1994. However, no formal professional development was provided for helping the primary teachers implement technology education. Instead, curriculum materials were developed and distributed to teachers in 2005 as a support for their technology teaching. This thesis supports the idea that teachers need support to help them learn. It is also argues that teachers' beliefs about subject areas, teaching, their students, and curriculum materials influence how they interact with these support materials. The findings show that the support materials were very useful in enhancing the teachers' knowledge of technology and effective teaching of technology. There were changes to teachers' perceptions of technology and technological practices when they began to use the support materials. Changes included the views of technology as more than modern artefacts to include traditional technology, that technology was more than just practical. It also has a knowledge base. However, not all aspects of technology as advocated in the support materials have been taken up by these teachers. Problem-solving and design aspects have received marginal attention. Other factors were at play including subject subcultures, subject backgrounds, past hands-on experiences and ownership of personal technological artefacts. To be even more effective technology teachers, it is advocated that teacher professional development is required for Papua New Guinean primary teachers to implement the technology successfully.

The purpose of this study is to review the use of educational resources at National Science and Technology Museum (NSTM) by Kaohsiung junior high school science & technology teachers. Using judgemental sampling, 260 questionnaires were sent out to science & technology teachers who taught at junior high schools in Kaohsiung. A total of 172 completed questionnaires were returned. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson¡¦s correlation. Six insights were gained from this study. First, results show that in reality, the usage rates of the resources available at the NSTM among teachers are quite low. Second, The teachers possess a low level of knowledge and understanding with regard to the resources available at the NSTM. Third, The teachers have a very favorable view of the usage of the resources offered by the NSTM. Fourth, the use of the educational resources at NSTM, the knowledge associated and the attitude towards it vary depending on the teachers' gender, educational background and teaching experience. Fifth, the frequency of usage of the resources, the knowledge and attitude are all positively correlated. Sixth, NSTM¡¦s active involvement in providing more services, expanding its facilities and supporting the logistics of the field trip may increase the teachers¡¦ willingness to use its resources.

The interest on environmental education increases with the increasing environmental problems of today&rsquo / s worlds. This thesis has been conducted as a country wide study to investigate levels, components and predictors of environmental literacy of primary school science and technology teachers, since teachers are the fundamental actors of environmental education. The study is comprised of environmental literacy level determination as well as the investigation of the relationships between the components of environmental literacy and the factors (environmental interest, importance of environmental problems, self assessment on environmental knowledge, outdoor activity choices, age, income, gender, experience, importance perception of environmental education, education level, residential difference, environmental knowledge source, and having an environmental related course) affecting environmental literacy. The sample of the study was selected from 34 provinces of 12 subregions of Turkey. A total of 1182 science and technology teachers answered the Environment Literacy Questionnaire including four components (knowledge, attitude, use, and concern) of environmental literacy. Besides descriptive analysis, zero order correlation, MANOVA, and Canonical correlation analyses were conducted to obtain the results. Descriptive analysis revealed that 77 % of the science and technology teachers have adequate level of environmental knowledge, have positive attitudes, high degrees of responsibility and concern toward environment. Further analyses indicated that all environmental literacy components correlated with each others with different correlation strengths. Moreover environmental interest, importance of environmental problems, self assessment on environmental knowledge, outdoor activity choices, age, income, gender, experience, importance perception of environmental education are found to have significant effects on environmental literacy of the participants but no significant effect was observed for education level, residential difference, environmental knowledge source, and having an environmental related course on environmental literacy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Curriculum and Instruction. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. School of Human Sciences. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:26:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-06-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:55:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_mg_me_sjrp.pdf: 581425 bytes, checksum: b18d63e162945d518e02107298336079 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O contexto teletandem de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas, por meio de ferramentas de comunicação audiovisuais a distância, como o Skype, permite que aprendizes de línguas estabeleçam uma parceria virtual e colaborativa de aprendizagem de línguas, por meio da qual um ajuda o outro a aprender sua língua de proficiência. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar como professores de espanhol vinculados a duas unidades dos Centros de Estudos de Línguas (CEL) em duas cidades do interior do estado de São Paulo, vivenciaram o primeiro contato com o contexto teletandem de aprendizagem de línguas, por meio de um curso de extensão semipresencial. A partir da análise do que os participantes dizem sobre o contexto teletandem, tendo em vista suas experiências como praticantes de teletandem e como possíveis implementadores dessa prática entre seus alunos, foi possível tecer reflexões sobre quais as possíveis implicações das experiências dos participantes para a inserção do contexto teletandem nos CELs e quais as possíveis contribuições desse contexto para a formação continuada de professores. Dentre as atividades requeridas aos participantes no decorrer do curso, foram considerados como procedimentos de coleta de material documentário para esta pesquisa a) os fóruns de discussão, b) os encontros presenciais, c) o perfil de cada participante disponibilizado na ferramenta Perfil, no TelEduc e d) reflexões da pesquisadora, a partir de duas oficinas pedagógicas, uma em cada cidade do curso, por meio das quais a análise dos dados foi apresentada e discutida com os participantes. Os trabalhos que fundamentam teoricamente esta pesquisa foram selecionados e organizados a partir dos quatro eixos temáticos, a seguir: a) teletandem, b) formação continuada de professor para o uso de tecnologia, c)... / As a teaching and learning context, and with the help of technological tools, such as Skype, teletandem allows pairs of foreign language learners to establish virtual collaborative partnerships by helping each other to learn their language of proficiency. The focus of this dissertation in on the analysis of teachers’ first contact and experiences with teletandem. Its theoretical framework focuses on (a) teletandem, (b) teachers’ continuing education for the use of technology, (c) use of technology in the public school system, (d) computer mediated communciation (CMC), and new technologies of information and communication (TICs). Such framework allowed the selection of texts that considered issues of technology in our times, its impact on teachers’ pedagogy and, more specifically, on teachers’ participation within the context of teletandem. The participants were teachers of Spanish working in two public high school language centers in two cities in the interior of São Paulo State, in Brazil. The teachers began by experiencing their first contact with teletandem in a blended continuing education course in which they studied the tandem theory. Contemporaneously, they themselves practiced teletandem (Spanish x Portuguese) with their colleagues - teachers of Portuguese from Uruguay. The research documentary materials were generated from these teachers’ practical experiences with teletandem and from what they said about them during the continuing education course. Data collection proceedings were (a) on-line discussion forums, (b) face to face reflective sessions, (c) teachers’ profiles on the learning platform TELEDUC and (d) the researcher’s reflections on two pedagogical workshops given to the participants in each of the two cities where the course was given, and when the researcher had the opportunity to share... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)