The purpose of this thesis is to study whether target-like articulation of the Spanish tap [ɾ] and trill [r] is achieved by second language learners who have lived in a Spanish-speaking environment for an extensive period of time. The subjects of this study were students at Brigham Young University (BYU) who had spent 18 months to two years in a Spanish-speaking country. Most of the subjects had little to no previous Spanish instruction, but rather learned the language primarily through their contact with native speakers while abroad. In addition to whether or not subjects achieved target-like pronunciation of these two Spanish sounds, this study sought to observe whether or not certain linguistic factors (e.g., neighboring sounds, syllable stress, etc.) and extra-linguistic factors (e.g., previous Spanish instruction, instructors who were native speakers of Spanish, articulation in formal or informal speech, etc.) had influence on their articulation. The results of this study reveal that the subjects were generally successful in articulating the Spanish rhotic sounds. The majority of the subjects pronounced the rhotics in a target-like manner over 80% of the time. Furthermore, while previous studies have claimed that the transfer of the American English approximant [ɹ] is the most common error when acquiring the Spanish tap and trill, the current study suggests that the most common error of L2 speakers who have lived abroad is developmental: the production of the tap [ɾ] in place of the trill /r/. Lastly, it reveals, through the results of a variable rule analysis, that the two most significant factors in accurate tap and trill articulation are its phonetic context and whether or not the participants had received adequate Spanish instruction prior to having lived abroad.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how school educators adapt teaching to meet students in theoretical difficulties. The aim is also to get an insight into the educators' experiences about these students and how they talk about these children in conversation with colleagues, parents and school management. This in order to compare and analyze if the language is different from the conversation with parents, colleagues and school management. To answer my purpose, I have used four questions. These questions have been used in interviews of educators who meet and teach students in theoretical difficulties every day in elementary school. These six educators, four women and two men have a long experience in working with children and young people. My study of the experiences of these six educators shows that educators adapt teaching based on the needs of each student. Sometimes the special education teacher/special pedagogue is also in the process of selecting the right adjustments. The adjustments are tested a number of weeks before they are followed up. The most common customizations are compensational tools such as computer, speech synthesis, spell checking, image support, clear instructions, limited tasks, custom material, and understanding. There is no diagnosis for students in theoretical difficulties, which is not required by the educators. This makes it difficult to talk with parents, colleagues and school leaders because the term "student in theoretical difficulties" is not used. The students are named based on their strengths and difficulties. This is done because the educators find it hard to speak of a low talent. From a special pedagogical perspective based on the results, educators need to be responsive to the student's feelings, thoughts and opinions about the school situation. Successful educators support students increase motivation for school work. Educators need to focus on the learning environment and regularly reflect on the students' school situation. They need to let students be active about decisions concerning the pupil's school day. Students lack understanding in their knowledge learning because they have difficulty analyzing, comparing and reflecting. This means that educators must work to make the knowledge understandable to the student.Working actively with relationships between student-student and student-educator gives positive results for student development. Educators need to try different solutions and stick to them so that it is possible to evaluate the actions. Based on the results of the evaluation, students' difficulties may decrease when the measures have worked. Pupils with learning difficulties can have motor difficulties. If the students receive continuous motor training, learning is affected positively. Their concentration and motor skills are increasing as more physical training. These positive effects affect rough, fine motor skills, reading, writing ability, speech, room’s perception and thinking skills.

Det akademiska biblioteket utgör en viktig del av studentens studietid som en tillhandahållare av vetenskaplig litteratur. De senaste decenniernas digitalisering har förändrat biblioteket i grunden. I takt med att mer tryckt material övergår i elektronisk form i databaser blir beroendet av fysiska medier mindre. Intresset för uppgiften har sin förankring i att balansera detta förhållande genom en lukrativ gestaltning av det fysiska studierummet. Det skall vara en plats som bidrar till att studenter känner sig såväl avslappnade som motiverade för att fullfölja sina skoluppgifter. En implementering av detta gjordes i form av ett ombyggnadsförslag för utbildningen Byggteknik & Designs befintliga lokaler på Kungliga Teknisk Högskolan.  I samband med utredningen om hur dagens akademiska bibliotek ser ut besöktes ett antal sådana i Stockholmsområdet med intervjuer bland personal. Vid studiebesöken undersöktes principiella frågor som rör studiemiljön, ombyggnader och studenters beteendemönster. Sådan information tillät oss att identifiera vissa av biblioteksmiljöns problemområden, för att därefter kunna lösa dessa.  Med användning av gällande riktlinjer och standarder utarbetades en arbetsmiljö som ger rätt förutsättningar för aktivitetsbaserade studier. Det gäller exempelvis noggrann planering av artificiell ljussättning. Likaså var förhållning till naturligt ljus viktig, och genom Svensk standardkrav för dagsljusinsläpp kunde dess inverkan på bibliotekslokalen kontrolleras. Detta är exempel på arbetet med att utnyttja och förbättra lokalens egenskaper ur ett arkitektoniskt perspektiv. / The academic library is an important aspect of a students education as it contributes to providing scientific literature. Contemporary society has led to the digitalisation of educational media. Consequently, libraries are becoming more reliant upon the usage of electronic databases as opposed to the usage of printed materials. The interest in the task is rooted in our desire to create an environment where students feel both relaxed and motivated to carry out educational tasks. An implementation of this was done in the form of a rebuilding proposal for the Building Engineering and Design existing facilities of Royal Institute of Technology. Our investigation consisted of conducting interviews with staff members from a variety of academic libraries in Stockholm area to gain a useful insight upon the concerns and fundamental issues which many of these members have. Such information allowed us to identify problems in regards to library settings and thereafter overcome it. Using current guidelines and standards, a work environment was developed that provides the right conditions for activity-based studies. This applies, for example, to careful planning of artificial light. The relation to natural light was also important, and by Swedish standard requirements for daylight emitting, its influence on the library room could be controlled. Thus we see an example of utilizing and improving the characteristics of the facility from an architectural perspective.

This thesis is a part of Master Degree within the field of Special Education at Malmö University. The purpose of the research is to elucidate how the supportive material Assessment Tool for Accessible Education of the Swedish National Agency of Special Needs Educations and Schools is being used by educational institutions in Sweden and how it contributes to the change in the learning environment among preschools and schools. The reading provides valuable knowledge for how the agency can develop their support to educational institutions, as well as for the actors of the field to make the learning environment accessible to the students. The study looks at similarities and differences between the inclusive learning environments based on previous research, and the accessible learning environment based on Assessment Tool for Accessible Education. A lot of similarities can be found in the pedagogic and social aspects, while the differences become prominent in aspects of the physical environment which can only be found in accessible learning environments. Further, pros and cons of supporting individual needs in relation to the learning environment are discussed and what consequences it may give rise to for disabled students. Research questions are as follow; Does the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contribute to a change in the learning environment? What developing processes contribute to the change? How should institutions be supported in order to develop the accessible learning environment?Mixed methods have been used for collection of data; a poll was answered by 425 people and interviews were held with nine focus groups from four different institutions, including one group of students. The theoretical frame of the analysis follows the organization theory; learning organization and rational-analytic, interactional, and political perspective. The empiric has been worked through thematically and is presented in a chronological order from when people first came in touch with Assessment Tool for Accessible Education, how the work has been implemented and processed at the institutions, and a description of what changes has been processed and its effects upon the learning environment. Obstacles and factors of success experienced by the respondents as well as the need of support for development are also presented. The results of the research show that the assessment tools contribute to a change in how the pedagogues approach the knowledge of how the learning and development of the students is affected by the learning environment when organizational development exists within the institution. Development launches when structural and cultural conditions exist and are processed which in turn leads to development of the learning organization. The research looks at the consequences when these conditions are lacking. Further, when good conditions exist the learning environments develop. The research shows changes that have been processed through the physical, pedagogic, and social environment. Also, all students receive a higher level of accessibility than disabled students. The conclusion is that the Assessment Tool for Accessible Education contributes to a higher level of knowledge regarding the significance of the learning environment which implies changes, provided that organizational development exists within the institution. Keywords: Accessible Learning Environment, Disabilities, Inclusive Learning Environments, Learning Organization, Organization theory, Process

Studier har visat att barn påverkas av den miljö de befinner sig i. Den fysiska världen talar ett språk som berättar om samhällets krav, förväntningar och värderingar på individen, inklusive förväntningar angående kön/genus. Könsnormer har visat sig vara inbäddade i hur rum utformas och därför kan det sägas att rum har möjlighet att påverka skapandet av kön. I denna studie undersöks hur pedagoger på en HBTQ-certifierad förskola i Sverige använder rummets språk tillsammans med det talade språket för att minska ”gender salience” i förskolan. Syftet är att ta reda på hur förskolemiljön utformas av pedagogerna för att ge alla barn möjlighet att skapa sin identitet bortom förgivettagna föreställningar om kön. Data har samlats in genom fotografier, fältanteckningar, observationer och intervjuer, samt från förskolans litteratur och styrdokument. Den teoretiska utgångspunkten är feministisk poststrukturalism och queerteori, med särskilt fokus på Butlers teori om genus som performativt görande. Analysen av empirin visar hur förskolan använder färg, lekmaterial, rumslig organisering, litteratur och bilder, det talade språket, samt mat för att ifrågasätta samhällets könsnormer och öppna dörren till fler positioner än de könsstereotypa. Resultaten har implikationer både för pedagoger och också andra som är ansvariga för att skapa rum för barn och deras familjer.

This study described the attitudes of students who are limited English proficient (LEP) and their teachers toward the learning environment within their mathematics classes. Data collected via a student survey, student and teacher interviews, and classroom observations were analyzed in this mixed-method study to investigate these attitudes. Accuracy of the findings was confirmed via triangulation. A population of 79 students was chosen through purposive sampling methods that included LEP and non-LEP students in algebra and geometry classes. Students were administered a 30-item questionnaire using the What is Happening in This Class? survey. Scores provided from the survey's six scales were analyzed using an independent samples t-test to describe similarities and differences between the students. The Cooperation Scale was found statistically significant (p = .002) with a mean score of 3.72 for the LEP students compared to 3.74 for non-LEP students. Four scales were found statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) comparing the algebra and geometry students: Teacher Support (M = 3.61), Involvement (M = 3.38), Cooperation (M = 3.65), and Equity (M = 4.24). Qualitative data was collected via classroom observations and the student and teacher interviews. Classroom observations provided an additional descriptive account of the lived experiences of the participants in this study. Themes observed within LEP and non-LEP classes involved the physical setting, teaching methods, and instructional media used to present lessons. Four additional themes were found in the LEP classes that referred to the experience of teaching LEP students. They are language use, teaching methods specific to LEP students, classroom management, and teacher and student support. The interviews incorporated a phenomenological approach to examine the attitudes of participating students and teachers toward their classroom environments. The following five similar themes emerged from the examination of sheltered and nonsheltered teacher attitudes: (a) support systems, (b) teaching methods, (c) student mathematical skills, (d) instructional media, and (e) student attitudes toward mathematics. The additional theme of language emerged exclusively for sheltered teachers. Suggested further study on the attitudes of LEP students and their teachers in mathematics classes are discussed that includes the amount of support provided in LEP classes, LEP teacher practices in support of student educational needs related to language and mathematics. Additional findings were revealed throughout this study to suggest the effective use of instructional media in LEP mathematics classes and whether or not culture plays a role in their attitudes towards mathematics.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka förskollärarnas synsätt på hur lärmiljöer i förskolan stimulerar barns språkutveckling, samt hur förskollärarna talar om hur de arbetar för att skapa lärmiljöer som bidrar till att barn utvecklas i sin språkutveckling. Den valda metoden i studien är en kvalitativ metod med semistrukturerad intervju där urvalspersonerna består av fem verksamma förskollärare. Studiens resultat visar att en genomtänkt samt strukturerad lärmiljö som utgår ifrån barnens intressen är viktig för barns språkliga utveckling. Att använda sig av olika hjälpmedel för att främja barns samspel samt språkliga utveckling i olika miljöer vilket ger förutsättningar för barnen att kommunicera med varandra. Studien visar att en närvarande förskollärare är av viktig för att utveckla barns språk. Studien visar även svårigheter som kan uppstå som att skapa lärmiljöer i svårplanerade utrymmen. Studien visar även svårigheter i att skapa intressanta och stimulerande miljöer som utmanar alla barnens förutsättningar. / The purpose of the study is to examine the preschool teachers' approach to how learning environments in preschool stimulate children's language development, as well as how preschool teachers talk about how they work to create learning environments that contribute to children's language development. The chosen method in the study is a qualitative method with a semi-structured interview where the sample consists of five working preschool teachers. The results of the study show that a well-thought-out and structured learning environment that is based on the children's interests is important for children's linguistic development. Using various aids to promote children's interaction and language development in different environments, which provides the conditions for the children to communicate with each other. The study shows that a preschool teacher present is important for developing children's language. The study also shows difficulties that can arise such as creating learning environments in difficult-to-plan spaces. The study also shows difficulties in creating interesting and stimulating environments that challenge all the children's abilities.

In the past fifty years the medical profession in the United States has been transformed by federal and commercial forces. At teaching hospitals, clinical faculty were pressured to cut costs, treat more patients, and spend less time training students. Evidence emerged that medical students became increasingly cynical and detached throughout their training, and medical educators grew concerned that the for-profit priorities of clinical environments were damaging to the professional identities and values of trainees. Consequently, American medical schools reformed their curricula, adding coursework in bioethics and doctor-patient communication. These measures would not, however, counteract the stubborn effects of the so-called hidden curriculum in medical school. Associated with the unintended and implicit lessons that undermine espoused institutional principles, this “curriculum” was thought to be exacerbated by the challenges of contemporary clinical settings. In the late 1990s the “professionalism movement” arose to further the cause of medical ethics education and to promote more accountability in practice; by 2003 the accrediting body of North American medical schools mandated the explicit teaching of professionalism. Professionalism curricula differed from ethics in that it emphasized observable virtuous attitudes and behaviors rather than cognitive reasoning. The reforms at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) in Boston illustrate one approach to the teaching and assessment of professionalism. Archival materials show that TUSM responded to the accreditation mandates by implementing coursework, special programs, performance-based assessment, and the medical school induction rite, the White Coat Ceremony. Professionalism education was complicated for medical schools like TUSM by a lack of clear curricular and institutional goals. Furthermore, the practice of medicine did not necessarily coincide with the ideals of the profession, and senior physicians were inconsistent role models of such ideals – contradictions not lost on students. In 2013 the medical school accreditation agency revised its standards regarding professionalism, shifting its focus to the context for developing professionalism, the learning environment. Recommendations to medical schools for advancing professionalism education include faculty development programming and preparing students to face the ideological conflicts inherent in the current healthcare system.

Syftet med den här studien är att bidra med kunskap som kan utveckla räddningstjänstens arbetsplatslärande. Studien är en kvalitativ fallstudie med en ontologisk ståndpunkt som kan beskrivas som konstruktivistisk. Forskningsprocessen involverar kvalitativa intervjuer av fyra chefer på strategisk ledningsnivå, och fyra fokusgruppdiskussioner med fyra skift (arbetsgrupper) på en brandstation. Datamaterialet har därefter bearbetats med stöd av tematisk analys. Studien frågeställningar avser att besvara hur brandstationens lärande kan beskrivas och förstås utifrån chefernas ledningsperspektiv, respektive skiftens medarbetarperspektiv. I resultatet framgår att både chefer och skift behöver förhålla sig till samhälleliga förväntningar, lagstiftning och politiskt utformade krav och riktlinjer. Samtidigt som det framkommer att en stor del av brandstationens lärande sker i samband med brandmännens vardagliga yrkespraktik. Brandstationens arbetsplatslärande främjas å ena sidan av brandmännens gemenskap, drivkraft och yrkesstolthet. Samtidigt som skiftens starka samhörigheten å andra sidan riskerar att bidra till att fastna i etablerade rutiner och tankemönster. Vidare framkommer att chefer på ledningsnivå betraktar brandstationens förebyggande arbetet som central för att organisationens ska kunna möta upp mot politiskt utformade krav och förväntningar. Till skillnad från gruppchefernas och brandmännens utsagor som främst lyfter fram det operativa arbetet i relation till skiftens yrkespraktik. Sammantaget pekar resultatet på att det finns motsättningar mellan ledningsperspektiv och medarbetarperspektiv på brandstationens lärande. Fallstudiens synliggörande av dessa motsättningar betraktas som betydelsefulla för att organisera formella läraktiviteter och skapa goda förutsättningar för arbetsplatslärande i vardagen, men kan även ses i ljuset av rekryteringsutmaningar inom räddningstjänsten. / The purpose of this study is to contribute knowledge that can develop the workplace learning of the rescue service. The study is a qualitative case study with an ontological standpoint that can be described as constructivist. The research process involves qualitative interviews of four managers at strategic management level, and four focus group discussions with four shifts (work groups) at a fire station. The data material has then been processed with the support of thematic analysis. The study's questions aim to answer how the fire station's learning can be described and understood based on the managers' management perspective, and the shift's employee perspective. The results show that the fire station's surrounding external context what is seen as relevant knowledge, processes, activities that largely is derives from legislation and politically designed requirements and guidelines. At the same time, it appears that a large part of the fire station's learning takes place in connection with the firefighters' everyday professional practice. The fire station's workplace learning is promoted on the one hand by the employees' community, drive, and professional pride. At the same time, on the other hand, the strong cohesion in the shift’s risks contributing to getting stuck in established routines and thought patterns. Furthermore, it appears that managers at management level regard the fire station's preventive work as central to the organisation's ability to meet politically shaped demands and expectations. In contrast to the group managers' and firefighters' statements, which primarily highlight the operative work in relation to the professional practice of the shifts. Overall, the results indicate that there are contradictions between strategic management orientation and the employees' perspective on the fire station's learning. The case study's visibility of these contradictions is considered significant for organizing formal learning activities and creating good conditions for workplace learning in everyday life but can also be seen in the light of recruitment issues within the rescue service.

The purpose of the study is to investigate preschool teachers' views on the learning environment as a tool for interaction and learning. The study is based on a qualitative study, where we have chosen to interview four preschool teachers based on a semi-structured interview method, this to get an insight into their thoughts, opinions and experiences. We feel that there are shortcomings in the discussion about the learning environment as a tool based on our experience, which is why we chose to investigate active preschool teachers' views on this. The study is based on a sociocultural perspective to highlight the learning that takes place in interaction with the environment you are in.  The results of the study show that preschool teachers look at the learning environment as a foundation in preschool, especially for learning and interaction. The preschool teachers describe that they therefore work actively with the learning environments based on the resources they have. The results show that the preschool is given different conditions for developing the learning environments to stimulate and inspire the children. Some conclusions are presented and one of them is how learning and interaction are affected depending on the structure of the learning environment. The study shows that various factors are involved in influencing the preschool teacher's work.