There has been a rapid growth in the number of programs awarding undergraduate degrees in public health and the number of students receiving such degrees (1). There has not, however, been a significant discussion of the purpose of such degree programs. What, if anything, are the recipients of these degrees being trained to do? What careers, if any, are they being prepared to enter? Is the degree designed primarily to prepare students to enter graduate training in public health or some other graduate or health professional programs? Alternatively, does the degree exist because “an understanding of public health is a critical component of good citizenship and a prerequisite for taking responsibility for building healthy societies”? (2).

Os estudantes desenvolvem suas atividades em diferentes ambientes educacionais, internalizando modelos de atuação profissional e espelhando-se nas experiências profissionais de seus professores e profissionais não docentes. Este estudo teve como objetivos identificar a percepção de estudantes de Terapia Ocupacional sobre os atributos mais importantes em bons modelos de profissional e identificar a percepção de terapeutas ocupacionais docentes e não docentes apontados pelos estudantes como bons modelos sobre os atributos que consideram como representativos desta sua característica. Foram abordados 116 estudantes da FMRP-USP e 102 da UFSCar, através de questionário estruturado e grupos focais; 12 profissionais docentes e não docentes da FMRP-USP e 10 da UFSCar, através de entrevista individual semi-estruturada. Os dados foram analisados quantitativamente (por meio de estatística descritiva) e qualitativamente (através de análise de conteúdo). Os estudantes identificaram como atributos importantes de um bom modelo de profissional: ter um bom relacionamento com o aluno, com o paciente e com a equipe de trabalho; demonstrar empatia; possuir didática; ser organizado e demonstrar comprometimento com o seu crescimento pessoal e profissional. Os profissionais docentes e não docentes referiram que foram indicados como bons modelos por demonstrarem empatia; apresentarem bom relacionamento interpessoal (com o estudante e com o paciente) e mostrar relação teórico-prática. Pode-se concluir que os atributos de um bom modelo para estudantes, não diferem da percepção de docentes/profissionais sobre suas próprias habilidades positivas. Os dados obtidos neste estudo sobre os atributos de um bom modelo na formação do terapeuta ocupacional poderão ser aplicados em programas nacionais de capacitação e desenvolvimento docente. / Students develop their activities in different educational environments, internalizing models of professional performance and mirroring themselves in the professional experiences of their teachers and non-teaching professionals. The objective of this study was to identify the perception of Occupational Therapy students about the most important attributes in good role models and to identify the perception of occupational and non-teaching occupational therapists pointed out by the students as good models about the attributes they consider as representative of their characteristic . A total of 116 students from FMRP-USP and 102 from UFSCar were approached through a structured questionnaire and focus groups; 12 teaching and non-teaching professionals from FMRP-USP and 10 from UFSCar, through a semistructured individual interview. Data were analyzed quantitatively (through descriptive statistics) and qualitatively (through content analysis). The students identified as important attributes of a good role model: having a good relationship with the student, the patient and the work team; demonstrate empathy; possess didactics; be organized and demonstrate commitment to your personal and professional growth. Clinical tutors believed that they were nominated as good role models because they demonstrated empathy; a good relationship with student and patient and were able to link theory to professional practice. It can be concluded that the perceptions of occupational therapy students and clinical tutors about role models attributes were similar. Identification of good role model characteristics may inform teacher training and faculty development in occupational therapy.

Compared to other subjects, Learning Area Technology teaching is a relatively new knowledge area world-wide, especially in the South African school curriculum, and it consequently presents new challenges. One of these challenges is the fact that no previous tertiary training programmes exist for the Learning Area Technology; thus new ones have to be developed. Since limited research has been done regarding Learning Area Technology teaching, teachers of Technology are forced to base their professional teaching and learning practices on approaches from other fields of knowledge and adapt these. This is not necessarily ideal for Learning Area Technology teaching in the South African context. The following question can thus be posed: To which extent do existing pre-service training programmes develop the essential competences and skills required for the effective teaching of the Learning Area Technology? Against the background of this overarching aim of the study, this research attempted to find answers to the following research questions: • What are the competences a qualified Learning Area Technology teacher should possess? • What is the nature of Learning Area Technology teacher training in South Africa? • What is lacking in training programmes for pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers in South Africa? To provide answers to these questions, a literature study as well as an empirical study was conducted. To achieve the aim of the empirical study a phenomenological approach was applied in executing an exploratory qualitative study. A random sample was drawn from available tertiary institutions training pre-service Technology teachers in the Learning Area Technology. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with lecturers to enable the researcher to comprehend and interpret experiences and realities in terms of the research question. Findings from the literature study on the competences a qualified technology Teacher should possess indicate that a Technology teacher, upon completion of studies, should posses the following competences to present the Learning Area Technology as a subject specialist: indepth subject knowledge of the various knowledge areas for the Learning Area Technology; suitable pedagogical content knowledge to be able to transform technological knowledge to teachable matter; technological skills in technological processes and techniques; and positive values and attitudes which can be integrated successfully during various learning opportunities. It is also imperative that pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers possess knowledge of appropriate teaching strategies to accomplish critical, creative and problem-solving skills among learners. The empirical research was aimed at establishing the nature of pre-service training programmes in South Africa, as well as identifying shortcomings in the training of pre-service Technology teachers. Data analyses regarding the nature of pre-service training of Learning Area Technology teachers-.enabled the researcher to identify particular shortcomings in preservice training programmes in South Africa. The following shortcomings were identified: insufficient subject knowledge and technological subject skills; limited subject specific pedagogical knowledge; lack of real life situations in learning opportunities; and a lack of modelling of teaching strategies during facilitation of the Learning Area Technology. Based on the findings of the research which was also related to the literature, specific recommendations were made in order to improve the quality of pre-service training for the Learning Area Technology. Recommendations on the identified shortcomings include the following: the training of Learning Area Technology teachers as subject specialists by establishing standards appropriate for tertiary training in order to enhance the development of subject knowledge; the development of subject specific pedagogical content knowledge by implementing micro lessons; revision of time planning and facilities for the practising of technological skills; and sufficient opportunities to practise, analyse and reflect on teaching processes to develop proper and appropriate teaching strategies. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010

Compared to other subjects, Learning Area Technology teaching is a relatively new knowledge area world-wide, especially in the South African school curriculum, and it consequently presents new challenges. One of these challenges is the fact that no previous tertiary training programmes exist for the Learning Area Technology; thus new ones have to be developed. Since limited research has been done regarding Learning Area Technology teaching, teachers of Technology are forced to base their professional teaching and learning practices on approaches from other fields of knowledge and adapt these. This is not necessarily ideal for Learning Area Technology teaching in the South African context. The following question can thus be posed: To which extent do existing pre-service training programmes develop the essential competences and skills required for the effective teaching of the Learning Area Technology? Against the background of this overarching aim of the study, this research attempted to find answers to the following research questions: • What are the competences a qualified Learning Area Technology teacher should possess? • What is the nature of Learning Area Technology teacher training in South Africa? • What is lacking in training programmes for pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers in South Africa? To provide answers to these questions, a literature study as well as an empirical study was conducted. To achieve the aim of the empirical study a phenomenological approach was applied in executing an exploratory qualitative study. A random sample was drawn from available tertiary institutions training pre-service Technology teachers in the Learning Area Technology. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with lecturers to enable the researcher to comprehend and interpret experiences and realities in terms of the research question. Findings from the literature study on the competences a qualified technology Teacher should possess indicate that a Technology teacher, upon completion of studies, should posses the following competences to present the Learning Area Technology as a subject specialist: indepth subject knowledge of the various knowledge areas for the Learning Area Technology; suitable pedagogical content knowledge to be able to transform technological knowledge to teachable matter; technological skills in technological processes and techniques; and positive values and attitudes which can be integrated successfully during various learning opportunities. It is also imperative that pre-service Learning Area Technology teachers possess knowledge of appropriate teaching strategies to accomplish critical, creative and problem-solving skills among learners. The empirical research was aimed at establishing the nature of pre-service training programmes in South Africa, as well as identifying shortcomings in the training of pre-service Technology teachers. Data analyses regarding the nature of pre-service training of Learning Area Technology teachers-.enabled the researcher to identify particular shortcomings in preservice training programmes in South Africa. The following shortcomings were identified: insufficient subject knowledge and technological subject skills; limited subject specific pedagogical knowledge; lack of real life situations in learning opportunities; and a lack of modelling of teaching strategies during facilitation of the Learning Area Technology. Based on the findings of the research which was also related to the literature, specific recommendations were made in order to improve the quality of pre-service training for the Learning Area Technology. Recommendations on the identified shortcomings include the following: the training of Learning Area Technology teachers as subject specialists by establishing standards appropriate for tertiary training in order to enhance the development of subject knowledge; the development of subject specific pedagogical content knowledge by implementing micro lessons; revision of time planning and facilities for the practising of technological skills; and sufficient opportunities to practise, analyse and reflect on teaching processes to develop proper and appropriate teaching strategies. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010

Os estudantes desenvolvem suas atividades em diferentes ambientes educacionais, internalizando modelos de atuação profissional e espelhando-se nas experiências profissionais de seus professores e profissionais não docentes. Este estudo teve como objetivos identificar a percepção de estudantes de Terapia Ocupacional sobre os atributos mais importantes em bons modelos de profissional e identificar a percepção de terapeutas ocupacionais docentes e não docentes apontados pelos estudantes como bons modelos sobre os atributos que consideram como representativos desta sua característica. Foram abordados 116 estudantes da FMRP-USP e 102 da UFSCar, através de questionário estruturado e grupos focais; 12 profissionais docentes e não docentes da FMRP-USP e 10 da UFSCar, através de entrevista individual semi-estruturada. Os dados foram analisados quantitativamente (por meio de estatística descritiva) e qualitativamente (através de análise de conteúdo). Os estudantes identificaram como atributos importantes de um bom modelo de profissional: ter um bom relacionamento com o aluno, com o paciente e com a equipe de trabalho; demonstrar empatia; possuir didática; ser organizado e demonstrar comprometimento com o seu crescimento pessoal e profissional. Os profissionais docentes e não docentes referiram que foram indicados como bons modelos por demonstrarem empatia; apresentarem bom relacionamento interpessoal (com o estudante e com o paciente) e mostrar relação teórico-prática. Pode-se concluir que os atributos de um bom modelo para estudantes, não diferem da percepção de docentes/profissionais sobre suas próprias habilidades positivas. Os dados obtidos neste estudo sobre os atributos de um bom modelo na formação do terapeuta ocupacional poderão ser aplicados em programas nacionais de capacitação e desenvolvimento docente. / Students develop their activities in different educational environments, internalizing models of professional performance and mirroring themselves in the professional experiences of their teachers and non-teaching professionals. The objective of this study was to identify the perception of Occupational Therapy students about the most important attributes in good role models and to identify the perception of occupational and non-teaching occupational therapists pointed out by the students as good models about the attributes they consider as representative of their characteristic . A total of 116 students from FMRP-USP and 102 from UFSCar were approached through a structured questionnaire and focus groups; 12 teaching and non-teaching professionals from FMRP-USP and 10 from UFSCar, through a semistructured individual interview. Data were analyzed quantitatively (through descriptive statistics) and qualitatively (through content analysis). The students identified as important attributes of a good role model: having a good relationship with the student, the patient and the work team; demonstrate empathy; possess didactics; be organized and demonstrate commitment to your personal and professional growth. Clinical tutors believed that they were nominated as good role models because they demonstrated empathy; a good relationship with student and patient and were able to link theory to professional practice. It can be concluded that the perceptions of occupational therapy students and clinical tutors about role models attributes were similar. Identification of good role model characteristics may inform teacher training and faculty development in occupational therapy.

Graduates who responded to the survey indicated that the undergraduate music education curriculum between 1967 and 1972 was generally adequate in preparing students to teach music in the public schools. Areas such as administration, supervision, student teaching, and professional education were deemed weaker than other areas by both the vocal and instrumental graduates. In comparing vocal and instrumental graduates' responses in certain areas of the questionnaire it was found that in most cases opinions of both groups agreed regarding importance of listed competencies. The curriculum was equally effective in training vocal and instrumental teachers, with the exception of secondary instrumental methods, which appeared to be an outstanding weakness. A low positive correlation (r=.107) existed between selected graduates' academic success and their success as teachers in public schools. This correlation was, however, not statistically significant and it was accepted that there was only a slight relationship between students' success in undergraduate training at North Texas and their success as public school music teachers. Graduates who responded to the survey indicated that the undergraduate music education curriculum between 1967 and 1972 was generally adequate in preparing students to teach music in the public schools. Areas such as administration, supervision, student teaching, and professional education were deemed weaker than other areas by both the vocal and instrumental graduates. In comparing vocal and instrumental graduates' responses in certain areas of the questionnaire it was found that in most cases opinions of both groups agreed regarding importance of listed competencies. The curriculum was equally effective in training vocal and instrumental teachers, with the exception of secondary instrumental methods, which appeared to be an outstanding weakness. A low positive correlation (r=.107) existed between selected graduates' academic success and their success as teachers in public schools. This correlation was, however, not statistically significant and it was accepted that there was only a slight relationship between students' success in undergraduate training at North Texas and their success as public school music teachers.

The thesis deals with undergraduate training of kindergarten teachers. The aim is to compare the issue of preparation for the profession of kindergarten teacher from different perspectives in historical and international comparisons and reflect and analyze the needs of the profession towards initial training kindergarten teachers on the basis of theoretical concepts and statements from practice. The reaserch aims to analyze the curriculum of initial training kindergarten teachers at selected faculties of education in the Czech Republic, analyze and reflect on meeting the needs of the profession in these faculties and learn how to evaluate their students' level of development of their professional competence at the beginning of undergraduate training and at the end. Research design is a multi-case study. Working with reaserch respondents has a longitudinal character. Methods were used quantitative and qualitative methodology - questionnaire, rating scales, content analysis of documents, interview and focus group. The thesis analyzes the curriculum of undergraduate training at Faculty of Education Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Education University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and Faculty of Education University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice in the context of the model of the...

The objective of the dissertation thesis is to examine selected problems in the education of secondary level music teachers that influence their professional performance, in the context of current social and education policies of the Czech Republic and the Republic of Austria. The specific issues addressed are: career benefit system, professional standards of teachers, ageing of teachers' population, social and economic status of teachers and feminisation in schools. A comparative analysis of the university curricula for undergraduate music teacher training both in the Czech Republic and the Republic of Austria forms part of the dissertation thesis. The practical research part presents the results of the research questionnaire survey of opinions of the music education university students and graduate teachers on their university training, motivation to be a teacher and depicts their problems at the beginning of their teacher's career. In conclusion, the selected problems of music teacher education are viewed by university teachers and administration workers by means of semi- structured interviews.