Teaching how to learn with a wiki in Primary Education: what classroom interaction can tell us

Understanding how wikis are used to support collaborative learning is an important concern for researchers and teachers. Adopting a discourse analytic approach, this paper attempts to understand the teaching processes when a wiki is embedded in a science project in primary education to foster collaborative learning. Through studying interaction between the teacher and students, our findings identify ways in which the teacher prompts collaborative learning but also shed light on the difficulties for the teacher in supporting student collective collaboration. It is argued that technological wiki features supporting collaborative learning can only be realized if teacher talk and pedagogy are aligned with the characteristics of wiki collaborative work: the freedom of students to organize and participate by themselves, creating dialogic space and promoting student participation. We argue that a dialogic approach for examining interaction can be used to help to design a more effective pedagogic approach in the use of wikis in education, to shift into Web 2.0 learning paradigm and to equip learners with the competences they need to participate in knowledge co-construction.

¿Por qué los estudiantes participan poco en la gestión de la universidad? La opinión del profesorado = Why do students participate so little in the management of the university? The opinion of the teaching staff

El artículo invita a reflexionar sobre la participación de los estudiantes en la gestión y el gobierno de la universidad a partir de una investigación. Se centra en la opinión y percepción que el profesorado implicado directamente en la gestión de la docencia tiene sobre esta participación. Se aportan datos relevantes que ayudan a disponer de una visión más completa de un fenóneno complejo y multidimensional como es la participación estudiantil. Sus interpretaciones nos ofrecen información significativa que contribuye a comprender algunas de las causas de la baja participación y nos orienta hacia las posibles estrategias a emprender para intentar invertir esta tendencia

Monitoramento atmosférico passivo de SO2, NO2 e O3 em áreas urbanas e de influência industrial como prática de química ambiental para alunos de graduação

This study is a result of undergraduate student participation in the Environmental Chemistry discipline provided by the Chemistry Institute/UFBA. The students were involved in the development of passive samplers, a project of the LAQUAM (Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory). The students' residences and other neighborhoods were used to create a passive sampling network, allowing the measurement of atmospheric levels of pollutants in urban areas and in those under industrial influence. The assembly of the passive samplers, including impregnation of filters and chemical analysis were part of the students' practice tasks. The results were analyzed taking into consideration the Brazilian legislation.

Best practices of international double degree programmes. Case of Russian and European universities

The purpose of the Master’s thesis research is to study and disseminate the best practices of international double Master’s degree programmes organization, implementation and development. The given research is focused on two main areas: motivation of higher education institutions to start double degree programmes and best practices of double degree programme design and implementation from the perspective of building joint curriculum and organizing balanced mobility and development of existing programmes in terms of increasing their quality and attractiveness. This is a case study of the double degree programmes between Russian and European universities. The study findings reveal good developments in the field of double degree cooperation between Russian and European universities and a high motivation from both parties. The research depicts different models of building a joint curriculum and organizing academic mobility. The following areas could be outlined as development points for double degree programmes: - Personal interest and commitment of organizers of double degree programmes; - Comprehensive agreement between partners on different aspects and practicalities of the double degree programme implementation; - Promotion towards more balanced student participation and two-way mobility; - Foreign language skills improvement for students and university staff; - Joint strategy and actions in marketing and quality assurance; - Involvement of international companies; - Wider usage of e-learning technology.

Instructor support for self-directed learning in higher education

This study addressed the problem of instructor support for self-directed learning, specifically, learner-directed program planning, within a classroom setting in higher education. A combination of survey, interview, document analysis, and observation was used to assess and evaluate the attitudes and practices of a sample of full-time faculty at an Ontario university. Eighty-seven percent of the study sample reported instructional beliefs, values, and expectations that were not supportive of self-directed learning, especially in terms of student participation in program planning. Planning was seen as the responsibility of the instructor. Instructors were least open to student participation in the planning of the evaluation of learning. However, there was considerable stated support for other of the basic principles of adult education. The remaining 13% of the study sample reported instructional beliefs, values, and expectations that were fully supportive of self-directed learning. Instructional practices were analyzed in relation to the instructors' stated beliefs. Although practices reflected, in many instances, instructors' statements of support, there were some significant discrepancies between apparent support for the concept of self-directed learning and actual classroom practice. Both beliefs and practice were compared to a research model of self-directed learning. Most instructors did not have a concept of self-directed learning as comprehensive as that described in the research model. Instructor support for self-directed learning was profoundly influenced by the university setting. It was concluded that more strenuous attempts to research, enhance, and promote instructional and institutional support for self-directed learning in higher education are warranted.

Intervention strategies on teachers focused on creating meaningful educational environments for mathematical abilities development

This article describes an intervention process undertaken in a training program for preschool and first grade teachers from public schools in Cali, Colombia. The objective of this process is to provide a space for teachers to reflect on pedagogical practices which allow them to generate educational processes that foster children’s understanding of mathematical knowledge in the classroom. A set of support strategies was presented for helping teachers in the design, analysis and implementation of learning environments as meaningful educational spaces. Furthermore, participants engaged in an analysis of their own intervention modalities to identify which modalities facilitate the development of mathematical abilities in children. In order to ascertain the transformations in the teachers’ learning environments, the mathematical competences and cognitive processes underlying the activities proposed in the classroom, as well as teacher intervention modalities and the types of student participation in classroom activities were examined both before and after the intervention process. Transformations in the teachers’ conceptions about the children’s abilities and their own practices in teaching mathematics in the classroom were evidenced.

Selección de atributos predictivos del rendimiento académico de estudiantes en un modelo de B-Learning

Resumen tomado de la publicación

La opinión de los estudiantes sobre su participación en la universidad

Aunque el tema de la participación en los distintos espacios de la vida comunitaria ha irrumpido con fuerza en los últimos tiempos, el sector universitario apenas ha incorporado el debate de la participación en su funcionamiento universitario. La participación estudiantil ha sido, y sigue siendo en la mayoría de los casos, simbólica. En este contexto, el artículo que presentamos profundiza en el análisis de la participación de los estudiantes en la estructura académica universitaria a partir de un estudio realizado en la Universidad de Girona. Nos centramos en los resultados derivados de la aplicación de un cuestionario electrónico a los estudiantes para conocer sus propias percepciones y puntos de vista en relación con su participación en la universidad. A partir de este análisis planteamos las orientaciones y estrategias que se configuran como elementos y recursos favorecedores de la participación estudiantil, tratando aspectos diversos como la mejora de la información, la necesidad de estrategias para facilitar la adaptación de los estudiantes a la dinámica de los órganos de gobierno o el reconocimiento del carácter formativo de la participación

A história escolar e a teoria da atividade: relações e possibilidades formativas no ensinar e aprender

This study investigates the manner in which the Activity Theory by Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev contributed to the performance of a teacher who teaches History at the 8th year of elementary school, Escola Estadual Coronel Fernandes, in Luís Gomes - RN city. Her goal is to analyze the contributions of this theory in her teaching practice. It was opted by collaborative approach as formative strategy and was used as procedures for training of knowing the courses of study and thoughtful reflection sessions. It was used as techniques in the development of these cycles, the semistructured interview and the reflection sessions, the autoscopy and observation in real life. Regarding the theoretical foundation, held in these cycles, the teacher demonstrated to have appropriated some contributions from Activity Theory, besides relating them to her practice and understanding her importance to the improvement of teaching and learning of History. Concerning to the reflection sessions, the analysis showed that the participant has used of constructions of this theory and improved their practice, developing lessons of History so as to encourage student participation in oral and promote his integral development. The educational process, carried out on the practice of teacher, has shown an increase in her conscious learning that contributed to the improvement in their professional development. Before these findings, as needs for new thinking, this research recommends, especially the organization of teaching activities, based on this theory, which allows the teacher to improve the teaching and learning process contributing to student's full education

A participação escolar de alunos com deficiência na percepção de seus

The identification of the level of school participation of disabled students is crucial for monitoring the inclusive educational process. It requires the use of measuring instruments that provide functionality before school specific demands, and that at the same time can motivate the teacher to reflect on his judgment about the performance of students with disabilities. School Function Assessment (SFA) is a tool that helps recognize the special needs of students with disabilities according to parameters of functionality and participation. Thus, this study analyzed the influence of the use of SFA on the teacher's judgment of student participation and performance. Eight teachers responded regarding the participation of nine students with disabilities through the use of the SFA and a questionnaire. The results indicated that, for five teachers, SFA helped with the perception of the student's participation, focusing on the activity demand and brought reflections on: the need of evaluation not just in the classroom, co-relation between the degree of disability and the participation of the student, understanding of the specificities of the performance, importance of the adaptation to neutralize incapacity and the importance of the focus deviation from the disability toward functionality.

Interação de um aluno com paralisia cerebral com colegas de classe durante atividades ludicas

The study aimed to examine the quality of interpersonal relationships developed between a child with cerebral palsy (CP) and his classmates during group play activities carried out in the classroom and during recess. The participants of the study were a boy with clinical diagnosis of quadriplegic CP, his teacher and classmates. Data collection was carried out by means of a structured interview with the teacher and of video recording the child with CP interacting with his classmates in play activities. The interview data analysis was carried out using qualitative procedures and the video recording was analyzed using a category system. The results showed that the teacher perceived the child with CP to be interested; he participated in play activities and interacted successfully both with familiar partners and with all classmates in general. On the other hand, the analysis of the video recorded activities showed that even though interaction did in fact occur positively, the child with CP remained mostly an observer of the activities rather than an active participant, possibly due to the gap between the child's possibilities and the requirements imposed by the activities underway in the school setting.

Movimento estudantil, gestão democrática e autonomia na Universidade

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O quadro de escrever como recurso facilitador de interação e aprendizagem dos alunos no processo de avaliação

Esse estudo teve como objetivos: 1. Investigar os resultados da aprendizagem dos alunos, decorrente de uma experiência de avaliação, usando como recurso facilitador o quadro de escrever. 2. Utilizar procedimentos que possibilitem a participação do aluno nas atividades avaliativas desenvolvidas no quadro de escrever. Foi desenvolvida em uma turma do 1º ano do Ensino Médio, em escola pública federal do estado do Pará. Os resultados indicam que o uso do quadro de escrever de forma interativa, facilita a aprendizagem dos alunos quando considerados aspectos didático-pedagógicos inerentes às tendências em Educação Matemática, tais como a avaliação diagnóstica, a interação social, o contrato didático, o erro e os obstáculos epistemológicos. Por fim, conclui-se que o quadro de escrever deve ser ressignificado na prática pedagógica do professor de matemática.

A Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de São José do Rio Preto no período de 1957 a 1964: estudo de uma instituição escolar

According to the existing literature, the FFCL of São José do Rio Preto had a pioneering role as regards the organization and management of higher education. This article aims to discuss the originality/innovativeness of the educational project of this institution in the period from 1957 to 1964, based on an analysis of departmental organization and student participation. In order to do so, we use documents about the creation process of the FFCL, reports of courses, and minutes of departmental meetings and of the Academic Philosophical Center. The results show that, indeed, this institution was organized in three departments, though these operated in consonance with the chair system. Student participation varied from equal representation to the representation of a single student per class. Thus, the results show that the innovative/revolutionary character of this institution was exaggerated in the existing literature and may have contributed to the existing “mysticism” in the city as regards the history and the importance of this institution.