An online community of practice for pre-service and beginning teachers of secondary mathematics

The aim of this study was to investigate how a community of practice focused on learning to teach secondary mathematics was created and sustained by pre-service and beginning teachers. Bulletin board discussions of one pre-service cohort are analysed in terms of Wenger’s (1998) three defining features of a community of practice: mutual engagement, joint enterprise, and a shared repertoire. The study shows that the emergent design of the community contributed to its sustainability in allowing the pre-service teachers to define their own professional goals and values. Sustainability was also related to how the participants expanded, transformed, and maintained the community during the pre-service program and after graduation.

O PAPEL DO GESTOR ESCOLAR NO PROCESSO DE QUALIFICAÇÃO PROFISSIONAL DOS ALUNOS NO ENSINO MÉDIO UM ESTUDO DE CASO EM UMA ESCOLA PÚBLICA ESTADUAL PAULISTA

A presente dissertação trata do papel da gestão escolar no Ensino Médio, no processo de qualificação profissional dos alunos em uma escola pública estadual na periferia do município de Osasco São Paulo. Observa-se que um novo modelo de gestão na educação é discutido nos últimos anos no Brasil. Os Governos Federais junto com o Ministério da Educação têm apresentado programas sociais com o objetivo de que o jovem brasileiro possa se profissionalizar e estar apto a enfrentar um mercado de trabalho competitivo. Entre os programas do Governo destaca-se o Prouni, (Programa de Universidade para todos), representa um programa do Ministério da Educação criado em 2004 com a finalidade de conceder bolsas de ensino integral e parcial em instituições privadas de ensino superior, em cursos de graduação, destinada a estudantes brasileiros que não tenham cursado o ensino superior. Essas bolsas são concedidas aos alunos que participaram do Exame Nacional do Ensino Médio (ENEM). Em 2011, o Ministério da Educação criou o Programa Nacional de Acesso ao Ensino Técnico e Emprego (Pronatec) com o propósito de ampliar a oferta de cursos de educação profissional e tecnológica. Com esses e outros programas oferecidos pelo Governo pretende-se preparar os jovens para o mercado de trabalho. A pergunta norteadora deste estudo é: qual o papel do gestor escolar do Ensino Médio e suas ações visando a qualificação profissional do aluno? A pesquisa busca analisar a gestão escolar no Ensino Médio, tendo como foco o papel do gestor de uma escola pública no processo de escolha da qualificação profissional dos alunos do Ensino Médio. Para auxiliar o alcance desse objetivo, foram delimitados dois aspectos para estudo: a) analisar as ações e concepções políticas da gestão escolar pela percepção do corpo docente e de funcionários da escola; b) analisar as ações da gestão escolar visando à qualificação profissional por meio da visão de alunos em curso e de egressos. Trata-se de uma pesquisa que será qualitativa exploratória- descritiva. A pesquisa documental e as entrevistas semiestruturadas fazem parte da coleta de dados que irão subsidiar a análise final. A contribuição científica e social que se discute neste trabalho é a reflexão sobre a gestão da escola no Ensino Médio no processo de qualificação profissional dos alunos.

The design and evaluation of distributed virtual environment to support learning in global operations management

The primary goal of this research is to design and develop an education technology to support learning in global operations management. The research implements a series of studies to determine the right balance among user requirements, learning methods and applied technologies, on a view of student-centred learning. This research is multidisciplinary by nature, involving topics from various disciplines such as global operations management, curriculum and contemporary learning theory, and computer aided learning. Innovative learning models that emphasise on technological implementation are employed and discussed throughout this research.

Embedding e-portfolios for effective lifelong learning:a case study

Lifelong learning is a ‘keystone’ of educational policies (Faure, 1972) where the emphasis on learning shifts from teacher to learner. Higher Education (HE) institutions should be committed to developing lifelong learning, that is promoting learning that is flexible, diverse and relevant at different times, and in different places, and is pursued throughout life. Therefore the HE sector needs to develop effective strategies to encourage engagement in meaningful learning for diverse student populations. The use of e-portfolios, as a ‘purposeful aggregation of digital items’ (Sutherland & Powell, 2007), can meet the needs of the student community by encouraging reflection, the recording of experiences and achievements, and personal development planning (PDP). The use of e-portfolios also promotes inclusivity in learning as it provides students with the opportunity to articulate their aspirations and take the first steps along the pathway of lifelong learning. However, ensuring the uptake of opportunities within their learning is more complex than the students simply having access to the software. Therefore it is argued here that crucial to the effective uptake and engagement of the e-portfolio is embedding it purposefully within the curriculum. In order to investigate effective implementation of e-portfolios an explanatory case study on their use was carried out, initially focusing on 3 groups of students engaged in work-based learning and professional practice. The 3 groups had e-Portfolios embedded and assessed at different levels. Group 1 did not have the e-Portfolio embedded into their curriculum nor was the e-Portfolio assessed. Group 2 had the e-Portfolio embedded into the curriculum and formatively assessed. Group 3 also had the e-Portfolio embedded into the curriculum and were summatively assessed. Results suggest that the use of e-Portfolios needs to be integral to curriculum design in modules rather than used as an additional tool. In addition to this more user engagement was found in group 2 where the e-Portfolio was formatively assessed only. The implications of this case study are further discussed in terms of curriculum development.

Mapping teaching, learning and assessment in the MPharm in UK schools of pharmacy

Aim To undertake a national study of teaching, learning and assessment in UK schools of pharmacy. Design Triangulation of course documentation, 24 semi-structured interviews undertaken with 29 representatives from the schools and a survey of all final year students (n=1,847) in the 15 schools within the UK during 2003–04. Subjects and setting All established UK pharmacy schools and final year MPharm students. Outcome measures Data were combined and analysed under the topics of curriculum, teaching and learning, assessment, multi-professional teaching and learning, placement education and research projects. Results Professional accreditation was the main driver for curriculum design but links to preregistration training were poor. Curricula were consistent but offered little student choice. On average half the curriculum was science-based. Staff supported the science content but students less so. Courses were didactic but schools were experimenting with new methods of learning. Examinations were the principal form of assessment but the contribution of practice to the final degree ranged considerably (21–63%). Most students considered the assessment load to be about right but with too much emphasis upon knowledge. Assessment of professional competence was focused upon dispensing and pharmacy law. All schools undertook placement teaching in hospitals but there was little in community/primary care. There was little inter-professional education. Resources and logistics were the major limiters. Conclusions There is a need for an integrated review of the accreditation process for the MPharm and preregistration training and redefinition of professional competence at an undergraduate level.