| 1. |
- Lindahl, Britt, et al.
(författare)
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Socio-scientific Issues : A Way to Improve Students’ Interest and Learning?
- 2011
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review B. - New York : David Publishing Company. - 2161-6248 .- 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 8:9, s. 342-347
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- According to many documents, there is a strong need to renew science education. One way could be to work with SSI (socio-scientific issues). This paper reports on both students' and teachers' experiences and learning when working with socio-scientific issues in science education in secondary school (aged from 13 to 16). The approach is multidimensional, as factors that influence cognition as well as motivation and the forming of attitudes are complex. Results suggest that SSI work forms are more important than personal factors for explaining outcomes. Relevant issues, autonomy and functioning group work seem to be important aspects of successful SSI work together with structure provided by the teacher, and information that challenges previous knowledge. In general, SSI seems to be most efficient for students, who believe that they learn from presenting and discussing their knowledge, focus on "the large picture", acknowledge own responsibility for learning, find school science personally relevant and are self-efficacious. It seems that the outcomes from SSI work are much in the hands of the teacher. This paper is a short summary of the first year and quantitative part of the project. Further results from the project will later be found in our homepage (http://www.sisc.se).
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| 2. |
- Annerblom, Marie-Louise
(författare)
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Some starting points for a discussion about intercultural communication and internationalisation in higher education
- 2012
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 2:1, s. 50-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main aim of this study is to develop some deeper understanding of the experiences of intercultural meetings and intercultural communication in the process of internationalization on higher education. The theoretical approach is based on the anatomy of culture meetings which deal with the concept of culture, the relationship between time and space, the language and the influence of the situation in the current context. An intercultural project between Russian and Swedish academic teachers and students with the purpose to arouse interest in Swedish and Russian culture was used as a case study. The method was action research oriented. To analyze the case, a reflexive methodology was used including a tri-view model of intercultural communication. An extended reflective strategy with visual aids like photos was practiced. The result shows that by using extended reflections, it was easier to avoid using stereotypes and discuss sensitive or controversial topics between teachers and students, to conclude the understanding of internationalization and intercultural communication in an intercultural project increased by developing the reflective process together with extended reflections and aesthetical aids.
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| 3. |
- Damber, Ulla, 1957-
(författare)
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Literature and Empowerment : A Study of Multicultural Grade three Classes Overachieving in Reading
- 2011
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 1:1, s. 88-102
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this mixed methods study is to gain insights into how teachers can assist their students to become good readers who read with joy and engagement. This study describes multicultural classrooms in a low-Socio-Economic Status (SES) Stockholm area, representing reading communities, where reading fiction is the heartbeat of classroom life. Teachers’ ways of relating to their students, their methods and assessment procedures will be discussed. The creation of the classroom climate, the fun factor, parents’ roles and collaborative aspects of teachers’ work also protruded as major themes in the teachers’ narratives. The analyses employ the concepts of the Proximal Zone of Development and Scaffolding from Vygotsky’s theories, together with the concepts of weak and strong framing as well as classification from Bernstein’s Code Theory. Teachers’ ways of relating to phenomena such as deficit syndrome and colour blindness will be analyzed from critical perspectives. Since the practitioner’s perspectives are paid much attention to, issues like the need for the employment of broad theoretical perspectives, trans-disciplinary research approaches and mixed methods will also be discussed.
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| 4. |
- Fredriksson, Ulf, 1954-, et al.
(författare)
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Reading and education for students of immigrant origin in some Swedish municipalities
- 2009
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - Libertyville, IL : David Publishing. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 6:11, s. 17-33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researchers from Mid Sweden University and Kalmar University organised surveys on reading skills in Swedish municipalities. This paper will focus on the surveys made in four municipalities between 2002 and 2007. All students in grade 8 in these four municipalities participated in the surveys-in total 16, 287 students. These surveys included a reading test for the students and information about the students collected from the teachers, including participation in instruction in Swedish as a second language and in their mother tongues. Students of immigrant origin in Sweden are offered the possibility to participate in instruction in Swedish as a second language and in instruction in the student's mother tongue. No obvious trends over time in the participation in Swedish as a second language and mother tongue instruction were found in the four municipalities on the tests we gave, in spite of national trends. There was no difference in results on the reading tests in Swedish between those students who participated in mother tongue instruction and those who did not, but there was a difference in test results between those who participated in Swedish as a second language and those who did not. Those who did not participate (in Swedish as a second language instruction) did, on average, score higher on the test. When different language groups are compared, it can be noted that a majority in all groups of immigrant students neither participate in Swedish as a second language nor in mother tongue instruction. However, there are important differences between boys and girls and between language groups. Girls seemed to be more willing than boys to participate in voluntary mother tongue instruction, while boys more often than girls had to participate in compulsory lessons in Swedish as a second language.
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| 5. |
- Gu, Limin, et al.
(författare)
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Case Studies on the Use of Technology in TPD (Teacher Professional Development)
- 2012
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. A. - : David Publishing Company. - 2161-623X .- 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 2:3, s. 278-290
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, the progress of a three-year cooperative project investigating the current state of TPD (teacher professional development) in Sweden and China in the area of TPD and ICT (information and communication technologies) is summarized. A brief introduction to the field of TPD is given, and thereafter, ICT is related to what in the project is referred to as TETPD (Technology Enhanced Teacher Professional Development). Thereafter, the project as such is given a short presentation, followed by findings regarding policies and initiatives related to TETPD in Sweden and China for investigating the current state of TETPD in each country respectively. The framework for investigating TETPD is presented, and four Chinese and four Swedish cases are compared to some facets showing differences in models for TETPD in the two countries.
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| 6. |
- Holmgren, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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Reducing dropouts in online education : group tutoring in virtual seminars and support structures
- 2012
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - David Publishing Company. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 2:11A, s. 971-978, s. 273-282
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper describes a development project aimed at reducing the large number of dropouts in online degree project courses. The idea was that the introduction of group tutorials in virtual seminars, combined with extensive support materials, would reduce dropout rates. Among the students who participated, the dropout rate was reduced by 50% compared to previous courses. While the support structure was seen by all supervisors and students as an important function, there was some resistance among the supervisors towards the virtual seminars, probably due to existing tutorial cultures and organizational structures.
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| 7. |
- Randle, Hanne, et al.
(författare)
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Reflection : a method for organisational and individual development
- 2007
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - Illinois USA : David Publishing Company. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 4:9, s. 1-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper presents how organisational development can be the results when politicians, managers, social workers and teaching staff take part in reflection. The results are based on a government-funded initiative in Sweden for lowering sick absenteeism. Three local governments introduced reflection as a strategy to combat work related stress and a method for employee development. The aim was to develop empowered workers who could learn a new approach in their work situation. Professional workers sometimes feel shame when management directives make them supply a lower standard in service than they perceive as a good enough standard. The results show that reflection as part of work can help individuals to cope with work related stress and stabilise staff retention figures and result in organisational changes in municipal services such as public elementary schools, homecare and social work. This paper is the result of a longitudinal qualitative study with an interactive approach. Basis for data collection are group and individual interviews, study visits and participation in seminars and conferences and joint paper productions.
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| 8. |
- Shabes, Vladimir, et al.
(författare)
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Complex Values in Different Cultures : Some Research Results of Psycholinguistic Experiments with Russian and Swedish Students
- 2012
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 2:1, s. 70-83
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the article on the basis of the psycholinguistic experimental data obtained in 2009-2010 from Russian and Swedish students, we consider internal features of several complex values (“Harmony”, “Freedom”, “Democracy”, “Tolerance” and “Patriotism”) and analyze their external systemic organization, taking into account both specificity of the two cultures and gender specifics. We argue that value concepts are hierarchically organized, forming different generalization levels from the simple to the more complex ones with intricate overlapping among different complex values within the system. This research is a stage in a complex experimental work aimed at comparing Russian and Swedish values (the project on Swedish Institute grant).
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| 9. |
- Torpsten, Ann-Christin, 1952-
(författare)
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Rights and multilingualism
- 2012
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. - USA : David Publishing Company. - 1548-6613 .- 1930-1529. ; 2:4, s. 439-444
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, the author focuses on educational values and second language learners’ experiences from education. She is using a life story approach. Overarching aim of the presentation is to discuss second language teacher students’ encountering with Swedish school, mother tongue tuition, second language and multilingualism. The goal is achieved by examining an empirical context. The analysis was carried out in a spiral of understanding by means of deconstruction and reconstruction. The analysis shows that learning Swedish is important and mother tongue is positive for continued and lifelong learning, linguistic and literacy development. Being good at Swedish means opportunities to cooperate with others in school. The opportunity to take part in tuition and teaching in mother tongue in school is positive for the continued linguistic and literacy development. Mother tongue was very important for their development of multilingualism. Through lifelong linguistic learning and development, it becomes possible to build up an identity as multilingual persons with lingual capital and literacy skills.
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| 10. |
- Lindahl, Ingrid, 1948-
(författare)
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Wanting to achieve something together with others — a narrative study
- 2015
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Ingår i: US-China Education Review. B. - 2161-6248. ; 5:1, s. 51-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study is about two educators (tutors) who are responsible for management and development in a preschool and their accounts in connection with the project “Metamorphosis: Children, Educators, Companies, and Local Municipality in Collaboration for a Sustainable Development”. The project is based on a philosophy concerning children, citizenship, and the preschool as a place of sharing values and doing democracy, which posits that cooperation within a local municipality could be a way to contribute towards sustainable development. Surplus materials from companies are being put to use, and work done in co-operative efforts among participants of varying ages is seen as a part of “lifelong learning”. The objective of this study is to highlight the meaning and importance of “conveying of identity” the educators place on themselves in their work as tutors in doing democracy. Ultimately, the study is expected to contribute to the knowledge of the tutorial work of educators in connection with this project. It is a narrative study, taking a social constructional perspective, based on the principle that meaning and significance are created through linguistic communication in a certain cultural and historical context. The empirical material consists of the two educators’ own “reflecting diaries” and interviews focusing on the significance the pedagogues put on themselves in this context. Data collection was carried out over the course of one year. The preliminary result of the study is a meta-story titled “Wanting to Achieve Something Together With Others”, which relates Sara’s accounts, and “Cooperation and I” based on Annika’s story. The educators’ shared philosophy concerning children, citizenship, and doing democracy seems to play an important part in their reflections and in the significance they attribute to themselves.
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