Doctoral Theses /LS SOL

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Utskrift från Malmö högskola - mah.se

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Deltagandets kontextuella villkor : fem träningsskoleklassers pedagog...
Östlund, Daniel : Malmö högskola, Fakulteten för lärande och samhälle Malmö Studies in Educational Sciences;67 (2012)	DOCTORAL THESIS

English abstract:

The thesis should be regarded as a contribution to the development of knowledge about the interaction taking place in the educational setting for pupils with PIMD in Sweden, the training school (Sw. Träningsskola), and the contextual and interactional conditions that characterizes this educational setting. The study is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the pedagogical praxis in the training School and the pupils’ possibilities to be agents within the processes of interaction, participation and learning. The thesis aims to contribute to the development of knowledge about the contextual and interactional conditions that training school pedagogic practice is characterized by. The study's overall purpose is to analyze the participation and interaction in the context of five training school classes. A particular focus is placed on teaching organization and the interaction patterns appearing in the pedagogical practice and what kind of consequences the interaction has for the pupils’ participation. Participation in this study refers to how the teams and students jointly create interaction in classrooms, the patterns produced by the interaction. The study draws on a theoretical framework that is influenced by ethnometodological work and from the dramaturgical framework by Goffman, where the participant’s social actions and methodical ways of making sense in a social setting are in focus. The design of the data collection is inspired by an ethnographic approach and is constructed as a classroom study. The empirical material was collected by classroom observations and by video recordings. The data derive from video recordings that were made during spring 2009 and spring 2010 in five training school classes and all together twenty pupils (age 8-19, eleven boys and nine girls) and 28 members from the teams (nine special teachers, two music teachers, one psychical education teacher and 16 assistants) participated in the study. The results are showing that the pedagogical practice in training school was defined by six different areas: Circle time, One-to-one tuition, Group joint education, Snack time/ lunch, Breaks and play-time and Transitions. In the interaction between the pupils and the staff the pupils’ positions was constructed as: The attentive and responsive pupil, The experiencing pupil, The choice making and autonomous pupil, The exploring pupil, The pupil that shows civil inattention, The pupil as a recipient of care and The playing pupil. A starting point for further research involves studying how students' participation is constructed in more inclusive settings i.e. in interaction with other children who do not have such extensive disabilities.

Deltagandets_kontextuella_villkor.pdf (8.971Mb)

Med blicken på barnet : Om olikheter inom förskolan som diskursiv pra...
Palla, Linda : Malmö högskola, Lärarutbildningen Malmö Studies in Educational Sciences;63 (2011)	DOCTORAL THESIS

English abstract:	The aim of the thesis is to highlight how children are created as subjects when their behaviour puzzles, worries or challenges staff in preschool, and how scope for, or limitations to, the children's opportunities to be, know or act differently thereby emerge. An additional purpose is to shed light on how suggestions for ways of managing and, in Foucault’s sense, governing the children and their behaviour are formulated as a discursive practice in special education contexts at preschool. The study is primarily based on meetings between staff and special educators, as well as texts produced in relation to such meetings. The analysis shows how the discursive practice constructs images of what is considered as special, based on what has appeared as significant in the gaze of the staff. The child is constructed as a multiple subject, grouped in five main topics. These are: the child as growing and developmental, the child as regulated, the child as transparent and measurable, the child as confident and routinized, and the child as deficient. The results give an understanding of how preschool offers or assigns children different identities in relation to the normalizing practice, where both homogeneity and heterogeneity are of significance. The preschool works with governing techniques, such as time and routines, space and materials, body and play. A clear desire for the child to be able to regulate itself is also seen. The observed discursive practice creates some latitude for children in preschool to be, know and act differently, as long as the variation doesn’t become too pronounced, permanent, or extensive in relation to age, or violate too many of the preschool routines and rules.
Swedish abstract:	Med blicken på barnet syftar till att synliggöra hur barn skapas som subjekt när deras beteenden förbryllar, oroar eller utmanar personal i förskolan och hur utrymme för, eller begränsningar av, barnens möjligheter till att vara, kunna eller göra olika därmed framträder. Vidare belyser studien hur hanterings- och styrningsförslag av barnen och deras beteenden formuleras i specialpedagogiska sammanhang inom förskolan som diskursiv praktik. Huvudsaklig grund för studien är situationer där avdelningspersonal och specialpedagog möts för samtal samt texter som producerats i samband med dylika samtal. Studien vilar på en poststrukturalistisk teoribildning och har genomförts med ett diskursanalytiskt angreppssätt. Studien har genomförts utifrån antagandet om att språket medverkar till hur människor konstituerar, socialt konstruerar och förändrar sin verklighet. Även om det finns rörlighet och förändringskraft i språket kan, genom att ett specifikt sätt att tänka och tala inom en kontext reproduceras och fixeras, viss kunskap och vissa föreställningar bli dominerande och till slut tas så för givna att de inte längre ifrågasätts. Studien erbjuder en alternativ bild som kan öppna upp för reflektion och andra sätt att tänka och tala än de som har blivit och utmärkt sig som naturliga och dominerande i specialpedagogiska sammanhang inom förskolan.

Linda_Palla_diss.pdf (5.819Mb)

Mellan "jag" och andra. Nätbaserade studentdialoger med argumentering...
Amhag, Lisbeth : Malmö högskola, Lärarutbildningen Malmö Studies in Educational Sciences: Doctoral Dissertation Series;57 (2010)	DOCTORAL THESIS

English abstract:	The thesis is about how students can learn to use argumentation and the processes of giving responses in a web-based setting, as a tool for individual and collective learning. The thesis comprises three studies, which examine and describe how 70 distance students develop an individual and collective competence to provide feedback, critically evaluate and argue in the context of a web-based learning environment. The aim is to investigate the quality of students’ web-based written asynchronous dialogues (N=2 430), and how students can be encouraged to use and evaluate their own and others' web-based arguments and responses, both directly and retrospectively. Additionally, the aim is to develop analytical dialogic models, that can be used to distinguish, identify and describe the meaning content and voices of the students’ arguments and responses that emerge in social and dialogic interactions in collective asynchronous dialogues, in a university web-based learning environment. Besides a general socio-cultural understanding of learning and development aims, the present study is based on Bakhtin´s theoretical framework of dialogues, as well Rommetveit’s concepts of meaning potentials and Toulmin’s argument pattern. The CSCL perspective (Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning) is here related to the theoretical approach in both socio-cultural theory, and Bakhtin´s theoretical framework. The element that distinguishes this perspective, as a whole, from other approaches to learning is an emphasis that is not possible to understand learning solely from individual actions or development. Learning always arises as a product of dialogue processes, aiming to create meaning. The results from the three studies appears that the students to various extents gradually develop an ability to make use of the meaning content and voices as an active tool for new understanding or gaining new perspectives, individually and collectively. It also clarifies that meaning; dialogue and interaction belong together. Together, these dimensions form the participatory impacts in online education. What particularly emerges is the importance of collaborative learning, when the focus moves from the individual to the collective, but also into the space within and between the written, asynchronous dialogues. The text with different voices breaks in the meeting within and between the dialogues with different meaning content, or in what we could term the passage through the speech zone. In this zone exists material and a sphere of influence dominated by the students’ own and others' words, reflections or characters. Different dialogic argument patterns develops. There is a paradigm shift “between I and other” when students are co-actors in joint continuous, open dialogues with own and others' voices.
Swedish abstract:	Avhandlingen handlar om kvaliteten i studenters nätbaserade argumentering och responsgivning. Handlar det om vardagssamtal eller vetenskapliga diskussioner? Syftet är att undersöka om och i så fall hur studenters skriftliga, asynkrona dialoger bidrar till utveckling av kollektivt och individuellt lärande i en nätbaserad akademisk kontext. Det vill säga urskilja, identifiera och beskriva på vilket sätt och i vilken utsträckning studenter använder egna och andras texters meningsinnehåll i argument och responser för lärande i samspel med andra studenter. Syftet är också att finna struktur och mönster på hur argumentering och responsgivning kan formas, förhandlas och befästas i en nätbaserad, akademisk kontext. Datainsamlingen består av 70 studenters (41 kvinnor och 29 män) skriftliga, individuella svar på åtta kursuppgifter, gruppvisa asynkrona argumentering, responsgivning och diskussioner under fyra högskolekurser (60 hp) på distans i Lärarutbildning 90 högskolepoäng. Totalt innefattar studierna 2 430 ”frusna dialoger”. Metodmässigt tillfördes Bakhtins teoretiska ramverk om dialoger till sociokulturell teori och Toulmins praktiska argumentmodell. Nära hälften av dem (42 %) är deskriptivt kategoriserade (N=1 012) utifrån reviderade modeller av Veerman och Veldhuis-Diermanse och Toulmins argumentmodell. Knappt en tredjedel av dem (29 %) är selektivt analyserade (N=707) utifrån Bakhtins teorier om dialoger och Rommetveit’s begrepp meningspotential, med fokus på dialogens potential, röster och argumentmönster och relationerna dem emellan som medierande redskap för både ett kollektivt och individuellt lärande. CSCL perspektivet (Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning) relateras till både sociokulturell teori och Bakhtins teorier om dialoger utifrån att lärandet är situerat och inte enbart utvecklas individuellt utan också i samarbete med andra i en bestämd situation, vilket får betydelse för lärandets karaktär och resultat. Resultaten som framträder är att studenterna i olika grad successivt utvecklar en förmåga att använda sig av meningsinnehållet i dialogerna som ett aktivt redskap för att utveckla ny förståelse eller nya perspektiv, individuellt som kollektivt. Det som också visar sig är att mening, dialog och interaktion hör ihop och är de medverkande krafterna i nätbaserad undervisning. Det som också tydliggörs är att det är en aktiv och kreativ lärprocess som utvecklas över tid, när studenter som medaktör använder sina teoretiska kunskaper och praktiska erfarenheter tillsammans med andra, mot nya sätt att tänka och handla. Olika dialogiska argumentmönster utvecklas. Det sker ett perspektivbyte "mellan `jag´ och andra" genom att studenterna blir medförfattare med egna och andras ord och röster. Mening blir dels ett resultat av spänningen i skillnaden mellan "jag" och andra och dels som samarbetsförmåga av de kollaborativa arbetssätten.

Lisbeth_Amhag_diss.pdf (1.627Mb)

A profession in change : a development ecology perspective

Christensen, Jonas : Faculty of Teacher Education, Malmö University
Malmö studies in educational sciences;56 (2010)
RESUME ET MOTS CLÉS EN FRANCAIS. Un Etat-providence se compose d'une variété d'organisations clientes dans lequel, parmi d'autres professions, les universitaires et les travailleurs sociaux sont actifs. Le travail social comme une profession s'est développé dans un contexte de bien-être où les changements à différents niveaux de l'individu, de l'organisation et la société pose de nouveaux défis pour la profession. Quand une société subit une transformation totale, cela affecte aussi l'enseignement supérieur, surtout quand il s'agit de faire face aux besoins de nouvelles compétences dans un domaine tel que l'économie et la gestion. Un changement dans une profession peut également être considéré à différents niveaux et dans divers environnements contextuels. La thèse aborde la question générale: Dans la transformation de différents milieux sociaux et organisationnels, quels sont les facteurs qui peuvent influer sur l'acquisition des connaissances de métiers et sur les processus d'apprentissage? Le cadre théorique de référence est fourni par un modèle modifié de Bronfenbrenner, Ecologie Développement. Cette théorie met l'accent sur la force motrice de l'individu et sa capacité à influencer leur environnement spécifique. Cette étude a pour point de départ est l'individu et l'individu par rapport à leur contexte environnant, à différents niveaux. La thèse apporte une contribution en améliorant la connaissance de la façon dont l’Ecologie Développement peut être considérée dans un contexte de bien-être en utilisant des objets d'étude dans les domaines de l'éducation et une profession. La collecte de données a principalement prit la forme d'interviews. D'autres sources ont été ajoutées aux interviews, une analyse des documents clés, des conférences et des séminaires où il y avait une interaction avec les élèves comme des sources additionnelles et empiriques dans des contextes différents, avec des visites d'étude. La thèse est basée sur les trois publications originales suivantes: études de Gestion et d’Economie en Lituanie - la création d'une discipline universitaire, l’Ecologie Développement dans le Travail Social allemand et Amélioration Proposée du Modèle Ecologie Développement de Bronfenbrenner. L'étude montre comment le modèle Ecologie Développement dans une forme modifiée et développée peut contribuer de manière constructive à la compréhension d'une profession en pleine mutation. En outre, l'étude montre comment le modèle Développement Ecologie peut être utilisé dans deux différents contextes sociaux et organisationnels. Il montre également comment l'indépendance professionnelle est subordonnée vu certains cadres organisationnels et sociétaux. Enfin, l'étude révèle que l'esprit d'entreprise et l'apprentissage sont étroitement liés les uns aux autres et l'acquisition des connaissances concerne des rencontres à différents niveaux où l'interaction entre l'individu et ses forces motrices internes est indispensable - à savoir, de souligner que les forces motrices internes appartiennent à l’individu concerné (une personne). Mots clés: changement, professions, écologie développement, autonomie professionnelle, travail social, économie, entrepreneuriat social, acquisition de connaissances, Allemagne, Lituanie.

DOCTORAL
THESIS

English abstract:

A welfare state consists of a variety of client organisations within which, among other professions, academics and social workers are active. Social work as a profession has developed in a welfare context where changes at the different levels of the individual, organisation and society constantly pose new challenges to the profession. When a society undergoes a total transformation, this also affects higher education, especially when it comes to facing needs for new competencies in a subject area such as Economics and Management. A change in a profession can also be seen on different levels and in various contextual environments. The thesis addresses the overall question: In the transformation of different societal and organisational environments, which factors may influence professions’ knowledge acquisition and learning processes? The theoretical frame of reference is provided by a modified model of Bronfenbrenner’s Development Ecology. This theory focuses on the individual’s drive and ability to influence their specific environment. This study’s point of departure is the individual and the individual in relation to their surrounding context on different levels. The thesis makes a contribution by improving knowledge of how Development Ecology may be seen in a welfare context by using study objects within the fields of education and a profession. The data collection primarily took the form of interviews. Other sources were added to the interviews; an analysis of key documents, lectures and seminars where there was an interaction with students as additional, empirical sources in various contexts, along with study visits. The thesis is based on the following three original publications: Management and Economics studies in Lithuania – the creation of a university discipline, Development Ecology in German Social Work and Proposed Enhancement of Bronfenbrenner’s Development Ecology Model. The study demonstrates how the Development Ecology model in a modified and developed form can constructively contribute to understanding a profession undergoing change. In addition, the study shows how the Development Ecology model can be used in two various societal and organisational contexts. It also demonstrates how professional autonomy is conditional given certain organisational and societal frameworks. Finally, the study reveals that entrepreneurship and learning are closely linked to each other and knowledge acquisition is about meetings on different levels where the interplay between the individual and their internal driving forces is essential – namely, to emphasise that the internal driving forces belong to the individual involved (a person).

JChristensen_diss.pdf (5.970Mb)

Doctoral Theses /LS SOL

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Problems of language and communication in children : Identification a...
Bruce, Barbro : Lunds universitet. Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series;2007:14 (2007) For sale at: order@kunskapsutveckling.se	DOCTORAL THESIS