Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Key stage three'

The current understanding of students' co- and self-regulated learning behaviours during group learning is limited. Research on social cognitive models of self-regulated learning (SRL) focused primarily on understanding the processes that students use to self-regulate their learning and the subsequent benefits of SRL on learning and academic performance. Recently, sociocultural models have begun to argue that SRL is fostered, developed, and maintained within social contexts and as a result of interactions with teachers and peers. This research employs both social cognitive and sociocultural theories to investigate students' co- regulatory behaviours in a computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environment. The students worked in a computer based science simulation learning environment in which either self-regulatory prompts or co- and self- regulatory prompts were given. A longitudinal design methodology incorporating four studies was adopted. The first study engaged two hundred and fourteen year 7 and 8 (11-13 year oIds) students to pilot the developed co-regulated strategies for learning questionnaire (CRSLQ) in a high school at Bedfordshire County in the United Kingdom. The remaining three studies engaged forty year 7 students (11-12 year olds) from the same school who were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group to work collaboratively on various science topics. Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses were used to examine the strategies that students used to co- regulate their learning processes over time. Results from the quantitative analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the experimental and the control groups in the students' demonstration of co-regulated learning (CRL) behaviours over time. However, the results from the knowledge tests, although they suggested that learning had taken place, did not reach statistical significance. Findings from the qualitative analysis suggested between group and within group differences in the nature of co-regulatory processes that groups used to co-regulate their learning behaviour over the course of the three studies. Theoretically, this research extends individual models of SRL to include social forms of regulation arguing that students acquire, refine, and use different forms of regulatory processes to regulate their learning behaviours during collaborative learning. Finally, given the emphasis on SRL throughout the national curriculum this research supports the use of collaborative tasks in a technology-rich learning environment as an instructional method to increase students' regulatory processes. Some recommendations for future work are then made.

This thesis is principally concerned with the statutory assessment of design and technology at key stage 3 of the National Curriculum. Design and technology is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum for England and Wales introduced under the auspices of The Education Reform Act of 1988. To establish the context in which this research was undertaken, this chapter describes in outline the National Curriculum. In particular the role of The Task Group on Assessment and Testing is considered and discussed as its key recommendations had a direct influence on statutory testing. In particular issues relating to end of key stage 3 assessment in design and technology, the focus of this thesis, are detailed. The aims of this thesis are described in relation to the key questions which it seeks to answer. In brief these are concerned with the validity and reliability of national statutory tasks; the impact of adopting criterion referencing in design and technology; the effect of assessment activities on learning experiences and the relationship between the different modes of assessment. Each of these issues is reviewed in relation to the way in which they might effect statutory testing. In addition the aspects which will need to be considered in undertaking the research and development required are identified.

Historically, the subject of 'English' has often been associated with progressive teaching styles; 'personal growth' as a pedagogical aim has been a strong thread running through accounts of English teaching in England and Wales from the 1920s to the 1970s. From 1988, the 'disciplinary technologies' of the 'standards agenda', including detailed tables of content standards, standardised assessments and prescriptive pedagogies, have played an important role in shaping the subject. However, in 2008 standardised tests in English at Key Stage Three were suddenly abolished in England, amid signs that the dominance of the logic of standards was receding. This Research Project examines the work of Key Stage Three English teachers in England and explores their responses to shifting discourses on standards between October 2008 and March 2010. The experiences of English teachers in Wales (where standardised tests were purposefully abolished in 2005) are used as an illuminating comparator. Data was generated from semi-structured interviews with teachers, lecturers and civil servants; attendance at a subject association meeting for English teachers in London; and close readings of curriculum and assessment documents from England and Wales. Grounded Theory, supplemented by Situational Analysis (Clarke 2005), was used to analyse the data and to theorise about the links between practice, policy and discourse. The study concludes that the removal of standardised testing at Key Stage Three, in both England and Wales, has widened teachers' pedagogical repertoires and has prompted a more active and holistic engagement with literature, especially Shakespeare texts. It also finds that in Wales, despite moves to grant teachers more autonomy to assess students, a persistently performative discourse is pressurizing teachers to inflate grades and to 'fabricate' assessment data. In England -in spite of the abolition of SATs and the National Strategies and an ostensibly less prescriptive curriculum - nationally generated standards continue in a variety of forms, including standardised assessment grids from the Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP) initiative. However, APP is non-statutory which means that practitioners have an opportunity to shape their own assessment practices, particularly if they develop the pedagogical connoisseurship to defend their choices.

Research has elicited the views of young people and teaching staff surrounding learning in PRUs, however there is a need for greater inquiry focusing on bridging communication between students and staff members. Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) are under a high level of scrutiny related to their academic outcomes (Taylor, 2012), but the voices of young people and PRU staff are largely absent from this political discourse. This small-scale, social constructionist research study explored narratives elicited in the context of an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) on the topic of successful learning. It engaged young people and staff from a Key Stage Three inner-London PRU, in mixed focus group discussions, following a 4-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry (Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny; Cooperrider, Barrett & Srivastva, 1995). To complement AI’s emphasis on the use of storytelling to evoke shared meanings, the research utilised Dialogic Narrative Analysis for a deeper exploration of narratives constructed. It draws upon the dialogic concepts of polyphony (multiple voices apparent within an individual voice), heteroglossia (codes of language from communities; Bakhtin, 1981), and positioning (how people and institutions are related to one another and the self, within an individual’s talk; Frank, 2012). The purpose of the research was not to access a truth about these voices, but to identify these features within narratives. Patterns identified in narrative production helped to make sense of how students and staff members constructed narratives of success in learning. They related to how students positioned themselves within narratives of what both they and others need; how they constructed mainstream and PRU entities (and teachers within both) in contrast to one another; as well as the discourses and genres drawn upon within their narratives. Divergences are noted where narratives are constructed to be appreciative to some, but not to others. The Appreciative Inquiry elicited visions for the future of the PRU, towards which, staff members constructed tangible actions. Implications for Educational Psychology practice are considered, including critical reflection on the use of Appreciative Inquiry in the PRU context, and its limitations.

This study investigates the principles and arguments of JH Newman's Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent. Newman argued that the mind receives impressions of revealed truth, which form a real and permanent inward knowledge that may be recognised implicitly or explicitly by those who possess it. This recognition is considered by Newman to be an insight into the act of assent to religious belief before it can be understood and explained. According to Newman's epistemology as articulated in the Grammar (in the principles of perception, apprehension, assent and inference, first principles, conscience, certitude and the illative sense) the human person can believe without understanding and proof. This is the hypothesis that is the driving force of this study that uses bracketing to isolate Key Stage Three (11-14 years) pupil insights in accord with qualitative research methods. The pupils of a Catholic Comprehensive in the Greater London area in this study discovered and experimented with age-old and contemporary conventions within the domain of the Philosophy of Religion in response to problem-solving tasks set on the doctrine of the Trinity. This teaching and learning took place long before a secular educational paradigm driven by stage theory would consider feasible. The perception of doctrine as provocative educational materials that the Catholic Church enforces through the processes of indoctrination is not verified in this study. The cognitive challenges of doctrine were found to be no more or less than the cognitive capacities of students. Teaching methodology needs to take a strong account of the teacher as expert as well as the teacher as facilitator oflearning. Newman's epistemology reveals the human person as a believing person demonstrating the inherent capacity to believe is critical to an understanding of how pupils learn in religious and non-religious matters.

This thesis explores the views of History Post Graduate Students on the relationship between the study of history, with an emphasis at key stage three (KS3; Appendix A), and its possible role in developing perceptions of ‘British National Identity’ (BNI), ‘Patriotism’ and ‘Fundamental British Values’ (FBV). Their views are influenced by the political, media and academic discourse planes. The relationship between the students and other discourse planes are analysed using the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the approaches it offers; namely Discourse Historical Analysis (DHA) and Social Actor Approach (SAA).

The purpose of this exploratory research was to explore the effect of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on State Owned Enterprises’ performance in South Africa. The aim of the study was to establish the impact that KPIs have on state owned enterprises, how they are currently measured and the causes of success or failure of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on State Owned Companies.Fifteen respondents participated in this qualitative study. The survey method used was a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. The respondents were all Senior Executives including Chief Executive Officers, General Managers, Board Members and Senior Management employed by State Owned Enterprises reporting to the Department of Public Enterprises, Department of Transport and Department of Water Affairs. The research instrument that was used was a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions.
Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)
unrestricted

Qigong is a Chinese traditional ethnic sport that is practised worldwide. In the West it is often applied as an Eastern mind-body intervention. Although clinical trials have reported its positive effects, some scholars have questioned the research design and methodology. It is clear that there is a need for im-provements in the quality and comparability of studies. A lack of knowledge about the meditative aspect of Qigong may con-tribute to poor research quality. Therefore, the aims of this dissertation are to explore the meaning and functions of the culturally significant key component ‘Heart 1 adjustment’ and to investigate how this basic technical component and the concept of Qigong are expressed in scientific litera-ture. Through the application of two research methods – a cross-cultural linguistic approach and a case-based comparative method – the disserta-tion shows that the meaning of ‘Heart adjustment’ relates to eight tech-niques and functions in Qigong training which affect: 1) the emotions, 2) the physical heart, 3) the mind, 4) virtue, 5) wisdom, 6) concentration, 7) desires and vision and 8) a person’s way of life and attitude. Unfortu-nately, the ‘Heart adjustment’ aspect of Qigong is excluded in the English case; where the word ‘mind’ replaces the Chinese concept of Heart. The cultural knowledge that is embedded in the abstract concept of ‘Heart adjustment’ has apparently not been understood in the West, which means that the above techniques and functions have not been specified. Conse-quently, there has been no objective basis for an evaluation of the quality of Qigong practice. From the sport science perspective, the dissertation concludes that the lack of a unified standard with which to assess the quality of Qigong prac-tice in the scientific field thus affects the research quality and data com-parability of Qigong studies. Therefore, the establishment of a methodol-ogy that measures the quality of the practice is absolutely vital.

La present tesi doctoral s’ha centrat en el repte d’aconseguir, mitjançant Fabricació Additiva (FA), models per a assaig quirúrgic, sota la premissa que els equips per fer-los haurien de ser accessibles a l’àmbit hospitalari. L’objectiu és facilitar l’extensió de l’ús dels prototips com a eina de preparació d’operacions quirúrgiques, transformant la pràctica mèdica actual de la mateixa manera que en el seu moment ho van fer tecnologies com les que van facilitar l’ús de radiografies. El motiu d’utilitzar FA, en lloc de tecnologies més tradicionals, és la seva capacitat de materialitzar de forma directa les dades digitals obtingudes de l’anatomia del pacient mitjançant sistemes d’escanejat tridimensional, fent possible l’obtenció de models personalitzats. Els resultats es centren en la generació de nou coneixement sobre com aconseguir equipaments d’impressió 3D multimaterials accessibles que permetin l’obtenció de models mimètics respecte als teixits vius. Per facilitar aquesta buscada extensió de la tecnologia, s’ha focalitzat en les tecnologies de codi obert com la Fabricació per Filament Fos (FFF) i similars basades en líquids catalitzables. La recerca s’alinea dins l’activitat de desenvolupament de la FA al CIM UPC, i en aquest àmbit concret amb la col·laboració amb l’Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (HSJD). El primer bloc de la tesi inclou la descripció de l’estat de l’art, detallant les tecnologies existents i la seva aplicació a l’entorn mèdic. S’han establert per primer cop unes bases de caracterització dels teixits vius -sobretot tous- per donar suport a la selecció de materials que els puguin mimetitzar en un procés de FA, a efectes de millorar l’experiència d’assaig dels cirurgians. El caràcter rígid dels materials majoritàriament usats en impressió 3D els fa poc útils per simular tumors i altres referències anatòmiques. De forma successiva, es tracten paràmetres com la densitat, la viscoelasticitat, la caracterització dels materials tous a la indústria, l’estudi del mòdul elàstic de teixits tous i vasos, la duresa d’aquests, i requeriments com l’esterilització dels models. El segon bloc comença explorant la impressió 3D mitjançant FFF. Es classifiquen les variants del procés des del punt de vista de la multimaterialitat, essencial per fer models d’assaig quirúrgic, diferenciant entre solucions multibroquet i de barreja al capçal. S’ha inclòs l’estudi de materials (filaments i líquids) que serien més útils per mimetitzar teixits tous. Es constata com en els líquids, en comparació amb els filaments, la complexitat del treball en processos de FA és més elevada, i es determinen formes d’imprimir materials molt tous. Per acabar, s’exposen sis casos reals de col·laboració amb l’HJSD, una selecció d’aquells en els que el doctorand ha intervingut en els darrers anys. L’origen es troba en la dificultat de l’abordatge d’operacions de resecció de tumors infantils com el neuroblastoma, i a la iniciativa del Dr. Lucas Krauel. Finalment, el Bloc 3 té per objecte explorar nombrosos conceptes (fins a 8), activitat completada al llarg dels darrers cinc anys amb el suport dels mitjans del CIM UPC i de l’activitat associada a treballs finals d’estudis d’estudiants de la UPC, arribant-se a materialitzar equipaments experimentals per validar-los. La recerca ampla i sistemàtica al respecte fa que s’estigui més a prop de disposar d’una solució d’impressió 3D multimaterial de sobretaula. Es determina que la millor via de progrés és la de disposar d’una pluralitat de capçals independents a fi de capacitar la impressora 3D per integrar diversos conceptes estudiats, materialitzant-se una possible solució. Cloent la tesi, es planteja com seria un equipament d’impressió 3D per a models d’assaig quirúrgic, a fi de servir de base per a futurs desenvolupaments.
La presente tesis doctoral se ha centrado en el reto de conseguir, mediante Fabricación Aditiva (FA), modelos para ensayo quirúrgico, bajo la premisa que los equipos para obtenerlos tendrían que ser accesibles al ámbito hospitalario. El objetivo es facilitar la extensión del uso de modelos como herramienta de preparación de operaciones quirúrgicas, transformando la práctica médica actual de la misma manera que, en su momento, lo hicieron tecnologías como las que facilitaron el uso de radiografías. El motivo de utilizar FA, en lugar de tecnologías más tradicionales, es su capacidad de materializar de forma directa los datos digitales obtenidos de la anatomía del paciente mediante sistemas de escaneado tridimensional, haciendo posible la obtención de modelos personalizados. Los resultados se centran en la generación de nuevo conocimiento para conseguir equipamientos de impresión 3D multimateriales accesibles que permitan la obtención de modelos miméticos respecto a los tejidos vivos. Para facilitar la buscada extensión de la tecnología, se ha focalizado en las tecnologías de código abierto como la Fabricación por Hilo Fundido (FFF) y similares basadas en líquidos catalizables. Esta investigación se alinea dentro de la actividad de desarrollo de la FA en el CIM UPC, y en este ámbito concreto con la colaboración con el Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona (HSJD). El primer bloque de la tesis incluye la descripción del estado del arte, detallando las tecnologías existentes y su aplicación al entorno médico. Se han establecido por primera vez unas bases de caracterización de los tejidos vivos – principalmente blandos – para dar apoyo a la selección de materiales que los puedan mimetizar en un proceso de FA, a efectos de mejorar la experiencia de ensayo de los cirujanos. El carácter rígido de los materiales mayoritariamente usados en impresión 3D los hace poco útiles para simular tumores y otras referencias anatómicas. De forma sucesiva, se tratan parámetros como la densidad, la viscoelasticidad, la caracterización de materiales blandos en la industria, el estudio del módulo elástico de tejidos blandos y vasos, la dureza de los mismos, y requerimientos como la esterilización de los modelos. El segundo bloque empieza explorando la impresión 3D mediante FFF. Se clasifican las variantes del proceso desde el punto de vista de la multimaterialidad, esencial para hacer modelos de ensayo quirúrgico, diferenciando entre soluciones multiboquilla y de mezcla en el cabezal. Se ha incluido el estudio de materiales (filamentos y líquidos) que serían más útiles para mimetizar tejidos blandos. Se constata como en los líquidos, en comparación con los filamentos, la complejidad del trabajo en procesos de FA es más elevada, y se determinan formas de imprimir materiales muy blandos. Para acabar, se exponen seis casos reales de colaboración con el HJSD, una selección de aquellos en los que el doctorando ha intervenido en los últimos años. El origen se encuentra en la dificultad del abordaje de operaciones de resección de tumores infantiles como el neuroblastoma, y en la iniciativa del Dr. Lucas Krauel. Finalmente, el Bloque 3 desarrolla numerosos conceptos (hasta 8), actividad completada a lo largo de los últimos cinco años con el apoyo de los medios del CIM UPC y de la actividad asociada a trabajos finales de estudios de estudiantes de la UPC, llegándose a materializar equipamientos experimentales para validarlos. La investigación amplia y sistemática al respecto hace que se esté más cerca de disponer de una solución de impresión 3D multimaterial de sobremesa. Se determina que la mejor vía de progreso es la de disponer de una pluralidad de cabezales independientes, a fin de capacitar la impresora 3D para integrar diversos conceptos estudiados, materializándose una posible solución. Para cerrar la tesis, se plantea cómo sería un equipamiento de impresión 3D para modelos de ensayo quirúrgico, a fin de servir de base para futuros desarrollos.

The Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns in Far North Queensland, comprise some of the richest agricultural lands in Australia. The area was settled from the 1880s, following the discovery of gold and other minerals on the Palmer River, the Hodgkinson and the Herberton fields. Situated as it is on the economic and geographic periphery of Australia, government sponsored agriculture on the Tablelands was seen not so much as a food producing venture, as a means of closer settlement and strategic defence in accord with the White Australia Policy. Maize, dairy, and tobacco industries were set up by opening Crown Land for selection under conditions which inevitably caused destruction of thousands of acres of valuable rainforest, with consequent land degradation, erosion, and invasions of weeds. Subsequently, production became less than optimal, and without assured markets, transport systems and access to communications, the farmers struggled with subsistence conditions. In order to keep unviable industries alive, successive Queensland and Commonwealth governments intervened with a plethora of schemes which had the effect of subjecting farm families to years of poverty and despair. In the process, the industries became subject to ever-increasing regulation which stifled enterprise, and led to over-production of commodities for the available market. All of the industries were supported to some degree by mechanisms ranging from statutory marketing to subsidies, bounties, direct grants and tariff protection. When Australian governments moved to realign the economy of the nation according to neo-liberal principles, all of the support mechanisms which had allowed the industries to stay alive were withdrawn over a period of thirty years. The result has been predictable. Tobacco growing in the area has ceased, the dairy industry has declined to the point where it is unlikely to exist for much beyond 2010, and the maize industry is surviving as a provider of stock feed to the local market. This study traces the establishment, development, and rationalization of each industry, and records the effects of these processes on the people, the environment, the wider community, and the politics of the area. In terms of regional decline, it is a microcosm case study of the effects of government intervention, both in the process of regulation and deregulation. The lessons to be drawn from the study point to profound implications for the production of food within a sustainable environment in Australia.

The Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns in Far North Queensland, comprise some of the richest agricultural lands in Australia. The area was settled from the 1880s, following the discovery of gold and other minerals on the Palmer River, the Hodgkinson and the Herberton fields. Situated as it is on the economic and geographic periphery of Australia, government sponsored agriculture on the Tablelands was seen not so much as a food producing venture, as a means of closer settlement and strategic defence in accord with the White Australia Policy. Maize, dairy, and tobacco industries were set up by opening Crown Land for selection under conditions which inevitably caused destruction of thousands of acres of valuable rainforest, with consequent land degradation, erosion, and invasions of weeds. Subsequently, production became less than optimal, and without assured markets, transport systems and access to communications, the farmers struggled with subsistence conditions. In order to keep unviable industries alive, successive Queensland and Commonwealth governments intervened with a plethora of schemes which had the effect of subjecting farm families to years of poverty and despair. In the process, the industries became subject to ever-increasing regulation which stifled enterprise, and led to over-production of commodities for the available market. All of the industries were supported to some degree by mechanisms ranging from statutory marketing to subsidies, bounties, direct grants and tariff protection. When Australian governments moved to realign the economy of the nation according to neo-liberal principles, all of the support mechanisms which had allowed the industries to stay alive were withdrawn over a period of thirty years. The result has been predictable. Tobacco growing in the area has ceased, the dairy industry has declined to the point where it is unlikely to exist for much beyond 2010, and the maize industry is surviving as a provider of stock feed to the local market. This study traces the establishment, development, and rationalization of each industry, and records the effects of these processes on the people, the environment, the wider community, and the politics of the area. In terms of regional decline, it is a microcosm case study of the effects of government intervention, both in the process of regulation and deregulation. The lessons to be drawn from the study point to profound implications for the production of food within a sustainable environment in Australia.