Students' critical thinking is often researched using quantitative tests designed to measure critical thinking. In contrast, this study qualitatively analyses group and whole-class dialogues in an interdisciplinary SSI project by focusing on students' critical thinking practices. As such, the study provides an in-depth example of an immersion…

Children develop their language when they explore and talk about literary texts. In this study, we explore the design of shared digital reading as a basis for critical reflection on the reading situation in an institutional context with its given opportunities and limitations. We examine six videotaped readings of one specific picture book app,…

This article explores specific aspects of literacy practices in teacher education in Norway, building upon data collected within the research project "Digital literacy and use of learning resources in teacher education in Norway" (DigiGLU). Our main aim is to explore how teachers in different subject courses in teacher education (TE)…

This article is based on an interview with a Norwegian physical education (PE) teacher on the social contact she had with pupils when teaching them PE. The article examines a two-dimensional aspect of a teaching situation relating to swimming instruction in PE, especially focusing on pupils' positive experiences of learning to swim and the…

The aim of this study was to investigate response-process based evidence for the validity of the Programme for International Student Assessment's (PISA) self-report questionnaire scales as measures of specific psychological constructs, with a focus on scales meant to measure inclination toward specific learning strategies. Cognitive interviews (N…

The use of electronic audience response systems (ARS) in undergraduate science instruction is increasing. In this article, we argue for combining such a teaching approach with a more active use of student small-group discussions, demonstrating with examples from a Norwegian physics course how "talking physics" is central to the…

A new type of Student Response System (SRS) based up on the latest wireless technologies and hand held mobile devices has been developed to enhance active learning methods and assess students' understanding. The key services involve a set of XML technologies, web services and modern mobile devices. A group consisting of engineers, scientists and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between students' reactions to teaching and their consequent performance as measured by course grades. Reactions to teaching were reported by 189 adult part-time students enrolled in postgraduate studies over two consecutive academic semesters across six different study programs in a large…

Evaluation by educational experts and 210 students of 15-minute videotaped sixth-grade teaching periods conducted by 26 student teachers assessed the relationship between teacher characteristics and student reactions. Characteristics examined were problem-solving ability, social sensitivity, feeling of security, and educational attitude. The…

Using data collected in Australia, the United States, and Norway, this paper discusses teachers' utilization of disciplinary techniques. Students in each country were asked to identify, from a list of 34 teacher characteristics and practices, those which were "good" and "bad." In general, the study found that the good teacher…

The study tested a hypothesized three-dimensional structure of test anxiety involving the constructs of fear of failure, emotionality, and worry. The discriminant validity of these three constructs was studied. Uninformed students were told about a mathematics test in a lesson just prior to administration. They were compared to informed students…

This paper reports a qualitative study on students' informal reasoning on a controversial socio-scientific issue. Twenty-two students from four science classes in Norway were interviewed about the local construction of new power lines and the possible increased risk of childhood leukaemia. The focus in the study is on what arguments the students…

Ninth-grade students in Norway responded to a questionnaire concerning aspects of their teacher's murder. Female students reported talking more with their friends and family about the incident and had higher stress reactions than males. Males did not seem as willing to confront the trauma and pain, suggesting gender differences in the ability to…