Search

A longstanding goal has been to find an antigen-specific preventive therapy, i.e., a vaccine, for autoimmune diseases. It has been difficult to find safe ways to steer the targeting of natural regulatory antigen. Here, we show that the administration of exogenous mouse major histocompatibility complex class II protein bounding a unique galactosylated collagen type II (COL2) peptide (Aq-galCOL2) directly interacts with the antigen-specific TCR through a positively charged tag. This leads to expanding a VISTA-positive nonconventional regulatory T cells, resulting in a potent dominant suppressive effect and protection against arthritis in mice. The therapeutic effect is dominant and tissue specific as the suppression can be transferred with regulatory T cells, which downregulate various autoimmune arthritis models including antibody-induced arthritis. Thus, the tolerogenic approach described here may be a promising dominant antigen-specific therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, and in principle, for autoimmune diseases in general.

In teacher education mentoring pre-service teachers is a critical factor. With background in research around mentoring pre-service teachers in connection to a training school project, this study aims to contribute knowledge about and identify mentors' experiences of mentorship in the setting of a training school. Through focus group interviews and semi-structured interviews, foregone by a survey aiming at identifying general views of mentoring, helping to create interview guides, data has been collected for 11 months. Through an interpretative phenomenological analysis, the results show two key themes emerging from mentoring in a training school where the first is strengthening the role as a mentor through three distinct experiences: collegiate learning, structure, and competence development. The second theme, challenging in the role as a mentor, involves four distincttdslevelions of experiences: assessment, planning (linked to the mentoring situation), workload and diversity. The conclusions show that the general experience is positive, but that there are some factors concerning stress and workload; a reworked structure that need to be put into consideration.

This pilot study’s aim is to understand how teaching and learning, in the nation-state of Sweden, is organized and carried out in 2022, with focus on the use ofdigital technologies in the classroom. The pilot has been conducted through an ethnographical and phenomenological approach. Participant observation, alongwith natural conversations and individual interviews constitutes the data in this study. Four teachers and seven different classes (175 students) have beenincluded in this study and a total of 20 hours have been spent in the classroom, observing, and talking to both teachers and students. Six hours of semistructured interviews have been conducted with the four different teachers divided into eight different interviews. The conclusions state that technology exists inthe classroom and is utilized by both teachers and students if the infrastructure is in place. Albeit as to what purpose digital tools are used, is not always well-defined. Moreover, there are obstacles to cope with regarding infrastructure, time, and resources. The organization of teaching and learning does not seem tohave changed albeit the tools might have.

The study presented in this paper maps schools through their digital presence, in terms of the “what” of education that is made relevant, “how” this information is presented (i.e., communicated) and “who” their webpages target. This mapping considers the “languaging landscape” of the webpages. The study aims to illuminate how educational matters are communicated digitally engaging with local government and independent contemporary schools’ digital presence. The findings are based upon the analysis of 11 compulsory and upper-secondary schools’ websites from one of Sweden’s ten largest cities. This region was strategically selected to create a diverse dataset based upon the extensive digitalization of schools since the turn of the century based upon the explicit 2017 national digitalization initiatives. Our analytical-methodological points of departure build on a Second Wave of Southern Perspectives (SWaSP) framing that brings together (i) sociocultural, dialogical perspectives on learning and communication and (ii) decolonial, southern framings on communication and identity. Our preliminary findings indicate that there is a discrepancy between local government and independent compulsory schools in how they position themselves in comparison to the upper-secondary local government, regional, and independent schools. The latter’s digital presence is similar across the formal domains of institutional presentations and their online social media presence. Marginal differentiation has been noted between local governmental and independent schools’ strategies for recruiting pupils. This, we argue, relates to the specific Swedish educational organization and management ethos wherein public resources are allocated to all schools based on the volume of pupils they successfully recruit.

The COVID-19 pandemic has elicited a shift from campus classrooms to distance education in higher education worldwide, shaping not only students’ experiences, but also those of teachers, especially those who never have taught online. In addition, the pandemic created a meta-context that has positioned distance education as something different from previous efforts. This study aimed to investigate higher education teachers’ experiences during the transition from classroom to online teaching by using a collective auto-ethnography method based on 13 personal stories from Swedish faculty. For the abductive approach in the analysis, a framework that combines lifelong learning theory with the context collapse concept has been applied. The disjuncture that the pandemic has elicited created a situation in which teachers had to make sense of the fact that their previous experiences did not completely fit the new situation. Context collapse, a term used to describe encounters with many audiences in social media, has been introduced to highlight the clash between professional and private contexts in online educational platforms. Based on lifelong learning theories, we suggest that context collapse should be examined in terms of how it can help improve higher education, as it holds the potential to include the entire person – body and mind – in education.

Delstudien ingick som en del av att utvärdera och beforska övningsskoleprojektet. Studien finansierades av Jönköping University och studien är publicerad i en vetenskaplig tidskrift på engelska. Forskarteamet bestod av Johan Bäcklund, Rebecka Florin Sädbom, Lena Manderstedt och Helena Anderström. Att delge utfallet av studien på svenska är viktigt då många handledare på kommunala skolor berörs. Inom lärarutbildningen är VFU och därmed handledning av VFU-studenter en av de centrala delarna av utbildningen. Handledarrollen blir därmed viktig och central för att utveckla denna del av lärarutbildningen och utgör en brygga mellan teori och praktik. Studiens syfte var att identifiera handledares erfarenheter av handledarskapet inom en övningsskola genom en interpretativ fenomenologisk analys (IPA). Fokus ligger således på handledares erfarenheter genom den övergripande forskningsfrågan Vilka möjligheter och utmaningar beskrivs av handledare om handledarskapet inom ramen för en övningsskola? Metod/genomförande Empirin har samlats in genom fokusgruppsintervjuer och semistrukturerade intervjuer. Dessförinnan har enkäter genomförts för att inför intervjuerna identifiera generella utgångspunkter för vad handledning är och innebär för handledare i en övningsskola. Enkäterna har inte ingått i studiens empiri men tjänat som syfte att utforma intervjuguider för de två olika intervjuformerna som använts i studien. Metoden syftar till att kategorisera samt analysera, genom IPA, vad som uttrycks av handledarna utifrån den kontext de talar, i detta fall att vara handledare i en övningsskola. Metoden är induktiv och bygger på att utifrån handledarens perspektiv, genom dennes tankar och känslor, tolka den kontext där denne befinner sig. I den fenomenologiska andan är metoden, som syftar till att nå handledares erfarenheter av övningsskolan, kopplade till världen de lever och verkar i. Det empiriska materialet har analyserats både på en manifest och latent nivå. Resultat Två större överg

The transition from analogue campus-based learning to digital distance learning during the Covid-19 pandemic affected our society in many ways. This study set out to explore the experiences of 30 pre-service teachers when transitioning to digital distance learning. The pre-service teachers (PSTs) participated in a series of focus-group interviews that were subsequently analysed using qualitative content analysis. The results indicate that the transition to digital distance learning worked well and that the technology that was used performed satisfactorily. However, the PSTs experienced both opportunities and obstacles with respect to distance learning. The opportunities associated with digital distance learning were reported to be instantiated by teacher-led ‘flipped classroom’ teaching sessions and the additional freedom that was enjoyed by the PSTs (in both space and time). An obstacle associated with digital learning was the feeling that important aspects of interpersonal interaction disappeared. The PSTs remained sedentary and isolated at home, and the learning experience became somewhat dysfunctional when the teaching was not clearly structured and teacher-lead. The study concludes that it is not possible to replace IRL (‘in real life’) teaching entirely with digital distance learning. However, the results suggest that a hybrid form of teaching or elements of digital teaching can work well as a complement to future campus-based courses.

I mars 2020 övergick all undervisning på de flesta universitet i Sverige från analog till digital undervisning. Vi genomförde i slutet av vårterminen 2020 en intervjustudie, med ett urval på 30 studenter, angående deras upplevelser av denna förändrade undervisning med syftet att beskriva deras erfarenheter och uppfattningar av övergången från analog till digital undervisning under Covid-19 pandemin. Metoden som användes var fokusgruppssamtal via verktyget Zoom där mellan 3–5 studenter deltog i varje fokusgrupp. Samtalen spelades in och transkriberades. Studien utgick från följande frågeställningar Hur upplevde studenterna övergången mellan analog och digital undervisning? Vilka för- och nackdelar beskrivs med övergången till digital undervisning? Hur upplever studenterna att förutsättningarna för deras lärande i de olika kurserna har påverkats vid övergången från analog till digital undervisning? Hur beskrivs examinationerna ha fungerat i digital form? Under en tematisk analys av empirin, framkom att övergången från analog till digital undervisning upplevdes fungera ganska bra för de flesta studenter. Vidare visar resultatet att tekniksupport, struktur, tydlighet i instruktioner samt lärarledd undervisning är förutsättningar för att den digitala undervisningen skall kunna fungera. Dessutom visar resultatet att vissa aspekter i den mellanmänskliga interaktionen, som upplevs viktig för lärandet, går förlorad vid digital undervisning. Resultatet ger upphov till reflektion kring vad vi, som undervisar i högre utbildning, kan lära oss av studenternas upplevelser av övergången från det analoga till det digitala.

I den här studien presenteras resultatet från en delstudie som ingår i ett större forskningsprojekt om kvalitetsaspekter rörande den verksamhetsförlagda utbildningen inom grundlärarutbildningens försöksverksamhet. Det övergripande syftet med försöksverksamheten är att höja kvaliteten på den verksamhetsförlagda delen av lärarutbildningen, och att på olika sätt förbättra studenternas möjligheter till god handledning inom ramen för projektet. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att bilda kunskap om på vilka sätt som VFU-handledare och lärarstudenter beskriver användandet av bedömningsmatrisen i handledningssamtal. Studien är genomförd på lärarutbildningens inriktningar år F–3 och 4–6. Materialet består av sju skuggningar av genomförda handledningssamtal, fjorton enskilda intervjuer med VFU-handledare och lärarstudenter samt två fokusgruppsintervjuer med studenter. Data analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys och analyserades sedan med utgångspunkt i en sociokulturell ansats. Resultatet visar att bedömningsmatrisen både tolkas och används på olika sätt under VFU:n och i handledningssamtal. Studenterna efterfrågar en tydligare formativ funktion för användning av matrisen i de handledningssamtal som genomförs inom ramen för övningsskolorna medan VFU-handledarna tenderar att uppehålla sig vid att problematisera innehållsliga aspekter av bedömningsdokumentet.

Establishing effective central tolerance requires the promiscuous expression of tissue-restricted antigens by medullary thymic epithelial cells. However, whether central tolerance also extends to post-translationally modified proteins is not clear. Here we show a mouse model of autoimmunity in which disease development is dependent on post-translational modification (PTM) of the tissue-restricted self-antigen collagen type II. T cells specific for the non-modified antigen undergo efficient central tolerance. By contrast, PTM-reactive T cells escape thymic selection, though the PTM variant constitutes the dominant form in the periphery. This finding implies that the PTM protein is absent in the thymus, or present at concentrations insufficient to induce negative selection of developing thymocytes and explains the lower level of tolerance induction against the PTM antigen. As the majority of self-antigens are post-translationally modified, these data raise the possibility that T cells specific for other self-antigens naturally subjected to PTM may escape central tolerance induction by a similar mechanism.

The Flipped Classroom is a teaching model where content attainment is shifted forward to outside of class, to be followed up by the teacher in class. In Sweden this way of teaching has become very popular during recent years. But what is gained by this way of teaching? Research on the Flipped Classroom in the context of the Swedish High School system is close to non-existent; why studies within this field are of great importance. In order to find appropriate informants, an electronic survey was constructed. Informants matching the selection criteria were then selected for qualitative interviews. In total nine informants agreed to participate in interviews (Semi-structured) to describe their experiences from flipping their own classrooms. The informants reported that the transition from more conventional ways of teaching to using the Flipped Classroom entailed major changes. The informants pointed out that the process of moving away from the more conventional way of teaching improved their teaching. All of the informants expressed they all used the Flipped Classroom methodology but they all did it with different goals in mind and their approach varied a lot. By using the same terminology, it might seem that they worked with the Flipped Classroom in similar ways, but the results show they did not. Herein lies the problem: Teachers say they flip their classrooms, which they do, but they do not share the same goals or approaches, just the term: The Flipped Classroom.

Den här studien undersöker lärares erfarenheter av Flippad undervisning (Flipped Classroom). I den här studien har två forskningsfrågor ställts till ämneslärare i grund- och gymnasieskolan: Vad karaktäriserar Flippad undervisning? samt Vad är syftet med Flippad undervisning? Teoretisk utgångspunkt i studien är ett sociokulturellt perspektiv. Empirin har samlats in genom kvalitativa intervjuer, analyserade enligt den kvalitativa innehållsanalysen som metodansats. Nio lärare, baserade på ett kriterieurval, från olika kommuner i den södra delen av Sverige har utgjort empirin i studien. Samtliga lärare har intervjuats vid sina respektive arbetsplatser. Fem teman har utkristalliserat sig i resultatet med utgångspunkt i den första forskningsfrågan: Förändrad yrkesroll, Tiden, Att motivera eleverna och ha en kontinuitet, Tekniken samt Kommunikationen med eleverna. Den andra forskningsfrågan genererade tre teman i resultatdelen: Förståelseförberedande, Elevers lärande synliggörs och Tillgänglighet. Resultatet belyser att läraren blir mer av en handledare i klassrummet, tid frigörs under lektionen som medger en förändrad, och ökad kommunikation. Resultatet visar också att det är viktigt att göra eleverna delaktiga. Tekniken är en av artefakterna som möjliggör undervisningsformen och bidrar till en förändrad kommunikation. Flera av respondenterna i studien ser möjligheten till ett ökat lärande och upplever också att formativa bedömningsprocesser underlättas av undervisningsformen., This study examines teachers’ experiences of Flipped Teaching. Two questions have been asked: What characterizes the Flipped Classroom? and What’s the purpose of Flipped Teaching? The theoretical framework is the sociocultural perspective by Vygotsky. The empirical material has been gathered through the qualitative interview and the method used to process the data has been the qualitative content analysis method. Nine teachers from various parts of southern Sweden have been interviewed. The two research questions resulted in eight categories, five from the first question: Changes in profession, Time, Key aspects – Participation, motivation and continuity, Tools involved and Communication with pupils. The second question generated three categories: Understanding preparatory, Visible learning and Access to the material. The results show that the teachers have become more guides on the side rather than lecturers and that time together with the students, interacting with them, has changed the ways of communication. The result also shows that the technical artefacts suports the Flipped Classroom, in some ways even as a conditional precedent for the Flipped Classroom. Many of the respondents in the study also express that the Flipped Classroom helps them assess the pupils’ abilities more formatively., Självständigt arbete på avancerad nivå (magisterexamen), 10 poäng / 15 hpLänk till uppsatsen: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-30967