The principal aim of this thesis is to investigate theoretical and methodological issues in the study of epistemic cognition and to explore the use of technology as a research tool. A theoretical analysis examined existing conceptualisations and methodological approaches. This formed the basis of an empirical investigation, in the domain of Psychology, to explore theoretical assumptions. A qualitative in-depth methodology was adopted, using interviews structured around a formally assessed essay. Two empirical studies were conducted. The first led to the development of a representational software tool, which was used in the second study as part of a methodology to explore students' epistemic cognition.

Instructional reform requires learning by those who implement it. Learning involves a process of reconstructing knowledge and beliefs entailed by complex behavioral change. A cognitive perspective of policy implementation underscores that behavioural changes have a fundamental cognitive component. By assuming that policy implementation as a relatively straightforward process of transmitting behavioural rules drawn up by policy-makers to those responsible for implementing the rules, a top-down policy implementation tends to undermine the learning needs of those who are implementing instructional change. This implies a connection between the organisational factor, learning and change. There is a rich base of literature on educational change theory and learning theory. What is lacking is research attempting to link these fields. This case study sheds light on the discussion about organisational factor, learning and change by investigating the implementation of a thinking skills policy in the context of teacher education in a fully centralised education system. This involves the examination of how eight teacher educators conceptualised the thinking skills policy and implemented the intended change in their teaching. Specifically, the research questions seek to examine the acquisition of knowledge and the alteration of belief which guide the change in practice with regard to thinking skills policy. Data were collected through interviews, observations and questionnaires. The study produces three key findings. The first finding concerns the gap and uncertainties of was the absence of the intended change in practice. The third finding relates the many barriers that impede the change in teaching practice to the lack of consideration of systemic factors in the change process. All the results are connected to the issue of the organisational factors as the framing that underlies the change process. The implications of the finding for the policy-making process are discussed

The desire to enhance the thinking skills of learners has become a worldwide phenomenon. This desire has been further reinforced by programmes developed specifically for this purpose. Developers of these thinking skills programmes have made various claims about the effectiveness of their programmes in teaching learners general skills of thinking that can be applied to any field of study. The thesis presents a comprehensive examination of the four most prominent programmes. The basis of the thesis is a critical discussion of the assumptions underpinning these programmes and the coherence of their claims. At the core of these assumptions is the idea that thinking can be taught and learned free from any context. The idea raises important conceptual and practical issues that demand attention if improvements in pupils' thinking are to be addressed.

Με την παρούσα έρευνα προσπαθήσαμε να εξετάσουμε τις σχέσεις ανάμεσα στη Δημιουργικότητα, στη Νοημοσύνη και στη Λύση Προβλημάτων. Το δείγμα μας αποτελείτο από 341 μαθητές της Πέμπτης και της Έκτης τάξης του Δημοτικού Σχολείου, ηλικίας από δέκα έως δεκατεσσάρων ετών. Χορηγήσαμε στα παιδιά το τεστ της Νοημοσύνης Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices, το τεστ της Δημιουργικότητας των Wallach-Kogan και οκτώ προβλήματα που αποτελούσαν το τεστ της Λύσης Προβλημάτων. Επιπροσθέτως, προσπαθήσαμε να ερευνήσουμε εάν η υψηλή ή χαμηλή επίδοση στο τεστ της Νοημοσύνης επηρεάζει τις επιδόσεις των μαθητών στα άλλα δυο τεστ της Δημιουργικότητας και της Λύσης Προβλημάτων. Τέλος ερευνήσαμε, εάν το φύλο και η ηλικία επηρεάζουν τις επιδόσεις των παιδιών στα τεστ που συμπλήρωναν. Από τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας προκύπτει μια συσχέτιση ανάμεσα στη Νοημοσύνη και στη Δημιουργικότητα αναφορικά με την ποσότητα. Επίσης διαπιστώσαμε μια συσχέτιση ανάμεσα στη Λύση Προβλημάτων και στο τεστ της Δημιουργικότητας όσον αφορά την ποσότητα. Από την άλλη μεριά τόσο η Νοημοσύνη, όσο και το τεστ της Λύσης Προβλημάτων σχετίζονται μόνο με κάποια επιμέρους τεστ της Δημιουργικότητας ως προς την πρωτοτυπία. Δεν παρατηρήσαμε ουσιαστικές αλλαγές στις συσχετίσεις των τριών τεστ, όταν απομονώσαμε τις μεταβλητές του φύλου και της ηλικίας. Τέλος η υψηλή και χαμηλή Νοημοσύνη επιδρούν μόνο σε κάποια επιμέρους τεστ της Δημιουργικότητας. Αυτά τα αποτελέσματα συμφωνούν με τα συμπεράσματα άλλων ερευνητών και μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν σε μελλοντικές έρευνες που θα αφορούν τη σχέση της Δημιουργικότητας, με τη Νοημοσύνη και τη Λύση Προβλημάτων. / The objective of this survey was to examine the relationship which exists among Creativity, Intelligence and Problem Solving. Our sample were 341 5th and 6th Graders of Elementary School, aged from ten to fourteen years old. They were given Raven’s Colored Progressive Matrices as Intelligence test, Wallach-Kogan’s Creativity test and eight problems for the Problem Solving test. Furthermore we researched if high or low achievement in the Intelligence test affects the children’s achievements in the tests of Creativity and Problem Solving. Finally we researched if the sex and the age affect their achievement in the given tests. From the results of the survey we reached the conclusion that there exists a correlation between Intelligence and Creativity concerning the quantity. In addition a correlation between Problem Solving and Creativity also was observed concerning the quantity. On the other hand both Intelligence and Problem solving tests are correlated with some subtests of the Creativity test that have to do with originality. No essential changes were observed among the correlations of the three tests when the variables of sex and age were isolated. Moreover high and low Intelligence affect only some subtests of the Creativity tests. These results agree with those of other researchers and may be used in future surveys concerning the relationship of Creativity, Intelligence and Problem Solving.

No description available.

Σκοπός της εργασίας ήταν η διερεύνηση του Μετασχηματισμού οπτικής στην ελληνική τριτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση και ειδικότερα η περίπτωση των φοιτητών του Τμήματος Επιστημών της Εκπαίδευσης και της Αγωγής στην Προσχολική Ηλικία. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 417 φοιτητές από τα δύο τελευταία έτη του προπτυχιακού και από το δεύτερο έτος του μεταπτυχιακού επιπέδου σπουδών. Ως εργαλεία έρευνας χρησιμοποιήθηκαν το ερωτηματολόγιο (το Learning Activities Survey) και η ημιδομημένη συνέντευξη. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι φοιτητές δεν έχουν μετασχηματισμό οπτικής αναφορικά με τις εκπαιδευτικές εμπειρίες που βίωσαν κατά την διάρκεια των σπουδών τους. Ωστόσο, υπήρχαν αλλαγές που αφορούν τον τρόπο σκέψης και συμπεριφοράς τους, αλλαγές στις αντιλήψεις για το επάγγελμα τους και σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις αλλαγές στις πεποιθήσεις ή προσδοκίες τους. / The aim of this study is to explore the perspective transformation in Greek higher education and in particular the case of students of Department of Educational Science and Early Childhood Education of University of Patras. The survey involved 417 students from the last two years of undergraduate and second year of postgraduate study. As research tools were used the questionnaire (Learning Activities Survey) and the semi-structured interview. The results showed that students do not have perspective transformation on the educational experiences they experienced during their studies. However, there were changes to the way of thinking and behavior, changes in perceptions of the profession and in some cases changes in their beliefs or expectations.

This study has examined the effectiveness of a neuropsychologically based learning programme aimed at enhancing the seJt:.actualisation of learners. The aim of the programme is to create awareness of one's unique purpose in life. The need for motivation, commitment and determination must he realised. llolistic thinking is an important concept throughout the programme, in that it is aimed at unlocking latent potential through the encouragement of lateral thinking. The awareness of underlying potential enhances the realisation of each Ieamer's uniqueness and individual contributions to society, and facilitates awareness of the need to accept responsibility for one's own future. 'Ibis failure to fully utilise the potential of the brain has implications for education. A teacher who is made aware ofthe huge untapped storage ofhuman brain potential could be trained to disclose a learner's unused abilities, through adjusted education, thus infonning learners of the intrinsic abilities oftheir brains. / Educational studies / M.Ed.

The aim of this study was to determine the possible successes and pitfalls in implementing a process to accelerate learning and raise learner performance through a multiple intelligence approach. A study of the theory of Multiple Intelligences was conducted which also implied a thorough study of the physiology of the brain, how it learns and how it should be utilised in the classroom. A case study was conducted amongst the learners and teachers of a specific school to determine their ability, willingness to change and their performance in the application of Multiple Intelligences in the classroom. The challenges associated with the implementation of the MI approach were established through different methods. It was found that teachers have much more difficulty in adapting to a new teaching approach than the learners. Time constraints, constant monitoring and support, teacher training, teachers' attitude to change, big classes, a lack of resources and teacher resistance added to the reality which policy makers have to consider in implementing a new approach. / EDUCATIONAL STUDIES / MED (DIDACTICS)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / This thesis is a conceptual exploration of the concept "critical thinking" and is chiefly aimed at everyone involved in education in the new South Africa. The investigation is contextualised by critically examining certain motives for such an investigation and by assessing the importance of encouraging people to think critically. The focus is first on the relationship between the concepts "critical thinking", "thinking" and "rationality". Then follows a thorough analysis of the concept "critical thinking". Preconditions for the use of the concept are identified. The last part of the thesis deals with the relationship between critical thinking, learning and critical thinking can level. teaching, and a discussion on how be improved and promoted at school / Hierdie verhandeling is ·'n konseptuele verkenning van die begrip "kritiese denke" en is veral gerig aan almal wat by die opvoeding in die nuwe Suid- Afrika betrokke is. Die verkenning word gekontekstualiseer deur sekere motiewe vir so 'n ondersoek krities te bespreek en die belangrikheid daarvan om mense aan te moedig om krities te dink te bepaal. Daar word vervolgens eers gekonsentreer op die verhouding tussen die begrippe "kritiese denke", "denke" en "rasionaliteit". Daarna volg n grondige bespreking van die beg rip "kritiese denke". Voorwaardes vir die gebruik van die begrip word nagegaan. Die laaste gedeelte van die verhandeling handel oar die verhouding tussen kritiese denke, leer en onderrig en daar word beredeneer hoe kritiese denke op skoolvlak verbeter en bevorder kan word. / Philosophy, Practical & Ststematic Theology / M.A. (Wysbegeerte)

The aim of this study was to determine the possible successes and pitfalls in implementing a process to accelerate learning and raise learner performance through a multiple intelligence approach. A study of the theory of Multiple Intelligences was conducted which also implied a thorough study of the physiology of the brain, how it learns and how it should be utilised in the classroom. A case study was conducted amongst the learners and teachers of a specific school to determine their ability, willingness to change and their performance in the application of Multiple Intelligences in the classroom. The challenges associated with the implementation of the MI approach were established through different methods. It was found that teachers have much more difficulty in adapting to a new teaching approach than the learners. Time constraints, constant monitoring and support, teacher training, teachers' attitude to change, big classes, a lack of resources and teacher resistance added to the reality which policy makers have to consider in implementing a new approach. / EDUCATIONAL STUDIES / MED (DIDACTICS)