Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:41:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniel Sa Roriz Fonteles.pdf: 13600013 bytes, checksum: 81f3daa37d6065256402cd59e9bdad6c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-10-03 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / Currently, there are studies which advocate higher mathematical abilities in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), namely Asperger Syndrome/High Functioning Autism, sometimes even declaring that these individuals do have an above average performance when compared to neurotypicals. When Hans Asperger first described the syndrome that takes his name, he observed that some of his patients exhibited some difficulties concerning the ability to perform arithmetic operations. The present research aims to better understand mathematic abilities of people with ASD, mainly because this area is still open and yet little explored, especially in Brazil. In order to do that, mathematical abilities of 20 ASD students, aging from 7 to 23 years, were investigated using an Arithmetic Test validated for children from 1st to 4th grade of the Brazilian school system (SEABRA et al., 2009). An exploratory study of qualitative and quantitative nature was performed, with detailed written record of each Arithmetic Test session, and the use of non-parametric statistics to verify possible interactions between variables. Comparison between Autism, Asperger and Normal Students groups were made, besides other variables taken from students files considered during this research. Results suggest that ASD students had similar performance to 1st graders of a public school in the State of São Paulo; and that ASD students who have had inclusive experiences in regular schools tend to get higher scores in the Arithmetic Test. Other considerations indicate that further research is needed to accomplish better ways to Mathematics teaching. / Na atualidade existem estudos que defendem a ideia de que os indivíduos com Síndrome Asperger/Autismo de Alto Funcionamento apresentam certas habilidades matemáticas acima da média das pessoas com Transtornos de Espectro do Autismo (TEA) ou mesmo das pessoas sem deficiência. Hans Asperger, quando descreveu a síndrome que hoje leva o seu nome observou que seus pacientes apresentavam certas dificuldades nas capacidades relacionadas a cálculos aritméticos. A presente pesquisa buscou conhecer melhor as habilidades matemáticas de indivíduos com TEA, tendo em vista tratar-se de uma área ainda pouco explorada, sobretudo no Brasil. Para isso investigou-se as habilidades matemáticas de 20 pessoas com TEA, com idades entre 7 e 23 anos. A medição das habilidades em pauta foi feita através da utilização de instrumento de uma Atividade de Matemática validada para crianças da 1ª à 4ª série (Seabra et al., 2009). Um estudo de natureza qualitativa e quantitativa foi conduzido, no qual houve registro detalhado, por escrito, das sessões de aplicação da Atividade de Matemática, assim como foram conduzidos testes estatísticos não-paramétricos para a verificação da interação entre as variáveis do estudo. Procedeu-se a comparação dos grupos Autismo, Asperger e Sem Deficiência, dentre outras variáveis obtidas a partir do estudo dos prontuários. Os resultados sugerem que o desempenho dessas pessoas foi compatível com o nível de desempenho de crianças da 1ª série de uma escola pública de São Paulo; e que os alunos com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo que frequentaram escola regular tenderam a apresentar melhores resultados na Atividade de Matemática. Outras considerações apontam para novas pesquisas a serem desenvolvidas visando métodos promissores de ensino de Matemática.

Este trabalho tem por finalidade pesquisar a criatividade na identificacao e selecao de criancas e adolescentes portadores de altas habilidades, com carencia socioeconomica, em uma amostra de dez jovens. A superdotacao ou altas habilidades tem sido objeto de estudo sobretudo quanto aos aspectos cognitivos e necessidades educacionais. Existem dois tipos de superdotacao: uma academica ou escolar e outra criativo-produtiva ou talentosa. A superdotacao academica e representada por altos niveis de desempenho escolar, boa memoria, grande atividade intelectual, processamento de informacoes complexas, pensamento analitico, critico e logico. Por outro lado, a superdotacao criativo-produtiva estaria mais ligada a curiosidade, resolucao de problemas e caracteristicas do pensamento criativo como originalidade, fluencia e flexibilidade. O conceito de um individuo superdotado e associado a tres conjuntos de tracos: habilidade acima da media em alguma area do conhecimento; envolvimento com a tarefa (motivacao, perseveranca, concentracao) e criatividade (ideias diferentes, novos significados), podendo se destacar nas seguintes areas: academica, criatividade, lideranca, artistica, psicomotora e motivacao. O nao preenchimento das vagas ofertadas para bolsistas no Projeto legitima o questionamento se a causa e a valorizacao apenas do tipo de superdotacao academica em detrimento da criativo-produtiva; ao pesquisar a forma como a criatividade e abordada no processo de selecao e a importancia atribuida aos aspectos criativos demonstrados pelos candidatos, espera-se obter a explicacao para uma oferta de vagas maior do que o numero de selecionados, ainda que mil novecentos e noventa e sete candidatos tenham se candidatado ao processo.Os dados para a pesquisa sao coletados por intermedio do trabalho de uma equipe de psicologas que prestam servicos para uma Instituicao sem fins lucrativos com o proposito de selecionar individuos com altas habilidades. Analisar-se-a de que forma a consideracao do aspecto criativo desses jovens e avaliado no processo seletivo, tendo como parametros teoricos os conceitos para a criatividade de Winnicott, bem como autores que tratam da criatividade especificamente na superdotacao, como Renzulli e Reis. A maior parte das caracteristicas de individuos criativos, tais como autoconfianca e independencia, nao-conformismo, senso de humor, interesses esteticos, impulso para realizacao, desejo de descoberta e ordenacao, estao ligadas ao conceito de self verdadeiro e do seu gesto espontaneo, bem como ao desenvolvimento da area da transicionalidade, aquela que nao pertence a realidade objetiva nem a subjetiva. Apesar da criatividade ser avaliada como uma das competencias que definem o desempenho do candidato e, portanto, determinam seu ingresso no projeto, nao se prioriza na selecao desses jovens o aspecto criativo / This work has the objective of researching creativity to indentify and select gifted children and teenagers with social and financial needs, within a ten individuals sample. Giftedness, or high abilities, has been object of study specially regarding the cognitive and educational needs aspects. There are two kinds of giftedness: one is academic or scholar and the other one is creative-productive or talented.The academic Giftedness is represented by the high level of school performance, good memory, great intellectual activity, processing of complex information, analytic thought, critic and logical. On the other hand, the creative-productive giftedness would be more related to curiosity, solving problems and characteristics of creative thought such as originality, fluency and flexibility. The concept of a gifted individual is associated to three sets of traces: ability higher than the average in any field of knowledge, task involvement (motivation, perseverance, concentration) and creativity (different ideas, new meanings), standing out on the following areas: academic, creativity, leadership, artistic, psychomotor and motivation. When scholarships are not fully distributed within the Project it legitimates questioning if the reason is the valorization of only the academic gifted individual letting aside thecreative-productive; while researching how creativity is addressed in the selection process and the importance given to the creative aspects demonstrated by the candidates, it´s expected to obtain the explanation for an offer of scholarships higher than the number of selected students, even thought one thousand and ninety seven candidates have applied to the selection process. The research data is collected by a team of psychologists through volunteer work to a Nonprofit Organization with the purpose of selecting such gifted individuals. It will be analyzed in what way the consideration of the creative aspect of these young individuals is evaluated within the selection process, having as theory parameters Winnicott´s creativity concepts, as well as authors also dealing with creativity especially when the subject is giftedness, such as Renzulli and Reis. Mostly the characteristics of creative individuals, such as self-confidence and independency, non-conformism, sense of humor, aesthetic interests, desire of discovery and to maintain order, are related to the true self concept and to its spontaneous gesture, as well as to the development in the transitional area, the area not belonging to the objective reality neither to the subjective. Even though creativity is being evaluated as one of the subjects defining a candidates performance and, therefore, determines his or her ingress into the project, the creative aspect it´s not prioritized in the selection of these young people

The diploma thesis comparing the level of physical abilities and basketball skills of girls in basketball and basketball outfits in Prague and abroad outlines a short history of both world and Czech basketball, the current organization of basketball in the Czech Republic, age specificities of children aged 11, stage of sports training in basketball, Ability. The practical part deals with the question of the level of motor skills of girls at the age of 11, the question of the level of basketball skills of girls at the age of 11 in basketball preparations in Prague and out-of-basket basketball preparations. The aim of this diploma thesis is to determine whether the level of physical fitness of Prague and non-Prague basketball products is the same and whether the level of basketball skills of out-of-basket basketball products is lower than that of basketball products in Prague. All measured values are analyzed using mathematical-statistical methods. I used the UNIFITTEST test battery to test my physical abilities. Based on measured results, I compiled tables and charts. The results confirm that MBP and PBP's abilities are identical and that the level of basketball skills is slightly higher for MBP than for MBP. KEYWORDS Physical skills, basketball skills, basketball history, basketball organization...

The theoretical starting point of the thesis focuses on the contemporary concept of the development of personality and musical preschool values. It brings closer the psychological and physiological mechanisms of the connections between musicality, personality structures and dynamics in the ontogenetic development of the child before its entry into elementary school. It aims from the field of musicality into the essence of musical imagination and ideas shaping the association. In the practical part a partial deduction of the theoretical background down to the methodological level is carried out. It deals about eroding the syncretic perception in the context of changes in abstraction from the illustrative factuality, (eg. the characters, colors) to non-illustrative factuality (music notes, graphic signs rhythmic articulation and movement melodies). In this sense it touches the current scientific trends about the constitution trans-methodology as a discipline. Keywords Musical imagination, project, preschool age, abilities and skills

In this thesis I introduce rugby. Acquainted with a brief history of the world within the Czech Republic. Acquainted with the kind of rugby and rules. I introduce factors influencing sports performance in rugby. I determine motor abilities. In the practical part I detect motor skills by testing rugby players by UNIFITTEST 6 - 60. The measurement was carried out on players RC Tatra Smíchov.

Title: Analysis of softball throw speed Objective: The aim of the thesis is to compare the throwing speeds with different modifications - from a distance of 2 meters to the screen (without aiming), throwing at a distance of 18 meters after the ball has been caught from the air and the ground (throw to the teammate). Furthermore, the goal of comparing throw speeds in selected age categories of softball players (9-17 years). Methods: Measure the throw speed by radar and data processing in Microsoft Excel. Results: Speed of throws for individual modifications - the category of the oldest players recorded the fastest throw option with the aiming of the player after the previous capture of the ball from the air and after the previous ball was caught on the ground. These variations of the throw exceeded the throw speed without prior capture and also without aiming at the player. In contrast, for other categories, the fastest option was the no-aim goal. The results of the oldest age group therefore refuted the first hypothesis, but the results of other age categories confirmed the hypothesis. In the case of the second hypothesis - higher throw speed and processing when the ball is caught from the air compared to landing the ball - the results of the oldest and youngest age category confirm the hypothesis,...

This thesis reports on two different investigations. The first is a systematic review of pedagogical and organizational practices associated with gifted pupils’ education in mathematics, and on the empirical basis for those practices. The review shows that certain practices – for example, enrichment programs and differentiated instructions in heterogeneous classrooms or acceleration programs and ability groupings outside those classrooms – may be beneficial for the development of gifted pupils. Also, motivational characteristics of and gender differences between mathematically gifted pupils are discussed. Around 60% of analysed papers report on empirical studies, while remaining articles are based on literature reviews, theoretical discourses and the authors’ personal experiences – acceleration programs and ability groupings are supported by more empirical data than practices aimed for the heterogeneous classroom. Further, the analyses indicate that successful acceleration programs and ability groupings should fulfil some important criteria; pupils’ participation should be voluntary, the teaching should be adapted to the capacity of participants, introduced tasks should be challenging, by offering more depth and less breadth within a certain topic, and teachers engaged in these practices should be prepared for the characteristics of gifted pupils. The second investigation reports on the interaction of mathematical abilities and the role of mathematical memory in the context of non-routine problems. In this respect, six Swedish high-achieving students from upper secondary school were observed individually on two occasions approximately one year apart. For these studies, an analytical framework, based on the mathematical ability defined by Krutetskii (1976), was developed. Concerning the interaction of mathematical abilities, it was found that every problem-solving activity started with an orientation phase, which was followed by a phase of processing mathematical information and every activity ended with a checking phase, when the correctness of obtained results was controlled. Further, mathematical memory was observed in close interaction with the ability to obtain and formalize mathematical information, for relatively small amounts of the total time dedicated to problem solving. Participants selected problem-solving methods at the orientation phase and found it difficult to abandon or modify those methods. In addition, when solving problems one year apart, even when not recalling the previously solved problem, participants approached both problems with methods that were identical at the individual level. The analyses show that participants who applied algebraic methods were more successful than participants who applied particular methods. Thus, by demonstrating that the success of participants’ problem-solving activities is dependent on applied methods, it is suggested that mathematical memory, despite its relatively modest presence, has a pivotal role in participants’ problem-solving activities. Finally, it is indicated that participants who applied particular methods were not able to generalize mathematical relations and operations – a mathematical ability considered an important prerequisite for the development of mathematical memory – at appropriate levels. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: In press.</p>

M.A. / A child that is mentally healthy develops psychologically, emotionally, creatively, intellectually and spiritually (Dwivedi & Harper, 2004). Therefore the researcher is of the opinion that the mental health of children is integral in successful development. It was however observed that there are challenges associated with providing for the needs of children with mental health problems. Often attributed to a lack of knowledge, child care workers, social workers and other staff appear to not have the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to deal appropriately with children with mental health problems in child and youth care centres. This study therefore investigates the identified gap in service delivery, and what could be done to minimise it. It attempts to explore the characteristics of a child with a mental health problem, what their emanating needs are, and what guidelines exist that may help to provide for the identified needs. In exploring these guidelines, the roles of different role-players involved on different ecosystemic levels, are also explored. This exploration is conducted by utilising qualitative research methods only. A literature study firstly explores relevant social work, mental health, psychiatric and legislative literature. Secondly, focus groups are conducted with key role-players that work with children with mental health problems. These two sources provide the researcher with information pertaining to the objectives and goal of this research study. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide a management programme to mainstream and specialised child and youth care centres, on how to care optimally for children with mental health problems. When this goal is achieved, the field of social work amid children will benefit tremendously. Not only can such a programme assist in the enhancement of the mental health of children in child and youth care centres, but it may provide the foundation for future development in this.

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / Psychiatric nursing forms part of basic nursing education in South Africa which is done in four years, either at diploma level or degree level. The psychiatric nurses are only trained in basic psychiatric nursing and are not well equipped to work effectively with children. Even though psychiatric nurses do not have enough skills and knowledge, it is expected of them to work in child psychiatric wards without adequate knowledge and skills. This creates discomfort to the internal environment of a nurse and the situation can be stressful to the nurse. Psychiatric nursing has two important components which are: supporting people at a reasonable level of functioning which they cannot maintain independently; and facilitating a higher level of functioning in people for whom this is possible. Child psychiatry is one of the specialities in the psychiatric division. ‘The description of the practice of the professional nurse in the field of child psychiatry in South Africa is vague and undeveloped and there are only a few nurses in South Africa with knowledge and skills to set guidelines for this area of practice (Makhele, 2006:36)’. Psychiatric nurses working in psychiatric hospitals undergo different experiences on a daily basis. In this research study, the researcher wondered as to what psychiatric nurses working with children diagnosed with mental illness, experience on a daily basis. The researcher then asks the following questions: 1. What are the lived experiences of psychiatric nurses working with children diagnosed with mental illness? 2. What can be done to assist the psychiatric nurses, working with children diagnosed with mental illness, in order to facilitate their mental health? This research study was done to: 1. To explore and describe the lived experiences of psychiatric nurses, working with children diagnosed with mental illness; and 2. To formulate guidelines in order to facilitate these psychiatric nurses’ mental health. In order to explore and describe the lived experience of psychiatric nurses who work with children diagnosed with mental illness, the researcher used a qualitative design. The researcher utilised phenomenology, in order to explore and describe the experiences of these psychiatric nurses in the context of their working environment. Purposive sampling method was used. In-depth phenomenological interviews were used to collect data. Tesch’s method in Creswell (2011: 113) of open coding was utilised for the analysis of the data. The results were re-contextualised within the literature. The findings of this study provided the detailed content of professional psychiatric nurses’ experience when working with children diagnosed with mental illness. Two themes which were identified are: 1. Theme 1 A challenging experience associated with tensions inherent to the contextual demands of psychiatric nurses working with children diagnosed with mental illness. 2. Theme 2 Psychiatric nurses experience of contextual demands which requires a process of continuous adjustment Guidelines on how to promote the mental health of psychiatric nurses working with children diagnosed with mental illness were derived from the research findings. In conclusion, presently psychiatric nursing training appears to rely upon individual training institutions putting into practice government policy in a fragmented fashion with no cohesive strategy. Where psychiatric nurses receive good quality training which includes child psychiatry, it is clear that good quality and appropriate interventions to children with mental illness and emotional problems can be achieved.

The aim of this study was to describe maternal self-efficacy beliefs within the parenting domain and maternal rating of pre-school child’s language abilities, where the child has a communication disability. The association between these two constructs was also investigated. Twenty-five Mothers completed a questionnaire consisting of two subsections: parental self-efficacy and maternal rating of child language ability. The results revealed that mothers generally had high self-efficacy beliefs within certain parenting roles, in spite of the fact that their child has a communication disability. The lowest competence was reported in discipline and teaching roles. In addition, mothers’ reports of patterns of child ability correlated with what has been written in the literature. Correlation statistics generally revealed weak association between the constructs, with the strongest association between the parental domain of discipline and maternal reports of their child’s receptive language abilities. Possible reasons suggested for the weak correlation values include the presence of a disability, which may alter the factors that contribute to the way parents construct and maintain self-efficacy beliefs; as well as the fact that the two sections of the questionnaire measure maternal appraisals at two very different levels (objective observations and evaluative self-regulatory processes). Suggestions for further research are provided. / Dissertation (M (Augmentative and Alternative Communication))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication / unrestricted