Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Instructional Systems, Leadership and Workforce Development. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Foundation provisioning has a long history in South Africa, and is central to the transformation agenda, particularly the broadening of successful participation in higher education (HE). As access initiatives underpinned by various conceptualisations, foundation programmes evolved from peripheral, to semi-integrated and finally fully integrated curricular models in the form of current Extended Studies Programmes (ESPs). Underpinning the provision of Extended Studies is the acknowledgment that students who enter institutions are essentially ill equipped to cope with the demands of higher education studies, “leaving institutions themselves free of the responsibility of student failure” (Akoojee & Nkomo, 2007:391). This under-preparedness has been attributed to the ‘articulation gap’ between secondary and higher education, which in turn contributes to low retention and graduation rates (CHE, 2013:17). Situated within an overarching commitment to access and success, the Extended Studies Programme attempts to systematically address the ‘articulation gap’. This study evaluated the extent to which the Rhodes University Humanities Extended Studies Programme is achieving its objectives from a transformation perspective, specifically the broadening of successful participation in higher education. The majority of previous works on the evaluation of foundation programmes focused on measurable dimensions of student access and success – that is retention and graduation rates. This thesis considered both the measurable outcomes of the programme as well as the actual teaching and learning process. Given the shifts that have taken place in foundation provisioning, the evaluation of the current model of foundation provisioning necessitated their location in history. Therefore, the evaluation of the Rhodes University Humanities Extended Studies Programme was undertaken in view of the shifts, achievements, challenges and critics of its predecessor programmes. Specifically, the following dimensions were considered in the evaluation of the programme: i) assumptions underpinning the design and purpose of the programme, ii) teaching and learning practices in the programme, iii) student and staff perceptions of the programme, iv) students’ experiences of the programme, v) the validity of the programme in the broader institution, and vi) the measurable outcomes of the programme − that is retention and graduation rates of students enrolled in the programme. The triangulation of qualitative data collection techniques provided access into the different layers of institutional relations, processes and structures, which not only affect teaching and learning in the programme, but also determine students’ engagement with different academic and social aspects of the broader university. The theoretical insights of Pierre Bourdieu and Amartya Sen were integrated in order to provide analytical tools for both understanding the causes of inequalities in higher education, and evaluating institutional processes and structures that perpetuate or transform inequalities. Whilst Bourdieu’s social reproduction thesis exposed the ways in which social structures shape educational processes and outcomes, Sen’s capability approach provided tools for evaluating both institutional arrangements and individual capabilities – that is, the freedom to achieve desired educational outcomes (Sen, 1992:48).

Continuing education advances society. For every student, our educational system should provide a seamless transition from one level to the next until a degree or certificate is earned that reflects a mastery of skills needed to secure employment. This helps prepare each individual for a successful life after exiting the educational system and greatly benefit our society. Today, however, many students graduating from high schools are not ready for a postsecondary education. Transitioning students from high school to college is a complex process that requires many different approaches. Students making this transition are finding it more difficult to enter and succeed at a higher level of education because of the complexity of this process. Preparing students for postsecondary options is critical for every student. Students from low-income families and some ethnic and racial minority groups are most dependent on the ability of their high school to prepare them properly for college success (Conley, 2010). In what ways can schools better prepare students for postsecondary success? This study focuses on the creation of a Postsecondary Readiness Guidebook (PRG) which provides a comprehensive approach to help educational leaders prepare students for postsecondary success. The guidebook uses a problem-based learning design and follows the research and development process. The guidebook was field tested by educational leaders in a K-12 public school though a workshop using a qualitative methodology. During the field-testing of the guidebook, data were collected through assessments, interviews with educators, and questionnaires completed by educational leaders at the school. Data were analyzed using inductive coding, facesheet coding, enumeration, and typology. The findings of the study reveal that using a guidebook with a comprehensive approach to postsecondary preparedness can help school leaders prepare students for postsecondary success. Educational leaders in the school collectively focused on best practices and programs aimed at preparing students for postsecondary options through the use and interaction of the PRG. The guidebook gave them a compass for which to navigate the complex process of preparing students for postsecondary success.

What degree of articulation exists in the language arts curricula of schools in the County of San Joaquin, California, in grades one through twelve, and in the particular subjects of reading, oral and written language (or English), literature, spelling, and penmanship (or handwritings)?

This study focuses on articulation in a four-year college German program. Previous research has centered on articulation between high-school and college foreign language classrooms. While educators have considered the content of foreign language programs, they have often done so without examining the current state of the curriculum. In addition, many researchers acknowledge that there is a divide between the lower-division and upper-division faculties but continue to promote this separation by suggesting that one level must change in order to serve the entire program better (i.e., the other level). The present research expands on previous work by studying instructors at both the lower- and the upper-division. This study describes an investigation of how instructors plan their courses within the entire four-year program. In order to examine program cohesion, the instructors in this study provided written documents about their courses (course descriptions, syllabi, and student work) and took part in interviews, in which they were asked about their own and other instructors' courses, as well as about the objectives of the entire program. The data allowed for intra-personal, interpersonal, inter-level (lower- and upper-division) and curricular comparisons. The data suggested that this foreign language program can be divided into the basic language (typically the first four semesters) and the upper-division curriculum. Many scholars (Byrnes, 1990; Guthrie, 2001) have stated that this division is related to the "gap" in pedagogical focus, language abilities and content emphasis that separates intermediate-level courses (the last year in the basic language program) from the advanced upper-division courses. Not only are the courses separated into these two categories, but in this program, at least, the instructors themselves are often restricted to one group or the other because of their fields of specialty. The results also revealed a lack of communication between the two "camps" concerning the goals and objectives of their program as well as those of the entire program. The result of this research was a detailed description of the beliefs and practices of teachers and provided an overview of one program to demonstrate how cohesion within a foreign language program can be assessed. / text

Treatise (Ed. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Leadership and Foundations. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.