Full implementation of special schools converted into special school resource centres in South Africa need to be finalised by 2021, as specified in the Education White Paper 6. The purpose of special school resource centres is firstly to provide necessary resources for the education and training of learners experiencing serious barriers to learning, and secondly to provide, together with the district-based support teams, guidance and support to full-service schools and main stream schools. Despite these expectations and goals, many special schools are not fully strengthened and functional yet. Role-players involved at special school resource centres often feel unequipped to successfully manage their centres in the absence of human resources, knowledge and infrastructure. Against this background, the purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding on how the asset-based approach could be utilised in supporting (or not) the more efficient functioning of a rural resource-constrained special school resource centre in the North West province, South Africa. The asset-based approach and bio-ecological model was used as conceptual framework for the study. Qualitative research was elected as methodological paradigm and an instrumental case study as research design. Interpretivism was selected as meta-theory. One rural resource-constrained special school resource centre was selected through convenience sampling, and eight participants were purposefully selected. Data was collected with individual semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, and observation; and documented in audio recorded verbatim transcripts, photographs, field notes and a research journal. Following thematic data analysis, three main themes emerged: identified assets and resources at the resource-constrained special school resource centre (natural assets and resources, human resources, physical resources, and resources for gardening); challenges at the resource-constrained special school resource centre (limited physical space, challenges related to the use of technology, additional responsibilities and related time constraints, and participants? location in relation to the special school resource centre); ways in which mobilised assets and resources supported the functioning of the resource-constrained special school resource centre (financial support for the special school resource centre, supporting the National School Nutrition Programme, strengthening partnerships that could support the functioning of the special school resource centre, skills development as outcome of the two asset-based projects, and intra and interpersonal qualities as a result of implementing the asset-based approach). It was therefore found that the implementation of the asset-based approach is one way to support the functioning of a resource-constrained special school resource centre. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to explore an asset-based intervention with educators in enhancing their knowledge of HIV&AIDS and their skills in supporting community members in coping with the challenges associated with HIV&AIDS. The goals of the study were firstly to explore and describe the ways in which educators are currently supporting community members infected with and affected by HIV&AIDS (more specifically in terms of coping with the learners in their classrooms and the caregivers or parents of these children). Secondly, the study focused on identifying the areas related to supporting community members in coping with the challenges associated with HIV&AIDS in which the participants (educators) felt that they needed more skills or information. Thirdly, I developed and facilitated an asset-based intervention, in the format of a workshop, with the participants (educators) to address the identified competence limitations. Fourthly, I assessed the outcome of the asset-based intervention in terms of the degree to which it fulfilled the participants’ need to be better equipped to support community members infected with and affected by HIV&AIDS. The primary working assumption with which I approached this study was that educators do possess the necessary competencies to support their communities in coping with the challenges presented by HIV&AIDS. I followed a qualitative research approach and selected a case study research design, applying some participatory action research principles, with the case being an informal settlement community situated in the Eastern Cape. Four participants were selected by means of convenience sampling to participate in face-to-face interviews, upon which four areas of support in which participants experienced a lack of sufficient competencies could be identified based on analysis. These areas related to referral of infected individuals; coping with infected learners in a classroom as well as ways in which educators might support community members on both an emotional and physical level. These four areas were addressed during an asset-based intervention with ten educators, which I facilitated during a follow-up field visit. During interviews the educators also indicated that they wanted to support their community (both learners and parents) to cope with the challenges presented by HIV&AIDS but that they felt inadequate in supporting the community, despite their efforts. After completion of the asset-based intervention, I facilitated a focus group discussion, focusing on whether or not the asset-based intervention had addressed participants’ (perceived) lack of competencies in supporting the community to cope within the context of HIV&AIDS. Two sub-themes emerged. Firstly, participating educators reported that they experienced increased levels of self-confidence in their ability to support their community in the context of HIV&AIDS, as well as a general feeling of empowerment, as a result of attending the asset-based intervention. The second sub-theme relates to the potential snowball effect of the asset-based intervention, whereby participating educators indicated that their role in the community had expanded and that they reportedly could transmit the knowledge obtained during the asset-based intervention sessions to others. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / MEd / unrestricted

The purpose of my study was to investigate an indigenous form of stone play as a projection medium in child psychological assessment. My theoretical framework was grounded in indigenous psychology. My literature study consulted theory relating to indigenous psychology, indigenous knowledge, play, assessment, asset-based approach and positive psychology. I followed a qualitative research approach, guided by an interpretivist epistemology. I employed an intrinsic case study design and purposefully selected the participant. My data collection methods consisted of interviews with the participant’s mother and observations of the participant during the Masekitlana sessions. I relied on audio-visual methods and a self-reflective journal as methods of data documentation. Six main themes emerged as the result of thematic analysis and interpretation that I have completed. Firstly, I found that during the Masekitlana sessions, the participant mentioned a desire or a huge need for food. Secondly, the participant also experienced conflict in the neighbourhood as a result of living conditions and poverty. This included experiences of peer conflict as well as indirect conflict among adults in the community. Thirdly, environmental factors in the informal settlement came to the foreground, like infrastructure, water supply and housing. In the fourth instance the participant expressed her daily routine of bathing, going to school, doing school work and going home. Fifthly, the participant projected her belief system by mentioning indigenous concepts, such as ‘Naka’ which refers to a sangoma (traditional healer). Lastly positive qualities within the participant are identified as a theme. Masekitlana poses to be a valid projection medium to conduct a psychological assessment with the participant because it provides an authentic psychological image. The standardization of Masekitlana as an assessment medium is suggested. Further research to develop psychological assessment media for children from African origin and culture is needed in South Africa. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The subject of this master’s thesis is estimation of company value. Theoretical part defines basic concepts such as value, categories of value, company and methods of valuation. Practical part includes estimation of real company value based on valuation of assets. Practical part also includes analyses of extrenal and internal environment.

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into a teacher’s experience in implementing the asset-based approach to teach Life Orientation to a Grade 7 class. More specifically I explored expected and unexpected benefits as well as challenges in relation to the implementation of asset-based teaching. My working assumptions were that both teachers and learners possess assets that may support teaching and learning and that the process of asset-based teaching can support teachers to attend to a variety of needs in one classroom. Nested within the wider positive psychology paradigm I relied on the asset-based approach as theoretical framework. I conducted qualitative research following an instrumental case study research design, applying participatory action research principles. Meta-theoretically I framed the study within Interpretivism in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. One Grade 7 teacher was selected as participant through purposeful sampling. A government primary school in Pretoria was selected conveniently. I used semi-structured interviews, analysis of existing documents and artefacts, and observation to collect data, that were documented in the form of verbatim transcripts, photographs, field notes and a research journal. Following thematic data analysis three main themes emerged related to the process of asset-based teaching, positive changes of assetbased teaching, and challenges associated with asset-based teaching. In identifying assets within the classroom (Theme 1), the teacher in this study became aware of both the learners’ and her own assets that could be mobilised to support teaching and learning. Assets identified within the different systems of the bio-ecological model and own action plan were used to support the mobilisation of assets. Ownership and commitment formed an essential part of the phase of managing assets. Positive changes that were identified subsequent to implementing asset-based teaching (Theme 2) relate to increased confidence and self-knowledge of learners and the teacher, identification of assets, enablement in the classroom, recognising the value of reflection in teaching, focusing away from learners’ needs towards their assets and strengths, increased motivation and trust amongst learners, a decrease in behaviour difficulties, and learners working more independently. Challenges that were identified in implementing asset-based teaching (Theme 3) include an increased workload and responsibility in teaching, difficulty to focus away from needs to strengths, lack of sustainability of positive changes, behaviour challenges, limited understanding of asset-based terminology, difficulty to integrate asset-based teaching into the curriculum of various learning areas, high teacher-learner ratios, socio-economic challenges, the needs-based orientation of society, and limited support to learners from home. Based on the findings of the study I conclude that asset-based teaching can be viewed as a suitable alternative way of teaching, following the dynamic process of identifying, mobilising and managing assets. In this manner, the diverse needs of learners may be addressed in one classroom. In addition the study indicates that asset-based teaching may support adolescents in dealing with developmental changes. # Additional information of the Appendices are kept on Level 3 Merensky Library. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Educational Psychology / Unrestricted

My study is informed by a partnership initiated between Gun Free South Africa and the Department of Education (District Tshwane South) with the concern of addressing violence in schools. Schools are often seen as professionalised and distant from their local communities. Learners belong to the very communities that are distanced from the school. They bring to school the unresolved issues from their families and interpersonal relations within the community. The study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of violence by a school community and how they cope with it. The study was informed by a qualitative and instrumental case study design within an interpretivist paradigm. Furthermore, the study was guided by an integrated conceptual framework derived from an asset-based and ecosystemic model, coping theories and the management system adapted from Babbie (2001). To address this I incorporated a variety of strategies such as interviews, collages, timeline and concept mapping through which a crystallisation of data could be obtained. I also used informal observations and visual data as additional data generating methods. Through a thematic analysis approach the study reveal the existence of violence as a challenge to the school community, and impacts directly or indirectly to their well-being. The study has further indicated that the perpetrators are known to the victims. The findings of the study suggest that on the basis of the integrated conceptual framework support structures could be mobilized, building partnerships between local schools and the community to provide a firm foundation for educational renewal and community regeneration and to contribute directly to the strengthening and development of the school community. The information gathered might also assist policy developers in developing support and intervention programmes for the restoration of school safety. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / MEd / unrestricted

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The aim of this thesis was to comprehensively describe the valuation process, emphasize the significance of each part and point out possible pitfalls. The methodological valuation theory is not regulated in the Czech Republic, with a few exceptions, thus the credibility of the final value depends on the economic quality of applied process. Before the valuation methodology itself is applied, there has to be carried out both strategic and financial analysis providing the inputs for the applied models. Strategic analysis examines both general macroeconomic conditions, which could affect future performance of the company, and relevant market the company operates on within the competitive landscape. Strategic analysis provides the inputs into subsequent financial plan, primarily based on historical financial performance of the company, and serve as its corrective. In this thesis there were analyzed yield-based and market multiples methods, complemented by asset-based approach. Yield-based methods, i.e. DCF and EVA, are based on discounted future value which will the company generate. That implicates the suitability of its application for the companies with predictable financial plan. That means mostly companies with stable financial history, in case of young innovative startup the usage of such a method...

Many children are left vulnerable due to circumstances beyond their control, for example, poverty, violence, limited education and the HIV&AIDS epidemic. One way of supporting vulnerable children is by making memory boxes. This study endeavoured to identify the assets during the memory-box-making process with vulnerable children. The aim of the study was to contribute towards an understanding of vulnerable children in South Africa and the memory-box-making process that frames vulnerable children in terms of assets, resources and capacities, instead of deficits. A combination of an interpretive and constructivist paradigm was used within an action research design. The site of the study was a deep rural community in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Five participants and one helper contributed towards the research process. Primary data was collected within the memory-box-making process – by means of simple and participatory observation, individual and group interviews, audio-visual methods and field notes. Fifteen memory-box-making sessions took place over a period of six weeks. The data analysis consisted of a theme analysis that utilized the asset-based approach as a theoretical framework. The results from the study indicate a wealth of internal and external assets during the memory-box-making process with vulnerable children. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The asset-based approach has been studied within the South African context. Up to now, primary school learners’ meaning of the experienced phenomenon, “assets for learning support” however remains an under-explored topic. The intent with this study was to qualitatively explore and discover the essence of the phenomenon, ‘assets for learning support’, as experienced by learners who attend an urban primary school. This phenomenon was explored from an interpretive/ constructivist paradigmatic perspective, which also informed the study’s qualitative methodology. A phenomenological research design was utilised. The study was conducted in a mainstream primary school, situated in an urban context. The participants for this research were eight female participants in Grades 5-7 that were confronted with and overcame extrinsic barriers to learning, while attending an urban primary school. They participated in a focus group discussion within a classroom on the school premises. During the focus group, the learners’ relevant and natural unit of significant statements were listed (horizontalisation) and structured into central clusters of meanings. Textural themes (what) and structural themes (how) were identified. The study found that human resource assets are integrated assets connecting other assets that support learning. The study also found a significant compound effect of assets upon each other. The essence of the experienced phenomenon is that the identified assets (how) interrelatedly mobilise (what) other assets (textural findings) on one of five levels (structural findings) within various systems and contexts, which contribute to mobilise learning support as an asset. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted