Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many students that embark on higher education do not have study and thinking skills that are sufficiently well developed in order for them to become autonomous, selfdirected learners. This is partly due to the fact that the historically authoritarian and rigid approaches to teaching in some schools have discouraged independent thought. Other contributory factors such as negative beliefs, attitudes and dispositions, and distorted concepts of the self and of learning, also prevent effective learning from taking place. The focus of this research is a study and thinking skills programme. This programme is part of a four week bridging course for freshmen at the University of Stellenbosch. It is based on a comprehensive rationale derived from cognitive education theory, comprising a number of well known theorists such as Piaget, Vygotsky, Feuerstein and Lozanov. This is further supplemented by instruments from authors in the field of thinking skills (de Bono, Buzan). The purpose of this research was to identify elements of the programme which might be responsible for aspects of transformative learning, as defined by Mezirow in his Transformative Learning Theory. These aspects initially became apparent from students' responses in post-programme evaluations. The responses represented an unexpected outcome, as Mezirow's theory was not represented in the programme's rationale. Eight criteria were developed from Mezirow's theory, operationalised as questions, and then utilized to assess transformative learning in the context of the programme. In a conceptual analysis, four categories of the programme (the rationale, the objectives, the course material and implementation procedures) were compared and contrasted with criteria from Transformative Learning Theory. From this analysis it was apparent that several criteria of Transformative Learning Theory were present in the programme: it facilitated learning in both instrumental and communicative domains; it provided opportunities to explore meaning structures and to investigate distorted meaning perspectives; and it instigated disorientating or conflicting experiences with regard to these. Some criteria were absent from the programme in that it failed to promote rational discourse according Mezirow's definition, it did not adequately promote reflection on premises, and it did not intentionally address the transformation of meaning perspectives. These three omissions may be traced to the lack of an "adult learning" focus in the programme's theoretical structure. Despite this, a number of parallels were identified which may explain the representation of Mezirow's criteria in the programme, and hence the students' responses. Conclusions are drawn regarding a theoretically justified view of transformative learning in the context of the Study and Thinking Skills (S&TS) programme, and practical implications for educators are explained. Finally, recommendations are made for enhancing trans formative learning within the Study and Thinking Skills (S&TS) programme, and for the design of similar programmes. Recommendations are also proposed for further research in this area which, in the contemporary South African educational context, clearly deserves more attention in adult education and related settings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Talle studente wat tot hoer onderwys toetree se studie en denkvaardighede is me voldoende ontwikkeld om as outonome, selfgerigte leerders sukses te kan behaal nie. Dit is deels toe te skryf aan die outoritere en rigiede benaderings tot onderwys in sommige skole, wat selfstandige denke ontmoedig. Daar is egter ook ander belemmerende faktore soos studente se negatiewe houdings en verkeerde opvattings van leer en van hulself wat verhinder dat effektiewe leer plaasvind. Die fokus van hierdie navorsing is 'n Studie- en Denkvaardigheidprogram (S&TS). Hierdie program vorm deel van 'n vier week lange oorbruggingsprogram vir eerstejaarstudente aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die program is gebaseer op 'n omvattende rasionaal vanuit die kognitiewe opvoedkunde perspektief wat die werk van 'n aantal bekende teoretici (Piaget, Vygotsky, Feuerstein en Lozanov) insluit en word aangevul met oefeninge deur outeurs in die veld van denkvaardighede (De Bono en Buzan). Die doel van die navorsmg was om elemente van die program te identifiseer wat verantwoordelik kon wees vir aanduidings van transformatiewe leer, soos gedefinieer deur Mezirow in sy Transformatiewe Leerteorie. Hierdie aanduidings spruit uit studente se response tydens evalueringsessies na afloop van die program. Transformatiewe leeruitkomste was onverwags, omdat Mezirow se teorie nie verteenwoordig was in die rasionaal waarvolgens die program ontwerp is nie. Agt kriteria wat uit Mezirow se teorie ontwikkel kon word, is geoperasionaliseer en in vraagvorm gebruik om die inhoud van die program te analiseer. Die kriteria is as verteenwoordigend van transformatiewe leer in die konteks van 'n studie en denkvaardigheidsprogram beskou. In die analise van die inhoud is vier kategoriee van die program (die rasionaal, die doelstellings, die kursusmateriaal en die implementerings-prosedures) vergelyk en gekontrasteer met die kriteria vanuit die Transformatiewe Leerteorie. Uit hierdie analise het geblyk dat die program aan sekere kriteria voldoen, naamlik dat dit leer in be ide die kommunikatiewe en intrumentele domeine fasiliteer; geleenthede skep om betekenisstrukture te verken en versteurde betekenisperspektiewe te ondersoek; en dat dit disorienterende of konflikterende ervarings veroorsaak met betrekking tot bestaande betekenisstrukture en -perspektiewe. Sommige kriteria was glad nie verteenwoordig in die program nie. Die program het nie daarin geslaag om rasionele diskoers, volgens Mezirow se definisie daarvan, te ontlok nie.; dit het nie voldoende reflektering met betrekking tot onderliggende aannames aangemoedig nie en dit het nie doelbewus die transformasie van betekenisprespektiewe bevorder nie. Hierdie drie weglatings uit die program mag verband hou met die feit dat die teoretiese onderbou van die program nie op volwassene leer fokus nie. Ten spyte hiervan is daar egter steeds 'n aantal ooreenkomste tussen die kognitiewe ontwikkelingsteoriee en Mezirow se transformatiewe leerteorie geidentifiseer wat die verteenwoordiging van Mezirow se teorie in die program en dus die studente se response moontlik kan verklaar. Gevolgtrekkings met betrekking tot 'n teoreties geregverdigde beskouing van transformatiewe leer in die konteks van die Studie- en Denkvaardigheidprogram en die praktiese implikasies hiervan vir opvoeders, word beskryf. Ten slotte word aanbevelings gemaak om transformatiewe leer in die program te bevorder en vir die ontwerp van soortgelyke progamme.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / Psychology / Master / Master of Philosophy

This study examined the relationships between metacognition, self-regulation and students' critical thinking skills and disposition in online Socratic Seminars for ninth grade World Geography and Culture students. Participants of this study came from six intact pre-AP (Pre-Advanced Placement) classes in a public high school in south central Texas in the United States. They were randomly assigned to two groups: a three class treatment group and a three class comparison group. Students in both groups received training on critical thinking skills, Internet security, "netiquette" and the technological tools involved in the online Socratic Seminars. The experimental group performed two metacognitive tasks. They assigned critical thinking tags in the discussion forum and wrote two structured reflection journals after they finished each of the two Socratic Seminar discussions, while the comparison group performed neither of the two metacognitive tasks. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for the data analysis. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) showed statistically significant effects of the two metacognitive tasks on students' self-regulation, but not on their critical thinking skills and disposition. The structure equation modeling analysis showed that self-regulation had significant relationships with students' critical thinking disposition, but not with students' critical thinking skills for both the experimental and the comparison groups. The structural equation modeling analysis also revealed an insignificant moderating effect of performing the two metacognitive tasks on the relationship between self-regulation and students' critical thinking. Qualitative data analysis triangulated results from the quantitative analyses. / text

A primary goal of education is not only to inform but to transform learners. As instructors shift their focus from a one-size-fits-all emphasis on content delivery to a flexible, student-centered approach, questions of student engagement and student motivation become key. In many educational settings, instructors are faced with a classroom of students with varying, and often unknown, levels of motivation, ability, and commitment. Effectively addressing the educational needs of such a range of students often requires significant changes to traditional pedagogy. A recent pedagogical design that has been facilitated by the advent of easily accessible and low-cost multimedia technology is the “flipped classroom,” a course structure that asks students to view lectures prior to class and replaces the traditional in-class lecture with collaborative, problem-based instruction. The aim of the present study was to explore the experience of introducing a flipped curriculum into a LSAT (the nationally used entrance exam for admission to law school) preparation classroom. The study used a design research approach to investigate two iterations of the flipped curriculum across three courses. Quantitative and qualitative data were used to describe the experience of a flipped curriculum for both the instructor and the students. When compared to a traditional curriculum, results showed no significant effect on overall test score improvement, but students in the flipped courses did show greater improvement than those in a traditional course on one of the three LSAT section subscores. The results also showed that students in flipped courses had marginally lower overall attendance, greater classroom community, high levels of engagement, and moderately high belief in group effectiveness. / text

The aim of this study was to examine, understand and conceptualise the critical thinking and clinical reasoning adopted by new graduate occupational therapists as they enter the workforce to become newly autonomous practitioners. The study obtained the perspectives of new graduates, their supervisors and service managers on the means by which critical thinking and clinical reasoning develop to meet the expectations of employers. Factors which impeded the transition between new graduate and autonomous practitioner were identified and explored. Ethical approval was obtained to conduct the study. The study adopted a qualitative phenomenological research approach; Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), which informed framing, data gathering and analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with new graduates (n=6), supervisors (n=7) and managers (n=7) from multiple sites within one National Health Service Board. Interviews were transcribed verbatim from audio-recordings. The findings indicate that new graduates are expected to develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning in a manner that might challenge traditional conceptualisations of the transitioning process. A phenomenon, historically named the “shock of practice”, was reflected on by therapists in each phase of the study and adaptive and mal-adaptive responses to this in the thinking and behaviour of new graduates was identified. The clinical supervisor-supervisee relationship appeared to be the key source of support, and the supervisor the most significant knowledge resource, for new graduates. This relationship was supplemented by both peer support and Preceptorship. Discharge planning was a significant source of anxiety and development of an algorithm to support this process is proposed. Recommendations for further research and theoretical implications for practice and undergraduate education are discussed.

Tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti penktų klasių mokinių tabako ir alkoholio vartojimo prevencijos, panaudojant kritinio mąstymo ugdymą, efektyvumą. Darbe buvo siekiama nustatyti prevencinių užsiėmimų, kuriuos paruošė darbo autorė su darbo vadove doc. dr. I. Pilkauskiene, tinkamumą (pagilinti žinias apie neigiamas tabako ir alkoholio vartojimo pasekmes, sustiprinti neigiamą požiūrį į tabako ir alkoholio vartojimą ir stiprinti motyvaciją nerūkyti ateityje) penktų klasių mokinių tabako ir alkoholio vartojimo prevencijai. Anketomis, paruoštomis darbo autorės kartu su doc. dr. I. Pilkauskiene, buvo vertintas darbo autorės vestų užsiėmimų efektyvumas. Tyrime dalyvavo 108 penktos klasės mokiniai iš dviejų mokyklų. Iš jų 61 berniukas (56,5%) ir 47 mergaitės (43,5%), kurių amžiaus vidurkiai: berniukų – 11,10 m., mergaičių – 11,13 m. Iš jų buvo sudaryta poveikio (54 mokiniai) ir lyginamoji (54 mokiniai) grupės. Poveikio grupėje vyko keturi rūkymo ir alkoholio prevencijos užsiėmimai, panaudojant kritinio mąstymo ugdymą. Gauti rezultatai rodo, kad paruoštų užsiėmimų panaudojimas penktų klasių mokinių tabako ir alkoholio vartojimo prevencijai efektyvus tik iš dalies: šitaip gilinamos ir praplečiamos penktų klasių mokinių žinios apie tabako ir alkoholio vartojimo žalą, nekeičia neigiamo mokinių požiūrio į tabako ir alkoholio vartojimą, tačiau nestiprina motyvacijos nevartoti tabako ir alkoholio ateityje. / The aim of the study was to define the effectiveness of tobacco and alcohol use prevention, using critical thinking education for fifth class pupils. The objective of this work is to define the suitability of prevential activities , which was prepared by the author of this work in common with doc. dr. I. Pilkauskienė (to deepen the knowledge of negative consequences of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, to increase the negative attitude towards using of tabacco and alcohol as well as strengthen the motivation not to smoke and drink alcohol in future), for fifth grade pupils. The efectivness of prevential activities was defined acording the variation of questionnaire, which was prepared by the author and doc. dr. I. Pilkauskienė, data, by processing data information with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 15.0 for Windows. 108 pupils of the fifth grade from two comprehensive schools participated in the research. The research included 61 boy (56,6 %) and 47 girls (43,5 %) who the average age were: 11,10 for boys, 11,13 for girls. The pupils from one school were formed into intervention group (54 pupils) and from the other chool - into a comparative group (54 pupils). Smoking and alcohol drinking prevention activities were exercised in intervention group, by using critical thinking education. The results of the research revealed that the usage of prepared exercises for smoking and alcohol drinking prevention is only partly effective: it deepens and widens the... [to full text]

The nurturing of critical thinking skills is one of the cornerstones of Outcomes Based Education (OBE). This study investigated to what extent teachers create classroom climates that nurture the development of critical thinking abilities. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of the development of critical thinking skills, and to establish the relationship between classroom climate and the development of critical thinking abilities. The use of teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques, the role of the teacher and the role of the learner during teaching and learning in the classroom were explored. The literature review provided the conceptual framework for the study, as well as the framework for designing a questionnaire that was utilized to obtain the perceptions of teachers and learners regarding the opportunities provided by teachers for the development of critical thinking abilities in the classroom. By means of quantitative, non-experimental descriptive survey research, a self-constructed questionnaire was administrated to a convenient sample of a purposively selected group of Grade 9 and Grade 11 teachers (n=241) and learners (n=403) in the Sedibeng West District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The triangulation of learner and teacher data revealed differences and similarities in opinion related to the classroom climates that teachers create for nurturing critical thinking. In essence, the data revealed that teachers are, to some extent, creating classroom climates that nurture critical thinking through their choice of teaching methods and strategies, questioning techniques and the learning activities that they choose. However, the responses did not convincingly indicate to the researcher that the nurturing of critical thinking skills takes place on a regular and frequent basis. According to the learner responses, it appeared that teaching and learning methods and strategies that promote interactive learning, are underutilized by the teachers. This study is concluded with recommendations to teachers on how to create classroom climates that promote the development of critical thinking skills. Key words: cognition, cognitive development, critical thinking, classroom climate, teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques. / M.Ed., North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010