This dissertation was initiated to investigate the preprimary teacher's role in identifying and assisting learning disabled preprimars. The literature section consists of a study of the normal process of child development and the phenomenon of learning disability and its manifestation in preprimars. The philosophy of inclusion and a number of existing programmes for learners with learning disabilities were examined. The empirical research assessed the responses of preprimary teachers from the Eastern Cape to a questionnaire, their experiences in dealing with preprimars with learning disabilities in a typical preprimary group were analyzed and a summary of the findings was made. Recommendations have been given to teachers regarding the identification of learning disabilities in preprimars, the assistance and support needed to enable the teacher to assist the learning disabled preprimar and the need for additional training to equip her to do so. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthopedagogics)

Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken with a view to evaluate the effect of music education on the self-concept of the learner with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Four learners diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were asked to participate in a music program presented for two terms by the researcher. The selfconcept of the learners was recorded through interviews and questionnaires by the learners and their parents before the study commenced. Observations by the researcher and objective observer were used to monitor the learners' progress during the course of the lessons. After the completion of the music program the learners and their parents were again asked to participate in an interview and to complete a questionnaire. This study revealed that music education is a great enjoyment to these learners and the self-concept and self-confidence of some of the learners improved. A literature review was done in order to obtain a perspective on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A historical overview provided insight into the development of this disorder necessary to describe it properly. The study also focuses on various intervention techniques which can be used by parents and teachers. In addition, the study focuses on the role of music education and music practice on the various developmental levels of the learner and how music can indeed affect relaxation and be responsible for lifelong learning. It is recommended that the learners continue with mUSIC education, because it provides them with a sense of success and it plays a vital role in the cognitive development of the learner. This, in tum, leads to lifelong learning: an influence that will remain an irrevocable part of the child for the rest of his/her life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem met die doelom die uitwerking van musiekonderrig op die selfbeeld van die leerder met aandagafleibaarheid-hiperaktiwiteit te evalueer. Vier leerders wat gediagnoseer is met aandagafleibaarheid-hiperaktiwiteit is genader om 'n musiekprogram, aangebied deur die navorser, vir twee kwartale by te woon. Die selfbeeld van die leerders, wat vooraf deur middel van onderhoude en vraelyste deur die leerders en hulouers voltooi is, is geëvalueer. Die leerders se vordering is tydens die lesse deur middel van observering en objektiewe waarneming bepaal. Na afloop van die musiekprogram is die leerders en hulouers weer gevra om 'n onderhoud en vraelys te voltooi. Uit die studie blyk dit dat musiekonderrig 'n groot mate van genot vir die leerders is en daar was 'n verbetering in selfbeeld en selfvertroue by sommige van die leerders. 'n Literatuuroorsig bied insig oor die omvang van aandagafleibaarheid-hiperaktiwiteit en 'n historiese oorsig oor die verloop van die proses wat tot 'n beskrywing van die versteuring lei, word bekyk. Die verskeie intervensie-tegnieke wat deur ouers en opvoeders toegepas kan word, word bespreek. Verder word die rol wat musiekonderrig en musiekbeoefening op die verskillende ontwikkelingsvlakke van die leerder speel aangespreek, asook hoe musiek 'n ontspannende effek kan hê en verantwoordelik kan wees vir lewenslange leer. Dit word aanbeveel dat leerders volhou met musiekonderrig, omdat dit 'n gevoel van sukses verskaf en 'n belangrike rol speel in die leerder se kognitiewe ontwikkeling. Laasgenoemde is gevolglik verantwoordelik vir lewenslange leer: 'n onherroeplike invloed op die leerder vir die res van sy/haar lewe.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the learning practice construction of selective poor learners in their rural workers class context. The construction of learners’ learning practices in their neighbourhood context is a complex process of confluence, and largely depends on their context-specific perceptions and conceptualisation. In the South African educational environment, learners’ academic achievement is generally seen as a barometer of the quality of education in schools. From a sociological perspective, this study focuses on how high-school learners in a working-class neighbourhood construct their learning practice amidst their particular community dynamics. The study uses the analytical lens of space in order to investigate the underlying relationship between youth development and the youths’ construction of their learning practices in their neighbourhood context. It emphasises learners’ life experiences in their residential space (the neighbourhood) in the construction of their learning practices. This is an important focus in order to explore the dynamic relationship between learners’ spatial living dynamics and how they navigate within their neighbourhood in order to construct their learning practices. The study focuses on how the students experience the neighbourhood in relation to their learning practices, and how these aspects manifest in the shaping of their learning practices. Also key to the study is the learners’ socialisation processes with regard to their learning practices. Qualitative research instruments, such as field notes, participatory and non-participatory observations as well as formal and informal interviews, were used to answer the research question and achieve the research objectives of the thesis. The findings are presented in narrative format according to relevant themes, and are also analysed on a narrative basis. The study’s primary point of departure is that there is a unique relationship between these learners’ living contexts and how they construct and position their learning practices within this context. I place this study within the qualitative interpretative paradigm, as I attempt to describe and understand how these learners [un]consciously draw from practices and interactions in their living context to shape their lerning practices. Qualitative research instruments, such as field notes, participatory and non-participatory observations as well as formal and informal interviews, were used to answer the research question and achieve the research objectives of the thesis. The findings are presented in narrative format according to relevant themes, and are also analysed on a narrative basis. The research shows how the students – based on their own resources, networks and interactions as well as their own agency – position themselves in relation to their learning practices in order to construct their learning practices. In this way, the study reveals how the participating learners draw from the practices out of their doxa and habituated dispositions to construct their emergent learning practices in their living spaces (neighbourhood) – in order to give content to their learning practices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie fokus op die leerpraktykkonstruering van geselekteerde arm leerders in hulle landelike werkersklaskonteks. Leerders se leerpraktykkonstruering in hul woonbuurtkonteks is ʼn komplekse proses van samevloeiing, en hang grootliks van hul konteks spesifieke opvattings en konseptualisering af. Opvoedkundige navorsing in Suid-Afrika sentreer hoofsaaklik rondom onuitgedaagde pedagogiese benaderings wat werkersklasleerders se leervermoëns as problematies sien. Uit ʼn sosiologiese perspektief konsentreer hierdie studie op hoe hoërskoolleerders in ʼn werkersklaswoonbuurt hul leerpraktyke konstrueer te midde van hul besondere gemeenskapsdinamiek. Die studie gebruik die analitiese lens van ruimte ten einde ondersoek in te stel na die onderliggende verwantskap tussen jeugwording en die jongmense se leerpraktykkonstruering in hul woonbuurtkonteks vas te vang. Die klem val op die leerders se lewenservarings in hul omgewingsruimte (die woonbuurt) ter vorming van hul leerpraktyke. Dit is ʼn belangrike fokuspunt ten einde die dinamiese verwantskap te ondersoek tussen leerders se ruimtelike leefdinamiek en hoe hulle daarin hul weg baan ten einde aan hul leerpraktyke gestalte te gee hoe sodanige konstruksies verstaan moet word. Die studie fokus op hoe die leerders die omgewing ervaar met betrekking tot hul leerpraktyke, en hoe hierdie ervarings geopenbaar word in die vorming van sodanige leerpraktyke. Sleutel tot die studie is die leerders se sosialisering prosesse met betrekking tot hul leerpraktyke. Die studie se primêre uitgangspunt is dat daar ’n unieke verhouding is tussen hierdie leerders se beleefde konteks en hoe hulle hul leerpraktyke bou en posisioneer binne hierdie konteks. Ek plaas die studie binne die kwalitatiewe interpretatiewe paradigma, soos ek probeer om te beskryf en te verstaan hoe hierdie leerders [on]bewustelik en by wyse hul interaksies in hul beleefde kontekste betrokke raak in die vorming van hul leerpraktyke. Kwalitatiewe navorsing instrumente, soos veldnotas, deelnemende en nie-deelnemende waarnemings, sowel as formele en informele onderhoude, word gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord ten einde die doelwitte van die studie te bereik. Die bevindinge gaan in verhalende-formaat aangebied word volgens die relevante temas, en word ook op ’n narratiewe wyse ontleed. Die navorsing toon hoe die leerders op grond van hul hulpbronne, netwerke en interaksies sowel as hul eie agentskap – hul leerpraktyke posisionering en bou. Op hierdie manier poog die studie om te toon hoe die deelnemende leerders by wyse van aspekte uit hul woonbuurtpraktyke gestalte te gee aan hul leerpraktyke.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis sets out to examine Moodle use to assist Deaf and Hard of Hearing Grade 9 learners with understanding mathematics problem-solving. The methodology used in this research project is that of formative evaluation. In this qualitative data analysis I worked as a participant-observer with three Deaf and H/H Grade 9 learners from a local school for the Deaf and H/H. These learners engaged in a course constructed in Moodle based on ratio and rate. The course was designed along the lines of a constructivist pedagogical model, different levels of learning as well as including multi representational features. Through the qualitative analysis of the interviews conducted with learners who participated in the research project and observation done by the teacher researcher, three categories emerged i.e. Weaknesses, Potential strengths and Learner suggestions. Although the findings indicate that different factors negatively impact Deaf and H/H learners’ ability to solve mathematics problems, it also highlights the representational features of mathematics content via Moodle, and how it can assist Deaf and H/H learners with the struggle with mathematics problem-solving. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek is om te evaluereer of Moodle gebruik deur Dowe en Hardhorende graad 9 leerders hulle kan help met moeilikhede wat hulle ondervind met wiskunde probleem oplossing. Die navorsing is ‘n formatiewe evaluering. Binne hierdie kwalitatiewe data ontleding werk ek as ‘n deelnemer-navorser met 3 Dowe en Hardhorende graad 9 leerders by ‘n plaaslike skool vir Doof en Hardhorende leerders. Hierdie leerders het deelgeneem in leeraktiwiteite wat ontwerp is in Moodle en wat gebasseer is op verhouding en koers. Die leeraktiwiteite is ontwerp inlyn met ‘n konstruktivistiese pedagogiese model, verskillende vlakke van leer en multi voorstellings formate. Drie kategorieë o.a Tekortkominge, Moontlike Sterkpunte en Leerder voorstelle, het onstaan tydens die kwalitatiewe data ontleding waar onderhoude met die deelnemers gevoer asook observasie wat gedoen is deur die deelnemer-navorser. Alhoewel die bevindinge daarop dui dat verskillende faktore negatief inwerk op Dowe en Hardhorende leerders se vermoë om wiskunde problem op te los, wys dit ook uit die vermoë van Moodle om wiskunde probleme voor te stel en hoe hierdie voorstellings Dowe en Hardhorende leerders kan help met wiskunde probleem oplossing.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Internationally, the right of people with disabilities to participate as full members of society presently receives high priority and inclusive education is one way of facilitating participation. With South Africa firmly committed to a rights culture, it is a matter of time before inclusive education is implemented as policy. Since the education of the deaf presents its own challenges, questions abound around the inclusion of learners who are deaf in mainstream classes. This study seeks to explore the implications of the education of a learner who is deaf in a mainstream class and to explore the factors that facilitate learning in such a setting. An eco-systemic approach underpins the study. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors in reciprocal interaction influence the learning of the deaf in mainstream classes. Several of these factors are explored in the international literature. Against this background, this study sets out to examine some of the factors mentioned in the literature as well as additional factors within the context of a rural South African school. A single learner who is deaf within the context of the family and education system was chosen as the focus of a qualitative, case study. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field notes and a review of personal records. Interviews were held with educators, the principal, a support educator, the learner and the learner's mother. The data were analysed using aspects of content analysis and five patterns emerged. These were child related factors, family factors, school factors, support and factors pertaining to the education department. The findings indicated that the parameters of deafness which facilitated the leamer's success in the mainstream were a mixed hearing loss which benefited from hearing aids to the extent that the learner was able to access the curriculum by means of verbal communication with some compensatory behaviours and learning support. A positive attitude on the part of the school and a willingness to support him as well as good social integration were school-related factors that facilitated inclusion. Achievement enhancing factors despite poor socio-economic conditions were family-related factors that facilitated learning. Intensive early intervention formed a good foundation and continued to be of benefit. Several factors which could be improved were identified and recommendations were made. Since the impact of deafness differs from learner to leamer, each learner's needs has to be considered individually and placement decisions in one of a range of supportive settings be matched against this need. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dowe onderrig bied eie uitdagings. Internasionaal ontvang die reg van persone met gestremdhede om as volwaardige lede in die gemeenskap opgeneem te word, hoë prioriteit. Inklusiewe onderwys is een manier waarop insluiting en deelname in die gemeenskap vergemaklik kan word. Met die beoogde implementering van 'n beleid van inklusiewe onderwys in Suid-Afrika ontstaan daar vrae rondom die insluiting van leerders wat doof is in hoofstroom klasse. Hierdie studie poog om die implikasies wat onderrig van 'n leerder wat doof is in 'n hoofstroom klas inhou, te ondersoek. Die faktore wat leer in so 'n omgewing vergemaklik, is ook ondersoek. 'n Eko-sistemiese benadering is in die studie gebruik. 'n Enkele leerder wat doof is, is binne die konteks van sy familie en die onderwyssisteem gekies as onderwerp van 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie. Beide intrinsieke en ekstrinsieke faktore in wedersydse kommunikasie, beïnvloed die leer van dowe persone. In internasionale literatuur het faktore soos die aard van die doofheid, persoonlikheid, intellektuele funksionering, sosiale integrasie en skool- en familie verwante faktore aandag geniet en daar is bevind dat dit 'n impak op die leerder se sukses binne 'n inklusiewe leeromgewing het. Teen hierdie agtergrond is hierdie studie geloods om bogenoemde faktore en faktore uniek aan die situasie binne die konteks van 'n landelike Suid-Afrikaanse skool te ondersoek. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude IS gevoer met opvoeders, die skoolhoof, 'n leerondersteuningsopvoeder, die leerder en sy ouers. Veldnotas en In oorsig van persoonlike verslae is ook gebruik om inligting oor die leerder en die onderrig en leerproses te bekom. Die data is geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van aspekte van inhoud analisering. Vyf patrone het na vore gekom, naamlik intrinsieke kindverwante faktore, familiefaktore, skoolverwante faktore, faktore rakende ondersteuning en faktore rakende die onderwysdepartement. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat Inleerder met 'n gehoorverlies wat deur 'n gehoorapparaat in staat gestel word om verbale kommunikasie te volg binne 'n leeromgewing waar daar die nodige ondersteuning is, groter sukses behaal. 'n Positiewe houding teenoor die leerder, 'n bereidwilligheid van opvoeders om die leerder te ondersteun en goeie sosiale integrasie is skoolverwante faktore wat insluiting vergemaklik. Familieverwante faktore wat leer aanmoeding lei tot verhoogde prestasies ten spyte van lae sosioekonomiese omstandighede. Intensiewe vroeë intervensies lê In goeie grondslag en lei tot langtermyn positiewe gevolge. Verskeie faktore waar daar ruimte VIT verbeteringe is, is geïdentifiseer en aanbevelings is gemaak. Terwyl sekere faktore in hierdie ondersoek geïdentifiseer is as kritiek in die fasilitering van leer in 'n inklusiewe omgewing, moet daarmee rekening gehou word dat die unieke interaksie van 'n ander stel intrinsieke veranderlikes en ekstrinsieke veranderlikes 'n ander stel kritieke faktore kan produseer. Die behoeftes van elke leerder wat doof is, sal dus op 'n individuele basis in ag geneem moet word sodat plasing binne die ondersteunende omgewing wat die beste in sy behoeftes voorsien, gedoen kan word.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Rehabilitation and education are faced with the growing need for adequate and appropriate assessment tools for over 9,000 congenitally deaf-blind persons in this country. These tools are needed to help form the basis for evaluation of these clients/students so that programs appropriate to their specific needs can be determined. In the past, assessment of the functional development of this population has been based on tests standardized on populations of non-handicapped individuals. These measuring primarily language abilities, and experiential factors. Observational procedures can examine the spontaneous behavior of subjects over a long period of time. This is an alternative to standardized instruments. One of these in current use is the Basic Life Skills Screening Inventory. This instrument was developed in 1982 for the purpose of assisting educators and counselors in establishing the readiness of deaf-blind, developmentally disabled clients/students for vocational and life skills training. Though useful in its original form, this instrument has two major limitations. One is the fact that the rater is given only limited choices, resulting in a ceiling effect and a pronounced skew of many of its scales. Another limitation is its lengthy 283 item format, requiring too much administration time to be practical on a daily basis. The present study focused on making needed modifications in this instrument that would help alleviate these limitations, and continue to maintain high psychometric properties within the instrument. In doing this, rater choices were expanded from three (3) to five (5) column headings, and the instrument was reduced from 283 items to 145 items. This study was designed to answer the following questions: (1) Can the Basic Life Skills Screening Inventory be modified in such a way as to give the rater a greater response choice, thus allowing for a more refined assessment? (2) Can the 283 item, Basic Life Skills Screening Inventory be shortened by approximately 50%, to allow for an easier and more practical administration, and continue to maintain high psychometric properties? Results indicate that, despite the modifications, a very high overall consistency among the items was maintained with a total average alpha of 9935.5.

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between discrete areas of cognitive processing and academic achievement in minority children. There have been many questions about the fairness of current testing practices as they have been applied to students from differing ethnicities. These students are entitled by law to a meaningful, nonbiased assessment of their abilities. The minority children targeted for study were bilingual Hispanic students. Cognitive processing tasks were drawn from established measures of perceptual-motor development, auditory recall, and nonverbal intellectual ability. Academic achievement was measured by two comprehensive tests, one that was English-based and another that was Spanish-based. One hundred fifty-eight students enrolled in eleven third grade classrooms were examined. The subjects participated in group administrations of the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test, Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices, and a bilingual version of the Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. The Spanish-based achievement test was La Prueba Riverside de Realizacion en Espanol. The English-based achievement test was the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Data were first analyzed by a stepwise multiple regression procedure to determine which of the experimental measures would predict academic achievement. Results indicated that the strongest predictor of academic achievement were scores from the test of nonverbal intellectual ability, which held true for both achievement tests. Scores in immediate auditory recall in English predicted achievement in certain achievement areas, but only on the Spanish-based test. Scores on the perceptual-motor test also predicted achievement on the Spanish-based test only. Auditory recall in Spanish did not predict achievement in any area on either test. The study concludes with a discussion of the viability of the independent measures as a meaningful, comprehensive test battery to be used with minority children in schools. Implications for future research and administrative planning are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to discover the print awareness knowledge of 25 four- and five-year-old Spanish-English bilingual children and to see if differences among the children are related to home environmental factors. The specific questions to be answered were: (1) How does the use of language varieties in the home affect print awareness? (2) How does the language of written materials in the home (whether in Spanish or English) affect print awareness? (3) In what language do children respond to print awareness tasks? (4) How does the literacy environment in the home affect print awareness? (5) How does the language of the literacy environment (whether English or Spanish) affect print awareness? (6) How does the parental attitude toward reading affect print awareness? This naturalistic study presents data collected and analyzed with the following instruments: Signs of the Environment, Level I and Level II; Pre-Schooler's Book Handling Knowledge; and a Parent Interview which was conducted in the home. The data indicate that the children whose parents said that both languages were spoken in the home had the highest percentage of appropriate responses on all three tasks. Three main factors appear to influence the language in which the child responded to the tasks. These are contextual setting, experience with the item, and television. This study was not organized in such a way as to discover whether amount of literacy in the home and its degree of use makes a difference to children's print awareness. However, it is evident from the responses given by the children that the literacy environment of the home and its surroundings does influence print awareness. This study provides ample evidence that some bilingual economically poor children have a strong support base in literacy development which schools can expand upon: (1) Bilingual children are print aware and have knowledge of books. (2) Bilingual parents care and are anxious for the children to learn. (3) Bilingual parents read to their children and provide them with opportunities to read and write in the home. (4) Bilingual homes have a variety of opportunities for literacy.