M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / The purpose ofthis study is to understand and describe the experiences ofthe demands that Life-orientation, in practice, place on the educator. These experiences relate to the skills, knowledge, attitudes, values and method of instruction. This study is descriptive and a qualitative research strategy was employed. A case study was used as a research method. A literature study ofLife-orientation, the demands that the subject place on educators and Invitational Education as a possible method of instruction were described. An interview with a focus group consisting of five educators in Life-orientation from High School X was done. A class presentation ofthese five educators was observed. The data collected were analysed and categories and themes identified. The themes or subjects identified were the following: the importance ofthe doctrine of Life-orientation, focus on the learner, atmosphere in the classroom and the educational and instructional demands Life-orientation place on the educator. These themes were linked to theory and findings and conclusions were made. The following findings were made: the themes identified allude to the four assumptions and four elements of Invitational Education. It became apparent that educators implicitly acted in a professionally and personally inviting manner towards themselves and the learners in teaching Life-orientation. It can be concluded that Invitational Education may be a possible workable model used in the teaching of Life-orientation according to an outcomes-based education model and it may aid the educators to adhere to the demands of Life-orientation.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Literature has shown that Malawi is experiencing a shortage of qualified healthcare providers, with the greatest burden on maternal and neonatal health. The majority of health service providers are Nurse-Midwife Technicians (NMT), contributing to 87% of the nursing and midwifery workforce. However, research has shown that the NMTs lack the ability to transfer skills into different clinical settings. It was not known what competencies were taught in Christian Health Association of Malawi colleges to equip the NMTs with clinical competence in neonatal nursing practice and how the clinical teachers assisted these NMTs to acquire the competencies. Furthermore, there was no documentation on the availability of a clinical competency-based assessment tool to validate the NMTs’ achievement of clinical competence in neonatal nursing. The purpose of this study was to develop a neonatal nursing care clinical competency-based assessment tool to validate NMTs’ achievement of clinical competence in CHAM nursing colleges. The competency, outcomes and performance assessment (COPA) model and the skills acquisition model were the conceptual frameworks used as the foundation of the study. The study adopted a sequential mixed method approach in which both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized. Data collection was conducted using focus group discussions, document review and cross-sectional survey. The design and development model developed by Reeves (2006) and steps to development of assessment tools identified by the Department of Training and Workforce Development (2012) guided the study and development of the competency-based assessment tool. The study was conducted in eight CHAM nursing colleges. The researcher employed purposive, convenient and proportional stratified sampling to select the participants. Ethics clearance was obtained from the University of Western Cape and the National Health Sciences Ethical Research Committee in Malawi, prior to data collection. The data collection involved 31 midwifery clinical teachers and 140 third year students for the FGD and 48 midwifery clinical teachers and 195 third year students for the cross section survey. Document analysis was conducted at all the eight nursing colleges. The qualitative data was analysed using content analysis with Atlas.ti 7 and the quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis with SPSS 22. The research findings showed that the NMTs were taught basic nursing skills to enable them provide basic care to the health newborn baby. However, there were inadequate clinical assessments done to validate the NMT’s achievement of clinical competence in this setting. In addition, the clinical teachers used skills checklists to evaluate the NMTs clinical performance on specific procedures. The outcome of this study was the establishment of neonatal nursing clinical competencies, and development of a neonatal nursing care clinical competency-based assessment tool for the validation of NMT’s achievement of clinical competence. The tool provides a framework for neonatal nursing clinical teaching and assessments as well as tracking of the NMT’s clinical performance in this setting. It is recommended that training institutions should reinforce mechanisms to track the students’ clinical experience and performance assessments using this tool to ensure quality student outcomes. Furthermore, the clinical teachers should be oriented on the use of the developed assessment tool for familiarisation; thereby enhancing consistency and objectivity in the students’ performance assessments. / ICAP-NEPI Project Malawi

M.A. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Education Management) / The implementation of Outcomes-Based Education in South Africa is not as it was envisaged. This was attributed to lack of necessary skills and capacity by both office and school- based teachers to comply with policies of the Department of Education (In this concept the educators and teachers are used interchangeably). Due to the above, both institution and office-based teachers started blaming one another for poor implementation and monitoring as well as supporting the new curriculum reforms. Institution- based teachers blamed the office-based educators for the lack of capacity, monitoring and support as well as feedback. On the other hand the office- based educators blamed the institution based teachers for the lack of internal support within schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of capacity by District Learning Area Specialists in supporting and monitoring the implementation of Revised National Curriculum Statements (currently called National Curriculum Statements). To accomplish this aim, Heads of Departments, District Learning Area Specialists, and teachers were sampled randomly from Ekurhuleni West school district. The Heads of Departments and educators were selected from Thokoza, Vosloorus and Katlehong schools, while the District Learning Area Specialists were from Ekurhuleni West district office. The research was conducted in a form of case study. It focused on qualitative and descriptive research style. Various methods of collecting data such as interviews, observation, questionnaires and document analysis were used in order to ensure reliability and validity. Based on the literature reviewed and responses from the empirical research the study revealed that the type of support offered by the District learning Area Specialists is not enough for the teachers to implement and comply with all the policies of the Department of Education. It also revealed that excessive demands and pressure from the Department of Education left schools and districts with no choice but to rush to the implementation phase without capacity building. In order for both district and institution- based teachers to implement and comply with the policy, the study recommended that: conducive organizational structure; combination of support and external pressure; issuing of incentives; reward and sanctions; strategies and prioritizing of work; high level of professional leadership and capacity; district working towards developing partnership with schools; monitoring and support and that institution based teachers should become organized and effective. Finally, the researcher recommended for a further research on the IDSO (Institutional Development and Support Officer). The reason is that these district officials are the ones who develop the management and governance of schools. They ensure that all the school systems are put in place. It is believed that if the governance and management of schools are in order, it is likely that the curriculum implementation might improve.

M.Ed. / This study forms part of a greater ongoing research project concerning teacher competence and its assesment. The project focuses on researching teacher opinion on teacher competences identified by the initial research. The following areas of teacher competence are being researched : The learning environment Professional commitment Order and discipline Educational foundation Teacher reflection Co-operative ability Effectiveness Leadership This dissertation is part of the research undertaken regarding order and discipline and its role in teacher competence. An intensive research of the literature has given rise to a conceptualisation that consists of the following five aspects, namely : values; rules; human relationships; management of classroom behaviour; and teaching practices. This research essay focuses on classroom management behaviour as an aspect of order and discipline : implication for the management of teacher competence. Having orientated the reader to the particular field of research, the motivation and background of the problem will now be discussed.

D.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / School education in South Africa has seen a number of changes, some more far-reaching than others, since the 1994 elections. In the schooling sector these changes included the restructuring of schools along nonracial lines, the redeployment of teachers and the introduction of a new curriculum for general education and training in schools. Changes have also been effected to the education and training system as a whole the most significant systemic change has been the establishment of a national qualifications framework (NQF), in terms of which (a) education and training are integrated and (b) all standards are registered in the form of outcomes that bridge previous divides between education and training...

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / The problem whether competency based modular education (CBE) programs produce better results than conventional educational methods has been investigated and discussed in this report. A comprehensive literature study indicated that the upholders of the CBE program advocated better results than the conventional educational methods in most of the instances. Most research showed positive results. An empirical research on micro-level was launched to determine whether this was the case or not. The procedure was to use a group of standard eight pupils, at a TED school in the south of Johannesburg. They were about to complete a part of the syllabus on electricity as part of this research. An experimental group and a control group was selected at random. The experimental group was sUbjected to the CBE method and the control group to the conventional method of Science teaching.

D.Ed. / This thesis is a report of a research project conducted in a Technikon within the higher education sector of South Africa. Teachers in this sector are facing major challenges due to the transformation of higher education, as well as the introduction of an Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) paradigm. Teachers thus need to adapt their teaching practice to include the principles and practices of this educational paradigm and are continuously required to improve their teaching practice to face the aforementioned challenges. This study was aimed at investigating how teachers could be assisted to improve their teaching practice. It primarily aimed at seeking a way to assist lecturers of the Technikon to improve their teaching practice, while it was hoped that I would also improve my own practice. An action research project was conducted during which I was planned, designed and implemented a teaching skills programme. Literature on teaching and learning, with specific emphasis on theories and approaches that support learners' meaningful learning, was reviewed. Furthermore, literature on staff development policies, approaches, practices and the OBE paradigm provided the theoretical foundation for the various phases in the action research project. After conducting a needs analysis to determine the perceived teaching needs of lecturers, all lecturers at the Technikon were invited to attend the teaching skills programme as a staff development initiative. Data of what was experienced, observed and learnt during the process were noted in my research journal. After I had analysed and interpreted the data gained I reflected on the experiences and learning, as well as on the value of the programme. From the research notes I learnt more about the participants, the programme and the process, while I learnt more about myself as a teacher and as a researcher. These reflections informed the findings, namely that insufficient focus is placed on teaching and learning initiatives. Furthermore, it was found that staff development policies did not seem to provide sufficient support for such initiatives. Literature indicated that these findings were not unique to the Technikon, but also seemed to be experienced in other higher education institutions. Based on the above findings it was concluded that teachers could be assisted in improving their teaching practice by focusing on their learners' meaningful learning and by continuously updating their teaching knowledge and skills. It was therefore recommend that staff development policies be revised and that teachers and managers in higher education refocus on the core business of higher education institutions, namely, teaching and learning. Finally, it was recommended that managers, teachers and staff development units accept coresponsibility for improving teaching practice in higher education and work in synergy to achieve this common goal. The co-responsibilities of role-players in academic staff development have been presented diagrammatically within a framework. The importance of all role-players taking their responsibilities is illustrated. The resulting coresponsibility amongst role-players is argued to emphasise the importance of synergy amongst them towards achieving improved practice. I argued that all three role-players needed to collaborate and support one another if they were "to move in the same direction" towards improved teaching practice. The scholarly contribution of this study lies firstly within my living theory, which is a culmination of the learning journey as well as the results thereof. My living theory of teaching practice and that of academic development is culminated into the framework.

M.A. / A number of recent variables have influenced the professionalisation of the child and youth care discipline in South Africa. These variables have had a direct impact on the training of child and youth care practitioners. The first variable is the establishment of the National Qualifications Framework, the National Qualification Authority and the focus on lifelong learning possibilities as well as competency-based training. The second variable is the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Young People at Risk (IMC) and the accompanying transformation of the South African child and youth care system. The third variable is the transformation of the Interim Council for Social Work with the associated recognition of Child and Youth Care as an independent discipline. The fourth variable is the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by South Africa in 1995 in which certain rights of children are recognised. The fifth variable is the knowledge that South African children have special protection under the South African Constitution. The sixth variable is the Africanisation of the profession in South Africa. These variables have stressed the importance of compiling a competency-based framework for the training of child and youth care practitioners in South Africa that embraces all these variables. Child and Youth Care is a phenomenon that is quite unfamiliar as an independent discipline in South Africa, and therefore the researcher chose a qualitative paradigm that is exploratory, descriptive, contextual and phenomenological to develop a competency-based framework for the training of Child and Youth Care practitioners in South Africa. The empirical research included phenomenological interviews with child and youth care trainers and a focus group interview with child and youth care practitioners. Literature was consulted in two stages, namely at the beginning to pose the problem and at the conclusion of the research to compare and contrast the findings (Cresswell, 1994:24). The four criteria to ensure trustworthiness are credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The criteria to obtain this included the triangulation of various methods of data collection and by confirming results with respondents. Detailed descriptions were done to enhance the study's chance of being replicated in another setting. The services of an external coder were utilised. A detailed protocol for data collection is provided. The categories that emerged from the research were compared with literature and used to compile a competencybased framework for the training of Child and Youth Care Practitioners in South Africa.

RESEARCH PROJECTS: 1 RESEARCH PROJECT ONE: A literature review: Constructivism: An alternate approach to teaching and learning. Abstract The constructivist perspectives on learning have helped enhance science educators' understanding of how students make sense of their lived experiences. Constructivism purports to be a transformation of the traditional curriculum. As such this article starts with a brief overview of behaviorism: the scientific approach to education. The main tenets underlying constructivism, how constructivism guides educators to change their classroom practice, and the implications to science teaching have been reviewed. 2 RESEARCH PROJECT TWO (Empirical study): Being Constructive: College students' learning of work and heat as aspects of the energy concept based a constructivist approach. Abstract This study is an extension of a literature review on constructivism as an alternate teaching and learning approach discussed in research project one. It is an empirical study concerning the use of a learning module based on a constructivist approach to develop pre-service student teachers' understanding of work and heat as aspects of the energy concept. The data consisted mainly of transcripts of students' interviews, written responses to questionnaires designed in the form of a worksheet, and comments from non-participant observers and students. The results seem to suggest that a carefully designed learning module based on a constructivist teaching and learning approach may be a valuable tool in developing pre-service student teachers' understanding of work and heat. 3 RESEARCH PROJECT THREE (Empirical study): A College in transition: A case study of the readiness of a college in the Eastern Cape province to implement Outcomes-Based Education in an Education Development centre. Abstract Curriculum 2005 premised on Outcomes-Based Education is the new curriculum framework for South Africa. It signifies a paradigm shift in education from the traditional 'telling-listening' relationship between the teacher and the learner to one that emphasises leamer-centred approach to the teaching process. Teachers, though recognized as crucial to the educational transformation process in the country have also being identified as ill-equipped to meet the challenges posed by Outcomes-Based Education. This study starts with a brief overview of the South African curriculum and the main tenets underlying Outcomes-Based Education. The institutional conditions and whether the lecturers at a college in the Eastern Cape province perceive the need for a change in their classroom practice were also investigated. Bearing in mind the need for further research to validate the findings of this study, positive indicators that emerged from the study suggest the readiness of the college to implement Outcomes-Based Education at the proposed Education Development Centre.