Thesis (MPhil (Curriculum Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Leadership development is a life-long process, but support for this process should be started at an early stage. All learners have the gift for leadership, but most do not realise this gift. Adolescence is a time when the leadership potential of individuals must be awakened – it provides an opportunity to help adolescents to became the leaders they already are. The main aim of this study was to devise strategies – through structured survey studies – that could be used by schools and individuals to enhance youth leadership development. The aims that emerged were to determine and describe the current state of affairs regarding youth leadership development in certain schools. Obstacles in the way of effective leadership development were identified and strategies for effective leadership development were formulated. A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, undertaken from a structured survey study perspective within an interpretivistic research paradigm, was used. The problem that was researched was the absence of purposeful youth leadership development and how this shortcoming could be addressed in the context of a high school environment, with the support of the necessary development strategies. This study attempted to identify new knowledge that can be used to address the challenges related to youth leadership. The research confirmed the research question that deficient purposeful leadership development strategies exist at school level. This formed the basis for the implementation of a dynamic and flexible leadership development model that includes aspects of both the Quality Leadership and Stage model of youth leadership development. The proposed youth leadership strategies can be applied effectively to address youth leadership development within the current South African context.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this qualitative research study was to determine the value that a group of teachers in South Africa would place on the process of lesson study as a model for their own learning and instructional improvement. A qualitative case study approach through an action research design was the methodology employed for this research. Participants in this 18-month study experienced three complete cycles and a fourth partially completed cycle of lesson study. The setting in South Africa offers a unique perspective to research on lesson study. Lesson study has been the primary method of professional teacher development in Japan for more than 50 years. It is also realizing some success in school districts across the USA. The recent educational reforms in South Africa have something in common with each of these countries. Like Japan, South Africa has adopted a national curriculum. The common link with the USA is that both countries have recently experienced educational reform at the national government level. The findings from this research include a discussion of the elements contained in lesson study that may be beneficial to incorporate into continuing professional teacher development programs, an analysis of the sustainability of lesson study, and an exploration of the connection between the model of lesson study and the design of action research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie was om die waarde wat ʼn groep onderwysers in Suid-Afrika op die proses van lesstudie as ʼn model vir hulle eie leer- en onderrigverbetering sou plaas, te bepaal. ʼn Kwalitatiewe gevallestudie-benadering met behulp van ʼn aksienavorsingontwerp was die metodologie wat tydens hierdie navorsing aangewend is. Deelnemers aan hierdie studie wat oor 18 maande gestrek het, het drie volledige siklusse en ʼn vierde gedeeltelike siklus van lesstudie onderneem. Die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks bied ʼn unieke perspektief op navorsing oor lesstudie. Lesstudie was vir meer as 50 jaar die primêre metode van professionele onderwyserontwikkeling in Japan. Dit behaal ook ’n mate van sukses in skooldistrikte oor die VSA heen. Die onlangse onderwyshervormings in Suid-Afrika het iets gemeen met elk van hierdie lande. Soos Japan, het Suid-Afrika ʼn nasionale kurrikulum in gebruik geneem. Die skakel met die VSA is dat albei lande onlangs onderwyshervorming op nasionale regeringsvlak ondergaan het. Die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing sluit ʼn bespreking van die elemente vervat in lesstudie in wat inkorporering in programme vir voortgesette professionele onderwyserontwikkeling tot voordeel kan strek, ʼn ontleding van die volhoubaarheid van lesstudie, en ʼn verkenning van die verband tussen die lesstudie-model en die ontwerp van aksienavorsing.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have existed for several hundred years, their recent surge was largely fueled by several key factors. Firstly, government corruption caused donor agencies to see NGOs as safer investments for their aid portfolios. Secondly, the end of the Cold War fostered growth in development in former Soviet satellite nations. Thirdly, the United Nation‘s (UN) establishment of the Millennium Development Goals galvanized the globe to address indicators critical to combating extreme poverty. Vast amounts of charitable capital combined with donors‘ increasing expectations of performance to spark serious interest in the topics of NGO efficiency, accountability and effectiveness. These topics are foundational to NGO mission accomplishment and have contributed to a global expansion of academic programs in NGO management. The examination of a forerunner of NGO management education helped address the void of scholarship concerning NGO-related academic program effectiveness. The economic development program at Eastern University (US) was created in 1984 as one of the world‘s first MBA programs designed to train entrepreneurs for service to distressed communities. The program quickly grew to over one hundred students and then foundered due to frequent personnel transition, curricular change, mission drift and a lack of investment in relational marketing and outreach. This prompted an administrative intervention in 2002. In 2007, five years into the economic development program‘s reinvention process, a qualitative evaluation determined whether all the essential elements of the program were in place and operating in accordance with the plans put forth in 2002. The knowledge generated by this research will strengthen institutions that serve NGOs and extend the abilities of NGO leaders to fulfill their missions. The following specific aims were established and achieved. Firstly, an analysis of the factors contributing to the management challenges facing the leaders of international NGOs was presented. Secondly, a qualitative evaluation of an international graduate economic development program for NGO leaders using archival analysis verified through iv interviews and focus groups assessed the effectiveness of the 2002 intervention in achieving planned objectives. Thirdly, the research also generated conclusions and recommendations on theoretical, practical and policy-related issues, particularly regarding matters of academic program leadership, curricular development, planning, evaluation, marketing and the distinctive requirements of international programs containing distance delivery components. Fourthly, the research enriched the scholarly conversation in the NGO and academic communities in substantive ways, including two presentations at international conferences and publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Theoretical, practical and policy conclusions were generated as research outcomes and included a theoretical framework for the implementation and evaluation of an international graduate economic development MBA for NGO leaders. The conclusions generated four recommendations for the host institution and others with similar missions and aspirations. The recommendations stated that these kinds of programs should: commit to the discipline of multi-year planning and evaluation, appoint well-qualified faculty to lead them, implement and resource relationship-based marketing plans that engage program alumni, and excel at delivering cross-cultural, highly accessible learning / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nieregeringsorganisasies (NRO‘s) bestaan al vir baie honderde jare. In die onlangse verlede is die belangrikheid en groei daarvan deur verskeie faktore aangevuur. Ten eerste het skenkerorganisasies nieregeringsorganisasies toenemend begin beskou as veiliger beleggers vir hulle hulpfondse as die toenemende korrupsie van regerings. Tweedens het die einde van die Koue Oorlog die groei en ontwikkeling van vorige Sowjet- satellietstate gestimuleer. Derdens het die Verenigde Volkeorganisasie (VVO) met die daarstelling van die milleniumontwikkelingsdoelstellings die wêreld saamgesnoer in hulle pogings om armoede te beveg. Groot bedrae welsynskapitaal en die daarmee gepaardgaande hoër prestasieverwagtinge van skenkers het daartoe bygedra dat daar groter belangstelling was in die effektiwiteit, doeltreffendheid en toerekenbaarheid van nieregeringsorganisasies. Laasgenoemde drie temas is fundamenteel tot die uitlewing van nieregeringsorganisasies se missies en dit het daartoe bygedra dat daar ‘n wêreldwye toename in akademiese programme oor die leierskap en bestuur van nieregeringsorganisasies was. Navorsing oor een van die pioniers op die gebied van leierskap en bestuursopleiding vir nie-regeringsorganisasies het daartoe bygedra om hierdie leemte in die akademieskap van nie-regeringsorganisasies se programeffektiwiteit te oorbrug. Die ekonomiese ontwikkelings-program aan die Eastern University in die VSA is in 1984 as een van die wêreld se eerste MBA-programme wat ontwerp is om entrepreneurs vir dienslewering aan benadeelde gemeenskappe op te lei, in die lewe geroep. Die program was baie gewild en het vinnig gegroei en gou was daar meer as ‘n honderd ingeskrewe studente. As gevolg van verskeie faktore, waaronder gereelde personeel- en leierskapwisseling, kurrikulumwysigings, missieverskuiwing (mission drift) en onvoldoende investering in bemarking en uitreikprogramme, het die program se gewildheid afgeneem. Hierdie afname in die gewildheid van die program het inmenging/intervensie deur die universiteitsbestuur in 2002 genoodsaak. In 2007,vyf jaar nadat die universiteitsbestuur die intervensie geïnisieer het, is deur middel van ‘n kwalitatiewe evaluering vasgestel of al die noodsaaklike elemente van die program toegepas is volgens die intervensieprogram wat in 2002 geïnisieer is. Die kennis wat deur hierdie navorsing gegenereer is, sal vi universiteite en instellings wat nieregeringsorganisasies ondersteun, versterk en die leiers van nieregeringsorganisasies in staat stel om hulle missies uit te leef. Verskeie doelstellings is met die navorsing nagestreef en bereik. Eerstens is die faktore wat bydra tot die uitdagings vir die leierskap van internasionale nieregeringsorganisasies geanaliseer en aangebied. Tweedens is ‘n kwalitatiewe evaluering van ‘n internasionale nagraadse ekonomiese ontwikkelingsprogram uitgevoer. Argivale materiaal is geanaliseer en, gerugsteun deur inligting wat verkry is uit onderhoude en fokusgroepe, is die effektiwiteit van die 2002-intervensie bepaal. Derdens is teoretiese, praktiese en beleidsgevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings gegenereer. Hierdie gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings is veral toegespits op leierskap vir akademiese programme, kurrikulumontwikkeling, beplanning, evaluering, bemarking en die eiesoortige eise wat afstandsonderrigprogramme stel. Vierdens het die navorsing die akademiese gesprek en die akademiese en nieregeringsorganisasies op verskeie betekenisvolle maniere verryk. Onder andere is twee aanbiedinge by internasionale konferensies gedoen en is ‘n artikel in ‘n eweknie-beoordeelde tydskrif gepubliseer. Teoretiese, praktiese en beleidsgevolgtrekkings is daargestel en dit sluit onder andere ‘n teoretiese raamwerk vir die implementering en evaluering van ‘n internasionale MBA- nagraadse ekonomiese ontwikkelingsprogram vir leiers van nieregeringsorganisasies in. Die gevolgtrekkings het gelei tot vier aanbevelings vir die gasheerinstelling en ander instellings met soortgelyke missies en aspirasies. Die aanbevelings sluit onder andere in dat instellings wat soortgelyke programme aanbied, hulle moet verbind tot multijaarbeplanning en -evaluering, dat hulle bekwame akademici as leiers moet aanstel, dat hulle brongebaseerde bemarkingsplanne moet implementeer en dat hulle akademiese personeel moet aanstel wat besonder goed toegerus is in die aanbieding van kruiskulturele toeganklike leerprogramme.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although numerous norm-referenced measures of religiosity and spirituality exist for adults, no assessment of the holistic goals for Christian spiritual development in the context of evangelical Protestant schools, geared to adolescents, and using emerging technologies, was found. Addressing this lacuna, the purpose of this curriculum study was to develop and validate the Growing Disciples Inventory (GDI) as a curriculum-aligned self-assessment for Christian education. Using a mixed methods approach, the GDI was constructed in the first phase of this educational design research. Experts in the fields of curriculum, assessment, Christian education and/or discipleship evaluated the extent to which proposed items were aligned to the Growing Disciples (GD) curriculum framework, and were appropriate to adolescent learners participating in Christian education. At least four items were included for each of 21 constructs within the four GD curriculum processes. The 100-item GDI was further refined through two development cycles of usability testing with adolescents. Using a think-aloud protocol, a proportional quota convenience sample of 16 learners completed the GDI online, reviewed their online reports, and took the exit survey. Minor refinements were made with the data from these individual interviews. During the second phase, evidence for the validity of the GDI was evaluated with data from a purposive sample of nine educators and 595 Grade 7 through 12 students in 8 American, South African, and Australian Seventh-day Adventist schools. High reliability was found in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas of .855 to .943) and structural equation modelling (standardized correlation coefficients of .59 to .95) for the four cyclical and lifelong Christian spiritual development processes of Connecting, Understanding, Ministering, and Equipping. Confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modelling provided evidence of construct validity with an adequate model fit. Moderate inter-factor correlations compared to higher correlations within factors indicated discriminant validity. Learner responses to 7 GDI exit survey items further supported the GDI’s design and ease-of-use online. Answers to 3 open-ended GDI exit survey questions supplied rich qualitative data that corroborated quantitative responses, and added perceptions of the utility and relevance of the GDI as a formative selfassessment tool to facilitate exploration of strengths and growth points through reflection and metacognition. The majority of educator interviews indicated favourable perceptions of the GDI’s utility and relevance within their sphere of the global Seventh-day Adventist education system. Structural equation model fit evaluation and correlations demonstrated that the GDI is a consistent self-assessment across gender and grade level. Although a weak correlation between country and learner scores was found, qualitative data supports the relevance of the GDI in each country. Further validation studies are recommended with larger samples international samples to adequately demonstrate generalizability within the context of evangelical Protestant education. Analysis of emerging themes in learner responses corroborated quantitative findings, triangulating evidence for learner engagement and the positive potential for the GDI’s use to facilitate Christian spiritual development. Each study of reliability and validity undertaken in this mixed methods curriculum research added moderate to strong evidence in support of the GDI as a curriculum-aligned selfassessment for adolescents participating in Christian education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan talle norm-gebaseerde meetinstrumente vir die meting van vlakke van religieusiteit en spiritualiteit vir volwassenes. Geen assessering instrument van die holistiese doelstellings van Christelike spirituele ontwikkeling in die konteks van Protestant skole, toegespits op adolessente, wat van opkomende tegnologieë gebruik maak, kon gevind word nie. Om hierdie leemte aan te spreek, was die doelwit van hierdie navorsingstudie en kurrikulumontwikkeling om die “Growing Disciples Inventory” (GDI) te ontwikkel en om die geldigheid van dié instrument te bepaal as ʼn kurrikulumgerigte selfassessering instrument vir Christelike onderwys. Deur gebruik te maak van ʼn gemengde navorsingsmetode-benadering is die GDI in die eerste fase van hierdie opvoedkundige navorsingsontwerp opgestel. Deskundiges op die gebiede van kurrikulum, assessering, Christelike onderwys en/of "dissipelskap" het die toepaslikheid van voorgestelde items vir die “Growing Disciples” (GD) kurrikulumraamwerk, asook die geskiktheid vir adolessente-leerders in Christelike onderwys geëvalueer. Ten minste vier items is vir elk van 21 konstrukte binne die vier GD kurrikulumprosesse ingesluit. Die 100-item GDI is verder verfyn deur twee ontwikkeling-siklusse van loods- of bruikbaarheidstoetsings met adolessente. Deur gebruik te maak van ʼn "hardop-dink" protokol het ʼn proporsionele kwota gerieflikheidsteekproef van 16 leerders die GDI aanlyn voltooi. Die deelnemers se onmiddellike kits-aanlyn verslae is hersien, en die 10-item finale opname is gedoen. Geringe verfynings is ontwerp met data wat verkry is van hierdie individuele onderhoude. In die tweede fase is bewyse vir die geldigheid van die GDI geëvalueer met data wat versamel is van ʼn doelgerigte steekproef van nege opvoeders en 595 graad 7 tot 12 leerders uit 8 Sewende-dag-Adventiste skole in Amerika, Suid-Afrika, en Australië. Hoë betroubaarheid is gevind in terme van interne konsekwentheid (Cronbach se alfas tussen .855 tot .943) en strukturele vergelykings-modellering (gestandaardiseerde korrelasie koëffisiënte tussen .59 tot .95) vir die vier sikliese en lewenslange Christelike spirituele ontwikkelingsprosesse: Verbinding, Begrip, Bediening, en Toerusting. Bevestigende faktorontleding deur middel van strukturele vergelykings-modellering het bewyse gelewer van konstrukgeldigheid met voldoende model paslikheid. Matige interfaktor-korrelasies in vergeleke met hoër korrelasies binne die faktore, het voorlopige bewyse van diskriminante geldigheid gelewer. Leerders se response op 7 GD finale opname items het die GDI se ontwerp en aanlyn gebruikersvriendelikheid verder ondersteun. Response op drie oopeinde vrae van die GDI se finale opname het baie goeie kwalitatiewe data opgelewer wat kwantitatiewe response staaf. Daarmee het persepsies oor die bruikbaarheid en toepaslikheid van die GDI as ʼn vormende self-assesserings-instrument aansienlik gegroei. Die GDI bevorder die verdure ondersoek van die ontwikkeling van Christelike spiritualiteit en groeipunte deur middel van refleksie, besinning en metakognisie. Die meeste van die opvoeders se finale onderhoudsresponse het gunstige persepsies van die GDI se bruikbaarheid en toepaslikheid in die globale Sevende-dag Adventiste onderwys-stelsel aangedui. Evaluering van strukturele vergelyksmodellering se paslikheid, asook korrelasie-ontleding lewer bewyse dat die GDI ʼn bestendige self-assesseringsinstrument is oor geslag en graad vlak. ʼn Swak korrelasie is tussen land van herkoms en leerdertellings gevind; maar kwalitatiewe data ondersteun die toepaslikheid van die GDI in elke land. Verdere geldigheidstoetsing word aanbeveel, met groter steekproewe. Ontleding van opkomende temas in die geldigheidsteekproef se leerder-response, het kwantitatiewe bevindings ondersteun. Bewyse van leerderbetrokkenheid en die positiewe potensiaal van die GDI se gebruik om Christelike spirituele ontwikkeling te bevorder, is getrianguleer. Die betroubaarheid en geldigheid van die gemengde navorsingsmetodes het matige tot sterk bewyse gelewer ter ondersteuning van die geldigheid van die GDI as ʼn kurrikulumgerigte selfassesseringsintrument vir adolessente in Christelike onderwys.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rationale for this study emerged from a realization that conventional instructional design approaches for introducing Calculus concepts, based on the logical sequencing and structuring of the concepts, did not adequately attend to or address students’ ways of thinking. This was particularly important in a distance education environment where learners depend on instructional texts to make sense of what is being presented, often without support from tutors. The instructional design theory of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) offered a promising approach for designing learning sequences based on actual investigations of the ways in which students think. This study’s focus was on trialling the process of RME theory-based design using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus as an example. Curve sketching was prominent in this exercise. Applying RME required developing a hypothetical learning trajectory (HLT) while attempting to adhere to methodological guidelines of design research. In this project, the instructional designer’s conceptualization and interpretation of the derivative-integral construct has had the most immediate implications for the study. The line of inquiry has been largely didactic, in that it was framed by a need to establish ways of introducing the teaching of a mathematical concept following instructional design principles. Throughout the project, the instructional design space has been contested, broken down, rebuilt and, ultimately, enriched by the contributions of the expert teachers and the engagement of participating students. The series of design experiments have revealed knowledge about student reasoning in this learning domain in relation to four main areas of quantifying change, curve sketching, general mathematical reasoning and symbol use. The primary contribution of this research has been a deeper understanding of the extent to which RME can be used as an instruction design theory for planning and introducing a distance teaching Calculus unit. From the study, it is clear that successful adoption of the RME theory is influenced and facilitated by a number of factors, including: careful selection of the concepts and mathematical structures to be presented; a team of experts (mathematicians and mathematics subject didacticians) to research, test and develop the learning activities; opportunities for student interactions; and time and resources for effective RME adoption. More involved research is required to get to the stage of the evolution of a local instructional theory around introducing the derivative-integral relationship as expressed in the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rasionaal van hierdie studie het uit die besef ontstaan dat konvensionele onderrigontwerpbenaderings vir die bekendstelling van Calculus konsepte, gebaseer op die logiese ordening en strukturering van die konsepte, nie voldoende beantwoord aan die eise van hoe studente dink nie. Dit was van spesifieke belang in die geval van afstandonderwys waar hierdie studente sin moet maak van wat aangebied word, dikwels sonder die ondersteuning van tutors. Die onderrigontwerpteorie van Realistiese Wiskundeonderwys (RWO) bied belowende moontlikhede om leertrajekte te ontwerp wat gebaseer is op werklike ondersoeke van hoe studente dink. Hierdie studie se fokus was om die RWO-gebaseerde teoretiese ontwerp se proses wat die Fundamentele Stelling van Calculus as voorbeeld gebruik, uit te toets. Krommesketsing was prominent in hierdie oefening. Die toepassing van RWO het vereis dat 'n leertrajek ontwikkel moet word terwyl aan die metodologiese vereistes van die ontwikkelingsondersoekbenadering getrou gebly word. In hierdie projek het die onderrigontwerper se konseptualisering en interpretasie van die afgeleide-integraalkonstruk onmiddellike implikasies gehad vir die studie. Die lyn van ondersoek was grootliks didakties van aard. Desnieteenstaande was die instruksionele ontwerpruimte voortdurend beding, afgebreek, herbou en uiteindelik verryk deur die bydraes van die bedrewe onderwysers en die betrokkenheid van die deelnemende studente. Die reeks ontwerpeksperimente het kennis blootgelê van hoe studente in hierdie veld redeneer met betrekking tot die volgende vier hoof areas: kwantifisering van verandering, krommesketsing, algemene wiskundige beredenering en die gebruik van simbole. Die primêre bydrae van hierdie navorsing is die dieper verstaan van die mate waarin RWO gebruik kan word as 'n instruksionele ontwerpteorie vir die beplanning en bekendstelling van 'n Calculus eenheid in afstandsonderrig.Dit is duidelik vanuit die studie dat suksesvolle aanneming van die RWO teorie afhanklik is van 'n aantal faktore: 'n noukeurige seleksie van die konsepte en wiskundige strukture wat aangebied moet word; 'n span van bedrewe wiskundiges en wiskunde vakdidaktici om die leeraktiwiteite na te vors, uit te toets en te ontwikkel; geleenthede vir studente-interaksies, en tyd en bronne vir effektiewe RWO aanpassing. Verdere toegespitsde navorsing hierop is nodig om die fase te bereik van die ontluiking van 'n lokale onderrigteorie oor die bekendstelling van die afgeleide-integraal verwantskap soos uitgedruk in terme van die Fundamentele Stelling van Calculus.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) (2004-2015), better teaching and learning of environmental education and education for sustainable development (EE and ESD) in schools is one of the main responses to the worsening state of the global environment. Environmental concerns are integrated into the South African school curricula; in the General Education and Training (Grades R-9) (GET) and Further Education and Training (FET) phases through the principles that underpin the curricula such as social justice, a healthy environment, human rights and inclusivity. While a cross-curricula approach to teaching and learning is followed in the GET phase, environmental concerns are infused in each subject at FET level. Because geography deals with human-environment relationships and is interdisciplinary, it is considered to be one of the main vehicles for teaching EE and ESD. To respond to the need for better teaching and learning of EE and ESD during the DESD, the main aim of this research project was to find out how EE and ESD are being implemented through the geography curriculum in South African secondary schools at FET level. The investigation sought answers to questions related to: opportunities for teaching EE and ESD in the geography National Curriculum Statement; the geography teachers’ perspectives on EE and ESD; the extent to which the teachers incorporate the teaching of EE and ESD in the geography lessons; pedagogical approaches used by the geography teachers; and, the barriers to teaching environmental concerns through the geography curriculum. A qualitative case study research design, underpinned by the interpretive research paradigm, was used. A sample of 10 senior geography teachers comprising 8 males and 2 females participated in the study. They were drawn from five Western Cape secondary schools selected through purposeful sampling in such a way that the sample of schools is representative of the socio-economic and sociocultural context of the Western Cape as far as possible. Data were generated from biographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Data were also generated from lesson observation and the analysis of documents such as the geography NCS, work schedules and lesson plans. The use of different research instruments ensured the triangulation of data sources in order to address issues of validity and reliability. The qualitative data were then analysed through thematic analysis. The study found that the sustainable development theme is central to the curriculum. Additionally, strategies of implementing EE and ESD such as the enquiry approach, the issues-based approach and the need to impart critical thinking skills are suggested in the curriculum. The teacher participants experience conceptual barriers concerning the nature of EE and ESD and that of notion of integrated geography promoted by the curriculum document. As a result, some of the teacher participants have difficulties in identifying EE and ESD themes in the curriculum document and incorporating them in the lessons. Furthermore, the teacher participants have difficulties in distinguishing learner activities from learnercentred approaches underpinned by constructivist learning theories as observed by Janse van Rensburg & Lotz-Sisitka (2000) and in using the enquiry learning approach. Some teacher participants prefer using traditional teacher-centred approaches which enable them to finish syllabuses in time for examinations. The use of learner-centred approaches such as fieldwork is hindered by barriers such as shortage of resources, class time, large classes, deteriorating discipline, heavy workload and policy contradiction. This study revealed a gap between policy rhetoric and practice in the teacher participants’ efforts to implement EE and ESD through the geography NCS. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beter omgewingsopvoeding-onderrig en -leer van volhoubare ontwikkeling (OO/OVO) in skole is een van die hoofresponse op die toenemende agteruitgang in die toestand van die wêreldomgewing in die Dekade van Opvoeding vir Volhoubare Ontwikkeling (DOVO) (2004-2015). OO/OVO is geïntegreer in die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolkurrikulum; in die Algemene Onderwys en Opleidingfase (Grade R tot 9) (AOO) en die Verdere Onderwys en Opleidingsfase (VOO) deur die beginsels wat die leerplan onderlê soos sosiale geregtigheid, ‘n gesonde omgewing, menseregte en inklusiwiteit. Alhoewel ‘n kruiskurrikulêre benadering tot onderrig en leer in die AOO-fase gevolg word, word OO/OVO by elke vak op die VOO-vlak geïntegreer. Omdat geografie oor mens-omgewingverhoudings handel en interdissiplinêr is, word die vak as een van die hoofvoertuie vir die onderwys van OO/OVO beskou. Om op die behoefte vir beter onderrig en leer van OO/OVO tydens die DOVO te reageer, is die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingsprojek om vas te stel hoe OO/OVO deur die geografiekurrikulum in Suid-Afrikaanse sekondêre skole op VOO-vlak geïmplimenteer word. Die ondersoek het antwoorde gesoek op vrae wat verband hou met: geleenthede vir die onderrig van OO/OVO in die geografie Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (NKV); die perspektiewe van geografie-onderwysers oor OO/OVO; die mate waartoe onderwysers die onderrig van OO/OVO in geografie-lesse inkorporeer; die pedagogiese benaderings wat geografie-onderwysers gebruik; en die hindernisse ten opsigte van die onderrig van OO/OVO in die geografie-kurrikulum. ‘n Kwalitatiewe gevallestudie-navorsingsontwerp, ondersteun deur die interpretatiewe navorsingsparadigma, is ingespan. ‘n Steekproef van 10 senior geografie-onderwysers, bestaande uit agt mans en twee vroue is by die studie betrek. Hulle is uit vyf Wes-Kaapse sekondêre skole geselekteer deur middel van doelgerigte steekproefneming op so ‘n wyse dat die monster van skole so ver moontlik die sosiaal-ekonomiese en sosiaal-kulturele kontekste van die Wes-Kaap weerspieël. Inligting is verkry uit biografiese vraelyste en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, asook deur waarneming van lesse en deur die ontleding van dokumente soos die NKV vir geografie, werkskedules en lesplanne. Die van verskillende navorsingsinstrumente is gebruik ter ondersteunin van die triangulasie van data ten einde geldigheids- en betroubaarheidskwessies aan te spreek. Die kwalitatiewe data is daarna aan tematiese ontleding onderwerp. Die studie bevind dat volhoubare ontwikkeling ‘n sentrale tema in die kurrikulum is. Daarbenewens word strategieë om OO/OVO te implementeer, soos die ondersoekleerbenadering, die kwessiegebaseerde benadering en die behoefte om kritiese denkvaardighede te ontwikkel, in die kurrikulum voorgestel. Die onderwyserdeelnemers ervaar konseptuele hindernisse met betrekking tot die aard van OO/OVO en die nosie van geïntegreerde geografie wat die kurrikulumdokument bevorder. Gevolglik vind sommige onderwyserdeelnemers dit moeilik om OO/OVO in die leerplandokument te identifiseer en in hul lesse te inkorporeer. Verder ondervind die onderwyserdeelnemers probleme om leerderaktiwiteite te onderskei van die leerdergesentreerde benaderings wat onderlê word deur konstruktiwistiese leerteorieë soos deur Janse van Rensburg & Lotz-Sisitka (2000) waargeneem en om die ondersoekleerbenadering te gebruik. Sommige onderwyserdeelnemers verkies om tradisionele onderwysergesentreerde benaderings wat hulle in staat stel om kurrikula betyds vir eksamens af te handel. Die gebruik van leerdergesentreerde benaderings soos veldwerk word gestrem deur belemmeringe soos hulpbrontekorte, beperkte klastyd, groot klassse, verswakkende dissipline, hoë werklading en teenstrydighede in die beleid. Die studie het ‘n gaping tussen beleidsretoriek en die praktyk in die onderwyserdeelnemers se pogings om OO/OVO te implementeer wat in die geografie NKV ingewerk is, uitgewys.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated a single research question, that is: How do teachers experience the implementation of the Further Education and Training (FET) National Curriculum Statement (NCS) for Physical Science? The focus of the study was on searching the inner consciousness of Physical Science teachers as they engaged with the teaching of the subject on a daily basis. It is in the inner consciousness where one finds the truth about people’s perceptions, beliefs, emotions, challenges and convictions about/towards phenomena that the study sought to determine. In so doing, this study searched for phenomenological truth about the daily realities Physical Science teachers are faced with, as they implement the NCS. Phenomenological truth is floatable, precarious in nature, and subject to an individual’s perception of truth. It is important to note that phenomenological truth makes no reference to absolute truth. At the time this study was conducted the NCS was the only policy document with legal status for schools in South Africa. As a result the NCS influences and directs the pedagogical practices of teachers. This is because the NCS has a specific expectation of Physical Science teachers with regards to their understanding of the content, the delivery of the content, the learning environment, and professionalism. Through searching the consciousness of teachers, they revealed how they experienced what they do in the Physical Science classroom. In other words, how they experience what, how, when and who they teach. Probing into the consciousness of teachers and how they experience the implementation of the NCS provides valuable insight into the quality of curriculum delivery. This study did not only focus on the implementation of the NCS, but also examined why it might be difficult for teachers to change their practices. Phenomenology is both a theory and a method. The study was guided by the ideas of Edmund Husserl - who is regarded by many phenomenologists as the father of phenomenology, Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, and many other phenomenologists. Husserl (cited in Derrida, 1967) believed that we should begin any explanation with experience, which is a scientific description that does not presuppose any significance of the existence of the metaphysical world. By delving into the complexities of experience one can locate the flowing life of an individual’s consciousness as it occurs. Husserl posited the belief returning to the things themselves (cited in, Derrida, 1967; Spanos, 1976; Groenewald, 2004) to describe the purity of experience as data. In this study I sampled three teachers and employed a phenomenological methodological framework to capture their lived experiences. I used one-on-one semi-structured face-to-face interviews to construct the data. In addition, field notes were used to turn the direct experiences and observations of the participants into vivid descriptions. In phenomenology researchers use field notes to make the voice of people heard in the text. I drew on Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty’s philosophical pathways that a person must be understood from his position within a specific time and place to present the findings. The major finding in this study showed that the teachers’ consciousness, with respect to Physical Science teaching was negatively influenced by the legacy of apartheid-education. This negative consciousness through which they framed their thoughts and filtered their ideas became the collective mindset through which they personified their teaching. The study revealed that the delivery of the NCS (by the teachers) was mostly axiomatised by old habits and images in their thoughts engrained in their memory under apartheid education. The findings also showed that their (teachers’) consciousness with regards to the NCS unconsciously oscillated between the present and the past and that they continuously and unconsciously bring the past (old ideas and beliefs) into the present. The teachers constantly have to struggle against the phenomenological self or attitude and ceaselessly suppose and follow thoughts of pre-comprehension or preconception. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om die volgende navorsingvraag te beantwoord: Hoe ervaar onderwysers die implementering van die Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding (VOO) Nasionale Kurrikulum Verklaring (NKV) vir Fisiese Wetenskap? Die hoofdoel was om meer insig te verkry oor wat binne onderwysers se psige plaasvind soos hulle op ‘n daaglikse basis hul uitleef in die Fisiese Wetenskapsklaskamer binne die raamwerk van die NKV. Dit is binne die psige waar hul persepsies, diepgewortelde waardes, emosies, en uitdagings rondom die NKV rus. Om hierdie rede is die studie geïntresseerd om die fenomenologiese waarheid van die alledaagse realiteite waarmee hulle aanhoudend gekonfronteer word, te myn. Fenominologiese waarheid is vloeibaar en verskil van persoon tot persoon en hou geen verwysing met absolute waarheid nie. Toe hierdie studie plaasgevind het, was die VOO NKV die enigste wettige beleidsdokument vir die deelnemers. Die onderwysers was dus verplig om die voorgeskrewe beginsels soos in die NKV saamgevat toe te pas in die voorbereiding en aanbieding van hul lesse. Die NKV beskryf in diepte die inhoud vir elke graad (10-12), hoe die inhoud aangebied moet word, die klaskamer atmosfeer, asook die professionalitiet van die opvoeders. Al die antwoorde soos saamgevat in laasgenoemde, lê bine die psige van die onderwysers. Die ondersoek van die psige van die onderwysers lei tot ‘n begrip van hoe, wat en waarom Fisiese Wetenskaps-onderswysers doen wat hulle doen. Alhoewel die fokus van hierdie studie op die implementering van die NKV is, dra dit ook by tot groeiende kennis aangaande hoekom onderwysers dit moeilik vind om hulle praktyke te verander wanneer dit kom by die hernuwing van ‘n kurrikulum. Fenomenologie is beide ‘n navorsingsmetode en ‘n teorie. Die literatuuroorsig van hierdie studie is geinspireer deur die idees van Edmund Husserl, wat bestempel word as die vader van fenomenolgie, asook Martin Heidegger, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, en veskeie ander fenomenoloë. Derrida (1967) is oortuig daarvan dat enige verduideliking akkuraat beskryf kan word indien geleefde ervaring in ag geneem word. Geleefde ervaring spreek direk tot die onderliggende psige van ‘n individu, en deur die psige te ondersoek, is dit moontlik om ‘n individu se oortuigings ten opsigte van sy/haar geloof, persepsies en uitdagings, asook hoe die individu reageer op hierdie aspekte te verstaan. Husserl gebruik die uitdrukking ‘returning to the things themselves’ wanneer hy verwys na die belangrikheid en oorspronlikheid van ervaring (vermeld in, Derrida, 1967; Spanos, 1976; Groenewald, 2004). Om hierdie rede is ‘n fenomenologiese metode gevolg om die lewenservaringe van drie swart onderwysers vas te vang. Hierdie fenomenologiese vertolkende ondersoek word deur veelvoudigemetodes van inligtingsinsameling gekenmerk. Inligting in hierdie studie oor die deelnemers se ervaringe is vekry deur middel van individuele onderhoude, en die ontleding van die inhoud daarvan. Addisionele inligting is verkry deur veldnotas. Die doelwit van die veldnotas was om die deelnemers se direkte ervaringe en waarnemings in besonderhede te beskryf. Die ontledingsbenadering van elke deelnemer is gedoen binne die raamwerk van Husserl, Heidegger en Merleau-Ponty wat gegrond is op teorieë wat die belangrikheid van plek en tyd uitbeeld. Die resultate van hierdie studie het getoon dat die onderliggende psige van elke deelnemer deur die nalatenskap van apartheid negatief beïnvloed is. Hierdie negatiewe denkpatrone waardeur die onderwysers se idees formuleer vorm die kollektiewe ingesteldheid waardeur hulle hul onderrigswêreld skep. Verder het die studie onthul dat hul aanbieding van die NKV meestal gedryf word deur ou gewoontes wat binne hul denke gekristalliseer het. Hulle vind dit dus moeilik om deur hierdie ou gewoontes te breek. Hul denke wissel gedurig tussen die verlede en die hede en roep die verlede voortdurend binne die hede. Alhoewel die bevindinge van hierdie studie gekoppel is aan plek en tyd is daar ‘n konstante struweling tussen die fenomenologiese self en hul ou gesette denke.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / Includes Guidelines for teaching hearing impaired students (35 p.) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally, hearing impairment remains the most common congenital anomaly diagnosed in infants, and hearing impairment is the single largest disability grouping in South Africa. Growing numbers of students with hearing impairment are being granted access into higher education in South Africa. However, they still remain under-represented in comparison to students with other impairments, and their needs in the teaching and learning environment in terms of human and technical support as well as communication and access to information remain under-supported. This study came into being because of the absence of research on the academic experiences of students with hearing impairment in higher education in South Africa. The intention of the study was to analyse and describe the teaching and learning (academic) experiences of students with hearing impairment at the case study university. This inquiry focused specifically on educational barriers, coping strategies, assistive technologies, curriculum accessibility as well as support services. Using a qualitative case study design, informed by an interpretive (constructivist) paradigm, purposeful sampling led to the selection of information-rich cases in order to gain insight from the authentic experiences of the students. The context of the case study was a South African university with a relatively large number of registered students with hearing impairment who use the oral method of communication. Data were generated by means of semi-structured interviews with participating students, university lecturers and a staff member from the disability unit. ATLAS.ti was used to code and analyse the data using grounded theory methods, allowing for the discovery of recurring themes. Six major findings emerged from this study, namely that all of the participants identified as belonging to the hearing rather than Deaf identity cultural paradigm, that limited curriculum transformation had taken place, existing support services were largely inadequate, a large number of barriers related to teaching and assessment were experienced, a variety of academic and personal coping strategies were used by the students to support their needs, and some critical factors for success were advocated for by the participants. From the findings and data interpretation and by making use of Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model of human development as a tool, I constructed both an academic learning support framework as well as a set of practical guidelines for teaching students with hearing impairment. Thereafter conclusions were drawn and practical recommendations were made to various stakeholders in the education of students with hearing impairment. Further areas for research are also suggested. The academic learning support framework (as a model of best practice) forms part of my personal contribution to the field of research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gehoorgestremdheid is wêreldwyd steeds die algemeenste kongenitale afwyking wat by babas gediagnoseer word, en in Suid-Afrika is die meeste mense met gestremdhede dié met gehoorgestremdhede. Alhoewel ’n toenemende aantal studente met gehoorverlies toegang tot hoër onderwys in Suid-Afrika verkry, is hulle steeds onderverteenwoordig in vergelyking met studente met ander gestremdhede en ontvang hulle steeds min ondersteuning, hetsy menslik of tegnies. Hierdie studie het ontstaan as gevolg van die afwesigheid van navorsing oor die persoonlike ervarings van studente met gehoorgestremdheid in hoër onderwys in Suid-Afrika. Die hoofdoel van hierdie gevallestudie was om vas te stel hoe om hierdie studente akademies te ondersteun ten einde hul tersiêre opvoeding en hul kanse om sukses te behaal en grade te verwerf, te verbeter. Die studie het veral gekyk na die opvoedkundige struikelblokke, hanteringstrategieë, ondersteunende tegnologieë, leerplantoeganklikheid, sowel as onder-steuningsdienste. Die metodologie wat vir hierdie studie gebruik is, was kwalitatief van aard. Die gebruik van doelgerigte steekproefneming het gelei tot die keuse van inligtingryke gevalle ten einde insig in die alledaagse ervarings van die studente te verkry. Die agtergrond van die studie was ʼn universiteit met 'n groot aantal geregistreerde gehoorgestremde studente wat van mondelinge/ouditiewe kommunikasiemetodes gebruik maak. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met hierdie studente, dosente en 'n personeellid van die eenheid vir gestremdhede gegenereer. Die data is met behulp van ATLAS.ti gekodeer en geanaliseer om die herhalendende temas te bepaal. Die ses belangrikste bevindings uit hierdie studie was dat al die deelnemers hulself met horende studente eerder as met gehoorgestremdes in die samelewing geïdentifiseer het, dat beperkte kurrikulum-transformasie plaasgevind het, dat bestaande ondersteuningsdienste grootliks onvoldoende was, dat die deelnemers ʼn groot aantal struikelblokke met betrekking tot onderrig en assessering ervaar het, dat hulle ʼn verskeidenheid akademiese en persoonlike hanteringstrategieë gebruik het om aan hulle behoeftes te voldoen en dat die kritiese faktore vir sukses deur die deelnemers self bepleit moes word. Uit die bevindinge van hierdie navorsing het die navorser 'n holistiese raamwerk, geïnspireer deur Bronfenbrenner se bio-ekologiese model vir menslike ontwikkeling, vir studente met gehoorgestremdheid in hoër onderwys ontwerp. Gevolgtrekkings is gemaak en praktiese aanbevelings is aan verskeie belanghebbendes wat by die onderrig van studente met gehoorgestremdheid betrokke is, voorgelê. Verdere terreine vir navorsing word ook voorgestel. Die akademiese leerondersteuningsraamwerk (as ’n model van beste praktyk) maak deel uit van my persoonlike bydrae tot die navorsingsveld.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is now in its eighteenth year of democracy. However, a major problem that we are facing is the scourge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic throughout Africa, with the most seriously affected areas being in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV/AIDS, government authorities have been unable to stem the tide of daily HIV infections amongst all people. Education seems to be one of the most powerful weapons to fight this pandemic; hence it is expected of HEIs to respond to this problem in a meaningful manner in order to stem the tide of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on all university campuses. HEAIDS took the initiative to bring all role players in HEIs together to devise plans for how to deal with the pandemic at HEIs. Despite the fact that 22 out of the 23 higher education institutions surveyed by HEAIDS in 2008 were engaged in peer education training programmes, none of them monitored or evaluated these programmes. The aim of this study is to evaluate and establish the influence of a peer education programme amongst students at a selected HEI in the Western Cape. An evaluation research design was employed, using a mixed methods approach to collect data. A Logic Model was developed which assisted me with the evaluation design. I used Bandura's social cognitive theory (SCT) to assist me with the analysis and interpretation of the data. The study attempted to understand the key issues involved in the peer education programme, challenges faced by staff in the implementation of these programmes, how peer educators experienced the training programmes, as well as the experiences of other students who interacted with the peer educators. The quantitative data revealed that more work needs to be done with regard to behaviour change amongst peer educators. However, in this study, the qualitative data showed that peer educators need to develop more skills to empower themselves to facilitate workshops and to enhance their communication skills. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is tans in sy agtiende jaar van demokrasie. Die probleem wat nog hierdie bedeling in die gesig staar, bly nog steeds die MIV en VIGS pandemie, waarvan die grootste problem in Sub-Sahara Afrika, is. Ten spyte van 'n omvattende nasionale plan teen MIV en VIGS kan die owerhede nog nie hierdie aaklige pandemie stuit nie, en word mense nog op 'n daaglikse basis daardeur geaffekteer. Opvoeding bly nog die grootste wapen waarmee hierdie pandemie beveg kan word, daarom word dit van die opvoedkundige instansies, veral universiteite, verwag om die voortou te neem met die bevegting van hierdie pandemie. "HEAIDS" het die inisiatief geneem om alle rolspelers by hoër opvoedkundige instansies bymekaar te bring om sodoende planne te beraam, hoe om te werk te gaan om die pandemie te bekamp. Ten spyte van die feit dat 22 uit 23 hoër opvoedkundige instansies deel was van die opnames wat in 2008 op hul kampusse, onder sekere portuurgroepe gedoen was, was geen analiese of evaluering gedoen nie. Die doel van hierdie navorsings projek is om portuurgroep opleidings programme te evalueer by n universiteit in die Wes-Kaap en om vas te stel wat die invloed van hierdie programme onder sekere portuurgroepe by hierdie hoër opvoedkundige instansie, het. Daar was van 'n evaluerings navorsing metode gebruik gemaak met gemengde maniere om die data in te vorder. 'n Logiese model was ontwikkel wat my gehelp het met die evaluerings ontwerp. Die Teoretiese raamwerk wat gebruik was om die data te intepreteer was Bandura se Sosiale Kognitiewe Teorie. Die studie het gepoog om die belangrike aspekte wat betrokke is by portuurgroep opleidings programme uit te beeld en om vas te stel watter uitdagings die personeel ondervind het met die implimentering van die opleidings programme. Ek wou ook vasstel hoe die portuurgroepe en die ander studente op kampus, hierdie programme ondervind het. Kwantitatiewe data het bewys dat meer gedoen moet word met betrekking tot die gedragsveranderinge van portuurgroepe. Kwalitatiewe data het bewys dat daar meer opleiding nodig is vir die portuurgroepe ten opsigte van vaardigheidsontwikkeling. Daar moet gefokus word op die ontwikkeling van kommunikasie metodes en die fasilitering van werkswinkels.