This development design research dissertation used Richey and Klein's (1996) Type 2 model to create guidelines that inform instructional designers when designing authentic tasks in the online environment. Herrington and Oliver (2000) state that designing authentic tasks for online learning can be captured using nine characteristics. Bonk and Dennen's (2003) research empirically demonstrated a Framework for Online Instruction. Combining these two research frameworks, guidelines to inform the decisions to of instructional designers when for authentic in the online environment are designed, developed, and validated with expert reviewers in authentic learning. / Ed. D.

M.A. (Social Development) / The North West Province is predominately comprised of rural areas. The occupants of these areas are mostly rural, underprivileged with only a few of the important basic facilities. In most areas the community still get water from the village tap, use wood for heating and candles for lighting. Unemployment is rife, despite the fact that there are mines around Rustenburg, the area in which this study is carried out, has quite a number of people who are jobless. Community Development Projects have been started in this area of the province to uplift the standard of living of these communities, but to no avail. The aim of this study ls to investigate the opinions of participants concerning these projects, with the final aim of improving maximum participation. The failure of these projects is a concern to service providers, service consumers and funders.

The work deals with the explanation of services and their impact on local development. It focuses on the analysis of the services offered in two areas surveyed on the Novohradsko and Veselsko. This is the assessment of supply and quality of services to the needs of the population and visitors. Based on the results relating to the service offerings are designed measures in each area would be improved and expanded range of services. To develop these services are designed to further the possibility of drawing money from funds of the European Union.

This research seeks to understand the perceptions of professionalism in education. In particular it focuses on the constructions of the space for professional action. A case study focuses on people, including teachers and non-teachers, who work in a special school for young people with SEBD. The perceptions of professionalism in education held by those in this case have been carefully listened to and analysed. Using an interpretive approach I have analysed data from interviews of members of the case. This reveals that a common language is used to describe professionalism but this is not commonly defined. There is an assumption that all share a common definition. In addition, other factors affect professional action. The experiences and life trajectories of the respondents are seen to colour and shape professional action. The construction of the space for professional action is problematic. There is a wide range of definition. The findings reveal that professionalism is complex and common language hides a wide spectrum of definition and meaning. Professionalism, as a concept, is often confused and misused. Foregrounding these confusions have contributed to the understanding of professionalism. There is tension between the constructions of professionalism. The person trying to enact professionalism in education has to interpret, sometimes incongruent, discourses and locate themselves within persuasive discourses. Awareness of these differences and tensions can help understand and allow them to make their own choices. The development of typologies as an analysis tool has been effective in understanding the space for professional action in this case. It is suggested that this might be used as a basis for professional discussion for others who are engaging in development in their own context. Professionalism in education is important as this impacts on the performance of each person and this performance effects the young people. It is argued that people trying to enact it should engage in professional discussion and agreement making to establish what is good and worthwhile in professionalism.

This diploma thesis was aimed at analyzing the influence of tax incentives for the research and development on the tax duty of the taxpayers. Within the first section a term research and development was defined followed by the specification of possible forms of the tax incentives for the research and development. The calculation of the tax duty of the illustrative company which effected research and development activity (within two scenarios) was presented within the practial section. The illustrative company was constantly profitable in the first scenario and as such, it incurred higher savings from the application of the research and development tax deduction in comparison to the second scenario (where company incurred a tax loss in one taxable period). Based on the results, taxpayers who apply the research and development tax deduction may consider a tax optimisation in case they could possibly incur a tax loss.

This thesis explores how manipulation of the fourth wall can affect players’ Gameplay Experience in digital games, due to the lack of any significant research regarding the matter. In preparation of the study, multiple commercially released digital games with instances of fourth wall manipulation were analysed. This led to the creation of four distinct game design patterns. These patterns were implemented into a game artefact specifically created for the study, which was played by eight participants. After playing, the participants were interviewed about how they experienced the game artefact. The results show that the majority of the patterns had a positive effect on both the participants’ immersion and engagement, which both form part of the Gameplay Experience model. / Denna uppsats undersöker hur manipulering av den fjärde väggen kan påverka spelupplevelsen i digitala spel, då det saknas allmän betydelsefull forskning gällande ämnet. Under förstadiet av denna studie analyserades flertalet kommersiellt lanserade digitala spel som innehöll instanser av fjärde väggen manipuleringar. Detta ledde till skapandet av fyra olika designmönster. Dessa mönster implementerades i en spelartefakt specifikt skapad för studien, vilken spelades av åtta deltagare. Efter att ha spelat blev deltagarna intervjuade om hur de upplevde spelet. Resultaten påvisar att majoriteten av designmönstren hade en positiv inverkan både på deltagarnas immersion och engagemang, vilka båda formar delar av spelupplevelsemodellen.

M.A. / The success of participation in research for development depends upon its ability to change power relations in the development setting. The central problem adressed by this study is the question whether participatory methodologies are able to change power relations. A case study is made of the Tshikonelo irrigation scheme of the Agricultural Corporation of Venda, now called the Agricultural and Rural Development Corporation (Pty) Ltd. This case study identifies obstacles relevant to developmental interventions which cast a critical light upon the claims of participatory methodologies. The following methodologies are discussed: Action Research, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and the Actor-oriented perspective on rural development. The origin of the methodologies that use participation in research is located in the use of social scientific knowledge for development. Consequently, the use of social scientific knowledge is fundamental to the realisation of Participatory Development. This relationship problematises the role of social scientific knowledge for the development process, as social scientific knowledge for development cannot be limited to the context of the development project, and its ability to critique development efforts should be primary. Action Research is relevant to intervention if collaboration with other similar projects is possible. The focal point of this methodology is the degree to which Apartheid and the accompanying strategy of "Separate Development" continues to affect the lives and activities of the farmers involved in the Tshikonelo project. In this respect, it can be used to disseminate alternative agricultural techniques. This approach is important as it can bring about changes in the agricultural establishment. PRA is a positive contribution to the field by virtue of the innovative way in which it approaches development problems. The efficacy of PRA, however, depends upon factors that are external to the project context, such as the receptivity of the agricultural and development establishment to the participation of small farmers in the research process. Problems with PRA are highlighted which run parallel to the problematics of the use of social scientific knowledge for the development process. The strength of the Actor-oriented perspective lies mainly in the possibility of exposing the hidden power relations and dynamics of the irrigation project. As such, it has a unique and important role to play vis-à-vis the other methodologies, with regard to intervention in this project. A debate is constructed between the methodologies in question, covering the following: The degree of homogeneity of target groups; the "vision" of what participatory development should be like; and the identity of the community that has to validate the knowledge under discussion. "Participation" as paradigm for development should be refined in terms of these issues if it is to address deeper methodological problems. It can be seen as a methodological innovation as the community that is responsible for the final validation of knowledge is strange compared to the scientific community. The strategy of participation in development promotes the interests of the participants in two ways. Within the arrangement of how research is done, it promotes the interests of the participants before those of the individual scientist, and it is capable of promoting the interests of marginalised groups in terms of the present political economy. Participatory development is strongly influenced by those participating in the development process and is by no means an easy solution providing a more justifiable establishment.

La formation à distance (FAD) est de plus en plus utilisée dans le cadre de la formation des enseignants aux technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). Dans les pays en voie de développement, elle permet non seulement de réduire les coûts par rapport à une formation traditionnelle, mais aussi de modéliser des pratiques pédagogiques exemplaires qui permettent de maximiser le recours aux TIC. En ce sens, la formation continue des enseignants aux TIC par des cours à distance qui intègrent des forums de discussion offre plusieurs avantages pour ces pays. L’évaluation des apprentissages réalisés dans les forums reste cependant un problème complexe. Différents modèles et différentes procédures d’évaluation ont été proposés par la littérature, mais aucun n’a encore abordé spécifiquement la culture e-learning des participants telle qu’elle est définie par le modèle IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens et Peraya, 2005). L’objectif de notre recherche est l’élaboration d’une grille opérationnelle pour l’analyse de la culture e-learning à partir des contenus de différents forums de discussion utilisés comme activité de formation dans un cours à distance. Pour développer cette grille, nous utiliserons une combinaison de modèles recensés dans la revue de littérature afin de circonscrire les principaux concepts et indicateurs à prendre en compte pour ensuite suivre les procédures relatives à l’analyse de la valeur, une méthodologie qui appelle la production d’un cahier des charges fonctionnel, la production de l’outil, puis sa mise à l’essai auprès d’experts. Cette procédure nous a permis de mettre sur pied une grille optimale, opérationnelle et appuyée par une base théorique et méthodologique solide. / The reality of a globally interconnected knowledge society is now possible by the continuous advances in Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT) in which broadband availability has made possible for people to meet, discuss, learn, and innovate in virtual spaces: anywhere and anytime. For this society, the education system has no boundaries with virtual spaces used by educators and students alike to learn and exchange knowledge: the knowledge and role of the teachers in this case is fundamental to the successful development of this society. As such, distance learning is increasingly used for training teachers not only in ICT but also in the use of pedagogical tools that can improve the in-class learning. With the limited availability of physical exchanges, developing countries are main beneficiaries of distance education as it not only provides high quality learning as it attracts worldwide experts in its forums at a fraction of the costs when compared to the traditional face-to-face training but also allows for modeling best teaching practices that can maximize the benefits of ICT in the education system. In this sense, the ICT training of teachers in distance learning courses allows for a wide range and a high qualitative exchange in these discussion forums, which is a clear advantage for developing countries. The evaluation of learning achieved in the forums, however, remains a complex problem. Different models and assessment procedures have been proposed in a wide range of literature but none have specifically addressed the e-learning culture as defined by the model IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens and Peraya, 2005). The aim of this research is to develop an analytical framework for the e-learning culture using the contents of discussion forums for training activities in distance learning courses. In developing this analytical framework, we reviewed and used a combination of models identified in the literature and categorized key concepts and indicators for a value analysis methodology and a function analysis system technique. As result, we developed the framework and tested it with experts in the field. This process allowed us to develop an analytical and operational framework supported by a solid theoretical basis.

La formation à distance (FAD) est de plus en plus utilisée dans le cadre de la formation des enseignants aux technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC). Dans les pays en voie de développement, elle permet non seulement de réduire les coûts par rapport à une formation traditionnelle, mais aussi de modéliser des pratiques pédagogiques exemplaires qui permettent de maximiser le recours aux TIC. En ce sens, la formation continue des enseignants aux TIC par des cours à distance qui intègrent des forums de discussion offre plusieurs avantages pour ces pays. L’évaluation des apprentissages réalisés dans les forums reste cependant un problème complexe. Différents modèles et différentes procédures d’évaluation ont été proposés par la littérature, mais aucun n’a encore abordé spécifiquement la culture e-learning des participants telle qu’elle est définie par le modèle IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens et Peraya, 2005). L’objectif de notre recherche est l’élaboration d’une grille opérationnelle pour l’analyse de la culture e-learning à partir des contenus de différents forums de discussion utilisés comme activité de formation dans un cours à distance. Pour développer cette grille, nous utiliserons une combinaison de modèles recensés dans la revue de littérature afin de circonscrire les principaux concepts et indicateurs à prendre en compte pour ensuite suivre les procédures relatives à l’analyse de la valeur, une méthodologie qui appelle la production d’un cahier des charges fonctionnel, la production de l’outil, puis sa mise à l’essai auprès d’experts. Cette procédure nous a permis de mettre sur pied une grille optimale, opérationnelle et appuyée par une base théorique et méthodologique solide. / The reality of a globally interconnected knowledge society is now possible by the continuous advances in Information and Telecommunications Technology (ICT) in which broadband availability has made possible for people to meet, discuss, learn, and innovate in virtual spaces: anywhere and anytime. For this society, the education system has no boundaries with virtual spaces used by educators and students alike to learn and exchange knowledge: the knowledge and role of the teachers in this case is fundamental to the successful development of this society. As such, distance learning is increasingly used for training teachers not only in ICT but also in the use of pedagogical tools that can improve the in-class learning. With the limited availability of physical exchanges, developing countries are main beneficiaries of distance education as it not only provides high quality learning as it attracts worldwide experts in its forums at a fraction of the costs when compared to the traditional face-to-face training but also allows for modeling best teaching practices that can maximize the benefits of ICT in the education system. In this sense, the ICT training of teachers in distance learning courses allows for a wide range and a high qualitative exchange in these discussion forums, which is a clear advantage for developing countries. The evaluation of learning achieved in the forums, however, remains a complex problem. Different models and assessment procedures have been proposed in a wide range of literature but none have specifically addressed the e-learning culture as defined by the model IntersTICES (Viens, 2007 ; Viens and Peraya, 2005). The aim of this research is to develop an analytical framework for the e-learning culture using the contents of discussion forums for training activities in distance learning courses. In developing this analytical framework, we reviewed and used a combination of models identified in the literature and categorized key concepts and indicators for a value analysis methodology and a function analysis system technique. As result, we developed the framework and tested it with experts in the field. This process allowed us to develop an analytical and operational framework supported by a solid theoretical basis.

Views on the nature and relevance of science education have changed significantly over recent decades. This has serious implications for the way in which science is taught in secondary schools, particularly with respect to teaching emerging topics such as biotechnology, which have a socio-scientific dimension and also require novel laboratory skills. It is apparent in current literature that there is a lack of adequate teacher professional development opportunities in biotechnology education and that a significant need exists for researchers to develop a carefully crafted and well supported professional development design which will positively impact on the way in which teachers engage with contemporary science. This study used a retrospective case study methodology to document the recent evolution of modern biotechnology education as part of the changing nature of science education; examine the adoption and implementation processes for biotechnology education by three secondary schools; and to propose an evidence based biotechnology professional development model for science educators. Data were gathered from documents, one-on-one interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis of these data has led to the proposal of a biotechnology professional development model which considers all of the key components of science professional development that are outlined in the literature, as well as the additional components which were articulated by the educators studied. This research is timely and pertinent to the needs of contemporary science education because of its recognition of the need for a professional development model in biotechnology education that recognizes and addresses the content knowledge, practical skills, pedagogical knowledge and curriculum management components.