Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE POTENTIAL OF THE TRACPROGRAMME IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE EDUCATION For South Africa to be competitive at international level, it is important to deliver learners that will meet the standards set by industry and tertiary institutions. Most of the current South African schoolleavers do not meet these needs. Learners, educators, education departments, tertiary institutions and industry are jointly responsible for the outcomes of the education process. However, each of these role players has specific needs regarding scientific knowledge and skills of learners. An integrated, interactive educational approach is therefore necessary to address the needs of all of these role players successfully. This study specifically focuses on identifying both the needs of the role players in physical science education in the Western Cape and how TRAC SA, a national, non-governmental organisation, can assist in addressing these needs, with the help of computer based technology. The following role players were included in this study: tertiary institutions, industry, education department, educators and learners. Information on the needs of these role players was mainly collected through interviews and questionnaires, while workshops were held to determine the needs of learners and educators. It is significant that the information derived from the empirical study (questionnaires and interviews) is in many ways in agreement with the literature findings. One of the most important conclusions of the empirical study is that the different role players have distinctive, as well as corresponding needs regarding the preparation of learners at school level. The industry expects learners to be sufficiently equipped with the necessary skills to facilitate integration into the workplace. Tertiary institutions emphasise the need for theoretical as well as practical basis of the science subject content. Learners expressed the need for extracurricular programmes, focusing on simplifying difficult concepts. Educators identified the need for adapting the syllabus and for regular refresher courses. The Department of Education needs funds for pilot education programmes, and also puts in a plea for the more structured involvement of tertiary institutions and non-governmental organisations as well as the support oftheir education initiatives, such as outcomes-based education. Data collected shows that there is a significant gap between the current state of identified skills of learners and of what is deemed important by the other role players. In addressing the needs identified, the contribution of non-governmental organisations (with specific reference to TRAC SA), the OBE approach as well as input from tertiary institutions and the industry are emphasised. The TRAC-programme focuses on the understanding of basic and complicated physical science concepts by using computer-supported experiments and worksheets. To enhance the development of skills at school level, the education approach as a whole will have to be revised, with the co-operation of all relevant role players. For an education system to be effective, mutual communication between the different role players is imperative. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vir Suid-Afrika om op internasionale vlak mededingend te wees, is dit belangrik dat die Suid- Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel bekwame leerders aan die industrie en tersiêre inrigtings lewer. Die meeste leerders wat tans die formele Suid-Afrikaanse skoolopleidingsprogram voltooi, voldoen volgens kenners egter nie aan die standaarde wat dié genoemde inrigtings aan hulle stel nie. Leerders, onderwysers, die onderwysdepartement, tersiêre inrigtings en industrie is gesamentlik verantwoordelik vir die uitkomste van die onderwys. Elkeen van hierdie rolspelers het egter spesifieke behoeftes ten opsigte van wetenskaplike kennis en vaardighede van leerders. 'n Geïntegreerde, interaktiewe onderwysbenadering is dus nodig om elkeen van hierdie rolspelers se behoeftes suksesvol aan te spreek. Hierdie studie fokus spesifiek daarop om beide die behoeftes van die rolspelers in die Wes- Kaap ten opsigte van natuur- en skeikunde-onderwys, te identifiseer, en hoe TRAe SA, 'n nie-regeringsonderwysorganisasie wat van rekenaargesteunde aktiwiteite gebruik maak, aangewend kan word om hierdie behoeftes aan te spreek. Die verskillende rolspelers wat by die studie betrek is, sluit in die tersiêre inrigtings, industrie, onderwysdepartement, onderwysers en leerders. Inligting aangaande rolspelerbehoeftes is hoofsaaklik versamel deur onderhoude en vraelyste, terwyl werkswinkels ook gebruik is om vas te stel wat leerders en onderwysers se behoeftes is. Dit is opmerklik dat die inligting verkry uit die empiriese studie (vraelyste en onderhoude) in 'n groot mate ooreenstem met literatuurbevindinge. Een van die belangrikste gevolgtrekkings uit die empiriese studie is dat die verskillende rolspelers eiesoortige asook ooreenstemmende behoeftes ten opsigte van die voorbereiding van leerders op skoolvlak het. Die industrie verwag dat leerders voldoende met die nodige vaardighede toegerus sal wees om integrasie binne die werksfeer te vergemaklik. Tersiêre inrigtings beklemtoon die verkryging van die teoretiese sowel as praktiese grondslag van die wetenskapvakinhoud. Leerders verlang ondersteuning van ekstra-kurrikulêre programme wat fokus op vereenvoudiging van moeilike konsepte. 'n Vakkurrikulumaanpassing asook gereelde opknappingskursusse is deur onderwysers as belangrike behoeftes geïdentifiseer. Die onderwysdepartement benodig fondse om opleidingsprogramme te loods en pleit ook vir meer georganiseerde betrokkenheid van tersiêre inrigtings en nie-regeringsonderwysorganisasies. Verder verwag die onderwysdepartement dat hulonderwysstrategieë soos uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys ondersteun word. Die data toon ook verder aan dat daar In wesenlike gapmg tussen die verwagting van rolspelers ten opsigte van bepaalde vaardighede en die werklike stand van vaardighede by die leerders bestaan. As deel van die studie word voorstelle bespreek om die geïdentifiseerde behoeftes aan te spreek. Klem word gelê op die bydrae van nie-regeringsonderwysorganisasies (met spesifieke verwysing na TRAC SA), die UGO-benadering, asook die insette van tersiêre inrigtings en industrie tot die aanspreek van geïdentifiseerde behoeftes. Die TRAC-program fokus onder meer op die vereenvoudiging van basiese en moeilike natuurwetenskapbegrippe deur gebruik te maak van rekenaargesteunde eksperimente, aan die hand van werkkaarte. Om die ontwikkeling van vaardighede op skoolvlak te bevorder, sal die hele onderwysbenadering met die samewerking van alle relevante rolspelers hersien moet word. In dié verband is wedersydse kommunikasie tussen die verskillende rolspelers onontbeerlik.

Thesis (MScSportSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With the introduction of professionalism in 1995, rugby union has rapidly and continuously changed. One such change was the introduction of several law changes after the 2007 Rugby World Cup to increase the appeal, continuity and safety of the game. Research on the effects of these law changes has primarily focused on the technical and tactical aspects of the game and very little on the changes to the physical profile of match play, particularly in a South African context. The first objective of this study was to compare the 2007 and 2013 seasons of the South African Currie Cup tournament in order to determine whether there were any effects as a result of the law changes on the scoring, time interval, general skills and contact profiles. The second objective was to compare the 2007 and 2013 seasons of the South African Currie Cup tournament in order to determine the impact of the law changes on the time variables. This thesis will follow a research article format. Research article one will address the first objective of the study. The first major finding of the study was that the profile of the game has changed to a more physical and continuous game. There was an increase in the number of player actions (passing, tackling and rucks/mauls) (p < 0.01), as well as significantly more penalty goals (p < 0.01). The results further revealed that fewer tries were scored (p = 0.07), while the number of stoppages to the game, scrums and line-outs also showed a decrease (p < 0.01). These findings, mentioned above, were more prominent in the second half of the match. A trend revealed that teams were adopting a more defensive playing style, whereby they sacrificed committing numbers to the breakdowns and rather commit players on defence. This has created a more physically intense match with fewer tries being scored. The second research article will address the second objective of the study. Results of the study show that the profile of the game has changed to a more dynamic, continuous game with less time spent in rucks/mauls and fewer set pieces (scrums and line-outs). The duration of the match has increased owing to an increase in total stoppage time, mainly as a result of greater use being made of the TMO. This is evident in the significant increase in total match time (p < 0.01) and total stoppage time (p < 0.01), while the total ball-in-play time was significantly less (p < 0.01). The total tackle time has increased significantly (p < 0.01), while the total ruck/maul, scrum and line-out time decreased significantly (p < 0.01). By analysing the match profile, as with this thesis, coaches and trainers will be better informed to develop training programmes that are specific to the demands of modern match play. Based on the results, coaches and trainers should develop individual and team performance profiles to better understand the physical demands experienced by the players and teams, which will assist in implementing more specific recovery strategies and planning of training loads. The conditioning and skills development of players should focus primarily on contact situations (tackling and rucking) by adding contact elements to agility training and skill-based drills. With the various contact times measured, trainers can determine specific durations of muscle tension needed to overload and strengthen players by adjusting the movements of an exercise. These applications will allow coaches and trainers to prepare players for the specific demands of the modern game. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die begin van professionalisme in rugby in 1995 het die spel vinnig en aanhoudend verander. Een van hierdie veranderinge was die instelling van verskeie reëlveranderings ná die 2007 Rugby Wêreldbekertoernooi om die aantreklikheid, kontinuïteit en veiligheid van die spel te verhoog. Navorsing wat die uitwerking van hierdie reëlveranderings ondersoek het, het veral gefokus op die tegniese en taktiese aspekte van die spel en baie min op die veranderinge in die fisieke profiel van wedstrydspel, veral in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die eerste doelwit van die studie was om die 2007 en 2013 seisoen van die Suid-Afrikaanse Curriebekertoernooi te vergelyk om te bepaal wat die uitwerking van die reëlveranderings op die aanteken van punte, tydsinterval, algemene vaardighede en kontakprofiele was. Die tweede doelwit was om die 2007 en 2013 seisoen van die Suid-Afrikaanse Curriebekertoernooi te vergelyk om die impak van die reëlveranderings op tydveranderlikes te bepaal. Hierdie tesis is saamgestel volgens ‘n artikelgebaseerde formaat. Navorsingsartikel een spreek die eerste doelwit van die studie aan. Die eerste hoofbevinding van die studie was dat die spel verander het na ‘n meer fisieke, aaneenlopende tipe spel, met ‘n toename in speler-aksies (aangeë, laagvatte, losskrums en losgemale) en ‘n afname in die aantal kere wat die spel gestop het, veral in die tweede helfte. Daar was ‘n toename in die aantal speler-aksies (aangeë, laagvatte, losskrums en losgemale) (p < 0.01), sowel as beduidend meer strafskoppe (p < 0.01). Resultate het verder gewys dat minder drieë gedruk is (p = 0.07), terwyl die aantal kere wat die spel gestop het, en skrums en lynstane ook verminder het (p < 0.01). Die bevindings soos hierbo uiteengesit, was meer prominent in die tweede helfte van ‘n wedstryd. Daar was ‘n neiging dat spanne ‘n meer verdedigende speelstyl aangeneem het, waar hulle verkies het om spelers op verdedigend te plaas as om meer spelers by die afbreekpunte te hê. Dit het ‘n wedstryd geskep wat fisiek meer intens was met minder drieë wat gedruk is. Die tweede navorsingsartikel het die tweede doelwit van die studie aangespreek. Resultate van die studie het aangedui dat die profiel van die spel verander het na ‘n meer dinamiese, aaneenlopende spel met ‘n afname in die tyd wat aan losskrums/losgemale bestee word, met minder vaste spel (skrums en lynstane). Die duur van die wedstryd het toegeneem as gevolg van ‘n toename in die totale stoptyd, veral as gevolg van die gebruik van die TMO. Dit blyk uit die beduidende toename in totale wedstrydtyd (p < 0.01) en totale stoptyd (p < 0.01), terwyl die totale tyd wat die bal in spel was, betekenisvol afgeneem het (p < 0.01). Die totale laagvattyd het beduidend toegeneem (p < 0.01), terwyl die totale losskrum-/losgemaal-, skrum- en lynstaantyd betekenisvol afgeneem het (p < 0.01). Deur die wedstrydprofiel te ontleed, kan afrigters hul oefenprogram aanpas om aan die spesifieke vereistes van wedstrydspel te voldoen. Afrigters behoort profiele van individuele en spanprestasie te ontwikkel wat op die resultate gegrond is ten einde ‘n beter begrip te verkry van die fisieke eise waaraan die spelers en spanne onderwerp word. Dit sal help met die implementering van spesieke herstelstrategieë en die beplanning van oefenladings. Die kondisionering en vaardigheidsontwikkeling van spelers behoort hoofsaaklik toegespits te word op kontaksituasies (laagvatte en losskrums) deur kontakelemente by ratsheids- en vaardigheidsoefeninge te voeg. Deur die meting van die verskillende kontaktye kan afrigters die spesifieke duur van spierspanning bepaal wat nodig is om spelers sterker te maak, en die bewegings van ‘n oefening daarvolgens aanpas. Hierdie toepassings sal afrigters in staat stel om spelers vir die bepaalde eise van die moderne spel voor te berei.

Thesis (PhD (Education Policy Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The core question that is addressed in this dissertation is: “How can we think differently about education in order to transcend the predicament that outcomes-based assessment poses for teachers and the practice of teaching?” This question is addressed against the background of my own narrative and experience in education in South Africa and in dialogue with the ideas of a number of contemporary philosophers. I assume an internal link between the outcomes-based discourse and its attendant assessment system. I argue that although outcomes-based education is proclaimed to be a progressive pedagogy, an alternative argument can be made that characterises it as an old behaviourist, management theory, overlain by a new policy technology called performativity. Thereafter, I engage critically with outcomes-based assessment as a prime example of performativity. In the next step I explore the ways in which outcomes-based assessment poses a predicament to teachers and to the practice of teaching. I then construct an alternative view of education that, in my opinion, provides a way to transcend the predicament that outcomes-based assessment poses for teachers and the practice of teaching. I also compare my alternative view of education with a new notion of education as therapy and standing in need of therapy, which is also presented as an alternative to instrumental approaches to education. Thereafter I consider the implications of my alternative view of education for teachers and assessment. I consider potential critiques against my argument at various stages in this dissertation. In the final chapter, I anticipate five more potential critiques against the argument developed in this dissertation and give initial responses to these. At the end of this dissertation I extend an invitation to deliberation in the spirit of my alternative view of education. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die kernvraag wat in hierdie proefskrif aan bod kom, is: “Hoe kan ons anders dink oor onderwys sodat die penarie wat uitkomsgebaseerde assessering vir onderwysers en die onderwyspraktyk meebring, oorkom kan word? Die vraag word beredeneer teen die agtergrond van my eie narratief en ervaring in onderwys in Suid-Afrika en in dialoog met die idees van ’n aantal kontemporêre filosowe. Ek veronderstel ’n interne skakel tussen die uitkomsgebaseerde diskoers en die verbandhoudende assesseringstelsel. Ek voer aan dat hoewel uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys as ’n progressiewe pedagogie voorgehou word, ’n alternatiewe argument gemaak kan word wat dit as ’n ou, behavioristiese bestuursteorie beskryf, wat oordek is met ’n nuwe beleidstegnologie genaamd performatiwiteit. Daarna gaan ek krities om met uitkomsgebaseerde assessering as ’n primêre voorbeeld van performatiwiteit. In die volgende stap verken ek die maniere waarop uitkomsgebaseerde assessering ’n penarie vir onderwysers en die onderwyspraktyk voorhou. Ek ontwikkel dan ’n alternatiewe beskouing van opvoeding wat, na my mening, ’n manier verskaf om die penarie wat assessering vir onderwysers en die onderwyspraktyk veroorsaak, te oorkom. Ek vergelyk ook my alternatiewe beskouing van onderwys met ’n nuwe konsep van onderwys as terapie en as behoeftig aan terapie, wat ook as ’n alternatief vir instrumentele benaderings tot onderwys aangebied word. Daarna oorweeg ek die implikasies van my alternatiewe beskouing van onderwys vir onderwysers en assessering. Ek oorweeg op verskillende stadiums in hierdie proefskrif potensiële punte van kritiek teen my argument. In die laaste hoofstuk antisipeer ek vyf bykomende potensiële punte van kritiek teen die argument wat in hierdie proefskrif ontwikkel is en gee aanvanklike reaksies daarop. Teen die einde van hierdie proefskrif rig ek ’n uitnodiging tot beraadslaging in die gees van my alternatiewe beskouing van opvoeding.

Distance education and open and flexible learning policies have done much to extend accessibility to higher education throughout the world. However, distance education is not just a move away from learning in the classroom. It is a complete paradigm shift and when delivering learning materials outside the classroom across any distance, it is important that technologies and techniques support students. Against this background, the case has been made that the provision of student support services, according to the diverse needs and expectations of adult distance education students, should be an integral part of the provision of open and distance learning. The focal point of this study was to evaluate student support services, provided at the northern campus of the University of Namibia, from a student perspective. A combination of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was chosen and data were collected by means of a literature review and a questionnaire, supplemented with open-ended questions. The subjects of the study were second- and third-year B.Ed. students from the northern campus of the University of Namibia. The results of this study have provided evidence that adult distance education students indeed value the provision of student support services. Specifically, students in this study placed the greatest importance on student support services related to getting started with their studies, for example orientation sessions about available student support services and contact and communication with tutors and fellow students by means of vacation schools, face-to-face tutorials on Saturdays at regional centres and support through study groups. One of the conclusions of the study was that the institutional policy and the role of management are crucial in the establishment of an effective student support model to facilitate distance learning. The following recommendations were formulated: The University’s Centre for External Studies (CES) should conduct periodic and regular evaluation studies of its distance education students to design, develop and provide student support services that will be tailored to students’ specific needs and expectations. CES should pay attention to support services that help reduce barriers if it is to attain its mission of making quality higher education more accessible. CES should provide adequate training to tutors to prepare them for the special challenges presented by open and distance learning. CES should design and implement an appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) course to empower distance education students adequately for the use of modern ICT.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa has reached pandemic levels, with over 1 000 deaths per day. The church in South Africa represents a largely untapped resource for addressing this problem. One of the largest Evangelical church groups in South Africa is the Assemblies of God (AOG/SA). This church group consists of three culturally distinct fraternals: The Group (white), The Association (coloured), and The Movement (black). Although they function under one executive committee, these fraternals have remained organizationally distinct even after the dismantling of apartheid laws in 1991. On the issue of HIV/AIDS, all three fraternals have remained largely quiet and uninvolved. They have made no attempt to strategize on a unified response to the pandemic, nor have they attempted to promote culturally relevant curricula capable of empowering their pastors and theological students to respond effectively to this crisis. The research consisted of two phases, following Rothman and Thomas's Intervention Research model (1994), with special emphasis on the design and development component. The first phase identified and assessed educational, cultural, and religious factors relevant to the development and delivery of a clergy-focused multicultural curriculum intervention addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa. Data-gathering strategy for the first phase consisted of semi-structured interviews with ethnographic notions. The target groups for the first phase of the research included 15 credentialed AOG/SA pastors and the three fraternal leaders. The leaders and fraternal members participated in semistructured interviews designed to establish cultural and religious points of divergence pertaining to topics surrounding the AIDS pandemic (e.g. sickness, death, sexuality and gender roles). The second phase of the research consisted of the development and delivery of a curriculum intervention. Integrating the cultural and religious factors identified in the first phase of the research, the nine-day curriculum intervention was presented to 34 tertiary-level theological students in two culturally distinct venues. The content of the curriculum primarily emphasized aspects of gender, tradition, and culture as they relate to HIV/AIDS and surrounding issues. The intervention utilized three curriculum theories that were deemed relevant to the educational context of South Africa: humanistic curriculum theory, social reconstructionist curriculum theory and dialogue curriculum theory. Data-gathering strategies for the second phase of the research utilized both quantitative and qualitative instruments with ethnographic notions. The quantitative instruments included the Scale of Basic HIV/AIDS Knowledge (SHAK), Personal Reflections of Men with HIV/AIDS (PRM) and Personal Reflections of Women with HIV/AIDS (PRW). Reflective journaling was used to acquire qualitative data from student participants. Scores significantly improved on the SHAK in both venues. Scores on the PRW improved in both venues, significantly so in one. Unexpectedly, scores on the PRM declined at both venues, although not significantly so. Males with HIV/AIDS were viewed more negatively by both genders at the end of the intervention in both venues. Reflective journal entries indicated that students at both venues clearly perceived a need for the church to be involved in the pandemic; many proposed that sex education should be taking place within the context of church youth ministry. Affective responses were markedly positive for those suffering with AIDS, particularly females. The data clearly indicated that the curriculum was effective in two culturally distinct venues.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This action research study was aimed at establishing the importance and role of communication, and determining to what extent it impacts on formative assessment in the mathematics classroom with particular reference to feedback. During the first cycle of research it was evident that conditions within the mathematics classroom were preventing this from being realised. If we as researchers were to assess the nature of communication patterns within the classroom situation, then those communication patterns should have existed. Our findings reflect that teachers were generally in control of all aspects of communication of their learners, and that communication was usually a type of monologue, with very limited response from learners to closed questions, (characterised by “yes” and “no” responses), which were frequently posed. The feedback from learners (perhaps inadvertently ignored), was not optimally utilised to enhance learning. Through observation it was determined that teachers’ ability to engage learners meaningfully for longer periods, or to consciously reflect upon their actions, needed to be developed. Praxis as research paradigm, which is based on reflection and appropriate response or action geared towards improving the circumstances or conditions of the people concerned (in this case teachers), underlies this study. This research is furthermore based on the following learning theories: enactivism, constructivism, facilitation theory, action learning, andragogy, reification, and situated learning...

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Competency-based education (CBE) was introduced in the 1970s in the United States of America and its philosophical and practical dimensions are still being explored. As the Government of Namibia subscribes to CBE for all levels of education, the University of Namibia needs to understand this approach to education and how such programmes are ideally designed and implemented to bridge the gap between education (graduateness) and training (competence). The goal of this study was to develop a contextualised CBE programme design and implementation framework. International programme design and implementation frameworks were analysed and synthesised and applied to a local university programme, the Advanced Diploma in Education, in order to test the validity of an international framework and adapt it to local conditions. A qualitative research approach was used. On the one hand, data on the Advanced Diploma in Education (ADEd) was generated through methods such as stakeholder feedback on the ADEd design questionnaire as well as the analysis of relevant design and implementation documents. The post-hoc qualitative approach included a literature review, a visit to Australian universities and an international survey regarding the proposed design and implementation framework. The findings of the study pertain to programme design and programme implementation. The programme design findings emphasised the importance of the management of change to a CBE approach, the format of module descriptors and the assessment of competence. The implementation findings highlighted the necessity of administrative changes to accommodate CBE features, the training of staff and continuous evaluation of the teaching environment and lecturer performance. The study concludes that CBE appears to be appropriate for teacher education in Namibia when certain pitfalls are avoided and recommends that CBE programme designers at the Faculty of Education at the University of Namibia might apply the researched framework, comprising a comprehensive design and implementation section.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study set out to develop and test a Computer Aided Instructional Resource for Physical Science in Grades 11 and 12. The software was tested in the context of Newtonian Mechanics. This study differed from most other studies in that it did not develop or test tutoring-type software that the learner uses on a one to one basis in a computer laboratory. It did, however, test and develop software to be used by the teacher in the classroom while teaching. A theoretical framework is presented, built on experience-based as well as literature-based theory. In this framework, the effects of computer interventions on the teaching and learning situation as reported in the literature are viewed within the South African context. In the light of what is reported in the literature, the education authorities’ attempts to disseminate the curriculum with the use of technology, are questioned. Reasons for not doing a quantitative assessment of learner understanding of concepts are presented with reference to criticism in the literature against such assessments. The dissertation reports on the type of questions that need to be asked according to the literature. This discussion then leads to research questions that describe a process for the developing and testing of a resource that could assist teachers in teaching Physical Science. Developmental methods as well as ways of assessing had to be researched to determine the best way in which such a resource could be developed and tested. During this research it was found that the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to deliver the curriculum had focused more on the development of tutoring type software and it seemed that the use of computers for actual classroom instruction did not receive as much attention. It was however possible to identify developmental and assessment principles that were common to research that had been done and the project that is reported in this dissertation. The Computer Aided Instructional Resource (CAIR) was developed by the researcher in the form of a presentations package that the teacher could use in the classroom while teaching. It was tested in a Prototyping Stage in the researcher’s classroom before being tested in eight project schools during the Piloting Stage. This was done by connecting personal computers up to 74cm televisions and then displaying the CAIR on the TV whileteaching. This was made possible by TRAC South Africa that funded the project. It also provided an opportunity to assess the use of the TRAC system in the same schools. After assessment criteria had been identified, assessment instruments were developed to assess the project in different ways. There were questionnaires for each stage to be completed by learners and teachers as well as an observation instrument that was used by the researcher during classroom visits. These assessment instruments made it possible to assess the CAIR with respect to didactical, visual and technical considerations. Results of the empirical study are presented under the assessment criteria that had been identified and are discussed with reference to the original research questions. The results of the assessment were very positive for both the CAIR and TRAC systems. The study has however tried to focus on the negative rather than positive outcomes to present as unbiased a picture as possible of the assessment results. It was also necessary to focus on the negative to determine how and where the CAIR could be improved and, to make recommendations regarding the implementation of the TRAC system. Recommendations are also made for immediate action and further investigations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het gepoog om a rekenaar gesteunde onderrighulpmiddel te ontwikkel en te toets. Die sagteware is ontwikkel en getoets in die konteks van die onderrig van meganika. Die studie verskil van die meeste ander studies daarin dat die sagteware nie ontwikkel is vir die gebruik van leerders in ’n een-tot-een situasie in ’n rekenaar laboratorium nie. Die sagteware is eerder ontwikkel om deur die onderwyser gebruik te word terwyl onderrig in die klaskamer plaasvind. ‘n Teoretiese raamwerk wat op ondervinding en literatuurnavorsing gebou is, word aangebied. In hierdie raamwerk word die effek wat rekenaarintervensies op die onderrigleer situasie het, soos in die literatuur vermeld, binne die Suid Afrikaanse konteks geplaas. Die opvoedkundige owerhede se pogings om die kurrikulum te versprei met behulp van tegnologie, word bevraagteken na aanleiding van inligting wat in die literatuur verkry is. Redes waarom ‘n kwantitatiewe evaluering van leerderbegrip van konsepte nie gedoen is nie, word aangebied met verwysing na kritiek teen sulke evaluerings vanuit die literatuur. Vrae wat volgens die literatuur wel gevra moet word, word gerapporteer. Hierdie bespreking lei na die navorsingsvrae wat ‘n proses beskryf vir die ontwikkeling en toetsing van ‘n hulpmiddel wat onderwysers van nut kan wees in die onderrig van Natuur en Skeikunde. Ontwikkelingsmetodes sowel as kwalitatiewe evaluering is nagevors om die beste metodes vir ontwikkeling en toetsing te bepaal. Daar is gevind dat die implementering van Inligting en Kommunikasie Tegnologie om die kurrikulum oor te dra, meer op tutorial-tipe sagteware gefokus het. Die gebruik van rekenaars vir klaskamerinstruksie het nie soveel aandag in die literatuur geniet nie. Dit was egter moontlik om beginsels vir ontwikkeling en toetsing te identifiseer wat in ander studies gebruik is en wat hier ook toegepas kon word. Die hulpmiddel is ontwikkel in die form van ’n aanbiedingspaket wat die onderwyser in die klaskamer kan gebruik terwyl hy of sy onderrig gee. Die prototype is in die navorser se klaskamer getoets voordat dit in agt projekskole in ’n loodsprogram getoets is. Dit is gedoen deur ‘n persoonlike rekenaar in elke klaskamer aan ’n 74cm televisie te koppel.Dit is moontlik gemaak deur TRAC Suid-Afrika wat befondsing vir die projek verskaf het. Dit het ook ’n geleentheid verskaf om ’n kwalitatiewe evaluering van die TRAC stelsel in dieselfde skole te doen. Nadat evalueringskriteria geïdentifiseer is, is meetinstrumente ontwikkel om die projek op verskillende maniere te toets. Vraelyste moes in elke fase deur leerders en onderwysers voltooi word. Daar was ook ’n instrument vir gebruik deur die navorser tydens klasbesoek. Die hulpmiddel kon sodoende getoets word in terme van didaktiese, visuele en tegniese aspekte. Die resultate van die empiriese studie word aangebied onder die evalueringskriteria en word bespreek met verwysing na die oorspronklike navorsingsvrae. Die resultate was baie positief vir beide die onderrighulpmiddel en die TRAC stelsel. In die studie is gepoog om resultate so neutral moontlik aan te bied deur eerder op die negatiewe te konsentreer. Dit was egter ook nodig om op die negatiewe te konsentreer om te bepaal hoe die hulpmiddel verbeter kon word en om aanbevelings ten opsigte van die implementering van die TRAC stelsel te maak. Aanbevelings is ook gemaak oor onmiddellike aksie wat geneem kan word, sowel as vir moontlike verdere ondersoek.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Saudi Arabian Government has implemented a nation-wide policy to prepare its people for the workforce and has directed that the Saudi Council for Health Specialties (SCHS) be established. Under the SCHS umbrella the Saudi Nursing Board (SNB) has been formed for the purpose of regulating the nursing profession. While Saudi Arabia has for many years been dependent on the international community for nurses, it is now establishing its own nursing workforce. One challenge for the SCHS and the SNB is to ensure that practice standards are developed, since ultimately nursing practice affects the quality of the patient services and patient health outcomes. The Saudi nursing profession has a responsibility to develop its social mandate and provide a full range of services to the Saudi public. Systems and education programmes are required for all aspects of the regulatory process, including continuing professional development. Effective regulation systems are not based on a “one size fits all” approach. Furthermore, nurses need to insist on high quality education to develop both basic and ongoing competence and should be able to depend on the profession for social status and credibility. The purpose of this research was to develop, implement, validate and evaluate a continuing professional development learning programme for nurses working in Saudi Arabia. The learning programme was built from a vision of nurses (regardless of country) engaging in lifelong learning for the purpose of ensuring quality patient care and population health. The development of a continuing professional development learning programme is an initial step in fulfilling the need for educational structures to support standards of practice. The overall outcome of the research was functional by nature in that the knowledge of continuing professional development in nursing was generated and applied to nursing practice in Saudi Arabia. In view of the nature of the question, a mixed methodology was selected. Although the qualitative aspect was dominant, both the qualitative and quantitative aspects were used simultaneously. The design included exploratory and descriptive aspects. Furthermore, the researcher employed qualitative methods to develop, implement and evaluate the provisional learning programme and quantitative methods to validate the provisional programme, resulting in a partial explanation of the research phenomenon. The primary theoretical drive was inductive, as the purpose was to discover rather than to test the learning programme contents. Botes’ Research Model and King’s Theory of Goal Attainment were utilised. They complemented each other, as they both support a comprehensive, dynamic scientific approach to learning (health) outcomes influenced by the quality of nursing practice and practice environment. The research, which was outcomes–based, was carried out in the context of quality patient care (population health) and nursing practice situated within the Saudi Arabian setting, where the nursing regulatory system is emerging. As the questionnaire mean ( X ) results revealed scores of 3.0 to 3.9, data saturation was achieved during the first round of the Delphi technique. Fourteen experts from six different countries were asked to validate the provisional learning programme, which was duly done. The programme was implemented in a tertiary research hospital in Saudi Arabia. Formative and summative evaluations were also conducted. The results of the implementation and evaluation affirmed the effectiveness of the learning programme. Boyer’s Model for Scholarship was used to triangulate the research findings. These results formed the basis for the recommendations and final summary. The five broad recommendations that emerged from the research were that nurses should take on self-regulatory and leadership responsibilities; that they should engage in continuing professional development collaboration; that the nursing profession’s self-regulation responsibilities be acknowledged; that a healthy (quality) workplace environment be ensured; and that further research be done in this field. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die regering van Saoedi-Arabië het ʼn landwye beleid geïmplementeer om die mense van die land vir die arbeidsmag voor te berei en het opdrag gegee vir die stigting van die Saudi Council for Health Specialties (SCHS,) ʼn raad wat spesifiek met gesondheidsdienste gemoeid is. Die Saoedi Raad vir Verpleging (Saudi Nursing Board oftewel SNB) is tot stand gebring met die doel om die verpleegdiens in die land te reguleer. Nadat Saoedi-Arabië vir baie jare van die internasionale gemeenskap vir verpleegkundiges afhanklik was, word ʼn eie verpleegkorps nou in die land gevestig. Een van die uitdagings waarmee die SCHS en die SNB te kampe het, is die noodsaaklikheid om te verseker dat standaarde vir die praktyk ontwikkel word, aangesien die verpleegpraktyk inderdaad die gehalte van pasiënte-diens en gesondheidsuitkomste beïnvloed. Die verpleegberoep in Saoedi-Arabië is daarvoor verantwoordelik om sy maatskaplike mandaat te ontwikkel en ʼn volledige reeks dienste aan die mense van die land beskikbaar te stel. Stelsels en opvoedkundige programme is nodig vir alle aspekte van die reguleringsproses. Dit sluit voortgesette professionele ontwikkeling in. Vir ʼn reguleringstelsel om werklik doeltreffend te wees moet dit op spesifieke behoeftes gerig wees en kan een stelsel nie aan al die vereistes van diverse instellings voldoen nie. Dit is noodsaaklik dat verpleegkundiges op onderrig van ʼn hoë gehalte aandring ten einde basiese en voortgaande bevoegdheid te ontwikkel. Daarbenewens behoort hulle op die beroep te kan steun vir sosiale status en geloofwaardigheid. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om ʼn voortgesette leerprogram vir die professionele ontwikkeling van verpleegkundiges wat in Saoedi-Arabië werk, te ontwikkel, te implementeer, te valideer en te evalueer. Die leerprogram het onstaan uit ʼn visie van verpleegsters (ongeag hulle land van oorsprong) wat hulle met lewenslange leer besig hou met die doel om diens van ʼn hoë gehalte aan pasiënte asook bevolkingsgesondheid te verseker. Met die ontwikkeling van ʼn leerprogram vir voortgesette professionele ontwikkeling is die eerste stap gedoen om in die behoefte aan opvoedkundige strukture ter ondersteuning van praktykstandaarde te voorsien. Die algehele uitkoms van die navorsing was funksioneel van aard deurdat die kennis van voortgesette professionele ontwikkeling in verpleging deur die verpleegpraktyk in Saoedi-Arabië gegenereer en ook daarop toegepas is. Vanweë die aard van die navorsingsvraag is besluit om ʼn gemengde metodologie, dit is kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe aspekte gelyktydig te gebruik, met die kwalitatiewe aspek as die dominante metode. Sowel verkennende as beskrywende aspekte is in die ontwerp ingesluit. Daarbenewens het die navorser kwalitatiewe metodes gebruik om die voorlopige leerprogram te ontwikkel, te implementeer en te evalueer, en kwantitatiewe metodes om die voorlopige program te valideer. Die navorsingsverskynsel is deur middel van ʼn gedeeltelike verklarende metode ontleed. Die primêre teoretiese dryfkrag was induktief, aangesien dit die doel van die navorsing was om die leerprogram se inhoud te ontdek eerder as om dit te toets. Daar is van Botes se Navorsingsmodel en King se Teorie van Doelbereiking (Theory of Goal Attainment) gebruik gemaak. Hulle het mekaar aangevul aangesien albei ʼn omvangryke, dinamiese wetenskaplike benadering tot leer- (gesondheid-) uitkomste, wat deur die gehalte van verpleegpraktyk en die praktykomgewing beïnvloed word, ondersteun. Die navorsing, wat uitkomsgebaseerd was, is uitgevoer binne die konteks van pasiëntediens van gehalte (bevolkingsgesondheid) en verpleegpraktyk, gesetel in die Saoedi-Arabiese milieu, waar die reguleringstelsel vir verpleegkunde aan die ontwikkel is. Data saturasie is reeds bevestig tydens die eerste rondte van die Delphi tegniek met gemiddelde tellings van ( X ) 3,0 en 3,9. Die navorsingsontwerp is daardeur verder versterk. Veertien deskundiges van ses verskillende lande is gevra om die voorlopige leerprogram te valideer, wat hulle ook gedoen het. Die program is in ʼn tersiêre navorsingshospitaal in Saoedi-Arabië geïmplementeer. Formatiewe en summatiewe evaluering is gedoen en die resultate van die implementering en evaluering het die doeltreffendheid van die leerprogram bevestig. Boyer se Wetenskaplikheidsmodel (Model for Scholarship) is gebruik om die navorsingsbevindinge te staaf. Hierdie resultate het die grondslag gelê vir die aanbevelings en die finale opsomming. Die vyf breë aanbevelings wat uit die navorsing voortgekom het was dat verpleegkundiges selfregulerende en leierskapverantwoordelikhede aanvaar; dat hulle aan samewerkingsaksies ten opsigte van voortgesette professionele ontwikkeling deelneem; dat die verpleegberoep se verantwoordelikhede ten opsigte van selfregulering erken word; dat ʼn gesonde (gehalte-) werkomgewing verseker word; en dat verdere navorsing op hierdie gebied gedoen word.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / On t.p.: Doctor of Philosophy in Education Policy Studies. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this dissertation I critically explore educational leadership and management practices in relation to how current school principals lead and manage schools in a democratic society. The aim of this study is to explore to what extent school leaders and managers are transformative in their approach to deepening democracy in schools. In order to contextualise my understanding, I choose to tell my story. Therefore, I give a narrative account of my personal career experience as a teacher, and specifically as a school principal. I argue that educational leaders and managers continue to think and act according to traditional notions of leading and managing school practices. I contend that educational leadership and management practices ought to change in order for schools to transform into institutions implementing democratic practices in a more thoroughgoing way. I argue that current understandings of leadership and management in schools seem to be embedded in positivist tendencies that undermine transformative practices in schools and that positivist leadership and management engender thin forms of democratic school practices. I show how positivist theories of educational leadership and management connect with indefensible forms of leading and managing, namely skewed authority, gender discrimination and exclusion of cultural diversity. I contend that school leadership and management practices ought to be reconceptualised in relation to a framework of democratic citizenship education. Cultivating democratic citizenship education with reference to the seminal thoughts of Jürgen Habermas, Seyla Benhabib and Iris Marion Young will hopefully strengthen my argument for social justice, renewal and redress in school practices. These theorists have shaped the thinking and actions of educational leaders and managers to provide a critical understanding of transformative educational leadership and management practices in schools. Such ideas conceptualise a critical understanding of deliberative leadership and management practices as constructs for deepening democracy in schools. It is within this context that the dissertation explores a pathway towards deepening democracy in schools through a deliberative leadership and management approach. Such an approach has the potential to cultivate communicative democratic moments in educational leadership and management practices through engaging the voices of “others”. For deliberative leadership and management practice to manifest itself, I propose that conditions ought to be established whereby the democratic rights of “others” as incorporated voices in classroom pedagogy, school management and school governance engender deeper citizenship through the inclusion of these “other” previously marginalised voices. By embracing the voices of “others”, the potential is created to move towards deepening democratic leadership and management practices which can possibly engender “schools of hope” for the future. Keywords: Educational leadership, educational management, positivist, critical, citizenship, deliberative democracy, communicative democracy / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif is ʼn kritiese ondersoek na skoolhoofde se onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke in die huidige demokratiese bestel. Die doel van die studie is om die mate van transformatiewe integrasie van demokrasie onder skoolleiers en -bestuurders te verken. Ek het besluit om my eie storie te vertel, dus gee ek ʼn verhalende verslag van my loopbaan as ʼn onderwyser, en spesifiek as ʼn skoolhoof. Ek beweer dat leiers en bestuurders in die onderwys nog steeds die tradisionele opvattings oor skoolleierskap en bestuur huldig, en dat hierdie opvattings hulle denke en optrede rig. Ek voer aan dat onderwysleierskap en bestuurspraktyke verander moet word sodat skole tot dieper, demokratiese praktyke kan transformeer. Ek argumenteer voorts dat dit voorkom asof huidige begrippe van leierskap en bestuur in skole in positivistiese tendense vasgelê is wat transformatiewe praktyke in skole ondermyn en dat positivistiese leierskap en bestuur “dun” vorme van demokratiese skoolpraktyke voortbring. Ek toon aan hoe positivistiese teorieë van onderwysleierskap en -bestuur verband hou met onverdedigbare wyses van lei en bestuur, naamlik verwronge gesag, genderdiskriminasie en die uitsluiting van diverse kulture. Ek voer aan dat onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke geherkonseptualiseer behoort te word binne ʼn raamwerk van demokratiese burgerskapsopvoeding. Die ontwikkeling van demokratiese burgerskapsopvoeding wat onder meer voortspruit uit die seminale denke van Jürgen Habermas, Seyla Benhabib en Iris Marion Young, versterk my betoog vir sosiale geregtigheid, vernuwing en herstel binne die skoolpraktyke. Hierdie teoretici vorm die denke en optrede van leiers en bestuurders in die onderwys as deurslaggewende begrippe van transformatiewe onderwysleierskap en bestuurspraktyke in skole. Sulke idees konseptualiseer ʼn deurslaggewende begrip van oorlegplegende leierskap en bestuurspraktyke as konstrukte vir grondliggende integrasie van demokrasie in skole. Binne hierdie konteks ondersoek die proefskrif ʼn werkwyse vir ʼn grondliggende integrasie van demokrasie in skole deur oorlegplegende leierskap en bestuur. So ʼn benadering het die potensiaal om kommunikatiewe demokratiese momente in onderwysleierskap en -bestuurspraktyke aan te moedig deur na die stemme van die “ander” te luister. Ek stel voor dat, ten einde demokratiese leierskap- en bestuurspraktyke te vestig, toestande geskep moet word waardeur die demokratiese regte van die “ander”, wat voorheen gemarginaliseer was, in klaskamerpedagogie en skoolbestuur ingesluit moet word om “dieper” burgerskap te verseker. Met ander woorde, deur na die stemme van die “ander” te luister, word die potensiaal geskep om verdiepende demokratiese leierskap en bestuurspraktyke aan te moedig sodat “skole met hoop” tot stand gebring kan word. Trefwoorde: Onderwysleierskap, onderwysbestuur, positivisties, kritiese, burgerskap, oorlegplegende demokrasie