Auditing, as a subset of the accounting discipline, is an inherently difficult subject to learn and teach. There have been various challenges, problems and criticisms regarding traditional auditing and accounting education. Auditing lecturers therefore have a responsibility to investigate methods or aids that can assist lecturers in addressing these challenges, problems and criticisms in order to educate future auditors who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to function effectively in the workplace. The primary objective of this study was therefore to evaluate whether the learning and lecturing difficulties experienced may be addressed effectively through the use of an educational auditing information technology-based game, which was developed during the course and as a result of this study. The perceptions of third-year auditing students at North-West University regarding the use of this game as an educational aid in auditing education were tested through a questionnaire that was also developed as part of this study. The study involved dividing the participants into an experimental and control group. The experimental group played the educational computer game, while the control group completed the case question from which the educational game was developed. The students then completed the same questionnaire. The main findings of the study were that the educational computer game was equal in educational value to the case method, while factors such as joy, engagement and motivation were rated higher for the computer game than for the case method. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Auditing, as a subset of the accounting discipline, is an inherently difficult subject to learn and teach. There have been various challenges, problems and criticisms regarding traditional auditing and accounting education. Auditing lecturers therefore have a responsibility to investigate methods or aids that can assist lecturers in addressing these challenges, problems and criticisms in order to educate future auditors who have the knowledge, understanding and skills to function effectively in the workplace. The primary objective of this study was therefore to evaluate whether the learning and lecturing difficulties experienced may be addressed effectively through the use of an educational auditing information technology-based game, which was developed during the course and as a result of this study. The perceptions of third-year auditing students at North-West University regarding the use of this game as an educational aid in auditing education were tested through a questionnaire that was also developed as part of this study. The study involved dividing the participants into an experimental and control group. The experimental group played the educational computer game, while the control group completed the case question from which the educational game was developed. The students then completed the same questionnaire. The main findings of the study were that the educational computer game was equal in educational value to the case method, while factors such as joy, engagement and motivation were rated higher for the computer game than for the case method. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation is an interpretive analysis of the meanings and understanding of the construct 'service' in its relation to scholarly engagement with external non-academic communities at curricular level. The study links to other studies relating to community engagement in higher education or focusing on internal service to the university community, but it is unique in its theorising of service with and in external non-academic communities. The specific aim of the study was to develop a theoretical framework to view, understand, analyse and evaluate scholarly-related service activities which represent the community component of experiential learning pedagogies. The primary data for the study were generated through unstructured interviews with the four actor groups participating in such activities, namely module coordinators, students, community organisation representatives and community members. Their responses were interpreted, analysed and triangulated through grounded theory methodology. A substantive theory consisting of four interrelated processes, through which these activities take place, was developed culminating in a theoretical framework that integrates the four processes into one coherent process of cyclical interchange of social commodities. In this process there is a reciprocation of scholarly service and community service where the latter represents the service of the community to the university culminating in the interchange of tangible and intangible products that represent the commodities. The co-creation of useful contextual knowledge represents the ultimate outcome of this process through an interchange of tacit, codified and implicit knowledge of professionals and laymen in society. The theoretical framework provides a better understanding of the difference between the relationships with external communities and the actual service actions that take place during scholarly service activities. Within such understanding the framework suggests rethinking of how service activities are planned and integrated in community engagement at curricular level. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif is 'n interpretatiewe ontleding van die betekenisse en begripsverband van die konstruk "diens" op 'n kurrikulêre vlak binne die vakkundige interaksie met eksterne nieakademiese gemeenskappe. Die studie hou verband met ander studies oor gemeenskapsinteraksie binne die hoër onderwys asook dié wat fokus op interne diens aan die universiteitsgemeenskap. Die studie is egter uniek ten opsigte van die teoretisering van diens binne en in samewerking met eksterne nie-akademiese gemeenskappe. Die spesifieke doel van die studie was om 'n teoretiese raamwerk te ontwikkel waardeur wetenskapsverwante diensaktiwiteite wat die gemeenskapskomponent van ervaringsleerpedagogië verteenwoordig beskou, verstaan, geanaliseer en geëvalueer kan word. Die primêre data vir die studie is versamel deur middel van ongestruktureerde onderhoude met die vier groepe wat 'n rol speel in kurrikulumverwante gemeenskapsdiensaktiwiteite, naamlik module koördineerders, studente, verteenwoordigers van gemeenskapsorganisasies en lede uit die gemeenskap. Hulle antwoorde is met behulp van die metodologie van gefundeerde teorie geïnterpreteer, ontleed en deur kruistoetsing geverifieer. 'n Selfstandige teorie, bestaande uit vier verwante prosesse waardeur hierdie aktiwiteite plaasvind, is ontwikkel wat uiteindelik beslag gekry het in 'n teoretiese raamwerk wat op sy beurt die vier prosesse in een koherente proses van sikliese verwisseling van sosiale kommoditeite integreer. In hierdie proses is daar ’n duidelike verwantskap tussen vakkundige diens en gemeenskapsdiens waar laasgenoemde die diens van die gemeenskap aan die universiteit verteenwoordig. Hierdie verwisselende verwantskap lei tot die uitruiling van tasbare en nie-tasbare produkte wat die sosiale kommoditeite verteenwoordig. Die medeskepping van bruikbare kontekstuele kennis verteenwoordig die uiteindelike uitkoms van die proses waarin basiese kennis, die geskrewe kennis en die inherente aangeleerde kennis van kundiges en ongeskoolde persone in wisselwerking tree. Die voorgestelde teoretiese raamwerk verskaf beter insig in die verskil tussen die verhouding met eksterne gemeenskappe en die werklike diensaksies wat plaasvind gedurende vak-gebaseerde diensaktiwiteite. Binne sodanige verstaan stel die raamwerk voor dat die manier wat sulke aktiwiteite beplan word, herbedink behoort te word.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Duisende jong Suid-Afrikaners vertrek jaarliks op ‘n gapingsjaar (”gap year”) oorsee. ‘n Populêre siening in die media asook die wyer publiek is dat hierdie gapingsjaar die ideale tydperk is vir jongmense waar hulle hulleself kan “vind”. ’n Gapingsjaar word tipies onderneem in laat adolessensie (tussen 18 en 25 jaar). Die idee dat laat adolessente hulleself moet “vind” sluit aan by die ontwikkelingsteoretici se psigososiale konsep van identiteitsformasie. Die mees belangrike ontwikkelingstaak tydens laat adolessensie is die vestiging van ’n koherente identiteit en is ’n redelike mate van identiteitsverwerwing na afloop van adolessensie kritiek. ’n Belemmerde identiteitsverwerwing kan hul persoonlike selfstandigheid en outonomie wesenlik inperk. Die vraag het ontstaan of laat adolessente hulleself wérklik “vind” in ’n gapingsjaar soos die media-ideologie dit uitbeeld? Tot op hede (nasionaal en internasionaal) kon geen navorsing gevind word wat verband hou met ʼn gapingsjaar en identiteitsontwikkeling nie. Die doelstelling van hierdie studie was om die identiteitsontwikkelingstatus van Suid-Afrikaanse laat adolessente na ’n gapingsjaar te bepaal. Die basiese veronderstelling en populêre siening dat laat adolessente na afloop van ’n gapingsjaar ’n verworwe status van identiteitsontwikkeling het, is ondersoek. Om die identiteitstatus te assesseer is 288 Suid-Afrikaanse gapingsjaar laat adolessente genader en ’n kwantitatiewe opname metode is gebruik. Die gekose instrument vir die identiteitstatus ondersoek is die Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). ’n Demografiese vraelys is geadministreer om beskrywende data verkry en te kyk watter demografiese eienskappe statisties korreleer met die onderskeie identiteitsontwikkelingstatusse van respondente. Die gestruktureerde vraelys is via ʼn webtuiste, met pen en papier of telefonies voltooi. In stryd met die populêre siening en media-ideologie is die bevinding dat die minderheid respondente (slegs 14.5%) geklassifiseer kon word in die verworwe identiteitstatus na ‘n gapingsjaar. Die meerderheid val binne die moratorium- en diffusestatus wat beteken dat hulle nie ‘n binding gemaak het tot ‘n identiteit na hul gapingsjaar nie. Gapingsjaar adolessente se ouderdom, tyd terug na hul gapingsjaar, die behoort aan ‘n religieuse groep (tydens hul gapingsjaar) of hul verhoudingstatus (tydens hul gapingsjaar) is eerder geassosieer met ‘n verworwe identiteitstatus. Vroegtydige en pro-aktiewe terapeutiese en opvoedkundige ondersteuning tydens hierdie ontvanklike periode, kan bydra tot ’n groter positiewe identiteitsontwikkeling van jongmense. Hierdie studie kan bydra tot die kennisbasis vir Suid-Afrikaanse navorsing. / ENGLISH SUMMARY: Thousands of young South-Africans embark every year on a gap year overseas. A popular notion in the media as well as the wider public is that the gap year is the ideal period for young people to ‘find themselves”. A gap year is typically undertaken in late adolescence (age between 18 and 25). The idea that adolescents should ‘find’ themselves relates to developmental theorists’ psychosocial concept of identity formation. The most important development task during late adolescence is the forming of a coherent identity and a reasonable amount of identity formation after adolescence is critical. Impeded identity formation can severely curb their self-dependency and autonomy. The question is raised whether adolescents really ‘find’ themselves during a gap year, as the media would have us believe. No research (nationally and internationally) could be found which relates to the gap year and identity formation. The aim of this study was to determine the identity development status of late adolescents having been on gap year. The basic assumption and popular view that adolescents would have an achieved status of identity formation, is investigated. To assess the identity status, 288 South-African late adolescents who has taken a gap year was asked to participate in a quantitative survey. The chosen instrument for the identity status investigation is the Extended Version of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS-II). A demographic questionnaire was also included to gain descriptive data. The data was used to test which demographic properties correlate with the respective identity formation statuses of participants. The structured questionnaire could be completed via a website, with pen and paper or telephonically. Contrary to the popular notion in the media and public, the finding is that the minority respondents (only 14.5%) could be classified in the achieved identity status after the gap year. The majority falls in the moratorium- and diffused statuses, which means that a binding was not formed with their identity after their gap years. Rather, demographics like age, time back after gap year, religious affiliation (during gap year) and relationship status was found to be associated with an achieved identity status. Early and pro-active therapeutic and educational support during this receptive period (adolescence), can contribute to better identity development of young people and this study can therefore contribute to the South- African research knowledgebase.

Graduate social work students are mandated to be cultural competent to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. This exploratory study examined how best to teach graduate social work students to be culturally competent in working with LGB clients by assessing their perceived competence of attitudes, knowledge and skills as well as their demonstrated competence through case vignettes. The study compared a current pedagogical method of infusing LGB material across the curricula with two types of brief trainings (didactic lecture and experiential) . This mixed methods study utilized a pretest/posttest design to examine the effects of the trainings as well as qualitative responses from the participants. Results offer suggestions as to which pedagogical approach might be most effective in helping social work students gain competence for working with LGB individuals.

This thesis was written to provide an alternative teaching model for an undergraduate theatre history class. The course design, utilizing the Problem-Based Learning educational model, aims to create a student-centered, experiential theatre history class. The first section explores the history and evolution of the theatre discipline in academia. These chapters examine the expansion and transformation of the theatre curriculum within the discipline and higher education. The second part examines the history and the methodologies of Problem-Based Learning. Based on the philosophy of educator John Dewey, PBL is considered to be a non-traditional method of teaching and learning that encourages the development of self-directed learning and the acquisition of knowledge through experiential education. The final section describes the actual course design. Included in this section are the educational objectives of the class, examples of problems, assessment methods, and an examination of potential challenges in the design.

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Mary Catherine (Katie) Kingery-Page / Neighborhood parks can provide a place for children and teens to satisfy their curiosity and learn about nature. Without an open-space policy or regulation from the city, no park was proposed during the development of the neighborhood adjacent to Susan B. Anthony Middle School in Manhattan, Kansas. People have to cross Highway 113 (Sethchild Road) or Kimball Avenue to the closest parks: Marlatt and Cico. However, neither of them is within walking distance for children and teens in this neighborhood. As a result, families have to build private playgrounds in their own backyards. In addition, technological development makes children and teens prefer staying inside playing video games. Neither private playgrounds nor video games provide interaction with nature or social interaction around nature. This project considers how the middle school site, which sits on approximately 40 acres, can be designed as a neighborhood park to allow children and teens to have close nature access and experiential learning opportunities. To better understand what users really need, interviews with teachers and questionnaires for students determined their current and preferred future use of the school site. In addition, neighborhood children, who are not in the middle school, were interviewed about their play preferences. Observations of the school site usage during school time and after were recorded for design purposes. Six precedents were examined to compare and understand what works to connect children and young teens to nature. After analyzing user needs and physical conditions of the site, a neighborhood park design for the site of Susan B. Anthony Middle School was proposed. The proposed design meets both students’ experiential learning needs and the need of neighborhood children and young teens to connect to nature. Because the 40-acre schoolyard is a nationally recommended size for middle schools, this joint-use schoolyard and park concept can be applied cross the country where needed.

As past research has found benefits of outdoor education and the current global society is facing a decline in access to beneficial natural spaces due to urbanization (Keniger, Gaston, Irvine & Fuller 2013), the aim of this master thesis research project was to explore the idea of an Outdoor Primary School, a way to provide children the access to beneficial natural spaces. In order to explore this idea, Professional Outdoor Educators (n= 61) were interviewed and asked to fill out a survey about the following aspects: outdoor and indoor spaces, learning activities, curriculum and challenges related to an Outdoor Primary School. There was a wide range of results showing that an Outdoor Primary School is a way to incorporate beneficial ways of learning, such as project-based learning, experience-based and practical learning, social learning, play and student-centered learning in formal schooling. Including learning content and activities that can aid children’s development such as food, animals and sustainability is also possible in an Outdoor Primary School as shown below. Furthermore, an Outdoor Primary School is an institution that can be equipped with beneficial learning environments, such as natural environments, a vast space, spaces for cooking, growing food and keeping animals, quiet zones, play zones and opportunities for creating, building and crafts. These results go in line with previous research about Outdoor Education and related fields, suggesting that an Outdoor Primary School both holds challenges but also is a possible model to bring together many beneficial ways of learning that are already being practiced today.

The following document offers a qualitative case study in the field of adult and community education from an educational leadership perspective using baseball as an adult learning tool. Relevant existing theories (adult education, lifelong learning, adult learners, and certain leadership practices) for successful facilitation of historical baseball research were examined. The study focused on a purposeful sample population upon which a pilot study was conducted, revealing the experiences of adult self-directed learners who produce the seminal work in their field as an avocation. The findings of this study included, but are not limited to, the passionate approach the study group members have for their subject matter, their love of learning, and the self-directedness of nonformally trained research historians using baseball as an adult learning tool. The findings also revealed the group members belief in the academic worthiness of baseball history, and their willingness to share their work with others to advance the field. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

This mixed methods, multisite case study examined the relational ecology of two urban middle schools that had adopted school-wide restorative practices (SWRPs) and the changes that occurred as a result of the reform initiative. The study was conducted in two Title I middle schools in the Oakland Unified School District in California. A positive relational ecology existed in these two urban middle schools, and this ecology was built on the interacting and interrelated themes of relational trust, being heard, a relational-based, student-centered culture, and a commitment to the principles of social justice. The positive relational ecology created a strong foundation upon which change could occur at the organizational, individual, and pedagogical levels. Various structures within the schools, including circles, instructional leadership teams, student councils, and peer mediation, created space for teachers and students to be heard and empowered, which subsequently facilitated change and growth for many administrators, teachers, and students. High turnover, lack of initial and ongoing training, and the development of quasi- or non-restorative processes jeopardized program fidelity. Findings revealed that in these restorative schools, relational ecology and change were inseparable, and that they moved and influenced each other. A positive relational ecology created an environment that enabled leaders and staff to feel safe as they embarked upon the journey of change. Changes in the ways that members of the school communities related to each other on a daily basis provided additional motivation to continue the change effort, and these changes then strengthened the relational ecologies. Findings of this study are significant and have implications for schools and school districts, policy makers, and teacher and leader education programs. Future research should include longitudinal, mixed methods studies that assess the school culture before and after implementing SWRPs, as well as experimental or quasi-experimental designs that compare restorative and non-restorative schools. Such studies may provide more empirical evidence that links healthy relational ecologies to student achievement, less teacher turnover, decreased conflict, and healthier communities, thereby strengthening the case for rejecting punitive and discriminatory zero tolerance school discipline policies and adopting restorative justice in education instead. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection