Thesis (Ph.D.) in Psychology--University of Maine, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 146-164).

M.Ed. (Educational Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 H66 / Master of Science

The causal effects of the skills of attending and obtaining task-relevant information on the pre-reading ability of one hundred and twenty-three preschool-age Head Start children were studied. Attending and obtaining task-relevant information (OTRI) were conceptualized as latent variables. Performance on a path-referenced test entitled Social Skills in the Classroom (SSITC) provided data which were observable indicators of these latent variables. Pre-reading ability was also conceptualized as a latent variable, with performance on another path-referenced test, the Reading Dimension, providing the observable indicators of this variable. Convariance structure analysis procedures were utilized to (1) link the observable indicators to their respective latent variable, through a confirmatory factor analysis model, and (2) to examine the causal effects of the latent variables on each other. A model representing the hypotheses that age, attending, and OTRI would be causally related to reading ability, that age would be causally related to attending and OTRI, and that no reciprocal relationships between these latent variables would be found was tested. This model provided a good overall fit with the data. T-values obtained under this model, however, suggested that the causal relationship between OTRI and reading ability was not significant. A second model in which this relationship was assumed to be zero was then tested and was found to provide a good overall fit with the data. A difference of chi-square test suggested that this was the preferred model. This model supported the original hypotheses that age and attending were causally related to pre-reading ability, and that age was causally related to attending and obtaining task-relevant information. The significance of the causal relationship between attending and pre-reading ability is discussed in terms of its implications for future research into the effectiveness of instruction in skills similar to those investigated in the present study.

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Thesis (M.Mus) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy. (entire content of poor quality) / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The foundation for this study is the belief that music is an essential part of human existence and thus of education. It not only addresses individual and communal human needs but the multicultural nature thereof gives it special significance for education in the ''New South-Africa". This significance lies in the value of music in its own right (intra disciplinary) as well as the use of music for its intrinsic qualities to facilitate the teaching of all other fields of knowledge (interdisciplinary). Recent research and new thinking in the fields of intelligence and learning support this belief. The old one-dimensional approach to intelligence is no longer tenable and has been supplanted by the acknowledgement that human intelligence is multi-faceted. Musical ability is now recognized as a separate intelligence while the use of music is regarded as being an important factor in the development and functioning of the human thought process. Research on the role played by emotions and morality as well as that on the characteristics of genius, optimal experiences and the implications of the functioning of the brain, are all explored with reference to what this means for music education (and using music in education) in this country today. The new Curriculum 2005 at present being introduced into South-Africa is an example of Outcomes-based Education. The way in which the Arts and Culture Learning Area of Curriculum 2005 approaches music education corresponds with the interdisciplinary and intra disciplinary distinction. These aspects are discussed and material is included for use in order to realise the expressed and desired outcomes for music education in the Foundation Phase. Elliott's alternative approach (music-as-practicum), instead of Reimer's traditional music curriculum making, is used as point of departure. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oortuiging dat musiek 'n essensiële deel van die menslike bestaan en dus van opvoeding is, lê ten grondslag van hierdie studie. Nie alleen spreek dit individuele sowel as gemeenskaplike menslike behoeftes aan nie, maar die multikulturele aard daarvan maak dit van groot belang vir opvoeding in die "Nuwe Suid-Afrika". Die belang is daarin geleë dat opvoeding in musiek op sigself waarde het (intradissiplinêr), maar ook leer in alle ander vakgebiede kan fasiliteer (interdissiplinêr). Onlangse navorsing ten opsigte van intelligensie en opvoeding staaf hierdie siening. Die vroeëre een-dimensionele siening van menslike intelligensie is nie meer houdbaar nie en is vervang deur die erkenning dat intelligensie vele fasette het. Musikale vermoëns word tans as 'n outonome intelligensie beskou, terwyl die groot invloed van musiek op die ontwikkeling en funksionering van die menslike denkpatrone erken word. Navorsing oor die rol van die emosies, moraliteit, die kenmerke van die genie, optimale ondervindinge en die funksionering van die brein, word ondersoek met verwysing veral na die belang daarvan vir musiekopvoeding (en die gebruik van musiek in opvoeding) tans in Suid-Afrika. Die nuwe Kurrikulum 2005 wat tans in Suid-Afrika ingevoer word, is 'n voorbeeld van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys. Die benadering van die Kuns en Kultuur Leerarea in die Kurrikulum 2005 tot musiekopvoeding stem ooreen met die inter- en intradissiplinêre verdeling. Hierdie aspekte word bespreek en materiaal word ingesluit vir gebruik by die nastreef van die uitdruklike en wenslike uitkomstes vir musiekopvoeding in die Grondslagfase. Elliott se alternatiewe benadering tot kurrikulering vir musiek (musiek-as-practicum), in teenstelling met Reimer se tradisionele MEAE model, word as uitgangspunt gebruik.

The confluence of several social phenomena in public two-year colleges provided the basis for this study. These phenomena included (1) rapid expansion of community and junior colleges; (2) increased participation of women in higher education and the labor force; and (3) growing interest in early-childhood education on the part of parents, educators, and government officials. A review of the literature revealed that there had been no previous, large-scale study to assess the extent to which public two-year colleges nationwide have (1) created postsecondary curricular offerings in early-childhood education and (2) established early-childhood and child day-care education services for students and others in the community. A questionnaire mailed to a ten-percent sample of public two-year colleges in the fifty states and to all American Indian tribally controlled colleges yielded a response rate of 76 percent. Major findings included the following: (1) Seventy percent of sample colleges offer early-childhood education courses, 38 percent offer certificates, 50 percent offer associate degrees, and 38 percent offer early-childhood/child day-care education services. (2) Among the American Indian colleges responding, all of which are relatively new and are still developing, 62 percent offer early-childhood education courses, 31 percent offer certificates, 31 percent offer associate degrees, and 31 percent offer early-childhood/child day-care education services. (3) In 94 percent of the sample and in all Indian colleges with early-childhood education certificate programs, credits earned for those certificates can be applied to associate degrees. In 88 percent of sample colleges and in all Indian colleges with early-childhood education degree programs, credits earned for those degrees can be transferred to baccalaureate programs in neighboring colleges. Other topics addressed in the findings, conclusions, and recommendations include (1) plans for future offerings, (2) factors influencing the development and design of offerings, (3) recruitment and matriculation, (4) employment services and career development opportunities, (5) staffing, and (6) financing of early-childhood education programs and services in public two-year colleges. Results of the study can be useful in policy formulation and in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services in both higher education and early-childhood education.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether implementing Success For Life in Thailand would meet the needs of Thai public policy, the Thai educational system, and Thai culture. There were 46 respondents, including 4 early childhood professionals, 4 preschool owners, 6 directors, and 32 teachers. All respondents received the Success For Life training workshop. Each participant was requested to complete a questionnaire on their understanding and awareness of brain development and function, thoughts about implementing Success For Life in Thailand, and the appropriateness of Success For Life for the Thai educational system, Thai public policy, and Thai culture. In addition, all of the 4 early childhood professionals, 4 preschool owners, and 6 directors, and 8 teachers were interviewed to expand the information provided in the questionnaires. Two preschools implemented Success For Life in November 2000. Another 6 preschools implemented Success For Life in June 2001. Participating teachers in the preschools where Success For Life was implemented in November 2000 were also asked to write bimonthly journals. Journal entries included information about how participants changed their teaching styles after receiving the Success For Life training. Research findings indicated that Success For Life was appropriate to the preschool level in Thailand. Recommendations for Success For Life implementation in Thailand were 1) clarify the meaning of “teacher-centered” to conform with Thai policy, 2) modify the mathematics curriculum to reflect higher level concepts, 3) include ethics and financial education in the curriculum, 4) include in Success For Life staff development methods for teaching children with special needs, different learning styles, and in ESL programs, and 5) clarify how, in the Success For Life curriculum, children have a right to access to the Thai dream instead of the American Dream.