The use of the digital school library depends on many factors, including end-users‘ acceptance. The issue of designing information systems that will be used appropriately is growing and thus user acceptance of new technology is now receiving much attention by researchers. Without acceptance, discretionary users will seek alternatives, while even dedicated users will most likely manifest dissatisfaction, negating many, if not all, the presumed benefits of the digital library. Whereas the traditional focus of digital libraries has drawn research on technological developments, there is a call for user-focused research. This study sought to identify the dynamics of elementary children‘s (11- to 13- year olds) decision-making in the context of accepting or resisting making use of digital school libraries at Crawford Preparatory Pretoria School in Gauteng. To be accepted, the digital library must satisfy basic usability requirements and be perceived as useful by the children. The constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were used to generate an understanding of acceptance of the digital school libraries. The study adopted a quantitative case study research approach to compare the empirical data and the TAM theory. Data triangulation of a wide range of data collection methods, including observation, questionnaires, focus groups and tasks given to the children to work on using the International Children‘s Digital Library was analysed. The findings revealed that, just like adults, children make decisions regarding accepting and using the digital school library based on how easy it is to use and how relevant it is to their needs. The study recommends that software designers, teachers and librarians work with the children when designing digital school libraries to ensure that their acceptance factors are taken into consideration when designing for them. / Information Science / M. Inf.

This study examines stresses experienced by primary school learners with learning problems in inclusive classrooms in an Independent School. Literature suggests that learners with learning problems experience more academic, emotional and social difficulties at school than do their peers without learning problems. The Transactional Model of stress was used as a point of departure for the qualitative empirical study to understand stress as it is experienced by three Grade 4 learners. Several school stresses were identified which contributed to unmet emotional and social needs. The three central sources of stress were classified as S1 (Inability to meet perceived/anticipated demand), S2 (Overload – too much expected) and S3 (Selfexpectations not met). The learners’ own suggestions regarding the relief of these stresses were examined and contributed to guidelines to assist teachers in relieving these stresses experienced by learners with learning problems in the inclusive classroom. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

The role of the principal can no longer be viewed as merely being a manager and administrator but rather as learning-expert and lifelong learner. Principals are expected to establish appropriate preconditions for effective teaching, learning and assessment, and flow through with interactions aimed at improving teaching and leaning. The problem statement for this study was based on the researcher’s opinion that the lack of knowledge of effective assessment practices by principals as instructional leaders seemed to have a negative influence on teacher’s perceptions of the implementation of quality assessment practices in their respective classrooms. The reason for this challenge is because principals are not involved in the classroom assessment practices, to revise, support and manage the quality of assessment by indentifying teacher’s assessment to them. The purpose of this study was to design a proposed instructional leadership model/ framework to ensure effective and quality assessment practices at school level. This ILQA framework/model was designed from the literature review, findings and personal experience as a principal. The aim of this ILQA framework/model was to support principals understand their roles in the teaching and learning environment in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. This study investigates how principals execute their roles as instructional leaders in ensuring effective and the implementation of quality assessment practices using structured questionnaire from a sample of 250 respondents and semi structured interviews with five primary school principals in the Free State Department of Basic Education. It was found that to ensure quality assessment practices, principals should understand their role in assessment for learning, assessment of learning and assessment as learning and integrate them into classroom instruction as an important component of quality teaching and learning. In summary the researcher further hopes that when the findings and the recommendations of this study are implemented, it will add value to the school principals’ instructional leadership roles in ensuring quality assessment practices at school level. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The role played by the principal as instructional leader worldwide is critical due to its direct and indirect impact on learner achievement.In South African primary schools the role of the principal as instructional leader in improving learning achievement is a pressing issue since most South African primary school learners perform far below par as determined by benchmarking carried out by local and international education assessment agencies with reference to curriculum goals and literacy and numeracy milestones.This descriptive exploratory study examined the role of the principal as instructional leader in primary schools in South Africa with special reference to the Tshwane South District, Gauteng Province. The study was informed by a literature review of local and international sources related to theoretical perspectives on instructional leadership, the features of instructional leadership that impact on learner achievement and selected models of instructional leadership. An overview of contextual and school factors which shape primary school learner achievement in South Africa with reference to the rural and township communities also framed the empirical inquiry. A mixed method study was conducted according to two phases: Phase 1 comprised the quantitative component (questionnaires); Phase 2 comprised the qualitative component (interviews). Both phases were conducted in the Tshwane South District, Gauteng Province. In both phases data were gathered from primary school principals and Institute Development Support Officials (IDSOs) selected by random and purposeful sampling respectively. The questionnaire findings indicated that the principals and IDSOs had adequate qualifications and experience, and that key school policies are in place. However, the principals are less confident about policy implementation, particularly with regard to educator and learner discipline. They face many systemic problems, such as inadequate school resources and additional funds in no fee-paying schools to improve the infrastructure and reduce the learner-teacher ratios. The findings from the interviews indicated that the principals struggle to maintain participative management with the school governing bodies; are hampered by contextual factors, especially poor school infrastructure; and are challenged to meet the requirements of annual benchmarking assessments. Based on the findings of the literature study and the empirical inquiry recommendations are made to improve practice, including a call for the professional development of principals in project management and fundraising. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The use of the digital school library depends on many factors, including end-users‘ acceptance. The issue of designing information systems that will be used appropriately is growing and thus user acceptance of new technology is now receiving much attention by researchers. Without acceptance, discretionary users will seek alternatives, while even dedicated users will most likely manifest dissatisfaction, negating many, if not all, the presumed benefits of the digital library. Whereas the traditional focus of digital libraries has drawn research on technological developments, there is a call for user-focused research. This study sought to identify the dynamics of elementary children‘s (11- to 13- year olds) decision-making in the context of accepting or resisting making use of digital school libraries at Crawford Preparatory Pretoria School in Gauteng. To be accepted, the digital library must satisfy basic usability requirements and be perceived as useful by the children. The constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness were used to generate an understanding of acceptance of the digital school libraries. The study adopted a quantitative case study research approach to compare the empirical data and the TAM theory. Data triangulation of a wide range of data collection methods, including observation, questionnaires, focus groups and tasks given to the children to work on using the International Children‘s Digital Library was analysed. The findings revealed that, just like adults, children make decisions regarding accepting and using the digital school library based on how easy it is to use and how relevant it is to their needs. The study recommends that software designers, teachers and librarians work with the children when designing digital school libraries to ensure that their acceptance factors are taken into consideration when designing for them. / Information Science / M. Inf.

Text in Afrikaans / Leerders wat uit swak sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede kom, die sogenaamde milieu-geremde leerders, se prestasie in geletterdheid is dikwels baie swakker as diegene wat uit meer bevoorregte huise uit kom. Skryf, as ‘n kernaspek van geletterdheidsvaardighede, kan tereg beskou word as een van die ingewikkeldste vaardighede. Die bemeestering daarvan stel ‘n bykans onbereikbare eis aan die milieu-geremde leerder en kan grootliks toegeskryf word aan die leeragterstande wat sulke leerders ondervind. Die probleem word dikwels vererger deur ‘n gebrek aan opvoederbekwaamheid en die algemene afwesigheid van goeie onderwys waar hierdie leerders skoolgaan. Hoewel baie ingrypingsmaatreëls en strategieë deur die Wes-Kaapse Onderwysdepartement (WKOD) en ook die Departement van Basiese Onderwys (DBO) al van stapel gestuur is om die talle uitdagings rondom veral geletterdheidsprestasie hok te slaan, blyk dit dat ingrypings om leerders se skryfvaardighede te verbeter, dikwels afgeskeep word. Hierdie konstruktivistiese studie was daarop gemik om ‘n omvattende ondersoek te doen en die uitdagings wat milieu-geremde leerders ten opsigte van skryfvaardighede ondervind, op ‘n holistiese wyse binne die konteks van arm plattelandse skole aan te spreek. Hierdie kwalitatiewe ondersoek is uitgevoer by nege plattelandse skole in die Weskusdistrik van die Wes-Kaap. Taalopvoeders in die Intermediêre Fase is in die studie betrek. Die skole is geleë in woongebiede waar opsigtelike tekens van swak sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede voorkom, en gekies vanweë hulle status as skole in die laer kwintiele. Die teoretiese perspektiewe van Piaget, Vygotski, Bronfenbrenner en Bandura met hul fokus op sosiokulturele teorieë van leer, is bestudeer. Bepaalde strategieë en beginsels is vanuit hierdie perspektiewe met hierdie studie in verband gebring. Die bevordering van skryfvaardighede in die konstruktivistiese klaskamer is bestudeer met klem op Brian Cambourne (1934-) se invloedryke werk wat fokus op die voorwaardes vir leer en ook op die wyse waarop opvoeders ‘n klaskameretos kan skep om goeie skryfvaardighede te ontwikkel. Die konstruktivistiese beskouing het ook die dataversamelingsproses gerig en uit die data is temas en subtemas geïdentifiseer wat bespreek en ontleed is. Bevindinge in hierdie navorsing het getoon dat skryf ‘n ingewikkelde aktiwiteit vir beide opvoeders en leerders is en dat die onderrig en bevordering daarvan in vele opsigte te kort skiet. Opvoeders beskik oor beperkte kennis en begrip ten opsigte van die onderrig en assessering van skryfvaardighede. Die bevindinge toon ook dat min maatreëls in plek is om die eiesoortige eise wat milieu-geremde leerders stel, aan te spreek. Die studie het ook getoon dat die ouers van milieu-geremde leerders ‘n belangelose, apatiese houding teenoor hul skoolwerk openbaar. In ‘n neutedop kan gesê word dat hierdie studie getoon het daar beslis baie meer gedoen moet word om nie net die skryfvaardighede van milieu-geremde leerders by armer plattelandse skole te verbeter nie, maar dat daar ook indringend na oplossings gesoek moet word vir die talryke ander uitdagings wat milieu-geremde leerders by plattelandse skole ervaar. / The performance in literacy of learners hailing from poor socio-economic circumstances, the so-called environmentally deprived learners, is often much poorer than those from more advantaged homes. Writing, as a core aspect of literacy skills, can rightly be viewed as one of the most complicated skills. The mastering thereof puts an almost unattainable demand on the environmentally deprived learner. This situation is largely attributed to the learning deficit experienced by such learners. The problem is often exacerbated by a lack in educator proficiency and the general absence of good education where these learners go to school. Although many intervention measurements and strategies have been initiated by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to inhibit the many challenges surrounding especially literacy performance, it would seem that interventions to improve learners’ writing ability is often neglected. This constructivist study was aimed at undertaking an encompassing investigation and to address the challenges that environmentally deprived learners experience in terms of writing skills in a holistic manner within the context of poor rural schools. This qualitative investigation was executed at nine rural schools in the West Coast district of the Western Cape. Language educators in the Intermediary Phase were involved in the study. The schools are situated in areas where there are visible signs of poor socio-economic circumstances, and chosen for their status as schools in the lower quintiles. The theoretic perspectives of Piaget, Vygotski, Bronfenbrenner and Bandura, with their focus on socio-cultural theories, were studied. Specific strategies and principles from these perspectives were aligned with this study. The promotion of writing skills in the constructivist classroom was studied, with a focus on the influential work of Brian Cambourne (1934-), which focuses on the conditions for learning and also the way in which educators can create a classroom ethos to develop good writing skills. The constructivist view also guided the data collection process and from the data themes and subthemes were identified that were discussed and analysed. Findings of this research has shown that writing is a complicated activity for both educators and learners and that the teaching and promotion thereof are lacking in many aspects. Educators have limited knowledge in respect of the teaching and assessment of writing skills. The findings also show that few measures are in place to address the unique demands made by environmentally deprived learners. The study has also shown that the parents of environmentally deprived learners display an uninterested, apathetic attitude towards their schoolwork. In a nutshell it can be said that this study has shown that there is indeed much to be done not only to improve the writing ability of environmentally deprived learners in poorer rural schools, but that solutions should also urgently be sought to the countless other challenges experienced by environmentally deprived learners in rural schools. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Kurrikulumstudies)

The study examines how the family, peers, and sociocultural environment at school in primary schools in South Africa perpetuated divergent gendered experiences among immigrant learners. A qualitative narrative inquiry was used during the study. Snowball sampling was used to select the participants for the study. The study drew on a narrative account of 27 participants, 18 immigrant children (9 girls and 9 boys) and nine teachers (6 women and 3 men) from three primary schools in the Johannesburg East District. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and observations were used as instruments to collect data from the participants. Collected data from the semi-structured, in-depth interviews and observations was analysed using thematic content analysis and was presented by using illustrative quotes. The study revealed that the school is a highly gendered place and serves to propagate gendered experiences among immigrant children in school between girls and boys. The findings of the study have significant implications for stake holders at all levels in education. It is recommended that school principals should ensure that teachers and administrators are familiar with both the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the school’s policies and regulations that address gender, sexual harassment, immigration issues, school violence, and bullying. Improved perception of immigrant children and gender quality in schools will contribute to a positive school environment which may lead to increased positive wellbeing and academic performance to all learners regardless of gender and country of origin. / Educational Studies / D. Phil. (Socio-Education)

In the light of the HIVAIDS pandemic in South Africa and its potential impact on learners, counselling is still the best available tool that can be used by the school management team to deal with the loss, pain, trauma and suffering experienced by the lear:ners. This study focuses on the role and functions of the school management team in managing the counselling of primary school learners affected by HIV/AIDS in Mount Ayliff District in the Eastern Cape, using a literature review and empirical· investigation. The former discusses the HIV/AIDS phenomenon, school policy on HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS counselling, and the role and functions of the school management team in managing school counselling services. Egan's model, known as the skilled helper model was used to provide an understanding of counselling services. A qualitative study investigated the views of a sample of management teams of three primary schools in Mount Ayliff District in the Eastern Cape. Sites and participants were selected by purposeful sampling. Data were collected by use of indepth interviews with two principals, two deputy principals, four heads of departments (HODs) and one senior teacher. All the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Notes were also taken to supplement the audio-tapes. The data were later analysed. Essentially, findings illustrated that the school management team has a critical role in ensuring the provision of effective counselling services to those learners who are affected by HIV/AIDS. The data further reflected the importance of a school counsellor, an HIV/AIDS school policy and the Department of Education's intervention in training and empowering the management team in effectively managing the ravages of HIV/AIDS in schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

In the light of the HIVAIDS pandemic in South Africa and its potential impact on learners, counselling is still the best available tool that can be used by the school management team to deal with the loss, pain, trauma and suffering experienced by the lear:ners. This study focuses on the role and functions of the school management team in managing the counselling of primary school learners affected by HIV/AIDS in Mount Ayliff District in the Eastern Cape, using a literature review and empirical· investigation. The former discusses the HIV/AIDS phenomenon, school policy on HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS counselling, and the role and functions of the school management team in managing school counselling services. Egan's model, known as the skilled helper model was used to provide an understanding of counselling services. A qualitative study investigated the views of a sample of management teams of three primary schools in Mount Ayliff District in the Eastern Cape. Sites and participants were selected by purposeful sampling. Data were collected by use of indepth interviews with two principals, two deputy principals, four heads of departments (HODs) and one senior teacher. All the interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Notes were also taken to supplement the audio-tapes. The data were later analysed. Essentially, findings illustrated that the school management team has a critical role in ensuring the provision of effective counselling services to those learners who are affected by HIV/AIDS. The data further reflected the importance of a school counsellor, an HIV/AIDS school policy and the Department of Education's intervention in training and empowering the management team in effectively managing the ravages of HIV/AIDS in schools. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Sesotho / Classroom discipline is one of the pillars of good education globally. This study aimed to determine the role of teachers and HODs in maintaining effective classroom discipline among learners in selected primary schools in Gauteng East. The research question set by the researcher to gather the relevant information was: How does a purposively selected group of primary school HODs and teachers in the Gauteng East District view their experiences, skills and knowledge of classroom discipline and management in a post-corporal punishment era, as explored through a qualitative study using multiple techniques of data gathering? The researcher sought to determine how classroom discipline and management took place and which strategies teachers and HODs could adopt for effective classroom discipline and management. A qualitative research approach was employed for the empirical inquiry carried out at the selected research sites. Information about classroom discipline and management strategies was gathered from selected participants, made up of 24 teachers and six HODs from six primary schools. This was achieved using semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, document analysis and observation tools. The study revealed that all the selected participants were applying the reactive or punitive disciplinary approach rather than a proactive or positive approach. The literature review on the causes of poor classroom discipline and management, along with the research-based behavioural strategies and the empirical enquiry in the selected schools, allowed the researcher to critically assess the current disciplinary strategies implemented by teachers and HODs in Gauteng East primary schools and to make meaningful recommendations for improvement of discipline and classroom management. The main recommendations entail that teachers and HODs extend their horizons in order to be able to use the three models of control proposed by Wolfgang and Glickman in their classrooms. Use of the three models would aid them in exercising effective and meaningful classroom discipline and in utilising the strategies emanating from the research on effective classroom management. These main recommendations are further extended in the additional recommendations put forward. / Klaskamerdissipline is wêreldwyd een van die hoekstene van goeie onderwys. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer om die rol van onderwysers en departementshoofde in die doeltreffende handhawing van klaskamerdissipline by leerders in uitgesoekte laerskole in Gauteng-Oos te bepaal. Die navorsingsvraag wat deur die navorser gestel is om die tersaaklike inligting in te samel, was: Hoe beskou ʼn doelbewus gekose groep laerskooldepartementshoofde en laerskool-onderwysers in die Gauteng-Oos-distrik hul ervarings, vaardighede en kennis van klaskamerdissipline en -bestuur in ʼn post-lyfstraf-era, soos ondersoek in ʼn kwalitatiewe studie met behulp van verskeie data-insamelingstegnieke? Die navorser het gepoog om te bepaal hoe klaskamerdissipline en -bestuur plaasgevind het en watter strategieë deur onderwysers en departementshoofde aangewend kan word vir doeltreffende klaskamerdissipline en -bestuur. ʼn Kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg vir die empiriese ondersoek wat by die gekose navorsingsplekke uitgevoer is. Inligting oor klaskamerdissipline en -bestuurstrategieë is verkry van gekose deelnemers bestaande uit 24 onderwysers en ses departementshoofde van ses laerskole. Dit is gedoen deur halfgestruktureerde onderhoude, fokusgroeponderhoude, dokumentontleding en waarnemingshulpmiddele te gebruik. Die studie het getoon dat al die gekose deelnemers die reaktiewe of strafbenadering tot dissipline gevolg het, eerder as ʼn proaktiewe of positiewe benadering. Die literatuuroorsig oor die oorsake van swak klaskamerdissipline en -bestuur, tesame met die navorsingsgebaseerde gedragstrategieë en die empiriese ondersoek in die geselekteerde skole, het dit vir die navorser moontlik gemaak om die huidige dissiplinêre strategieë wat deur onderwysers en departementshoofde in laerskole in Gauteng-Oos geïmplementeer word, krities te assesseer en om sinvolle aanbevelings vir die verbetering van dissipline en klaskamerbestuur te doen. Die vernaamste aanbevelings behels dat onderwysers en departementshoofde hul horisonne moet verbreed sodat hulle in staat sal wees om die drie modelle van beheer wat deur Wolfgang en Glickman voorgestel word, in hul klaskamers te gebruik. Die gebruik van die drie modelle sal hulle help om doeltreffende en sinvolle klaskamerdissipline te beoefen, en om die strategieë wat uit die navorsing oor doeltreffende klaskamerbestuur voortspruit, te gebruik. Hierdie hoofaanbevelings word verder uitgebrei in die bykomende aanbevelings wat gemaak is. / Kgalemo ka phaposing ya ho rutela ke e nngwe ya ditshiya tsa thuto e hantle lefatsheng ka bophara. Phuputso ena e ne e reretswe ho tseba boikarabello ba matitjhere le Dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) ba ho boloka kgalemo e sebetsang phaposing ya ho rutela hara baithuti dikolong tse kgethilweng tsa mathomo Gauteng Botjhabela. Potso ya patlisiso e entsweng ke mofuputsi ho bokella tlhahisoleseding e nepahetseng e ne e le hore na: Sehlopha se kgethilweng ka boomo sa dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) le matitjhere a Setereke sa Gauteng Botjhabela se bona boiphihlelo ba sona jwang, bokgoni le tsebo tsa kgalemelo ya phaposing ya ho rutela le tsamaiso nakong ya kamora nako ya ho tloswa ha ho shapuwa ha baithuti jwalo ka ha ho hlahlojwa ka phuputso ya boleng ho sebediswa mekgwa e mengata ya ho bokella datha? Mofuputsi o ile a batla ho tseba hore na kgalemo ya phaposing ya ho rutela le tsamaiso di etsahetse jwang le hore na ke mawa afe ao matitjhere le dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) ba ka a sebedisang bakeng sa kgalemo e sebetsang ya phaposing ya ho rutela le tsamaiso. Mokgwa wa ho etsa dipatlisiso wa boleng o ile wa sebediswa bakeng sa patlisiso ya tlhahlobo e entsweng dibakeng tsa patlisiso tse kgethilweng. Tlhahisoleseding mabapi le kgalemo ya phaposing ya ho rutela le maano a tsamaiso e ile ya bokellwa ho tswa ho bankakarolo ba kgethilweng, ba entsweng ka matichere a 24 le dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) tse tsheletseng dikolong tse tsheletseng tsa mathomo. Sena se fihletswe ka dipuisano tse batlang di hlophisitswe, dipuisano tsa sehlopha se kgethilweng, manollo ya ditokomane le disebediswa tsa temoho. Phuputso e senotse hore bankakarolo bohle ba kgethilweng ba ne ba sebedisa mokgwa wa kgalemo o sebetsang kapa o fanang ka kotlo ho fapana le mokgwa o sebetsang kapa o nepahetseng. Tlhahlobo ya dingodilweng ka disosa tsa boitshwaro bo bobe ba phaposing ya ho rutela le tsamaiso, hammoho le maano a boitshwaro a ipapisitseng le dipatlisiso tse matla dikolong tse kgethilweng, e dumelletse mofuputsi ho lekola ka botebo maano a kgalemo a tshebetsong a sebediswang ke matitjhere le dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) dikolong tsa mathomo tsa Gauteng Botjhabela le ho etsa ditlhahiso tse nang le moelelo bakeng sa ntlafatso ya boitshwaro le tsamaiso ya phaposi ya ho rutela. Ditlhahiso tsa mantlha di kenyeletsa hore matitjhere le dihlooho tsa mafapha (di-HOD) ba batle mekgwa e meng eo ba ka sebetsanang le sena ka yona e le hore ba kgone ho sebedisa dimmotlolo tse tharo tsa taolo tse hlahisitsweng ke Wolfgang le Glickman diphaposing tsa bona tsa ho rutela. Tshebediso ya dimmotlolo tse tharo e ka ba thusa ho sebedisa kgalemo e sebetsang le e nang le moelelo phaposing ya ho rutela le ho sebedisa maano a tswang dipatlisisong a mabapi le tsamaiso e sebetsang ya phaposi ya ho rutela. Ditlhahiso tsena tsa mantlha di boetse di atoloswa ho feta ditlhahisong tsa tlatsetso tse hlahisitsweng. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)