Published Articles / The four year extended degree (ED) with a foundation provision is one of the academic intervention tools available to underprepared students in higher education institutions (HEIs). University of Venda (Univen) introduced this form of assistance in 2007 to students enrolled in the Schools of Human Sciences, Management and Law (HML). The 15% completion rate for this first cohort is a cause for concern. This paper examines the implications of this result in terms of Univen's implementation of EDs. EDs can be variously applied dependent on the peculiar situation in an institution and it can be assumed that Univen chose the current format after due consideration of all factors. The poor throughput rate of these students, however indicate otherwise, motivating this investigation. An examination of the curricula for the various degrees indicates that Univen is implementing a blend of the various academic interventions without the necessary reconfiguration of teaching and learning and this might be the cause for the poor performance. The final sections of the paper contribute to the debates on topical issues related to academic literacy and support such as an extended high school period and a four year generic bachelor's degree.

Student academic progress has been at the centre of concern to all higher education institutions in South Africa. It is understood that student progress emanates from a range of dynamics that gives students different educational experiences. The student cohort at University of Pretoria (Abdulghani et al., 2014) come from diverse cultural backgrounds in South Africa, aptly called the rainbow-nation, and subsequently bring different levels of proficiency and world experiences to the higher education sector. The student population is like a tapestry interwoven from different cultures and includes students from all 'walks of life', rich and poor, alternative lifestyle and background, as well as students who are disabled, and students who have diverse sexual orientations. The transition from school to university is regarded as a time of extreme stress for students arriving at the university door for the first time. The expectations of students are mostly unknown, but educators know that students entering university come from positions of extreme inequality, not only in terms of schooling, but also of financial and other resources. It is well-documented that in addition to all the other changes, a large number of students arrive at the university lacking the necessary knowledge and skills that will help them cope at university. These are largely students that come from underprivileged schools that still bear the ravages of apartheid education. To assist students in overcoming the lack of these skills and bridging the educational gap, higher education has to address these needs. Hence, it is the intention of this research to "explore the undergraduate Information Technology experience of an extended programme". The research is a four-year longitudinal study of IT students in the extended (four-year) IT degrees at UP, and has analysed interviews conducted with IT graduates in a range of professional settings. Taken together, these components have been designed to expand the researcher's understanding of undergraduate IT experience (extended programmes) and the transition from university to the workplace. Furthermore, it focuses on how students in Information Technology experience their education, how they gain knowledge of what Information Technology is, and what their post-graduation plans are. Based mainly on the theoretical framework of Vincent Tinto (1975), this study provides an analysis of research regarding student experiences, retention and withdrawal in the extended four-year programme (E4YP) in IT. The research methodology used to conduct this study includes a mixed methods approach undertaken from more than one point of view. The researcher used a combination of qualitative and quantitative research features. The data was generated by surveys (online questionnaires and mini-questionnaires), mini-essays and the results of statistical analysis using academic results and Students� Academic Readiness Survey (STARS) scores. The findings of this study paint a portrait of typical first-year students irrespective of study direction. Their experiences and journey during the first-year are fraught with issues such as finance, accommodation, transport, gender inequality, institutional hiccups, loneliness and exhaustion, and difficulty in finding their way around campus. However, many expressed experiencing the euphoria of freedom from school/parental rules, meeting new friends and socialising, and enjoying the general feeling of being a university student. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Informatics / PhD / Unrestricted

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / In this study the experiences of a group of first-year Extended Degree Programme (EDP) students were explored in order to obtain insight into their acquisition of academic literacy. The study was undertaken against the backdrop of a higher education sector that is facing an increasing influx of first-year students on the one hand, and poor retention rates on the other. In South Africa, where the opening up of access to higher education for all citizens has become a political imperative, the need to address the undesirable dropout rate is self-evident. Students’ poor performance at university is often linked to their under-preparedness for higher education studies, and an important aspect of such under-preparedness is their academic literacy. In this context academic literacy is seen as knowing how to speak and act within a particular discourse, and the reading and writing that occur within the discipline as tools through which to facilitate learning. While some students acquire academic literacy by virtue of their participation in the discourse community of the relevant discipline, this is not always so for students who are less prepared for higher education studies. In response to the disconcerting retention rates, higher education institutions have implemented academic support programmes to address the needs of students who enter university with poor school results. One such intervention at Stellenbosch University is the Extended Degree Programme in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, which makes provision for students to extend their first academic year over two years. Since 2006 EDP students have also been required to register for an academic literacy module and it is this group that comprises the focus of this study. Using a case study design, this qualitative, interpretive inquiry was characterized by multiple data collection methods. In this way qualitative data that pointed to the perceptions of the students and some of the lecturers who taught the EDP classes were generated via semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, observation and content analysis. In addition, descriptive quantitative data was collected and this further contributed to generating the rich, in-depth data that characterize case study research. The analysis of the data was undertaken according to a three-tiered approach, in which the results of the empirical inquiry were first analysed per data source and then themes and trends across all the data sources were identified. Ultimately, these findings were interpreted according to an explanatory framework. The study highlights a number of important issues, key of which is that providing an academic literacy module for under-prepared students can facilitate the acquisition of academic literacy, particularly when such provision seeks to support the different discipline-based mainstream modules. Another important finding of the study emphasizes the extent to which institutional factors, such as increased student numbers, have placed pressure on university infrastructure and human resources. The impact of this situation filters down to the first-year classroom and negatively influences student learning. Finally, the results of the study question prevailing notions about under-prepared students as all of the students in the study, irrespective of their backgrounds and levels of sophistication, attested to the significant challenges that entry into the academic community posed for them. The findings of this study, while specific to the context in which it was undertaken, contribute to the growing body of knowledge in the field of academic development within higher education and the role of academic literacy in student learning.

Submitted by cassia hack (cassia.hack@gmail.com) on 2018-02-22T12:21:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 TESE Cassia Hack defesa 13 dez.pdf: 4220632 bytes, checksum: a901e5ec9c6e5661991fc351c9cbbec0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Auxiliadora da Silva Lopes (silopes@ufba.br) on 2018-02-22T15:55:10Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 TESE Cassia Hack defesa 13 dez.pdf: 4220632 bytes, checksum: a901e5ec9c6e5661991fc351c9cbbec0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-22T15:55:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 TESE Cassia Hack defesa 13 dez.pdf: 4220632 bytes, checksum: a901e5ec9c6e5661991fc351c9cbbec0 (MD5) / CAPES / Esta tese compõe o conjunto de estudos realizados na Universidade Federal da Bahia, a partir do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação, Linha de Pesquisa Educação, Cultura Corporal e Lazer. Insere-se especificamente nos estudos realizados pelo Grupo de Estudo e Pesquisa em Educação Física, Esporte e Lazer (LEPEL/PPGE/FACED/UFBA) e responde a perguntas científicas relacionadas à pesquisa matricial sobre “Problemáticas significativas do Trabalho Pedagógico, da Produção do Conhecimento, das Políticas Públicas e da Formação de Professores de Educação Física e Esporte”. Tem como objeto de estudo o trato com o conhecimento na formação de Professores de Educação Física. Delimita como pergunta de investigação quais as contribuições da Psicologia Histórico-Cultural, da Pedagogia Histórico-Crítica e, da Abordagem Crítico-Superadora do Ensino da Educação Física para enfrentar as contradições presentes no currículo de formação de professores referentes à negação do conhecimento e, o trato com o conhecimento a partir de abordagens biologicistas, naturalistas, mecanicistas, que fragmentam corpo-mente e teoria-prática. A hipótese tratou do enfrentamento do projeto de formação de professores que defende a divisão dos cursos de Educação Física, dando ênfase à questão da saúde, a partir das possíveis contribuições de um conjunto teórico baseado na referência marxista e, da experiência pedagógica no ensino da Biomecânica Aplicada à Educação Física, conteúdo do eixo dos Fundamentos, da área da Saúde relacionado com o Eixo do Conteúdo Específico da Cultura Corporal do Curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física, de caráter ampliado, da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade Federal da Bahia. Os dados levantados e sistematizados foram coletados: (a) na bibliografia sobre os pressupostos teóricos; (b) na legislação, nos bancos de dados do MEC e, em dissertações e teses; (c) in locus, na experiência pedagógica desenvolvida no ensino da disciplina Biomecânica Aplicada à Educação Física na FACED/UFBA. Os procedimentos de investigação foram: análises de conteúdo; descrição densa em relatórios de campo; e elaboração de sínteses estabelecendo nexos e relações que permitiram a conclusão da tese. A tese apresenta como pressupostos, epistemológico a teoria do conhecimento Materialista Histórico Dialético, do desenvolvimento humano a Teoria Histórico Cultural, pedagógico a Teoria Pedagogia Histórico-Crítica e, no ensino da Educação Física, a Abordagem Crítico-Superadora. O objetivo diz respeito às contribuições dos pressupostos teóricos no trato com o conhecimento, em especial da área da saúde, no currículo de formação de professores de Educação Física, na perspectiva da superação de contradições e, de contribuições para consolidar uma consistente formação teórica, fundamentada na teoria do conhecimento do Materialismo Histórico Dialético. Conclui-se, apresentando, a partir dos pressupostos de referência marxista, elementos teórico-práticos, em que destacamos os sistemas de complexos, no trato com o conhecimento, no currículo de formação de professores de Educação Física, no marco de um curso único, de licenciatura ampliada. / ABSTRACT This thesis composes the set of studies performed at the Federal University of Bahia, through the Graduate Program in Education, Research Line on Education, Body Culture and Leisure. It is specifically inserted in the studies performed by the Study and Research Group in Physical Education, Sport and Leisure (LEPEL/PPGE/FACED/UFBA), and answers scientific questions related to the matrix research on “Significant issues on Pedagogical Work, Knowledge Production, Public Policies, and Formation of Physical Education and Sport Teachers”. Its object of study is the treatment of knowledge in the formation of Physical Education Teachers. It delimits as its research question what are the contributions of the Historical-Cultural Psychology, the Historical-Critical Pedagogy, and the Critical-Overcoming Approach of Physical Education Teaching to face the contradictions present in the teacher formation curriculum that refer to the knowledge denial, and the treatment of knowledge through biological, naturalistic, mechanistic approaches that fragment body-mind and theory-practice. The hypothesis dealt with the confrontation of the teacher formation project that defends the division of the Physical Education undergraduate programs, emphasizing the health matter, through the possible contributions of a theoretical set based on the Marxist reference, and the pedagogical experience in the teaching of Biomechanics Applied to Physical Education, subject of the Fundamentals of the Health area axis, related to the Axis of the Specific Content of Body Culture of the Physical Education Undergraduate Program, with extended character, of the College of Education in the Federal University of Bahia. The systematized data were collected: (a) in the bibliography about the theoretical assumptions; (b) in legislation, in the MEC databases, and in dissertations and theses; (c) in locus, in the pedagogical experience developed in the teaching of the Biomechanics Applied to Physical Education course at FACED/UFBA. The investigation procedures were: content analysis; dense description in field reports; and elaboration of syntheses establishing links and relations that allowed the conclusion of the thesis. The thesis presents as its assumptions: epistemologically, the Historical Dialectical Materialism theory of knowledge; on human development, the Cultural Historical Theory; pedagogically, the Historical-Critical Pedagogy Theory; and on the teaching of Physical Education, the Critical-Overcoming Approach. The objective concerns the contributions of the theoretical assumptions to the treatment of the knowledge, especially of the health area, in the curriculum of Physical Education teachers’ formation, with the perspective of overcoming contradictions, and of contributions to consolidate a consistent theoretical formation, based on the Historical and Dialectical Materialism theory of knowledge. It was concluded, presenting, through the assumptions of Marxist reference, theoretical-practical elements, where we highlight the systems of complexes, in the treatment of knowledge, in the curriculum of Physical Education teachers’ formation, within the framework of a single, extended degree. / RESUMEN Esta tesis compone el conjunto de estudios realizados en la Universidad Federal de Bahía, a partir del Programa de Postgrado en Educación, Línea de Investigación Educación, Cultura Corporal y Ocio. Se inserta específicamente en los estudios realizados por el Grupo de Estudio e Investigación en Educación Física, Deporte y Ocio (LEPEL / PPGE / FACED / UFBA) y responde a preguntas científicas relacionadas con la investigación matricial sobre "Problemáticas significativas del trabajo pedagógico, de la producción del conocimiento, de las Políticas Públicas y de la Formación de Profesores de Educación Física y Deporte. Tiene como objeto de estudio el trato con el conocimiento en la formación de Profesores de Educación Física. En el caso de la enseñanza de la educación física, se debe tener en cuenta que las contribuciones de la Pscicología Histórico-Cultural, de la Pedagogía Histórico-Crítica y del Enfoque Crítico-Superadora de la Enseñanza de la Educación Física para enfrentar las contradicciones presentes en el currículo de formación de profesores referentes a la negación del conocimiento y, trato con el conocimiento a partir de enfoques biologicistas, naturalistas, mecanicistas, que fragmentan cuerpo-mente y teoría-práctica. La hipótesis trató del enfrentamiento del proyecto de formación de profesores que defiende la división de los cursos de Educación Física, dando énfasis a la cuestión de la salud, a partir de las posibles contribuciones de un conjunto teórico basado en la referencia marxista y de la experiencia pedagógica en la enseñanza de la Biomecánica Aplicada a la Educación Física, el contenido del eje de los Fundamentos, del área de la Salud relacionado con el Eje del Contenido Específico de la Cultura Corporal del Curso de Licenciatura en Educación Física, de carácter ampliado, de la Facultad de Educación de la Universidad Federal de Bahía. Los datos levantados y sistematizados fueron recolectados: (a) en la bibliografía sobre los presupuestos teóricos; (b) en la legislación, en los bancos de datos del MEC y en disertaciones y tesis; (c) in locus, en la experiencia pedagógica desarrollada en la enseñanza de la disciplina Biomecánica Aplicada a la Educación Física en la FACED/UFBA. Los procedimientos de investigación fueron: análisis de contenido; descripción densa en informes de campo; y elaboración de síntesis estableciendo nexos y relaciones que permitieron la conclusión de la tesis. La tesis presenta como presupuestos, epistemológico la teoría del conocimiento Materialista Histórico Dialéctico, del desarrollo humano la Teoría Histórico Cultural, pedagógica la Teoría Pedagogía Histórico-Crítica y, en la enseñanza de la Educación Física, el Enfoque Crítico-Superadora. El objetivo se refiere a las contribuciones de los presupuestos teóricos en el trato con el conocimiento, en especial del área de la salud, en el currículo de formación de profesores de Educación Física, en la perspectiva de la superación de contradicciones y de contribuciones para consolidar una consistente formación teórica, fundamentada en la teoría del conocimiento del materialismo histórico dialéctico. Se concluye, presentando, a partir de los presupuestos de referencia marxista, elementos teórico-prácticos, en que destacamos los sistemas de complejos, en el trato con el conocimiento, en el currículo de formación de profesores de Educación Física, en el marco de un curso único, de licenciatura ampliada. / SOMMARIO Questa tesi compone l'accumulo degli studi effettuati presso l'Università Federale di Bahia, a partire dal Programma Post-Laurea in Educazione, Linea di Ricerca, Educazione, Cultura Corporale e Ricreazione. E 'specificamente inserito nell'analisi del Gruppo di Studio i Ricerca sull'Educazione Fisica, Sport i Ricreazione (LEPEL / PPGE / FACED / UFBA) e risponde a domande scientifiche relative alla ricerca di base su i "Problemi significativi del Lavoro Pedagogico, Produzione della Conoscenza" , delle Politiche Pubbliche e della Formazione degli Insegnanti di Educazione Fisica e Sport ". Ha come oggetto di studio il contatto con la conoscenza nella formazione degli insegnanti di Educazione Fisica. Delimita come una domanda di analisi quali sono i contributi della Psicologia Storico-Culturale, della Pedagogia Storico-Critica e dell'Approccio Critico-Superadora dell'Insegnamento dell'Educazione Fisica per affrontare le contraddizioni presenti nel curriculum di formazione degli insegnanti relativo alla negazione della conoscenza e, al contatto con la conoscenza di approcci biologicisti, naturalistici, meccanicistiche, che frammentano mente-corpo e teoria-pratica. L'ipotesi ha esaminato il confronto del progetto di formazione degli insegnanti che difende la divisione dei corsi di Educazione Fisica, sottolineando il problema della salute, basato sui possibili contributi di uma compilazione teorica basata sul riferimento marxista e, dell'esperienza pedagogica nell'insegnamento della Biomeccanica Applicata all'Educazione Fisica, contenuto dell'asse dei Fondamenti, dell'area della Salute relativa all'Asse del Contenuto Specifico della Cultura Corporale del Corso di Laurea in Educazione Fisica, di carattere estensivo, della Facoltà di Educazione dell'Università Federale di Bahia. I dati raccolti e sistematizzati sono stati ripresi: (a) nella bibliografia sulle ipotesi teoriche; (b) nella legislazione, nelle banche dati MEC, nelle dissertazioni e nelle tesi; (c) in locus, nell'esperienza pedagogica sviluppata nell'insegnamento della disciplina Biomeccanica Applicata all'Educazione Fisic nel FACED/UFBA. Le procedure investigative erano: analisi del contenuto; descrizione spesse negli articoli di campo; ed elaborazione di sintesi che stabiliscono collegamenti e relazioni che hanno permesso la conclusione della tesi. La tesi presenta come presupposti, epistemologici la teoria della conoscenza Materialista Storica-Dialettica, dallo sviluppo umano alla Teoria Storica Culturale, pedagogica alla Teoria Pedagogica Storico-Critica e, nell'insegnamento dell'Educazione Fisica, l'Approccio Critico-Superadora. L'obiettivo è di contribuire ai presupposti teorici nel trattamento della conoscenza, specialmente nell'area della salute, nel curriculum per la formazione degli insegnanti di Educazione Fisica, al fine di superare le contraddizioni e contribuire a consolidare una coerente formazione teórica, basata sulla teoria della conoscenza del Materialismo Storico Dialettico. Si conclude, presentando, basato su presupposti di riferimento marxista, elementi teorico-pratici, in cui si evidenziano i sistemi di complessi, nel trattamento della conoscenza, nel curriculum per la formazione degli insegnanti di Educazione Fisica, nell'ambito di un corso di laurea unico e prolungato.