The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Instrumental Enrichment, an educational program developed by Reuven Feuerstein, which attempts to improve an individual's ability to reason. A meta-analysis was performed on studies that had been conducted between the years 1979 to 1996. Thirty-six studies were analyzed according to their results from measurements in the cognitive/visual-perceptual, academic achievement and affective domains. The results from the meta-analysis were mixed. There were significant combined effect sizes of 0.24 for non-verbal ability, 1.41 for verbal ability, and 0.60 for one combination of full-scale ability. Significant effect sizes for measures of visual perception and visual-motor ability were 0.42, 0.71 and 1.68. There were also significant effect sizes for general achievement and for one combination of math achievement at 0.26 and 0.29 respectively. The intellectual achievement locus of control effect size was significant at 0.33. (Cohen (1988) considers an effect size of 0.20 to be small, that of 0.50 to be of medium size, and that of 0.80 to be large.) All effect sizes for reading were non-significant as was that for the Learning Potential Assessment Device. All other measures, such as those for self-confidence, self-concept, motivation and attitudes, in the affective domain were non-significant. One effect size for motivation and attitudes was significantly negative, indicating that the control group outperformed the treatment group. The results are discussed in terms of near- and far-transfer of learning. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Auguste Perret made his mark in history as the first architect to make use of ferroconcrete as an expressive material. The Rue Franklin apartments, the Garage Ponthieu, and the Church in Le Raincy are all milestones in the development of world architecture. In my dissertation, I have outlined the situation in the French architectural criticism in the first decades of the 20th century in order to provide background to Perret's career, which is chronologically treated in another part of the dissertation and completed with an overview of Perret's important buildings. I also wanted to demonstrate the interconnection of his projects with his theoretical thinking. I have referred to the sources of Perret's doctrine and presented the themes that this architect consistently developed throughout his creative life. In my research I took advantage of a rich collection of preserved archives of Perret's office, and both historical and contemporary literature. In another part of the dissertation, I attempted to find answers to the questions of Perret's reception in the Czech context and his contacts with Czech architects. I was also interested in Perret's relation to Czech architecture and in the last section I examined whether we can find works in Czech architecture that directly reflect Perret's influence. We...

The thesis is concerned with the application of Feuerstein's theory of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. It summarises basic information about Feuerstein's work, the theories of mediated learning experience and structural cognitive modifiability. It also deals with the application of mediated learning experience to teaching in the first year of primary school. In this respect, it characterises the period of early school age and the role of the teacher. The central theme of the work, the theory of mediated learning experience, is an approach targeted at the process and structure of thought. The application of this theory is aimed at the individual's general cognitive development, especially the development of the thinking process. The principal goal of the thesis is to introduce the possibilities of applying the theory of mediated learning to teaching in school and thus contribute to the spread of this methodology only recently introduced to the Czech Republic, which can be considered a helpful and meaningful way to enrich teaching and support the children's cognitive development.

The dissertation thesis presents the results of a research project which focused on the application of mediated learning experience theory to teaching with respect to cognitive development of pupils. The first chapter introduces cognitive education, which concentrates on the process of learning. It also compares this approach with traditional methods aimed at the content of learning. The following parts of the thesis deal with selected theories postulated by Reuven Feuerstein which are important for understanding the context in which his other theory was developed: the theory of mediated learning experience. This theory is the central theme of the theoretical part of the thesis. Apart from its definition and parameters, the thesis presents specific recommendations for teachers about how to develop cognitive functions of their pupils by applying this theory directly in class. Afterwards, attention is paid to Feuerstein's well-known worldwide intervention program called The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment. This program is used in the Czech school system, too. The essential part of this chapter introduces a number of studies which focused on the verification of benefits of Feuerstein's approaches to cognitive development in children and adolescents. The last chapter of the theoretical part...

In the theoretical part, this work deals with the problem of comparison between Feuerstein cognitive function and partial cognitive abilities which are mentioned at the Educational Interpretations of the WISC-III. Research study follows up changes in partial cognitive abilities which could be viewed as a consequence of FIE (Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment) intervention lasting several months. By comparison of pre-test and post-test, which is realized by WISC-III and processed with Educational Interpretations of the WISC- III the study tries to describe impact of the method to child's cognitive functions as well as its school successfulness, self-concept, and behavior. Study also pursues possibility to use factor analysis of WISC-III for planning of the FIE intervention. Information was taken from tests, questionnaires for teachers, videos and records of FIE lessons. Research was realized at the Elementary school in a small town with 1700 inhabitants, nearby to Prague. This was the only school in this town. We noticed more or less significant changes in all areas of interest. In some cases, there was agreement in the test results and teacher's evaluation whereas in other there were differences. KEY WORDS Reuven Feuerstein, modifiability of intelligence, deficits of cognitive functions, mediated...

This diploma thesis deals with influence of Feuerstein's method of Instrumental Enrichment on didactics of elementary school teacher. The Instrumental Enrichment method is a very sophisticated strategy for developing individual cognitive structures. A person who helps develop cognitive structures acts as a mediator. These mediators are most often parents or teachers. So, according to Feuerstein, the teacher is not merely a knowledge builder, but he tries to develop his / her thinking and teaching potential. The aim of my work is to deepen the general knowledge of the influence of this method on teachers' didactics from the perspective of those teachers who work with it. To clarify in which areas didactics teachers perceive the impact of this method and how concrete changes are reflected. The theoretical part of the thesis introduces the author of the method, Professor Reuven Feuerstein, and the theoretical starting points from which his method is based. In addition, Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment Program is introduced, which is an application of mediated learning to pedagogical practice. It further defines the concept of didactics. The last part deals with available research on the influence of the method on teachers' didactics. In the empirical part, which is based on qualitative research...

Dynamic assessment, which is often characterised by the learning potential approach across the world and in South Africa, is receiving more and more attention from educators and research practitioners alike. The nature of dynamic assessment lends itself to application in areas where prior dependence on static (traditional) forms of psychometric assessment can no longer be sustained as viable options towards assessment. A main focus area within dynamic assessment is the field of tertiary selections and admissions. More research is needed in this field in South Africa and in order to progress within the field in this country in terms of designing, developing, norming and implementing dynamic assessment tests/batteries, previous research has to be investigated in detail in order to understand the areas which need attention and improvement more fully. In addition, it is not only the negative aspects which need to be investigated but also the success with which many studies have been greeted which needs to be looked at. Investigating the status of South African research into the field of dynamic assessment offers the interested practitioner a platform from which to view results that have emanated from this country in the past fifteen years. Past reliance on static measures meant that product-based assessment made no allowance for the detection and measurement of potential within individuals. It is not the contention of this study to state unequivocally that all disadvantaged students possess equal potential, but that a large pool of learners with potential are often passed over during selection for admission. In order to address these and similar issues, new tests will have to be developed but these can only be developed once past and current research is properly assessed. This is the aim of the present study. There is no document yet available on the status of dynamic assessment in South Africa which pays close attention to the research details of various findings within this field. The main findings indicate that although the field is still being researched today, there has been a decrease in the number of studies as well as a concomitant decrease in the implementation of dynamic research efforts. The reasons cited are lack of time, costs, inefficiencies and also confusion as to what dynamic assessment entails. There is, as yet, no consistent definition of dynamic assessment in South Africa, which makes it all the harder to entrench dynamic assessment as a methodology and implement it on as wide a scale as possible. Most research efforts in this field in South Africa presently comprise Master's and Doctoral studies and are, for the most part, efforts emanating from a handful of tertiary institutions. Some past research efforts have been successful but have since been disbanded, whereas there has been a growing awareness of the usefulness of dynamic assessment but it is not being implemented for the reasons stated above. This study investigates these results. Dynamic assessment is most certainly a prudent and effective partial solution to the issue of assessment in South Africa and can no longer be ignored. Yet, with cautious interpretation of the results, researchers and practitioners in the field will be better able to arrive at a more informed opinion of the advances in the field when allowed to scour past and present research. / Thesis (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Psychology / unrestricted

The thesis deals with the role of teachers and educators working in Stráž pod Ralskem Prison. The theoretical part of the thesis, therefore, focuses not only on the description of the Prison Service of the Czech Republic, but it also contains the characteristics of the Stráž pod Ralskem Prison and the Stráž pod Ralskem School Educational Center. It describes the educational system of convicts and mentions basic information about the Academy of Prison Service of the Czech Republic. Moreover, it briefly describes the activities of teachers and educators working in the prison environment. The diploma thesis aims to find out, what kind of roles teachers and educators play in the prison, what approaches, methods and forms are suitable and effective for working with convicts from the perspective of both workers and convicts, and what pitfalls limit the work of teachers and educators in this prison. A qualitative method was chosen for the research, and data were collected based on the questionnaire and the personal interview with a teacher, who used to work as an educator. The research was conducted in Stráž pod Ralskem Prison, the research sample consists of three groups: educators, teachers, and pupils - convicted in Stráž pod Ralskem Prison. The research survey shows that the role of the educator is...