No description available.

The aim of Project GeoSim is to develop simulation based introductory geography education software. To maximize the educational benefit of the software, Project GeoSim has developed three user assistance and training methods: Online Help, Printed Manual, and Online Interactive Tutorial. Using a population dynamics simulation called IntlPop as the test-bed, an experiment was conducted comparing the three training methods against each other and against no training at all to find the method from which users complete laboratory exercises most quickly and with the greatest accuracy. Twenty-four participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatments: the three user assistance methods and a control that received no training. Following training, the participants answered nine questions using IntlPop. The control received no training and therefore spent the least time with training material. Of the other training methods, analysis detected no significant difference regarding the time spent with training material. Participants that received training from the online interactive tutorial completed tasks more quickly than those that received no training. However, no significant difference in speed of performance was detected between the online help and printed manual and either the control or online interactive tutorial. Additionally, analysis indicated no significant difference in accuracy of responses among the four treatments. Nor were there any significant differences with respect to subjective satisfaction / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Geography faces several challenges in a changing South Africa. These include the challenge to initiate a primary curriculum that helps to provide a foundation for sustainable living in a society that faces serious problems of unemployment, violence, irreparable damage to the environment and the lack of housing, water and basic services for the majority of the population. This thesis attempts to provide a case for geography in the primary school by examining the value of the subject for pupils' development and by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of an integrated approach in view of the possible introduction of an integrated primary curriculum in South Africa. The second aspect of the study is concerned with a survey of teachers in the Natal Education Department to evaluate the perceived value of geography as a subject and support for geography as a discrete subject. The main thrust of geography in the primary school is to develop concepts, skills, values and attitudes that allow pupils to be more understanding and caring about the local and global environment, about people, communities, species and the natural environment on which we all depend. The results of the survey reveal that teachers support geography as a discrete subject with an intra-curriculum approach. The introduction of an integrated core curriculum in South Africa would prove problematic as teachers are not in favour of an integrated approach across the curriculum. The lack of teacher support in Kenya for an integrated curriculum was one of the main reasons for its failure. Hopefully South Africa will learn from other countries experiences with introducing an integrated curriculum. Teachers value the role of geography in the education of the child and suggest the introduction of environmental and development themes to make the subject more relevant to children's lives. The syllabus analysis revealed that a unified pnmary curriculum is required which is influenced by the needs of society in South Africa. Recommendations are made regarding ideas for a future primary curriculum.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / abstract / Education / Master / Master of Education