O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar aspectos do funcionamento cognitivo, dentro de uma abordagem de avaliação assistida, de crianças encaminhadas a serviços de Psicologia, com queixa de dificuldade de aprendizagem escolar e classificadas como deficientes mentais leves. Foram avaliadas 29 crianças de 8 a 11 anos de 1ª a 3ª série, com tarefas de perguntas de busca de informação com exclusão de alternativas e de raciocínio analógico. Seguiu-se um delineamento em fases: inicial sem ajuda, assistência, manutenção e transferência. Com base nos indicadores de desempenho de cada tarefa, realizou-se uma análise comparativa do desempenho dos sujeitos nas diferentes fases. Foram detectadas variações de sinais de recursos potenciais entre as crianças, classificando-as em: ganhadoras, subgrupo predominante, alto-escores e não-ganhadoras. Analisaram-se as operações cognitivas apresentadas na resolução das tarefas e os comportamentos da criança em relação à tarefa. Em um grupo relativamente homogêneo quanto à classificação psicométrica do nível mental, a avaliação assistida permitiu identificar variação intragrupo diferenciando crianças que não apresentavam eficiência na solução de problemas, requeriam muita ajuda da examinadora e não mantinham o desempenho após a suspensão da assistência, daquelas eficientes e transferidoras, que apresentavam operações cognitivas positivas na resolução das tarefas, do tipo conduta reflexiva, percepção clara, conduta comparativa, percepção integrativa, identificação de relevância, encadeamento lógico das questões e autocorreção. Quanto ao comportamento na tarefa, de modo geral, os sujeitos apresentavam comportamentos positivos, do tipo sossegado, rápido, interessado, participativo, orientado, persistente, cuidadoso com o material, disposição e concentração na realização das tarefas. / The present study had the aim of assessing aspects of cognitive functioning, in an assisted assessment approach, of children that were sent to psychological services with school learning disability complaint and classified as mild mental deficient. It was assessed 29 children ranging from 8 to 11 years old from first to third grade, with constraint-seeking questions with exclusion of alternatives and analogical thinking tasks. It was followed design by phases: initial phase without help, assistance, maintenance and transference. Based on the indicators of each task, it was realized a comparative analysis of the performance of the subjects in the different phases. It was detected variations of signs of potential recourses among the children, classifying them in: ?gainers?, predominant sub-group; ?high scorers? and ?nongainers?. It was also analyzed the cognitive operations presented in the resolution of the tasks and the behavior of the child in relation to the task. In one group relatively homogenized according to the psychometric classification of the mental level of the mental deficiency, the assisted assessment permitted to identify variation intra-group differing children that didn?t show efficiency in the problems solution, required much help and didn?t keep the performance after its suspension, from those ones efficient and transferor, which presented positive cognitive operations in the resolution of the tasks like: reflexive conduct, clear perception, comparative conduct, integrative perception, identification of relevance, logical enchainment of the questions and self correction. In general, the subjects presented positive behavior like: calm, fast, interested, participative, oriented, persistent, careful with the material, disposition and concentration in relation to the tasks.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar aspectos do funcionamento cognitivo, dentro de uma abordagem de avaliação assistida, de crianças encaminhadas a serviços de Psicologia, com queixa de dificuldade de aprendizagem escolar e classificadas como deficientes mentais leves. Foram avaliadas 29 crianças de 8 a 11 anos de 1ª a 3ª série, com tarefas de perguntas de busca de informação com exclusão de alternativas e de raciocínio analógico. Seguiu-se um delineamento em fases: inicial sem ajuda, assistência, manutenção e transferência. Com base nos indicadores de desempenho de cada tarefa, realizou-se uma análise comparativa do desempenho dos sujeitos nas diferentes fases. Foram detectadas variações de sinais de recursos potenciais entre as crianças, classificando-as em: ganhadoras, subgrupo predominante, alto-escores e não-ganhadoras. Analisaram-se as operações cognitivas apresentadas na resolução das tarefas e os comportamentos da criança em relação à tarefa. Em um grupo relativamente homogêneo quanto à classificação psicométrica do nível mental, a avaliação assistida permitiu identificar variação intragrupo diferenciando crianças que não apresentavam eficiência na solução de problemas, requeriam muita ajuda da examinadora e não mantinham o desempenho após a suspensão da assistência, daquelas eficientes e transferidoras, que apresentavam operações cognitivas positivas na resolução das tarefas, do tipo conduta reflexiva, percepção clara, conduta comparativa, percepção integrativa, identificação de relevância, encadeamento lógico das questões e autocorreção. Quanto ao comportamento na tarefa, de modo geral, os sujeitos apresentavam comportamentos positivos, do tipo sossegado, rápido, interessado, participativo, orientado, persistente, cuidadoso com o material, disposição e concentração na realização das tarefas. / The present study had the aim of assessing aspects of cognitive functioning, in an assisted assessment approach, of children that were sent to psychological services with school learning disability complaint and classified as mild mental deficient. It was assessed 29 children ranging from 8 to 11 years old from first to third grade, with constraint-seeking questions with exclusion of alternatives and analogical thinking tasks. It was followed design by phases: initial phase without help, assistance, maintenance and transference. Based on the indicators of each task, it was realized a comparative analysis of the performance of the subjects in the different phases. It was detected variations of signs of potential recourses among the children, classifying them in: ?gainers?, predominant sub-group; ?high scorers? and ?nongainers?. It was also analyzed the cognitive operations presented in the resolution of the tasks and the behavior of the child in relation to the task. In one group relatively homogenized according to the psychometric classification of the mental level of the mental deficiency, the assisted assessment permitted to identify variation intra-group differing children that didn?t show efficiency in the problems solution, required much help and didn?t keep the performance after its suspension, from those ones efficient and transferor, which presented positive cognitive operations in the resolution of the tasks like: reflexive conduct, clear perception, comparative conduct, integrative perception, identification of relevance, logical enchainment of the questions and self correction. In general, the subjects presented positive behavior like: calm, fast, interested, participative, oriented, persistent, careful with the material, disposition and concentration in relation to the tasks.

It is imperative to prepare South African learners to participate and function confidently within the context of a rapidly changing world. The curriculum of the South African Education System emphasises the significance of optimising learners‟ cognitive development as early as pre-school age to enable them to become creative and critical citizens who lead purposeful lives in a safe and prejudice-free environment. Despite continuous efforts by educators to optimise cognitive development, recently executed research studies indicate that cognitive development has not been adequately optimised in South African schools. This study was undertaken to establish the cognitive development level (cognitive and meta-cognitive skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors) of Grade R-learners and to determine the effect of an intervention programme, the Cognitive Enhancement Programme for Pre-schoolers (CEPP), on their cognitive development. By means of a literature study, I investigated whether, to what extent the cognitive development of Grade R-learners was taking place, and established which cognitive and meta-cognitive thinking skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors are required for effective cognitive development among Grade R-learners. In addition to this, the role of mediation for optimising cognitive development was investigated. A concurrent embedded mixed methods design was conducted in the implementation of the research. Intervention research within a quasi-experimental research design was applied. The data collection by means of a quantitative strategy (quasi-experimental research) and qualitative strategy (observation study) was executed simultaneously. By means of convenient sampling, one Grade R-class with twenty learners was subjected to a pre-test to establish their cognitive developmental level. The test results as well as the observations conducted during the pre-test revealed that the learners experienced problems related to their cognitive development. Ten of the twenty learners were then divided purposively based on their test performance into two experimental groups, Experimental Group A and Experimental Group B consisting of five participants each. Experimental group A and Experimental Group B took part in the CEPP intervention based on the principles of mediation on a rotational basis over a period of twelve weeks, during which intentional attempts were made to optimise their cognitive development. Both groups completed a post-test and delayed post-test (retention) to determine the effect of the CEPP intervention on their cognitive development. In addition to the test results, observations in the form of structured running and anecdotal records and reflective notes were utilised to understand the nature and quality of the cognitive development of the learners better. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on their cognitive development was established. The cognitive development of Grade R-learners who participated in this study was optimised, which is a clear indication that cognitive capacity can be optimised when instruction is based on the principles of mediation / PhD, Teaching and Learning, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

It is imperative to prepare South African learners to participate and function confidently within the context of a rapidly changing world. The curriculum of the South African Education System emphasises the significance of optimising learners‟ cognitive development as early as pre-school age to enable them to become creative and critical citizens who lead purposeful lives in a safe and prejudice-free environment. Despite continuous efforts by educators to optimise cognitive development, recently executed research studies indicate that cognitive development has not been adequately optimised in South African schools. This study was undertaken to establish the cognitive development level (cognitive and meta-cognitive skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors) of Grade R-learners and to determine the effect of an intervention programme, the Cognitive Enhancement Programme for Pre-schoolers (CEPP), on their cognitive development. By means of a literature study, I investigated whether, to what extent the cognitive development of Grade R-learners was taking place, and established which cognitive and meta-cognitive thinking skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors are required for effective cognitive development among Grade R-learners. In addition to this, the role of mediation for optimising cognitive development was investigated. A concurrent embedded mixed methods design was conducted in the implementation of the research. Intervention research within a quasi-experimental research design was applied. The data collection by means of a quantitative strategy (quasi-experimental research) and qualitative strategy (observation study) was executed simultaneously. By means of convenient sampling, one Grade R-class with twenty learners was subjected to a pre-test to establish their cognitive developmental level. The test results as well as the observations conducted during the pre-test revealed that the learners experienced problems related to their cognitive development. Ten of the twenty learners were then divided purposively based on their test performance into two experimental groups, Experimental Group A and Experimental Group B consisting of five participants each. Experimental group A and Experimental Group B took part in the CEPP intervention based on the principles of mediation on a rotational basis over a period of twelve weeks, during which intentional attempts were made to optimise their cognitive development. Both groups completed a post-test and delayed post-test (retention) to determine the effect of the CEPP intervention on their cognitive development. In addition to the test results, observations in the form of structured running and anecdotal records and reflective notes were utilised to understand the nature and quality of the cognitive development of the learners better. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on their cognitive development was established. The cognitive development of Grade R-learners who participated in this study was optimised, which is a clear indication that cognitive capacity can be optimised when instruction is based on the principles of mediation / PhD, Teaching and Learning, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

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