This study reports on the use of action research methodology to generate a critical reflective collaborative setting. The aim was to infuse the institution with the results of this study in order to stimulate debate on the issues regarding change in practice and systems. The suitability of Internet communication technologies, more specifically the online learning community, is evaluated as a delivery mode that would address today’s learning needs. This required the collaborative construction of knowledge in a community setting with the teacher enabling communication and interaction, and facilitating and stimulating the sharing and testing of ideas and constructs. But such a learning scenario was found to be significantly challenging to the current print-based learning experience. It implied a challenge to teaching and support staff as well as the questioning of the efficiency and legitimacy of current instructional design staff and procedures used. The teaching responsibilities and commitment in the online community was outlined as against current print-based teaching practice. The current development and production culture, which restricts innovation and change in practice and systems significantly, came under pressure. The success of the online learning community in the Unisa context was nevertheless significant and it has the potential to serve as an opportunity to re-examine print-based production and delivery and to devise strategies and solutions to increase the quality significantly. / Faculty of Education / D. Ed.

This investigation attempts to analyse the applicability of child protection policy and legislation to black families and children in South Africa. The literature study focuses on the nature, scope and implications of child protection and child protection legislation, perspectives on children's and parents' rights, and more specifically on child-care policy and legislation in South Africa. A limited exploratory empirical investigation within the confines of the Child and Family Care Society was undertaken. The researcher had, by way of a case analysis, studied factors influencing the application of child-care legislation ~l:'ld described how legislation is being applied in practice. The application of philosophies and principles inherent in child-care policies, and the evolvement of certain patterns and trends have also been analysed. Specific deficiencies have been identified and recommendations regarding more effective social work practice are highlighted. / Social Work / M.A. (Mental Health)

This dissertation explores the efficacy of the learner autonomy (LA) principles implemented in secondary technical school EFL classes through project-based units incorporated into the conventional four-year language curriculum (2011-2015). This integrated approach remains uncommon in a Czech secondary technical school, even though it suggests a teaching model that enhances ELA and increases communicative competence and motivation among learners. A mixed-method design based on longitudinal four-cycle action research and quasi-experiment approaches was selected (1) to examine the changes in self-regulation and academic achievement development over time; (2) to investigate the efficacy of autonomous projects systematically applied within the assigned treatment group (TG), and (3) to compare the results of the treatment and control groups as to their self-regulation and academic achievement development. For the quantitative strand, a structured Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ-A) and a series of academic tests were administered which were consequently analysed through null hypothesis statistical testing (NHST). The instruments employed within the quasi-experiment were focused on the following two major questions: (1) whether there was correlation between self- regulation and academic achievement...

This study reports on the use of action research methodology to generate a critical reflective collaborative setting. The aim was to infuse the institution with the results of this study in order to stimulate debate on the issues regarding change in practice and systems. The suitability of Internet communication technologies, more specifically the online learning community, is evaluated as a delivery mode that would address today’s learning needs. This required the collaborative construction of knowledge in a community setting with the teacher enabling communication and interaction, and facilitating and stimulating the sharing and testing of ideas and constructs. But such a learning scenario was found to be significantly challenging to the current print-based learning experience. It implied a challenge to teaching and support staff as well as the questioning of the efficiency and legitimacy of current instructional design staff and procedures used. The teaching responsibilities and commitment in the online community was outlined as against current print-based teaching practice. The current development and production culture, which restricts innovation and change in practice and systems significantly, came under pressure. The success of the online learning community in the Unisa context was nevertheless significant and it has the potential to serve as an opportunity to re-examine print-based production and delivery and to devise strategies and solutions to increase the quality significantly. / Faculty of Education / D. Ed.

This investigation attempts to analyse the applicability of child protection policy and legislation to black families and children in South Africa. The literature study focuses on the nature, scope and implications of child protection and child protection legislation, perspectives on children's and parents' rights, and more specifically on child-care policy and legislation in South Africa. A limited exploratory empirical investigation within the confines of the Child and Family Care Society was undertaken. The researcher had, by way of a case analysis, studied factors influencing the application of child-care legislation ~l:'ld described how legislation is being applied in practice. The application of philosophies and principles inherent in child-care policies, and the evolvement of certain patterns and trends have also been analysed. Specific deficiencies have been identified and recommendations regarding more effective social work practice are highlighted. / Social Work / M.A. (Mental Health)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work is linked to the group that develops research on subjective aspects of foreign language teaching and learning process at the Instituto de Letras e Linguística of a Federal University. Its main objective is to investigate cognitions, conceptions and points of view about the role and relevance of research for in-service English language teachers and for professors / researchers working with language teachers` education. The term cognitions , according to Borg (2003) refers to non-observable aspects of the cognitive dimension: what the teachers know, believe and think. Thus, the development of the research starts from the following questions: (a) What are the cognitions of regular public school foreign language teachers` about research developed by professors working with language teachers` education? (b) What are the cognitions of professors working with language teachers` education, about research developed in/about the regular school context? To which extent do participants` cognitions converge / diverge? Q Methodology research approach, which makes use of PQMethod 2.11 software, was used. Focal group and semi-structured interviews were used, as secondary data gathering tools, for raising a wide range of participants` points o view and subsequent composition of a semi-structured Q sample of statements. These represent the participants` cognitions about the role and contributions of research on the process of teaching and learning foreign language. The subjects distributed statements along a continuum in a scale ranging from Totally agree (+5) to Totally disagree (-5), and the results of the Q Distribution were analysed with PQMethod 2.11 software. From further qualitative and interpretive analysis, the factors, or groups, that emerged from the fator analysis were defined, characterized and interpreted. These groups of participants share similar points of view about research on the teaching and learning process. The following aspects stand out among the emerging results: the relationship between theory and practice, Applied Linguistics contributions to foreign language teachers` Education, foreign language reflective practice, teachers and professors` cognitions about the relevance of research to practice; and the (re)construction of teacher knowledge in Applied Linguistics research. I believe that, through the development of awareness of roles and critical stance of practices, the results of this research may bring contributions to foreign language teachers at regular public schools as well as to professors working with language teachers` education. / Este trabalho está vinculado ao Grupo de Pesquisas sobre Aspectos subjetivos do processo de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras, do Instituto de Letras e Linguística da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. O objetivo principal é investigar as cognições, concepções e pontos de vista sobre pesquisa, sobre o papel e relevância destas, para professores e formadores da área de ensino e aprendizagem de Língua Estrangeira (LE). É meu interesse investigar as cognições de professores-em-serviço e professores formadores sobres os estudos na área de ensino e aprendizagem de língua estrangeira. O termo cognição, na definição de Borg (2003) refere-se a aspectos da dimensão cognitiva não observável: o que os professores sabem, acreditam e pensam. Assim, o desenvolvimento da pesquisa se dá a partir dos seguintes questionamentos: (a) Quais são as cognições dos professores de LE de escolas regulares sobre pesquisas realizadas pelos professores formadores? (b) Quais são as cognições de professores formadores de LE em relação às pesquisas realizadas no/sobre contexto de escolas regulares? (c) Em que ponto as cognições dos participantes convergem/divergem? Como abordagem de pesquisa utilizei a Metodologia Q, que utiliza o programa PQMethod 2.11. Por meio do grupo focal e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, usados como instrumentos de coleta secundários, foi feito o levantamento de uma gama de pontos de vista dos participantes para a posterior composição de uma Amostra Q semi-estruturada de assertivas. Estas representam as cognições dos participantes sobre o papel e as contribuições das pesquisas sobre o processo de ensinar e aprender língua estrangeira. Os participantes distribuíram as assertivas ao longo de um contínuo em uma escala de concordo totalmente (+5) e discordo totalmente (-5) e os resultados obtidos pela distribuição Q foram analisados no pacote estatístico PQMethod 2.11. A partir da posterior análise qualitativa e interpretativista, os grupos que emergiram da análise fatorial foram definidos, caracterizados e interpretados. Após o levantamento dos resultados, surgiram fatores a serem analisados e interpretados, ou seja, grupos de participantes que compartilham do mesmo ponto de vista sobre as pesquisas do processo de ensino e aprendizagem. Dentre os aspectos emergentes desta pesquisa destacaram-se: a relação teoria e prática; contribuições da LA para a formação de professores; a prática reflexiva de LE; relação universidade-escola; cognições de professores sobre a relevância das pesquisas em LA para a prática e sobre os formadores e a (re)construção do saber docente na pesquisa em LA. Acredito que os resultados desta pesquisa podem trazer contribuições para professores e formadores, tendo em vista que a partir da conscientização e postura crítica perante suas práticas poderão, juntos compreender seus papeis e orientar suas ações. / Mestre em Linguística

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