The nature of learning and teaching in higher education has changed significantly in recent years. The emergence of social media and technologies has had a profound impact upon learner engagement and tutors have had to adapt their learning and teaching strategies accordingly. The thesis discusses the author’s published body of research and presents a pedagogical framework for engaging the networked learner. The framework is based upon three perspectives that have emerged from the author’s research. Firstly, different learning paradigms should be acknowledged when developing pedagogical approaches to using learning technologies. Secondly, the thesis discusses how the author’s research on learning technologies, including VLEs and iPod technologies, should embrace networked communities and learner empowerment. Thirdly, the research on learning approaches is discussed which acknowledges different learning behaviours and the adoption of differentiated methods in learning and teaching. Whilst discussing the evolving nature of the learning environment, the pedagogical framework draws together each of the aforementioned perspectives. The framework raises a number of factors for engaging the networked learner. A set of practical guidelines based around institutional, tutor and learner perspectives are discussed and underpin the application of the framework. The thesis concludes with theoretical observations on learning and learning theory and presents limitations and areas for further research.

This study was conducted as part of an ongoing research programme to evaluate and implement change in the School of Process and Materials Engineering (PRME) 1002 course curriculum to effect positive results in academic achievement, thus increasing throughput rates of first-year Chemical and Metallurgical engineering students. This study designed and implemented a cognitive mediated intervention programme adapted by Professor Skuy (2003) from Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment (1980) programme. The aim was to see if an extended programme period of time, 12 weeks as opposed to 5 weeks implemented in an earlier study by Viviers (2004), would significantly improve the academic performance of the sample of 20 first-year Metallurgy students as measured by the mid-year and end-of-year examination results. The study also aimed to find out if the cognitive mediation intervention programme would significantly improve the intellectual functioning of the Metallurgy students. The results show that mediating cognitive functions significantly improved the intellectual functioning of the sample of 20 students as measured by the pre- and post-test scores of the Cognitive Assessment System (Das & Naglieri, 1993). However, no significant improvement was found in the academic achievement of the students as measured by the examination results. Accordingly it was concluded that the extended period of time (12 weeks), was sufficient time to improve intellectual functioning of Metallurgy students, but insufficient time for this to transfer into academic achievement for the Metallurgy students. The study highlighted the difficulty of transfer in the engineering context, as well as the continued problem that first-year students have with the complex conceptual nature and demands of the PRME (1002) course.

The aim of the present doctoral thesis was to examine to what extent personality traits and approaches to learning contribute to academic performance in upper secondary school (high school), after controlling for the well-known fact that general intelligence accounts for a large part of the variance. The general proposition of the thesis is that personality traits are stable dispositions and therefore predispose an individual to behave or act in a specific manner (Costa & McCrae, 1976). Additionally, another important determinant of academic performance is students’ approaches to learning, the way someone studies and makes sense of a particular school subject (Biggs, 1999). Study I examined how personality traits, divided into facets, predict academic performance in different school subjects. The results from several SEM analyses showed that personality, specifically Conscientiousness, has a positive influence on academic performance. In addition, there was a negative relation between Extraversion and academic performance and a positive relation between Neuroticism and academic performance. There were also interesting findings on the facet levels for all traits. The major conclusion of this study is that personality traits, both on the factor level and on the facet level, are important to academic performance in general, but sometimes more specifically to different school subjects. In Study II, the aim was to investigate the unique contribution of learning approaches to academic performance. A second aim was to explore possible gender differences in learning approaches. It was found that learning approaches contributed uniquely to academic performance, over and above personality and general intelligence. Differences between girls and boys were found, both with respect to the use of learning approaches and the consequences of these learning approaches for performance results. Based on a longitudinal design, the aim of Study III was to explore to what extent personality traits predict academic performance. Conscientiousness, Extraversion and Neuroticism were found to predict overall academic performance. Results suggest that personality traits, as measured at the age of 16, can predict academic performance at the age of 19, and more specifically: the grades of conscientious students improved from age 16 to age 19. This study extends previous work by assessing the relationship between the Big Five and academic performance over a three-year period.

The access to higher education has been massively expanding which has impacted on quality of education, assessment system, learning environment, teaching and learning approaches at classroom level. In encountering with the massification, Cambodian and Thai governments are struggling to provide students with excellent academic performance and employable graduates in the competitive labor market of today. English language was one of the key tools for the students to acquire knowledge and skills for the national, regional and international marketplace. This research aims to provide comparative understanding of how undergraduates learn and achieve their academic outcomes through English curriculum in the contexts of Cambodia and Thailand. The objectives of the study are to compare levels, relationships and predictability of learning approaches and learning outcomes achieved by the undergraduate students. The total samples of 186 key informants were the undergraduate students from Cambodia (n=97) and Thailand (n=89) who enrolled in year 3, 4 and fresh graduates of English major in two respective universities. The data collection method was gathered through a self-rating online survey employing RASI and CEQ questionnaires to measure the perceptions. The descriptive data, correlation coefficients, and multiple linear regression were used for the comparative data analysis. The study yielded different levels of learning approaches and similar degrees of learning outcomes in the two groups. The students from Cambodia gained higher level of utilizing deep approach to learning (M=3.79) and they were found to achieve higher GPA on average (67%). The finding not only indicated similar significant relationships (p<.05) between the models in each group but also showed different levels of influences on students’ learning achievement. The strongest predictor of learning outcomes (R2=.34) was explained by deep approach to learning for Cambodian group whereas the learning outcomes for Thai group (R2=.47) were predicted by strategic and deep approaches to learning. The study also suggested that teachers and relevant educational actors encourage students to use deep and strategic approaches while demotivating surface approach to learning in order for the students to achieve better learning outcomes both qualitatively and quantitatively so that they acquire competitive qualification for their future career goals.

This study investigates the role that African traditional beliefs and practices play in defining psychological problems, determines how these beliefs and practices manifest in a counselling relationship and explores how Western based forms of counselling manage these manifestations in counselling. This investigation is in the context of the on-going debate on the relevance of Western Psychological counselling in South Africa and the rest of Africa, including my experience during my internship to register as a Counsellor. It explores the impact of conducting counselling with clients whose worldviews are different from those of the counsellor and focuses on the impact of the client’s worldviews on psychological well-being, psychological ill health and the resolution of psychological problems. Psychological well-being, ill health and counselling were discussed from a Western perspective. The study found that the client participants defined their psychological problems in terms of their African traditional beliefs and practices. They communicated their presenting psychological problems in ways that created possibility of miscommunication between themselves and their counsellors, for example by using figurative language. There was also a clear distinction between how psychological problems are managed from an African traditional perspective (ritualistic) and a Western perspective (talking therapy). The study recommended the creation of specific departments in Universities to embark on research aimed at establishing foundational structures on which to build an African Indigenous Psychology as an alternative to Western Psychology. More comprehensive research on African people’s attitudes is, suggested, on what traditional Africans think of psychological counselling. Another recommendation accruing from the limitation on sampling in this study is that future studies should be conducted with larger and more diverse samples; moreover, data should be gathered on a wider variety of demographics and cultural belief systems and practices. To counter prejudice and ignorance, the counsellor ‘to be’ should study African culture and customs during their BA Honours studies. On-going training and workshops on cross-cultural issues from various cultures should be part of the counselling profession. More emphasis should be placed on prevention and therefore more mental health clinics in the rural areas need to be opened and general education on psychological issues and cultural integration be initiated. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the degree to which second year Mathematics education students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes to be important and to develop a curriculum-based mediational approach based on the data, to encourage the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes that appeared to be in need of encouragement. A literature study was undertaken to determine the positive critical thinking dispositions and attitudes students should possess. In addition it was also determined which teaching learning approaches will benefit the development of critical thinking dispositions and attitudes the most. The advantages as well as the processes and components that should form part of the mediational approach for the development of critical thinking dispositions were examined. A two-phase, sequential, explanatory mixed method study was subsequently undertaken with second-year Mathematics students at a South African university. The quantitative study made use of a self-developed questionnaire to determine the degree to which students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes important. Data emanating from the questionnaires were analysed and questions that had to be answered in narrative format were set for each student according to their own responses on the questionnaire. Narratives formed part of the qualitative component of the study in which students had to indicate factors that influence their critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, what could be done to improve the apparent unimportant critical thinking dispositions and attitudes and whether they regard the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as important. Narratives were analysed and the results were used to explain the quantitative data. Results revealed that second year Mathematics education students do not consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, in particular inquisitiveness but also judiciousness, open-mindedness, systematicity, truth-seeking, analyticity and confidence in critical thinking to be very important and therefore these critical thinking dispositions and attitudes appeared to require encouragement. A curriculum-based mediational approach based on a section in the existing Mathematics module for second year education students was developed in order to encourage critical thinking dispositions in Mathematics. The study concluded with recommendations to encourage critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as well as proposals for future studies. / PhD, Education, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

Student Number : 8109673 - MSc research report - School of Science Education - Faculty of Science / Many students fail the Fundamental Algorithmic Concepts course, in first year Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand. To obtain an understanding of why this occurs, the learning styles and learning approaches of the students studying the course and the relationship of these concepts with student grades were researched. A predominately qualitative paradigm was used, supplemented with quantitative data. Two research designs were selected: a survey to get a broad overview of the sample and an ethnographic design to provide an in-depth description of a small group. Existing instruments were used for the survey, namely Felder and Soloman’s Index of Learning Styles and a learning approach diagnostic test that was constructed in South Africa. An interview with open-ended questions was used for the ethnographic research. Contrary to expectations, the results of the study indicated that the adoption of a deep learning approach did not imply success. The findings suggest that a strategic learning approach may be required to achieve good grades. In contrast to other studies, over 65% of the sample population were black students. It was found that black students tend to adopt a deeper learning approach than the rest of the students. From a learning style perspective there was some new evidence to indicate that the more intuitive or global a student was, the deeper the approach the student adopted to learning. A large percentage (over 80%) of the population were visual learners and an unusually high percentage (over 60%) were reflective learners. The lecturer should match the workload and assessment methods with the desired learning approach of the students. The lecturer should also encourage the students to adopt a strategic learning approach where appropriate. In addition, the lecturer should pay particular attention to incorporating teaching styles that accommodate students with visual and active learning style preferences.

Due to recent regulation, Chiropractic Colleges admit students with less than standard science courses and less than standard GPA. These students require tracking and support. How these students learn compared to standard admissions students is not understood. Researchers have demonstrated that students' learning approaches, strategies, and preferences vary based on educational background and culture and are related to performance. The purpose of this study was to better understand chiropractic students learning styles based on admissions status informing supportive efforts. The theoretical framework was based on Curry's work describing elements of learning on a spectrum from stable to flexible. In this cross-sectional quantative study, data were collected using 3 validated instruments (Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST), Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI), and the Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinesthetic (VARK) questionaire). The sample included all incoming students over 4 consecutive terms;195 entrants with 165 participants. Consistent with prior studies, analysis utilizing Pearson chi-square test of independence, revealed students with less science tend toward some surface learning approaches including: a significant difference in ASSIST subscale unrelated memorizing (p =.023) and a difference approaching significance for subscale syllabus boundness (p = .058). For students with a lower GPA, report frequencies of significance or approaching significance as a relative strength include: LASSI scale self-regulation (p =.029), and subscales concentration (p =.023) and use of study aids (p =.051). Admitting students from varying educational backgrounds, enables chiropractic colleges to include more underrepresented students. This study provided needed information to support these students.

This study was undertaken in an attempt to determine the degree to which second year Mathematics education students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes to be important and to develop a curriculum-based mediational approach based on the data, to encourage the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes that appeared to be in need of encouragement. A literature study was undertaken to determine the positive critical thinking dispositions and attitudes students should possess. In addition it was also determined which teaching learning approaches will benefit the development of critical thinking dispositions and attitudes the most. The advantages as well as the processes and components that should form part of the mediational approach for the development of critical thinking dispositions were examined. A two-phase, sequential, explanatory mixed method study was subsequently undertaken with second-year Mathematics students at a South African university. The quantitative study made use of a self-developed questionnaire to determine the degree to which students consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes important. Data emanating from the questionnaires were analysed and questions that had to be answered in narrative format were set for each student according to their own responses on the questionnaire. Narratives formed part of the qualitative component of the study in which students had to indicate factors that influence their critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, what could be done to improve the apparent unimportant critical thinking dispositions and attitudes and whether they regard the critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as important. Narratives were analysed and the results were used to explain the quantitative data. Results revealed that second year Mathematics education students do not consider critical thinking dispositions and attitudes, in particular inquisitiveness but also judiciousness, open-mindedness, systematicity, truth-seeking, analyticity and confidence in critical thinking to be very important and therefore these critical thinking dispositions and attitudes appeared to require encouragement. A curriculum-based mediational approach based on a section in the existing Mathematics module for second year education students was developed in order to encourage critical thinking dispositions in Mathematics. The study concluded with recommendations to encourage critical thinking dispositions and attitudes as well as proposals for future studies. / PhD, Education, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

El motivo del presente estudio es validar la estructura interna del Cuestionario Revisado de Procesos de Estudio, Dos factores (Revised-Study Process Questionnaire-2 Factors; Biggs, Kember & Leung, 2001), en una muestra heterogénea de 269 participantes universitarios y no universitarios. Se aplicó la metodología de ecuaciones estructurales para probar varios modelos de medición: unidimensional, cuatro factores relacionados y con estructura jerárquica, y dos factores (ortogonales y oblicuos). Se halló que los modelos basados en cuatro factores no mostraron un ajuste satisfactorio, y uno tuvo problemas de convergencia ocasionados por la muy alta correlación interfactorial. El modelo de dos factores (profundo y superficial), con errores correlacionados, tuvo satisfactorio ajuste. La consistencia interna también fue satisfactoria. Se discute la utilidad del instrumento y su reformulación teórica. / Revisión por pares