Thesis (M.A. (Communication Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / This study aimed to develop a communication strategy for water re-use in Basic Education, which included illustrative learning materials which were suitable for online learning. To attain the intended aim, the study focussed on the subsequent objectives: to review and analyse learners’ and educators’ perceptions and understanding (knowledge) of water re-use; to examine strategies that could be employed to gain learners’ and educators’ understanding and acceptance of water re-use; to develop information or learning materials that would educate and enhance their understanding and informed decision making related to water re-use; and to discuss approaches to communicate water re-use in Basic Education. A qualitative orientation utilising participatory action research was employed as a research design for this study. A sample size of 80 participants, from four primary and four secondary schools in Mankweng Township was selected. 40 learners and 40 educators were selected. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants for this study. Data was collected by means of interviews, focus group discussions, workshops, teaching and participant observation. Thereafter, thematic analysis and NVivo software were employed to analyse data. This study employed Geertz’s notion of culture, Vygotsky’s social constructivism and the behaviour ecological model as theoretical frameworks to guide the research. Geertz’s interpretation of cultures was employed to understand culture and its effects on human behaviour, Vygotsky’s social constructivism was employed to understand the process of effective learning in educational contexts and the behaviour ecological model was employed to understand individuals’ behaviours and the background of the given behaviour. Understanding an individual’s behaviour and experiences towards water re-use assisted in developing water re-use illustrative learning materials. It also assisted with a communication strategy, which integrated Steyn and Puth’s steps, in the formulation of a communication strategy, joint approach model and a step by step content of a communication strategy and action plan model. The study revealed that the majority of individuals have negative perceptions and attitudes towards water re-use, due to a lack of awareness, knowledge and education. The “yuck” factor and health apprehensions were revealed to be major causes of such perceptions and attitudes. Education, campaigns and programmes, traditional and v new media, community meetings, rules, policies and regulation were reported as strategies which might be employed to promote water re-use. The study revealed that individuals’ home language must be made use of in all the water re-use promotional strategies. Communication approaches which promoted a platform for community participation, were revealed as appropriate for development programmes. As a result, participatory and development approaches to communication were considered suitable for communicating water re-use in Basic Education. The study further indicated that posters and storyboards were effective illustrative learning materials which could be employed to educate learners and raise their cognition regarding water re-use as a water conservation method. This would increase acceptability, awareness and practice and reduce negative perceptions, attitudes and concerns. The study indicated that water re-use communication should consider an individuals’ environmental, religious and cultural backgrounds, which would affect water re-use projects. The study also indicated that there was a relationship between an individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, education and culture.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate how culture is represented in the Wings 7 blue textbook and workbook and what implications this may have on learners’ cultural understanding. The research questions are: How is culture represented in the textbook and workbook Wings 7 blue?, and What cultural understanding is promoted through the task design of the learning material Wings 7 blue?The analysis of the learning material draws on the theoretical framework of the Swedish researcher Ulrika Tornberg. The result of our analysis, and first research question, displays that the main focus of the cultural content in the Wings 7 blue textbook is on the mainstream national culture of Britain, typical British behavior, and linguistic readiness.Cultural understanding may be seen as either general cultural understanding, based on Tornberg’s two first perspectives, or as intercultural understanding which can be found in Tornberg’s third and final perspective. The result of the analysis of the tasks shows that both types of cultural understanding are promoted in the workbook, but the possibility for learners to develop their own intercultural understanding is limited, which is the answer to our second research question. This leads to the conclusion that the learning material, by itself, does not cover the complete aim for cultural understanding in the National Syllabus.One might argue that the material should only be seen as a complement to the other tools of the teacher, who can compensate for any missing information in his or her communication with the class. However, according to the large National survey for English, teachers of English mostly use published learning materials and tend to trust that these correspond to the aims of the steering documents.

The purpose of this study was to observe the science teaching practices of six primary school teachers in Standards 5 through 7, to learn about their perceptions of teaching science and to examine whether or not their teaching practices were in keeping with what they were taught during teacher preparation as well as Malawi's educational expectations for primary school science based upon MIITEP (Malawi Integrated In-service Teacher Education Program) handbooks. Three research questions were posited: (a) What is the teacher preparation program for primary teachers in Malawi? (b) What were the instructional practices of the six beginning primary school science teachers who were prepared in the teacher training college programs? (c) What connections were evident between what beginning primary school science teachers were expected to learn and what they demonstrated in the classroom? All of the six participants (5 males and 1 female) had completed MIITEP in the past three to five years. The data sources for these science teachers included a self-assessment form, pre-observation interviews, post-observation interviews, and lesson observations. Data were also gathered from MIITEP handbooks and three science teacher educators who were interviewed. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The study revealed that there were matches, partial matches, and mismatches between what the six primary school teachers demonstrated in their classroom as compared with the Malawi Ministry of Education science teacher preparation expectations. Of particular interest were that science teachers did not fully engage pupils in most of the process skills for science teaching, nor did they utilize a variety of appropriate teaching and learning strategies and materials for teaching science. In addition, allotted time for teaching science lessons was not fully utilized due to, among other factors, time conflicts with other official and community welfare duties, and mixing English with vernacular during teaching. Implications for practice and for further research have also been suggested. / Ph. D.

The aim of this thesis is to analyse and provide a summary of the existing knowledge and teachers' attitudes regarding the usage and sources of interactive electronic learning materials in primary schools. Furthermore, the thesis compares the theory with real-life experience. The theoretical part introduces the current sources and possibilities of the use of interactive electronic learning materials in primary schools. Moreover, it defines the interactive electronic learning materials and the implementation of modern technologies in education. The research part analyses the opinions of the teachers and the challenges they perceive in the incorporation of interactive electronic learning materials into their teaching. Furthermore, it supports the theory with the practical application of interactive electronic learning materials in various primary school subjects. The concluding part confronts the theoretical knowledge with the practical experience. At the same time, it introduces some of the author's examples of activities using interactive electronic learning materials which can be used during elementary school classes.

Syftet med studien var att undersöka om det digitala inlärningsprogrammet Privatliv kan vara ett adekvat stöd för speciallärare i undervisning inom ämnesområdet sexualitet, samtycke och relationer i den anpassade grundskolan. Valet grundar sig i en avsaknad av anpassade läromedel som vänder sig till elever i anpassad grundskola. Undersökningen syftade till att synliggöra vilka normer läromedlet förmedlar, om alla delar i läroplansmålen för år 7–9 finns med, om det förmedlar ett riskperspektiv eller ett friskperspektiv gällande ämnesområdet samt hur läromedlet är anpassat för att möta elevers olika behov och förutsättningar. För att undersöka detta användes en kvalitativ metod med en socialkonstruktivistisk ansats. Inspirerad av den kritiska diskursanalysen har vi genomfört en läromedelsanalys för att komma åt det mer implicita innehållet. Resultat som framkommit visar att Privatliv kan vara ett adekvat stöd i undervisning, men däremot behöver några delar tillföras för att kunna innehålla alla läroplansmål. Några delar från läroplansmålen saknas och vissa delar anser vi kräver lite mer fördjupad kunskap kring. Anpassningar finns men programmet skulle nå fler elever och vara ett fördelaktigare stöd för undervisande speciallärare om innehållet skulle anpassas ytterligare. Privatliv förmedlar i överlag ett friskperspektiv. Läromedlet avviker från heteronormen genom att belysa homosexualitet och bisexualitet och en HBTQ-norm är framträdande. En slutsats i studien visar hur viktigt det är att granska läromedel, men även betydelsen av kompetent personal som ska undervisa eleverna med hjälp av läromedlet.

A educação inclusiva visa garantir o direito de todos os alunos de estarem juntos, aprendendo e participando do contexto escolar sem nenhuma discriminação. A presente pesquisa investigou este espaço de interação, onde os alunos, com e sem deficiência, vivenciam experiências de aprendizagem na sala de ensino regular. A pesquisa abordou a qualidade dos materiais educacionais a partir da abordagem Design para a Experiência e da teoria das Inteligências Múltiplas, visando promover as experiências dos usuários no contexto da educação inclusiva. A investigação teórica da pesquisa relata marcos históricos da educação no Brasil e o crescimento através de normas e leis para a educação de todos no pais, trazendo a base do Desenho Universal para Aprendizagem, somados a assuntos como: Design Instrucional, Inteligências Múltiplas, até chegar na Interação e Qualidade dos materiais. A fase inicial da pesquisa gerou subsídios que embasam o instrumento de coleta de dados através de um questionário, que foi conduzido a partir de entrevistas com especialistas da área da educação: professores da sala de aula regular, educador especial, e psicopedagogo a fim de verificar as diretrizes de qualidades propostas. Foram selecionados alguns materiais de aprendizagem utilizados no ensino fundamental e verificados previamente pela pesquisadora. Após, foram elencados dois materiais com os seguintes critérios: (i) aquele que se julgou mais apto a proporcionar experiências a todos os alunos e (ii) o que se julgou gerar menor experiência (segundo perspectiva da pesquisadora). A verificação foi realizada por professores, de forma voluntária, através do instrumento fornecido pela pesquisadora. Para comprovação do estudo, foi realizado uma triangulação com os dados obtidos. Por fim, alcançou-se um conjunto de diretrizes capazes de auxiliar no desenvolvimento e projeto de novos materiais educacionais com o foco na educação inclusiva. / Inclusive education aims to ensure the right of all students to be together, learning and participating in the school context without any discrimination. “This study investigated learning experiences of students with and without disabilities in a regular classroom. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to the experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The theoretical investigation reports landmarks of education in Brazil and growth through rules and laws education for everyone in the country, bringing the base of Universal Design for Learning, adding subjects like: Instructional Design, Multiple Intelligences, reaching the interaction and quality of materials. The initial theoretical investigation stage generated resources that support the data collection instrument through a survey form, which was conducted from interviews with education experts in the field: regular classroom teachers, special educators, and educational psychologists in order to verify the proposed guidelines qualities. We selected some learning materials used in elementary school and previously checked by the researcher. After two school materials with the following criteria were selected: (i) the one judged most able to provide experiences to all the students and (ii) what was judged to generate less experience (according to the researcher). The verification was performed by teachers, on a voluntary basis, through the instrument provided by the researcher. For the study verification, a triangulation with the obtained data was performed. Finally, a set of guidelines that can assist in the development and design of new educational materials with the focus on inclusive education was reached.

Access to safe drinking water has a direct effect on improving human health and their quality of life. One country still struggling with providing access to safe drinking water to all of its population is Panama. Panama's largest indigenous group, the Ngöbe people, is disproportionately affected by lack of access to safe drinking water. One way Panama's Ministry of Health (MINSA) is attempting to increase access to safe drinking water to the Ngöbe people is by disinfecting the water already captured by rural gravity fed water systems constructed within in the Ngöbe-Bugle reservation. This is accomplished using an in-line chlorinator specifically designed to accommodate locally manufactured calcium hypochlorite tablets as a source of chlorine. However, in this study it was hypothesized that the current way MINSA is implementing the in-line chlorinator was ineffective both at educating communities on knowledge of chlorination and in chlorinating water in their water distribution systems. This study investigated MINSA's implementation method and then compared it to a new method of implementation that was based on a newly developed disinfection field guide created by the author of this thesis. The motivation of this study was to improve this process of implementation which could lead to more effective chlorination thereby decreasing illness caused by waterborne pathogens. Each implementation method investigated attempted to disseminate knowledge of chlorination to community members through a seminar. The MINSA seminar was presented by a MINSA health practitioner and a newly developed seminar was presented by this thesis's author. A survey was developed to assess the knowledge of chlorination of community members after they attended a seminar. Results showed that community members who attended the new seminar on average answered 20 of the 22 questions of the administered survey more correctly than community members attending the MINSA seminar. Additionally, based on the average correct response of community members to survey questions, participants in the new seminar answered more questions correctly compared to participants in the MINSA seminar in all sections of the survey, 32% greater in the "General Knowledge" section; 43% greater in the "MINSA Specific" section; and 36% greater over the total survey. This higher score by new seminar participants suggests that the new seminar is better at educating community members on knowledge of chlorination. An assessment of each implementation method to effectively chlorinate the studied community's water distribution systems was also completed. This was done by measuring the free chlorine residual of water leaving the studied community's storage tank and entering the distribution system over one week. These concentration values were multiplied by a calculated chlorine contact time of the studied system's distribution system to determine Ct values. Measured Ct values were compared to literature guidelines that provide information on what Ct values will kill commonly found waterborne pathogens in the region. Calculated Ct values above a critical literature value of 40.0 min-mg/L Cl2 were determined to be effectively chlorinating a system's water. Results showed that when using the MINSA implementation method the required Ct level of 40.0 min-mg/L Cl2 was never met at any time during the week. However when using the new implementation method, the required Ct level of 40.0 min-mg/L Cl2 was met at all points during the week except one when tested on the last day where the Ct value was found to be 35.9 min-mg/L Cl2. These results suggest the new implementation method is more effective at chlorinating rural gravity fed water systems in the region compared to the previous implementation method.

The principal sensory modality employed in learning is vision, and that not only increases the difficulty for vision impaired students from accessing existing educational media but also the new and mostly visiocentric learning materials being offered through on-line delivery mechanisms. Using as a reference Certified Cisco Network Associate (CCNA) and IT Essentials courses, a study has been made of tools that can access such on-line systems and transcribe the materials into a form suitable for vision impaired learning. Modalities employed included haptic, tactile, audio and descriptive text. How such a multi-modal approach can achieve equivalent success for the vision impaired is demonstrated. However, the study also shows the limits of the current understanding of human perception, especially with respect to comprehending two and three dimensional objects and spaces when there is no recourse to vision.

A educação inclusiva visa garantir o direito de todos os alunos de estarem juntos, aprendendo e participando do contexto escolar sem nenhuma discriminação. A presente pesquisa investigou este espaço de interação, onde os alunos, com e sem deficiência, vivenciam experiências de aprendizagem na sala de ensino regular. A pesquisa abordou a qualidade dos materiais educacionais a partir da abordagem Design para a Experiência e da teoria das Inteligências Múltiplas, visando promover as experiências dos usuários no contexto da educação inclusiva. A investigação teórica da pesquisa relata marcos históricos da educação no Brasil e o crescimento através de normas e leis para a educação de todos no pais, trazendo a base do Desenho Universal para Aprendizagem, somados a assuntos como: Design Instrucional, Inteligências Múltiplas, até chegar na Interação e Qualidade dos materiais. A fase inicial da pesquisa gerou subsídios que embasam o instrumento de coleta de dados através de um questionário, que foi conduzido a partir de entrevistas com especialistas da área da educação: professores da sala de aula regular, educador especial, e psicopedagogo a fim de verificar as diretrizes de qualidades propostas. Foram selecionados alguns materiais de aprendizagem utilizados no ensino fundamental e verificados previamente pela pesquisadora. Após, foram elencados dois materiais com os seguintes critérios: (i) aquele que se julgou mais apto a proporcionar experiências a todos os alunos e (ii) o que se julgou gerar menor experiência (segundo perspectiva da pesquisadora). A verificação foi realizada por professores, de forma voluntária, através do instrumento fornecido pela pesquisadora. Para comprovação do estudo, foi realizado uma triangulação com os dados obtidos. Por fim, alcançou-se um conjunto de diretrizes capazes de auxiliar no desenvolvimento e projeto de novos materiais educacionais com o foco na educação inclusiva. / Inclusive education aims to ensure the right of all students to be together, learning and participating in the school context without any discrimination. “This study investigated learning experiences of students with and without disabilities in a regular classroom. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to the experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The theoretical investigation reports landmarks of education in Brazil and growth through rules and laws education for everyone in the country, bringing the base of Universal Design for Learning, adding subjects like: Instructional Design, Multiple Intelligences, reaching the interaction and quality of materials. The initial theoretical investigation stage generated resources that support the data collection instrument through a survey form, which was conducted from interviews with education experts in the field: regular classroom teachers, special educators, and educational psychologists in order to verify the proposed guidelines qualities. We selected some learning materials used in elementary school and previously checked by the researcher. After two school materials with the following criteria were selected: (i) the one judged most able to provide experiences to all the students and (ii) what was judged to generate less experience (according to the researcher). The verification was performed by teachers, on a voluntary basis, through the instrument provided by the researcher. For the study verification, a triangulation with the obtained data was performed. Finally, a set of guidelines that can assist in the development and design of new educational materials with the focus on inclusive education was reached.

A educação inclusiva visa garantir o direito de todos os alunos de estarem juntos, aprendendo e participando do contexto escolar sem nenhuma discriminação. A presente pesquisa investigou este espaço de interação, onde os alunos, com e sem deficiência, vivenciam experiências de aprendizagem na sala de ensino regular. A pesquisa abordou a qualidade dos materiais educacionais a partir da abordagem Design para a Experiência e da teoria das Inteligências Múltiplas, visando promover as experiências dos usuários no contexto da educação inclusiva. A investigação teórica da pesquisa relata marcos históricos da educação no Brasil e o crescimento através de normas e leis para a educação de todos no pais, trazendo a base do Desenho Universal para Aprendizagem, somados a assuntos como: Design Instrucional, Inteligências Múltiplas, até chegar na Interação e Qualidade dos materiais. A fase inicial da pesquisa gerou subsídios que embasam o instrumento de coleta de dados através de um questionário, que foi conduzido a partir de entrevistas com especialistas da área da educação: professores da sala de aula regular, educador especial, e psicopedagogo a fim de verificar as diretrizes de qualidades propostas. Foram selecionados alguns materiais de aprendizagem utilizados no ensino fundamental e verificados previamente pela pesquisadora. Após, foram elencados dois materiais com os seguintes critérios: (i) aquele que se julgou mais apto a proporcionar experiências a todos os alunos e (ii) o que se julgou gerar menor experiência (segundo perspectiva da pesquisadora). A verificação foi realizada por professores, de forma voluntária, através do instrumento fornecido pela pesquisadora. Para comprovação do estudo, foi realizado uma triangulação com os dados obtidos. Por fim, alcançou-se um conjunto de diretrizes capazes de auxiliar no desenvolvimento e projeto de novos materiais educacionais com o foco na educação inclusiva. / Inclusive education aims to ensure the right of all students to be together, learning and participating in the school context without any discrimination. “This study investigated learning experiences of students with and without disabilities in a regular classroom. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The study addressed the quality of educational materials from the Design approach to the experience and theory of Multiple Intelligences to promote the experiences of users in the context of inclusive education. The theoretical investigation reports landmarks of education in Brazil and growth through rules and laws education for everyone in the country, bringing the base of Universal Design for Learning, adding subjects like: Instructional Design, Multiple Intelligences, reaching the interaction and quality of materials. The initial theoretical investigation stage generated resources that support the data collection instrument through a survey form, which was conducted from interviews with education experts in the field: regular classroom teachers, special educators, and educational psychologists in order to verify the proposed guidelines qualities. We selected some learning materials used in elementary school and previously checked by the researcher. After two school materials with the following criteria were selected: (i) the one judged most able to provide experiences to all the students and (ii) what was judged to generate less experience (according to the researcher). The verification was performed by teachers, on a voluntary basis, through the instrument provided by the researcher. For the study verification, a triangulation with the obtained data was performed. Finally, a set of guidelines that can assist in the development and design of new educational materials with the focus on inclusive education was reached.