South Africa has adopted the international trend towards inclusive education. The result is an increasing number of learners with barriers to learning accommodated in mainstream schools. Alternative assessment programmes make provision to address the barriers to learning of these learners during formal assessments. Alternative assessment programmes are a good start to afford learners with barriers to learning a fair chance to impart their knowledge. However, the programmes are adult driven and, as the users of these programmes, we need to consider the learners’ views also. Knowledge of their experience will increase understanding of their needs, which in turn will help to refine the programmes and adjust the programmes to these needs. General aim of the study: to explore the lived experience of learners with barriers to learning, who participated in an alternative assessment programme in a mainstream high school in the Western Cape, in a qualitative way, through a phenomenological design. The phenomenological design provided a deeper understanding of the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme from the learners’ viewpoint. We held unstructured, individual interviews with the eight participants who consented to participate in the study. As requested, the participants made collages of their experiences of the alternative assessment programme in a group setting, prior to the interviews. Section B presents the findings of this qualitative study and relates the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme during test- and formal examination series. The findings highlight the importance of considering the opinions of learners with barriers, participating in an alternative assessment programme. / MSc (Master of Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

South Africa has adopted the international trend towards inclusive education. The result is an increasing number of learners with barriers to learning accommodated in mainstream schools. Alternative assessment programmes make provision to address the barriers to learning of these learners during formal assessments. Alternative assessment programmes are a good start to afford learners with barriers to learning a fair chance to impart their knowledge. However, the programmes are adult driven and, as the users of these programmes, we need to consider the learners’ views also. Knowledge of their experience will increase understanding of their needs, which in turn will help to refine the programmes and adjust the programmes to these needs. General aim of the study: to explore the lived experience of learners with barriers to learning, who participated in an alternative assessment programme in a mainstream high school in the Western Cape, in a qualitative way, through a phenomenological design. The phenomenological design provided a deeper understanding of the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme from the learners’ viewpoint. We held unstructured, individual interviews with the eight participants who consented to participate in the study. As requested, the participants made collages of their experiences of the alternative assessment programme in a group setting, prior to the interviews. Section B presents the findings of this qualitative study and relates the learners’ experience of the alternative assessment programme during test- and formal examination series. The findings highlight the importance of considering the opinions of learners with barriers, participating in an alternative assessment programme. / MSc (Master of Social Work), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Assessment in the inclusive classroom poses specific challenges to the educator. Due to the diversity of learners' needs, a need exists for adapted assessment. One standard type of assessment does not adequately satisfy the individual needs which exist due to the influence of various barriers on learners. The pursuit of human rights, democratic principles and the promotion of equality acknowledges that learners' differences need to be taken into consideration, also during the assessment process. The Education White Paper 6 for Inclusive Education (Department of Education, 2001, p.49) states that the principle of inclusion is applicable to the assessment process in: considering special circumstances, the adaptation of assessment tasks, the adaptation of the time allocated for the completion of a task, individual assessment strategies and techniques, and the provision of extended opportunities. This study therefore aimed to understand educators' experiences of adapted assessment in the inclusive classroom and to gain insight into the challenges encountered and the support needed. The researcher worked from an interpretive paradigm. An action research design was used, as action research attempts to actively involve participants in the research process. A qualitative research methodology was followed and included the following: purposive sample selection to identify research participants, open questionnaires, individual and focus group interviews and field notes to generate data, and content analysis to analyze data. Research findings indicate that educators experience the use of adapted assessment positively, because of the space it provides to meet individual needs and address barriers to learning in the inclusive classroom. Furthermore, it became evident that educators need support and guidance to adapt assessment to the individual needs of learners appropriately. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Assessering in 'n inklusiewe klaskamer stel bepaalde uitdagings aan die opvoeder. Daar ontstaan 'n behoefte vir die aanpassing van assessering as gevolg van die diversiteit van leerderbehoeftes. Een standaardvorm van assessering voldoen nie aan die individuele behoeftes wat weens die invloed van verskillende hindernisse op leerders bestaan nie. Die strewe na menseregte, demokratiese beginsels en die bevordering van gelykheid is juis gelee binne die erkenning dat die verskille van alle leerders in ag geneem moet word, ook tydens die proses van assessering. Met verwysing na Onderwys-witskrif 6 vir Inklusiewe Onderwys (DoE, 2001, p.49), moet die beginsel van inklusie tydens die assesseringsproses geld: die inagneming van spesiale omstandighede, die aanpassing van assesseringtake, die aanpassing van die tyd wat toegelaat word vir die voltooiing van take, individuele assesseringstrategiee en -tegnieke en die daarstelling van uitgebreide geleenthede. Daarom het hierdie studie gepoog om die opvoeder se ervaring van aangepaste assessering in 'n inklusiewe klaskamer te verstaan en insig te bekom met betrekking tot die uitdagings wat hulle ondervind en die ondersteuning wat hulle benodig. Die navorser het binne 'n interpretivistiese paradigma gewerk. 'n Aksienavorsingsontwerp is gebruik, omdat dit ten doel het om die deelnemers aktief betrokke te maak by die proses van navorsing. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is gebruik en het die volgende ingesluit: doelbewuste seleksie om te bepaal wie die deelnemers was, oop vraelyste, individuele onderhoude, fokusgroeponderhoude en veldnotas om data te genereer, en inhoudsanalise om die data te analiseer. Navorsingsbevindinge dui daarop dat die opvoeders se ervaring van die gebruik van aangepaste assessering positief was, juis omdat dit voldoen aan die individuele behoeftes wat in 'n inklusiewe klas ontstaan. Uit die studie was dit egter duidelik dat opvoeders leiding en ondersteuning benodig om die assessering toepaslik aan te pas by die behoeftes van die individu.

Assessment, as an integral part of teaching and learning, gained unprecedented prominence in the curriculum in South Africa post 1994. When the new curriculum was introduced, it was assumed that teachers would effortlessly adapt their teaching and assessment practices, and swiftly implement the curriculum. Fourteen years after the inception of the new curriculum, majority of teachers are still grappling with issues of assessment. Previously, there was an exclusive bias towards summative assessment, which is mainly learning product–orientated and less or no focus on the other assessment typologies such as diagnostic and formative assessment, which are learning process–orientated. Of these typologies, diagnostic assessment is not being used maximally to enhance mathematics learning and inform the nature of the interventions to attend to learners’ needs. The study focused on diagnostic assessment by investigating the impact of a particular model, GIST model, on the learning barriers and learner achievement in mathematics among the grade 9 learners. The investigation of the impact of the GIST model was done through the experimental design in four schools with class sizes of d > 40. Data were collected quantitatively through Study Orientation Questionnaire (SOM) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) as well as qualitatively through interviews, observations and document analysis. The t–test and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the GIST model improved the learner achievement practically significantly (d = 0.79). However, the GIST model could not mitigate the learning barriers and improve correlations between SOM and MAT. The study, however, does find grounds to conclude that the latter findings can be attributed to teachers’ lacking understanding and implementation of diagnostic assessment, in particular the GIST components. Hence, certain recommendations are posed with regard to the applicable training of teachers in order to empower them to effectively utilize diagnostic assessment and to guide learners in overcoming learning barriers in mathematics. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Assessment, as an integral part of teaching and learning, gained unprecedented prominence in the curriculum in South Africa post 1994. When the new curriculum was introduced, it was assumed that teachers would effortlessly adapt their teaching and assessment practices, and swiftly implement the curriculum. Fourteen years after the inception of the new curriculum, majority of teachers are still grappling with issues of assessment. Previously, there was an exclusive bias towards summative assessment, which is mainly learning product–orientated and less or no focus on the other assessment typologies such as diagnostic and formative assessment, which are learning process–orientated. Of these typologies, diagnostic assessment is not being used maximally to enhance mathematics learning and inform the nature of the interventions to attend to learners’ needs. The study focused on diagnostic assessment by investigating the impact of a particular model, GIST model, on the learning barriers and learner achievement in mathematics among the grade 9 learners. The investigation of the impact of the GIST model was done through the experimental design in four schools with class sizes of d > 40. Data were collected quantitatively through Study Orientation Questionnaire (SOM) and Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) as well as qualitatively through interviews, observations and document analysis. The t–test and the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that the GIST model improved the learner achievement practically significantly (d = 0.79). However, the GIST model could not mitigate the learning barriers and improve correlations between SOM and MAT. The study, however, does find grounds to conclude that the latter findings can be attributed to teachers’ lacking understanding and implementation of diagnostic assessment, in particular the GIST components. Hence, certain recommendations are posed with regard to the applicable training of teachers in order to empower them to effectively utilize diagnostic assessment and to guide learners in overcoming learning barriers in mathematics. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaat of 'n hulpverleningsprogram die laerskoolleerder wat taalhindemisse ervaar kan help om sy probleme op 'n kreatiewe wyse te benader. 'n Algemene oorsig van leerhindemisse wat laerskoolleerders ervaar, is gegee. lndien 'n leerder taalhindernisse ervaar, sal dit 'n direkte invloed op sy ander skoolvakke ook he omdat taal vir die leeraksie benodig word. Die kreatiwiteitsbegrip is ook van naderby beskou. Kreatiwiteit kan as die skep van iets wat oorspronklik, maar ook bruikbaar is, gedefinieer word. Dit sluit egter ook die Ie van ongewone verbande tussen twee of meer sake of voorwerpe in. Die program wat ontwikkel is, het as onderbou die teorie oor taalintelligensie van Howard Gardner, 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige aan Harvard Universiteit. Gardner meen dit is deur 'n kreatiewe ingesteldheid, multisensoriese tegnieke en gepaste leerstyle rnoontlik om taalintelligensie teverbeter. Hy is van mening dat taalintelligensie nie iets is wat op 'n bepaalde tydstip gemeet kan word en onveranderd bly nie. Soos met alle intellektuele vermoens, kan taalvaardighede ook uitgebrei en ontwikkel word. Beproefde remedierende tegnieke, wat reeds deur die navorser in die praktyk met welslae uitgetoets is, is op 'n vars, nuwe manier .in die hulpverleningsprogram gebruik. Die hulpverleningsprogram het op die verbetering van perseptuele, mondelinge stelwerk-,lees- en spellingvaardighede gefokus. Dit het gedurende die empiriese studie duidelik geword dat leerders wat op 'n bepaalde leergebied nie na wense presteer nie, dikwels 'n "sielkundige blokkasie" ten opsigte van daardie leerareas ontwikkel. Hulle assosieer Jaasgenoemde in die meeste gevalle met leeronvermoe en leermislukking. Die enigste manier om hierdie gevoel van leermagteloosheid aan te spreek, is om die problematiese leerareas met 'n minder ernstige akademiese aanslag, waarin die pret-element sterk aanwesig is, te benader. Wanneer die leeraksie as 'n aangename ondervindingervaar word, kan leerders hulle leervrese aanspreek en meer waagmoedig begin optree. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the success of an innovative support programme aimed at assisting primary school learners with language barriers to overcome these. An overview was given of learning barriers primary school learners may experience. A learner with a language barrier will find that the other learning areas are negatively influenced because language is essential for learning. The concept of creativity, defined as the creation of something original, yet useful, was adhered to. It included the idea that creativity allows for the connecting of unrelated issues or objects. The theories of Howard Gardner, an educational psychologist at Harvard University, concerning language intelligence, supported this study. According to Gardner it is possible to improve language intelligence through creative awareness, multi-sensory techniques and appropriate learning styles. Gardner postulates that language, as in the case of other intellectual abilities, can be developed and expanded. Remedial techniques successfully used by the researcher in practice, have been presented in this support programme in a novel and innovative form. The creative support programme compiled for this thesis focused on the 1 improvement of perceptual, oral, reading and spelling skills. The need for a more informal support approach was evident in the empirical research of this study. Learners sometimes develop a "psychological block" when experiencing repeated difficulties in a specific learning area. Such learners associate these difficulties with failures and the inability to learn. In order to overcome the experience of learning dispair, the feelings of anxiety associated with the problem learning area, have to be replaced with a less rigid approach in which play encourages feelings of enjoyment and ease. When learning becomes a pleasant experience, learners start overcoming their fears and become risk takers. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Die doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaat of 'n hulpverleningsprogram die laerskoolleerder wat taalhindemisse ervaar kan help om sy probleme op 'n kreatiewe wyse te benader. 'n Algemene oorsig van leerhindemisse wat laerskoolleerders ervaar, is gegee. lndien 'n leerder taalhindernisse ervaar, sal dit 'n direkte invloed op sy ander skoolvakke ook he omdat taal vir die leeraksie benodig word. Die kreatiwiteitsbegrip is ook van naderby beskou. Kreatiwiteit kan as die skep van iets wat oorspronklik, maar ook bruikbaar is, gedefinieer word. Dit sluit egter ook die Ie van ongewone verbande tussen twee of meer sake of voorwerpe in. Die program wat ontwikkel is, het as onderbou die teorie oor taalintelligensie van Howard Gardner, 'n opvoedkundige sielkundige aan Harvard Universiteit. Gardner meen dit is deur 'n kreatiewe ingesteldheid, multisensoriese tegnieke en gepaste leerstyle rnoontlik om taalintelligensie teverbeter. Hy is van mening dat taalintelligensie nie iets is wat op 'n bepaalde tydstip gemeet kan word en onveranderd bly nie. Soos met alle intellektuele vermoens, kan taalvaardighede ook uitgebrei en ontwikkel word. Beproefde remedierende tegnieke, wat reeds deur die navorser in die praktyk met welslae uitgetoets is, is op 'n vars, nuwe manier .in die hulpverleningsprogram gebruik. Die hulpverleningsprogram het op die verbetering van perseptuele, mondelinge stelwerk-,lees- en spellingvaardighede gefokus. Dit het gedurende die empiriese studie duidelik geword dat leerders wat op 'n bepaalde leergebied nie na wense presteer nie, dikwels 'n "sielkundige blokkasie" ten opsigte van daardie leerareas ontwikkel. Hulle assosieer Jaasgenoemde in die meeste gevalle met leeronvermoe en leermislukking. Die enigste manier om hierdie gevoel van leermagteloosheid aan te spreek, is om die problematiese leerareas met 'n minder ernstige akademiese aanslag, waarin die pret-element sterk aanwesig is, te benader. Wanneer die leeraksie as 'n aangename ondervindingervaar word, kan leerders hulle leervrese aanspreek en meer waagmoedig begin optree. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the success of an innovative support programme aimed at assisting primary school learners with language barriers to overcome these. An overview was given of learning barriers primary school learners may experience. A learner with a language barrier will find that the other learning areas are negatively influenced because language is essential for learning. The concept of creativity, defined as the creation of something original, yet useful, was adhered to. It included the idea that creativity allows for the connecting of unrelated issues or objects. The theories of Howard Gardner, an educational psychologist at Harvard University, concerning language intelligence, supported this study. According to Gardner it is possible to improve language intelligence through creative awareness, multi-sensory techniques and appropriate learning styles. Gardner postulates that language, as in the case of other intellectual abilities, can be developed and expanded. Remedial techniques successfully used by the researcher in practice, have been presented in this support programme in a novel and innovative form. The creative support programme compiled for this thesis focused on the 1 improvement of perceptual, oral, reading and spelling skills. The need for a more informal support approach was evident in the empirical research of this study. Learners sometimes develop a "psychological block" when experiencing repeated difficulties in a specific learning area. Such learners associate these difficulties with failures and the inability to learn. In order to overcome the experience of learning dispair, the feelings of anxiety associated with the problem learning area, have to be replaced with a less rigid approach in which play encourages feelings of enjoyment and ease. When learning becomes a pleasant experience, learners start overcoming their fears and become risk takers. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

The adolescent with specific barriers to learning often exhibit socio-emotional problems. Conversely, adolescents experiencing socio-emotional upsets do not achieve academically. The exact nature of the relationship is difficult or nearly impossible to elucidate. The aim of this study was to establish the specific challenges that the adolescent learner with barriers to learning with an average or above average intelligence, experiences on socio-emotional level and to take these feelings, experiences and needs as a lancer basis to develop and implement a social work intervention programme. Also to evaluate the effect of this programme on the socio-emotional functioning and academic progress of the adolescents involved. The process of intervention research was followed during the empirical study. The combined, two-phase approach of Cresswell was used for data gathering. The one group pre-test post-test was utilized for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the social work intervention programme. The Child functioning inventory High School (CFI – High) was used to gather information during the quantitative phase. This study focused on the socio-emotional functioning and challenges of the adolescent learner with specific barriers to learning and used Gestalt play therapy within a group context to address these challenges. During the qualitative phase two focus group discussions were held where the experiences, emotions and challenges of adolescents with specific barriers to learning were discussed with a group of five girls and five boys. Based on data gathered from these discussions, and a literature study a social work intervention programme was developed and implemented. This programme consisted of play therapy techniques within the Gestalt therapy framework. The social work intervention programme consisted of ten group sessions of about 90 minutes each, with a group of five girls and a group of five boys. The respondents were between 14 to 16 years, of an average to above average intelligence, and were referred to the social worker of a branch of Child Welfare: South Africa, Mpumalanga because of socio-emotional problems. This study attempted to incorporate the essential elements of Gestalt therapy, various play therapy techniques and the dynamics of group work into a programme to address socio-emotional issues experienced by the adolescent learner with barriers to learning. Socio-emotional aspects that were conceptualised and specifically evaluated are: positive functioning elements, self perception, trauma dynamics, interpersonal relationships and decision making abilities. Based on the findings, the conclusion could be made that the social work intervention programme brought about an improvement in the socio-emotional functioning and the academic progress of the respondents. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / PhD / unrestricted

In hierdie studie is psigoterapeutiese uitkoms navorsing gedoen (Lindegger, 1999). Die navorser het as intern opvoedkundige sielkundige ‘n groepgebaseerde gestalt-dramaterapie program van 12 sessies ontwikkel ten einde selfagting-ontwikkeling by die kind met leerhindernisse aan te spreek. Gebrekkige motivering, ongunstige selfagting, sowel as problematiese sosiale vaardighede word geassosieer met leerhindernisse (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). Die Self-Esteem Index (SEI) is as meetinstrument gebruik en met aanvang en terminering van die intervensie afgeneem. Sekere strategieë is toegepas ten einde leerhindernisse te akkommodeer tydens die afneem van die meetinstrument. Na afloop van die intervensie, wat hoofsaaklik bestaan het uit dramatisering en rollespelle in kleingroep-verband, is die versamelde data statisties geanaliseer ten einde te bepaal of die intervensie moontlik tot die ontwikkeling van gunstige selfagting by die betrokke leerdergroep bygedra het. Die steekproef (n=17) is vanuit die SEI-vraelysdata van die Afrikaanssprekende Graad 4-leerders (tussen die ouderdomme van 10 tot 12 jaar) verbonde aan die betrokke remediërende skool, wie aan die LOD-program deelgeneem het, op sistematiese wyse getrek. Gepaarde t-toetse is gedoen ten einde te bepaal of daar enige statisties betekenisvolle verskille tussen die voortoets-/natoets-data bestaan. Die terapeutiese proses waartydens die data gegenereer is vir hierdie studie, was soortgelyk aan die pre-eksperimentele een groep voortoets-/natoets ontwerp. Die navorsingsresultate het aangedui dat die nulhipotese nie verwerp kan word nie. Die alternatiewe hipotese moet dus verder ondersoek word en vele moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing het vanuit die studie ontwikkel. ENGLISH : In this study psychotherapy outcome research was conducted (Lindegger, 1999). The researcher developed a group based gestalt drama therapy program during her internship as educational psychologist in a remedial school. The main therapeutic aim was to develop the self-esteem of the child with barriers to learning. Demoralization, low self-esteem, and deficits in social skills may be associated with barriers to learning (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The intervention was facilitated over 12 sessions and all the Grade 4 pupils of the specific school participated in the intervention. The Self-Esteem Index (SEI) was administered during the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Certain strategies were used to accommodate barriers to learning during the administration of the SEI. After termination of the intervention the data were statistically analysed. The pretest/posttest results were compared in order to determine if the intervention contributed to self-esteem development of the participants. A data-sample (n=17) was systematically drawn from the Afrikaans speaking Grade 4 learner participants’ (between the ages of 10 to 12 years) SEI questionnaires. The therapeutic process during which the data was generated resembled a pre-experimental one group pretest/posttest design. Paired t-tests were used and the research results indicated no statistical significance which means that the null hypothesis could not be rejected. This resulted in the formulation of further hypothesis. The aim of this study therefore was to explore the possible effect of the intervention on the self-esteem development of the child with barriers to learning. Possibilities for further research emerged from this research study. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted