Part of my responsibilities as Life Orientation teacher at Sagewood School is the Community Outreach Programme. In particular encouraging participation and ensuring that learners enjoy a life giving and reciprocal experience as they focus beyond themselves in the wider community. Information for this research was gathered from other independent schools, parents and learners from Sagewood. Sources included answers to questionnaires, class discussions and feedback from past experiences. My focus included a study of the history of outreach, works on postmodernism, social construction, practical theology and my position of co-constructor with the learners. Important outcomes included ensuring that the voices of the learners are heard in decision making and planning for future outreach activities. Given the constantly changing nature of society such activities need to be evaluated regularly. Lastly, people care in different ways and about different things and we need to encourage learners to care, in their own unique way. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Specialisation in Pastoral Therapy)

Thesis (PhD (Education )--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / 352 leaves, preliminary pages xxiii and numbered pages 1-329. Includes bibliography and a list of figures. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African school system is increasingly producing students who do not make the grade in higher education. Universities are concerned about the quality of the students who register as first-years at higher education institutions. The findings of various studies have clearly shown that more and more students are inadequately prepared and therefore not ready for higher education. In South Africa the problems resulting from the gap between school and university have been exacerbated by the inequalities that exist in the secondary school system, and which are still part of the legacy of apartheid. Within the context of learners’increasing unpreparedness for university studies, their difficult transition from school to university and the concomitant high drop-out figures in higher education, this study investigated the extent to which universities – with Stellenbosch University as a case in point – can contribute towards preparing students for university studies from as early as school level, and thus facilitate their transition from school to university. Taking this research question into account, the researcher investigated the extent to which specific variables played a part both in the pre-university phase and after admission. In addition, the study also focused on the extent to which students’ school background (previously disadvantaged privileged school) influences students’ preparedness, and to what extent academic standards (amongst others final examination results)are related to success in the first year at university. The research design was a case study of black newcomer first-year students who participated in a Stellenbosch University bursary project (the Merit Bursary project) in their Grade 12 year. The data generation consisted of two phases, namely a quantitative approach in the pre-university phase and a qualitative approach, after admission, in the transitional phase. The research findings have revealed that the inequalities in the South African schooling system influence the transition from school to university. The classification of schools (previously disadvantaged or privileged school) plays a crucial role in students’ preparedness and how they handle the transition from school to university. There are various academic, social, emotional, cultural and financial factors that impact on this transition. However, the factors are interdependent – no one factor can be regarded as being more important than another. Universities must adopt a holistic approach to the transition that newcomer students are required to make. It was concluded in the study that universities have a responsibility to ensure that the diminishing pool of potential students in higher education be expanded. Universities should also ontribute towards preparing prospective students more effectively so that the transition process will be less challenging. It is believed that this will also improve the throughput rate. In this regard the study proposes a theoretical framework for a pre university intervention. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolstelsel lewer toenemend studente wat nie die mas in hoër onderwys opkom nie en universiteite is bekommerd oor die kwaliteit van die studente wat as eerstejaars aan hoëronderwysinstellings registreer. Uit die bevindinge van verskeie studies het dit geblyk dat studente toenemend nie voldoende voorbereid en gereed is vir hoër onderwys nie. In die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word die gaping tussen skool en universiteit vergroot deur ongelykhede in die sekondêre skoolstelsel as gevolg van die land se apartheidsgeskiedenis. In die konteks van leerders se toenemende onvoorbereidheid vir universiteitstudie, die moeilike oorgang van skool na universiteit en die gepaardgaande hoe uitvalsyfers in hoër onderwys, het hierdie studie ondersoek ingestel na die mate waarin universiteite - met die Universiteit Stellenbosch as spesifieke geval - reeds op skoolvlak ’n rol kan speel om voornemende studente beter vir universiteitstudie voor te berei en sodoende die oorgang van skool na universiteit te vergemaklik. Met die navorsingsingsvraag in ag genome, het die navorser die mate waarin spesifieke veranderlikes ’n rol speel in die pre-universitêre fase asook die fase na toetrede tot universiteit, ondersoek. In samehang hiermee, het die studie ook gefokus op die invloed van skoolagtergrond (voorheen benadeelde of bevoorregte skole) op die voorbereidheid van studente en die mate waarin akademiese maatstawwe op skool (onder meer eindeksamenresultate) verband hou met sukses in die eerste universiteitsjaar. Die navorsingsontwerp was ’n gevallestudie van swart nuwelingeerstejaarstudente wat in hulle graad 12-jaar aan ’n beursprojek (die Verdienstelikheidsbeursprojek) van die Universiteit Stellenbosch deelgeneem het. Die data-generering het uit twee fases bestaan, naamlik ’n kwantitatiewe benadering in die pre-universitêre fase en ’n kwalitatiewe benadering na toetrede in die oorgangsfase. Die ondersoek het gevind dat die ongelykhede in die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolstelsel die oorgang van skool na universiteit beinvloed. Skoolklassifikasie (voorheen benadeelde of bevoorregte skole) speel ’n bepalende rol in die voorbereidheid van studente en ook in die wyse waarop studente die oorgang hanteer. Daar is ’n verskeidenheid akademiese, sosiale, emosionele, kulturele en finansiële faktore wat ’n rol speel in die oorgang van skool na universiteit. Die faktore is egter interafhanklik van aard – geen een kan uitgesonder word as belangriker as die ander nie. Universiteite moet die oorgang van nuwelingstudente holisties benader. Hierdie ondersoek kom verder tot die slotsom dat dit ook die verantwoordelikheid van universiteite is om te sorg dat die krimpende poel potensiele studente vir hoër onderwys vergroot en beter voorbereide studente toegelaat word om sodoende die oorgangsproses te vergemaklik en deurvloeikoerse te verhoog. In die lig hiervan stel die studie ’n teoretiese raamwerk vir ’n pre-universitêre intervensie voor.

Annexure is transcription of in-depth interviews. / Dissertation (DPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2000. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the era of globalisation, demands for increased productivity and multiple skills present challenges to adult educators in their role of facilitating empowerment in individuals. The proposed link between productivity and empowerment has stimulated interest in the concept by management and there has to be accountability to ensure that the needs of individuals and organisations are balanced. The aim of designing a standardised measuring instrument comprised the first phase of this research. The questionnaire was compiled based on the outcomes of empowerment identified in the literature on three levels (Micro-level, Interface level and Macro-level). After exploratory testing, the summated ratings method was applied in order to reduce and standardise the questionnaire. This instrument was tested for validity and the questionnaire of 61 statements was retained for the experiment. The experiment was conducted in the second phase to measure the effects of an intervention on the empowerment of workers. The questionnaire was applied in the Pre-, Post- and Postpost- test design in eight companies in the Western Cape where the life-skills training programme FREE TO GROW was implemented. Qualitative data collected identified the outcomes of empowerment and also validated the measuring instrument. Statistical procedures applied identified the patterns of empowerment in respondents. The respondents in the experiment were mainly females and the mean age was 33.9 years. The majority were Afrikaans and most classified themselves as part of the Coloured ethnic group. The FREE TO GROW training programme succeeded in achieving the objective of empowerment because it was found that there was a statistically significant improvement in the empowerment status of workers both in the short and long term. Most of the total group was empowered on the Interface level prior to the course and on the Micro-level after the course and in the long term. The males were more empowered on the Macro-level before the course, but had increased sustained Interface-level empowerment. The females benefited most on the Micro-level directly after the course and in the long term. Before the course the Coloured group was more empowered on the Micro-level compared to the whites, but they benefited most on the Interface level directly after the course. The Coloured group and females had statistically significant higher scores on the Interface level in the long term. In terms of the patterns of empowerment, it was found that the Micro-level issues were dominant prior to the course with a greater spread of perception of the other aspects of empowerment over time. Before the course, the respondents tended to react to personal and family issues where no action was needed. They were motivated to achieve their goals and had a desire for control over aspects affecting them. Directly after the course they had a more positive view of life, a sense of personal responsibility, and an ability to cope. They were prepared to take the initiative, were more ambitious and felt confident of their abilities in the workplace. In the long term their experience of empowerment was more balanced and they felt good about themselves, were more assertive, able to think critically and more involved in issues external to themselves. The measuring instrument designed in this study measured the outcomes of empowerment on three levels and helped to identify the patterns that emerged over the course of an intervention. A standardised empowerment questionnaire can increase accountability, assist in balancing the needs of individuals and management, and can provide insights to educationalists seeking to empower adults. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:In die era van globalisering stel die vraag na verhoogde produktiwiteit en veelvuldige vaardighede groot uitdagings aan opvoedkundiges betrokke by volwassene-onderrig in hul rol as fasiliteerders van bemagtiging by individue. Die voorgestelde verb and tussen produktiwiteit en bemagtiging het bestuur se belangstelling in die konsep aangewakker en toerekenbaarheid is noodsaaklik ten einde te verseker dat die behoeftes van individue en organisasies in balans is. Die eerste fase van hierdie navorsing het die ontwerp van 'n gestandaardiseerde meetinstrument ten doel gehad. Die vraelys is saamgestel op grond van die uitkomste van bemagtiging op drie vlakke (Mikrovlak, Interpersoonlike-vlak en Makrovlak) soos in die literatuur geYdentifiseer. Na ondersoekende toetsing is die vraelys verkort en gestandaardiseer. Hierdie instrument is vir geldigheid getoets en die vraelys van 61 stellings is vir die eksperiment behou. In die tweede fase is die eksperiment uitgevoer om die uitwerking van 'n intervensie op die bemagtiging van werkers te meet. Die vraelys is in die voor- en na-toets en mi die na-toets in agt maatskappye in die Wes-Kaap toegepas waar die opleidingsprogram In lewensvaardighede, "FREE TO GROW', geYmplementeer is. Kwalitatiewe data wat ingesamel is het die resultate van bemagtiging geYdentifiseer en ook die geldigheid van die meetinstrument bekragtig. Statistiese prosedures wat toegepas is het die bemagtigingspatrone by respondente geYdentifiseer. Die respondente in die eksperiment was hoofsaaklik vroue en die gemiddelde ouderdom was 33.9 jaar. Die meeste was Afrikaanssprekend en het hulself as lede van die Kleurling etniese groep geklassifiseer. Die "FREE TO GROW' opleidingsprogram het daarin geslaag om die doelwit van bemagtiging te bereik, omdat daar op kort- en lang termyn 'n statisties beduidende verbetering in die bemagtigingstatus van werkers gevind is. Die meeste van die totale groep is voor die kursus op die Interpersoonlike-vlak bemagtig en na die kursus en op die lang termyn op die Mikrovlak. Die mans is voor die kursus meer op die Makrovlak bemagtig, maar het groter volgehoue Interpersoonlike-vlak bemagtiging getoon. Die vroue het onmiddellik na die kursus en op die lang termyn die meeste op die Mikrovlak gebaat. Voor die kursus was die Kleurlinggroep meer op die Mikrovlak bemagtig in vergelyking met die blankes, maar hulle het onmiddellik na die kursus die meeste op die Interpersoonlike-vlak gebaat. Die Kleurlinggroep en die vroue het op lang termyn statisties beduidend hoer tellings op die Interpersoonlike-vlak behaal. Wat bemagtigingpatrone betref, is bevind dat die Mikrovlak-kwessies voor die kursus oorheersend was, met 'n groter verspreiding van persepsie van die ander aspekte van bemagtiging oor tyd. Voor die kursus was die respondente geneig om op persoonlike en gesinsaangeleenthede te reageer wat geen aksies vereis het nie. Hulle was gemotiveer om hul doelwitte te bereik en het beheer verlang oor aspekte wat hulle geraak het. Onmiddellik na die kursus het hulle 'n meer positiewe uitkyk op die lewe en 'n persoonlike verantwoordelikheidsin gehad, en getoon dat hulle probleme kon hanteer. Hulle was bereid om die insiatief te neem, was meer ambisieus en het vertroue gehad in hul vermoens in die werkplek. Op die lang termyn was hul ervaring van bemagtiging meer gebalanseerd en hulle het goed gevoel oor hulself, was meer assertief, in staat tot kritiese denke en meer betrokke by aangeleenthede buite hulself. Die meetinstrument wat in hierdie studie ontwerp is, het die uitkoms van bemagtiging op drie vlakke gemeet en gehelp om die patrone wat oor die verloop van 'n intervensie na yore gekom het, te identifiseer. 'n Gestandaardiseerde bemagtigingsvraelys kan toerekenbaarheid verhoog, help om die behoeftes van individue en bestuur te balanseer, en insig bied aan opvoedkundiges wat poog om volwassenes te bemagtig.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / When CURRICULUM 2005, hereafter C2005 (Department of Education [DoE], 1997b), was implemented in Grade 7 in 2000 none of the in-service teachers were sufficiently trained to teach Life Orientation. Higher Education Institutions had only then started to adapt teacher-training programmes to meet the needs of an outcomesbased curriculum for all aspiring teachers. Some in-service teachers had been trained as subject specialists in some of the focus areas contained within Life Orientation, like Physical Education, Guidance and Religious Education, but no teacher had been trained, pre-service or in-service, to be a specialist in all of the focus areas contained within Life Orientation. The Department of Education prepared teachers for the implementation of C2005 (DoE, 1997b) by means of a weeklong orientation programme. Teachers were orientated to an outcomes-based philosophy and teaching approach, and to specific outcomes and assessment criteria, but no content training was offered. A Life Orientation teacher is expected to have a body of knowledge on a range of subjects or focus areas as prescribed by the specific outcomes (DoE, 1997b). This study is aimed at researching the Life Orientation learning area and investigating the ways and level of preparation teachers had received to equip them to implement Life Orientation in the Senior Phase of the General Education and Training Band. A case study was used as a research design and specific schools in the Education Management and Development Centre Metropole North were selected to participate in the case study. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained through questionnaires, interviews and observations. A descriptive research strategy was employed to capture, analyse and interpret the data. The research found that there were gaps in the preparation of Life Orientation teachers to implement C2005 (DoE, 1997b). Recommendation are made with regard to training and support programmes to ensure that teachers are adequately empowered to implement Life Orientation in the Revised National Curriculum Statement (DoE, 2002b) in the General Education and Training Band and in the National Curriculum Statement (DoE, 2003b) in the Further Education and Training Band.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African youth are confronted by a range of challenges on a daily basis which can potentially evolve into serious barriers to learning and development. Life Orientation is a critical subject offered by the Further Education and Training (FET) band as it aims to prevent the development of such problems. Furthermore, the role played by the teacher in successfully and meaningfully presenting Life Orientation is a pivotal one. This study therefore aimed at understanding the support needs of Life Orientation teachers in the FET band in order to gain insight into the challenges experienced and what recommendations can be made to improve support to teachers, and consequently, learners. The theoretical framework on which this study was based was positive psychology as its emphasis on the fostering of positive individual traits, emotions and institutions is an appropriate and constructive way of understanding teachers’ support needs within their school communities. This study’s research methodology can be described as basic qualitative research which is embedded within an interpretive paradigm. Purposive sampling was used to select three schools and their Life Orientation departments as research participants. Three methods of data collection were employed, namely written reflective notes and semistructured focus group- and individual interviews. Furthermore, qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. The research findings indicated that Life Orientation teachers in the FET band experience a range of support needs across the various levels within the school community. Teachers experience a tension between the expectations of the Department of Education, the needs of the learners, and their own expectations with regards to the facilitation of a community of care within the Life Orientation classroom. Support therefore needs to be aimed at increasing teachers’ competencies and providing opportunities to collaborate with other teachers to develop positive individual traits and foster positive emotions. Furthermore, school communities need to become aware of their attitudes and perceptions towards the subject so as to initiate processes which can lead to the promotion and development of positive, supportive institutions. A critical step in doing so is to consider policies regarding the appointment of Life Orientation teachers and ensure that qualified, specialist teachers who believe in the value of the subject are employed in these posts. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug word daagliks gekonfronteer met ‘n wye spektrum uitdagings wat potensiëel tot ernstige hindernisse vir leer en ontwikkeling kan ontwikkel. Lewensoriëntering is ’n noodsaaklike vak in die Verdere Onderwys en Opleidingsband (VOO) juis omdat dit poog om die ontwikkeling van hierdie hindernisse te verhoed. Die rol van die opvoeder in die suksesvolle en betekenisvolle aanbieding van Lewensoriëntering is deuslaggewend. Daarom poog hierdie studie om die ondersteuningsbehoeftes van Lewensoriënteringopvoeders te verstaan ten einde insig te verkry in die uitdagings wat hulle ondervind. Sodoende kan aanbevelings gemaak word vir die ondersteuning van opvoeders wat dan sal deurvloei na die leerders. Die teoretiese raamwerk van hierdie studie is positiewe sielkunde, aangesien dit die ontwikkeling van positiewe individuele kenmerke, emosies en organisasies beklemtoon. Dit is dus ’n toepaslike en konstruktiewe manier om die ondersteuningsbehoeftes van opvoeders binne hulle skoolgemeenskappe te verstaan. Die navorsingsmetodologie wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, kan beskryf word as basiese kwalitatiewe navorsing binne ’n interpretivistiese paradigma. ’n Doelgerigte steekproef is gebruik om drie skole en hul Lewensoriënteringdepartemente as deelnemers te identifiseer. Drie metodes van data-insameling is gebruik, naamlik geskrewe reflektiewe notas, semigestruktureerde fokusgroeponderhoude en individuele onderhoude. Verder is kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise gebruik om die data te analiseer. Die navorsingsbevindinge het aangedui dat Lewensoriënteringopvoeders in die VOO band ’n wye verskeidenheid ondersteuningsbehoeftes binne die verskillende vlakke van die skoolgemeenskap ervaar. Opvoeders ervaar spanning tussen die verwagtinge van die Departement van Onderwys, die behoeftes van leerders en hul eie verwagtinge met betrekking tot die fassilitering van ’n omgeegemeenskap in die Lewensoriënteringklaskamer. Ondersteuning behoort dus te poog om die bevoegdhede van die opvoeder te verbeter en geleenthede daar te stel vir die ontwikkeling van positiewe individuele kenmerke en die vestiging van positiewe emosies. Verder behoort skoolgemeenskappe meer bewus te raak van hul persepsies en houdings teenoor die vak ten einde prosesse in plek te kan stel vir die bevordering en ontwikkeling van positiewe organisasies. ’n Kritiese stap in die bereiking hiervan, is die oorweging van beleide met betrekking tot die aanstelling van Lewensoriënteringopvoeders en die versekering dat gekwalifiseerde, gespesialiseerde opvoeders wat in die waarde van die vak glo, in hierdie poste aangestel word.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of the Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS)/Life Skills program at the University of North Texas, as perceived by the student athletes who participate or participated in this program. The study attempts to measure the extent to which the student athletes feel that the program had value; if they received helpful information to support them through their college career to career transition; if the student athletes felt that the program provided them with skills to encourage better self-esteem; and if they believed that the CHAMPS/Life Skills program provided them with leadership and character education. The study, conducted in the Fall of 2003, had 163 respondents. An instrument was developed to determine student athletes' perceptions of the effectiveness of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at UNT. The instrument consisted of 30 questions using a Likert-type scale. A Mann-Whitney U, a non-parametric t-Test, was utilized to analyze the data. This type of t-Test was used because it is specifically designed to compare the means of the same variable with two different groups and account for non-homogeneous groups. The lack of homogeneity was very likely influenced by the unequal group sizes. Generally, all aspects of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at UNT were found to be positive by each subgroup. Student athletes found value in the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at UNT. In three of the four components studied, males had a statistically stronger feeling than females. Minority status had no statistically significant impact on the results in any of the four components studied. For the variable measuring the number of years in the program, a significant difference existed in three of the four components studied. The study shows that if a student athlete was involved in the program for more than two years, the CHAMPS/Life Skills program at UNT was more valuable for them than those enrolled for a shorter period of time.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain an increased understanding of an independent living skills training program's impact on resilience, social support, and life skills for foster care youth participants. This study used a qualitative case study methodology and involved a purposive sample of 16 ethnically diverse youths and 9 adult staff members of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Youth participants were recruited through one of several state-contracted agencies that provided life skills training to youths in Texas. Data were collected through multiple sources and were analyzed using content analysis and descriptive statistics. Scores on standardized measures of resilience, social support, and life skills, and youths' descriptions of these same constructs were compared. The change in scores on the standardized measure of social support were statistically significant (p=.006; p<.05), while total scores on measures of resilience and life skills were not. Although scores were not statistically significant, scores on the measure of resilience were in the "high" range, possibly indicating high levels of internal and external assets, and scores on the standardized measure of life skills indicated that youths showed "mastery" of approximately half of the life skills. Youths' descriptions of social support, resilience, and life skills were consistent with scores on standardized measures. Participants described biological family members as their greatest sources of emotional support and encouragement and their verbal descriptions corresponded with the internal and external assets defined in the standardized measure of resilience. Most participants had difficulty describing and recollecting life skills information such as managing money and locating appropriate housing, which was consistent with scores suggesting they "mastered" only about half of all items on the life skills assessment. Staff participants cited placement changes and lack of transportation as the most frequent occurring reasons a youth stopped attending life skills training. Findings from this study highlighted the strengths of foster care youth and have implications for future use of strengths-based theories and frameworks, and for gender-specific life skills training. Findings also indicate important implications for teaching life skills to youths in foster care and policies related to independent living services.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Education