Life Orientation is a new learning area in the National Curriculum Statement. The Learning area promises to improve the quality of education for all the South Africans. This study was founded upon the Structural Curriculum Theory to investigate how secondary school teachers understand, response to and implement Life Orientation. Life Orientation is a core subject area according to the Department of Education. A total number of thirty six Life Orientation teachers form five secondary schools in different circuits in Gert Sibande Region in Mpumalamga Province participated in the study. Data was collected through the focus group, individual interviews and qualitatively analysed. The results revealed that teachers are frustrated, lack knowledge, understanding, has negative response and are ignorant in implementing the subject area in schools. Teachers lack sufficient support, not suffiently qualified, disregard the importance of the subject area, low status of the subject area, limited time allocation for the learning area. In the light of the results, recommendations are made with regard to the study on training monitoring and support of teachers. The Department of Education should increase school-based support visits and monitoring by district officials. These visits should be more intense and should include practical demonstrations of curriculum implementation. District officials must monitor progress by following-up previous visits. Heads of Department should exercise control and provide guidance with regard to curriculum implementation. Learning area teachers and the Heads of Department should be empowered by the Department of Education through scheduled workshops. Specific emphasis should be given to the interpretation and practical implementation of the learning area policy components. Heads of Department should deliberately create opportunities for Life Orientation staff to collaborate to exchange creative ideas and information that will improve teachers’ understanding and interpretation of the curriculum. Schools should acknowledge the status and importance of the learning area. Life Orientation should not be disregarded and deliberately allocated to ineffective teachers or to fill up gaps in the timetable of teachers. Teaching Life Orientation should not be imposed on teachers. Higher Education Institutions should have programmes that will prepare teachers as specialists in Life Orientation as a learning area. The Department of Education and Higher Education Institutions should actively recruit students to become specialists in Life Orientation as a learning area for better implementation of Life Orientation in South African schools. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Early Childhood Education / unrestricted

This research project focuses on the perceptions of school principals on HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns in public schools. The principals of primary and secondary schools in the Rustenburg area of North West Province were investigated. The aim of this research project is to investigate the understanding of school principals on HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns carried in their schools, and to identify government and non-government organizations, which are involved in this process. A qualitative research method was adopted for this research project. Data were collected by means of interviews, and was audio-tapped. Data were analyzed and arranged into five categories; awareness campaigns, leadership, resources/tools, communication, attitudes and behavioural change. The findings indicated that school principals do understand and support HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in their schools. Communication resources and visual materials related to HIV/AIDS, however, were very minimal in public schools. / Dissertation (MPhil (EFCD))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

The implications of the rapid political, social, economic and technological changes at present occurring both in South Africa and internationally demand a review of the traditional approach to university training with regard to its relevance in terms of preparing students both for life in general and for the successful practising of a future career in particular. The Information Age requires that a shift take place from the teaching only of the mastery skills of previous eras to the encompassing of life or core skills that can be adapted to changing circumstances. As it cannot be assumed that students will acquire these skills incidentally or vicariously, they need to be consciously and deliberately taught in order to provide graduates with the ability to adjust to and cope with the uncertainties of the future. Universities as a whole need to become involved in an alternative approach to higher education. The aims of this study are:<ul><li> To employ a life-skills questionnaire that may be used as a diagnostic medium designed to ascertain if and where problem areas lie with regard to university entrants so as to facilitate addressing of said problem areas</li><li> To ascertain the needs and expectations of both employers and private practitioners in order to identify where the training of graduates falls short of the above with respect to life skills, and to establish what steps both employers and the self-employed are having to take to remedy the situation</li><li> To suggest the concept of relevant Guidance Support as a means to both address and redress problems surrounding issues of insufficient training of graduates with respect to life or core skills. </li></ul> The study comprises a title and concept elucidation, methodological justification, formulation of the problem and research hypotheses, an exposition of the aim of the study and an outline of the programme. Perspective is gained on the level of life skills present in university entrants via the presentation of a Life Skills Questionnaire and its possible uses are discussed. A survey of the needs of both employers and the self-employed, comprising a literature review, a Life Skills Questionnaire aimed at deans of faculties and councils and personal or telephonic interviews, revealed that graduates are insufficiently prepared to meet the demands of the world of work in terms of life competencies and skills. The concept of Guidance Support, concomitant with the notion of establishing a guidance support department is explored. The value of considering such a concept is covered, followed by a discussion of the functions and the advantages to a university of a guidance support department. The study contains a number of recommendations with regard to promoting the training of graduates sufficiently skilled to meet the demands of the world of work. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

AFRIKAANS: Die doel van hierdie studie was om 'n sensitiseringshulpmiddel oor gesonde persoonlikheidsfunksionering te ontwikkel. Dit kan dien as 'n hulpmiddel vir opvoeders wat dit kan aanwend as deel van hul opvoedkundige kennis. Die vaardighede wat hierdie hulpmiddel onderskryf, is daarop gerig om gesonde persoonlikheidsfunksionering te bevorder. Die denkraamwerk van waaruit die navorsers gewerk het, was idealisties interpreterend met realisasie in die sisteemteorie. Die keuse van die denkraamwerk was gebaseer op die feit dat persoonlikheidsfunksionering oor die algemeen as multi-dimensioneel beskou word, asook dat persone voortdurend in interaksie is met ander persone. Mense funksioneer ook in veranderlike situasies en kontekste. Twee persoonlikheidskonstrukte naamlik Lokus van Kontrole en Egosterkte is akademies ontleed en die resultate hiervan is geïntegreer. Alhoewel die keuse van die twee konstrukte arbitrêr was, was dit geregverdig op grond van praktykondervinding, uitgesproke behoeftes van ander opvoeders en die klem wat tans akademies op die twee konstrukte geplaas word. Die totale studie soos uiteengesit in twee volumes (Deel I en Deel II) soos onderskeidelik gefinaliseer deur die navorsers, I. De Beer en R. Nel, was deurlopend gerig deur drie vlakke van data-ontleding. Op die eerste-orde-ontledingsvlak is die bestaande literatuur oor die twee konstrukte geëkstrapoleer. Die inligting is geïntegreer en 'n konsephulpmiddel is hieruit ontwikkel. Hierdie ontwikkeling het plaasgevind deur patroonkategorieë te skep met behulp van tweede-orde-ontleding. Die konsephulpmiddel het bestaan uit 'n gestruktureerde deel (vyf-puntskaal) en 'n semi-gestruktureerde deel (bydraes wat respondente spontaan moes genereer). Die konsephulpmiddel is aangebied aan 'n geselekteerde steekproef van 32 opvoeders naamlik ouers, onderwysers en sielkundiges. Die opvoeders het die hulpmiddel geëvalueer en ook hulle eie idees weergegee. Inligting wat hieruit verkry is, is in fokusgroepsessies bespreek en verfyn. Die data wat hieruit verkry is, is kwalitatief ontleed, statisties verwerk, geïntegreer en as 'n konsephulpmiddel ontwikkel. Die konsephulpmiddel is deur opvoeders in die praktyk geëvalueer. Die finale hulpmiddel is in gebruikersvriendelike taal en vorm saamgestel. Hierna is die hulpmiddel teruggekoppel na die oorspronklike konstrukte waaruit dit ontwikkel is. Laastens is die studie en die hulpmiddel konseptueel in terme van die huidige stand van die sielkunde, asook binne die groter konteks van Suid-Afrika bespreek. Verskeie aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing is gemaak, soos byvoorbeeld om 'n werkboek saam te stel wat voorsiening maak vir die meting van die doeltreffendheid van die hulpmiddel, asook om die hulpmiddel vir groepe met unieke behoeftes toepasbaar te maak. ENGLISH: The aIm of this study was to develop a sensitisation aid for healthy personality functioning. It can be used as an aid by educators who can utilize it as part of their educational knowledge. The skills that this aid underwrites are aimed at promoting healthy personality functioning. The frame of reference used by the researchers was idealistic interpretation with realisation in the systems approach. The choice of the reference framework was based on the fact that personality functioning is in general, considered to be multi-dimensional and that people are continually interacting with others. People also function in variable situations and contexts. Two personality constructs namely Locus of Control and Ego Strength were academically analysed and the results were integrated. Although the choice of constructs was arbitrary, they were justified on the grounds of experience obtained in practices, expressed needs from other educators and the emphasis currently placed on the two constructs by academics. The completed study as explained in two volumes (Part I and II) and finalized by the researchers I. De Beer and R. Nel respectively, was conducted at three levels of data analysis. In the first-order analytical level, the existing literature on the constructs was extrapolated. This information was integrated and a concept aid was developed hereafter. This development was done by the creation of pattern categories with the aid of second-¬order analysis. The concept aid consisted of a structured section (a five point scale) and a semi-structured section (inputs that had to be generated spontaneously by respondents). The concept aid was presented to a selected sample of 32 educators namely parents, teachers and psychologists. The educators evaluated the aid and also included their own ideas. The information gathered from this process was discussed and refined in focus groups. The data that was acquired was quantitatively analysed and statistically processed and re¬integrated as a concept aid. The concept aid was evaluated in practice by educators. The final aid was compiled in an user friendly language and format. Hereafter the researchers re-coupled the aid back to the original constructs from which it was derived. To conclude with, the study and the aid were discussed conceptually in terms of the current state in psychology as well as within the broader context of South Africa. Numerous recommendations for further research were made. Examples of these are the compilation of a workbook that provides for the measurement of the effectiveness of the aid and the adaptation of the aid to meet the requirements of groups with unique needs. / Thesis (DPhil (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Psychology / unrestricted

The apparent increase in the incidence of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa worldwide has resulted in a surge of interest in effective treatment, prevention programmes and health promotion. Health promotion and the primary prevention of eating and body image problems among young people, and in particular adolescents, is emerging as one of the most desirable achievements in contemporary health and nutrition education. Eating disorders usually have their origin during the teenage years, and as such, high schools provide useful sites for the implementation of prevention programmes. Educators can play an important role in the prevention of eating disorders and act as socialization agents who either reinforce or buffer the dominant societal discourses that shape young women’s views of themselves. There are calls, however, for caution in the design and implementation of school-based eating disorder curricula as school educators may inadvertently do more harm than good. It has also been suggested that female educators, as other women, are likely to possess a degree of normative discontent with their body shape and size, and that this dissatisfaction and negative beliefs about food may be unknowingly transferred to the learners within their care. The current study used an exploratory, descriptive research design to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to eating disorders, body image and weight control of a group of Life Orientation educators. A biographical questionnaire, a questionnaire designed for the purposes of the current research and two standardised paper-and-pencil questionnaires, namely the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), were administered to 50 female Life Orientation educators in the Nelson Mandela Metropole. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used in the selection of participants and descriptive statistics were used to explore and describe the data. The results of the current research study indicated a lack of knowledge in those Life Orientation educators assessed regarding eating disorders and healthy diet. The results also indicated inaccurate knowledge amongst those educators assessed regarding effective and safe teaching practices of eating disorder pathology. The results of the two standardised questionnaires reflected an internalisation of the dominant societal ideals regarding weight and body shape, with 18% of the sample xi demonstrating attitudes and behaviours that could be indicative of eating disorder pathology of either clinical or subclinical proportions. Suggestions were made regarding future research and the need for further training of Life Orientation educators. Finally, the limitations as well as the value of the research were outlined.

The aim of this research project then was to investigate a particular dimension related to the implementation of the Life Orientation learning area within a particular rural primary school in the Kwa-Zulu Natal region. Since the teacher has been identified as a key role player in the successful or unsuccessful implementation of a new curriculum, the primary focus was on the teacher per se. Fullan’s emphasis (1991:117) on teachers’ thoughts (what they think) and actions (what they do), raises two subsequent questions, namely What do teachers at this particular school do with regard to the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? and What do these teachers think about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? In this study, I focused on the second question, namely What do teachers think about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area? Within the context of this study, it is assumed that the teachers’ thoughts also include their opinions, viewpoints, attitudes and beliefs about the implementation of the Life Orientation curriculum. The term ‘perspective’ has thus been used as encompassing term and the main research question defined as What are teachers’ perceptives about the implementation of the (new) Life Orientation learning area?.

The purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to examine the role of program quality within youth sport and understand the relationships between program quality, basic psychological needs support, and psychosocial development. Data were gathered from 33 youth programs across South Eastern Ontario using observations and corresponding field notes, self-report questionnaires from leaders and youth participants, and semi-structured interviews with leaders. The dissertation is composed of five articles. The first article uses structural equation modeling to examine the role of basic psychological needs support in mediating the relationship between program quality and psychosocial outcomes in the youth sport context. Results from this study indicate that both program quality and basic psychological needs play a role in facilitating psychosocial development; however, future research is needed to continue to understand this relationship. The second article presents findings from a sub-sample of the larger study in which a polynomial regression was conducted to examine discrepancies in program quality related to youth volleyball athletes’ needs support. Results indicated that discrepancies existed between researcher- and coach-perceptions of program quality and findings outline how this influences basic needs. The third article represents a mixed-methods examination of program quality and basic psychological needs support within two physical activity-based in-school mentoring programs. Findings from this study revealed a significant difference in program quality across the two programs, specifically related to psychological needs support. Program quality was found to significantly predict needs support within the girls’ program, but not in the boys’ program. Further, field notes were analyzed and practical strategies emerged that were found to help facilitate a quality mentoring program. The fourth article examined the importance of intentionally structuring the youth sport context to facilitate positive youth development across three types of youth programming. Results revealed that intentionally structured programs (both leadership and sport) scored higher on program quality and psychosocial outcomes than non-intentionally structured sport programs. In addition, intentional sport programs scored higher on some elements compared to intentionally structured leadership programs. Finally, the fifth article was a qualitative study that explored youth sport coaches’ perceptions of life skill development. Results indicated that coaches considered life skills to be important, yet believed they were a by-product of sport participation. Coaches also identified challenges associated with using an explicit approach to teaching life skills. Findings from this dissertation provide some of the first empirical accounts of examining program quality within youth sport and suggest that program quality plays an important role in fostering basic psychological needs support and psychosocial development. Moreover, the findings illustrate that there is a need for coach education related to how to structure the youth sport context in order to deliver a high quality program that facilitates psychosocial outcomes.

While the literature on the experiences of women in academe generaly, is growing, the experiences of women student mothers in post-secondary education are rarely explored. Given the increasing number of women students enroling in university and the fact that the student population is aging, there is a greater likelihood of these students being mothers. A study of these women is timely and crucial to understanding their needs and chalenges within the university. The purpose of the research was to examine the experiences of doctoral student mothers living at the intersection of studenthood and motherhood as it was expected that the demands from the family and university would create specific chalenges. The study delineates the women's understanding of and the degree to which they accepted the dominant North American ideology of intensive mothering and the ideology of the good student. Further, the study sought to ascertain whether the student mothers experienced contradiction between the two ideologies similar to that experienced by the women in Hay's (1996) study of employed and stay-at-home mothers. The study utilizes the concept of the public/private dichotomy and the notions of greedy institutions and competing urgencies in its framework. The design consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews with seventeen mothers at various stages in their doctoral programme. The women range in age from thirty-three to forty-seven and have at least one child, under age of thirteen, living with them full-time. Findings noted that the women were able to articulate the dominant definitions of the good mother and the good student but, for the most part, they rejected them. They preferred to be balanced both as mothers and as students, although almost all of them insisted their children were their first priority. The women experienced a contradiction between the two ideologies and, using the concept of ideological work developed by Berger (1981), their experiences were explored. The women engaged in ideological work to support their alternative definitions of the good mother and the good student. When they were not as able to sustain their ideological work they tended to revert to the dominant definitions. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

M.A. / 1. Introduction Internationally there has been a paradigm shift towards a developmental and preventative approach in social work. Also, the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at community development has been noted. 2. Goal of the study The main aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a life skills program aimed at personal / community enrichment through the extension of self-knowledge according to the themes of temperament, early childhood experiences, transactional analysis, self-presentation and cognitive reconstruction and presented according to experiential instruction methods. 3. Objectives of the study In order to come to a conclusion regarding the impact of the abovementioned program, the following objectives were identified: - Has the program empowered the respondents to enhance their self-knowledge; - Has the program led the respondents to a better understanding of others; - Has the knowledge created a willingness to undertake necessary adjustments; - Respondents’ impressions of the program and the presentation thereof. 4. Methodology A qualitative grounded evaluative research design was used for the study. An availability sampling method was used: In this case the attendants at a workshop where the abovementioned program was implemented. 5. Data collection methods The following methods of data gathering were implemented: - The respondents had to give feedback on what they have realized or learned about each theme. - The theme on self-presentation was introduced by a brainstorming session on which aspects the respondents regarded as important aspects by which first impressions are formed. - Each respondent had to complete a questionnaire (enclosed as annexure 3) at the end of the workshop. - The results were compared with the literature overview. 6. Limitations of study - The researcher had no control over whether the faxed invitations to the workshop (enclosed as annexure 1) actually reached the intended population or not. - Although the invitation was intended for adults as well as teenagers, eventually only one teenager and nine adults were included in the sample. - The category: “Other”, was not included to the biographic questions. Because it was a small group which was known to the researcher, the question on marital status could be rectified and: “Divorced and remarried”, could be included for analysis. - The fact that some of the open ended questions in the questionnaire (annexure 3) didn’t require the respondents to motivate their answers, left a gap in the interpretation of those answers. - After the respondents named so many aspects attributing to first impressions, the researcher assumed that the topic was known so well, that the theoretic information wasn’t presented in full. When the results were analyzed, this seemed to be a wrong assumption, as more discussion was requested on this topic. - Despite the small sample, the results have been confirmed by the literature overview, which means that literature based on Western research also apply to the Afrikaans speaking case sample. 7. Goal achievements The abovementioned goals were conclusively achieved and can be summarized as follows: The life skills program for personal / community development presented according to experiential instruction methods and aiming at the extension of self-knowledge according to the themes of temperament, early childhood experiences, transactional analysis, self-presentation and cognitive reconstruction, has indeed: - Led to the enhancement of the respondents’ self-knowledge; - Created a better understanding for others; - Created a willingness to make adjustments; - As a whole been evaluated positively: As a dynamic, organized, understandable and effective presentation. 8. Recommendations The following recommendations were made: 8.1. Methodology - The program can be marketed as a personal-, marriage- family- or community enrichment program, and even as an employee assistance program (EAP). - Personal invitations, preparation and screening are recommended. - The questionnaire for completion at the end of the program, should be adapted to eliminate the limitations that were identified. 8.2 Program content and presentation - The program content can be perceived as effective for enhancing self-knowledge, to create a better understanding for others, as well as creating a willingness for change and adaptations. - Experiential instruction methods contribute to the success of the program and should be retained. - Do not deviate from the intended theory included in the program. - The participant manual (annexure 2) is a resourceful device which is also useful for future reference. - Permanent transparencies can be added to the program to enhance the efficiency thereof. - The five themes lend itself for presentation during five group sessions. 8.3 With regards to social work profession - This study proved that the case sample were more inclined to change and for adaptations once they got to know themselves better. Thus the social worker should experience less resentment or poor/lack of co-operation with helping programs. Indeed, the more the client gets to know himself, the more inclined should he be to accept responsibility for his own growth as a person in his social environment. - It would be unethical to leave a client who is ready for change and growth without further directions. Therefore the social worker should be capable to either present follow-up programs or to refer appropriately. / Prof. W.A. Mitchell

Magister Educationis - MEd / Over the last 15 years the Department of Education has rolled out various projects in an attempt to improve Mathematics and Science results and to increase the amount of learners who exit their schooling with those subjects. The 2010 - 2014 matric results show a decrease in the number of students who exiting with Science. One of the factors that might influence the learners' decision to do science can be ascribed to the methodologies that the teachers are using to teach Science. In response to the latter, this study investigated the cognitive shifts of grade two learners' conceptual knowledge of the day and night cycle after being exposed to a Dialogical Argumentation Based Instructional Model. The Contiguity Argumentation Theory (CAT) and Toulmin's Argumentation Pattern (TAP) were used as a framework to capture and interrogate learners' arguments with argumentation frames developed to categorize the learners’ argument responses. Analytical approaches were used to assess learners' argumentation skills along four stages namely intra-argumentation, inter-argumentation, whole class discussion and trans-argumentation. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. The data was collected from grade 2 learners in a primary school in Cape Town, Western Cape Province in the form of a pre-post questionnaire, focus group interviews and classroom observation. The major findings of this study indicated that ● The Dialogical Argumentation Instructional model can assist learners to develop argumentative skills. ● The grade two learners in this study had alternative conceptions regarding the day and night cycle which is not scientifically valid. ● The views that learners hold are egocentric. ● DAIM is an effective teaching strategy to help learners to eliminate the misconceptions This study has shown that the Dialogical Argumentation Instructional Model (DAIM) seems to be effective in enhancing the learners’ understanding of the day and night cycle. / National Research Foundation