This study investigates the terms, dialogue, structure and active learning in Open Distance Learning texts in aa constructivist and problem-solving approach. In-text activities are imbedded in selfstudy texts. Their construct is validated against appropriate instructional design and learning theories for active learning. A course team developed, implemented and piloted a Unisa course for mathematics teachers in South Africa. The results describe their professional development through action learning. The Tornado-approach affects teams in organisations. A team used participatory action research and action learning with rich descriptions to document the longitudinal case study of four action research cycles over eight years. Qualitative research involved a literature survey, notes, portfolios, mindmaps, letters, interviews, document analyses, and assessment results. Our action research demonstrates ways to implement a post-modern learning design in an industrialized institution. The researcher applies action learning in professional development, in team management, and suggests models for successful/unsuccessful teams (tornado-effect). / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to develop a vocational training programme for the adolescent learner with an intellectual disability. There is a need for these learners to be trained for work in the open labour market. From the literature it is apparent that American legislation is in place for these learners to gain access to schools, colleges and universities. The literature also makes it clear that parent involvement and community involvement are essential for the planning and implementation of a vocational training programme. To answer the research question, a qualitative participatory action research study was conducted from an interpretive research paradigm. The researcher implemented multiple sources to generate data, namely semistructured interviews, a literature review, personal documents and field notes. In the course of the study a number of steps were taken to ensure the credibility of the data and to pay attention to the ethical aspects that emerged during the research. The literature review extends over two chapters: Firstly the American legislation on vocational training programmes for the adolescent with intellectual disabilities was studied, as well as the South African Educational legislation after 1994. Secondly the three national curriculum programmes are described, namely Outcomes-based Education, Curriculum 2005 and the National Curriculum Statement. The vocational training programme was developed in accordance with the principles of the National Curriculum Statement, learning area Life orientation, Learning outcome 5: the world of work. The development of the learning programmes,work schedules and the lesson plans were adapted to suit the needs of the learners with intellectual disabilities. The findings concluded that schools can train learners to prepare them for entering the open labour market. The teachers cannot do the vocational training in school alone; they need the support of the parents and the community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is om 'n beroepsgerigte opleidingsprogram vir die adolessente leerder met intellektuele gestremdheid te ontwikkel. Daar is 'n behoefte vir hierdie leerders om opgelei te word om toegang tot die ope arbeidsmark te verkry. Uit die literatuur is dit duidelik dat Amerikaanse wetgewing vir beroepsgerigte opleiding in plek is vir die genoemde leerders om tot skole, kolleges en universiteite toegang te verkry. Ouer- en gemeenskapsbetrokkenheid is belangrik in die beplanning en implementering van 'n beroepsgerigte opleidingsprogram. In antwoord op die navorsingsvraag is 'n kwalitatiewe deelnemendeaksie-navorsingstudie vanuit 'n interpretatiewe paradigma onderneem. Die navorser het van verskeie bronne gebruik gemaak om data te genereer, naamlik semigestruktureerde onderhoude, 'n literatuurondersoek, persoonlike dokumente en veldnotas. Tydens die studie is verskillende maatreëls toegepas om die geloofwaardigheid van die data te verseker. Die etiese aspekte het ook aandag geniet. Die literatuurstudie strek oor twee hoofstukke. Die eerste behels die Amerikaanse wetgewing op beroepsgerigte opleidingsprogramme, sowel as die Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing ná 1994 op spesiale onderwys. Tweedens is die drie kurrikulumbenaderings ondersoek, naamlik Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys, Kurrikulum 2005 en die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring. Die beroepsgerigte opleidingsprogram is ontwikkel volgens die beginsels van die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring in die leerarea Lewensoriëntering, Leeruitkomste 5: Die wêreld van werk. Die ontwikkeling van die leerprogramme, werkskedules en lesplanne is aangepas volgens die behoeftes van leerders met intellektuele gestremdhede. Die bevindings het gelei tot die gevolgtrekking dat leerders op skool opgelei kan word om die ope arbeidsmark te betree. Die opvoeders kan nie die beroepsopleiding op skool alleen vermag nie; hulle benodig die ondersteuning van die ouers en die gemeenskap.

Deux catégories de compétences influenceraient toute pratique professionnelle, les compétences disciplinaires et relationnelles. Selon le cadre théorique de ce projet, la pratique réflexive (PR) aiderait le professionnel à développer les compétences relationnelles, grâce à l’approfondissement de sa conscience et de son autocritique des composantes tacites de sa pratique, telles que ses valeurs et principes, ses perceptions et ses stratégies d’action, afin de les rendre plus efficaces et satisfaisantes lors de la résolution de problèmes. Dans cette étude, la PR souhaitait aider un groupe d’infirmières pivots en oncologie (IPO) à réfléchir et agir sur les composantes de leur pratique qui contribuaient à certaines difficultés relationnelles persistantes vécues auprès de gestionnaires, collègues et familles et qui, selon les IPO, avaient un impact sur l’expérience de santé de familles touchées par le cancer. Toutefois, la recension des écrits effectuée dans cette recherche soutient qu’il y a un nombre insuffisant d’études qui a trait à l’influence d’une PR sur la pratique infirmière et, plus encore, sur le développement des compétences relationnelles des infirmières. Les écueils théoriques et méthodologiques suivants ont entre autres été rapportés: la PR étudiée ne reposait pas toujours sur un modèle théorique clair et le but poursuivi par la PR n’était pas toujours énoncé; aucune recherche n’a documenté de quelle manière la PR s’était développée et, une fois acquise, de quelle façon elle avait contribué aux résultats; et, enfin, aucune étude recensée n’a exploré l’influence d’une PR intégrée par l’infirmière, en tenant compte de la perspective de familles qui bénéficiaient de leurs soins. Considérant ces principaux écueils, cette étude a privilégié la recherche-action participative afin de documenter la facilitation d’une PR et son influence sur les compétences relationnelles d’IPO et sur d’autres dimensions à la fois personnelles, organisationnelles et cliniques. Six IPO ont pris part à l’intervention de l’étude d’une durée d’un an. Cinq collègues des équipes de soins et douze membres de familles touchées par le cancer ont participé à l’évaluation de son influence. Les résultats de cette recherche portent à croire que les IPO qui développent une PR plus profonde, c’est-à-dire jusqu’à leurs sentiments et besoins internes, parviennent à établir des relations plus mutuelles auprès de collègues et de familles, grâce à des changements importants réalisés sur le plan de leurs valeurs et principes, de leurs perceptions et de leurs stratégies d’action. Les résultats de l’étude soutiennent aussi que ces changements au sein de la pratique infirmière génèrent des effets positifs. Les IPO ont parlé d’une plus grande satisfaction liée à leur travail et de bienfaits sur leur santé. La majorité des IPO et des participantes-collègues de l’étude ont rapporté un climat de travail plus calme et des processus d’équipe plus satisfaisants lors, par exemple, de la résolution de problèmes. Enfin, lorsque les IPO intégraient une approche plus mutuelle, des familles rapportaient une atténuation de leur inquiétude ou de leur détresse psychologique, une plus grande capacité de donner du sens à leur expérience de cancer, une qualité accrue de leur communication intrafamiliale ou avec l’équipe soignante. / Two categories of competencies influence all professional practice: disciplinary skills and relational skills. According to the conceptual model of this study, reflective practice (RP) helps the professional develop the latter, by way of a deepening of consciousness and a self-critique of the tacit components of one’s practice, such as one’s values and beliefs, perceptions and action strategies, in order to render them more effective and satisfying when problem solving. In this study, RP sought to help a group of oncology pivot nurses (OPNs) reflect and act on the components of their practice that contributed to certain persistent relational difficulties experienced with nursing leaders, colleagues and families, which in turn, they felt had an impact on the health experience of families affected by cancer. The literature review conducted in this study however, supports that there are an insufficient number of studies regarding the influence of RP on nursing practice and on the development of relational competencies by nurses. The following theoretical and methodological gaps have, amongst others, been reported: the RP studied was not always based on a clear conceptual model and the aim sought by RP wasn`t always stated; no study has documented in what way RP had been developed and, once acquired, in what manner it had contributed to the results; and finally, none of the identified studies explored the influence of the integration of RP by the nurse, and took into account the perspectives of the families that benefited from their care. Taking these gaps into consideration, this study used a participatory action research approach in order to document the facilitation of RP and its influence on the relational competencies of OPNs’ as well as on other areas like personal, organizational and clinical ones. Six OPNs took part in the intervention of the study for a one year period. Five colleagues from care teams and a dozen family members affected by cancer participated in the evaluation of its influence. The study results suggest that the OPNs who develop a deeper RP, that is one that involves their feelings and internal needs, are able to establish more mutual relationships with colleagues and families because of important changes made with regards to their values and principles, perceptions and action strategies. The results of the study also support that these changes in nursing practice yielded positive effects. The OPNs spoke about improved work related satisfaction and of benefits on their health. The majority of OPNs and participant colleagues in the study reported a calmer work climate and more satisfactory team processes, for example, when problem-solving. Finally, when OPNs integrate a more mutual approach, families reported a reduction of their concerns and of their psychological distress, a greater capacity to make sense of their cancer experience, a higher quality of communication within their family or with the health care team.

Cette recherche témoigne d'une démarche de recherche-action-participative réalisée auprès d'enfants ayant vécu la perte d'un parent. Elle vise à comprendre l'expérience vécue par les enfants endeuillés d'un parent qui participent à un groupe d'intervention axé sur le modèle de l'aide mutuelle. La réalisation d'une entrevue pré-intervention et une autre post-intervention donnent accès aux perceptions des enfants concernant leur expérience d'endeuillé quant à leurs besoins, mais aussi à leur interprétation de leur réalité. Aussi, l'intervention de groupe utilisée comme méthode d’intervention, et comme méthode de collecte de données reflète la dynamique d'aide mutuelle et son influence sur le vécu des membres autant sur le plan émotif que sur le plan des stratégies adaptatives. Bref, cette recherche en service social, alliant les savoirs pratiques et ceux théoriques, permet de reconnaître que l’aide mutuelle soutient les enfants dans leur réalité d’endeuillés et met aussi l’accent sur le caractère unique de leur deuil respectif. / This research presents a participatory action research with parentally bereavement children. The aim of the project is to understand the experience of bereavement from the perspective of a children who participated at a mutual aid based group work intervention model on this process. First, the realisation of pre and post intervention interviews provide insights on the children's experience of bereavement with regards to their needs and also their perception of their own reality. Second, the group, used as an intervention and a data collect tool reflects, the dynamic's of mutual aid and it's influence on what the members are living emotionally as well to plan various adaptation strategies. In summary, this research in social work, which combines practical knowledge and theory, show the uniqueness of children's bereavement process at the same time than the potential for support obtained through mutual aid group work intervention.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:30:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ana Silvia Ariza de Souza.pdf: 2325859 bytes, checksum: 491cfa26c4a9d5995d43453d6b0604f0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-08 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study is a participatory action research (PAR) approach conducted with the Health Sector of the Movement of the Landless Rural Workers, known by its Portuguese acronym MST, from 2008 to 2011. During the process, this study aimed to transform the action developed through the PAR, according to the materialist and dialectical reference basis of the social-historical psychology, to better orient the actions in the light of the knowledge learnt from the relation and theoretical mediation toward the Movement objective for enhancing political action capability.The orienting conception of health is as proposed by Sawaia, which understands health as a whole, on the confluence of material, political, biological and ethical dimensions, when referring to the order of life power. Conditions experienced there (when living at the Irmã Alberta Commune of the Earth, where this study was conducted) were chosen as focus for this study reflecting the dialectic between life power and emancipation and ethical-political suffering, consequences and bondage power. In other words, the aim was to understand the forces, which prepare the grounds for the ethical and political health condition, or the possibility of existing in act and the assessment of what inhibits this power in the construction process of Irmã Alberta Commune. To assess the affectivity dynamics and its interconnection in the health-disease process, having as basis the social-historical perspective of Vygostky, the philosophy of Espinosa and the considerations of discussions carried out on the Nucleus on the Psychosocial Study of Social Inclusion Exclusion Dialectics (NEXIN).The study counted on forty nine individual interviews as well as reports and a field diary drawn up to find its language subtext. The meaning units found were: work, land, study/education, communitarian organization and political actions. Although living under precarious conditions, with health problems as a consequence of the nonregulation of land ownership, and the lack of governmental resources and public policies for health as well as for land reform, we could observe achievements and capabilities to face difficulties encouraging them to be and exist, in act, and promoting their own transformation as well as of the society, with political actions playing an enhancing role in this context, especially in what concerns land occupations / Esta tese é uma pesquisa ação participante (PAP) realizada com o Setor de Saúde do MST nos anos de 2008 a 2011. Durante o seu processo de realização, teve o objetivo de transformar a ação desenvolvida em PAP segundo o referencial da psicologia sócio-histórica que é de base materialista e dialética para melhor orientar as ações, à luz dos conhecimentos extraídos na relação e da mediação teórica, na direção do objetivo do Movimento de potencializar a capacidade de ação política. A concepção de saúde que orienta é a defendida por Sawaia que entende saúde como uma totalidade, na confluência entre a dimensão material, política, biológica e ética, pois é da ordem da potência de vida. Foi eleito como foco de pesquisa as afecções sofridas (experiência de viver na Comuna da Terra Irmã Alberta, local em que foi realizada a pesquisa) para refletir sobre a dialética entre potência de vida e emancipação e sofrimento ético-político, potência de padecimento e servidão. Ou seja, compreender as forças que abrem caminho para a saúde ético-política ou ainda a capacidade de existir em ato e a compreensão do que inibe essa potência no processo de construção da Comuna Irmã Alberta. Para compreender a dinâmica da afetividade e sua imbricação no processo saúde-doença, baseamo-nos na perspectiva sócio-histórica de Vygotsky, na filosofia de Espinosa e nas reflexões realizadas no Núcleo de Estudos Psicossociais da Dialética Inclusão Exclusão Social (NEXIN). Foram realizadas 49 entrevistas individuais, além de utilizados relatórios e diário de campo para encontrar o subtexto dos discursos. As unidades de significado encontradas foram: trabalho, terra, estudo/formação, organização comunitária e ações políticas, incluindo o atendimento à saúde para ampliar a compreensão. Concluímos que embora vivam precariedade e problemas de saúde decorrentes da não regularização da terra com ausência de recursos e políticas públicas de saúde bem como de reforma agrária por parte do Estado; as conquistas e capacidade de enfrentar as dificuldades os potencializa a ser e existir em ato, promovendo a transformação de si e da sociedade, tendo as ações políticas, especialmente as ocupações, papel potencializador nesse contexto

In a world that faces global warming and other major environmental challenges, it is essential that students learn about the principles of sustainability so that they can apply these principles in their future lives and careers. This is particularly so in fields such as interior architecture and design, which will impact how well humans can move toward a sustainable way of life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a participatory teaching approach for students of interior design that incorporates ecological thinking. It is particularly intended for use at universities and other places of higher education where such contexts are not currently available and, furthermore, where the teaching has been primarily of a didactic, teacher-centred form. The teaching approach was developed and tested through the involvement of students and staff at a technical institute in Kuwait – a country with severe environmental problems in which teaching at all levels has traditionally been rigidly didactic. A review was carried out of literature on learning theories, design principles, and sustainability paradigms that bore upon the research aim. Following this, a method was chosen, based on action research that involved running different types of workshops, in order to measure the impact of the teaching styles that are ideal to deliver ecological knowledge.

This thesis document presents a case study of a professional development playbuilding process at a public elementary school located in Austin, Texas. The study argues that playbuilding is a form of participatory action arts-based research particularly when positioned within the professional development setting. This qualitative study uses a narrative thematic analysis of the playbuilding process and workshop performance to examine how reflective and reflexive practice is situated within playbuilding as professional development. The document concludes with a discussion of the limitations and transformative potential of playbuilding and argues for the creation of critical pedagogical professional learning communities for teachers in school settings. / text

Cette recherche témoigne d'une démarche de recherche-action-participative réalisée auprès d'enfants ayant vécu la perte d'un parent. Elle vise à comprendre l'expérience vécue par les enfants endeuillés d'un parent qui participent à un groupe d'intervention axé sur le modèle de l'aide mutuelle. La réalisation d'une entrevue pré-intervention et une autre post-intervention donnent accès aux perceptions des enfants concernant leur expérience d'endeuillé quant à leurs besoins, mais aussi à leur interprétation de leur réalité. Aussi, l'intervention de groupe utilisée comme méthode d’intervention, et comme méthode de collecte de données reflète la dynamique d'aide mutuelle et son influence sur le vécu des membres autant sur le plan émotif que sur le plan des stratégies adaptatives. Bref, cette recherche en service social, alliant les savoirs pratiques et ceux théoriques, permet de reconnaître que l’aide mutuelle soutient les enfants dans leur réalité d’endeuillés et met aussi l’accent sur le caractère unique de leur deuil respectif. / This research presents a participatory action research with parentally bereavement children. The aim of the project is to understand the experience of bereavement from the perspective of a children who participated at a mutual aid based group work intervention model on this process. First, the realisation of pre and post intervention interviews provide insights on the children's experience of bereavement with regards to their needs and also their perception of their own reality. Second, the group, used as an intervention and a data collect tool reflects, the dynamic's of mutual aid and it's influence on what the members are living emotionally as well to plan various adaptation strategies. In summary, this research in social work, which combines practical knowledge and theory, show the uniqueness of children's bereavement process at the same time than the potential for support obtained through mutual aid group work intervention.

Deux catégories de compétences influenceraient toute pratique professionnelle, les compétences disciplinaires et relationnelles. Selon le cadre théorique de ce projet, la pratique réflexive (PR) aiderait le professionnel à développer les compétences relationnelles, grâce à l’approfondissement de sa conscience et de son autocritique des composantes tacites de sa pratique, telles que ses valeurs et principes, ses perceptions et ses stratégies d’action, afin de les rendre plus efficaces et satisfaisantes lors de la résolution de problèmes. Dans cette étude, la PR souhaitait aider un groupe d’infirmières pivots en oncologie (IPO) à réfléchir et agir sur les composantes de leur pratique qui contribuaient à certaines difficultés relationnelles persistantes vécues auprès de gestionnaires, collègues et familles et qui, selon les IPO, avaient un impact sur l’expérience de santé de familles touchées par le cancer. Toutefois, la recension des écrits effectuée dans cette recherche soutient qu’il y a un nombre insuffisant d’études qui a trait à l’influence d’une PR sur la pratique infirmière et, plus encore, sur le développement des compétences relationnelles des infirmières. Les écueils théoriques et méthodologiques suivants ont entre autres été rapportés: la PR étudiée ne reposait pas toujours sur un modèle théorique clair et le but poursuivi par la PR n’était pas toujours énoncé; aucune recherche n’a documenté de quelle manière la PR s’était développée et, une fois acquise, de quelle façon elle avait contribué aux résultats; et, enfin, aucune étude recensée n’a exploré l’influence d’une PR intégrée par l’infirmière, en tenant compte de la perspective de familles qui bénéficiaient de leurs soins. Considérant ces principaux écueils, cette étude a privilégié la recherche-action participative afin de documenter la facilitation d’une PR et son influence sur les compétences relationnelles d’IPO et sur d’autres dimensions à la fois personnelles, organisationnelles et cliniques. Six IPO ont pris part à l’intervention de l’étude d’une durée d’un an. Cinq collègues des équipes de soins et douze membres de familles touchées par le cancer ont participé à l’évaluation de son influence. Les résultats de cette recherche portent à croire que les IPO qui développent une PR plus profonde, c’est-à-dire jusqu’à leurs sentiments et besoins internes, parviennent à établir des relations plus mutuelles auprès de collègues et de familles, grâce à des changements importants réalisés sur le plan de leurs valeurs et principes, de leurs perceptions et de leurs stratégies d’action. Les résultats de l’étude soutiennent aussi que ces changements au sein de la pratique infirmière génèrent des effets positifs. Les IPO ont parlé d’une plus grande satisfaction liée à leur travail et de bienfaits sur leur santé. La majorité des IPO et des participantes-collègues de l’étude ont rapporté un climat de travail plus calme et des processus d’équipe plus satisfaisants lors, par exemple, de la résolution de problèmes. Enfin, lorsque les IPO intégraient une approche plus mutuelle, des familles rapportaient une atténuation de leur inquiétude ou de leur détresse psychologique, une plus grande capacité de donner du sens à leur expérience de cancer, une qualité accrue de leur communication intrafamiliale ou avec l’équipe soignante. / Two categories of competencies influence all professional practice: disciplinary skills and relational skills. According to the conceptual model of this study, reflective practice (RP) helps the professional develop the latter, by way of a deepening of consciousness and a self-critique of the tacit components of one’s practice, such as one’s values and beliefs, perceptions and action strategies, in order to render them more effective and satisfying when problem solving. In this study, RP sought to help a group of oncology pivot nurses (OPNs) reflect and act on the components of their practice that contributed to certain persistent relational difficulties experienced with nursing leaders, colleagues and families, which in turn, they felt had an impact on the health experience of families affected by cancer. The literature review conducted in this study however, supports that there are an insufficient number of studies regarding the influence of RP on nursing practice and on the development of relational competencies by nurses. The following theoretical and methodological gaps have, amongst others, been reported: the RP studied was not always based on a clear conceptual model and the aim sought by RP wasn`t always stated; no study has documented in what way RP had been developed and, once acquired, in what manner it had contributed to the results; and finally, none of the identified studies explored the influence of the integration of RP by the nurse, and took into account the perspectives of the families that benefited from their care. Taking these gaps into consideration, this study used a participatory action research approach in order to document the facilitation of RP and its influence on the relational competencies of OPNs’ as well as on other areas like personal, organizational and clinical ones. Six OPNs took part in the intervention of the study for a one year period. Five colleagues from care teams and a dozen family members affected by cancer participated in the evaluation of its influence. The study results suggest that the OPNs who develop a deeper RP, that is one that involves their feelings and internal needs, are able to establish more mutual relationships with colleagues and families because of important changes made with regards to their values and principles, perceptions and action strategies. The results of the study also support that these changes in nursing practice yielded positive effects. The OPNs spoke about improved work related satisfaction and of benefits on their health. The majority of OPNs and participant colleagues in the study reported a calmer work climate and more satisfactory team processes, for example, when problem-solving. Finally, when OPNs integrate a more mutual approach, families reported a reduction of their concerns and of their psychological distress, a greater capacity to make sense of their cancer experience, a higher quality of communication within their family or with the health care team.

This thesis examines the experiences of girl child soldiers in Uganda in order to explore the gender gaps that exist in post-conflict programming and to engender meaningful policy solutions that target these gaps. This thesis uses a gender lens to analyze the challenges faced by Ugandan girls and to explore how entrenched gender norms feed into a singular narrative of conflict – dangerous boys and traumatized girls – that renders particular combatants – and their unique needs – invisible. Adopting a feminist methodology that prioritizes the importance of girls’ narratives and self-perceptions, the author argues that girl child soldiers must be meaningfully included in the design and implementation of programming aimed at serving their needs. A participatory action research methodology is presented as a promising way forward. It can help address specific gendered challenges in the post-conflict environment, while also recognizing and drawing upon the resiliency and strengths of the girl child soldiers themselves.