Ill-discipline behaviour has become a canker that threatens the moral fibre of institutions. The purpose of this study was to explore how discipline measures and practices were viewed by teacher trainees and college managers alike. Furthermore, to determine what comprehensive counselling approaches were in place to manage ill-discipline behaviour acts in colleges of education in Ghana. A qualitative discourse analysis study design was employed in the study. In all, 25 participants were purposively selected from five colleges of education for the study using a semi-structured interview guide. Data collected was transcribed, coded, categorized and qualitatively analysed under themes that emerged from the analysis using the thematic approach. The study revealed that several illdiscipline behaviour acts exist in colleges of education, with perversion being the most prevailing ill-discipline behaviour act. The study also revealed that tertiarization of colleges is the major cause of ill-discipline behaviour among students in the colleges of education and poor academic performance being the major negative effect of ill-discipline behaviour in the colleges of education. The study recommended that the college council and management should put adequate measures in place to strengthen Guidance and Counselling units in the colleges of education. The study also recommended that college counsellors should be equipped to use appropriate counselling approaches and techniques to counsel students to desist from indulging in ill-discipline behaviour acts. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Phil. (Education Management)

No description available.

Presently all over the world, there is a great concern among teachers, parents, organisations, community leaders and higher education lecturers about the problems that beset teaching and learning particularly in the teaching programmes, for example, for under-qualified teachers studying at a distance. Most distance education (DE) programmes are concerned with education of adults and it seems fairly obvious that the research plans should be informed by the theories and research about learning in higher education institutions. In terms of teacher education, such studies could, inter alia, focus on teacher development, curriculum planning, learner support programmes, communication and evaluation of DE. DE itself refers to a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to learners who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom. Distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular way of studying, and most universities now provide courses using this mode of teaching and learning. Today’s learners, though, are demanding high quality, consumer-focused and flexible courses and learning resources, and active learner support. This means that providers of DE need to reconsider key issues about learner support systems, to ensure that this is delivered appropriately and effectively. This study focuses on learner support in DE education for under-qualified teachers. The concept, learner support, can be traced far back to Vygotsky’s concept of the zone of proximal development, which refers to a learners’ optimal developmental potential if assistance that is timely and appropriate is provided by another person (Vygotsky, 1978). The appeal of the concept of the zone of proximal development lies in the fact that it directs attention to the need for maximum support in the learning process, and does so in a way that emphasises that good teaching is necessarily responsive to the state of understanding achieved by particular learners. Learner support systems may include the resources that the learner can access in order to engage in the learning process, for example, libraries or the resources that relate to the mediation of the communication process such as the media or technology. This study acknowledges that there are different kinds of learner support structures, but argues that there are critical or main components of support services which are registration support, learner support services, contact sessions, technological support and feedback strategies. Therefore, this study focuses on the role played by these five learner support structures as used in the programmes of DE under-qualified teachers at The University of South Africa (UNISA). Supported by empirical data, this study seeks to argue that instructional designers and tutors in the programmes of under-qualified teachers studying through DE need to ensure quality learning support as learning environments are increasingly designed according to the principles of resource-based and independent learning. In a sustainable learning environment, support must be designed according to principles that ensure that learners progress from teacher-directed activity to self-regulated activity. The challenge to deliver a high-quality learner support system, and for tutors and administrators to assume a central educational role in developing effective distance learning environments, the need for teaching and research is increasingly emphasised in research literature. Finally, it is hoped that this piece of work will help to promote more discussion and debate about the use of learner support programmes in DE institutions in particular, and in teaching and learning in general. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

The Junior primary teachers have the task of catering for the needs of pupils of varying abilities in their charge. With the admission of culturally different groups of children (many of them from disadvantaged communities) to schools previously accustomed to having one cultural group, this task of catering for the needs of pupils presents a problem as teachers are not trained to deal with disadvantaged children. The aim of this study was to formulate scientifically sound guidelines according to which class teachers can plan and implement language programmes for disadvantaged learners. In order to formulate such guidelines, a theoretical investigation was undertaken on normal language development and on the effects of disadvantagement on the scholastic and language performance of the child. Various programmes available for disadvantaged learners which are being implemented in other countries were evaluated. On the basis of these findings guidelines were suggested to class teachers for planning language programmes for disadvantaged learners. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Orthopedagogics)

The main aim of this study was to assess teachers’ awareness levels of dyslexia, their perceptions of their ability to identify and manage dyslexia, and their perceptions of the adequacy of their pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The sample comprised teachers at 16 mainstream high schools in the Western Cape. A Likert type scale questionnaire was used to collect data that were analysed by means of a sign test of difference and a Kruskal-Wallis test of variance. The results indicated that teachers had adequate knowledge of dyslexia, believed they are able to identify and manage dyslexia, and believed that they received little or no pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The main conclusion that can be drawn is that teachers need on-going adequate pre-service and in-service training in the field of dyslexia. / Department of Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The purpose of this study was to investigate and improve reflective teaching in the Ethiopian Secondary School Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). This study used a mixed methods research approach that employed a concurrent triangulation design. For data collection, the study utilized a structured questionnaire, a semi-structured individual and group interviews. The data collection instruments were utilized to solicit pre-service teachers’, teacher educators’, and cooperating teachers’ (mentors’) views on reflections and how reflective teaching in the pre-service teacher secondary school teacher education framework is being implemented. The study particularly aimed to investigate how the pre-service teachers view reflective teaching, identify the hindrances for effective reflective teaching practice, and discover strategies that could be used to improve the practice. Prominent reflective scholars’ theories and outlooks on reflective practice were reviewed and used to guide the study. The responses of the stakeholders on the nature and implementation of reflective practices were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. For the quantitative data analyses, both the descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were employed. On the other hand, narration was used to analyze the qualitative data. Triangulation of the study was observed by presenting and interpreting the qualitative data with reference of the quantitative data. The research questions were answered as the researcher analyzed the responses that the pre-service teachers hold to the reflective teaching, as well as the method, situation and issues of the reflective teaching practice in the pre- service teacher education curriculum framework. The study uncovered that secondary schools’ pre-service teachers in the existing teacher education programme were practicing few reflective teaching tools. The findings indicated that the pre-service teachers hold fair insights of reflective teaching, yet they felt less capable of doing reflective teaching critically. The findings indicated that the pre-service teacher education programme faced a number of barriers to effective reflective teaching practice. The findings also raised concerns over writing journals, instructional technology, teaching portfolios, and action research projects for reflective teaching in the pre-service teacher education programme. The study has identified key strategies that may be useful for the Ministry of Education, teacher educators, cooperating teachers, and teacher education institutions who are responsive for reflective teachers in Ethiopia. / Maikemišetšo a thuto ye e be e le go nyakišiša le go hlabolla thuto ya taetšo go Dihlongwa tša Thuto ya Borutiši Dikolong tša Ethiopia (TEI). Thuto ye e šomišwa mokgwa wa diphatišišo wa mekgwahlakantšho yeo e šomišago tlhamo ya go šoma mmogo ka ditsela tša go hlama khutlotharo. Go kgoboketša ya datha, thuto ye e šomišitše letlakalapotšišo la sebopego sa go ikgetha, dipoledišano tša mošomo la motho le sehlopha seo se hlamegilego gannyane. Didirišwa tša kgoboketša ya datha di šomišitšwe go hwetša barutiši ba pele ga kabo ya tirelo, barutiši ba go ruta, le barutiši ba go šomišana (baeletši’) ditaetšo le mmono ka ga ka fao thuto ya taetšo e phethagatšwago ka go tlhako ya thuto ya barutiši ba thuto ya sekolo se se phagamego. Thuto gabotse e nepile go nyakišiša ka fao barutiši ba ditirelo tša go thoma ba bonago thuto ya taetšo, go hlaola ditšhitišo tša tiragatšo ya maswanedi ya go ruta ka mokgwa wa ditaetšo le go lemoga maanotšhomo ao a ka kgonago go tlhabolla tiragatšo. Diteori tša baithuti ba maemo ba go diriša ditaetšo le mmono mo go tiragatšo ya taetšo di lebeletšweleswa le go šomišwa go hlahla thuto ye. Dikarabo tša baamegi go mohuta le phethagatšo ya tiragalo ya taetšo di lekotšwe ka dipalopalo le boleng. Go dikahlaahlo tša datha ya dipalopalo, bobedi dipalopalo tša go hlalosa le tša tšhupetšo di šomišitšwe. Ka letsogong le lengwe, tlhaloso e šomišitšwe go ahlaahla datha ya boleng. Go dira gore thuto e tšwe dikhutlotharo e lebeletšwe ka go ruta le go tlhathollela ka datha ya boleng go lebeletšwe datha ya dipalopalo. Dipotšišo tša diphatišišo di arabilwe bjalo ka ge monyakišiši a lekotše dikarabo tša barutiši ba pele ga tirelo go tliša thuto ya taetšo go tee le mokgwa, maemo le ditaba ka ga tshepedišo ya thuto ya taetšo ka go tlhako ya kharikhulamo ya thuto ya barutiši bja pele ga tirelo. Thuto e utullotše go re barutiši ba sekolo se se phagamego sa pele ga tirelo ka go lenaneo le le lego gona la thuto ya barutiši ba be ba diriša didirišwa tše nnyane tša taetšo ya thuto. Dipoelo di laeditše gore barutiši ba pele ga kabo ya tirelo ba bile le pono ka ga thuto ya taetšo, eupša ba be ba sa kwe ba kgona go ruta ka mokgwa wa taetšo. Dipoelo di laeditše go re lenaneo la thuto ya barutiši bja pele ga kabo ya tirelo ba lebane le ditšhitišo tše mmalwa go tshepedišo ya maleba ya thuto ya taetšo. Dipoelo gape di tlišitše kamego ka ga go ngwala ditšenale, thekenolotši ya go ruta, diphotefolio tša go ruta le diprotšeke tša tiro ya diphatišišo go fihlelela thuto ya taetšo ka go lenaneo la thuto ya tirelo ya go ruta. Thuto e hlaotše maanotšhomo a motheo ao a ka bago le mohola go Kgoro ya Thuto, barutiši, barutiši bja bašomišane le dihlongwa tša thuto ya barutiši tšeo di ikemišeditšego go hlahla barutiši ba go ikarabela go taetšo mo Ethiopia. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om besinnende onderrig aan Ethiopiese opleidingsinstellings vir hoërskoolonderwysers te ondersoek en te verbeter. Verskeie metodes en ‘n triangulasieontwerp is in hierdie studie gevolg. Data is deur middel van ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys en halfgestruktureerde individuele en groeponderhoude ingesamel. Studenteonderwysers, onderwyseropvoeders en medewerker-onderwysers (mentors) se siening van hoe besinnende onderrig in die raamwerk van hoërskoolonderwysers se opleiding neerslag vind, is verkry. Daar is in die besonder op studenteonderwysers se opvattings oor besinnende onderrig gekonsentreer. Struikelblokke in die weg van doeltreffende besinnende onderrigpraktyk en strategieë om dit uit die weg te ruim, is aangetoon. Die teorieë en gesigspunte van vooraanstaande kenners van besinnende onderrigpraktyk is bestudeer, en het rigting aan hierdie studie verleen. Belanghebbers se reaksie op die aard en inwerkingstelling van besinnende praktyke is kwantitatief en kwalitatief ontleed. Sowel die beskrywende as die afgeleide statistiek is in die ontleding van die kwantitatiewe data gebruik. Die kwalitatiewe data, daarteenoor, is met behulp van vertellings ontleed. Die kwalitatiewe data is met verwysing na die kwantitatiewe data vertolk te einde reg te laat geskied aan die triangulasie van die studie. Die navorsingsvrae is beantwoord namate die navorser die reaksie van studenteonderwysers op besinnende onderwys ontleed het asook die metode en situasie daarvan, en die probleme daarmee in die kurrikulum van studenteonderwysers. Daar is bevind dat weinig studente wat as hoërskoolonderwysers opgelei word, die tegnieke van besinnende onderwys toepas. Volgens die bevindings weet studente wel van besinnende onderwys, maar voel dat hulle nie tot kritiese besinnende onderwys in staat is nie. Daar was ʼn hele paar struikelblokke in die onderwysersopleidingprogram vir besinnende onderwyspraktyk. Die bevindings is kommerwekkend wat betref die skryf van joernale, onderrigtegnologie, onderwysportefeuljes en aksienavorsingsprojekte vir doeltreffende onderwys in die onderwysersopleidingsprogram. Verskeie strategieë is aangetoon wat van nut kan wees vir die ministerie van Onderwys, die opleiers van onderwysers, medewerker-onderwysers en instellings wat onderwysers oplei om sensitiewe, besinnende onderwysers in Ethiopië te word. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)

The main aim of this study was to assess teachers’ awareness levels of dyslexia, their perceptions of their ability to identify and manage dyslexia, and their perceptions of the adequacy of their pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The sample comprised teachers at 16 mainstream high schools in the Western Cape. A Likert type scale questionnaire was used to collect data that were analysed by means of a sign test of difference and a Kruskal-Wallis test of variance. The results indicated that teachers had adequate knowledge of dyslexia, believed they are able to identify and manage dyslexia, and believed that they received little or no pre-service and in-service training in dyslexia. The main conclusion that can be drawn is that teachers need on-going adequate pre-service and in-service training in the field of dyslexia. / Department of Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The Junior primary teachers have the task of catering for the needs of pupils of varying abilities in their charge. With the admission of culturally different groups of children (many of them from disadvantaged communities) to schools previously accustomed to having one cultural group, this task of catering for the needs of pupils presents a problem as teachers are not trained to deal with disadvantaged children. The aim of this study was to formulate scientifically sound guidelines according to which class teachers can plan and implement language programmes for disadvantaged learners. In order to formulate such guidelines, a theoretical investigation was undertaken on normal language development and on the effects of disadvantagement on the scholastic and language performance of the child. Various programmes available for disadvantaged learners which are being implemented in other countries were evaluated. On the basis of these findings guidelines were suggested to class teachers for planning language programmes for disadvantaged learners. / Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Orthopedagogics)

Presently all over the world, there is a great concern among teachers, parents, organisations, community leaders and higher education lecturers about the problems that beset teaching and learning particularly in the teaching programmes, for example, for under-qualified teachers studying at a distance. Most distance education (DE) programmes are concerned with education of adults and it seems fairly obvious that the research plans should be informed by the theories and research about learning in higher education institutions. In terms of teacher education, such studies could, inter alia, focus on teacher development, curriculum planning, learner support programmes, communication and evaluation of DE. DE itself refers to a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to learners who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom. Distance learning is becoming an increasingly popular way of studying, and most universities now provide courses using this mode of teaching and learning. Today’s learners, though, are demanding high quality, consumer-focused and flexible courses and learning resources, and active learner support. This means that providers of DE need to reconsider key issues about learner support systems, to ensure that this is delivered appropriately and effectively. This study focuses on learner support in DE education for under-qualified teachers. The concept, learner support, can be traced far back to Vygotsky’s concept of the zone of proximal development, which refers to a learners’ optimal developmental potential if assistance that is timely and appropriate is provided by another person (Vygotsky, 1978). The appeal of the concept of the zone of proximal development lies in the fact that it directs attention to the need for maximum support in the learning process, and does so in a way that emphasises that good teaching is necessarily responsive to the state of understanding achieved by particular learners. Learner support systems may include the resources that the learner can access in order to engage in the learning process, for example, libraries or the resources that relate to the mediation of the communication process such as the media or technology. This study acknowledges that there are different kinds of learner support structures, but argues that there are critical or main components of support services which are registration support, learner support services, contact sessions, technological support and feedback strategies. Therefore, this study focuses on the role played by these five learner support structures as used in the programmes of DE under-qualified teachers at The University of South Africa (UNISA). Supported by empirical data, this study seeks to argue that instructional designers and tutors in the programmes of under-qualified teachers studying through DE need to ensure quality learning support as learning environments are increasingly designed according to the principles of resource-based and independent learning. In a sustainable learning environment, support must be designed according to principles that ensure that learners progress from teacher-directed activity to self-regulated activity. The challenge to deliver a high-quality learner support system, and for tutors and administrators to assume a central educational role in developing effective distance learning environments, the need for teaching and research is increasingly emphasised in research literature. Finally, it is hoped that this piece of work will help to promote more discussion and debate about the use of learner support programmes in DE institutions in particular, and in teaching and learning in general. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Improvisation is a construct that uses a set of minimal heuristic guidelines to create a highly flexible scaffold that fosters extemporaneous communication. Scholars from diverse domains: such as psychology, business, negotiation, and education have suggested its use as a method for preparing professionals to manage complexity and think on their feet. A review of the literature revealed that while there is substantial theoretical scholarship on using improvisation in diverse domains, little research has verified these assertions. This dissertation evaluated whether improvisation, a specific type of dramatic technique, was effective for training pre-service teachers in specific characteristics of teacher-child classroom interaction, communication and affective skills development. It measured the strength and direction of any potential changes such training might effect on pre-service teacher’s self-efficacy for teaching and for implementing the communication skills common to improvisation and teaching while interacting with student in an inclusive classroom setting. A review of the literature on teacher self-efficacy and improvisation clarified and defined key terms, and illustrated relevant studies. This study utilized a mixed-method research design based on instructional design and development research. Matched pairs ttests were used to analyze the self-efficacy and training skills survey data and pre-service teacher reflections and interview transcripts were used to triangulate the qualitative data. Results of the t-tests showed a significant difference in participants’ self-efficacy for teaching measured before and after the improvisation training. A significant difference in means was also measured in participants’ aptitude for improvisation strategies and for self-efficacy for their implementation pre-/post- training. Qualitative results from pre-service teacher class iv artifacts and interviews showed participants reported beneficial personal outcomes as well as confirmed using skills from the training while interacting with students. Many of the qualitative themes parallel individual question items on the teacher self-efficacy TSES scale as well as the improvisation self-efficacy scale CSAI. The self-reported changes in affective behavior such as increased self-confidence and ability to foster positive interaction with students are illustrative of changes in teacher agency. Self-reports of being able to better understand student perspectives demonstrate a change in participant ability to empathize with students. Participants who worked with both typically developing students as well as with students with disabilities reported utilizing improvisation strategies such as Yes, and…, mirroring emotions and body language, vocal prosody and establishing a narrative relationship to put the students at ease, establish a positive learning environment, encourage student contributions and foster teachable moments. The improvisation strategies showed specific benefit for participants working with nonverbal students or who had commutation difficulties, by providing the pre-service teachers with strategies for using body language, emotional mirroring, vocal prosody and acceptance to foster interaction and communication with the student. Results from this investigation appear to substantiate the benefit of using improvisation training as part of a pre-service teacher methods course for preparing teachers for inclusive elementary classrooms. Replication of the study is encouraged with teachers of differing populations to confirm and extend results.