published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

This study is based in the concept of 'quality' as an ongoing concern in South African education. It deals with some definitions and views of what 'quality' is and how it is applied to the educational process. In doing this the study concentrates on Total Quality Management, a theory founded in commerce, and in recent years applied to education. Chapter 2 of the study, entitled Associated Literature, finally focuses on the concept of 'customer service' or 'customer care', an important element of Total Quality Management, as practised at The Racing and Equestrian Academy, an independent, co-educational boarding school in KwaZulu-Natal. The basic concept upon which this study relies is that students and parents are customers and that they define for themselves what quality is and whether they are receiving it or not. The study developed out of a series of questionnaires completed in 2002 that gave rise to critical concerns about the level of customer service offered by the Academy. These questionnaires are a part of the Academy's ongoing interest in 'quality' and the views of its customers in this respect. In order to discover what its customers' views are and to analyse them, this study has employed ethnographic research methods, in that it allows for: the portrayal of the situation in the subjects' (students' and parents') terms, multiple perspectives and the description of the specific situation at The Racing and Equestrian Academy. Questionnaires, observation and content analysis have been used to record and understand the real findings at the Academy in relation to the theoretical perspectives outlined in the related literature. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 2003.

A central requirement to accomplish a competent and effective education system is the inclusion of a post matric year to facilitate the transition from the protected academic leaning to the reality of the world at large. This strategy needs to emphasise the acquisition of formative information to minimise problems that might arise if life skills needs and tertiary learning barriers are not promptly identified and addressed. Michaelhouse a private school in Kwa-Zulu Natal- South Africa is faced with declining numbers in the post matric class called the sixth form. The study recommends that in order to improve the marketability of the sixth form programme, the following objectives need to be met by Michaelhouse. i. Be a centre of excellence providing high quality education in a supportive and caring environment. ii. Be entrepreneurial and innovative in encouraging more students to pursue the post matric offering. iii. Be responsive to the needs of the community and business sector in the provision of continuing education and training. iv. Prepare students to function effectively in an adult world. The purpose of this study is to establish the expectations of students with regards to the offering of a sixth form programme, in order that the Michaelhouse may customise the curriculum incorporating customer needs. This will be used as a marketing tool to attract pupils to Michaelhouse. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America. / At head of title: The Catholic university of America. Vita. Bibliography: p. 783-837.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Catholic University of America. / At head of title: The Catholic university of America. Vita. Bibliography: p. 783-837.

Orientador: Jose Martins Filho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T02:26:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Armani_MariaAlicedeAraujo_M.pdf: 1038895 bytes, checksum: adcfc4043fc5d61848bdc4e6bb54ae29 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Objetivo: Pesquisar, entre adolescentes de diferentes níveis sócio-culturais, estudantes de escolas públicas e privadas, uso de medicações específicas (fórmulas laboratoriais que visam emagrecimento, inibidores do apetite, ¿orlistat¿, anabólicos e esteróides, laxantes, diuréticos), tabagismo, consumo de bebidas alcoólicas, início de vida sexual, prevenção de gestações e DST e utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais. Métodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa entre adolescentes estudantes do sexo feminino, com idades de 14 a 18 anos, sendo 171 de duas escolas públicas e 105 de três escolas privadas de distintas regiões de Campinas, SP, aplicando-se a elas um questionário elaborado que buscou elucidar as referidas indagações, com prévia entrega de Termos de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. As respostas obtidas foram colocadas em banco de dados e submetidas a análise estatística específica. Resultados: No estudo, referiam tabagismo 26,32% (n=45) das alunas de escolas públicas e 28,57% (n=30) das alunas de escolas particulares. Afirmava uso de algum tipo de bebida alcoólica 80,70% (n=138) das alunas de escolas públicas e 94,29% (n=99) das alunas de escolas particulares. Foi relatada influência de amigos e familiares para ambos os hábitos. Em relação ao questionamento sobre modelagem corporal, possuía desejo de emagrecer 29,82% (n=51) de alunas de escolas públicas e 57,14% (n=60) de alunas de escolas particulares, havendo prevalência de uso de laxantes, fórmulas para emagrecer e moderadores de apetite, respectivamente entre 22,86% (n=24), 14,29% (n=15) e 16,19% (n=17) de alunas de escolas particulares. Ao serem interrogadas se utilizavam medicações com prescrição médica, apenas 4,68% das alunas de escolas públicas respondeu afirmativamente, contra 14,29% das alunas de escolas particulares. Já tinha iniciado vida sexual 52,05% (n=89) das alunas de escolas públicas e 23,81% (n=25) das alunas de escolas particulares, sendo que a idade predominante foi de 15 anos para as de escolas públicas e 16 anos para as estudantes de escolas particulares. Das alunas de instituições públicas que haviam iniciado vida sexual, 19,30% e 1,17% tinha, respectivamente, um e dois filhos. Referiram usar pílula anticoncepcional, 43,82% das alunas de escolas públicas e 60% das alunas de escolas particulares sexualmente ativas, respectivamente, 4,62% e 4,76% com receita médica. Apesar de ser o método mais usado entre as estudantes, havia adolescentes sexualmente ativas que negavam a utilização do preservativo (10,11% das estudantes de escolas públicas e 12% das de particulares), não evitando, portanto, gestação indesejada ou doença sexualmente transmissível. Bebiam, fumavam , faziam uso de algum medicamento e anticoncepcional: 41,67% (n=10) das alunas de escolas públicas e 58,33% (n=14) das alunas de escolas particulares. Conclusão: Considerável número de adolescentes, de níveis socioeconômicos e culturais diversos, com pesos adequados, gostariam de ser mais magras e, para tanto, principalmente estudantes de instituições particulares, usavam medicações. Há influência de familiares e amigos nos hábitos de fumar e beber. Havia adolescentes sexualmente ativas que ainda não utilizavam preservativo, não evitando, portanto, gestação indesejada ou doença sexualmente transmissível. O uso de anticoncepcional com prescrição médica foi escasso, tanto entre alunas de escolas públicas como alunas de escolas particulares. A associação do tabagismo e hábito de beber com início de vida sexual foi evidenciado, não se definindo, entretanto, qual hábito foi precursor / Abstract: Objective: To study the habit of tabagism and the use of alcool, specific drugs (laxants, diuretics, formulations to reduce weight, drugs that reduce hunger, orlistat, steroids), sexual initiation, utilization of contraceptives methods, prevention of pregnancy and sexual transmited diseases, between female teenagers attending classes and regularly enrolled at public and private schools in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. Methods: A research was based at a questionary applied into female students with ages between 14 and 18 years, 171 from public and 105 from private schools, situated at city of Campinas, that were submitted to a list of self response questions, in order to answer doubts about habits, Knowledges and use of medications in adolescents with different social classes. Results: In the study, 26,32% (n=45) of girls from public schools and 28,17% (n= 30) of girl from private schools refered tabagism. The use of alcool was mentioned by 80,70% (n=138) of girls from public schools and 94,29% (n=99) of girls from private schools, with influence of friends and family. Several numbers of female teenagers expressed the desire of been thinner: 28,82% (n=51) of students from public schools and 57,14% (n=60) of students from private schools. The use of laxants, formulations to lose weight and drugs that reduce hunger were refered specially between students from private schools. Only 4,68% of female pupils from public schools and 14,29% from private schools refered medical prescriptions. Fifty two percent of girls that studied in public schools and 23,81% of girls from private schools confirmed sexual relations. The prevalent age of the beginning of sexual life was 15 years old among teenagers from public schools and 16 among teenagers from private schools. Only girls from public schools that had sexual relations refered pregnancy (19,30% had 1 kid and 1,17% had 2). The birth control pill was used by 43,82% of female teenagers from public schools and 60% of female teenagers from private schools, that mentioned sexual relations, but only 4,62% of public pupils and 4,76% of female teenagers from private schools had previous medical prescription. Dispate of the prevalence use of condom, girls that already had sexual relations denied this kind of protection (10,11% from public schools and 12% from private schools). The study also analysed the presence of all the habits at the same time in students and discovered that the use of alcool, tabagism, utilization of any drug and birth control pill together occurred in 41,67% (n=10) of female teenagers that studied in public schools and 58,33% (n=14) of female teenagers that studied in private schools. Conclusion: The research noticed that a considerable number of female teenagers expressed the desire of been thinner and used specific drugs with the intention to lose weight (specially girls from private schools). Family and friends had influence in the habit of tabagism and use of alcool. There were adolescents that refered sexual relations and denied the use condom to prevent pregnancy and sexual transmited diseases. The birth control pill was rarely used with previous medical prescription among students from both kind of schools. The association of tabagism, alcool and sexual initiation also was found / Mestrado / Saude da Criança e do Adolescente / Mentre em Saude da Criança e do Adolescente

Education is a crucial site and primary driver of elite status maintenance and reproduction. Decades of research highlight how elite colleges and universities use various forms of gatekeeping to admit and represent the interests of dominant groups. This body of research explains that most elite private schools served White, Anglo-Saxon, and Protestant upper-class children, preparing them to be the country's future leaders. These schools and colleges work together, creating well-trodden pipelines for young elites. However, there is limited research considering how parents think about securing their child's place in elite schools or how organizations external to the educational institutions facilitate this decision-making process. What logics of justification and frameworks do parents and organizations use to secure their child's place in the proven pipeline for elites? This dissertation investigates how parents and organizations decide to socialize children in elite independent schools, beginning at preschool or kindergarten. The empirical context for this work is the early admissions process for independent schools in New York City. I draw on 52 interviews with parents, ten interviews with expert service providers, and 24 months of ethnographic fieldwork at a for-profit educational consulting firm that supports families in the elite independent school admissions process. By centering parents and early childhood admissions, I examine a critical moment when parental decision-making and organizational maneuvering have the potential to impact life-long outcomes. I also highlight how social positions of race, class, and gender complicate parental and organizational logics. The first chapter introduces this dissertation’s motivating research questions and situates it within the broader literature on elites, parental investments during early childhood, rising inequalities and the fear of downward mobility, and the literature on educational admissions. In Chapter 2, I examine the parenting logics of justification during the early childhood admissions process. I argue that parents have "speculative projects" for their children, defined as ideas parents have about their children's imagined futures that underlie parents' day-to-day choices. I examine how parents allocate resources to these speculative projects and how education shapes the projects. Chapter 3 illustrates how organizations facilitate and influence parental decisionmaking. I present research on how brokers of the educational marketplace – in this case, educational consultants – regularly realign the moral boundaries of their work to justify profiting off their chosen commodity – in this case, the potential outcomes of young children. I also demonstrate how educational consultants make tremendous non-economic gains through their line of work, gaining trust and being seen as “experts” in a high-status social field. Chapter 4 examines how parents feel about their decisions one year later. I review their range of outcomes and show how other social positions mediate their ability to access privileged spaces and identities. Finally, I end with Chapter 5, highlighting the broader implications of this work and directions for future research. Together, these chapters illuminate how parents of young children attempt to understand, navigate, and manage elite educational admissions processes under conditions of uncertainty. This work has broader implications for understanding the cultural meaning and the social value of children in the 21st century, a time when parents are placing a premium on education amidst a landscape of unprecedented economic inequality.

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