This study examined the lived experiences of teachers and administrators as reflected in their responses regarding instructional materials, instructional delivery, social and emotional well-being of students, and access to critical school services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared their experiences about how the instructional materials and delivery modes were selected as well as the guidance and support given by school administrators. Major challenges and concerns along with promising practices related to student engagement, social and emotional well-being of students, and access to critical school services were identified.

Value and character education possess the inherent building blocks for the preservation of a healthy society. It is the art of life that keeps the environment friendly, free and safe allowing earth's inhabitants to play, to live and to work in peace. Value and character education possess values that remove evil from society and institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, etc. One of the primary aims of value and character education is to allow learners to experience life at its' fullest. The main purpose of this study is the development of an effective character building program for a specific further education and training college. It is obvious from the available literature that society is experiencing a crisis regarding values, character and morality. The decline of human and societal values portrayed in the media has compelled the current government to initiate a value educational program in schools. The values of the government however, are focused on nation building, democracy and human rights with the purpose of overcoming the inequalities and injustices of the apartheid system. However, the inhabitants of South Africa seek more than aspects based on democracy, nation building and human rights. They seek values that promote moral behaviour, values of work ethics and values that are aimed at developing their full potential. Value and character education could probably ensure the provision of a successful life and future for today's youth. The researcher has therefore investigated and analysed the precise meanings of the following terms: values, norms, principles, standards, ethics, character education, values education. Various character educational programs that succeeded in oversees countries were also studied. Focus was also given to educational guidelines including principles, outcomes and promising practices that the lecturer could use in the classroom to stimulate the students and to promote character education. To determine what the present value orientation of the students are, a questionnaire was compiled for further education and training colleges in the North-West Province. To ascertain the opinions and contributions of values education and character education, semi-structured interviews were held with the student council, the head of the support services and an official of the student support services. The overall aim of the study is: To create a character-building program for further education and training colleges after establishing the value orientation of the students. This empirical research has pointed out specific problem areas and has shown that it is not only essential but also urgent to implement a value and character educational program for further education and training colleges. Guidelines for such a program have been set on the basis of this study. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Value and character education possess the inherent building blocks for the preservation of a healthy society. It is the art of life that keeps the environment friendly, free and safe allowing earth's inhabitants to play, to live and to work in peace. Value and character education possess values that remove evil from society and institutions such as schools, colleges, universities, etc. One of the primary aims of value and character education is to allow learners to experience life at its' fullest. The main purpose of this study is the development of an effective character building program for a specific further education and training college. It is obvious from the available literature that society is experiencing a crisis regarding values, character and morality. The decline of human and societal values portrayed in the media has compelled the current government to initiate a value educational program in schools. The values of the government however, are focused on nation building, democracy and human rights with the purpose of overcoming the inequalities and injustices of the apartheid system. However, the inhabitants of South Africa seek more than aspects based on democracy, nation building and human rights. They seek values that promote moral behaviour, values of work ethics and values that are aimed at developing their full potential. Value and character education could probably ensure the provision of a successful life and future for today's youth. The researcher has therefore investigated and analysed the precise meanings of the following terms: values, norms, principles, standards, ethics, character education, values education. Various character educational programs that succeeded in oversees countries were also studied. Focus was also given to educational guidelines including principles, outcomes and promising practices that the lecturer could use in the classroom to stimulate the students and to promote character education. To determine what the present value orientation of the students are, a questionnaire was compiled for further education and training colleges in the North-West Province. To ascertain the opinions and contributions of values education and character education, semi-structured interviews were held with the student council, the head of the support services and an official of the student support services. The overall aim of the study is: To create a character-building program for further education and training colleges after establishing the value orientation of the students. This empirical research has pointed out specific problem areas and has shown that it is not only essential but also urgent to implement a value and character educational program for further education and training colleges. Guidelines for such a program have been set on the basis of this study. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

L’aide médicale à mourir (AMM) a été introduite au Québec en décembre 2015. Chaque année, les instances régulatrices confirment la hausse croissante des demandes auxquelles doit répondre le personnel de la santé et des services sociaux. Pour chaque requête, des médecins, des infirmières et des pharmaciens sont interpellés. Des travailleurs sociaux, des intervenants en soins spirituels, des éthiciens, des gestionnaires et d’autres partenaires sont aussi partie prenante de ce soin de fin de vie. Dans la province, ce sont les groupes interdisciplinaires de soutien (GIS) qui sont mandatés de soutenir ces personnes dans les pratiques administrative, clinique, légale et éthique de l’AMM. Plus de cinq ans après l’implantation des GIS, des variabilités importantes sont observées dans leur constitution, leur rôle et leur fonctionnement. Cette variabilité influence possiblement la disponibilité et l'offre de soutien dont peuvent bénéficier les soignants, de même que l’accès et la qualité des soins et services aux patients. Pour répondre à ces enjeux, nous avons mené une recherche mixte et multiphasée afin de décrire les pratiques clinico-administratives actuelles des GIS, d'en faire l’analyse critique et de soumettre des recommandations visant la valorisation, dans le réseau de la Santé et des Services sociaux, des pratiques jugées comme étant prometteuses. Notre cadre théorique est inspiré de l’éthique pragmatique de John Dewey. La théorie de l'enquête sert d'assise à la méthodologie employée. Trois méthodes ont été privilégiées pour répondre à nos objectifs. D'abord, toutes les personnes impliquées dans la pratique de l'AMM ont été conviées à remplir un questionnaire mixte en ligne. Cette étape permettait une représentativité de l’ensemble des GIS et de la population à l’étude. En deuxième phase, des entretiens semi-dirigés ont été menés avec les coordonnateurs de 24 GIS et les représentantes de 10 maisons de soins palliatifs (MSP). Cette étape permettait d’accéder aux savoirs expérientiels et d’atteindre une profondeur dans le discours des participants. En troisième phase, sept groupes de discussion ont été menés avec 35 coordonnateurs des GIS et représentantes des MSP. À cette étape, la co-construction et la validation des recommandations avec les participants étaient poursuivies. Au total, 24 GIS et 10 MSP ont fait l'objet d'une analyse approfondie. Une cartographie de chaque milieu a été réalisée. Au terme de l’analyse, 30 pratiques et neuf sous-pratiques ont été identifiées comme étant prometteuses pour les GIS. Un niveau de recommandation leur a été attribué en fonction de leur caractère novateur, utile et adaptable. Parmi les pratiques prometteuses, on retrouve le partenariat, la communication, la collaboration, le partage d’information et d’outils entre les GIS et avec les MSP. La formation des professionnels, le mentorat, le réseautage et l’interdisciplinarité s’inscrivent aussi comme pratiques à formaliser. L’investissement des participants dans la communauté de pratique des GIS devrait être stimulé, de même que la réciprocité entre les communautés de pratique sur l’AMM dans la province. La communication et l’information à la population doivent impérativement être améliorées. Sous le prisme de l’éthique pragmatique, nous avons étudié la formation des valeurs des GIS et avons réussi à les distribuer sur ce que nous avons appelé le « continuum des GIS ». Entre la responsabilisation des équipes et la prise en charge des demandes d’AMM par les GIS, une approche mitoyenne, axée sur la valeur de soutien, devrait être privilégiée. L’évolution de l’AMM entraîne pour les parties prenantes d’importants besoins de formation, d’information et de soutien. Les complexités légale, éthique et psychosociale afférentes à cette pratique justifient la pérennité et l’investissement dans les GIS pour les années à venir. / Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was introduced in Quebec in December 2015. Every year, regulatory bodies confirm the growing number of requests that health and social services personnel must respond to. For each request, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are called upon. Social workers, spiritual care workers, ethicists, managers, and other partners are also involved in this end-of-life care. In the province, interdisciplinary support groups (ISGs) are mandated to support these people in the administrative, clinical, legal, and ethical practices of the MAiD. More than five years after the implementation of the ISGs, significant variability has been observed in their constitution, role, and functioning. This variability may influence the availability and the type of support for health care providers as well as access to and quality of care and services for patients. To address these issues, we conducted a mixed, multi-phase research project to describe current clinical-administrative practices of ISGs, to critically analyze them, and to submit recommendations for the development of practices deemed promising in the Health and Social Services network. Our theoretical framework is inspired by John Dewey’s pragmatic ethics. The theory of enquiry serves as the basis for the methodology employed. Three methods were chosen to meet our objectives. First, all those involved in the practice of MAiD were invited to complete a mixed online survey. This step allowed for representativeness of all ISGs and of the population under study. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the coordinators of 24 ISGs and representatives of 10 hospices. This stage allowed access to experiential knowledge and depth in the participants' discourse. In the third phase, seven focus groups were conducted with 35 ISG coordinators and hospice representatives. At this stage, the co-construction and validation of the recommendations with the participants were continued. In total, 24 ISGs and 10 hospices were analysed in depth. A mapping of each setting was drawn out. At the end of the analysis, 30 practices and nine sub-practices were identified as promising for ISGs. They were given a recommendation level based on their innovativeness, usefulness, and adaptability. Promising practices included partnership, communication, collaboration, sharing of information and tools between ISGs and with hospices. Training for professionals, mentoring, networking and interdisciplinarity are also practices that should be formalized. The investment of participants in the ISG community of practice should be stimulated, as should reciprocity between the province's MAiD communities of practice. Communication and information to the public must be improved. Through the lens of pragmatic ethics, we have studied the formation of ISG values and have managed to distribute them along what we have called the "ISG continuum". Between the empowerment of teams and the handling of MAiD applications by ISGs, a middle ground approach, focusing on the value of support, should be favoured. The evolution of the MAiD creates significant training, information, and support needs for stakeholders. The legal, ethical and psychosocial complexities of this practice justify the continuation and investment in ISGs for years to come.

Utilizing a mixed methods approach in assessing cities and metropolitan areas with the highest rates of breast cancer disparities in African-American communities, this study presents the Affiliate perspective of the Susan G. Komen non-profit organization in combination with available socioeconomic data and academic literature. Analyzed through an anthropological lens, qualitative and quantitative data illuminate the lived experiences and dynamic circumstances in which breast cancer disparities are disproportionately experienced in 21 of the nation’s populations of African-Americans. Two main recommendations arose from this research: prioritization of granting to activities such as patient navigation, usage of patient narrative messaging, community-based participatory research methods of program development and implementation, mobile mammography delivery, usage of lay health educators, and self-advocacy education to alleviate barriers to healthcare and supplementation of the current educational activities of the Komen Affiliates through program sharing and leverage of current assets with consideration of current Affiliate capacity. These recommendations may help in alleviating breast cancer disparities present in African-American communities with the highest levels of disparities in the nation.