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published_or_final_version / Statistics / Master / Master of Social Sciences

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Lightning as a natural phenomenon is shallowly presented in the Namibian curriculum documents such as the syllabus and textbooks. This gap in curriculum triggered my interest to investigate whether learners’ meaning-making in static electricity was enabled or constrained by elicitation and integration of their cultural beliefs and experiences about lightning and by their practical activities. This study was conducted with my grade 8 learners at the school where I am currently teaching. The school is located in a rural area in Ohangwena region in Northern Namibia. The study is situated within an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach was adopted. I considered this methodological orientation appropriate in this study as it allowed me to use the following data gathering methods: document analysis, brainstorming, discussions and presentations, semi-structured interview, focus group interview, observation and an assessment test. Multiple methods to gather data were used for triangulation and validation purposes. For data analysis purposes, the data sets were colour-coded to derive themes and analytical statements. Ethical considerations were also taken seriously in this study and all participants gave consent. An analysis of data revealed that there is no learning objective or basic competence in the Namibian Physical Science syllabus for grade 8-10 that requires learners to bring in their cultural beliefs and experiences, in particular, about lightning. Yet the study revealed that learners possess a lot of prior everyday scientific and non-scientific knowledge and experiences about lightning that they had acquired from their communities. Also, mobilization of learners' everyday knowledge and experiences about lightning enabled learner engagement during the science lessons. Likewise, engaging learners in practical activities in static electricity helped them to make meaning of scientific concepts. Based on my research findings, I therefore, recommend that learners' prior everyday knowledge and experiences about lightning should be incorporated during teaching and learning of the topic on static electricity.

The intent of this study was to establish and validate criteria for use to assess the quality of a library and information sciences (LIS) Ph.D. program. The Ph.D. student-centric topology for quality Ph.D. programs was developed from a 2001 position statement by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) regarding the quality indicators in research-focused doctoral programs in nursing. Topology components were tested using a survey instrument to establish their importance to the community of practice and their potential use to assess a Ph.D. program. Survey participants were asked to rank terms or concepts in a balanced incomplete block (BIB) design then rate, on a Likert-type scale, statements about the applicability of these terms or concepts to assessing a quality LIS Ph.D. program. Survey participants were from the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Open Lib/Info Sci Education Forum jESSE Listserv. Of 225 survey participants affiliated with universities or schools from North America who submitted usable surveys, slightly less than two-thirds (64.4 %) were female while 35.5 % were male. Ninety-eight participants (43.6 %) were faculty, 114 (50.7 %) were Ph.D. students or candidates, and 13 (5.8 %) were in other roles. Statistical analysis of survey responses showed consistent results between the different demographic groups. The topology was validated by the results of the statistical analysis of the research data. Every component of the topology was acknowledged as very important to assess the quality of a LIS Ph.D. program. Faculty was the highest ranked item in the BIB analysis with a statistically significant difference (p < .0001) in the mean rank order from the next highest ranked item, Ph.D. students. The rank order from the BIB analysis was as follows: faculty, Ph.D. students, programs (courses) of study, teaching, learning environment, resources, and evaluation. Faculty was also the highest rated item in the Likert-type statement analysis.

This project addresses the needs of English language learners through the context of science. Included is a discussion on how people learn, effective science instruction, and strategies to support learning English in the classroom.

The purpose of this project is to examine the power of play, guided discovery, and hands-on experiences in the early childhood classroom, specifically as it relates to early childhood science experience. This paper will also propose a science curriculum encompassing a hands-on, guided discovery, play-based approach.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Effective use of thinking skills and processes affects every aspect of our lives. This study investigates the nexus between an alternative approach to science teaching with an emphasis on teaching thinking skills, and the special needs of learners in two South African classrooms. Two cycles of intervention programmes with an emphasis on thinking skills were introduced to learners with special needs and evaluated. The aims of this study are to critically explore whether and to what extent teaching science to learners with special needs using selected Instrumental Enrichment instruments can: • Contribute to the development of basic and science thinking skills and the transfer of these thinking skills and processes to other disciplines; • Provide learners with special needs with an interactive science programme that is suitable for their special needs; and • Increase student engagement in the science classroom as well as positively influence the classroom learning environment. The study was conducted using action research as a method for teachers-researchers to investigate the teaching-learning situation in situ for the purpose of improvement and change of practice as well as for the benefit of the learners who participate in the intervention. Cross-referencing triangulation was used, in which different perspectives obtained from different sources - the teacher's, the observer's and the learners' -were combined as a way to increase the validity, credibility and dependability of the findings. This research report offers insights into science instruction, the acquisition of science content knowledge and the improvement of thinking skills in learners with special needs. The research also deals with the transfer of thinking skills taught in one discipline into another, and raises questions about the assumptions regarding this issue in Curriculum 2005. It also throws light on the inclusive approach, underpinning the South African educational policy of inclusive education and its suitability for learners with special needs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die effektiewe gebruik van denkvaardighede en -prosesse het 'n invloed op elke aspek van ons lewens. Hierdie studie ondersoek die verband tussen 'n alternatiewe benadering tot wetenskaponderrig met 'n klem op die onderrig van denkvaardighede en die spesiale behoeftes van leerders in twee Suid-Afrikaanse klaskamers. Twee siklusse van intervensieprogramme, met 'n klem op denkvaardighede, is aan leerders met spesiale behoeftes bekendgestel en geëvalueer. Die doel van die studie is om krities ondersoek in te stelof, en tot watter mate die gebruik van geselekteerde Instrumentele Verrykking in wetenskaponderrig aan leerders met spesiale behoeftes: • 'n bydrae kan maak tot die ontwikkeling van basiese en wetenskaplike denkvaardighede en die oordrag van hierdie denkvaardighede en prosesse na ander dissiplines • 'n interaktiewe wetenskapprogram, gepas vir hul behoeftes, kan voorsien • leerderbetrokkenheid in die wetenskapklas kan verhoog en ook die klaskamerleeromgewing positiefte beïnvloed. Die studie is gedoen deur aksie-navorsing te gebruik as 'n metode vir die onderwysernavorsers om ondersoek in te stel na die onderrig-leer situasie in situ met die doelom praktyk te verbeter en te verander en om ook tot voordeel te wees van die leerders wat aan die intervensie deelneem. Kruisverwysende triangulasie is gebruik waarin verskillende perspektiewe wat verkry is uit verskillende bronne - van die onderwyser, die waarnemer en die leerders - gekombineer is as 'n manier om geldigheid, geloofwaardigheid en betroubaardheid van die bevindings te verhoog. Die navorsingsverslag bied insig in wetenskaponderrig, die verwerwing van wetenskapinhoudkennis en die verbetering van denkvaardighede by leerders met spesiale behoeftes. Die navorsing handelook oor oordrag van denkvaardighede wat in een dissipline onderrig is na 'n ander en bevraagteken die aannames rakende hierdie kwessie in Kurrikulum 2005. Dit belig ook die inklusiewe benadering wat onderlê word deur die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysbeleid oor inklusiewe onderwys en die geskiktheid daarvan vir leerders met spesiale behoeftes.