During the Covid-19 pandemic, the well-being of university students has become an important issue to investigate and understand. The pandemic has had a significant impact on students' lives and study experiences. Even after the pandemic, it is important to examine the health and well-being of university students as it is a crucial factor for their academic performance and lifelong health. Further research on the pandemic can help better understand how various aspects of student life, such as social interactions and study environment, affect students' health and well-being. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected psychosocial and social aspects of mental health among students at Karlstad University. The study uses quantitative methods to achieve the purpose. A survey is conducted to collect data. The study's results show similar findings as highlighted by researchers who have previously studied within the research field. The findings of this study, however, revealed that the respondents experienced that distance learning had a generally negative impact on what they learned, as well as the enjoyment they derived from the lessons. This was a result that was also confirmed regarding the university's other activities. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a clear negative impact on the psychosocial and social aspects of the mental health of students at Karlstad University. / Under Covid-19-pandemin har universitetsstudenters välmående blivit en viktig fråga att undersöka och förstå. Pandemin har haft en betydande påverkan på studenters liv och studieupplevelse. Även efter pandemin är det viktigt att undersöka universitetsstudenters hälsa och välmående eftersom det är en avgörande faktor för deras studieprestationer och livslånga hälsa. Vidare forskning om pandemin kan bidra till att bättre förstå hur olika aspekter av studentlivet, såsom sociala interaktioner och studiemiljö, påverkar studenternas hälsa och välbefinnande. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka hur Covid-19-pandemin har påverkat psykosociala och sociala aspekter av den psykiska hälsan hos studenter på Karlstads universitet. Studien använder kvantitativa metoder för att uppfylla syftet. En enkätundersökning genomförs för att samla in data. Studiens resultat visar på liknande fynd som belysts av forskare som tidigare studerat inom forskningsfältet. Vad som framkommer i detta studieresultat är däremot att respondenterna upplevde att distansundervisningen hade en generellt negativ påverkan på det som de lärde sig, samt den njutning som de fick av lektionerna. Detta var ett resultat som också fastställdes beträffande universitetets övriga aktiviteter. Studien drar en slutsats att Covid-19-pandemin har haft en tydlig negativ påverkan på psykosociala och sociala aspekter av den psykiska hälsan hos studenter på Karlstads universitet.

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The ongoing debate about the capacity of distance learning (DL) to assist in the development of teaching skills and to improve teaching practice is the focus of many inquiries in the field of teacher education. The practice-based nature of Foundation Phase teaching poses unique challenges for professional development of teachers through DL programmes. In order to address inadequacies identified in the literature and previous research, a practical component was designed and included in the revised version of the Advanced Certificate: Education - Foundation Phase, as part of a bursary project. In 2011 the Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDoE) enrolled 50 practising Foundation Phase teachers for this distance learning programme as the first of three cohorts in the bursary project. A learning portfolio and audio-visual resources, designed according to principles derived from previous research and related literature, formed part of this practical component. The aim was to support teacher applied competence through developing pedagogical content knowledge, self-directedness, and a professional attitude, and through guiding the application of new knowledge and skills in practice. The completed portfolios further served as an instrument for the assessment of teacher performance with regard to applied competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of the practical component of the revised Foundation Phase ACE programme delivered by the NWU via distance learning with specific focus on the way this component facilitates the development of applied competence and the way the portfolio provides for the assessment of professional classroom competencies of practising Foundation Phase teachers. The study further aimed to put forward a model for the development of applied practice based on the findings of the study. In order to attain the aims of the study, the literature was explored to firstly determine the elements which contribute to applied competence in effective teacher professional development programmes. The literature was further explored to determine what the body of scholarship indicates with respect to programme design features that support applied competence in DL programmes for teacher professional development. An implementation evaluation study was then conducted on the programme by collecting data from 50 Foundation Phase teachers as the first of three cohorts enrolled for the bursary project. Data were primarily collected through multiple qualitative methods including a focus-group interview, individual interviews, written expectations as well as open ended questions of questionnaires. Descriptive data were also collected through semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis to determine the theoretical and conceptual implications of the profile and teaching context of the Northern Cape Foundation Phase teacher enrolled for the DL Foundation Phase ACE programme, the expectations of these teachers regarding the way the practical component would support their applied competence in their contexts, and the teachers’ experiences of the way the programme component supported the development of their applied competence. The study further determined the extent to which the learning portfolios interrogate the elements of applied competence. Quantitative data collected through semi-structured questionnaires were statistically analysed and served to support the interpretation of qualitative data. The investigation was approached from a constructivist paradigm; an approach that falls under an interpretivist philosophical orientation. Although quantitative methods were used to gather descriptive statistical data in support of the qualitative data, the study is grounded in qualitative research methodology where the concern is with the formative evaluation of the DL programme component The findings strongly confirm the value of such a practical component as part of a DL programme to support the elements of applied competence. However, the way the programme accommodates teacher profiles and teaching contexts will greatly influence the sustainability of the programme outcomes in practice. The findings further show that the portfolio as instrument for the assessment of applied competence requires careful planning and should provide strong guidance in the reflective process to support sustained outcomes of the programme in practice. A suggested model for a DL programme for the professional development of Foundation Phase teachers is based on the findings of the study. / PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The ongoing debate about the capacity of distance learning (DL) to assist in the development of teaching skills and to improve teaching practice is the focus of many inquiries in the field of teacher education. The practice-based nature of Foundation Phase teaching poses unique challenges for professional development of teachers through DL programmes. In order to address inadequacies identified in the literature and previous research, a practical component was designed and included in the revised version of the Advanced Certificate: Education - Foundation Phase, as part of a bursary project. In 2011 the Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDoE) enrolled 50 practising Foundation Phase teachers for this distance learning programme as the first of three cohorts in the bursary project. A learning portfolio and audio-visual resources, designed according to principles derived from previous research and related literature, formed part of this practical component. The aim was to support teacher applied competence through developing pedagogical content knowledge, self-directedness, and a professional attitude, and through guiding the application of new knowledge and skills in practice. The completed portfolios further served as an instrument for the assessment of teacher performance with regard to applied competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of the practical component of the revised Foundation Phase ACE programme delivered by the NWU via distance learning with specific focus on the way this component facilitates the development of applied competence and the way the portfolio provides for the assessment of professional classroom competencies of practising Foundation Phase teachers. The study further aimed to put forward a model for the development of applied practice based on the findings of the study. In order to attain the aims of the study, the literature was explored to firstly determine the elements which contribute to applied competence in effective teacher professional development programmes. The literature was further explored to determine what the body of scholarship indicates with respect to programme design features that support applied competence in DL programmes for teacher professional development. An implementation evaluation study was then conducted on the programme by collecting data from 50 Foundation Phase teachers as the first of three cohorts enrolled for the bursary project. Data were primarily collected through multiple qualitative methods including a focus-group interview, individual interviews, written expectations as well as open ended questions of questionnaires. Descriptive data were also collected through semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis to determine the theoretical and conceptual implications of the profile and teaching context of the Northern Cape Foundation Phase teacher enrolled for the DL Foundation Phase ACE programme, the expectations of these teachers regarding the way the practical component would support their applied competence in their contexts, and the teachers’ experiences of the way the programme component supported the development of their applied competence. The study further determined the extent to which the learning portfolios interrogate the elements of applied competence. Quantitative data collected through semi-structured questionnaires were statistically analysed and served to support the interpretation of qualitative data. The investigation was approached from a constructivist paradigm; an approach that falls under an interpretivist philosophical orientation. Although quantitative methods were used to gather descriptive statistical data in support of the qualitative data, the study is grounded in qualitative research methodology where the concern is with the formative evaluation of the DL programme component The findings strongly confirm the value of such a practical component as part of a DL programme to support the elements of applied competence. However, the way the programme accommodates teacher profiles and teaching contexts will greatly influence the sustainability of the programme outcomes in practice. The findings further show that the portfolio as instrument for the assessment of applied competence requires careful planning and should provide strong guidance in the reflective process to support sustained outcomes of the programme in practice. A suggested model for a DL programme for the professional development of Foundation Phase teachers is based on the findings of the study. / PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The main hallmarks of the novel problem-based curriculum are self-directed, student-centred learning, clinical reasoning, small group tutorials and the facilitation of learning in an integrated way. These features differ significantly from the traditional curriculum which is teacher-centred, discipline-based and more content orientated. The innovative programme was implemented at the University of Transkei with a view to improving medical education. In this study, the perceptions of second year medical students regarding the implemention of and transition to the new curriculum, was assessed, as part of the evaluation of the curriculum. The results showed that students had grievances about the overwhelming volume of information they had to cover, time constraints, examination methods and bias of tutors towards their own subjects. Nevertheless, they considered the innovation to be favourable, exciting, relevant to life and to future tasks, and more motivating than the traditional curriculum. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)

The aim of the study was to investigate strategies that could be used to equip Grade 10 teachers to teach accounting effectively. The aim was addressed by conducting the relevant literature survey and an empirical investigation. A qualitative approach which was modeled on the interpretive perspective was used to explore challenges faced by accounting teachers and learners. Five schools were selected in the Johannesburg Ekurhuleni District. Here, three HODs and two Grade 10 teachers were interviewed and observed while teaching. Strong and weak Grade 10 learners from each school were interviewed. The data was analysed and findings presented. The findings revealed that Grades 8 and 9 lack accounting exposure due to 40% weighting on financial literacy on the syllabus which then causes problems in Grade 10 from both the teaching and learning perspectives. The main recommendations arising from this study are that the Department of Education must relook at the syllabus and involve teachers in the planning of the curriculum in order to bridge the gap between the syllabuses. Accounting teachers should use variety of learning and teaching strategies, and create a supportive effective classroom environment in order to increase the learner’s interest. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Didactics)

The aim of the study was to investigate strategies that could be used to equip Grade 10 teachers to teach accounting effectively. The aim was addressed by conducting the relevant literature survey and an empirical investigation. A qualitative approach which was modeled on the interpretive perspective was used to explore challenges faced by accounting teachers and learners. Five schools were selected in the Johannesburg Ekurhuleni District. Here, three HODs and two Grade 10 teachers were interviewed and observed while teaching. Strong and weak Grade 10 learners from each school were interviewed. The data was analysed and findings presented. The findings revealed that Grades 8 and 9 lack accounting exposure due to 40% weighting on financial literacy on the syllabus which then causes problems in Grade 10 from both the teaching and learning perspectives. The main recommendations arising from this study are that the Department of Education must relook at the syllabus and involve teachers in the planning of the curriculum in order to bridge the gap between the syllabuses. Accounting teachers should use variety of learning and teaching strategies, and create a supportive effective classroom environment in order to increase the learner’s interest. / Further Teacher Education / M. Ed. (Didactics)

Résumé : Cette recherche aborde la problématique de la relation à la formation dans un processus d’autoformation en ligne. Elle pose la question du rapport au pouvoir dans ce type de situation d’apprentissage. La médiation pédagogique humaine et la médiatisation technologique y sont au centre des préoccupations. Il s’agit d’aborder, au travers de la conception même des instruments d’investigation, les concepts: de contrôle, d’autodirection, d’autonomie, d’efficacité, de compétence, d’autodétermination en relation avec la notion de motif d’engagement. Les dispositions et les prédispositions liées à l'autoformation sont également observées. On se propose de comprendre les orientations motivationnelles et les motifs qui éclairent l’engagement au regard de la perception de soi dans un contexte d’autoformation. Nos réflexions portent également sur le concept d'alterdidaxie par opposition aux démarches autodidactes dans un contexte d'autoformation./ Summary: This research approaches the problems in relation to training in the process of e-learning. It raises the question of the self-directed learning’s power in this type of training situation. The human teaching mediation and the technological mediatization are both in the center of the concerns. This research is an approach, through the design even of instruments of investigation, to the concepts : control, autodirection, autonomy, effectiveness, competence, self-determination in relation with the engagement. Competences and readiness scales related to the adults’ self-training are also observed. One proposes to observe motivational directions and the engagement’s reasons in relation with the perception of oneself as self-directed learners in a context of self-training. Our reflections also relate to the concept of Alterdidacticism in opposition to the self-educated steps, to the Autodidacticism in a context of adults’ self-training.

This dissertation research study explored how registered nurses (RNs) use mobile devices as tools to support and enhance informal learning in their work settings. The mixed methods inquiry involved select Canadian practicing and regulated RNs who used mobile devices in their workplaces. A sequential explanatory research design collected quantitative and qualitative data using an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quota sampling for the quantitative component yielded 170 usable online surveys. From the survey respondents, interview volunteers were purposively selected and ten (10) interviews were conducted. Descriptive, inferential, inductive, and integrated data analyses were conducted in order to explore strategies, processes, purposes, modes of use (individual [non-collaborative] or collaborative), and age-generational differences associated with RNs’ use of mobile devices for informal learning in the workplace. Findings indicated that the study participants primarily used their handheld devices for self-directed informal learning with non-collaborative strategies or processes in their work settings for accessing online resources for a range of reasons including: evidence-based support, new procedures/treatments, professional development, patient/client teaching, and maintaining competency. Age differences related to the use of mobile devices for informal learning were minimal. However, workplace-related influences including deficiencies in formal educational resources, Internet access, and/or employer support were relevant to the informal learning experiences. Positive perceptions of efficiencies, self-confidence, patient/client safety, patients/clients’ reactions, and the need for sanctioned resources for using mobile technologies in the healthcare workplace were articulated. The findings pointed to the significance of mobile devices as learning tools for RNs’ informal learning for construction of knowledge and meaning-making to inform professional development and continuing competence. / 2013-01