Institutions of higher learning in South Africa should establish and sustain their own quality management systems. These systems should improve quality of the core business of higher education i.e. teaching and learning, research and community engagement. It should yield reliable information for internal planning as well as external monitoring purposes. The integration of quality management with planning and resource allocation within a framework of continuous improvement is viewed as fundamental elements for successful quality management of institutions of higher learning. A key assumption of this research is that quality management models should be underpinned by the systems theory in order to enhance the integration of quality management, planning and resource allocation on institutional strategic, tactical and operational levels. This study utilised the key elements and phases of the PDCA and ADRI models to develop a model for the integration of quality management, planning and resource allocation within a context of continuous improvement This model will be suitable for implementation by one of the institutions of higher learning in South Africa that fails, according to its latest HEQC audit to integrate quality management, planning and resource allocation. It offers also a conceptual framework for any institution of higher learning that fails to integrate quality management, planning and resource allocation. / Ph.D., Education, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

This auto-ethnographic study (i.e. an autobiographical genre of writing and research, written in the first-person voice, where the workings of self are expressed both cognitively and emotionally) qualitatively explores the changing assumptions of a training therapist. It shows how various therapies were negotiated during the training period, and explores how meaning was constructed according to basic, underlying epistemological assumptions. Significant experiences and therapies are presented, showing how the therapist's most basic, linear assumptions, were directly challenged by eco-systemic training. The study produces an in-depth, thick description of both the emotional and the cognitive journey of a training therapist, and traces the therapist's movement away from the stability and certainty of a linear epistemological 'way of knowing' to the instability and uncertainty characteristic of an eco-systemic 'way of knowing'. Conclusions are idiosyncratic and are not intended for generalization. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

The focus of this study is to determine how closely self-report perceptions of technology integration skills align with the observations of an external evaluator. Participants were elementary and secondary teachers in a north Texas school district. The district is in the process of implementing a one-to-one initiative using a major vendor’s tablet devices. The study utilized both quantitative survey methodology, and a qualitative observational tool to record learning activities in the K-12 classroom. For the quantitative phase, three validated single-item self-report instruments were administered to the teachers via an online survey; the instruments utilized were the Concerns-Based Adoption Model—Levels of Use (CBAM-LoU); Stages of Adoption of Technology; and the Apple Classroom of Tomorrow (ACOT). In the qualitative portion of the study, classroom teachers involved in the one-to-one innovation were observed and rated by the Technology Integration Matrix, an instrument specifically designed to observe technology integration skills and practices in K-12 instructional settings. Kendall’s tau correlations between the various self-report instruments and the external observer rating are: CBAM, r = .51 (p is not significant); Stages, r = .58 (p < .05); ACOT, r = .82 (p < .01). Additionally, regression models were run using all three self-reports as predictors of the observation score, and using only the ACOT as a predictor. The regression model for the three-predictor model is TIM = .68; Stages - .82; CBAM + 1.61; ACOT - 1.23 (R2 = .94, p < .05), while the model for the ACOT-only predictor is TIM = 1.1; ACOT - 1.1 (R2 = .80, p < .01). These results demonstrate a strong correlation between the ratings reported by the teachers and the ratings given by the external observer, indicating that these self-report measures show a strong propensity for indicating actual technology skills.

In my final thesis I have dealt with the development of metacognitive strategies for primary school pupils in the Montessori environment. The aim of the first part of the thesis was to anchor the entire issue in the broader context of the current educational situation with respect to the requirements of The General educational program. In the second part of the thesis I described both - metacognitive strategies as well as key aspects of Montessori education. This characteristic I based on the analysis of the available literature. The final part of theory deals with the synthesis of both areas. This synthesis showes their harmonious connections and considerable complementarity. In this section I also revealed some problems that educators face in practice, and I tried to outline possible ways to address them - from my own experience of teaching practice. Empiric part of thesis uncovers the ways of introduction metacognitive strategies to education and presents few "examples of good practice.

The aim of this thesis is to assess the reading comprehension of pupils in the second grade of elementary school. This work focuses on possible existence of differences in reading comprehension of children taught using analytic-synthetic and genetic method. The content of this thesis is also a reading self-evaluation of these students. The theoretical part acquaints readers with the main topics related to the issue, with the help of available literature sources. It focuses particularly on issues of literacy, reading, reading comprehension, reading teaching methods, self-evaluation of reading, reader environment or reading diagnostics. Due to the research goals, for the practical part, quantitative methodology was used. The test battery includes two tests of reading comprehension and self-assessment questionnaire. Examination "We're going on a trip" is taken from a research project Reading comprehension- typical development and its risk. Other used methods are test "Hedgehog" and "Questionnaire reading for pupils in second year". These methods were created under the project Development of the reading literacy competencies in the inclusive education. The research sample includes 155 children attending the second grade of primary school (66 taught analytic-synthetic reading method and 89 genetic...

UNIVERZITA KARLOVA v PRAZE Pedagogická fakulta katedra primární pedagogiky ŠKOLNÍ HODNOCENÍ A JEHO VLIV NA DÍTĚ SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CHILD Vedoucí diplomové práce: PhDr. Jana Stará, Ph.D. Autor diplomové práce: Lenka Boldišová Studijní obor: učitelství pro 1. stupeň ZŠ Forma studia: kombinovaná Diplomová práce dokončena: březen, 2012 ABSTRAKT: In the theoretical part the problems of evaluation in contemporary education will be analyzed. The attention will be particularly focused on the collection of information based on influences of the evaluation and its individual forms and types on the child. In the empirical part the combination of quantitative and qualitative methods will be utilized. In the quantitative part of the research, questionnaires for elementary schools teachers, for pupils of the primary school grade 2 to 5 and the parents of those pupils will be used. The questions will be focused on their attitude to the different forms of the school evaluation - what they are mainly afraid of, what they prefer, what attitude they have to self-evaluation, how they are influenced by the different forms of evaluation. In some detailed dialogues with pupils, their parents and their teacher I will examine the way of evaluation of pupils in the elementary school and to what degree their...

This thesis has theoretical and research character. The theoretical part deals with general theoretical foundations and bases of relating to pupil primary school and his/her social position in the class. The practical focus of the project, which aims to improve relations in the team and help pupils who are not satisfied with their social status in class, get a better position.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Chihyung Ok / Employee engagement has received a great deal of attention in the last decade in the popular business press and among consulting firms and the practitioner community. They claim employee engagement is a new human resource practice that business organizations can use in order to cope with the uncertainty of turbulent industry conditions. However, in the academic community, the concept remains new, and therefore, the concept requires rigorous seminal studies to validate it. Given that practical interest in work engagement has outstripped the currently available research evidence, fundamental questions, like how it can be increased and how and why it benefits individuals and organizations, still require answers. Therefore, this study empirically tested relationships among antecedents and consequences of employee engagement in the hotel setting. In particular, this study provided theory-based empirical evidence regarding whether employee evaluations of self (i.e., core self-evaluations) and perceptions of organizational environment (i.e., psychological climate) affect employee engagement. This study also investigated how employee engagement directly and indirectly leads to intrinsic rewards, job satisfaction, personal attachment to an organization (i.e., organizational commitment), and the leader-member exchange relationship (LMX). In accordance with the purpose and objectives of the study, 11 hypotheses were proposed based on several theories: Kahn's three psychological conditions theory, job demands-resources model, social exchange theory, and conservation of resources theory. To test the hypotheses, data were collected from 394 hotel employees and managers in the United States. The proposed relationships were examined using hierarchical multiple regression and structural equation modeling. Results of hypothesis testing showed that core self-evaluations and three components of psychological climate (managerial support for service, interdepartmental service, and team communication) positively influence employee engagement. The results also revealed that employee engagement is positively associated with all the outcome variables. This study further demonstrated that LMX mediates the relationships of employee engagement with job satisfaction and organizational commitment; job satisfaction mediates the relationships between employee engagement and organizational commitment and between LMX and organizational commitment. Given that employee engagement is an important current issue for hospitality companies, the findings should provide the hotel industry with a more complete picture of how employee engagement is associated with its antecedents and outcomes. A discussion of managerial implications is included along with theoretical implications of the findings, an evaluation of research limitations, and directions for future research.

Este estudo foi realizado com formandos de duas propostas curriculares do Curso de Enfermagem da Universidade Estadual Londrina. Foi desenvolvido do seguinte problema de pesquisa: o ensino de metodologia de pesquisa no Currículo Integrado do Curso de Enfermagem da UEL com o conteúdo diluído nos módulos, que permitem aproximações sucessivas com as etapas do trabalho científico, capacita os alunos de graduação para os desempenhos esperados em pesquisa? O problema em foco foi abordado com os seguintes objetivos:comparar os desempenhos, em pesquisa, dos alunos do Currículo de Transição com os desempenhos, em pesquisa, dos alunos do Currículo Integrado; compreender o significado de aprender a pesquisa para os formandos; propor um plano de ensino e aprendizagem sobre a pesquisa no desenvolvimento dos módulos do Currículo Integrado do Curso de Enfermagem. A pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de dois métodos. O método quantitativo possibilitou a comparação dos desempenhos em pesquisa dos dois grupos e o qualitativo possibilitou a busca do significado de aprender a pesquisar na graduação. Participaram da pesquisa 42 formandos em Enfermagem pelo Currículo de Transição e 48 graduandos em Enfermagem pelo Currículo Integrado. A coleta dos dados quantitativos foi realizada através de cinco instrumentos: questionário para avaliar conhecimentos em pesquisa; análise de artigo científico mediante o emprego das estratégias de grifo; anotações e roteiro com 18 questões; e relatório de atividade acadêmica. Os dados qualitativos foram obtidos através da auto-avaliação dos discentes. Os resultados obtidos nos testes foram organizados em sete tabelas de freqüência que mostram os desempenhos dos dois grupos de formandos. Os resultados relacionados à auto-avaliação foram classificados em cinco categorias (pontos positivos, pontos negativos, exigências da pesquisa, aproveitamento e sugestões) e analisados com apoio do referencial para análise de conteúdo de Bardin (1977). Os resultados permitiram alcançar os objetivos propostos e não rejeitam a hipótese de pesquisa. Com o trabalho esperamos: oferecer aos docentes de Enfermagem uma maneira de ensinar metodologia de pesquisa numa visão interdisciplinar, mostrando a importância da vivência prolongada com atividades de pesquisa para a aquisição da competência; incentivar a iniciação científica na graduação em Enfermagem; estimular nos docentes o desejo de utilizar a pesquisa como recurso de ensino e aprendizagem; e possibilitar uma reflexão dos docentes do Curso de Enfermagem da UEL sobre a proposta de desenvolvê-la como seiva. / This study is developed with graduation students of two curriculum grades of nursery of Universidade Estadual de Londrina(UEL). It was elaborated from the following problem of research: Does the teaching of methods of research in the integrated curriculum of nursery in UEL with the content diluted in grade that enables successive approach to the steps of scientific work enables the students of the last year to have the expected results in research? The problem in focus was approached with the following objectives: compared the performances in research, of the students of the transition curriculum with the performance in research of the integrated curriculum. Understend significant of learning the research for the graduated. Suggested a plane of learning and teaching about research throughout the nursery integrated curriculum. The research was developed by two methods. The quantitative method enables the comparison of the performance in research of the two groups and the qualitative one enabled the search of meaning of learning research in graduation. 42 students of last year of nursery through the curriculum of the transition curriculum and 48 students of the integrated curriculum took part of the research. The gathering of the quantitative dates was done by five instruments: questionnaire to evaluate knowledge in research, analysis of scientific article by using underline strategies, notes and schedule with 18 questions, and report of academic activity. The qualitative dates were obtained through self-evaluation of students. The results obtained in the tests were organized in seven tables of frequency that show the performance of the two groups. The results of the self-evaluation were organized in fives categories (positive points, negative points, the demanding of research, progress and suggestions) and analyzed through Bardin paradigm (1977). The results allowed to reach the objectives intended and not rejected the reseach hypothesis. With this work we hope: offer the teachers a way to teach methodology of research interdisciplinary vision, showing the importance of having long experience of research to acquire competency; stimulate the scientific initiation in the nursery graduation, arise the wish of using research as a teaching and learning way in the professors; and allow reflection of the teachers in nursery school about the proposal to develop it as vigor. KAY-