The high failure rate in the learning areas Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is of great concern to educators. In-service training courses for educators in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy were presented with the aim to enhance the application of didactics in the classroom. The problems concerning the application (impact) could possibly be attributed to the components, elements and presentation of the in-service training course. In an attempt to identify the relevant components and elements, quasi-experimental positivist and interpretive research was conducted. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The question arising is: Could improved impact in the classroom be achieved 1. if the in-service training facilitators received better training, and 2. by incorporating change of attitude, the treatment of the full subject content and the principles of learning structures and co-operative learning into the in-service-training? Educators are still experiencing problems with the transfer of the subject content to the learners. / Early Childhood Education and Development / M. Ed. (Kurrikulumstudies)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In terms of the latest education legislation, there is a shift of emphasis in the approach to teaching. In particular, there is a move from contents-based learning to outcomes-based learning. It has been shown that technical education is becoming more and more expensive. Manual skills and the teaching of these at school is therefore still of cardinal importance. In the technical school the learner receives specialised training. Following the successful completion of the Senior Certificate examinations, the learner receives a matric certificate. This certificate does not give an indication of specific skills, however. If the learner could receive some accreditation for the skills which he/she has already mastered, it would count in his/her favour. The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree to which the learner can transfer his/her acquired technical knowledge and skills to other training institutions or employers in the form of credits. In the first chapter, the historical background of an outcomes-based learning approach in South Africa, as well as the implications of legislation for technical high schools is researched. A number of necessary concepts are also explained in this chapter. In chapter two, the structure of a modular approach in technical education is looked at in more detail. Different types of modules, the advantages and disadvantages of a modular system, as well as different models for modular curriculum design is discussed. The already tested competence-based modular approach, as well as the newly proposed outcomes-based learning approach is discussed in detail in chapter three. Since it is the competence-based modular approach which is largely used in technical education, it is important to investiqate the shift to an outcomesbased approach in technical education. In the fourth chapter, specific modular points of intersection between the training of apprentices and secondary school education are looked at. The feasibility of acquiring credits in the technical high school is discussed on the basis of an empirical study in chapter five. The possible applications of the implementation of an outcomes-based learning approach in technical high schools are set out in chapter six and the findings of this research are summarised in chapter seven. The subject of this research is currently very topical and if the findings contained therein are applied in practice, many of the modern challenges faced by the education system could be addressed. Learners should receive education and training which prepare them practically for their roles as citizens, while also enabling them to enter the job market or create work for themselves. The importance of an education system which continually determines the needs of both the national and international markets, investigates technological and other relevant tendencies and develops current curriculums in such a way that learners will always be competitive cannot be emphasised enough. An outcomes-based approach places much less emphasis on content-based syllabuses and merely exposes learners to balanced learning programmes in which the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes and values carries equal weight. Because of the changes in education and training, the teaching approach in the technical high school is extremely important. To some degree, technical education is already specialised education. Although learning takes place at school, the acquired knowledge is not currently transferable to other training institutions in the form of credits. This situation is contradictory to the National Qualifications Framework, in which an outcomes-based approach to education is proposed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volgens die nuutste onderwyswetgewing is daar in die onderwys 'n klemverskuiwing ten opsigte van onderrigbenadering. Daar word vanaf 'n inhoudsgerigte na 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering beweeg. Afdoende bewyse bestaan dat tegniese opleiding al hoe duurder raak. Die noodsaaklikheid van die ontwikkeling van handvaardighede daarin op skool is daarom steeds van kardinale belang. In die tegniese skoolontvang die leerder bepaalde gespesialiseerde opleiding. Na die suksesvolle aflegging van die Senior Sertifikaateksamen, ontvang die leerder 'n matrieksertifikaat. Hierdie sertifikaat dui egter nie spesifieke bevoegdhede aan nie. Indien die leerder krediet sou kon ontvang vir die bevoegdhede wat hy/sy reeds suksesvol bemeester het, sou dit in sy/haar guns tel. Die doel van hierdie studie is 'n ondersoek na die mate waarin die leerder sy/haar verworwe tegniese kennis en vaardighede na ander opleidingsinstansies of werkverskaffers kan oordra in die vorm van krediete. In die eerste hoofstuk word die historiese agtergrond van 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering in Suid-Afrika nagevors, asook die implikasies van wetgewing vir tegniese hoërskole nagegaan. Bepaalde tersaaklike begrippe word ook in hierdie hoofstuk verduidelik. In hoofstuk twee word die struktuur van 'n modulêre benadering binne tegniese onderwys van nader beskou. Verskillende soorte modules, die voor- en nadele van 'n modulêre stelsel, asook verskeie modelle vir 'n modulêre kurrikulumontwerp, word bespreek. Die reeds beproefde bevoegdheidsgebaseerde modulêre benadering asook die nuutvoorgestelde uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering, word breedvoerig in hoofstuk drie bespreek. Aangesien hoofsaaklik die bevoegdheidsgebaseerde modulêre benadering in tegniese onderwys toegepas word, is dit belangrik om die noodsaaklikheid van 'n klemverskuiwing na 'n uitkomsgebaseerde benadering in tegniese onderwys te ondersoek. In die vierde hoofstuk word daar spesifiek gekyk na bepaalde modulêre raakpunte tussen vakleerlingopleiding en sekondêreskoolopleiding. Die haalbaarheid van kredietverwerwing in die tegniese hoërskool word in hoofstuk vyf na aanleiding van 'n empiriese ondersoek bespreek. Die toepassingsmoontlikhede vir die implementering van 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigbenadering in die tegniese hoërskool word daarna in hoofstuk ses uiteengesit en die bevindinge van die navorsing in hoofstuk sewe saamgevat. Die onderwerp van hierdie navorsing is tans baie aktueel en indien die bevindinge daarin vervat in die praktyk toegepas sou word, sal heelwat van die moderne uitdagings wat aan die onderwys gestel word, aangespreek word. Leerders behoort onderwys en opleiding te ontvang wat hulle prakties op hul rolle as landsburgers voorberei en hulle ook bekwaam maak om tot die arbeidsmark toe te tree of vir hulleself werk te skep. Die belangrikheid van 'n onderrigstelsel wat voortdurend behoeftes in nasionale en internasionale markte bepaal, tegnologiese en ander relevante tendense naspeur en huidige kurrikulums só ontwikkel dat leerders altyd kompeterend is, kan nie genoeg beklemtoon word nie. 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde benadering plaas minder klem op inhoudsgebaseerde sillabusse en stel leerders bloot aan gebalanseerde leerprogramme waarin die verwerwing van relevante kennis, vaardighede, houdings en waardes ewe veel gewig dra. As gevolg van die klemverskuiwings in onderwys en opleiding is die leerbenadering wat in die tegniese hoërskool gevolg word van kardinale belang. Tegniese onderrig is in 'n sekere mate reeds gespesialiseerde onderrig. Alhoewel leer op skool plaasgevind het, is die verworwe kennis tans nie oordraagbaar na ander opleidingsinstansies in die vorm van krediete vir die leerders nie. Hierdie situasie is in stryd met die bedoeling van die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk wat 'n uitkomsgebaseerde onderwysbenadering voorstaan

Post apartheid South Africa saw the introduction of many policies and legislations that were to meet the goals of democracy, social redress, equity and development. One of the crucial legislations that guided the restructuring of higher education was the South African Qualifications Authority Act (SAQA) of 1995. Within this SAQA Act (1995) is the issue of quality assurance. Through a system of quality assurance and through processes such as the registration of higher education practices and programmes such as the Education and Training Quality Assurance Bodies (ETQA), the National Standards Body (NSB), the Standards Generating Bodies (SGB), the Council of Higher Education and the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) within the SAQA Act mandate. The higher education sector is been guided to offer relevant and responsive needs that meet the needs of learners, employers and other stakeholders. Quality Assurance could relate to greater accountability and efficiency in respect of education or higher standards of education provision. It is within the expression of higher standards and comparability of quality assurance that through the SAQA Act (1995) all providers of higher education, whether public higher education providers of private higher education providers, are required to register as providers of higher education programmes and to register its programmes been offered. It is within this expression of quality assurance that this study is located. This study examined the impact of the Quality Assurance Legislation on programme design of the Information Technology (IT) Department within the School of Technology at Anchorlite College, which is a private higher education institution (PHEI). The Study focused on two critically questions, viz: i. Did the PHEI use a quality assurance system before the quality assurance legislation? ii. What impact did the quality assurance legislation have on pedagogy, resources and content of programme design of a PHEI A case study method was used on a purposeful sampled PHEI to illuminate the impact of the quality assurance legislation on programme design at Anchorlite College. Data was obtained through an interview with the Head of Department. The institution's records were used to retrieve data. Also a questionnaire was administered to the IT staff The findings indicate that there are both positive and negative aspects concerning the impact of the quality assurance legislation on programme design. The SAQA Act (1995) did impact on the IT programme pertaining to staffing, physical resources, assessment, programme design and learners. The findings indicate that the quality assurance legislation within the' Requirements for Learning Programmes' (SAQA, 1998) influenced and impacted the IT programme. This impact was indicated by appropriate and adequate staff have been employed to support the learning programme, the physical resources have increased, a more informed assessment strategy has been implemented and the learners admission requirements into the IT programme has changed by introducing aptitude testing. The findings did indicate that some staff was aware of the quality assurance before the SAQA Act (1995) The recommendations of this study indicate that the staff aligns themselves with the needs of the industry by internships or forming partners with industrial organizations. The IT programme will have to be reviewed and adapted to include the needs of the industry. The system of staff development programmes is implemented so that the staff becomes familiar with the new skills and techniques of industry. The SAQA Act (1995), the quality assurance legislation did impact on the programme design of the IT programme at Anchorlite College. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - Educational Management)-University of Durban Westville, 2002.

This study investigates factors that influence environmental teaching in rural schools in the Ngqeleni District, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Focusgroup interviews at selected schools for Grade 4 to 6 teachers were held between 7th and 22nd November 2005. The study shows that the environmental curriculum, teacher qualifications and training, resources, attitudes of teachers and learners, governance and the context, influence the implementation of environmental teaching. The study reflects that teacher qualifications and training are the most limiting factors and need to be addressed immediately because environmental curriculum is not effectively delivered. Recommendations provided entail that teachers need to be included during the curriculum planning process together with curriculum experts from the Department of Education. The Department of Education also needs to effectively plan teacher training and extend the training period for teachers. Intersectoral collaboration within government in terms of how teachers are trained might also be helpful for better environmental teaching. A buddy system in which schools form environmental support groups might be helpful to keep on building local experience and capacity at the local level. Teachers are supposed to be part of the pUblishing process of resource materials to ensure relevance of resource materials to their contexts. A traveling resource centre with DVD's, for example, for shOWing different contexts beyond local level might also be helpful. Further training of teaching staff and the use of study trips for the best classes of pupils might also motivate learners and teachers. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

The high failure rate in the learning areas Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy is of great concern to educators. In-service training courses for educators in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy were presented with the aim to enhance the application of didactics in the classroom. The problems concerning the application (impact) could possibly be attributed to the components, elements and presentation of the in-service training course. In an attempt to identify the relevant components and elements, quasi-experimental positivist and interpretive research was conducted. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The question arising is: Could improved impact in the classroom be achieved 1. if the in-service training facilitators received better training, and 2. by incorporating change of attitude, the treatment of the full subject content and the principles of learning structures and co-operative learning into the in-service-training? Educators are still experiencing problems with the transfer of the subject content to the learners. / Early Childhood Education and Development / M. Ed. (Kurrikulumstudies)

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)

With the intention of improving my own practice, the study investigated how school grounds could be used for environmental learning in the Foundation Phase Life Skill Learning Programme within the Revised National Curriculum Statement. The research was conducted in the Grade One class of Ntaba Maria Primary School situated in Grahamstown East. The study was an action research case study based on interpretive approach to research. It had two cycles comprised of two lesson plans. The first Lesson Plan focused on an audit of the school grounds to identify environmental issues. The second Lesson Plan was informed by the audit, and addressed one of the identified environmental issues. Data was gathered through analysis of curriculum documents, video recordings and photographs of learning interactions, journal entries and learners’ work. The study highlighted that school grounds provided a context for environmental learning within Life Orientation Learning Area especially when integrated with other learning areas. There were cases however, where assessment standards were only partly addressed. The study also revealed that the Life Orientation Learning Area was also limiting for school grounds learning opportunities in some cases. In other cases the study highlighted the open-ended nature of some of its assessment standards. The study also revealed how school grounds related activities offered opportunities and challenges for constructivist, situated and active learning. Opportunities and challenges regarding group work, language use, active engagement with information learning in authentic settings, and action and action competence; emerged as issues from the analysis. Finally, the study shed light on how reflection on learners’ work and assessment of these could help teachers modify activities and do them differently so as to enhance the achievement of skills, knowledge, attitudes and values. The achievement of investigative and problem-solving skills through the two lesson plans was critically evaluated as the processes of values education employed in the lesson implementation.

Youth unemployment continues to be a problem globally, South Africa included. Amongst the remedies for youth unemployment was entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is regarded as the key pillar to economic growth and job creation. Furthermore, entrepreneurship education is beheld as stimulating entrepreneurial activity, enabling people to identify opportunities and start new business ventures. The primary focus of the study was to assess the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education in the high school learners in the city of Tshwane. The study was quantitative in nature, and utilised judgemental purposive sampling method as an approach to select the sample. The sample consisted of 240 grade 12 learners with entrepreneurship education in the form of Economic Management Science (EMS) as part of their syllabus. This sample was selected from high schools in three townships in the City of Tshwane namely Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Soshanguve. A structured close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data. The analysis of the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software. According to the literature reviewed, knowledge and skills gained from entrepreneurship education programmes stimulate learners’ entrepreneurship intentions and challenge learners to establish new businesses. The factors that emerged from the finding of the study were entrepreneurship skills, entrepreneurship knowledge, experiential learning, theoretical education and exploration of entrepreneurship. The findings have proven that there is a relationship between theoretical education, and experiential learning with learners’ intention towards entrepreneurship. Furthermore, experiential learning was found to have a significant influence in developing entrepreneurship knowledge, entrepreneurship skills and entrepreneurship intention in learners. With these findings the objectives and hypothesis of the study were addressed. The recommendations made to address the objectives of the study include one for learners to interact with business people globally, one for policy makers to enforce compulsory entrepreneurship education at high school level, one for educators to make use of experimental learning for entrepreneurship education and one for future studies to investigate the influence of family business on learner entrepreneurship intention. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Text in Afrikaans / Ten einde 'n kurrikulum relevant en doeltreffend te kan hou, is di t noodsaaklik om die kurrikulum gereeld te evalueer en dienooreenkomstig die bevindinge aan te pas, indien nodig. Spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika beskik oor 'n eiesoortige kernkurrikulum wat hoofsaaklik ontwikkel is vir leerders wat primer verstandelik matig gestrem is. Om verskeie redes, waarvan die belangrikste is, dat die meerderheid leerders wat hulle tans in spesiale skole bevind nie verstandelik matig gestremd is nie, word die werklike doeltreffendheid en relevansie van hierdie kurrikulum bevraagteken. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was derhalwe om die doeltreffendheid en relevansie van die kernkurrikulum wat vir die meerderheid spesiale skole in Suid-Afrika van toepassing is, te bepaal. 'n Sekondere doel van die ondersoek was om 'n kurrikulumevalueringsmodel te ontwikkel aan die hand waarvan kurrikulumevalueerders 'n kurrikulum vanuit 'n literatuurperspektief sou kon evalueer. Ten einde die ondersoek teoreties te fundeer, is 'n li teratuurondersoek onderneem na die grondslae en komponente van 'n kurrikulum. Op grond van die navorsingsresultate is die kurrikulumevalueringsmodel ontwikkel. Twee van die kurrikulumgrondslae wat by wyse van die navorsing blootgele is, is die leerder en die gemeenskap. By wyse van 'n li teratuur- en dokumentasie-ondersoek is bepaal wat die eise is wat spesialeskoolleerders en die gemeenskap aan die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole stel. Aan die hand van hierdie bevindinge is kurrikulumevalueringskriteria ontwikkel waarmee die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole toe geevalueer is. By die toepassing van hierdie kriteria is gevind dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole in vele opsigte nie behoorlik aan die eise van die leerders en die gemeenskap voldoen nie. Die gevolgtrekking kon derhalwe gemaak word dat die kernkurrikulum vir spesiale skole oor die algemeen nie doel treffend en relevant genoeg is nie. Aanbevelings is gemaak oor hoe die kernkurrikulum moontlik meer doeltreffend en relevant gemaak kan word. / Sustaining curriculum relevance and effectiveness, necessitates regular curriculum evaluation and adjustment in concurrence with the evaluation results. Special schools in South Africa have at their disposal their own · peculiar curriculum which was developed mainly for learners who are primarily mildly mentally disabled. For various reasons, the most important of which is that the majority of learners currently in special schools are not mildly mentally disadvantaged, the relevancy and effectiveness of this curriculum are questioned. The primary aim of this research was therefore to determine if the core curriculum for special education, which is applicable to the majority of special schools in South Africa, is relevant and effective. A secondary aim of this investigation was to develop a model for curriculum evaluation by means of which curriculum evaluators would be able to evaluate a curriculum from a literature perspective. With a view to founding this research theoretically, literature research was conducted into the foundations and components of the curriculum. On the basis of the research findings, the model for curriculum evaluation was developed. Two of the curriculum foundations that were disclosed by means of the research, were the learner and the community. By means of an investigation of literature and other relevant documentation, the demands made on the curriculum by the learner and the community, were determined. On the basis of these findings, criteria were developed by means of which the core curriculum for special schools was then assessed. When the above criteria were applied, it was found that in many respects the core curriculum for special schools did not completely comply with the demands of the learners and the community. The conclusion could therefore be drawn that the core curriculum for special schools are in general not effective and relevant enough. Proposals were made on how the core curriculum could possibly be made more effective and relevant. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didaktiek)