The unique characteristics and needs of artistically talented students were explored. World history students at the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts were used as a test group for the utilization of a variety of art forms in teaching world history. Lesson plans using art media for each unit of study in world history were constructed. Students responded to each lesson by completing an attitude survey. The conclusion was that the use of a variety of art in world history increased student interest and motivation. The increased student motivation resulted in a failure rate of approximately 5%, significantly lower than the previous failure rate of 12%.

The quality of mathematics knowledge attained by students entering university in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields has been decreasing. There is a need to enhance students’ mathematical knowledge in order to maintain the standards of STEM curriculum at university. The rationale of this study was to investigate the influence of Pre-Calculus Mathematics Refreshment module taught using Meta-cognitive skills and Co-operative Learning (MCL), or Co-operative Learning (CL) only, or Traditional lecture (T) intervention method to First Year pre-engineering Students on their Applied Calculus 1 in an Ethiopian university. The study further investigated the influence of Pre-Calculus Mathematics Refreshment module for MCL, or CL, or T intervention method on male and female students’ achievement. The refreshment module and Applied Calculus 1 scores were measured through posttest and normal class room score of Applied Calculus 1 result. The dependent variables were student achievement in pre-calculus refreshment Module and Applied Calculus 1. Out of 29 universities in Ethiopia only four were selected to participate in this study. Population of this study was all pre-engineering first year students in those universities in 2016/2017. The sample consisted of 200 pre-engineering university students who studied in four of Ethiopian universities and one class was randomly selected by lottery method from existing pre-engineering classes in each university. Two experimental groups which were taught MCL and the other CL intervention method and two of them were control groups upon whom the control novice with traditional lecture method and control without intervention was applied. In each group 50 students of 25 males and 25 females were purposely selected from sampled class. A pre-calculus mathematics Pre-test was administered first, where the average scores of all students Pre-test result was below 33%. Then, first MCL and CL intervention methods were discussed and exercised for one week before implementing the study. For the study, selected pre-calculus mathematics topics was taught in all classrooms for 32 periods i.e. 50min x32= 26.7hrs at the beginning of the first semester parallel with Applied Calculus 1 for the academic year 2016 / 2017. The statistical tools used under this procedure include descriptive statistics percentage, mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics, T-test, and one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA). The results show statistically significant differences (Sig 0.00) at the significance level (0.05) between students that learnt pre-calculus refreshment module and control group which did not. Among the students those learned pre-calculus refreshment module through MCL, CL and T method students in the MCL and CL groups’ posttest scores significantly different from T group in pre-calculus results both with Sig of 0.00. But there was no significant difference between MCL & CL groups were Sig is 0.97. Additionally, the female students in the MCL group was not significant different from CL and T group, on an impact of refreshment module, in Applied Calculus 1 mathematics where Sig is 0.994 and 0.237 respectively, and CL female group scores significantly different from T group in Applied Calculus 1 results with Sig 0.042. The male students in the MCL and CL groups were significantly different from T group in Applied Calculus 1with Sig of 0.07 and 0.012 respectively. Also, there was a positive correlation between Pre-Calculus refreshment module and Applied Calculus 1 with correlation coefficient of 0.835. Lastly, the result of pre-calculus mathematics posttest scores with the female students in MCL relatively increased than male students, than in CL and T groups, which indicated that MCL benefit more female students than male students. The differences were more in favor of pre-calculus mathematics refreshment with MCL intervention method. To improve success in engineering participation of all students, recommended that a pre-calculus module should be offered by all universities for first year engineering students, structured co-operative learning with purpose has significant gains for effective instruction, and to increase the success rate of female students this study has proven that they are trainable and therefore, meta-cognition skills have to be nurtured for female students. / Mathematics Education / D. Phil (Mathematics Education in Science and Technology)

The study examined factors that influenced high school students' participation in a college dual enrollment program. The purpose was to determine why more students from a large high school with a predominately Hispanic enrollment did not participate in a dual enrollment program. The sample design included college-bound high school juniors and seniors participating and not participating in a dual enrollment program. Family and teacher influences emerged as salient predictors of participation, while factors such as a lack of information, academic un-preparedness and a lack of qualified teachers to teach dual enrollment were associated with internal barriers to participation. / text

The purpose of the study was to describe factors that influence black females to choose engineering as a career. It transpired from the literature study that enabling environment, gender of role models, self-efficacy and socialization are important factors in terms of causing and attracting females into the fields of science and engineering study. From the empirical study it came out clearly that family members, female role members, and confidence in mathematics and science were factors that caused the females in engineering group to choose it as a career. Findings also revealed that gender stereotypes did not deter them from choosing engineering and that they were content with their career choice. For the above factors to be addressed incentives exclusive to females should be launched by government so as to attract more females to the fields of science and engineering. Schools also need to pursue programmes that expose learners to these fields. / Educational Studies / M. Ed.

Teenage pregnancy in South African schools poses a serious management and leadership challenge. Statistics from Statistics South Africa (2008) reflect the seriousness of this problem in all provinces wherein Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, Limpopo (where this study is situated) and Eastern Cape report high levels of early pregnancy. The main objective of this study was, therefore, to explore the challenges faced by the SMTs regarding teenage pregnancies at secondary schools in the Vhembe District in Limpopo province. A mixed methods approach was used to collect data from SMTs in schools that are located in Vhembe district. Questionnaires were distributed to the school management teams (SMTs) of different schools. In addition, qualitative data were collected through interviewing the SMTs. The study findings reflected that management of teenage pregnancy is still a problem at Vhembe District of Education despite the laws and policies that are in place. SMTs also felt that the issue of pregnant learners at schools should be left for medical experts to deal with them. The study recommends that there ought to be intervention programs including training of SMTs, SGBs and Educators regarding management of teenage pregnancy. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

In this qualitative case study, I investigated the experiences of teachers employed at Muslim schools in the Gauteng Province in South Africa regarding the enabling and constraining factors for the implementation of EE at their schools. The study was inspired by the observation of the ongoing environmental problems in South Africa such as water shortages and environmental degradation with the realisation of the possible contributions that the Muslim schools may make in addressing such problems if they were to implement EE. Although some research has been conducted to indicate the challenging and supporting factors related to the implementation of EE in South African schools, little has been done regarding such factors in Muslim schools in Gauteng Province. Due to my pre-existing knowledge of the principles of the Quraan and Ahaadith (Prophetic traditions) which bears the guidelines for the practices of Muslim communities (including schools) and values regarding the environment, I regarded the limited research on this topic as a serious gap in literature. To contribute knowledge to this gap, a case study of five Muslim schools located in the Gauteng Province was conducted to observe their EE-related practices. These schools were selected through a convenience sampling technique which was followed by the purposive selection of 15 information-rich teachers for semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. These research methods were preceded by the analysis of the Qur’aan and Ahaadith (Prophetic Traditions) as well as the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) as stated in the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document. Findings indicated that EE implementation in the participating schools is enabled by factors such as inclusion of EE in the school’s extra-curricular activities and teamwork among teachers to implement EE. Conversely, there are factors such as the lack of time and physical space as well as the lack of teaching resources related to EE which constrain the implementation of EE in these schools. Among the recommendations made was that Muslim school teachers need to participate in in-depth training courses directly related to EE implementation. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Environmental Education)

Despite the fact that education plays a vital role in the success of an individual and society as a whole, it is estimated that 1 of every 4 students will not receive a high school diploma four years after starting ninth grade. In an effort to decrease dropout rates and increase graduation rates of high school students, educators are searching for nontraditional methods to increase student achievement. One such method, dual enrollment, involves community colleges in the role as facilitators. While preliminary research indicates a relationship between dually enrolled students and high school graduation, additional data is needed on student demographics and achievement. To build and improve upon the dual enrollment programs of Mississippi’s community colleges, it will be important to know the participation levels and their effect on graduation rates. The purpose of this study was twoold: 1)To examine the proportions of students participating in Mississippi Community College Dual Enrollment Programs based on various demographics. 2)To determine the degree to which Mississippi Community College Dual Enrollment demographics and poverty levels of Mississippi public schools affect high school graduation rates of Mississippi’s Community College Districts. Data were obtained from the State Board of Community and Junior Colleges and the Mississippi Department of Education. Demographic variables chosen for the study included gender, race, curriculum and poverty level. Data from each public school was grouped according to the corresponding community college district, allowing the researcher to better establish the proportions of students participating in dual enrollment and the poverty level of public school students within the district. These proportions were then analyzed to find correlation between demographics and graduation rates of the community college district. Results indicate a low overall percentage of students participating in dual enrollment and disproportioned percentages between community college districts. Regression analyses indicate that race, gender and curriculum did not contribute significantly to the prediction of graduation rate. However, high poverty levels did show a significant relationship to lower graduation rates. Additionally, in every district females were dually enrolled at rates higher than males, and students were enrolled in academic courses notably more than technical/vocational courses.