Addendum fixed inside back end-paper. Bibliography: leaves 216-219. Reports a study to investigate the influence of a study skills program on a group of adult students at Thebarton Senior College, Adelaide. The researcher planned and prepared the program of work for these students and was the teacher of the subject, and the observer of the influence the course had on the students, compared with a similar control group. Analysis showed there was an observable positive effect on the students, however, it was the conclusion of the researcher that the positive result was achieved more because support had been offered to the students than through the teaching of the subject matter of the study skills course.

Thesis--Gothenburg. Extra t.p. with thesis statement inserted. / "The tips project 21." Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-308).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Boise State University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-151).

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are knowledge-intensive organisations competing in the context of knowledge and research activities, as well as programmes and services offered. Research is integral to institutional competition to determine their status and standing and it underpins academics' responsibilities in developing intellectual skills and capacity of learners. Whilst universities adopt formalised approaches to developing research activities, there is a growing trend towards informal groupings or communities of practice (CoPs) where like-minded individuals seek to share common interests in particular research areas. These CoPs offer an alternative approach to developing research within HEIs, especially where efforts to improve faculty research have met with mixed success as there are no clear guidelines and relatively little is known about the mechanisms that facilitate research amongst academics. While there have been past research in various sectors on how CoPs benefit organisations, little has been focussed in the HE sector, in particular how it benefits individuals in terms of doing research and this forms the distinctiveness of this research. The aim is to illuminate, explore and gain insights of individuals' perceptions of the value and impact of CoP membership within research communities in HE and the potential impact on subsequent research. The CoP concept and the benefits identified in past research in general sectors serve as the focal framework of this research and other theories i.e. value, perception and HE, are included to support and ground further analysis in the overall study. This research takes the social constructionist standpoint, trying to understand individuals' experience of participating in these research communities, through the interpretive lens. It adopts the qualitative approach using observation and interviews (supplemented by storytelling and critical incident technique) to gather data which are then analysed using the narrative analysis approach paying attention to individuals' experience expressed through their stories and incidents. An analysis of data revealed that individuals found these research communities' membership valuable as it has helped and supported them in terms of doing research and have impacted them personally, professionally, intellectually and socially. Twenty perceived values have been discovered; twelve of which are supported by past organisational research, but mirrored also in HE i.e. autonomy and freedom to think beyond; sources to ideas; sounding board; intellectual discussion; like-mindedness; alternative perspective and cross pollination of ideas; informal ground for learning and training; networking, information sharing and updates; support and guidance; sense of belonging; identity; and intrinsic fulfilment. Although, there are some similarities in these twelve perceived values, they have benefited and impacted on individuals in their own way. The other eight perceived values i.e. overcoming intellectual isolation; move towards collaborative research; response to research pressure; synergy and leverage; time and energy saving; foster tangible returns; drive research; and opportunity to meet, have emerged from doing research in the HE sector and provide new insights not previously discussed. Thus, the contributions of this research are it has drawn on a wide range of literature put together in a unique way; it has extended the CoP concept by applying it to HE for the purpose of doing research; and further understanding on how individuals benefit from their membership, which was never conducted in such a way in past research. Above all, it has offered new insights and raised awareness of the values of research-based CoPs' membership to individuals and this adds to the research literature in CoP as well as the HE context.

As the landscape of UKHE undergoes yet another significant change, currently related to the funding of home students, the importance of a university’s international activities have been placed in a sharper focus. Although the direct economic impact of international student recruitment is of interest and importance, how institutions approach and organise themselves in relation to wider internationalisation is critical. This study has investigated in detail the internal barriers that exist to restrict or prevent that internationalisation process. A mixed methods approach, aligned with a realist ontology and pragmatist epistemology, has utilised a rigorous, sequential, three phase primary investigation. The earlier phases informing, although also allowing data to be transferred to other stages, the follow-on phases. An initial phase of content analysis of internationalisation strategies was utilised to identify the enablers to internationalisation and also to allow the formulation of a probability sampled questionnaire to staff involved with, and interested in, internationalisation. The phase two questionnaire results were then utilised to identify the barriers to internationalisation and to formulate detailed questions to be asked at a series of purposive sampled interviews, these interviews confirming the previously identified barriers. A series of internal barriers have been identified as follows; Resources; senior management support and leadership; staff interaction/engagement; use of a strategy and monitoring; complicated and over- bureaucratic procedures; internationally focused curriculum; internationalisation at home; staff and student mobility; communication and clarification. The degree of impact of these barriers will vary between institutions and suggestions have been made how to approach and deal with them. This study has therefore made a direct contribution to higher education practice but has also made a contribution to knowledge by utilising the sequential primary data gathering and closing the evident knowledge gap associated with the identification of the internal barriers to internationalisation of higher education in the UK.

The Nelson R Mandela Medical School is currently implementing Curriculum 2001, which is based on integrated, student centred, problem and groupbased learning. In 2002 a three-week orientation Module was introduced to prepare students for Problem Based Learning (PBL). The aim of this programme was to assist first year students through the transition period from high school to university life and prepare them for a new way of learning. In the university context the word orientation has come to mean assisting students to become accustomed to the new environment of university education and to make the first few weeks as friendly and informative as possible so that this transition is made effectively. It is also a socialisation process whereby students get to know what the expectations of the departments and the university are as well as being an introduction to the values and standards of the group the student is entering. For the students the change from school where they are accustomed to a particular approach to learning is a huge step to a tertiary institution where the approach to learning is different. The purpose of this study was: 1) To ascertain what students understood about the new curriculum before they embarked on it and did orientation help them to understand it better? (2) In what ways did the students perceive the orientation programme as a help to prepare first year medical students and especially for PBL? (3) What particular aspects of the orientation programme do students perceive help them in a new situation and did this prepare them for a new way of learning? (4) In what ways do staff perceive the contribution of orientation to the new PBL curriculum? Both qualitative and quantitative data was gathered from questionnaires, interviews and focus group sessions with first and second year students and staff. The first year students agreed that the orientation Programme did assist them to prepare for a new way of learning. Preparing students for a new way of learning and assistance with making the many transitions into university life is very important and necessary if students are to be successful. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

This small scale case study focused on the difficulties experienced by the six Grade seven learners from a selected township school when they were writing their English homework. Literature suggests a gap in findings on the perspectives of learners. The study utilized six Grade seven learners who had failed to complete their English homework which they had been given the previous day by their English language educator. The participants had been given a comprehension test on the previous day that they had started in the classroom and they were expected to finish it at home as their homework. Three boys and three girls were chosen from three different Grade seven sections as participants for the study. The data for this study was obtained by the semi structured interviews. The semi structured interviews were informed by drawings which were used by the learners to help them remember some of the things that they might have forgotten if there were no drawings to broaden responses to the questions. These interviews were conducted in a secluded class to avoid disturbances by the other learners. The interviews took place during one week and they were conducted for thirty minutes after school. A tape recorder was used to record the data which was later to be transcribed and analyzed. This study revealed through its findings that the learners experienced a number of difficulties when they were writing their English homework and as a result they could not finish it. Some of the findings that emerged from this study were amongst others, the lack of space at home to write homework, lack of someone to help with homework, and the house chores that have to be done by the learners when they come back from school. Findings of this study suggest that as English educators we need to give our learners an opportunity to speak out about some of the challenges or difficulties they experience when they are writing their English homework. Moreover, we need to teach our learners to plan their time properly so that they have enough time to write their homework when they come back from school since there are things that they have to do when they come back from school which cannot take a backseat or be done by their parents like the house chores. Finally, findings in this study suggest the importance of the open lines of communication between the parents the educators. This open line of communication could help close the gap that is between the educators and the parents and it can also help everybody understand what is expected from them when it comes to the issuing and the monitoring of schoolwork. This may help the educators communicate with the parents about their children’s homework and what is expected from them. / M. Ed. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.

The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe several aspects of English as a second language (ESL) note-taking in response to lectures. The objective of this study was to analyze note-taking production. In addition, the study had hoped to trace note-taking progress as it correlated with language proficiency progress, but due to circumstances beyond the control of the researcher this idea had to be abandoned. Instead, the study focused on the first six weeks of a learner's academic semester in the target language.The researcher observed twenty students in order to obtain insights into the note-taking production of low ESL students in response to lectures. The methods used were: class observation, notebook collection, a two-part questionnaire, and a follow-up questionnaire. It was found that in the first six weeks of academic study, this group of low ESL students had difficulty taking notes due, largely, to language proficiency problems, such as the rate of delivery. Other reasons why the students had difficulties taking notes included their lack of formal training in note-taking and the fact that they were not using special strategies and skills. Thus, all this study can say about note-taking in second language acquisition is that it is difficult for low ESL students. / Department of English

This thesis analyses a complex process of meaning making. It centres upon the meaning making of a group of fourteen teachers who teach pupils with profound and multiple learning disabilities (pmld). The nature of the meaning making changed as the research progressed. It moved from my meaning making of the teachers to my meaning making with the teachers. Integral to this was a process of personal meaning making and critical self reflection. The qualitative paradigm of research methodology offered a framework that informed my methodological decisions. The influence of symbolic interaction, critical theory and grounded theory was instrumental in the initial stages of the research process. Latterly, the role of social construction became important in my meaning making. The contribution of questionnaires, individual and group interviews to the process of meaning making, in the context of this work while necessary, has proved to be problematic, particularly in relation to the organic nature of the research, my personal role in it, and the role of ethics. I argue for an ongoing ethical debate within the research that develops as the research progresses and changes. The research has highlighted the integral role of teacher identity and notions of specialist knowledge in the development, sustenance and challenging of the teachers' understandings about the pupils they teach who have pmld. Inherent in these understandings are the personal experiences the teachers have encountered throughout their lives. These understandings have been analysed and the dominant influences of particular theories and models of disability are made explicit. The influence of labelling, categorising and the professional discourse has also been shown to be an integral element of the study. As a teacher educator, I have gained some insights which may improve the support I offer to teachers in their professional development. These insights relate to the importance of acknowledging the role of teacher identity, and engaging teachers in a process of analysis that encourages them to appreciate the impact of teacher identity on their understandings. An important element of this would be reflection on their personal experiences. In relation to specialist knowledge, a critical analysis of pedagogy is argued for: a process that engages teachers in wider notions of pedagogy for all learners, but which supports them in translating this pedagogy to effective teaching and learning for pupils with pmld.

This PhD study was designed to answer the question; does access to electronic information resources have a role to play in breaking down barriers to learning encountered by young people? If so, how does it, why does it and what are the circumstances which influence this role? The answers would then provide a deeper understanding of the use of these resources. This is a constructivist inquiry; sixteen young people aged 13-14 years were selected using snowball sampling to provide maximum variation. Emergent design was a feature of the research model and due to the uniqueness of this approach in Library and Information Science, in depth discussion of the research model is included in this thesis. Prolonged engagement with the sixteen participants using data collection methods such as in-depth interviews, observations, logs, and document analysis created ‘rich pictures’ of the individuals in the form of holistic case studies. These case studies were used as the basis of a cross-case analysis in order to provide for transferability of case, based on contextual applicability and to generate a theory grounded in the data from cross-case themes as they emerge. This study has produced a model of learning opportunities based on tangible and perceived affordances. This model was then used to structure the variables identified as significant to the role of electronic information resources in the provision of learning opportunities. A framework of potential learning opportunities in the electronic information environment has resulted which identifies the tangible variables such as availablity and accessibility of technogies and perceieved variables such as motivation, interaction. These vairables impact on affordances of electronic information resources on learning opportunites.