M.Cur. (Professional Nursing) / Nursing as a humanistic profession has a responsibility to train expert practitioners with a responsibility towards the community. A variety of factors necessitate the cooperation between distance education an~ contact education. Some residential universities are planning, or are involved in, the presentation of courses through distance education. For the purpose of this study, a descriptive contextual investigation was undertaken of the profile of distance learning nursing students; and with a view to provide guidelines to residential universities for .the preparation and presentation of distance education courses. Relevant literature pertaining to distance education and contact education was studied and the Nursing for the Whole Person Theory as 'Nell as Holmberg's theory on guided didactic discussion formed the basis for compiling a conceptual framework for this study. A questionnaire was handed out to distance learning respondents at an Institute for Nursing and findings were obtained from them. It appears that the older, more adult person who has job and household responsibilities, is involved in distance education. It also appears that guidance by the tutor, especially by indirect means through the use of stUdy guides and assignments, is important. Supporting services, such as student counselling and accessible libraries, are needed. A variety of support groups can either have a positive or negative influence on the student's motivation level as well as success in her studies. Closer contact between educational institution and employer is recommended. All the facilities which are conducive to the studenfs learning should be functional and supportive guidance by the tutor, especially through indirect contact, is important for the student's success and motivation level. In the recommendations and guidelines possible solutions to problems are suggested. This accommodates the conceptual framework for interaction between the tutor, system and student to facilitate positive patterns of interaction between student's internal and external environment. A responsible, expert and independent practitioner can thus develop.

M.A. (Communications) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Bibliography: leaves 186-191. / This study documents Mavis Taylor's teaching of Improvisation at the University of Cape Town and provides a critical analysis of the improvisational methods she uses in the training of actors. It places her teaching within the wider field of improvisation understanding the importance of knowledge of 'self for the craft of acting. There is discussion around the role of the imagination and spontaneity in actor-training, and debate is raised regarding the concepts and practice of sensory and emotional memory training. The significance of teaching structure and form as a method for students to manipulate the medium of improvisation is argued, proposing that the creation of alternative meanings and 'realities' is the essence of acting.

A dissertation submitted to the Faoulty of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Industrial Psyohology). / stress management training is costly, yet widely used in industry with high expectations of the immediate and long-term benefits to both individual employees and the organisation (Monat & Lazarus( 1991). It has become apparent that, in spite of the banality of such stress management training, there is a significant lag in evaluative research to support these techniques (Cullen & Sandberg, 1987). The aim of the study was thus to appraise the effectiveness of a stress management programme in terms of individual psychological benefits (reduced stress; increased coping capacity; perceived control) and work attitudes (job satisfaction; propensity to leave the organisation). A second aim of the study was to determine whether, over the course of the intervention, there would be any significant differences in the outcome of the programme, for those demonstrating negative or positive affective predispositions. Data was collected using a self-report strategy in a field setting, using a short-term longitudinal research design. The sample consisted of 27 employees participating in a stress management programme. Matched-pair t-tests were generated to evaluate the extent of the impact of participation in the stress management progamme on subjects, from pretest to posttest. The main findings of the study were that the stress management programme intervention yielded only small changes in stress, coping, perceived control, job satisfaction and propensity to leave. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed and future directions for research considered. / AC 2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg March 2015 / This research was motivated by the necessity for Biotechnology education in the General Education and Training (GET) phase as biotechnology influences our daily lives in almost every way. Our human population is continually increasing and there is a need for increased food security to sustain the larger population. Hence technological advancement in the medical, agricultural and commercial sectors are taking place every day. Therefore, biotechnology education is necessary at an early age in order for learners to make an informed decision about the different products that are available in the market. This qualitative study aimed to identify the knowledge of and attitude towards biotechnology among grade 9 learners. This study was conducted in two South African schools in the Gauteng province. A total of 360 learners participated in the study and 25 learners from each school were selected as the sample for the study. Data was gathered using a questionnaire which consisted of closed ended and open ended questions based on knowledge and attitudes. The data analysis was essentially qualitative as it involved interpretation of the learners’ response in order to gain further understanding and insight. However, part of the questionnaire i.e. question 2 was quantitative. The data analysis revealed that grade 9 learners do indeed have knowledge about biotechnology. However, some of the knowledge they have, has many misconceptions i.e. in terms of genetic modification, inserting or removing genes and this largely due to a lack of formal teaching, as it is not a requirement in the grade 9 Natural Science curriculum. This information is useful for teachers teaching Natural Science and for teachers teaching Life Sciences to grade 10, 11 and 12, as well as curriculum developers.

A Research Report submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education by course-work and research report. Johannesburg, 1992 / This research report investigates the psychological dimensions in the learning and teaching of probability theory. It begins by outlining some problems arising from the author's own experience in the learning and teaching of probability theory, and develops a theoretical position using the Theory of Activity. This theory places education within the broad social context and recognises the centrality of affective aspects of cognition. [Abbreviated abstract. Open document to view full version]

This research is a qualitative study of a short project set up to explore the uses of a visual arts-based approach for addressing HIV and AIDS through teacher development. It was undertaken at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the face of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. It responds to the suggestions that teachers need to explore their own understanding, attitudes and perceptions of the disease if they are to deal confidently with the demands it places on them as educators in schools. Thirteen preservice teachers, who had enrolled in a guidance course, used photographs and drawing to capture their views of HIV and AIDS and to construct messages for their peers. Methods for the approach were adapted from the work of Ewald and Lightfoot (2001) and from Wang’s (1999) photo-voice. A visual arts-based approach was chosen for its potential to simultaneously engage the mind, body and emotions (Weber & Mitchell, 2004). Drawing on the conceptual work of Banks (2001), Hall (1997) and Fairclough (1995), the photo texts were then analysed by the researcher who saw them as socially and culturally embedded constructions and was interested in how they were affected by and could have an impact on culture and social discourses. Reflections on the photo texts and their associated processes by both the researcher and pre-service teachers lead to suggestions as to the pedagogic possibilities of using a visual arts-based approach in education to address HIV and AIDS. The thesis concludes with discussion of what a visual arts-based approach can contribute to HIV and AIDS in teacher education and comments on the challenges and limitations of such an approach. / Thesis (PhD.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006.

This qualitative study actively engaged a group of eight pre-service mathematics teachers (PMTs) in an evolutionary process of generalizing and justifying. It was conducted in a developmental context and underpinned by a strong constructivist framework. Through using a set of task based activities embedded in a dynamic geometric context, this study firstly investigated how the PMTs experienced the reconstruction of Viviani’s theorem via the processes of experimentation, conjecturing, generalizing and justifying. Secondly, it was investigated how they generalized Viviani’s result for equilateral triangles, further across to a sequence of higher order equilateral (convex) polygons such as the rhombus, pentagon, and eventually to ‘any’ convex equi-sided polygon, with appropriate forms of justifications. This study also inquired how PMTs experienced counter-examples from a conceptual change perspective, and how they modified their conjecture generalizations and/or justifications, as a result of such experiences, particularly in instances where such modifications took place. Apart from constructivsm and conceptual change, the design of the activities and the analysis of students’ justifications was underpinned by the distinction of the so-called ‘explanatory’ and ‘discovery’ functions of proof. Analysis of data was grounded in an analytical–inductive method governed by an interpretive paradigm. Results of the study showed that in order for students to reconstruct Viviani’s generalization for equilateral triangles, the following was required for all students: *experimental exploration in a dynamic geometry context; *experiencing cognitive conflict to their initial conjecture; *further experimental exploration and a reformulation of their initial conjecture to finally achieve cognitive equilibrium. Although most students still required the aforementioned experiences again as they extended the Viviani generalization for equilateral triangles to equilateral convex polygons of 4 sides (rhombi) and five sides (pentagons), the need for experimental exploration gradually subsided. All PMTs expressed a need for an explanation as to why their equilateral triangle conjecture generalization was always true, and were only able to construct a logical explanation through scaffolded guidance with the means of a worksheet. The majority of the PMTs (i.e. six out of eight) extended the Viviani generalization to the rhombus on empirical grounds using Sketchpad while two did so on analogical grounds but superficially. However, as the PMTs progressed to the equilateral pentagon (convex) problem, the majority generalized on either inductive grounds or analogical grounds without the use of Sketchpad. Finally all of them generalized to any convex equi-sided polygon on logical grounds. In so doing it seems that all the PMTs finally cut off their ontological bonds with their earlier forms or processes of making generalizations. This conceptual growth pattern was also exhibited in the ways the PMTs justified each of their further generalizations, as they were progressively able to see the general proof through particular proofs, and hence justify their deductive generalization of Viviani’s theorem. This study has also shown that the phenomenon of looking back (folding back) at their prior explanations assisted the PMTs to extend their logical explanations to the general equi-sided polygon. This development of a logical explanation (proof) for the general case after looking back and carefully analysing the statements and reasons that make up the proof argument for the prior particular cases (i.e. specific equilateral convex polygons), namely pentagon, rhombus and equilateral triangle, emulates the ‘discovery’ function of proof. This suggests that the ‘explanatory’ function of proof compliments and feeds into the ‘discovery’ function of proof. Experimental exploration in a dynamic geometry context provided students with a heuristic counterexample to their initial conjectures that caused internal cognitive conflict and surprise to the extent that their cognitive equilibrium became disturbed. This paved the way for conceptual change to occur through the modification of their postulated conjecture generalizations. Furthermore, this study has shown that there exists a close link between generalization and justification. In particular, justifications in the form of logical explanations seemed to have helped the students to understand and make sense as to why their generalizations were always true, but through considering their justifications for their earlier generalizations (equilateral triangle, rhombus and pentagon) students were able to make their generalization to any convex equi-sided polygon on deductive grounds. Thus, with ‘deductive’ generalization as shown by the students, especially in the final stage, justification was woven into the generalization itself. In conclusion, from a practitioner perspective, this study has provided a descriptive analysis of a ‘guided approach’ to both the further constructions and justifications of generalizations via an evolutionary process, which mathematics teachers could use as models for their own attempts in their mathematics classrooms. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

An extensive review of literature revealed that although CBE was a familiar concept and a national policy for health professionals' education in South Africa, there was, however, limited understanding of this phenomenon. Most of the existing CBE programmes were a reaction to the inadequacy of traditional nursing education and had emerged without any intellectual discourse on the phenomenon CBE. The aim of this study was to analyse the phenomenon CBE in basic nursing education and the meaning attached to it. Furthermore, the researcher aimed at developing a middle-range theory of CBE. Strauss and Corbin's (1990) grounded theory approach was used to guide the research process. The South African Nursing Council's (SANC) education committee and seven nursing education institutions with CBE programmes were included for participation in the study. Data were collected by means of observation, interviews and document analysis. Purposive and theoretical sampling was used for selecting interviewees, resulting in a total of 41 interviewees. Data collection and initial analysis took place concurrently. Descriptive analysis followed by conceptual analysis was performed using Strauss and Corbin's paradigm for qualitative data analysis. The primacy of the community as a learning environment, timing of first exposure, duration, frequency and sequencing of community-based learning experiences, as well as service provision, emerged as discriminatory core characteristics of CBE in basic nursing education. Irrelevance of traditional nursing education and political change emerged as antecedents of CBE. The need to respond to national health policies and community health needs was seen as conditions under which CBE had to operate in South Africa. The nature of the CBE educative process, which placed emphasis on active learning and curriculum relevance, emerged as essential for the realization of expected outcomes of CBE in basic nursing education. Based on these results, it was concluded that CBE in basic nursing education in South Africa is (a) relevant education, (b) responsive education, (c) education for social justice, (d) a conscious and deliberate PHC socialisation process and (e) a process and outcomes education. As this was a ground breaking study on the meaning of CBE in basic nursing education in South Africa, a number of further research studies are recommended. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.