Submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Durban University of Technology, 2017. / Technology, student diversity, socio-economic factors, student attrition and retention has significantly affected the teaching and learning environment at university. A first-year student’s life is significantly affected by this changing environment and many first-year students at universities experience difficulties adapting to the new environment and being successful in their academic tasks. The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the motivation of first-year students in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying. The study used the quantitative method approach where questionnaires were given to the first-year students and the first-year lecturers (lecturing the first-year students). Questionnaires were administered to 126 first-year students comprising the target population but only 121 completed questionnaires were received. Findings from this study emphasise the need for lecturers to engage in alternate study methods, such as the use of the blackboard and visual aids to assist students. Students need to be adequately informed about the support systems available to them so that they can have a satisfying cultural, social and academic life. There was also a need for better equipped lecturing facilities. The absenteeism of students had a negative impact on the morale of lecturers. Absenteeism has a two-fold effect, in that it disrupts the morale of the lecturer as well as that of the students who attend class. The marketing strategy of both the Department as well as the university needs to be re-visited in terms of recruiting students and in particular the misunderstanding that exists amongst students regarding the different programme offerings. The above issues are critical to ensure a transformative higher education agenda and DUT’s strategic goals of engagement and student centredness. The study recommends that a greater extent of student centredness, student-lecturer engagement and innovative teaching and learning approaches could increase the motivational level of first-year students in the Department. / M

D.Ed. (Didactics) / South Africa is presently experiencing a transitional phase where change is the order of the day. Providing education cannot be ruled out. As education plays a universal role in preparing the child for life the general demand for relevance in school education as well as instruction in both the Science and Biology curriculums are investigated in this research projegt. The present provision of education in our schools does not meet the demands of a changing and developing society. High unemployment figures can be attributed to, inter alia, the inability of the education system to provide a well-trained work-force. Education in the senior secondary phase should therefore cater for a curriculum which is more vocationally-oriented and which prepares the pupil for a profession. Science must simultaneously be targeted on the training of scientists as well as non-scientists. A vocationally-oriented content will particularly increase the relevance of the Biology curriculum because the pupil will become aware of the practical (iii) application possibilities of theoretical knowledge in a profession. In addition skills such ee , cognitive (intellectual) skills and psychomotor (practical) skills and techniques will be developed which will not only benefit the pupil who wants to embark a career in biology but will also result in a general science literacy and equip him to handle all community aspects with responsibility and confidence. The empirical investigation of this study centres on determining the relevance of the themes, research skills and laboratory techniques with regard to the present Biology syllabus aimed at both the pupil who desires to pursue an academic course of study and the pupil who wishes to enter a profession in the field of biological science. Therefore lecturers and students at institutions' for tertiary education, as well as employers and employees of professional/vocational institutions were approached in order to determine the relevance of the present Biology syllabus to tertiary studies or to professional life...

M.Ed. (Didactics) / In this study attention is paid to the use of technical college student evaluators of teaching..Specia! attention is focused on certain factors which influence students in their evaluation of the teaching skills of lecturers. The problem addressed, is the vital role played by vocational training in South Africa as a developing country. In the light of the acute shortage of skilled manpOwer, it is essential that vocational training, as practised at technical colleges, should function optiIllally. Lecturers at technical colleges can play an important role in this resPect and what is needed is a willingness on the part of both lecturers and organisations responsible for vocational training, to optimalise effective teaching and the concomitant successful learning by students. The aim of this study centres round an overview of literature regarding methods of teaching evaluation as applied locally and internationally, the identification of the possible influence of certain factors on the evaluation by students and the e,d:ent 1;0 which these factors apply ~o male and female students of different seniority levels at six technical colleges. In the study of relevant Literature , attention is paid to the aim and function of technical colleges. Certain indicators of effective teaching, as well as teaching evaluation are dealt with and special attention is paid to self evaluation, peer evaluation and evaluation by means of objectives. Evaluation of teaching by students is investigated in depth, together with factors which influence students in" their evaluation of teaching, such as humour, sex of student and lecturer, seniority of students, class siZe, enthusiasm and course content. The research group consists of full-time N4, NS and N6 technical and commercial students at six technical colleges on the witwatersrand and in the Pretoria area. The lecturers teaching these students are evaluated by means of a questionnaire.

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Many changes are taking place in our country. One aspect that must be emphasized, is provision for proper education. The demands on our country and its citizens, necessitate change in education. In South Africa there are still many defects concerning education. There are for example many uncertainties about curriculum, and attempts are made to eliminate defects in syllabi. One of the curricula concerned, is that of Afrikaans First Language. Due to current changes multi-cultural schools have been founded. Thus the curriculum must change in order to accommodate everybody. A new and better curriculum for Afrikaans First Language will have to be brought about to benefit all mother tongue speakers of Afrikaans. This study clearly shows that a relevant first language curriculum is necessary for Afrikaans First Language. This study will point out that certain needs exist among learners and teachers of Afrikaans First Language, which can contribute towards a new and better Afrikaans First Language curriculum. A literature study has been done on curriculum design. Here is shown what a curriculum is and what curriculum design entails. This is done according to the design principle and is carried into effect in first language teaching. There is concluded that Afrikaans First Language must be conceptualised and that attention must be given to subject matter.

M.Ed. (Computer-Based Education) / Lifelong learning is the process by which individuals consciously acquire formal, non-formal or informal education throughout their life spans for personal development or career advancement (European Commission, 2001:9). It is an important element in facing the challenges of globalisation, competitiveness and employment and is being increasingly recognised by countries such as the United States and those comprising the European Union as a means of helping people to acquire the knowledge, competencies, skills and confidence they need in order to participate fully in society (Kessels& Katus, 2003). Lifelong learning has become such an important process that governmental ministers for lifelong learning have been appointed, such as in Wales (Henry, 2000:24). Many adult learners have difficulty attending lectures due to factors such as distance from the educational institution, work commitments and the set time constraints of lectures. Increasingly, such students cannot afford the time entailed in taking traditional instruction (Quinn, 2001). Formal lifelong learning for these particular learners requires the flexibility of learning at the discretion of the learner in any location, such as at work or in their own homes, and at anytime - it must be time and space independent.

M.A. (Social Work) / The goals of this study were viewed as the development and evaluation of a parent-training programme for foster parents related to their foster children; that 1s, to apply programme evaluation to a newly-developed social technological item, in this case a specific preventive intervention parent-training programme. The researcher formulated the following objectives towards the achievement of these goals: to present a theoretical perspective on foster care, on the ecological approach which was utilized in the development of the programme, and on programme evaluation; to develop the programme envisaged utilising the DR & U (Development Research and Utilization) model of Edwin Thomas; to evaluate the programme by inviting a group of foster parents, related to their foster children, to participate in the evaluation phase with a view to: * broadening the knowledge and insight of the participants on their foster care situation; * developing a more positive self-concept for programme participants, through improved insight into their foster care situation; * enhancing foster child-foster parent relationships through improved insight into the foster care situation; * improving the family relationships of the programme participants.

M.Ed. (Subject Didactics) / Research shows that "the aims of secondary school's teaching of mathematics are often not realized with many pupils leaving the school with passive knowledge of mathematics" (H.S.R.C. 1981:8). This means that knowledge of mathematical facts are reproduced on demand, instead of active mathematical knowledge " which is congruent with the aims of teaching secondary mathematics" (Crooks, 1988 : 6/7). Active knowledge of mathematics implies and characterised by the understanding of concepts, principles that underlie facts and ideas and principles and concepts that are connected to each other" (Entwistle & Entwistle, 1992 : 2). Active knowledge also enables pupils to act intellectually independently. One reason for the previously mentioned predicament is that "teaching often encourage passive knowledge because the teaching practice of mathematics teachers are often not in accordance with their educational aims" (Gravett, 1994 :6). Thus, a discrepancy exists between teacher's intentions of teaching mathematics and their conduct during teaching. It can be argued also that teachers teach mathematics in the classroom but that the pupils not always effectively learn. It is from the perception above that a constructivistic view of learning as a conceptual change underlies the idea that teaching "as the creation of a classroom context conducive to learning" (Strike & Posner, 1985:117). Biggs (1993 : 74) thus argues that "if knowledge is constructed, rather than recorded as received, it does not make sense to think of teaching as imparting knowledge, but rather as creating learning environments that enhance the process of mathematical knowledge construction". Russell (1969: 14) mentions that "mathematics is a subject in which we never know what we are talking about, nor whether what we are saying is true". The views, amongst others Oosthuizen, Swart and Gildenhuys (1992:2) see mathematics as "an essential language of a creative but deductive process which has its origins in the problems of the physical world", In the light of this, the origin of mathematics in the real world, it can be argued that from a "constructivistic perspective, mathematical learning is an active process by which pupils construct their own mathematical knowledge in the light of their existing knowledge and through interaction with the world around them" (Gravett, 1994 : 6/7). "Construction, not absorption or unfocused discovery, enables learning" (Leder, 1993 : 13). Mathematics is not something discovered by mankind, mathematics is a creation of mankind and is transmitted and changed from one generation to the next.

M.A. (Applied Linguistics) / Language is dynamic. It must keep pace with new experiences and developments in the growth of a nation. otherwise it cannot be used as a means of communication. According to Chomsky (Lyons: 1980. Derwing: 1973. Klein: 1986) and other linguists who believe in the innatist hypothesis. every normal human being has an inborn ability to acquire his mother tongue in a relatively short space of time. However. research seems to indicate that unless the child is in a normal environment at the critical stage for language acquisition. he will not acquire his mother tongue. The innate ability thus requires stimulation from the environment: plenty of exposure to the language in informal social situations in a supportive atmosphere. Research into mother-tongue acquisition has distinct implications for second language acquisition in early childhood. The second-language teacher can take advantage of the language-acquisition ability of the child and re-create in the classroom the conditions described above under which the child acquires his mother tongue

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing Science) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

D.Ed. / This thesis is a report of a research project conducted in a Technikon within the higher education sector of South Africa. Teachers in this sector are facing major challenges due to the transformation of higher education, as well as the introduction of an Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) paradigm. Teachers thus need to adapt their teaching practice to include the principles and practices of this educational paradigm and are continuously required to improve their teaching practice to face the aforementioned challenges. This study was aimed at investigating how teachers could be assisted to improve their teaching practice. It primarily aimed at seeking a way to assist lecturers of the Technikon to improve their teaching practice, while it was hoped that I would also improve my own practice. An action research project was conducted during which I was planned, designed and implemented a teaching skills programme. Literature on teaching and learning, with specific emphasis on theories and approaches that support learners' meaningful learning, was reviewed. Furthermore, literature on staff development policies, approaches, practices and the OBE paradigm provided the theoretical foundation for the various phases in the action research project. After conducting a needs analysis to determine the perceived teaching needs of lecturers, all lecturers at the Technikon were invited to attend the teaching skills programme as a staff development initiative. Data of what was experienced, observed and learnt during the process were noted in my research journal. After I had analysed and interpreted the data gained I reflected on the experiences and learning, as well as on the value of the programme. From the research notes I learnt more about the participants, the programme and the process, while I learnt more about myself as a teacher and as a researcher. These reflections informed the findings, namely that insufficient focus is placed on teaching and learning initiatives. Furthermore, it was found that staff development policies did not seem to provide sufficient support for such initiatives. Literature indicated that these findings were not unique to the Technikon, but also seemed to be experienced in other higher education institutions. Based on the above findings it was concluded that teachers could be assisted in improving their teaching practice by focusing on their learners' meaningful learning and by continuously updating their teaching knowledge and skills. It was therefore recommend that staff development policies be revised and that teachers and managers in higher education refocus on the core business of higher education institutions, namely, teaching and learning. Finally, it was recommended that managers, teachers and staff development units accept coresponsibility for improving teaching practice in higher education and work in synergy to achieve this common goal. The co-responsibilities of role-players in academic staff development have been presented diagrammatically within a framework. The importance of all role-players taking their responsibilities is illustrated. The resulting coresponsibility amongst role-players is argued to emphasise the importance of synergy amongst them towards achieving improved practice. I argued that all three role-players needed to collaborate and support one another if they were "to move in the same direction" towards improved teaching practice. The scholarly contribution of this study lies firstly within my living theory, which is a culmination of the learning journey as well as the results thereof. My living theory of teaching practice and that of academic development is culminated into the framework.