M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / It has become imperative for trainers who deal with technical training to keep pace with progress in the technological world. The purpose of this research is to make a penetrating analysis of modular competency - based technical training. The determination to raise the quality of education probably contributed largely to the sharp focus on a clearly specified goal determination and on a specified target formulation. From this competency - based training originated. Modular training focuses on the ability of the learner to master specific skills. In other· words the training programme comprises a set of learning objectives that are clearly defined so that they can only be attained if speci.fic actions are carried out. The training method to be followed is designed and structured as accurately as possible so that the learner will be able to attain the required level of competence. The most ~mportant characteristic of a modular competence-based training programme is that the learner is expected to master all the learning objectives set for a particular occupation. A further characteristic of a modular competence-based training programme is that th~ individual learner will be held responsible for the successful mastery of learning objectives, while the trainer manipulates and uses external conditions in an attempt to ensure that the learner will attain the required level of mastery. The nature and extent of certain competencies depend on the learner's ability to master a skill rather than simply on his ability to demonstrate theoretical knowledge. Specified competence for a particular occupation consists in mastery of the skills considered of special importance in that occupation (Opperman,1988:4/5). The programme content is structured in definable teaching modules and these modules are arranged in a continuous progressive training system in which progress is based on compliance with measurable performance criteria. A teaching module is a complete instructional unit.

The purpose of the study was to develop a model for articulating selected courses between a two year vocational technical college and a four year academic university. More specifically, the study tested the feasibility of the use of locally developed competency instruments as a vehicle for administrative decisions about inter-institutional course articulation.One instructor in the electricity/electronics departments at Ball State University (BSU) and one at Indiana Vocational Technical College - Region 6 (IVTC) were asked to construct a competency based examination. Subject matter for the examination was identified as material taught at both institutions in an introductory course. An examination was developed using the format of domain-referenced instrument construction. A competency test was developed by defining tasks, and cognitive and psychomotor variables that a student must demcnstrate to perform the stated tasks.Students enrolled in the introductory electricity/ electronics course at each institution during spring quarter 1978 were asked to take the written examination. Thirty-eight students from Ball State University and forty-three from Indiana Vocational Technical College volunteered to participate. Six of the volunteers from each institution agreed to take the practical portion of the examination. The examinations were administered by the respective instructor. Answer sheets and rating sheets were coded to insure student anonymity.Tables were developed to show rank-order and frequency distribution of scores as well as the mean scores of all students by each institution. An item analysis was conducted and Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 was used to measure reliability. Scores were analyzed by: 1) cognitive and psychomotor competency on each task, 2) cognitive competency on each task, 3) psychomotor competency on each task, 4) cognitive competency on all tasks, 5) psychomotor competency on all tasks, and 6) cognitive and psychomotor competencies on all tasks.Reliability of the 92 item written examination was 0.9234 using Kuder-Richardson Formula 20. Approximately 70 percent of the students from IVTC scored higher than all students from BSU on the written examination. The mean score on the written examination for students from IVTC was 66.0, or 22.1 points higher than the mean score of 43.9 for students willing to participate in the practical as well as the written examination. The sum of the mean scores for students from IVTC was 78.5 as compared to 55.2 for students from BSU.Data were analyzed and the fo1lowing three conclusions were drawn:The data provided by the Kuder-Richardson estimate of reliability indicated that instructors from a separate college and university can jointly develop reliable competency measurement instruments.Locally developed reliable competency measurement instruments provide administrators with data regarding compatibility and incompatibility of selected courses with which administrators can feasibly make objective decisions about inter-institutional course articulation.Data from reliable competency measurement instruments provide administrators more quantifiable information than presently exists in college catalog descriptions, course objectives and oral descriptions of courses for making a more specific decision on course articulation.

M.Ed. / The Technical Colleges are important links between the community and industry since it is eminently responsible for the academic training of mid-level manpower, namely artisans and apprentices. The responsibility of Technical Colleges is to make post-school education available. This post-school training is offer with a view to the practice of a career and is geared towards any school leaver, who requires practical-orientated career training. Technical Colleges offer training on a continual basis where the differentiated secondary school system ceases to prepare students to be able to practice a career, trade-or professional skill in commerce and industry. The technical college focuses on career training aimed towards the practice, which is market orientated and set towards job opportunities. With reference to the aforementioned mission of the Technical Colleges, it becomes essential that theory becomes reconciled with practice in order to apply practice-orientated career training. III This study is aimed at compiling a syllabus for Fitting and Machining Theory (N 1N3) at Technical Colleges on a scientific basis, which will comply with the demands and needs of the community and industry. The study has been carried out on the ground that a need has been established during an ATC (Association of Technical Colleges (now Committee of Technical College Principals CTCP) seminar for the curriculum development of the subject Fitting and Machining (N1-N3) at Technical Colleges. The researcher, as chairman of the CTCP sub-subject committee for Fitting and Machining (N1-N3) as well as Tool, Jig and Die Maker's Theory (N2 and N3) undertook this study with the approval and support of the CTCP under the direction of the University of Pretoria. The dissertation was eventually finalised and completed at the Rand Afrikaans University. A literary study has been undertaken in order to be able to choose a curriculum model based on the opinions of a number of curriculum experts. This should be useful in setting a direction according to which the present Fitting and Machining Theory syllabi (N1-N3) at Technical Colleges can be developed. The research includes the distribution of scientifically based questionnaire, which were sent to selected respondents, as well as with structured interviews. This was done to pinpoint the similarities between and the differences in the Fitting and Machining syllabus at Technical Colleges and the training schedules in the Metal Industries. The purpose with this information which has been computerised and processed by the Department of Information Management, Section: Research and Training Support, at the University of Pretoria is to compile well-founded syllabi for Fitting and Machining (N1-N3). It is nonetheless imperative that the curriculum development of Engineering Studies syllabi at Technical Colleges be developed on a regular basis and in co- IV operation with the industry with cognisance of technological development in order to offer career training in the real sense of the word.

M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education. June, 1998. / Technical colleges are pivotal in the integration process of education and training systems in South Africa. Technical colleges aim to train ar 1 equip individuals with skills and knowledge that will help them function and contribute adequately to the development of the country. In order to do this, the development and implementation of technical colleges' curriculum becomes critical. This study examines factors that influence changes in the curriculum development and implementation in technical colleges in Gauteng area. Two schools of thought. human capital theorists and social democratic proponent's views are reviewed. The human capital theorists argue that education is an investment that should yield economic benefits.They state that the curriculum should be influenced by economic and social factors. The social democratic proponents. for their part. argue that education has the social responsibility of developing individual potential. They state that the curriculum should be broad in order to cater for the diverse needs of the populace. Both the international and local literature has linked the demands for change in the curriculum to the advanced technological modes of production in the workplace. The local debates, though often a response to the international arguments, address a number of national issues such as equity, access, redistribution and economic growth. The research adopted a qualitative methodology. Data were collected through documents analysis and interviews. Six principals from technical colleges and representatives of three organisations: labour, employer and technical education development cooperation formed the research sample. The data were classified into three major ther u=s:the nature of the curriculum, curriculum development processes and implementation of the curriculum. Through these themes, the interviewees identified problems with the curriculum as outdated. irrelevant, inadequately funded and lacking autonomy. They recommended that in order for technical colleges to contribute adequately to economic and social development. there should be constant revision of the curriculum, staff development, fewer government restrictions, adequate provision of infrastructure and formation of partnerships amongst stakeholders / MT2017

There has always been a division between technical educators and technical students and the "so called" academic educators and academic students. In the apartheid days those who pursued a technical college education were shunned as those who could not cope with the rigors of academia. Technical college education was perceived as less desirable and for slow learners. Fundamental social changes have placed new demands on the Further Education and Training sector ( FET). It has become imperative to move away from the traditional divides between academic and applied learning, theory and practice and knowledge and skills. Through the National Curriculum Framework, South African Education has been given a historic opportunity to strategically shape and transform the current disparate education and training system into an integrated system that addresses the needs of the learners, the economy and the community. The new FET policy structure within which Technical Colleges operate will stimulate and empower learners to acquire knowledge and skills for employability and relevant values to respond to challenges confidently. The new curriculum moves towards a flexible access to further education, lifelong learning, higher education and facilitates the transition from school to work while ensuring that education and training is a quality provision aimed at equipping learners with competencies to find jobs. This study explored the curriculum experiences of haircare and cosmetology students at the Cato Manor Technical college. The study focused on the following critical question:- How do haircare and cosmetology students at Cato Manor Technical College, experience the theoretical and practical component of the curriculum? A case study technique was employed to explore the curriculum experiences of the haircare and cosmetology students at the Cato Manor Technical College. Data was collected by administering questionnaires to all second year and second semester students enrolled at the college during 2001. The findings of the study revealed both positive and negative aspects of student experiences of the curriculum. In the study the student profile revealed that the students enrolled at the college were matriculants and there was a wastage of time and duplication of efforts as the program was a Further Education and Training and not a Higher Education programme. The study of the curriculum issues showed that the students thoroughly enjoyed the programmes and were competent. They indicated, a preference for the practical component of the curriculum, and that the theory component should remain unaltered as it was necessary to have a knowledge of the theory to be applied in the practical component. Also evident was the personal experiences of the students that revealed excellent racial relationship and collegiality that existed amongst staff, students and management. The study revealed job opportunities and self-employment as some of the reasons for pursuing the programme. The negative aspects were the lack of counseling and student support services at the college and duplication and a wastage of time. Also evident was the lack of adequate resources that was impacting negatively on their work. The study concludes with recommendations some of which were:- The College in collaboration with the Department of Education must invest in career guidance and counseling, and student support services. The Haircare and Cosmetology department must devise and implement new strategies to assess the practical component of the programme. The college must invest in provision and up-grading of resources. Provide marketing strategies so that the student population will represent all race groups and not only Indian and African students. Despite the negative contributing factors, this department can maintain its growth pattern by addressing its weaknesses and maintaining its strengths and opportunities that exist. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Durban-Westville, 2001.

Many claims have been made in the literature about the motivational effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on learners, leading them to have a positive perception towards their work, spend longer periods on tasks and be more committed to their learning. The author of the present study has utilized their previous research evidence of motivation and the results of other previous projects to investigate the factors which motivate educators to use ICT. This project was initiated to investigate the educator's perception, which has contributed to the continued use of ICT, by educators experienced in using it for teaching. The evidence discussed in this paper was collected through a literature search, educator documents, educators' reports or observations and interviews. Weiner's analysis of motivation research and cognitivists theories of reasoned action and planned behaviour have been used as a basis for the analysis of the results. Research findings show that the motivational factors which correlated most positively with the use of ICT were: perceived ability to use Information Technology (IT); level of resources available and their satisfaction with IT; and whether using IT in teaching is considered to be interesting, valuable and enjoyable. The most significant negative factor was difficulties experienced in using IT. Researcher also found that a whole range of other perception factors attributed by the educators to using ICT. Such as: making the lessons more interesting for the educator, increasing learners' motivation, improving presentation of materials, making the teaching more enjoyable, improving the content of the lesson, and making the lessons more fun for the learners, were considered by the educator respondents to contribute to the learners' progress in learning. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

This study was concerned with developing an innovative program for the Thomas Butcher Children's School of Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, Kansas.A survey was made of the known innovative programs, with an in-depth comparison of similarities and dissimilarities of the three most notorious programs: The Industrial Arts Curriculum Project, The American Industries Project, and The Maryland Plan, and of the three most recent books directed toward elementary industrial arts: Teaching Elementary Industrial Art, Teaching Children About Technology, and Elementary School Industrial Arts, relative to rationale, objectives, and structure.The suggested program began with a definition of Industrial Arts for elementary education, followed by the rationale, objectives and structure. Communications was to receive the major emphasis at the Kindergarten level; transportation at the first grade level; shelter at the second grade level; clothing at the third and fourth grade level; and foods at the fifth and sixth grade level, although each could not be limited to any one grade level. Units under each category were followed by room preparation, minimal tool list, and material media suggestions.

This study investigates the implementation of Language in Education Policy (LiEP) in learning and teaching in grades six from two schools. It critically examines the teachers’ practices and experiences towards English as the language of learning and teaching (LoLT) at two different primary schools from the eMalahleni in the Lady Frere Education District in the Eastern Cape. The study is guided by the fact that most learners use their mother tongue (isiXhosa) in classroom as well as outside classroom contexts. Furthermore, some teachers use the translation method of teaching language as they code-switch to their home language when teaching content subjects as well as English. Despite this practice in class, learners are expected to answer their test and examination questions in English. Theoretically, this study is underpinned by the constructivist view of language learning (Gaserfeld, 2003) and English as an international language (Sivasubramaniam, 2011). On the basis of the ecological and the constructivist approaches to language learning, Sivasubramaniam (2011 p.53) views language as a creative instrument of meaning which ‘has the power to create meaning anew and afresh’ each time that someone uses it. The study makes use of the qualitative research method with a case study design that is placed within the interpretive paradigm. The data collected will be analysed through the use of critical discourse analysis. The findings from the study suggest some instrumental motivations to use English as LOLT which is informed by Language policy. Some of these motivations are: studying abroad, business with foreign investors and integrative motivations as the learner will be able to communicate with people from different countries. The study concludes that there is need for schools to stick to the English medium because this acts as an open door to the upward economic mobility among the previously disadvantaged. Based on this, it can be recommended that schools stick to English first additional language as their language of teaching and learning.