The Center for Information and Communication Sciences graduate program commenced at Ball State University in 1986 with a specific focus to train graduate students to be leaders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. The Center is the manifestation of a vision birthed out of creativity and resourcefulness. This study examined the creative pedagogy approach at CICS based on instruction, social learning culture, professional development, academic achievements, and collaborative interaction among students, faculty, alumni, and colleagues in ICT industries. The distinctiveness of this graduate program that combined in-class and out-of-class learning experiences was the focus of this study. This study employed a qualitative method, specifically a descriptive case study design with the intent to understand and explain the academic, social, and cultural phenomena of the graduate program at CICS. The central research questions of this study focused on the impact of the teaching, learning, social and leadership outcomes of the iv program. The data collection methods used for this inquiry were semi-structured interviews in combination with evidence from archival document data. The twelve participants were selected through purposive sampling and snowball sampling techniques. The data analysis consisted of open coding techniques that produced eight themes. The findings were organized in relation to the study’s three central research questions and indicated that the educational, technical, and social learning experiences of the masters program at CICS impacted the current students and alumni in a variety of ways. All the participants considered the program intense and comprehensive. They also agreed that the program was built around professional development. The existence of elements such as, the Student Social Learning Program (SSLP), teamwork, group projects, close-knit alumni community, well qualified faculty members, enrollment diversity, and studentcentered immersive learning made CICS distinct from other programs. The educational philosophy used in the program was described as effective, deliberate, consistent, clear-cut, invasive, multidisciplinary, integrated, and a culture of success. Key recommendations for further studies include study on the feasibility of replicating the success of CICS by adopting their pedagogical philosophies and practices and a comparative study of similar programs. / Department of Educational Studies

Public Administration and Management / (M. A.( Public Administration))

Produção técnica disponível em: https://sites.google.com/site/actpormeiodefilmes/ / A educação escolar deve ir além dos ensinamentos básicos, e é preciso que as escolas e universidades formem cidadãos capazes de compreender as relações sociais da ciência e da tecnologia. Por este motivo, o presente trabalho propõe a utilização de filmes para trabalhar com estudantes do ensino médio e técnico à luz dos pressupostos teóricos e filosóficos do enfoque CTS (Ciência Tecnologia e Sociedade). Sob uma abordagem metodológica qualitativa de natureza interpretativa, analisa-se e se interpretam o objeto de estudo: filmes como estratégia de ensino para a promoção da ACT (Alfabetização Cientifica e Tecnológica). A análise do objeto é analisado indutivamente. O estudo foi desenvolvido em duas etapas: 1- seleção de filmes, análise e elaboração do roteiro, que faz parte do produto pedagógico desta dissertação, elaborado pela pesquisadora; e 2- aplicação com professores participantes do PARFOR (O Plano Nacional de Formação dos Professores da Educação Básica) O ambiente imagético foi a fonte direta para a coleta de dados e o pesquisador foi o mediador. Utilizou-se o filme como texto, imagem e som e buscou-se apresentar os estudos que os justifiquem como estratégia de ensino e aprendizagem na sala de aula e que proporcionem reflexões sobre as relações sociais da ciência e da tecnologia. Os principais resultados evidenciaram que utilizar filmes de cinema é uma estratégia de ensino eficiente para trabalhar com o enfoque CTS. / School education must go beyond the basic teachings, and it is necessary for schools and universities to form citizens capable of understanding the social relations of science and technology. For this reason, this work proposes the use of films to work with high school students and technical staff in the light of the theoretical and philosophical approach STS (Science Technology and Society). From a qualitative approach of interpretive nature, we analyze and interpret the object of study: film as a teaching strategy for the promotion of ACT (Scientific and Technological Literacy) . The analysis of the object is analyzed inductively. The study was conducted in two stages: 1 - movie selection, analysis and preparation of the script, which is part of the educational product of this dissertation, prepared by the researcher , and 2 - application of the participating teachers PARFOR ( The National Teacher Training Basic Education ) the environment of the images was the direct source for the data collection and the researcher was the mediator . We used the film as text, image and sound, and sought to present the studies that justify as a strategy for teaching and learning in the classroom and providing reflections on the social relations of science and technology. The main results show that using feature films is an effective teaching strategy for working with the CTS approach.

Produção técnica disponível em: https://sites.google.com/site/actpormeiodefilmes/ / A educação escolar deve ir além dos ensinamentos básicos, e é preciso que as escolas e universidades formem cidadãos capazes de compreender as relações sociais da ciência e da tecnologia. Por este motivo, o presente trabalho propõe a utilização de filmes para trabalhar com estudantes do ensino médio e técnico à luz dos pressupostos teóricos e filosóficos do enfoque CTS (Ciência Tecnologia e Sociedade). Sob uma abordagem metodológica qualitativa de natureza interpretativa, analisa-se e se interpretam o objeto de estudo: filmes como estratégia de ensino para a promoção da ACT (Alfabetização Cientifica e Tecnológica). A análise do objeto é analisado indutivamente. O estudo foi desenvolvido em duas etapas: 1- seleção de filmes, análise e elaboração do roteiro, que faz parte do produto pedagógico desta dissertação, elaborado pela pesquisadora; e 2- aplicação com professores participantes do PARFOR (O Plano Nacional de Formação dos Professores da Educação Básica) O ambiente imagético foi a fonte direta para a coleta de dados e o pesquisador foi o mediador. Utilizou-se o filme como texto, imagem e som e buscou-se apresentar os estudos que os justifiquem como estratégia de ensino e aprendizagem na sala de aula e que proporcionem reflexões sobre as relações sociais da ciência e da tecnologia. Os principais resultados evidenciaram que utilizar filmes de cinema é uma estratégia de ensino eficiente para trabalhar com o enfoque CTS. / School education must go beyond the basic teachings, and it is necessary for schools and universities to form citizens capable of understanding the social relations of science and technology. For this reason, this work proposes the use of films to work with high school students and technical staff in the light of the theoretical and philosophical approach STS (Science Technology and Society). From a qualitative approach of interpretive nature, we analyze and interpret the object of study: film as a teaching strategy for the promotion of ACT (Scientific and Technological Literacy) . The analysis of the object is analyzed inductively. The study was conducted in two stages: 1 - movie selection, analysis and preparation of the script, which is part of the educational product of this dissertation, prepared by the researcher , and 2 - application of the participating teachers PARFOR ( The National Teacher Training Basic Education ) the environment of the images was the direct source for the data collection and the researcher was the mediator . We used the film as text, image and sound, and sought to present the studies that justify as a strategy for teaching and learning in the classroom and providing reflections on the social relations of science and technology. The main results show that using feature films is an effective teaching strategy for working with the CTS approach.

A tese investiga a aprendizagem tecnológica do arquiteto, considerando que este seja um tema relevante frente ao quadro de desprestígio vivenciado pela profissão, contemporaneamente, e dada a perspectiva de uma solicitação candente pela contribuição técnica da categoria, em função das críticas demandas por ambientes construídos e modificados, na atualidade e para o futuro. Realizam-se análises históricas que demonstram a existência de relações intrínsecas entre o ideário sobre a profissão e o padrão de formação, as quais definiram, e ainda mantêm, uma desvalorização da formação tecnológica frente à formação teórica e projetual. São desenvolvidas considerações sobre as formulações tradicionais do currículo tecnológico em Arquitetura e Urbanismo e, a partir, principalmente, de experiências didáticas realizadas e da exploração de referências da prática profissional exemplar, são propostos conceitos norteadores para práticas didáticas voltadas à inovação curricular na formação tecnológica do arquiteto. RESUMO / The thesis explores the technological learning in architecture considering this is a relevant subject to be discussed face to the lack of prestige of this profession suffers presently, and also aiming to deal with the perspective of effective demands for architecture contribution, now and in the future, due to the critical needs of built and open environments for human life. Historical analysis are developed demonstrating the existence of deep relations between the idealization of the profession and the education standards in architecture, which have defined and kept alive a lack of value of the technological education compared to the theoretical and design education. Some comments about the traditional improvement of the technological curriculum in architecture are explored, and mainly based on practical educational experiences and also on references of best professional practices; some concepts and practices related to curriculum innovation on the technological education of the architect are proposed.

M.Ed. (Media Integration) / The curriculum cycle constitutes a simultaneously continuous and interactive teaching design for the training of primary school teachers. Educational theory, as well as educational training, should be presented within this context to ensure that a measure of practical vocational direction is achieved. This is the task of every lecturer at a college of education. The situation analysis, aim and choice of learning content form the leading introduction which culminates in the creation of the learning opportunity. The learning gain is, however, closely linked to the learning experience within the learning opportunity. A learning opportunity in which educational-media are used, can be an effective opportunity if the media are effectively integrated in the teaching situation, so that a two-directional channel of communication is created. The type of learning-experiences acquired by student teachers during learning experiences must therefore be carefully considered, so that the necessity for meaningful media-integration in the teaching and learning situation, and the important functions that this media integration can fulfil, is both witnessed and experienced. This should result in the creation of technological teaching thought processes in the student teacher. The primary school child is still very much bound to concrete ideas and the student teacher needs to be made constantly aware of this. Even the student who functions on an abstract level, has a need of concrete experiences, for example in Pedagogical Studies, to aid and support him during learning occasions. Indirect (concrete) learning experiences are created by the integration of educational media so that a person can also acquire learning experience through symbols, images, et cetera. The creation of learning opportunities is an important aspect of curriculum design. They must, however, be effective learning opportunities that must define the learning gain during evaluation.

Doctorat en sciences psychologiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements for the Master of Health Sciences in Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / With the transformation in Higher Education (HE), the number of Black African students entering South African universities increased significantly (72%). Black African students accounted for 77.38% of the total student population at Durban University of Technology (DUT). It has been noted that the majority Black African students in HE are first-generation students, many are under-prepared, and come from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Students from this racial group tend to make incorrect career choices due to a lack of knowledge, experience, and adequate vocational guidance and career counselling. To add to this, many University of Technology programmes, such as Dental Technology, are vocational in nature and prepare students for unfamiliar industries. The aim of this study is to determine the factors associated with student recruitment practices and student profiles in the Dental Technology programme at the DUT. This cross-sectional study employed a mixed method approach. An online survey recruited Dental Technology students who entered the programme from 2008 to 2012. The students’ demographic information was retrieved from the Management Information System (MIS) Department. The survey generated categorical data, which was analysed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) which included frequencies, cross-tabulation, Chi-Square test, and Spearman's Rank Order Correlation. Semi-structured interviews with Dental Technology lecturers and the staff involved in student recruitment practices generated qualitative data which was analysed using QSR NVIVO 10. Common themes were classified and discussed. The findings showed that 75% of Dental Technology students were Black African. Only 28% came from urban areas and 81.4% of students attended government schools. Furthermore, 60% relied on financial aid for the payment of their tuition fees. Two categories of necessary attributes emerged i.e. general attributes for an HE student (intrinsic qualities e.g. passion, positive attitude) and the practice specific attributes for Dental Technology (e.g. good eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity). However, the academic staff indicated that the programme is not attracting its desired students. Added to this, is the fact that from the 2008 – 2012 initial intake of 157 students, 41% dropped out of the programme. According to Dental Technology staff, there are no programme-specific student recruitment practices, and they rely on the institutional recruitment practices. However, qualitative findings showed that the DUT employs a generic approach which includes branding and direct promotion with academic departments only minimally involved, reducing the likelihood of effectively recruiting desired students for specific academic programmes such as Dental Technology. About 83% of students indicated that they had not been exposed to any of the DUT’s recruitment practices while they were still in high school. With these findings, it can be concluded that the association between the profiles of the student participants and the current student recruitment practices in the Dental Technology programme is incongruent and weak. In essence when students are recruited to enrol in academic programmes in an institution there needs to be a strong relationship between academic departments and the staff members responsible for recruiting students as the academic staff members are better able to clearly explain the intricacies of their respective programmes and they have an accurate understanding of their desired students. The student recruitment personnel are equipped to sell or market the institution and its offerings to prospective students, but there is clearly a need for the Dental Technology programme to pay more attention to the manner in which their students are recruited and retained. This will help to improve the programme's pass rates and dropout rates while addressing the issues of access, equity, diversity. / M

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills shortage is of national and international concern. Modern business practices require the implementation of new technologies supported by a workforce with current and diversified ICT skill-sets. Acquiring suitable ICT skills has become a difficult task and employers are seeing government intervention at all levels. The school system in South Africa is under increased pressure and is faced with continuously declining matriculation pass rates, specifically in subjects such as science and mathematics. Schools are experiencing a decline in the number of scholars (learners) enrolling for the Information Technology (IT) school curriculum. The IT curriculum at school level is being criticised; under-prepared teachers are blamed and lack of suitable facilities highlighted. Surveys conducted amongst grade 9 and grade 12 scholars in the Eastern Cape have shown that scholars are not considering careers in ICT. Teachers, career/guidance counsellors and parents contribute to scholars' career decisions and are not encouraging scholars to pursue careers in ICT. Tertiary institutions in South Africa and internationally, are experiencing a decline in student enrolments and in pass and throughput rates. Industry is holding tertiary institutions responsible for not providing the “correct” ICT graduate skill-sets and passing an insufficient number of quality ICT graduates desperately required by industry. The accreditation of computing degree programs, such as Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS) and Information Technology (IT), collectively referred to as CIT, offered by tertiary institutions is becoming an international requirement. The ICT industry is constantly changing and new job requirements and new career opportunities are frequently introduced. Graduates entering the ICT industry should have acquired knowledge about ICT career tracks in order to specialise and choose a suitable career path. Tertiary CIT degree programs should further be linked to specific career tracks and provide a multi-disciplined education to graduates. ii ICT graduates working in industry utilise skills obtained in under-graduate and post-graduate CIT degree programs. The ICT graduates have also obtained valuable skills working in industry, including business skills and soft skills. ICT skill surveys have identified the graduate skills gap, indicating ICT skills industry requires from graduates completing tertiary level qualifications. ICT graduates working in industry, for example indicated that programming in some cases is over-emphasised at school and tertiary level and that soft skills are ignored by tertiary institutions. An ICT Graduate Skills Classifications Framework is developed to address the graduate ICT skills gap and highlight important business skills, soft skills, technical skills and programming skills required by industry. In this thesis, an Industry ICT Value Chain Model is further developed that suggests a holistic approach to the problems experienced at all levels of ICT skills development, including government, industry, tertiary education institutions and at school level. Results from a number of research surveys conducted along the proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model indicated that problems exist at all stages in the value chain and that the problems can only be addressed involving government, industry and tertiary institutions collectively. A number of interventions is required and the support from industry is essential in achieving overall success in addressing the ICT skills shortage in South Africa. A proposed Industry ICT Skills Value Chain Model that can be utilised to address the ICT skills shortage in South Africa is presented.

In schools in the Amathole District and throughout the rest of South Africa efforts are being made to encourage learners to pursue the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream in Grades 10 to 12. The aim of this study was both to determine and to explore those factors which, according to grade 9 learners, would either attract them to or deter them from following the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream from Grade 10 onwards. The study also sought to ascertain the views of teachers regarding the issues raised by the learners. A sample comprising 346 learners and 3 teachers were involved in the study. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods within the context of a post-positivist paradigm and utilising questionnaires and interviews, the study found that, consistent with existing research, there are both intrinsic and extrinsic related factors which play a role in the intention of learners to consider pursuing the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. The intrinsic factors include learners‟ enjoyment of practical work and love for the Science and Applied Science. Extrinsic factors include perception that jobs in the field of Science and Applied Science compensate well. However, it was the intrinsic factors that pushed the learners to have the intention to follow the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. Sociological, economic and personal dynamics seem to account for these patterns in the results. By contrast, two key sets of factors deterred the learners from the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. One relates to factors in their internal loci of control, and the other to factors in learners‟ external loci of control. The internal locus of control factors had a greater influence, which suggests, according to attribution theorists, that the learners were inclined to look within themselves for the reasons that deterred them from the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. In addition, a cluster analysis was conducted to ascertain whether the demographic profiles of the learners played a role in respect of their intention to pursue the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. This cluster analysis revealed that, in terms of gender, males were more inclined than females to follow the Science and Applied Science stream. However, it was also significant that peer influence played an important role in attracting males to the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream, whereas it was career interest factors that attracted the females. In terms of ethnic groups, Indians and blacks were more inclined than coloureds and whites to follow the Science and Applied Science stream with whites being the least attracted to this stream. Career choice dynamics provide some explanations for these outcomes. The key contribution of this study lies in the fact that the study has shown that practical work as a teaching strategy may result in greater learner participation in the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream. The study recommends that, in order to promote greater participation in the Science and Applied Science curriculum stream in schools, strategies related to teaching in terms of which both genders are taken into consideration should be implemented. Other recommendations were also made. Nevertheless, it must be borne in mind that the study is a case study and that it is, therefore, not possible to generalise the findings.