Thesis (Phd. (Education?)) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / In this research, the researcher focused on the level of knowledge and skills of foundation phase teachers on curriculum adaptations for learners with learning impairments. The sample consisted of 20 foundation phase teachers and 22 learners. Interviews were conducted with 20 teachers and the researcher observed the interaction between teachers and learners as well as the interaction between the learners themselves. Field notes were also taken during fieldwork. The findings indicated that most teachers understood what the adaptations were; although only few aspects of the curriculum were understood to be adapted to the needs of learners with learning impairments. Some teachers gave learners varying activities whilst other teachers gave all their learners the same activities. The teachers mentioned that they gave different activities to individual learners during expanded opportunity time, which was, according to the researcher, time consuming. The study recommends that the Learning Support Advisors (LSAs) and Subject Advisors (SAs) should conduct in-services training in which foundation phase teachers are trained in curriculum adaptations. Teachersshould be asked how they explore the meaning of curriculum adaptations. This strategy will help the facilitators to identify what teachers already know, and build on that knowledge. The question and answer technique will serve as an introduction to the training. The LSAs and the SAs should conduct the training using different teaching strategies. Thereafter, they should highlight strategies such as: Multilevel instruction; cognitive training which entails self - instruction, self - monitoring, scaffolded instruction and reciprocal teaching; content enhancement which entails graphic organizers; mnemonics and peer assisted learning strategy; direct instruction, peer tutoring and cooperative learning. The researcher designed the following models to improve the knowledge and skills of foundation phase teachers on the implementation of curriculum adaptations for learners with learning impairments: - In-service training model; - Curriculum adaptations model; - Model of an application for adaptation(s), and - A model of a record sheet for adaptation(s).

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009 / Providing adequate sanitation facilities to the poor is a major challenge facing developing nations such as South Africa. Increasing population pressure adds to the problem of providing sanitation in many of these countries, especially in urban areas. As a result of increased pressure on infrastructure there has been a disturbing increase in the number of poorly designed and poorly operated waterborne sewerage systems, especially in densely populated settlements in South Africa. When sanitation fails or is inadequate the impact on the health of the community and on the receiving water environment can be extremely serious. The population issue and urbanisation have placed pressure on local authorities to provide adequate sanitation facilities, and just as importantly, educating people using these facilities regarding proper maintenance and use of these facilities. The study is aimed to determine how and why the sanitation and water related practices or behaviour of Poding Tse Rolo community contributes to the sewer and manhole blockages. This community was chosen because the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) Free State region received several complaints of sanitation problems from the community members such as farmers, and individual members who are directly affected by the wastewater overflows in this area. Through discussions with some of the community members and municipal officials an interest was expressed in finding possible solutions to the above problem. The majority of people in Poding Tse Rolo are using waterborne systems that are situated in-yard (not in-house) with only a small portion of the township, still using bucket systems. The samples collected indicated that 42 percent of the breadwinners in Poding Tse Rolo are domestic workers with only 25 percent working as general workers or in government departments. Manhole blockages are due to foreign objects such as spoons, cloths and plastics. Although the findings indicated that households remove all solid materials before disposing of grey water into the drains, the drains seemed to have defective sieves and solid objects could pass through into the sewers. The community is mostly using toilet paper for anal cleaning and were aware that other types of material such as newspapers could block the toilet especially if used in large quantities. However, during the observations newspapers were found in the toilets and about 22 percent of the toilets were without any anal cleaning paper. Children between one and three years of age normally do not use the toilet because they are afraid of falling in and using too much paper. The study found that the sustainability of the waterborne system is on the borderline due to the low socio economic status of the people, the insufficient community participation at ward meetings and the lack of employment opportunities in Poding Tse Rolo.

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2010

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009 / Contradictory results are reported regarding the value of external representations such as dynamic and static visuals in a learning environment (Lowe 1999; Hanzen, Narayanan & Hegarty 2002; Weiss, Knowlton and Morrison 2002; Bodemar, Ploetzner, Feuerlein & Spada 2004; Bodemar & Ploetzner 2004; Moreno & Valdez 2005; Höffler & Loetner 2007). Some of the recent findings indicate little or no significant differences between static and dynamic visuals. This study looks at studies that used a variety of external representations to facilitate different learning tasks. A ―two journal article‖ format was adopted for Chapter 2 and 3 respectively. The first article, i.e. Chapter 2, is a review of the literature and provides a theoretical background to the research topic. Chapter 2 reviews theories and empirical studies regarding learning with text, dynamic and static visuals, and examines the conditions under which external representations facilitate learning. Subjects‘ prior knowledge, the content of the instructional material and the testing method are but some of the variables that can determine if graphic medium can increase a subject‘s comprehension and if such comprehension can be accurately measured. Chapter 2 also presents a model that suggests how dynamic and static visuals can be used in a learning environment. The second article, i.e. Chapter 3, presents an animation for a specific learning task in order to test the hypothesis that this external representation may improve the comprehension of a linear scientific process. Tertiary students (N = 61) participated in a pre-test and post-test experimental study during which they were exposed to 4 treatment variables: text (T), video and text (VT), illustration and text (IT), and animation and text (AT). It was hypothesised that the group who received the animation and text treatment would comprehend the linear process better than the control group (text only) and the other two groups (text and illustration; text and video). The question that was asked to explore this comparison therefore was: Can animation be used to improve comprehension of instructional text? The results indicate that no significant differences in achievement existed among the treatment groups. The results of the study show that dynamic visuals with text can have essentially the same effect on students' understanding of a particular process as static visual with text. It is further acknowledged that the subjects‘ prior knowledge, the content of the instructional material and the testing method are but some of the variables that can determine if an external representation can increase a subject‘s comprehension and if such comprehension can be accurately measured.

Thesis (D. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009

Thesis (M. Ed.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007

Thesis (M. Tech.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2006 / Women Education managers are still in the minority in primary schools in Bloemfontein, despite the many changes education has undergone in recent years. It is against this background that the researcher found it imperative to investigate the problems women education managers might experience in carrying out their managerial duties and responsibilities. The study further sought to investigate the training needs of women education managers. On the basis of the perceptions held by educators, findings of research studies and the little South African literature that exists, the research questions crystallise as follows: What managerial problems do women education managers experience in carrying out their managerial duties? Do women education managers experience problems other than managerial problems in carrying out their duties? What training do they require? The purpose of this investigation was to gain an insight into the problems women education managers in primary schools in Bloemfontein experience in carrying out their managerial duties. The literature review provided a focus as the framework on which this study is based. In order to collect factual information about the managerial problems women education managers in primary schools in Bloemfontein encounter, questionnaires were distributed amongst the target group. Women education managers experience problems in performing their managerial duties. These problems include delegation, finance management, human resource management, planning, formulation of objectives, policy formulation, decision making, problem solving and allocation of time. There are some factors other than managerial competence and leadership style that have an influence on the way women education managers perform their duties. These factors include workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, negative attitudes towards women, emotional influences, promotion myths, lack of self-confidence, lack of support, role models and positive reinforcement, cultural socialization as well as allocation of duties. Other organisational factors women experience include: difficulty to cope with the demands of the post, too much workload, human relations, division of work in the department and when acting as principal when he/she is absent. Based on the findings of the study, it is imperative that relevant training programmes that would address the particular needs of women education managers in primary schools in Bloemfontein, be developed. These training programmes should address the various areas of management which are problematic to women education managers. As education managers, women should seize every opportunity to leave behind the gender discrimination which is still prevalent in the sphere of education and commit themselves to undergo management training to successfully execute their managerial duties. As education managers, women also need training in various organisational issues in which they experience problems. These problems also have an influence on the way women execute their managerial duties. Recommendations for the study: By providing women education managers with the necessary managerial skills, the different areas of management in which women experience problems can be eradicated. They will have to undergo relevant training. Workshops and in-service training sessions need to be conducted to address the managerial areas in which women education managers experience problems. The findings of this study are not representative of the Free State province and further research needs to be conducted in the entire province or even all over South Africa.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Biomedical Technology)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2015 / This study reviewed national and international literature to develop an audit-feedback instrument (AFI) to monitor adherence of South African oral health care facilities with compliance to infection prevention and control precautions. In a multi-phased literature search, existing infection prevention and control recommendations, guidelines and audit-feedback instruments were reviewed and broadened to include “dental audit tools”, as well as audit tools from other health care disciplines. Audit-feedback instruments were scrutinised for user friendliness, the use of simple language, electronic calculations and feedback possibilities. A new South African AFI was proposed, considering the differences between public and private oral health care facilities and also the diversity of training levels of oral health care personnel employed. Eleven focus areas supporting all aspects of infection prevention and control in oral health care facilities, including administrative controls; personnel protection controls; environmental- and work controls; surface contamination management; equipment maintenance, service or repair; air- and waterline management; personal protective equipment usage; personal and hand hygiene practices; sterilisation practices; safe sharps handling and waste management were included. The AFI was tested in a sample of 50 oral health care facilities. None of the participating facilities demonstrated 100% compliance. Personal- and hand hygiene practices and waste management performed the best, at respectively 75% and 63%, while administrative controls and air- and waterline management scored the lowest mean values; 31% and 36% respectively The general lack of compliance with infection prevention and control precautions in the participating oral health care facilities clearly poses a safety hazard to both patients and oral health care workers. Results indicate that adherence of South African oral health care facilities with compliance to infection prevention and control precautions need to be improved. The AFI should go a long way towards improving safety and the high expectations about providing quality infection prevention and control outcomes in oral health care.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Biomedical Technology)) -- Central University of Technology, 2014 / The rising costs of health care, the outbreak of drug resistant organisms, health depleting lifestyles and the risky side effects of currently used drugs are world-wide problems. This has led to the search for novel drugs and drug leads. Traditional healers and other individuals across the globe possess unlimited knowledge on the healing powers of different plants that has been passed on through generations. This knowledge together with scientific investigations can lead to the eradication of most of the diseases either by treatment or prevention. Aloe ferox Mill. is one of the plants that have gained a lot of interest from the pharmaceutical industry. The plant has over 80 documented medicinal uses. These include treatment of impotence and infertility, sexually transmitted infections, arthritis, hypertension, leukaemia, bacterial and fungal infections. It is also known as a blood purifier, widely used as a laxative and anti- inflammatory agent. More research is required to discover more about A. ferox and its benefits to health as well as to investigate its potential for the development of novel drugs. The current study was focused at investigating the anti- cancer, anti- microbial antidiabetic, cytotoxic activities and phytochemical composition of leaf extracts of A. ferox. Three cancer cell lines namely: breast (MCF7), colon (HCT116) and prostate (PC3) cancer cell lines were used to investigate the anticancer activity of the extracts using the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. To determine the anti- diabetic activity of the plant extracts the C2C12 and Chang cell in- vitro models of glucose uptake were used. The micro- dilution technique was IV used to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal activity of the extract. The safety of these extracts against normal human foetal lung fibroblasts (W138), Chang and C2C12 cells was done by through the SRB and the MTT methods. To determine the phytochemical profile of A. ferox the DPPH radical scavenging and the Folin Ciocalteu methods were used to test the antioxidant activity and the total phenolic content of the different extracts respectively. Different methods were used to determine the presence of phytochemicals such as steroids, saponins, alkaloids, carbohydrates and flavonoids. LCMS was also done to detect the elemental composition of the plant extracts. According to the CSIR criteria A. ferox was inactive against the cancer cell lines used. It however exhibited antioxidant activity even at low concentrations, with an EC50 of 0.865 ± 0.783. The methanol extract showed more phenolic content than the dichloromethane and aqueous extracts at a concentration of 5mg/ml. It is believed that the antioxidant activity correlates with the phenolic content and quality of the phenols present in the plant and more assays have to be done to prove this hypothesis. Other phytochemicals found in the extract included saponins, steroids, alkaloids as well as flavonoids. Both the methanol and aqueous extracts of A. ferox caused a significant increase in glucose uptake by C2C12 cells but caused a slightly decreased uptake by the Chang cells. The plant extracts inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans at a concentration of 15mg/ml extract. Candida tropicalis and Escherichia faecalis were resistant to A. ferox extracts. Finally the extracts showed no toxic activity against the normal foetal lung fibroblasts, Chang and C2C12 cells validating the safety of this plant for human use. V The results in conjunction with literature findings show A. ferox to be a promising source of drugs and therapeutic agents. Due to the fact that traditional healers already rely on it as treatment for different ailments, it is important that the safety of the plant for use has been validated though other studies and clinical trial still need to be done to fully confirm this. All the information gathered also showed this plant to be of great benefit against major health problems, responsible for millions of deaths each year such as cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, and diabetes. There is however still a great need for more investigation to be done on this plant against a vast majority of organisms and diseases so as to fully benefit from it.