This study has a fourfold focus. Firstly, the study aims to fill a gap in research regarding teachers and principals’ perceptions on transition work and collaboration in school years K-3 and 4-6 in the subject of English. Secondly, the study explores how these views affect students' academic achievement in the subject. Thirdly, the gathered data is compared to previous research and Swedish national governing documents and guidelines on the matter. Lastly, the study collected suggestions for improvements with regards to transition work and collaboration based on previous research and our respondents’ views.    The basis for the study is data collected from 42 teacher and 10 school principal respondents who answered qualitative and quantitative questions regarding the issue. The findings indicate that teachers and principals' views do not always align regarding transition work. The study shows a great discrepancy in how Swedish schools collaborate around transition, where some Swedish teachers report well-functioning transition work and collaboration and some report the complete opposite. Furthermore, the findings indicate that students' academic performance is affected by the quality of teachers transition and collaboration work. Lastly, the study identifies some key factors that are necessary for well-functioning transition and collaboration work to transpire. / Denna studie har ett fyrfaldigt fokus. Först ämnar den att fylla ett hål i forskning som behandlar lärares och rektorers uppfattningar om övergångsarbete och samarbete mellan skolåren F-3 och 4-6 i Engelskämnet. Sedan utforskar studien hur dessa uppfattningar påverkar elevers akademiska prestationer i ämnet. I tredje hand jämförs den samlade datan med vad tidigare forskning, Svenska styrdokument och riktlinjer säger i frågan. Till sist sammanställer studien förslag på förbättringar på övergångsarbetet och samarbetet baserat på respondenternas bidrag och tidigare forskning. Forskningsunderlaget utgörs av data som samlats från 42 lärare och 10 rektorer som svarat på kvalitativa så väl som kvantitativa frågor om ämnet. Fynden indikerar att lärares och rektorers syn på övergångsarbete inte alltid överensstämmer. Studien visar vidare en grav diskrepans mellan svenska skolor i hur de samarbetar kring elevers övergång mellan låg- och mellanstadiet, där några av lärarna rapporterar ett väl fungerande samarbete och andra det helt motsatta. Fynden indikerar även att elevers akademiska prestationer kan påverkas av kvalitén på lärarnas samarbete och övergångsarbete. Slutligen identifierar studien några nyckelfaktorer som är nödvändiga för att skapa ett väl fungerande övergångsarbete och sammarbete.

<p> A detailed petrographic study of the Pleistocene Key Largo Limestone Formation, Key Largo, Florida, was undertaken observing three units of varying ages. From oldest to youngest, these are: Q4A (age unknown); Q4B, (180,000 years B.P.), and Q5, (125, 000 years B.P.). Fifty thin sections from four cored wells were point counted. Porosity remained constant for all three units at 28.5% as did total cements at 27.5%. These are still very porous rocks relative to ancient carbonates, which generally show 0-2% porosity. Q5 is diagenetically less mature than Q4B and Q4A, with the persistence of aragonite (which is being leached) and solution-enhanced interparticle porosity. Q5 has been exposed to a vadose environment. Multiple generation cements in Q4B indicate two periods of vadose exposure coincident with known Pleistocene eustatic sea level fluctuations. Moldic porosity is predominant in Q4B. Vague horizons of macroscopic vuggy porosity act as pathways of directed flow for percolating fluids precipitating late stage cements and stains rich in iron. Q4A has been interpreted as a beachrock in part, deposited at pH's greater than 9, resulting in dissolution of quartz grains. Of special interest in Q4A is the probable exploitation of a quartz substrate by endolithic borers. </p> / Thesis / Bachelor of Science (BSc)

The focus of this research study is on establishing emotional awareness in the child in her middle childhood that finds herself in a children's home. Emphasis is placed on the effect that structured Gestalt group therapy has on the development of emotional awareness in the child in a children's home and how it can be utilized to positively support the process of emotional awareness. The main aim of the study is to investigate, evaluate and describe the impact of structured gestalt group therapy on the emotional awareness of the child in a children's home, for play therapists to use within this context. / SOCIAL WORK / MDIAC (PLAY THERAPY)

This thesis poses a number of questions about research and pedagogy with young children under three, with a particular focus on the opportunities for children’s ‘voices’ to be heard and for them to participate in the planning of the curriculum in early years’ settings. The persistent division between education and care has been an issue in many European countries for a long time (OECD, 2006). The thesis reports on the findings of a research project in both England and Greece. The research aims were to consider how the meaning of children’s participation is defined in the settings in the two countries; whether children use the resources provided according to adult expectation and initial planning and how practitioners react to children’s choices by supporting, ignoring or disapproving them. The theoretical underpinning for the thesis is drawn particularly from the work of Rogoff and Corsaro. Research focused on six children in both England and Greece who were observed during their involvement in both adult directed and child initiated activities in the settings. An ethnographic approach together with a range of ‘participatory’ methods were used including data gathered through video recordings made by both children and adults.This study has found that children express their perceptions during an activity in a very complicated way, elaborating and examining all the parameters that could place them in trouble. Additionally, the findings have shown that what the child is doing during an activity is not always what he is thinking, while many times children appeared to have their own agenda, thus ignoring or subverting adult plans. The main finding is that no matter what the differences and similarities in early years’ education and care between the two countries are, there is an urgent need to promote the children’s participatory rights, as adult’s authority and power is generally taken for granted. This thesis argues for ethical tensions in research with young children and for balanced pedagogy where both adults’ and children’s voices influence the curriculum.

No description available.

This study is a subdivision of an inter-university research project to investigate the psychological resilience of children in the late middle childhood years. The title of the umbrella project is Psychological resilience in children in the South African context. The aim of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between social support and self-concept, as well as to establish whether gender differences occur with regard to the experience of social support and the evaluation of self-concept. Schools in different regions were identified in order to make the sample as large and the study as representative as possible of the different provinces, racial and language groups in South Africa. The children in the samples were randomly selected from class lists. The complete test battery was subsequently administered to these children. For the purpose of this study only the Piers-Harris Children's Self-concept Scale, the Social Support Appraisal Scale and the Biographical Questionnaire were used. Due to practical problems, the final figures of the samples varied between 549 and 918 participants. The processing of the data was done by the Statistical Consultation Service of the North West University Potchefstroom Campus. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used as an effect size to determine the relationship between social support and self-concept. T-tests and Cohen's effect sizes were used to determine whether gender differences occur with regard to social support and self-concept. The statistical processing of the results revealed that a positive correlation exists between social support and self-concept. These results are corresponding with the literature (Collins, 2000; Kirkcaldy, Shephard & Stiefen, 2002; Malecki 8 Demaray, 2002; Marjoribanks & Mboya, 2001; Van Tassel-Baska & Olszewski-Kubilius, 1994). Further, the results showed that no gender differences that were both statistically significant and practically meaningful occurred with regards to social support and self-concept. These results were repeatedly inconsistent with the literature (Bee, 1992; Dubow & Ullman, 1989; Harris, Rosenthal & Snodgrass, 1986; Hirsch & Rapkin, 1987; Piers, 1984; Werner & Smith, 1982). Finally, the last section of this investigation provides recommendations for further studies in this area, as well as practical suggestions for the implementation of the findings. / Thesis (M.A. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005

Information Technology is an essential part of the National Curriculum in the UK, yet despite the growth of IT in schools that this has generated, there is evidence that children are not to be taken into consideration enough when designing aspects of educational software. The functionality available in education software packages tends to be made available through static icons, yet there are problems with their implementation as they can at times cause confusion for the user in terms of the functionality that they are aiming to represent. In order to make icons in educational software more effective, and to meet the needs of children, of the use of animated icons has been suggested. Animating the function of the icon aims to provide a clarification of its meaning and demonstrate its capabilities, as well as explaining to the user the method of use. However, there is little information available on how to support the design of effective animated icons. Focusing on a target age group of 11 to 12 year olds, this thesis argues that some form of support mechanism should be developed for the design of animated icons to ensure that consideration is being given to the types of object that children find useful and accessible. A set of dimensions where guidance on visual aspects of the icon may be useful are developed through analysis of relevant literature and it is highlighted that they do not provide any insight into what types of object may be helpful in designing the animated icons. This thesis then argues that animated icon design can be usefully informed by psychological theories of learning and that using such theories as a base may provide an understanding of how children identify icon functionality. The thesis introduces and critiques Piaget’s Genetic Epistemology theory, Vygotsky’s Sociocultural theory and Leontjev’s Activity Theory, identifying aspects of the theories which may be of relevance to the design of animated icons. By investigating the relationships between the dimensions of animated icons and the concepts from the theories of learning, insights are developed into the impact of visual factors on a child’s identification and understanding of icon functionality. The thesis goes on to report a practical study where the sample is a group of 11 to 12 year old children. The practical study consists of three phases. The first phase gathers data related to the children’s familiarity with computers and the types of software packages that they use. The second phase looks at their use and recognition of static icon functionality. The last phase involves using the findings from phases 1 and 2 to create and evaluate a set of animated icons, the development of which is based on the relationships between the concepts from theories of learning and the identified dimensions of animated icons. The analysis of the evidence from the practical study leads to a small set of design principles being proposed that are aimed to provide advice/guidance on how to design animated icons effectively for this target age group, with an emphasis on the types of object that might be used. The principles are underpinned by the concepts from the theories of learning and presented in a manner that aims to be understandable by, and accessible to, designers.

This thesis explores the concerns of mid-eighteenth century naval captains through the careers of Captain Thomas Burnett and the cohort of thirty five officers who were posted captain in 1757 soon after the start of the Seven Years' War. A subsidiary cohort, that of the 129 lieutenants who were, like Burnett, first commissioned in 1744 is used as a control against which to measure the statistical worth of the smaller cohort. Examination of the day to day concerns of the captains has been made possible through the rich and varied resource of their letters to the Admiralty, which have hitherto been little used as a source by historians. Despite the formality of these letters not merely the concerns but also the personalities and characters of the writers are vividly conveyed. After tracing the career of Thomas Burnett this thesis examines the 1757 cohort and its progression to the rank of master and commander. At this point the correspondence with the Admiralty begins. The influences, 'interest' and formative experiences behind their appointments are considered. The duties of the mid-eighteenth century captain are outlined, as their relationship with the Admiralty is analysed and the extent to which they were kept under strict Admiralty control by precedent and financial scrutiny is demonstrated. All aspects of manning are shown to dominate the daily concerns of captains. The extent to which 'interest' or chance gave them the opportunity to display their professional expertise and increase their standing within the active naval corps is weighed. Tracking this cohort beyond the war into the years of peace and subsequent wars has revealed the extent to which the timing of being made post captain was crucial and that 'interest' was more significant than merit in accelerating and promoting active careers.

This thesis will attempt to scrutinize Günter Grass's message to his people and show his concern for the spiritual health of his country. Each of his three novels bears directly upon political, religious, and moral issues vital to Germany and to the world. The examination is based upon the assumption that Grass as an author is more concerned that Germans see themselves as they are and as they have been than he is concerned with the image of Germany which his novels present to the world. It is, paradoxically, this very special and sincere concern which gives his work universal appeal.

This thesis deals with the post-war years of the Rumburk district, more precisely with post-war expulsions and mainly with resettlement. The work was based on archival materials (SOkA Děčín), especially on the administrative ones, secondly, the comparison of accessible secondary literature was made and lastly, the actual memories of those who still remember were composed into the research. The accessible literature and sources are introduced to the reader right in the introduction. The thesis is divided into three basic parts. The first part focuses on the topic of post-war expulsions, what the author considers to be crucial for understanding of the phenomena of resettlement. Furthermore, this part consists of two parts: perception of post- war expulsions generally in the whole Czechoslovakia and concretely in the Rumburk region. The second part of the thesis includes the topic of resettlement, generally and concretely, as well. The last section deals with the Rumburk region from the view of historical sources and those who still remember. It also contains a chapter about the regional social and cultural life (culture and sports clubs, religion, towns and landscape transformation). The aim of the presented paper is not informing the reader about past-war expulsions or resettlement but it is...