Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the use of educational technologies in grades 10 to 12 life sciences classrooms at a local high school. I argue that the application of educational technologies in science classrooms has the potential to engender critical teaching and learning, and to contribute to professional development. By reflecting on my own professional development as a science teacher over the past three years (2008-2010), I show that the use of educational technologies cultivates moments of critical pedagogy that link strongly with reflective teaching, critical thinking and transformative learning. Drawing on two intertwined narratives, I show how educational technologies can enhance reflective teaching whereby, firstly, teachers can take seriously theories and expertise in their practices; secondly, organise their classrooms so as to facilitate critical learning; and, thirdly, take up broader institutional and social issues. In addition, I show that the use of educational technologies opens up pedagogical spaces for critical thinking and transformative learning – that is, whereby learners learn creatively, actively, engagingly and reflecting on their own practices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die gebruik van onderwystegnologie in grade 10 tot 12 lewenswetenskapklaskamers by ʼn plaaslike hoërskool. Ek argumenteer dat die toepassing van onderwystegnologie in wetenskapklaskamers die potensiaal het om kritiese onderrig en leer teweeg te bring, en ʼn bydrae tot professionele ontwikkeling te maak. Deur te reflekteer op my eie professionele ontwikkeling as ʼn wetenskaponderwyser oor die afgelope drie jaar (2008-2010), dui ek aan hoedat die gebruik van onderwystegnologie krities pedagogiese oomblikke kultiveer wat sterk aanklank vind by reflektiewe onderrig, kritiese denke en transformatiewe leer. Met betrekking tot twee narratiewe dui ek aan hoedat onderwystegnologie reflektiewe onderrig kan bevorder deurdat, eerstens, onderwysers teorieë en kundighede in hulle gebruike ernstig opneem; tweedens, klaskamers organiseer om kritiese leer te fasiliteer; en derdens, breër institusionele en sosiale kwessies aanspreek. Daarenbowe dui ek aan hoedat onderwystegnologie ook pedagogiese ruimtes vir kritiese denke en transformatiewe leer bied – dit is, waarby leerders kreatief, aktief en betrokke is, en op hulle eie praktyke reflekteer.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Assessment, teaching and learning are key elements in lecturers' pursuit of quality in education. In fact, Black and Wiliam (1998) argue that assessment, a vital part of this reciprocal relationship should contribute to classroom learning rather than concentrate on restricted forms of tests that are not always linked to a student's learning experience. It is therefore open to debate whether a handwritten, one-hour examination does indeed stimulate students to learn and develop the knowledge, the understanding, the attitudes and the skills they need to develop. This statement mirrors the hotly debated and contradictory role of the lecturer of simultaneously having to both judge and support students' learning. In addition, widespread social and political turbulence and changes have played a role in the reform of assessment in South Africa during the past 20 years. It seems as if lecturers are caught in the middle of this conflicting role where they are expected to navigate themselves and their students through the uncertainty about how assessment should be organised, while at the same time being accountable to the students, parents, and the institution. Given the above background, the following question arises: "How can assessment enhance learning in one higher education classroom?" In answering this question, a basic interpretative qualitative approach employing focus groups and semi-structured interviews, was used in order to explore - through a variety of lenses - how final-year students in one higher education classroom dealt with assessment issues. This study aimed at using appropriate measures to conduct research to establish a chain of evidence (forward and backward) by implementing Lincoln and Guba's model for trustworthiness (1985). The conceptual framework for this study was mainly drawn from Race.s spreading ripples model of learning. The underlying premise of Race's theory is based on the idea that effective learning demands the dynamic interaction of four elements like the ripples on a pond, namely wanting/ needing, doing, feedback and digesting. The findings of the study suggested that assessment of a Life Skills Module should provide students with a variety of opportunities to demonstrate their learning in order to develop a well-rounded set of abilities when they enter the workplace. This idea signaled the importance of bearing in mind the first and foremost purpose of assessment, namely that assessment should serve student learning. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Assessering, onderrig en leer is sleutelelemente in dosente se nastrewing van gehalte in onderwys. Trouens, Black en Wiliam (1998) voer aan dat assessering – 'n noodsaaklike deel van hierdie wederkerige verhouding – tot die klaskamerleer moet bydra eerder as om te konsentreer op beperkte toetsvorme wat nie altyd verband hou met 'n student se leerervaring nie. Dit is dus debatteerbaar of 'n handgeskrewe, eenuureksamen studente werklik stimuleer om te leer en om die vereiste kennis, begrip, houdings en vaardighede te ontwikkel. Hierdie stelling weerspieël die heftig gedebatteerde en teenstrydige rol van die dosent om studente se leer tegelykertyd te beoordeel en te ondersteun. Hierbenewens het wydverspreide sosiale en politieke woelinge en veranderinge gedurende die afgelope 20 jaar 'n rol gespeel in die hervorming van assessering in Suid-Afrika. Dit wil voorkom of dosente vasgevang is midde-in hierdie konflikterende rol waar van hulle verwag word om sowel hulself as hul studente te stuur deur die onsekerheid omtrent die wyse waarop assessering georganiseer behoort te word, onderwyl hulle terselfdertyd verantwoordbaar is aan die student, die ouers en die instelling. Teen hierdie agtergrond onstaan die volgende vraag: “Hoe kan assessering in een hoëronderwysklaskamer deur leer versterk word?” Ten einde hierdie vraag te beantwoord is 'n basiese interpretatiewe kwalitatiewe benadering benut waarin fokusgroepe en semigestruktureerde onderhoude gebruik is om deur 'n verskeidenheid lense ondersoek in te stel na die wyse waarop finalejaarstudente in een hoëronderwysklaskamer die kwessies rondom assessering hanteer het. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die toepaslike stappe te gebruik om die navorsing uit te voer ten einde 'n reeks bewyse te vind – vooruitskouend en retrospektief – deur die implementering van Lincoln en Guba (1985) se geloofwaardigheidsmodel. Die bevindinge van die studie suggureer dat die assessering van 'n Lewensvaardighedemodule aan studente 'n verskeidenheid geleenthede moet bied om hul leer te demonstreer ten einde 'n afgeronde stel vaardighede te ontwikkel vir wanneer hulle die werkplek betree. Die konseptuele raamwerk vir hierdie studie is hoofsaaklik gebaseer op Race se “spreading ripples model of learning”. Die onderliggende beginsel van Race se teorie is gebaseer op die idee dat effektiewe leer die dinamiese interaksie van vier elemente vereis, soos rimpels op 'n poel, naamlik begeerte (behoefte), doen, terugvoer en verwerk. Die bevindinge van die studie suggureer dat die assessering van 'n Lewensvaardighedemodule aan studente 'n verskeidenheid geleenthede moet bied om hul leer te demonstreer ten einde 'n afgeronde stel vaardighede te ontwikkel vir wanneer hulle die werkplek betree. Hierdie idée dien as teken van die belangrikheid om die allereerste doel van assessering, naamlik dat assessering in diens van studenteleer moet staan, voor oë te hou. / Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

Thesis (MEd) -- Stellenbosch University, 1991. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study aims at contributing towards the improvement of teaching, in secondary schools, of written composition and literature in Afrikaans as a first language. · For this purpose, an outline of the relevant literature is presented. It is evident that the teaching of Afrikaans is not entirely sound. As simple solution does not exist; however, this study is an attempt to improve the present situation by focussing on integrated teaching and on the implementation of the media. Technological development puts the media within reach of more people each day. Pupils spend a great deal of time watching television, films and videos; or listening to the radio, records and cassettes. They read newspapers and magazines. This study maintains that the media should therefore be utilized to advance the teaching of Afrikaans, as all communicative skills will then improve in particular reading and writing. An integrative approach to teaching is widely recognised as the ideal. Neuropsychological research has shown that the human brain functions optimally when teaching is integrated. Ideally, in regard to the teaching of a language, composition writing and literature study should merge. The current South African curriculum does not as yet place enough emphasis on this aspect. This study concludes that there is a need for integrated teaching to be introduced into the curriculum for Afrikaans as first language. A second conclusion is that the media, which can serve as device for blending written composition and literature teaching, is not yet exploited effectively. Pupils display an ardent interest in the media and it follows that the media should be used intentionally and as a prominent component of the teaching programme. An integrated teaching programme, which focusses on the media, is proposed in this study. Practical suggestions are made in this regard, proving that the media can serve as crucial point of integration for the teaching of written composition and literature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om deur 'n oorsig van die relevante literatuur 'n bydrae te lewer tot die onderrig van stelwerk en letterkunde in Afrikaans as Eerste Taal in die senior sekondere skoolfase. Dit is duidelik dat alles nie wel is met die onderrig van Afrikaans nie. 'n Enkelvoudige oplossing is nie moontlik nie, maar hierdie studie wil probeer om die betreklik negatiewe beeld wat bestaan, te verbeter. Die invalshoek wat gekies is, is die van mediagerigtheid. Die patr.oon wat gevolg is, is 'n ge1ntegreerde onderrigbenadering. Tegnologiese ontwikkeling plaas die media binne al meer mense se bereik en dit is 'n werklikheid dat leerlinge baie tyd aan televisie, rolprente, radio, musiekvideo's, liedjies, koerante en tydskrifte bestee. In hierdie studie is van die standpunt ui tgegaan dat hierdie tendens tot voordeel van Afrikaans aangewend moet word om die media te benut ten einde leerlinge se lees- e~ skryfvaardighede en dus oak hulle kommunikatiewe vaardighede te ontwikkel. 'n Ge1ntegreerde onderrigbenadering word allerwee as die ideaal erken. Neuropsigologiese navorsing het getoon dat die menslike brein optimaal funksioneer wanneer onderrig ge1ntegreerd aangebied word. Wat die komponente van taalonderrig betref, is die ideaal dat die stelwerk en "letterkunde ten nouste ge1ntegreer behoort te word. Die huidige situasie in Suid-Afrika vertoon egter nog leemtes, want binne die bestaande kurrikulum kom ge1ntegreerde onderrig nog nie tot sy reg nie. Die studie kom dan tot die eerste gevolgtrekking dat daar wel 'n behoefte bestaan aan ge1ntegreerde onderrig in die kurrikulum vir Afrikaans Eerste Taal. 'n Tweede belangrike gevolgtrekking is dat die media as ontmoetingspunt van stelwerk en letterkunde nie genoegsaam ontgin word nie. Aangesien leerlinge so 'n intense belangstelling toon in die media, is dit net logies dat die media grater prominensie verkry binne die huidige kurrikulum deur die bewustelike inskakeling van hierdie media in die onderrigprogram. Aan die hand van praktiese voorstelle en wenke is in hierdie studie 'n ge1ntegreerde onderrigprogram vir stelwerk en letterkunde met as fokuspunt die media, voorgestel. Op die wyse is bewys gelewer dat die media wel as integrasiepunt van stelwerk en letterkunde kan dien.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the private health care sector the demand for skilled registered nurses as shift leaders exceeds the supply. The shift leader of each shift plays an important and essential role in the nursing unit. The Management and Leadership Fundamental (MLF) programme has been developed to provide, equip and empower registered nurses with the best skills, knowledge and attitudes to lead a shift with confidence. The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the facilitation and mentoring experiences of the registered nurses as learners who completed the MLF programme successfully. A qualitative methodology was used to address the research questions of the discussion guide in the real life situation. The discussion guide consisted of four sections: section one focused on facilitation, section two on mentoring, section three on management, and the focal point of the fourth section was on the MLF programme. The data were collected by means of structured interviews conducted with 14 registered nurses as learners who had completed the MLF programme. The data were analysed by doing verbatim transcriptions of the interviews, using coding and an Excel spreadsheet analysis. The results revealed that facilitation and mentoring can contribute significantly to the success of the MLF programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvraag na bevoegde geregistreerde verpleegkundiges as skofleiers in privaat hospitale oorskrei die aanbod. Die skofleier in die verpleegeenheid vervul ’n belangrike en essentiële rol tydens die skof sodat kwaliteit produktiewe gehalte sorg aan pasiente gelwer kan word. Die ‘Management and Leadership Fundamental (MLF)’ program is ontwikkel om die geregistreerde vepleegkundige as skofleier toe te rus met die nodige kennis, vaardighede en ingesteldheid om met vertroue ‘n skof te kan lei. Hierdie navorsing ondersoek en evalueer die geregistreerde verpleegkundige as leerder se ervarings van fasilitering en mentorskap tydens die MLF program wat hul suksesvol voltooi het. Kwalitatiewe navorsing is gebruik om die navorsingsvrae in die werklike situasie te ondersoek. ‘n Besprekingsgids is ontwerp met navorsingsvrae in vier afdelings: afdeling een se fokus was op fasilitering, afdeling twee het gefokus op mentorskap, afdeling drie het gefokus op bestuur en afdeling vier se fokus was op die MLF program self. Die data is versamel met behulp van gestruktureerde onderhoude wat gevoer is met 14 geregistreerde verpleegkundiges as leerders wat die MLF program suksesvol voltooi het. Die data analise het bestaan uit verbatim getranskribeerde onderhoude, die kodering daarvan asook ‘n gerekordeerde Excel ontledingstaat. Die resultate van die ondesoek het aangetoon dat fasilitering en mentorskap ‘n betekenisvolle bydrae kan lewer tot die sukses van die MLF program.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) learning area is part of the current National Curriculum Statement (NCS) and includes learning content from subjects such as Accounting, Business Studies and Economics to prepare learners for the Further Education and Training (FET) phase (Grade 10–12). The learning content is divided into four learning outcomes, namely “The economic cycle”, “Sustainable growth and development”, “Managerial, consumer and financial knowledge and skills” and “Entrepreneurial knowledge and skills”. This study investigates EMS as learning area, and more specifically senior-phase EMS teachers’ experience of teaching this learning area. EMS teachers are expected to provide equal teaching of all four learning outcomes of the current NCS, as well as the three topics of the future Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), namely “The economy”, “Financial literacy” and “Entrepreneurship”. Previous studies have shown that EMS teachers face many challenges, including that not all of them have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the content of the learning area. Apart from these challenges, it was also found that teachers do not strictly comply with the policy prescripts in terms of teaching and assessment, as Accounting is given priority in the EMS classroom. Therefore, this study explores the aforementioned challenges in order to ascertain how EMS teachers experience the teaching of the learning area. The establishment of teacher learning communities for novice EMS teachers was also investigated. The research was undertaken within the methodological paradigm as a qualitative investigation. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with mainly Grade 9 EMS teachers. The approach is interpretivist and the research design is phenomenological. Five respondents were purposefully selected based on the value that they were able to add in terms of their unique contexts, their qualifications and teaching experience. An important finding of the study was that the experience of EMS teachers was generally positive, given all the challenges they faced, such as the disparity between policy and practice, as well as often having to rely on insufficient, irrelevant and outdated EMS learning and teaching support material (LTSM). The researcher recommends that EMS teachers teach the learning area in consultation with their counterparts elsewhere in order to improve their teaching experience in respect of this learning area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die leerarea Ekonomiese- en Bestuurswetenskappe (EBW) maak deel uit van die huidige Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (NKV) en bestaan uit die leerinhoud van vakke soos Rekeningkunde, Besigheidstudies en Ekonomie ter voorbereiding vir die voortgesette onderwys en opleiding- (VOO-) fase (graad 10–12). Hierdie leerinhoud word afgebaken in vier leeruitkomste, naamlik “Die ekonomiese kringloop”, “Volhoubare groei en ontwikkeling”, “Bestuurs-, verbruikers- en finansiële kennis en vaardighede” en “Entrepreneurskennis en -vaardighede”. Hierdie studie ondersoek EBW as leerarea en meer bepaald hoe EBW-onderwysers in die senior fase die onderrig van dié leerarea beleef. EBW-onderwysers is veronderstel om die leerders in hulle klas ewe goed in ál vier leeruitkomstes van die huidige NKV, maar ook in die toekomstige Kurrikulum- en Assesseringsbeleidsverklaring (KABV) se drie onderwerpe, “Die ekonomie”, “Finansiële geletterdheid” en “Entrepreneurskap”, te onderrig. Verskeie studies het al beklemtoon dat die EBW-onderwyser met verskeie uitdagings te kampe het, wat insluit dat nie almal oor genoegsame kennis en begrip van die inhoud van die leerarea beskik nie. Benewens hierdie uitdagings het dit ook aan die lig gekom dat onderwysers nie streng volgens die beleidsvoorskrifte oor onderrig en assessering werk nie, maar merendeels op die onderrig van Rekeningkunde konsentreer. Hierdie studie ondersoek dus voormelde uitdagings ten einde onderwysers se belewing van die leerarea te bepaal. Die vestiging van onderwyserleergroepe vir nuweling-EBW-onderwysers is ook ondersoek. Die navorsing is binne die metodologiese paradigma wat kwalitatief is, onderneem. Data is met behulp van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en hoofsaaklik graad 9-EBW-onderwysers ingesamel. Die benadering is interpretivisties en die navorsingsontwerp is fenomenologies. Vyf deelnemers is doelbewus gekies op grond van die waarde wat hulle aan die hand van hul eiesoortige kontekste, kwalifikasies en onderrigervaring kon toevoeg. ’n Belangrike bevinding van die studie is dat EBW-onderwysers die leerarea oorwegend gunstig beleef, gedagtig aan die talle uitdagings waarvoor hulle te staan kom, naamlik beleid en praktyk wat nie noodwendig ooreenstem nie, en dikwels ook irrelevante, onvoldoende en verouderde leer-, onderrig- en ondersteuningsmateriaal (LOOM) vir die onderrig van EBW. Die navorser beveel aan dat EBW-onderwysers die leerarea in oorleg met hul eweknieë elders onderrig ten einde hul onderrigbelewing van die leerarea te verbeter.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / Student teachers are faced with the challenge of adapting their teaching so as to accommodate active learning through self-assessment, peer assessment and reflection. The objectives of the study were therefore to explore how active learning may be enhanced through self-assessment, peer assessment and reflection. The participants in the study were second- and third-year students at Rundu Campus of the University of Namibia. The research employed a case study design with qualitative data and using a descriptive, contextual approach. Semi-structured interviews, focus-group interviews and observations were utilised to obtain data. Once consent was obtained from the relevant authorities, second- and third-year student teachers were interviewed. Ethical requirements were adhered to throughout the research process. The findings indicated that students had both positive and negative perceptions in respect of self-assessment, peer assessment and reflection in promoting their active engagement in learning. Overall, the findings of the study revealed positive signs that active learning can be enhanced by student teachers through the use of strategies such as self-assessment, peer assessment and reflection. The study also pointed to implications of the research for teacher education practices and possible future research.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The focus of this study is on Biology teachers in selected Namibian schools. The researcher seeks to understand how Biology teachers implement Environmental Education (EE) as part of the Biology curriculum as is mandated in the curriculum policy. Literature indicates that the EE curriculum and the science curriculum are underpinned by different philosophical and pedagogical perspectives. This prompts the research questions, and the subsequent research reported on in this thesis. During a case study guided by a qualitative interpretive paradigm, Biology teachers and Biology advisory teachers are interviewed about their experiences and actions and invited to make suggestions. In addition curriculum document analysis and observation are used. The data point to the aspects that can facilitate the implementation of EE in the curriculum, However the implementation of EE is associated with many obstacles and challenges. Teachers struggle to implement EE because of an inadequate understanding of EE and its underlying philosophy. Further enhancement of EE will also require the reduction of tensions between policy and practice, logistic barriers, and the gap between EE and science, while increasing the involvement of teachers in curriculum development, collegiality among teachers and principals, teachers and advisory teachers’ knowledge of EE, teachers and advisory teachers’ curriculum understanding and professional support. Teachers cannot achieve the objectives of EE unaided; therefore the establishment of EE co-coordinators in schools is suggested, since schools have failed to implement EE without such support. In addition, it is suggested that activity systems be studied in totality and that boundaries be crossed to enrich the outcome of EE. . Subject advisors are mandated by the government to support teachers experiencing problems, and it is suggested that ideas linked to the activity systems and activity theory be investigated and implemented to solve the problems. This should improve the implementation of EE as part of science teaching in the schools where the study was conducted and in other schools. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die fokus van hierdie studie was op biologie-onderwysers in geselekteerde Namibiese skole. Die navorser probeer om te verstaan hoe biologie-onderwysers Environmental Education (EE) implementeer as deel van die biologie van die kurrikulum wat in die kurrikulum beleid mandaat. Literatuur dui daarop dat die EE kurrikulum en die wetenskap kurrikulum word ondersteun deur "anders" filosofiese en pedagogiese perspektiewe wat die navorsing vrae gevra, en die daaropvolgende projek berig in hierdie tesis. Het egter Biologie-onderwysers se pre-diens onderwys sluit nie EE. Tydens 'n gevallestudie gelei deur 'n kwalitatiewe interpretatiewe paradigma, is biologie-onderwysers en biologie raadgewende onderwysers ondervra oor hul ervarings, aksies en voorstelle. Kurrikulum dokumente is ontleed en waarnemings van onderwysers in klaskamers in Benewens onderhoude en dokument-analise is gebruik. Data dui daarop dat die implementering word omring deur baie struikelblokke en uitdagings. EE is beperk tot opvoeding oor die omgewing en word gelei deur wetenskapsfilosofie. Dit lyk asof daar 'n gebrek aan begrip van EE en sy onderliggende filosofie deur onderwysers. Die meeste onderwysers noem baie struikelblokke as struikelblokke tot die implementering en dit sluit in logistieke hindernisse, en die gaping tussen EE en wetenskap, 'n gebrek van die betrokkenheid van onderwysers in kurrikulumontwikkeling, 'n gebrek van kollegialiteit onder onderwysers en skoolhoofde, gebrek aan onderwysers en raadgewende onderwysers se kurrikulum begrip en professionele ondersteuning. Terwyl, dokument-analise het gewys op die spanning tussen beleid en praktyk. Verdere data wys na die aspekte wat kan ondersteun as die inlywing van EE in die kurrikulum EE implementering, Biologie word gesien as 'n goeie voertuig vir EE, onderwysers benaderings is kennis van leerder, onderwysers se houding teenoor die implementering is positief. Advisory onderwysers kennis van hul algemene verantwoordelikhede, maar hulle lyk nie te verstaan hoe dit is van toepassing in EE weens gebrek aan EE kennis. Onderwysers kan nie die doel bereik sonder hulp, dus die vestiging van EE mede-koördineerders in skole word voorgestel, aangesien skole het misluk EE te implementeer sonder ondersteuning. Daarbenewens word dit voorgestel dat die aktiwiteit stelsels in totaliteit bestudeer word en dat die grense oorgesteek om die uitkoms te verryk. In hierdie verband, vakadviseurs mandaat deur die regering om onderwysers te ondersteun wat hindernisse ervaar, en daar word voorgestel dat die idees gekoppel aan die aktiwiteit en aktiwiteit-teorie ondersoek word en geïmplementeer word om die hindernisse aan te pak. Dit moet EE implementering te verbeter as deel van die wetenskap-onderrig in die skole waar die studie gedoen is.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As a novice teacher I experienced many difficulties and obstacles in my first two years of teaching in a South African context. This experience was further disempowering as there were no support programmes like induction or mentoring programmes in place to support the transition from student to teacher and to grow professionally. It thus became my concern to ascertain the possibilities of professional development through reflective practice, to highlight some of the strategies which might bring about change, however imperfect, and to consider the human agency in all of this. The focus of the study is particularly on reflective practice as a potential process of professional development and a self-support mechanism for novice teachers. It thus is a study of processes to encourage and maintain a teacher’s professional development. I tell of my lived experience as a novice teacher through narrative inquiry. The data comprises of journal entries and field notes which were constructed from conversations and observations. Main ideas were developed within my narrative to analyse the narrated text. Four main themes emerged from my global analysis of data. These are: lack of support; lack of an induction programme; engaging in self-support activities to grow professionally; and the importance that agency plays in this process of personal and professional development. Based on this study of my personal experience as a novice teacher, it would seem that becoming a reflective practitioner could indeed contribute to a sense of empowerment and serve as a support mechanism in personal and professional development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As ‘n nuweling-onderwyser het ek baie probleme en struikelblokke in my eerste twee jaar van onderwys in ‘n Suid Afrikaanse konteks ervaar. Hierdie ervaring was verder ontmagtigend aangesien daar geen ondersteuningsprogramme soos induksie en mentorskap in plek was om die oorgang van student tot onderwyser en professionele groei te ondersteun nie. Ek het my dus daaroor begin ontferm om die moontlikhede van professionele ontwikkeling deur die praktyk van refleksie te ondersoek en lig te werp op strategieë wat moontlike veranderinge teweeg kon bring en menslike agentskap in alle betrokke prosesse kon inwerk. Die fokus van hierdie studie is op reflektiewe praktyk as ‘n potensiële proses vir professionele ontwikkeling en ‘n self-ondersteunende meganisme vir nuweling-onderwysers. Dit is dus ‘n studie van prosesse wat professionele ontwikkeling aanmoedig en volhou. Ek maak gebuik van narratiewe ondersoek om my beleefde ervaring as ‘n nuweling-onderwyser te deel. Die data bestaan uit joernaalinskrywings en veldnotas wat saamgestel is vanuit gesprekke en waarnemings. Kernidees is binne die narratief ontwikkel om die verhaalde teks te analiseer. Vier hooftemas is identifiseer vanuit die data-analise. Dit is onder andere: gebrek aan ondersteuning, gebrek aan ‘n induksieprogram, gebrek aan self-ondersteuning om professioneel te groei en die rol van agentskap in die proses van persoonlike en professionele ontwikkeling. Gebaseer op die studie van my persoonlike ervaring, wil dit voorkom dat indien ‘n nuweling-onderwyser ontwikkel as ‘n reflektiewe praktistyn, dit inderdaad tot ‘n sin van bemagtiging kan bydra en ook kan dien as ‘n self-ondersteunende meganisme in persoonlike en professionele ontwikkeling.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In some contemporary discourses, a new dimension of knowledge is increasingly being recognised. Sustainable development is no longer the exclusive domain of western science and technology. There is a growing interest in the role that indigenous people and their communities can play in sustainable development. The integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) into formal school curricula, especially environmental education (EE), is seen as a key approach to making education relevant to rural students. This will also promote the intellectual diversity required to manage the scope, complexity and uncertainty of local and global environmental issues. This study is guided by constructivist approaches and postcolonial perspectives that recognise the differences between IK and western sciences but at the same time concerned with ways in which the two can work together. In particular, this study uses a qualitative case study of selected schools in the Northern part of Namibia to investigate how IK can be used to support EE in rural schools. The National (Namibian) Curriculum for Basic Education and the Life Science curriculum documents have been analysed, focusing specifically on how IK is coupled with EE at school level. The review of the curriculum documents revealed that IK is not only ignored and underutilised in schools, but also systematically undermined as a potential source of knowledge for development. The curriculum continues to reinforce western values at the expense of IK. To gain more insight into existing EE practices in schools and the role that local knowledge can play in school syllabi, six teachers, two advisory teachers and two traditional leaders were carefully selected and interviewed. The basis for this was to possibly challenge and address the needs that learners and their environment have. The participants in this study embraced the inclusion of IK in EE. However, the processes of combining IK with science may be constrained by challenges related to: teachers‟ attitudes, the design of the curriculum, and the way learner-centered education is conceptualised and practiced in schools. The study suggests that, to incorporate IK into EE effectively may require a shift away from the current strong subject-based, content-focused and examination driven EE curriculum. A cross-cultural Science Technology and Society (STS) curricula that includes a broad range of disciplines and provides a context within which all knowledge systems can be equitably compared and contribute to our understanding of the environment is proposed as an alternative curricula framework.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Student dropout at higher education institutions in South Africa is an aspect that is receiving increasing attention from the various role-players who have an interest in this aspect due to the negative influence it has on students, higher education institutions, and the economy of the country. Higher education institutions that offer agriculture as a course of study also have to deal with this problem. Approximately one quarter of the students who are admitted at most agricultural training institutions are forced to discontinue their studies or do so voluntarily. Most of these cessations of study occur during or near the end of the first year of study. The cessation of studies is not the only negative aspect. The low pass rate of students at higher education institutions in South Africa is also alarming. The main object of this study was to ascertain why students discontinued their studies and why they took longer than the minimum time allowed to complete their studies. In order to substantiate this theory, an attempt was made to obtain both an international and a national perspective of the student dropout rate in general, as well as to determine what factors were responsible or contributed to successful completion of their studies by students. A background perspective of agricultural education in South Africa was included. The literature reviews are supplemented by a qualitative investigation of students who discontinued their studies specifically at agricultural higher education institutions. A case study approach was employed, in which an in-depth interview strategy was utilised to obtain descriptive and illustrative data. The study demonstrated that dropout rates can be attributed mainly to academic and/or social factors. These factors prevented adequate integration, which is essential to successful studies, from occurring. Various academic factors may be the reason for inadequate academic integration, of which the most important were unclear objectives, a lack of motivation, wrong academic expectations, a misconception of hard work, as well as a lack of the necessary explanatory knowledge in the agricultural study field. New students’ academic adjustment appeared to be the most problematic factor. It appeared that new students were insufficiently prepared to make the adjustment, and in fact, less prepared for this step than was generally the case in the past. Ineffective social integration was the result of too little student participation in social activities or the absence of adequate opportunities for social activities at agricultural training institutions. Unbalanced and unhealthy social activities were often the major factors that contributed to student dropout. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that non-academic factors such as inadequate accommodation or financial problems were not significant causative factors for student dropout, but rather non-academic factors such as unbalanced or unhealthy social activities and poor time management. After the probable causes for student dropout had been established, a theoretical framework was created that could offer possible explanation for the student dropout rates at agricultural training institutions. The framework was created to establish student dropout from a longitudinal perspective, and not only to explain the phenomenon as a result of what had occurred during the time that the student was at the institution. The framework was therefore designed to explain student dropout against the background of the student, together with various factors that were related to students or the institution and which were responsible for inadequate integration. From this framework it was possible to develop individual models for specific agricultural training institutions or for one specific institution in respect of the dropout phenomenon.