Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Deaf learners are unique and require special support and assistance. It is apparent in the literature that deaf learners are more exposed to both physical and sexual abuse. The consequences of the latter can lead to emotional problems, for example, enuresis, anxiety disorders, depression, panic attacks, anger outbursts and attention deficits. One of the biggest challenges in the life of deaf learners must surely be communication. Misunderstandings and subsequent frustrations that ensue, normally occur as a result of communication difficulties between deaf learners and the hearing person. From the literature it appears necessary to stimulate the deaf learner's language development as early as possible, as it impacts on several aspects of his/her maturation into adulthood. Communication difficulties can also influence the emotional development of deaf learners. Therapeutic support for deaf learners are a challenge. The therapist that works with the learners should ideally be able to sign. The young deaf learners do, however, not yet have a signing system and consequently communication is problematic. The learners themselves experience frustrations as he/she is not able to express his/her emotions. The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of developmental play therapy as a psychotherapeutic technique for the treatment of emotional problems in young deaf learners. To some degree, the technique makes it possible for verbal communication between therapist and learners to be replaced by physical contact. The aim of the activities is to take learners back to the early mother-child relationship and for the therapist to model healthy relationships. The research undertaken here is a qualitative case study. It was approached from an eco-systemic perspective, in other words learners are viewed as the core system which, in turn, is part of several other systems for example the family, school, church, community, etc. The systems are interdependent, which means that change in the one system also results in change within the other systems. In the data production video recordings, unstructured interviews, observations and field notes were used. Data analysis was done using the principles of coding. The results of the study show that developmental play therapy is indeed an effective psychotherapeutic technique in the treatment of emotional problems in young deaf learners. It would appear that the technique requires adaptation for deaf learners needs in order to be effective. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dowe leerders is uniek en het spesiale ondersteuning nodig. Uit die literatuur wil dit blyk of dowe leerders meer blootgestel word aan beide fisiese en seksuele mishandeling. Die gevolge van laasgenoemde kan lei tot meer emosionele probleme, byvoorbeeld enurese, angsversteurings, depressie, paniekaanvalle, woedeuitbarstings en aandagafleibaarheid. Een van die grootste uitdagings in dowe leerders se lewe is seker kommunikasie. Misverstande en frustrasies wat daaruit vloei, ontstaan gewoonlik as gevolg van kommunikasieprobieme tussen dowe leerders en die horende persoon. Uit die literatuur blyk dit noodsaaklik om dowe leerders se taalontwikkeling so vroeg as moontlik te stimuleer aangesien dit verskeie aspekte in sy/haar volwassewordingsproses beïnvloed. Kommunikasieprobleme het ook 'n invloed op dowe leerders se emosionele ontwikkeling. Terapeutiese ondersteuning van dowe leerders is 'n uitdaging. Die terapeut wat met die leerders werk, moet verkieslik gebaretaal kan praat. Die jong dowe leerders het egter nog nie werklik 'n gebaresisteem nie en gevolglik is kommunikasie 'n probleem. Die leerders self ervaar frustrasies, omdat hy/sy nie die vermoê het om uiting te gee aan sy/haar emosies nie. Die doel met hierdie studie was om die moontlikheid van ontwikkelende speelterapie as psigoterapeutiese tegniek in die hantering van emosionele probleme by jong dowe leerders te ondersoek. Die tegniek maak dit in 'n mate moontlik om die verbale kommunikasie tussen terapeut en leerders te vervang met fisiese kontak. Die doel met die aktiwiteite is om die leerders terug te neem na die vroeê moeder - kindverhouding en gesonde verhoudings deur die terapeut te modelleer. Die navorsing neem die vorm van 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie aan. Dit word benader vanuit 'n ekosistemiese perspektief, dit wil sê die leerders word gesien as die kernsisteem wat deel is van verskeie ander sisteme soos byvoorbeeld die familie, skool, kerk en gemeenskap. Die sisteme is interafhanklik wat beteken dat verandering in die een sisteem ook verandering in die ander sisteme tot gevolg het. In die data-produksie is tegnieke naamlik video-opnames, ongestruktureerde onderhoude, observasies en veldnotas gebruik. Data-analise is volgens die beginsels van kodering gedoen. Die resultate van die onderhewige studie wys daarop dat ontwikkelende speelterapie wel In effektiewe psigoterapeutiese tegniek is in die hantering van emosionele probleme by jong dowe leerders. Dit wil voorkom of die tegniek aangepas moet word by dowe leerders se behoeftes om werklik effektief te wees.

Thesis (MEdPsych (Educational Psychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study stems from the concern about the over-reliance on and limitations of using isolated psychometric measures in psycho-educational assessments. Despite claims in literature that dynamic assessment is a valuable tool in linking assessment and intervention, many proponents of dynamic assessment (for instance Bosma & Resing, 2008; Woods & Farrell, 2006; Elliot, 2003; Tzuriel, 2001; Lidz & Elliot, 2000) have found that it has not been fully incorporated into educational psychologists‘ assessment practices. The present study aimed to explore educational psychologists‘ views on the relevance and challenges of practising dynamic assessment in the changing context of educational psychology practices in South Africa, particularly assessment practices. It reports on the value, relevance and potential of dynamic assessment for educational psychologists, but also sheds light on the factors and challenges that hamper its implementation in practice. The researcher utilised a basic qualitative, interpretive research design. Twelve educational psychologists either in private practice or in state education services who had knowledge of dynamic assessment were selected by means of criterion-purposive sampling to participate in the study. Data were collected by means of an extensive literature review and semi-structured interviews, and analyzed using a synthesis of content and interpretive analysis. The findings suggest that educational psychologists in South Africa found dynamic assessment to be relevant to their practices. Participants report that it yields valuable information about learning (on cognitive, affective and behavioural levels) and that it is especially useful for assessing learners from diverse backgrounds for whom no standardized tests exist. However, they experienced some obstacles in implementing dynamic assessment. These were related to insufficient training, too few experts to assist with supervision, expertise residing in too few retired or nearly retired persons, as well as the perceived labour-intensive and time-consuming nature of dynamic assessment. Therefore, recommendations for theory and further research indicate that more research (especially with regard to training presented at tertiary institutions) is needed to boost its momentum and ensure its further development. Recommendations for practice focus on raising educational psychologists‘ awareness of dynamic assessment, increasing the availability of courses, as well as interested professionals‘ access to training. Keywords: Dynamic assessment; educational psychology; assessment in South Africa / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie spruit voort uit kommer oor die oormatige vertroue op en beperkings van die gebruik van geïsoleerde psigometriese maatreëls in psigo-opvoedkundige assesserings. Ongeag aansprake in die literatuur dat dinamiese assessering 'n waardevolle instrument is om assessering en intervensie te verbind, het baie voorstanders van dinamiese assessering (byvoorbeeld Bosma & Resing, 2008; Woods & Farrell, 2006; Elliot, 2003; Tzuriel, 2001; Lidz & Elliot, 2000) bevind dat dit nog nie volledig in die assesseringspraktyke van opvoedkundige sielkundiges geïnkorporeer is nie. Die doel van die onderhawige studie was om opvoedkundige sielkundiges se sieninge oor die relevansie en uitdagings van die praktisering van dinamiese assessering in die veranderende konteks van opvoedkundige sielkundige praktyke in Suid-Afrika, in besonder assesseringspraktyke, te verken. Dit doen verslag oor die waarde, relevansie en potensiaal van dinamiese assessering vir opvoedkundige sielkundiges, maar werp ook lig op die faktore en uitdagings wat die implementering daarvan in die praktyk bemoeilik. Die navorser het 'n basiese kwalitatiewe, interpretatiewe navorsingsontwerp gebruik. Twaalf opvoedkundige sielkundiges in privaatpraktyk of in staatsopvoedkundige dienste wat kennis van dinamiese assessering gehad het, is deur middel van kriteriagerigte steekproefneming geselekteer om aan die studie deel te neem. Data is deur middel van 'n uitgebreide literêre oorsig en semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude versamel en geanaliseer deur 'n sintese van inhoud- en interpretatiewe analise te gebruik. Die bevindings dui daarop dat opvoedkundige sielkundiges in Suid-Afrika dinamiese assessering relevant vir hulle praktyke vind. Deelnemers rapporteer dat dit waardevolle inligting oor leer (op kognitiewe, affektiewe en gedragsvlakke) daarstel en dat dit veral nuttig is vir die assessering van leerders uit uiteenlopende agtergronde vir wie geen gestandaardiseerde toetse bestaan nie. Hulle het egter 'n paar hindernisse ervaar in die implementering van dinamiese assessering. Dit was verwant aan onvoldoende opleiding, te min kundiges om met toesig behulpsaam te wees, kundigheid wat in te min afgetrede en byna afgetrede persone setel, asook die waargenome arbeidsintensiewe en tydrowende aard van dinamiese assessering. Aanbevelings vir teorie en verdere navorsing dui daarop dat meer navorsing (veral ten opsigte van opleiding wat by tersiêre inrigtings aangebied word) benodig word om die momentum daarvan 'n hupstoot te gee en die verdere ontwikkeling daarvan te verseker. Aanbevelings vir die praktyk fokus op die bevordering van opvoedkundige sielkundiges se bewustheid van dinamiese assessering, die verhoging van die beskikbaarheid van kursusse asook toegang van geïnteresseerde professionele lui tot opleiding.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: My study aims to explore the feelings of and coping strategies used by a group of mothers of young children with an intellectual disability. I used two validated questionnaires and, at a later date, a semi-structured interview with each research participant. My analyses of the questionnaires' data provided me with tentative themes for inclusion during the semi-structured interviews. The combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies resulted in the confirmation and expansion of some of the data, but contradictions between other data. I used lay theory as one explanation for the contradictory findings. My study found that the mothers of young children with an intellectual disability experience a range of feelings and use a combination of different coping strategies, a pragmatic coping style being common to all the participants. I conclude by acknowledging the inherent capabilities of my research participants and encouraging service providers to empower parents of young children with an intellectual disability. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die studie is die ondersoek van gevoelens en hanteringstrategiee van 'n groep moeders vanjong kinders met 'n kognitiewe gestremdheid. Ek het aanvanklik gebruik gemaak van twee geldige vraelyste en na afloop daarvan is 'n semigestruktureede onderhoud gevoer met elke deelnemer. Tentatiewe temas verkry uit geanaliseerde vraelys data is ook gebruik/ingesluit gedurende die semi-gestruktureede onderhoud. Die kombinasise van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetttodologiee het gelei tot die bevestiging en uitbreiding van sekere data, maar was ook weer teenstrydig met van die ander data. Ek het leke teorie gebruik as verklaring vir die teenstrydighede. My studie het bevind dat hierdie moeders 'n wye verskeidenheid gevoelens ervaar en dat hulle ook van verskeie hanteringstrategiee gebruik maak. Die pragmatiese hanteringstyl was die mees algemene onder die deelnemers. Samevattend het ek erkenning verleen aan die inherente vermoens van die deelnemers en ook diensverskaffers aangemoedig om ouers van jong kinders met 'n kognitiewe gestremdheid te bemagtig.

Thesis (MEd(Psych))--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Internationally there is concern about the reproductive health of adolescents. In South Africa a growing concern is the rampant sexual activity of underage learners. This study seeks to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of a group of adolescents with regard to their psycho-sexual development. A qualitative study was conducted, with data being collected by using semistructured interviews, which were subsequently analysed thematically. The data was analysed and five themes emerged from the three categories (knowledge, attitudes and behaviour). The five themes that emerged were knowledge about HIV/AIDS and venereal diseases, where participants received their knowledge about sexual issues, knowledge about conception and pregnancy, attitudes about sexuality and sexual behaviours. The study found a disparity between participants' knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviour. Many participants have not developed a healthy sexual identity because of many factors that has contributed to this development. Some of these factors were social, parental, emotional, socio-economic, lack of appropriate knowledge, media and attitudinal influences. The findings indicated that the majority of the participants had a fairly good knowledge about HIV/AIDS but were less knowledgeable about other venereal diseases. It appeared that many of the participants did not have reliable sources to furnish them adequate answers to sexuality questions. This lack of information had a direct bearing on the formation of their sexual attitudes and behaviours. There was a marked difference between the sexual practices reported by the male and female participants. More of the male participants reported that they engaged in sexual activity as compared to the female participants. The study also highlighted the interrelatedness between knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Internasionaal bestaan daar groot kommer aangaande die reproduktiewe gesondheid van adolessente. In Suid Afrika is die toenemende seksuele aktiwiteit van minderjarige leerders 'n toenemende bron van kommer. Hierdie studie het ten doelom die kennis, houdings en gedrag van 'n groep adolessente ten opsigte van hulle psigo-seksuele ontwikkeling te eksploreer. 'n Kwalitatiewe studie is uitgevoer. Data is ingesamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude, wat tematies geanaliseer is. Vyf temas vanuit drie kategorieë (kennis, houdings en gedrag) het na vore gekom. Die vyf temas sluit in kennis aangaande HIVNIGS en veneriese siektes, waar adolessente hulle kennis aangaande seksuele sake ontvang het, kennis aangaande konsepsie en swangerskap, houdings aangaande seksualiteit en seksuele gedragsvorme. Die studie het 'n dispariteit gevind tussen deelnemers se kennis, houdings en seksuele gedrag. Baie van die deelnemers het nie seksuele identiteit ontwikkel nie, as gevolg van verskeie faktore wat hierdie ontwikkeling beïnvloed het. Sosiale, ouerlike, emosionele en sosio-ekonomiese veranderlikes, onkunde, sowel as die invloed van die media, is faktore wat bydra tot die swak ontwikkelde seksuele identiteit van deelnemers. Die bevindinge het aangetoon dat die oorgrote meerderheid van die respondente 'n redelik goeie kennis aangaande HIVNIGS het, maar nie so goed ingelig is aangaande veneriese siektes nie. Dit wil voorkom asof 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid van die deelnemers nie oor betroubare bronne beskik om hulle van die nodige antwoorde op seksuele vrae te voorsien nie. Hierdie gebrek aan informasie het 'n direkte invloed op die vorming van hul houdings aangaande seksualiteit en hul seksuele gedrag. 'n Betekenisvolle verskil is tussen die seksuele praktyke van manlike en vroulike deelnemers gevind. Meer manlike deelnemers was betrokke in seksuele bedrywighede in vergelyking met vroulike deelnemers. Die onderlinge verwantskap tussen kennis, houdings en gedrag is ook deur die studie na vore gebring.

Bibliography / Thesis (MEd))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMIMG: Die transformasie vanaf ʼn tradisionele onderwysstelsel na ʼn inklusiewe stelsel het ʼn perspektiefverandering tot gevolg gehad. Die verandering in perspektief het ʼn verskuiwing weg van ʼn klem op individuele diagnose en voorskriftelike terapeutiese intervensies deur professionele persone, na ʼn groter klem op die ontwikkeling van samewerkende en konsulterende verhoudings tussen onderwysers, professionele persone en ouers meegebring. Hierdie verandering in denke het ʼn invloed gehad op die rolle van onderwysers, skoolhoofde en ondersteuningspersoneel. In hierdie studie word daar spesifiek gefokus op die rol- en praktykomskakelings van die eertydse remediërende onderwysers na leerondersteunende onderwysers (leerondersteuners). Navorsingstudies het getoon dat die rol van die leerondersteuner tans baie meer omvattend is as vroeër, met die gevolg dat die volgende navorsingsvrae ontstaan het: Wat is die rol van leerondersteuners binne inklusiewe onderwys en watter ervarings het hulle gehad tydens hul rol- en praktykomskakelings? Die doel van hierdie generiese interpretatiewe navorsingstudie was om vier leerondersteuners wat voorheen as remediërende onderwysers gewerk het se ervarings van hul rol- en praktykomskakelings te analiseer, te beskryf en te verduidelik. Die studie is gedoen vanuit die interpretatiewe paradigma wat die kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp gerig het. Data is deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde en fokusgroeponderhoude asook dokumente van die Wes-Kaap Onderwysdepartement gegenereer. Die onderhoudsdata is getranskribeer en verwerk. Bevindinge het getoon dat al die leerondersteuners unieke ervarings gehad het. Daar was egter ʼn ooreenkoms in die ervaring van ʼn klemverskuiwing wat plaasgevind het vanaf remediërende onderwys na leerondersteuning. ʼn Belangrike aspek wat uit die data voortgespruit het, was dat leerondersteuners se daaglikse take en verantwoordelikhede by hul spesifieke skole grootliks van mekaar verskil het, vanweë die verskillende skoolkontekste. Daar is verder bevind dat daar ʼn leemte is in die ondersteuning wat leerondersteuners aan onderwysers bied. Voorstelle is gemaak om ondersteuningsnetwerke te vorm binne die verskillende sisteme van die leerder se konteks, sodat skole omgeskakel kan word na inklusiewe gemeenskappe. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The transformation from a traditional education system to an inclusive education system implies a change in perspectives. Perspectives in education support that have traditionally focused on the so-called medical deficit approach have since changed to a model that focuses on inclusive education. An inclusive education system moves away from an approach that focused on diagnosis and treatment, to a system where the removal of stumbling blocks within society and the participation of all people, especially those with differences, in the everyday life of society, are recognised. The change in perspective requires the transformation in the roles of education support professionals. This study focuses specifically on these role conversions that the former remedial teachers have to make in becoming learning support teachers. Research has shown that the role of learning support teachers is more comprehensive within an inclusive system. This led to the following research questions: How do learning support teachers experience their role conversion? Because studies proved it to be problematic to define the role of the learning support teacher, due the influence of the context on their work, a second question arose: What is the role of the learning support teacher within an inclusive education system? The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to analyse, describe and explain the experiences of four remedial teachers during their role conversion to learning support teachers. The study was conducted within an interpretive paradigm which guided the qualitative research design. Data was generated by means of semi-structured and focus group interviews and included relevant documents from the Western Cape Education Department regarding the role of learning support teachers and inclusion. The interview data were transcribed and analysed. The findings show that all the learning support teachers had unique experiences during the role conversion. An important aspect that resulted from the data was that the day-to-day operations and responsibilities of learning support teachers differed from one another, due to the difference in the school contexts. vi An additional outcome of the analysis identified a lack of support for teachers. Recommendations are made to create support networks within the different systems of the learner‟s context to ensure that schools are converted to inclusive communities

Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken with the view to explore the experiences of tutors of children with the dual diagnosis of Autism and Down syndrome during the implementation of an Applied Behaviour Analysis support programme The parents of the children willingly participated in a research project of the Department of Educational Psychology and Specialized Education at the University of Stellenbosch. A private individual funded the project. The aim of the project was to evaluate the effectiveness of an Applied Behavior Analysis support programme over a period of 26 weeks on an individual that has Autism. The programme impacted the daily lives of the tutors. The question soon arose as to how the intensive contact between tutor and the child would be experienced by the tutor. A literature review was conducted to obtain a perspective of research done in this field. I fulfilled the dual role of researcher and trainee educational psychologist. The social contructivist framework was chosen as the preferred educational psychological framework from which to approach the study, while the participatory action research paradigm lent itself to describe the individual experiences of the tutors. The experiences were gathered from interviews, observations, video material, journals and reflections. The research report describes a variety of possible experiences the tutor underwent and the repercussions thereof. Suggestions were made as to how adaptations to the programme could serve to expand the training of educational psychologists and tutors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is onderneem om die belewenisse van tutors van kinders met die dubbel diagnose van Outisme en Down sindroom tydens 'n Toegepaste Gedragsmodifikasie Analise program te ondersoek. Die ouers van die kinders het vrywilliglik deelgeneem aan 'n navorsingsprojek van die Departement Opvoedkunde en Spesialiseringsonderwys van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Fondse vir die projek is van 'n privaat persoon ontvang. Die doel van die projek was om die effektiwiteit van die program oor 'n tydperk van 26 weke te evalueer. Die tutors se daaglikse lewe is deur die program beïnvloed en die vraag het ontstaan hoe die intensiewe kontak tussen kind en tutor deur die tutor beleef sou word. 'n Literatuurstudie is onderneem om inligting oor bestaande navorsing in te win. Ek het tydens die projek die rol van beide navorser en opvoedkundige sielkundige in opleiding vervul. Die sosiaal konstruktiwistiese raamwerk is bespreek as 'n sinvolle opvoedkundige sielkundige raamwerk, terwyl die deelnemende aktiewe navorsingsparadigma homself daartoe leen om die belewenisse van die tutors te beskryf. Die belewenisse is ingesamel deur middel van onderhoude, observasie en video materiaal, 'n joernaal en refleksies. Hierdie navorsingsprojek beskryf 'n verskeidenheid van die moontlike belewenisse van die tutors sowel as die moontlike nagevolge daarvan. Voorstelle oor moontlike aanpassings in die program word gemaak om sodoende die opleiding van tutors sowel as opvoedkundige sielkundiges in opleiding te verbeter.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: SACTE is a distance education provider for practising educators in the Republic of South Africa. As a distance education provider, SACTE has to rely on teaching and learning media other than the tutor for providing service to its students. Study manuals are the main means of subject delivery the college employs. The college, however, cannot always reach its students through the media used, which in this instance is the study manual. This conclusion was reached after numerous telephone calls and letters from students requiring urgent assistance in connection with their studies. The researcher therefore felt that a need existed to find out the type of problems students encountered that prevented them from optimal performance as students and as teachers. The purpose of this study was to determine learner needs in the department of Early Childhood Education, and how they can be dealt with to improve the academic performance and the classroom practice of its students. The premise the researcher worked from, was that students of SACTE experience learning problems, thus they are unable to attain good academic performance, and this affects their classroom practice. A research survey was carried out to determine the type and the nature of problems that existed amongst the students. Two questionnaires were sent out to the ECE students and the academic staff. The following key questions were posed in the questionnaire for students: • What type of educational background do students have? • How long have students been registered with SACTE? • To what extent do they benefit from a tutor system if they have access to it? • To what extent are the study manuals 'accessible' to them? • If study manuals are not accessible, what are the problems and what suggestions do students have to eradicate those problems? • What type of intervention would they like to have from SACTE? The aim in asking these questions was to probe the root problem which might exist, to analyse the responses and to make appropriate conclusions and recommendations based on the data gathered. The questionnaire for the ECE academic staff was based on the following aspects: • The academic staffs experience in teaching teachers; • The academic staff's experience in distance education; • What the academic staff regard as problems inhibiting students from effective learning; • Suggestions and recommendations on how to deal with the problems identified. The questionnaire for students was sent out by mail with a self-addressed envelope included for the return mail. It took almost two months before the responses reached the sender. Almost 70% of the responses reached the sender. Data analysis was done by the Statkon Service of Rand Afrikaans University. The conclusions reached from the data analysis were divided into the following categories: Social background of students: Students do not have study rooms, thus they use dining-rooms and bedrooms as study places. An average household has more than ten members. This type of a situation does not promote effective learning. Educational background of students: Almost 90% of the respondents studied in the former Department of Education and Training (DET). Their highest qualification is M+2 (matric plus two years of professional training), which implies that 56,3% of teachers are not fully qualified to be teaching, as the minimum requirement is M+3. Experience of students at SACTE: Students expressed their desire for the upgrading of the total learning environment in order to enhance learning and classroom practice. Students wanted contact sessions with tutors as they felt that they do not benefit much by studying on their own without external assistance Recommendations made on these conclusions were the following: SACTE must establish Regional Learning Centers (RLC) to alleviate the students' problem of studying in overcrowded homes. RLCs, besides being places to study at, would also serve the purpose of being resource centres as well as discussion places where study support groups can meet. Study manuals should be written with the needs of the learner in mind. The language of the study manual, examples given and the context in which they are written, should reflect the learner and not the lecturer. The 'distance' between the student and the lecturer, that is created by the physical distance, can be narrowed by introducing interactive media. Based on the survey findings, it can be concluded that there is a need to establish student support measures at SACTE that would provide for students by answering to their needs as learners and educators. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: SAGTE is 'n afstandsonderrigvoorsiener vir praktiserende opvoeders regoor die RSA. As 'n afstandsonderrigvoorsiener moet SAGTE, behalwe vir tutors, ook staatmaak op onderrig- en leermedia vir diensverskaffing aan sy studente. Studiehandleidings is die hoofwyse waardeur vakinhoud oorgedra word. Die kollege kan egter nie altyd studente deur middel van studiehandleidings bereik nie. Hierdie gevolgtrekking is bereik na vele· oproepe en briewe van studente wat dringende hulp ten opsigte van hulle studies benodig het. Die navorser het dus gevoel dat 'n behoefte bestaan vas te stel watter soort probleme wat studente ervaar, verhoed dat hulle optimaal kan presteer as studente en onderwysers. Die doel van hierdie studie was om leerderbehoeftes in die Aanvangsonderrigdepartement te bepaal en om vas te stel hoe die akademiese prestasie en klaskamerpraktyk van sy studente verbeter kan word. Die navorser se aanname was dat SAGTE-studente leerprobleme ervaar, wat veroorsaak dat hulle nie goed op akademiese gebied presteer nie, wat dan hulle klaskamerpraktyk beïnvloed. 'n Opnamenavorsing is uitgevoer om die tipe en aard van die probleme wat tussen studente bestaan, vas te stel. Twee vraelyste is uitgestuur, naamlik een vir Aanvangsonderwysstudente en een vir akademiese personeel. Die volgende sleutelvrae is in die vraelys vir studente gevra: • Watter tipe onderwysagtergrond het studente? • Hoe lank is hulle al by SAGTE geregistreer? • Tot watter mate trek hulle voordeel ~it die tutorstelsel, as hulle toegang daartoe het? • Tot watter mate is die studiemateriaal 'toeganklik' vir hulle? • Indien nie, wat is die probleme wat hulle ervaar en watter voorstelle het hulle om die probleme op te los? • Watter tipe ingryping wil hulle graag van SACTE hê? Die doel van hierdie vrae was om die wortel van die probleem te ontbloot, om die response te ontleed en toepaslike gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings, gebaseer op die data wat ingesamel is, te maak. Die vraelys vir die Aanvangsonderrigdosente is op die volgende aspekte gebaseer: • Die akademiese personeel se ervaring in die onderrig van onderwysers; • Die akademiese personeel se ervaring in afstandsonderrig; • Wat die akademiese personeel as probleme beskou wat keer dat studente effektief leer; • Voorstelle en aanbevelings oor hoe om die geïdentifiseerde probleme te hanteer. Die vraelys vir studente is, tesame met 'n geadresseerde koevert deur die pos uitgestuur. Dit het amper twee maande geneem voordat response terug ontvang is. Byna 70% van die vraelyste is terug ontvang. Data-analise is deur die Statkon-diens van die Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit gedoen. Die gevolgtrekkings uit die data-analise is in die volgende kategorieë verdeel: Sosiale agtergrond van studente: Studente het nie studeerkamers nie, daarom gebruik hulle eetkamers en slaapkamers as studeerplekke. 'n Gemiddelde huishouding het meer as tien lede. Hierdie tipe situasie moedig nie effektiewe leer aan nie. Opvoedkundige agtergrond van studente: Byna 90% van die respondente is deur die voormalige Departement van Onderwys en Opleiding opgelei. Behalwe hiervoor, is hulle hoogste kwalifikasie M+2 (matriek plus twee jaar professionele opleiding), wat impliseer dat 56,3% van die onderwysers nie ten volle opgelei is om onderwys te gee nie, aangesien die minimum-vereiste M+3 is. Ervaring van SACTE-studente: Studente het die begeerte uitgespreek om die totale leeromgewing te verbeter om sodoende leer en klaskamerpraktyk te verbeter. Studente wil kontaksessies met tutors hê, aangesien hulle voel dat hulle nie voordeel trek uit selfstudie sonder eksterne bystand nie. Aanbevelings wat uit hierdie gevolgtrekkings gemaak is, is die volgende: SACTE moet Streekstudiesentrums (SSSe) vestig om die probleem van studeer in oorvol huise, te verbeter. SSSe kan as studeerplekke en hulpbronsentrums dien, sowel as 'n plek waar studie-ondersteuningsgroepe bymekaar kan kom vir besprekings. Wanner studiehandleidings geskryf word, moet die behoeftes van die leerder voorrang geniet. Die taal in die studiehandleiding, sowel as die voorbeelde en die konteks waarin dit geskryf is, moet die leerder en nie die dosent nie, weerspieël. Die 'afstand' tussen die student en dosent, wat deur fisiese afstand geskep word, kan deur middel van die bekendstelling van interaktiewe media verminder word. Gebaseer op die bevindings, kan daar afgelei word dat daar 'n behoefte bestaan om studente-ondersteuningsmaatreëls by SACTE te vestig wat in die behoeftes van studente, as beide leerders en onderwysers, sal voorsien.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Educational provision to all the peoples of South Africa comes with political baggage. Educational provision in South Africa is entangled in the political system and restricted by financial constraints. This research report shows the fragmented history of educational provision to five groups of learners, namely the previous four racial groupings, but also the fifth grouping, those learners with special and/or specific educational needs. The research report recounts the adaptation and progress of a disabled pupil in a mainstream school. The specific needs of the learner are researched, but the part that the educators play, who often have very little or even no knowledge of learners with special needs, are also researched and the findings reported. The role that the support teams play in the progress of these learners progress are researched and formulated. The part the school manager plays and the acceptance of the responsibility by the school to provide schooling of maximum quality for the disabled learner are weighed up against the acceptance of the disabled learner by fellow learners of the school. The case study is about one disabled learner in a mainstream school, and no conclusions or recommendations are made. The story is told so that educators who are confronted with a disabled learner will not feel threatened by the presence of such learner. They should also not be concerned about the influence that a disabled learner could have on learners in an ordinary class. The educators of the learner in this study however found that they had to keep the disabled learners' specific needs in mind when they did their planning. This was never done to the detriment of any of the other learners. These educators rather found that all learners benefited by the inclusion of the disabled learner at this particular school. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die voorsienmg van onderwys aan alle mense van Suid-Afrika kom met politieke bagasie. Onderwysvoorsiening in die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis is verstrengel met die politieke bestel en word deur finansiële beperkings aan bande gelê. Hierdie werkstuk fokus op die gefragmenteerde geskiedenis van onderwysvoorsiening aan vyf groepe leerders, naamlik die voormalige vier rassegroepe, maar ook 'n vyfde groep, daardie leerders met spesifieke en/of spesiale onderwysbehoeftes. Die verslag boekstaaf 'n leerder met gestremdheid se aanpassmg en vordering in 'n hoofstroomskool. Ondersoek word ingestel na dié leerder se spesifieke onderwysbehoeftes, en die rol wat die opvoeders speel. Dit is ongelukkig so dat opvoeders min of selfs geen kennis het van leerders met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes nie en hierdie probleem sal dus ook ondersoek en bespreek word. Verder word die rol wat ondersteuningsgroepe ten opsigte van die vordering van leerders met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes speel, ook ondersoek en bespreek. Die rol van die skoolbestuurder en die bereidwilligheid van die skool se bestuur om skoolbywoning 'n maksimale ervaring vir die leerder met gestremdheid te maak word teen medeleerders se ervaring en aanvaarding van hierdie leerder opgeweeg. Hierdie gevallestudie handeloor een leerder met gestremdheid in 'n hoofstroomskool en geen bevindinge of aanbevelings word gemaak nie. Die verhaal word vertel sodat ander opvoeders wat met leerders met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes gekonfronteer word, nie onseker hoef te wees oor die invloed wat 'n leerder met gestremdheid op onderrig in 'n klas sal hê nie. Die opvoeders van hierdie leerder het welondervind dat die leerder met gestremdheid se onderwysbehoeftes in hulle daaglikse beplanning in ag geneem moet word, maar dit was nooit ten koste van enige ander leerder nie. Hierdie opvoeders se ervaring was eerder dat alle leerders voordeel getrek het uit hierdie leerder se insluiting in hierdie betrokke skool.

Thesis (MEd) -- Stellenbosch University, 1938. / Geen opsomming vir hierdie werke

The study aimed to add to our understanding of why many girls in rural high schools were not choosing to study Physical Science. A case study of a local high school was used as the research method. Questionnaires to the 120 learners in grade 9 and 10 were the main instrument used to gather data. This was followed up with interviews of a sample of learners and some classroom observations. The science teacher was also included as a key informant in this study. The data collected aimed at answering the following key question: What influences girls in their decision to choose to study Physical Science at a rural school? The following sub questions guided the researcher in answering the key research question: (a) Are there any differences in participation between boys and girls? (b) What influences their choice in Grade 9? (c) Were Grade 10 learners happy with their subject package choices made in grade 9? The data were captured, coded, analysed and interpreted. The study produced evidence that the learners' family, the classroom environment, peer influence and the shortage of role models were the main reasons for the low • number of girls participating in Physical Science. The study found that these factors have a significant influence on girls' subject choices. Ofthe four factors found, the family was the most significant factor (i.e. where the family members tended to choose the subject package for girls). In the classroom the girls were involved in proportionally the same number of interactions but importantly the female teacher had a disproportionate number of interactions with the boys. In apparent contradiction to the teachers comments that the boys were the more active learners, the girls initiated more interactions with the teacher. However, the girls reported that they were uncomfortable in the class as boys mocked and intimidated them during the lessons. Unfortunately, a large percentage of the girls who did choose to take Physical Science were unhappy with their choice as they then found it difficult. The main recommendations of the study were that; teacher and community awareness programmes should be established to raise awareness of the gender issues and to promote girls taking science; career guidance should be given to learners so they could make their own informed decisions; and possibly specialist science girls schools could be established. Further suggestions for research were made. The findings of this study should provide policy makers, curriculum developers, and science teachers with valuable information about some of the factors that influence girls not to take Physical Science. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2005.