The purpose of this interpretive qualitative study was to determine the extent of conceptual and procedural difficulties that NCV Level 4 students encountered when factorising and solving problems involving factorisation. This study is based on Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findel’s (2001) ideas on mathematical proficiency, focusing on conceptual knowledge, procedural knowledge and the flexibility of integrating both appropriately to solve algebra problems involving factorisation. This study also explored reasons why NCV Level 4 students demonstrated such difficulties and suggested possible ways that could assist them to understand and flexibly use factorisation to solve problems. A purposive sample consisting of 30 NCV Level 4 students and 5 Subject Matter Experts participated in this study, which adopted a phenomenological case study research design. Triangulation of method was adopted for consistent gathering of information. Data was collected through a written assessment on factorisation under controlled test conditions, and semi-structured interviews. The researcher reduced and analysed data by utilising an integration of constant comparison analysis and classical content analysis. The findings and relevant recommendations concluded this research. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematical Education)

The diploma thesis contains in the theoretical part a discussion about the importance of education of pupils with moderate mental disabilities, defines persons with mental disabilities, presents their characteristic peculiarities in relation to their education at the level of secondary education. It describes the Framework Educational Programs for practical schools with one- year and two-year training. The exploratory part focuses on monitoring secondary education of pupils in practical schools in the Central Bohemian Region. The main aim of the survey was to find out the possibilities of employment of graduates of practical schools after graduation.

This diploma thesis is focused on an enterprise education. There are theoretical outcomes of the particular issue included in the first part of the thesis. This part deals with a basic terminology definition as well as with an explanation of the meaning of an enterprise education and subjects that deal with its development. The first part of the thesis also deals with current enterprise education projects that are being in progress not only in the Czech Republic but also all over the European Union and international organizations. The goal of the empirical part is to analyze a particular educational program and to evaluate up to which level an enterprise issue in general is included. Another aim is to get to know the students attitude towards the enterprise and to check their knowledge about the business skill. For this purpose a didactic test had been created according to an educational program. This test has proven that the business knowledge level is not satisfying. Therefore, the aim of this part is also to design a recommendation of possible modification to improve the educational process that would lead students to a bigger interest in the issue of business, to be more independent, active and creative.

The diploma thesis on the topic "Teaching of Economics at a Secondary Vocational School from the Didactics of Social Sciences Perspective" is divided into two parts. The first part is a theoretical one, where the author defines the theoretical didactic concepts in detail, and they are then used in the second, practical part of the thesis. This part presents a proposal of a didactic unit, which deals with the teaching of wage calculation. It includes a worksheet and methodical sheet as well, the detailed didactic preparation and detailed reflection of the implemented didactic unit in the classroom and online teaching. Repeatedly practising this didactic unit, it can be noted that the proposed form of teaching is effective and accepted by students. Personal and social skills, mathematical skills and critical thinking training also go beyond the main topic.

PDF-Datei beinhaltet Anhänge zur Dissertation / Die Schwerpunktsetzung der Dissertation fokussiert die lehrkraftorientierte und berufsschulbezogene Auseinandersetzung mit Heterogenität; dabei werden bereits existente Lösungsansätze berücksichtigt. Ein Ziel der Arbeit ist, den Lehrkräften theoretisch fundierte adäquate Umgangsformen mit Heterogenität von Jugendlichen in den Klassen und Lerngruppen zu offerieren. Als theoretische Grundlage dient die Beschreibung von Heterogenitätsmerkmalen von Schülern, die in der einschlägigen Literatur für das erfolgreiche Lernen als signifikant relevant eingeschätzt werden. Des Weiteren rückt die Arbeit die Lehrkräfte mit ihren subjektiven Theorien, Kompetenzbündeln, Belastungsempfindungen und die lernförderlichen Umgangsformen der Lehrkräfte mit Heterogenitäten ins Zentrum sowie die kritische Betrachtung von Konzepten der inneren Differenzierung als mögliches Lösungskonzept. Die empirischen Untersuchungen erfolgen in ausgewählten staatlichen Berliner beruflichen Schulen im Berufsfeld Wirtschaft und Verwaltung mittels Leitfadeninterviews und deren Analyse in Anlehnung an die dokumentarische Methode in vertikaler und horizontaler Richtung. Ergänzt wird der qualitative Forschungsansatz durch eine statistische Dokumentenanalyse. Ein Ergebnis der Arbeit ist, dass Lehrkräfte Heterogenität nicht eindeutig als entweder Belastung oder als pädagogische Herausforderung empfinden, sondern dass der jeweils wahrgenommene Belastungsgrad stark durch die Intensität der jeweils vorliegenden Schülervarianzen in der Klasse/Lerngruppe geprägt ist. Es geht deshalb in den unterrichtsnah formulierten Hilfestellungen, die mittels einer Checkliste ermittelt werden können, um individuell zugeschnittene Handlungsempfehlungen, die sich entweder auf den Kern der Heterogenitätsvorstellung, auf die Reflexion der eigenen Handlungskompetenz, auf spezielle Heterogenitätsdimensionen, auf konkrete Hilfen für die Umsetzung der inneren Differenzierung oder auf die Belastungsreduktion im Berufsalltag beziehen. / The present thesis focuses on the ways in which vocational school teachers address student heterogeneity, giving due consideration to existing approaches. One of the goals is to provide teachers with theoretically well-founded, adequate forms of accommodating adolescent heterogeneity in various class and learning groups. The theoretical basis of this study is provided by a description of student heterogeneity features deemed to be significantly relevant to successful learning in the literature. Another primary concern is with teachers’ professional activity, including their subjective theories, their individual sets of competences, their feelings of stress and learning-conducive ways of addressing heterogeneity. Critical attention is given to differentiation by activity or outcome as a potential approach to dealing with heterogeneity. Empirical studies were conducted in a selection of Berlin-based vocational schools specializing in business and administration, using guided interviews and analyzing these by means of a methodology borrowing from the documentary method and availing itself of both vertical and horizontal perspectives. This qualitative approach is complemented by a statistical document analysis. One finding is that teachers do not view heterogeneity unambiguously as either a stress factor or a pedagogical challenge; rather, the degree of stress felt by teachers is heavily dependent on the extent of student variance inside the class or learning group. Instead, this study offers a checklist that teachers can use to obtain support and recommendations tailored to their individual needs and readily applicable to classroom settings. These recommendations concern the core of teachers’ perceptions of heterogeneity, their ability to reflect on their own ‘action competence’, specific dimensions of heterogeneity, concrete support for implementing differentiation inside the classroom, and stress reduction in day-to-day professional practice.

The aim of the study was to investigate ways in which student dropout rates could be managed at a Technical Vocational Education and Training College (TVET) in KwaZulu-Natal, Amajuba District. Twenty-eight participants were purposively selected from two campuses in the area representing the Business and Engineering studies. This was done using the non-probability purposive sampling. The researcher focused on determining ways to assist in improving the management of student dropout rates in the above TVET College so as to increase the throughput and the certification rates. The study employed a qualitative design with semi-structured interviews that were conducted with senior managers from the central office, Heads of Departments, lecturers and students who had previously dropped out from the college so as to examine their views and perceptions on the effects of student dropout rates and how the management of student dropout rates could be improved. Data were analysed thematically whereby information was categorised into themes that emerged from the responses of the participants. The findings revealed that causes of student dropout emanate from the financial challenges experienced by students in this area since most of them are from disadvantaged backgrounds, institutional factors such as poor or lack of career guidance, the curriculum, poor enrolment procedure and poor student support services. The study recommends that well organised and effective career guidance should be conducted, the curriculum should be reviewed, and the selection and enrolment procedures should be transparent and understood by everyone. Recommendations for further study are also provided. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)