Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 1994 South Africa has been characterized by transformation inter alia in the field of education. A process characterized by preparation and development of a new, extended curriculum evolved between 1994 and 1997. On 24 March 1997 Curriculum 2005 with an outcomes-based approach was introduced. Curriculum 2005 strives to bridge the imbalances of the past. Owing to the complexity of this curriculum and the problems encountered in practice, Curriculum 2005 was revised between January and July 2001 in order to address the problem areas. A change in curriculum necessitates a change in teaching-instruction strategies, learning programmes, assessment strategies and the method of recording and reporting. As educators are directly affected by the process of change in curricula, it is essential that educators are curriculum-competent to understand and implement the changes. In this regard, Evans (1996:55) states: "One of the necessary ingredients of such a restructuring is empowering the players, the teachers." An essential condition for successful implementation of change is the empowerment of educators to manage the change. The essential questions addressed in this study are: • To what degree are educators trained to manage these changes? • What does the successful implementation of change, entail specifically within the Social Sciences Learning Area? • What are the educators' needs and experience regarding change? The main focus of this study is to make a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the current changes with a view to developing a theoretical framework for the training of educators for Outcomes-based Education (OBE) within the Social Sciences Learning Area. To achieve the main focus of this study, the following specific aims have been formulated: • executing of a literature study, with regard to appropriate curriculum theory, curriculum practice and development of educators; • making a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the training process of educators within the Social Sciences Learning Area; and • developing a theoretical framework to address the problems that have been identified, regarding educator development. The contribution of this study is located not only in the appropriate literature study, but also in the fact that the outcome of this research can contribute to the development of a relevant, effective and contextualised dissemination process. It is clear that ineffective dissemination is the root cause of ineffective curriculum development, as educator development cannot be optimalised in such conditions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika word sedert 1994 deur transformasie gekenmerk, onder meer op onderwysgebied. Tussen 1994 en 1997 is 'n proses aan die gang gesit om 'n nuwe, breë kurrikulum voor te berei en te ontwikkel. Op 24 Maart 1997 is Kurrikulum 2005 bekend gestel. Met Kurrikulum 2005 se uitkomsgebaseerde benadering word daarna gestreef om die ongelykhede van die verlede te oorbrug. As gevolg van die kompleksiteit van die kurrikulum en probleme wat in die praktyk ervaar is, is Kurrikulum 2005 tussen Januarie en Julie 2001 hersien ten einde probleemareas aan te spreek. Kurrikulumverandering beteken uiteraard dat daar ook In verandering in onderrigstrategieë, leerprogramme, assesseringstrategieë en wyses van optekening en rapportering sal wees. Aangesien opvoeders direk deur die veranderingsproses van kurrikula geraak word, is dit noodsaaklik dat opvoeders kurrikulumbekwaam is om die verandering te verstaan en te implementeer. In die lig hiervan verklaar Evans (1996: 5): "One of the neccesary ingredients of such a restructuring is empowering the players - the teachers." 'n Kernvoorwaarde vir suksesvolle implementering van verandering is die bemagtiging van opvoeders om hierdie verandering te hanteer. Die kernvrae wat in hierdie studie aangespreek word, is: • In watter mate word opvoeders voorberei om sodanige veranderinge te kan hanteer? • Wat behels effektiewe opvoedervoorbereiding met die oog op die suksesvolle implementering van verandering, spesifiek binne die leerarea Sosiale Wetenskappe? • Wat is opvoeders se behoeftes en ervaring van verandering? Die hooffokus van die studie is die maak van 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe evaluering van huidige verandering met die oog op die ontwikkeling van 'n teoretiesee raamwerk vir die voorbereiding van opvoeders vir Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys (UGO) binne die Leerarea Sosiale Wetenskappe. Om die hooffokus van hierdie studie te realiseer, is die volgende besondere doelstellings geformuleer: • die uitvoer van 'n literatuurstudie ten opsigte van toepaslike kurrikulumteorie, kurrikulumpraktyke en opvoederontwikkeling. • die maak van 'n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe evaluering van die voorbereidingsproses van opvoeders binne die Leerarea Sosiale Wetenskap; en • die ontwikkeling van 'n teoretiese kurrikulumraamwerk vir die aanspreek van die geïdentifiseerde probleme met betrekking tot opvoederontwikkeling. Die bydrae van hierdie studie is nie net in die toepaslike literatuurstudie geleë nie, maar ook daarin dat die uitkoms van hierdie navorsing kan bydra tot die ontwikkeling van relevante, doelmatige en gekontekstualiseerde disseminasieprosesse. Dit blyk duidelik dat oneffektiewe disseminasie 'n grondoorsaak van oneffektiewe opvoederontwikkeling is, juis omdat opvoederontwikkeling nie tot sy reg kom nie.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The introduction of Outcomes Based Education in the South African school system brought about a new approach to education. The existing system of a multitude of subjects was replaced by a curriculum with eight learning areas. In this curriculum the focus is on attitudes, skills and values which replaced a content based approach with a process-based approach. Educators thereby became facilitators in the educational process. With the barriers of segregation removed in the South African society the diversity of the population created multi-cultural classrooms. Schools became the meeting place of many cultures and belief systems. Educators who facilitated learning in schools were not always prepared for the task of managing a multi-cultural and multi-religious school environment. This change within the school system required that educators make a paradigm shift regarding their role as educators. The introduction of Curriculum 2005 (1997); The Revised National Curriculum (2001) and the National Curriculum Statement (2002) was not without problems in South Africa. Many educators resisted change and had negative perceptions about the implementation of Outcomes Based Education in schools. These perceptions stemmed from inadequate training of educators for the implementation phase of the curriculum. The lack of skills to facilitate the content of the curriculum was also visible in the educators' inability to identify values in the curriculum. The multi-cultural and multi-religious classroom confronted educators with values from the different value and belief systems of learners. It is, therefore, important that educators should be able to identify values in order to attain the outcomes of the curriculum. Previous research indicated that educators did not play an active role in the teaching of values in schools. Neither were the educators participating in this research able to either identify or promote the values identified in the curriculum. The aim of this research was to develop an instrument to assist educators in identifying values from different belief systems in C2005 (1997); The Revised National Curriculum (2001) and the National Curriculum Statement (2002). Guidelines were developed for the facilitation of the identified values within the OBE curriculum. An empirical research was undertaken regarding the management of values in schools in the Western Cape during June 1999. Possible methods and approaches to values in education in general were identified and the suggested instrument and guidelines to assist educators with the identification of values was developed. The relevance of this study is to assist in-service and pre-service educators In identifying and facilitating different belief and value systems in an OBE education system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys (UGO) in die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolstelsel het 'n nuwe benadering tot onderwys gebring. Die veelvoudige vakkeuses van die vorige kurrikulum is vervang deur een met agt leerareas. 'n Nuwe kurrikulum wat gefokus is op gesindhede, vaardighede en waardes het op sy beurt die inhoudgebaseerde kurrikulum met 'n prosesbenadering vervang. Opvoeders het nou fasiliteerders van die leerproses geword. Die verwydering van skeidslyne in die Suid Afrikaanse samelewing het tot gevolg gehad dat die diversiteit van die S.A. bevolking tot multikulturele klaskamers gelei het. Skole het die ontmoetingsplek van vele kulture en waardestelsels geword. Die opvoeders wat die leerproses in skole moet fasiliteer, is nie altyd voorbereid op die multikulturele en multireligieuse skoolomgewing nie. Die verandering in die skoolwese vereis dat opvoeders 'n paradigmaskuif betreffende hulle rol as opvoeders moet maak. Die implementering van Kurrikulum 2005(Curriculum 2005,1997; Hersiene Nasionale Kurrikulum (Revised National Curriculum, 2001); Nasionale Kurrikulum Stelling (National Curriculum Statement, 2002) was geensins sonder probleme nie. Heelwat opvoeders het weerstand gebied en baie negatiewe persepsies is behou in verband met die implementering van Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwys in skole. Die persepsies van opvoeders ten opsigte van die implementeringsfase van die kurrikulum word gemotiveer as gevolg van die onvoldoende opleiding in die voorbereidingsproses .. Die gebrek aan vaardighede om die inhoud van die kurrikulum te fasiliteer, is sigbaar in die opvoeders se onvermoë om waardes in die kurrikulum te identifiseer. Die multikulturele en multireligieuse klaskamer het opvoeders konfronteer met die leerders se waardes vanuit hul verskillende waarde- en oriënteringsomgewings. (belief systems). Dit word belangrik geag dat opvoeders hierdie waardes kan identifiseer sodat die uitkomste van die kurrikulum behaal kan word. Vorige navorsing het aangedui dat opvoeders nie 'n aktiewe rol in die fasilitering van waardes in die skool speel nie. Die opvoeders wat deel was van hierdie navorsing, kon ook nie waardes in die kurrikulum identifiseer of bevorder nie. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n instrument te ontwerp om opvoeders te help met die identifisering van waardes van die verskillende oriënteringsomgewings (belief systems) in C200S (1997); RNC (2001); NCS(2002) Riglyne is ontwerp vir fasilitering van die geïdentifiseerde waardes in die UGO kurrikulum. Empiriese ondersoek is onderneem met die doelom die hantering van waardes in Wes-Kaapse skole na te vors. Moontlike metodes en benaderings tot waardes in onderwys in die algemeen is geïdentifiseer en 'n instrument om opvoeders te help met die identifisering van waardes, is ontwikkel. Riglyne word voorgestelom opvoeders te help in hulle benadering tot waardes in die kurrikulum. Die waarde van die studie lê daarin om sowel voor- as indiensopvoeders te help met die identifisering en fasilitering van waardes vanuit die verskillende waarde en oriënteringsomgewings in 'n Uitkomsgebaseerde Onderwysstelsel.

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South-Africa is presently in a process of transformation towards the provision of quality education for all. There prevails an aim of equal education to all learners. A vision of lifelong learning was formulated on a national level so that all parties concerned can contribute towards an equal education. All parties concerned, including educators, have the learner as the central figure. The meaning of the word "learner" should be thought over by all educators, especially seen against the background of the national vision that sets inclusive and cognitive education as a priority. The educator's task now includes learners with special educational needs. The insights generated in this study reveals that educaters, at this moment, are not empowered to maximised and develop the cognitive potential of the diverse learner. The working method of schools (especially educators) should be of such a nature that all learner's cognitive, emotional, psycho-motorical and intellectual abilities should be maximised and developed. Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) as an educational approach have theoretical and philosophical assumptions which makes it appropriate for implementing cognitive and inclusive education. This qualitative study review literature and explores the world of the educator to generate insights to construct a framework to help educators to understand the relationship between OBE, Curriculum 2005 and cognitive education within an Inclusive Framework. Life-long learning and applied learning do not focus primarily on the reproduction of facts and knowledge, it aims to construct knowledge through a variety of study, learning and thinking strategies. Each learner has inherent potential and the ability to be successful in spite of his/her needs. The focus shifts to the learners strengths in order to guide and develop their potential and abilities. To establish a culture of teaching and learning in our schools reaches further than concerns about large classes and undisciplined learners. Except experience, educators need a frame of reference to work with a variety of learners stemming from different sosio-economic backgrounds, each with his/her own learningstyle and information processing abilities. In the workplace educators should use a meta-theoretical approach, consisting of a variety of learning, thinking and teaching strategies to benefit the diverse learner. A collective energy is needed in the establishment of an educational culture that is tolerant towards diverse thoughts, values, attitudes and practises. To build that culture, it is very important for each educator to have a conceptual and theoretical framework of OBE, C200S and cognitive education. This study aims to provide a framework for educators to work in schools to the benefit of diverse learners. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika is tans in 'n transformasiestadium, ook wat onderwysvoorsiening aan almal betref. Daar heers veral 'n strewe na die voorsiening van 'n gelyke onderwysvoorsiening vir alle leerders. 'n Visie van lewenslange leer is onlangs op nasionale vlak geformuleer sodat alle belanghebbendes op 'n gesonde wyse kan bydra tot 'n gelyke onderwysvoorsiening. Al hierdie belanghebbendes (insluitend opvoeders) deel een gemeenskaplikheid, naamlik die leerder. Dit is juis waar die probleem lê. Die begrip" leerder" behoort deur elke opvoeder herbesin te word, veral gesien teen die agtergrond van die nasionale visie wat inklusiewe onderwys en kognitiewe onderwys as prioriteit daar stel. Die opvoeder se taak sluit nou leerders met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes in. Die insigte gegenereer in hierdie studie dui daarop dat opvoeders nie op hierdie stadium ten volle bemagtig is om die kognitiewe potensiaal van die diverse leerder te optimaliseer nie. Skole (maar veralopvoeders) se werkswyse moet van so 'n aard wees dat alle leerders se kognitiewe, emosionele, psigo-motoriese en intellektuele vermoëns optimaal gestimuleer en verder ontwikkel word. Uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys (UGO) as onderwysbenadering se teoretiese en filosofiese onderbou is van so 'n aard dat dit uiters geskik is vir die implementering van kognitiewe en inklusiewe onderwys. Die kwalitatiewe aard van hierdie studie behels die verkenning van verskillende literatuur en ondersoek die leefwêreld van opvoeders waarna gepoog word om 'n konseptuele raamwerk te struktureer om die verband tussen UGO, K2005 en kognitiewe opvoeding toe te lig binne 'n inklusiewe raamwerk. Lewenslange leer en toegepaste leer fokus nie primêr op die reproduksie van feite en kennis nie, maar het dit ten doelom kennis te konstrueer aan die hand van studie, leer en denke. Elke leerder beskik oor die inherente potensiaal en die vermoëns om suksesvol te wees ongeag sy/haar behoeftes. Die fokus verskuif na elke leerder se sterkpunte ten einde hulle te bestuur en te ontwikkel. Om dus 'n kultuur van onderrig en leer in ons skole te skep, strek verder as die bekommernisse oor groot klasse en ongedissiplineerde leerders. Buiten ervaring, benodig opvoeders 'n verwysingsraamwerk om met verskillende leerders te werk afkomstig uit verskillende sosio-ekonomiese agtergronde, elkeen met sy eie voorkeurmodaliteit en informasie prosesseringsvermoë. Die praktyk vereis dat opvoeders aan die hand van metateoretiese werkswyses gebruik maak van verskillende leer, denk en onderrigstrategieë tot voordeel van die diverse leerder. Hiervoor word 'n kollektiewe energie benodig wat in die skep van 'n opvoedkundige kultuur wat verdraagsaam is teenoor diverse denke, dieselfde denke, waardes, houdings en praktyke. Om gestalte aan so 'n kultuur te gee, is dit uiters belangrik dat elke opvoeder oor 'n eietydse konseptueie en teoretiese raamwerk ten opsigte van UGO, K200S en kognitiewe opvoeding beskik. Hierdie studie poog om 'n raamwerk aan opvoeders te voorsien om in skole te werk tot voordeel van die diverse leerder.

Thesis (MEd) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study looks at the structural and conceptual trends underlying the development of outcomes-based education. Part of the democratisation process of South African education involves the introduction of a system of outcomes-based education (OBE) in South African schools. Proponents of OBE claim that it constitutes a radical break from the previous apartheid education system. For this reason OBE is viewed as a transformational perspective on the curriculum. Viewed against this backdrop OBE strives to guarantee success for all learners; to empower learners in a learner-centred environment thus creating a critical, investigative, creative, problem-solving, communicative future-orientated citizen (Department of Education 1997:10). However, after doing an analysis and an interpretation of the White Paper on Education and Training (1996), it appears as if OBE with its "fixed" outcomes has a tendency to manipulate and control learners. The analysis shows that OBE stifles learners' critical, investigative, creative and problem-solving ability. The study also reveals that as a result of globalisation there is a global discourse on knowledge production which assumes that unless our system of education conforms with this global reality, our education could be considered as being of an inferior quality. The findings of the research suggest that OBE with its fixed outcomes cannot engender transformation on its own. Rational reflection, creativity and imagination need to be imbedded in practices of teaching and learning. By doing this, OBE could offer transformative opportunities for school communities at large. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om die strukturele en konseptuele tendens onderliggend aan die ontwikkeling van UGO (Uitkomsgebaseerde onderwys) te ondersoek. Die bekendstelling van 'n UGO model in skole word gesien as deel van die demokratiseringsproses wat binne die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysstelsel plaasvind. Ondersteuners van UGO is dit eens dat UGO radikaal wegbeweeg van die apartheidsonderwysstelsel. Om hierdie rede word UGO dus gesien as 'n transformatoriese perspektieftot die kurikulum. Teen hierdie agtergrond streef UGO daama om sukses te waarborg vir alle leerders in 'n leerlinggesentreerde omgewing. Op die manier wil UGO 'n kritiese, ondersoekende, skeppende, probleemoplossende, kommunikatiewe en toekomsgerigte landsburger skep. Nadat daar egter 'n analitiese studie van die Witskrif vir Onderwys en Opleiding (1996) gedoen is wil dit tog voorkom asofUGO eerder daarop gemik is om leerders te manipuleer en te beheer. Trouens, die huidige diskoers oor kennisproduksie aanvaar dat indien 'n land se opvoeding nie die realiteit van globalisasie in ag neem nie word dit as minderwaardig beskou. Die bevindinge van die navorsmg stel voor dat UGO, met sy vaste uitkomste, wemige verandering alleen kan meebring. Daar word dus aan die hand gedoen dat indien rasionaliteit, kreatiwiteit en verbeeldingrykheid deel sou vorm van onderwys en leer dit op so 'n manier uitkomste kan komplementeer en sodoende betekenisvolle transformasie in die onderwys kan bewerkstellig.

Competency-based education is intended to benefit working non-traditional students who have knowledge and skills from prior work experiences, but it also enables self-motivated students to accelerate their time to degree, thereby increasing affordability and efficiency. Competency-based education clarifies what a credentialed student will be able to do and makes assessment more transparent and relevant to those outside of higher education. Competency-based education has arisen in response to the problem defined by the national reform discourses of accountability and affordability. In the first manuscript, History & Objections Repeated: Re-Innovating Competency-Based Education, I review the history of social efficiency reform efforts in American education in order to re-contextualize the “innovation” of competency-based education as a repackage of older ideas to fit the public’s current view of what needs to be fixed in higher education. I discuss the concept of “efficiency” and how it has been interpreted in the past and today with regard to competency-based education and its rejection of an earlier attempt at increasing efficiency in education: the Carnegie credit hour. For the second manuscript, Framing Competency-Based Education in the Discourse of Reform, I analyzed four years of news articles and white papers on competency-based education to reveal the national discourses around competency-based education. I used thematic discourse analysis to identify diagnostic and prognostic narrative frames (Snow & Benford, 1988) that argue for and against competency-based education. These frames were put in the context of the politicized conversation around the current main issues in higher education: access, attainment, accountability, and affordability. Each of these issues provided a foundation of coding the discourse which was then shaped by the context of competency-based education, particularly its positioning as a solution to the Iron Triangle dilemma of decreasing cost while increasing access and quality. The third manuscript, Idea and Implementation: A Case Study of KCTCS’s CBE Learn on Demand, involves an institutional case study of a competency-based education program, Learn on Demand (LOD), within the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with student success coaches, faculty, and staff who are directly involved with the program across seven different colleges, and documents such as marketing materials, presentations, and administrator-written articles were also analyzed as a representation of the official discourse of the program. As institutions start to explore and develop competency-based education programs, the faculty and administrators at those institutions are likely influenced by the intersection of pre-existing organizational and subgroup culture, societal beliefs about the definition and purpose of education, and how innovations may shape the experiences of individuals. Through interviewing individuals, I was able to parse out the impacts of both institutional politics and innovation-related concerns on the success of implementation.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Masters Degree in Technology: Education (Management), Technikon Natal, 1999. / In 1992 the National Education Co-ordinating Committee published a National Education Policy Investigation (NEPI) report in which emerging curriculum alternatives for South Africa were discussed. In 1994 the National Department of Education sponsored discussions which led to the introduction of Curriculum 2005, a curriculum based on outcomes (OBE). OBE represents a paradigm shift from a system emphasising syllabus and content to one where prescribed outcomes are of critical importance. Workshops were conducted by the National and Provincial Departments of Education and NGOs to introduce and train Grade 1 teachers in OBE. Some principals reported that they were invited to one-day workshops on OBE. This study is an investigation into the management skills required by Junior Primary school (Foundation Phase) principals in the Amanzimtoti District in the implementation of Curriculum 2005. This is an exploratory study of the role of the principal in the implementation of / M

D.Litt. et Phil.

M.Ed. / Several strategies have been mooted as means of improving teaching and learning in South African schools. The National Department of Education’s Foundations for Learning Campaign, launched in 2008 and the recent announced Schooling 2025 strategy are examples. In this research report I argue that the success of any school improvement plan aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning hinges on the extent to which teachers are able or willing to implement the measures required of them. I argue that changing the way teachers learn to teach by establishing communities of practice and working in collaborative groups in schools, offers a possible panacea. Therefore the aim of this study was to explore the experiences of teachers working in a Collaborative Teaching Strategy (CTS) aimed at improving teachers’ performance in the classroom. This qualitative research project was grounded in an interpretive paradigm and made use of semi-structured individual interviews and a focus group interview to generate data. The constant comparative method of data analysis was used to search for categories and sub-categories of meaning in the data. The findings indicate that while there are significant benefits for teachers working in collaborative groups, there are also several serious constraints. On the positive side, participants in the research experienced the mutual support and the sharing of ideas that emerged from collaborative interactions as affirmation of their expertise and knowledge. In addition, teachers viewed working in collaboration with others as a professional and personal development opportunity. Finding time to collaborate and the emergence of some resistance to collaborative work were identified as constraints. Some teachers felt their individuality and creativity to be restricted by collaborative work. Further, individual personalities impacted negatively on collaboration with tensions emerging between teachers as a result of differing personal experience, expertise, knowledge, authority and values, approaches and benefits about teaching and learning. This resulted in instances of pseudo-collaboration. Also misconceptions about what it means to collaborate about teaching created difficulties for some teachers. The main implication arising from the research project is that availability of time is critical to effective collaboration. In addition, detailed guidance in terms of how and what teachers should be doing during collaborative activities appears necessary. Next, due consideration should be accorded to personality types and working relationships so that collaborative partners and groups can be mindfully structured and provided with training to enable effective work in teams. Equitable workloads and equal access to teaching resources is essential. Finally, mutual respect for each other regardless of experience, expertise, position, belief or opinion is a prerequisite for successful collaboration about the various and varied tasks of teaching.

Master of Arts / Communications Studies / Timothy R. Steffensmeier / This study explored how millennials make sense of leadership in civic life beyond a college classroom. Competency-based learning, specifically as it relates to leadership development, was considered along with the importance of helping others make sense of leadership learning beyond theory to practical application. Competency-based learning considers the practical teaching points set in front of students and posits that they are helpful for making an often nebulous notion of leadership more tangible. The focus of this study was a group of undergraduate millennial-aged college students, selected from a Leadership in Self and Society course. Leadership itself has countless definitions. This study used the definition of leadership according to O’Malley, Fabris McBride and Nichols (2014) as "mobilizing others to do difficult work, work that is more provocative, engaging and purposeful" (p. 50). By examining meanings of adaptive leadership utilizing the described experience of a small subset of students who participated in a college leadership development classroom experience, this study built on a broader notion of how leadership is communicated and understood in a classroom and separately beyond in communities. In considering how operating from the frame of leadership as an activity not a position, data was gathered on how people make sense of acts of leadership and the ambiguity that comes with adaptive situations, by examining the words used to describe their lived experience using a phenomenological research approach. This study strived to build a foundation for other studies to consider articulation of lived leadership experience as a means of building competence within the field of adaptive leadership.

M.Ed. (Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract