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Fortress of Fear and Borders of Control: How the U.S Media Constructs Mexican Immigrants as a National Security ThreatCrews, Chris G. January 2007 (has links)
No description available.
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AR-baserad biologiundervisning: En studie om effekterna av augmented reality på elevers korttidsminne och förståelse av mänsklig anatomi / AR-based biology education: A study on the effects of augmented reality on students' short-term memory and understanding of human anatomyKanaryd, Erika January 2024 (has links)
This study explores the impact of Augmented Reality (AR) on the retention and comprehension of complex biological systems and processes in middle school education. Leveraging a quasi-experimental design, the research compared the learning outcomes of students using AR with those taught through traditional methods. The study's theoretical framework is grounded in multimodality theory, highlighting the integration of multiple senses and representation forms to enhance learning, as well as cognitive and constructivist learning theories, which emphasize the organization and application of knowledge. A total of 35 students participated, with the AR group engaging with interactive, three-dimensional models of human anatomy, while the control group received traditional teaching. The results indicate that AR can improve students’ ability to understand and engage with complex biological content, supporting higher cognitive processes such as analysis andcreation. However, the study also notes the limitations due to its small sample size and the diversity of the participant group, suggesting the results are preliminary. Future research should expand on these findings with a larger, more diverse sample to explore long-term effects and variances across different learning styles. This study underscores the potential of AR to transform biology education by making learning more interactive and accessible. / Denna studie utforskar effekten av förstärkt verklighet (AR) på bevarandet och förståelsen av komplexa biologiska system och processer i grundskolans utbildning. Med hjälp av en kvasiexperimentell design jämförde studien inlärningsresultaten hos studenter som använde AR med dem som undervisades genom traditionella metoder. Studiens teoretiska ramverk är grundat i teorin om multimodalitet, vilket betonar integrationen av flera sinnen och representationsformer för att förbättra inlärningen, samt kognitiva och konstruktivistiska lärandeteorier, som lägger vikt vid organisation och tillämpning av kunskap. Totalt deltog 35 studenter, där AR-gruppen interagerade med interaktiva, tredimensionella modeller av människokroppens anatomi, medan kontrollgruppen fick traditionell undervisning. Resultaten tyder på att AR kan förbättra elevernas förmåga att förstå och engagera sig i komplex biologiskt innehåll, vilket stödjer högre kognitiva processer såsom analys och skapande. Studien noterar dock begränsningar på grund av dess lilla urvalsstorlek och deltagargruppens mångfald, vilket tyder på att resultaten är preliminära. Framtida forskning bör bygga vidare på dessa resultat med ett större och mer mångsidigt urval för att utforska långsiktiga effekter och variationer över olika inlärningsstilar. Denna studie understryker potentialen hos AR att omvandla biologiundervisningen genom att göra lärandet mer interaktivt och tillgängligt.
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Development and Validation of Supervisory and Organizational Support MeasuresAlexander, Jenny Burroughs 07 April 2008 (has links)
Recruitment and retention of public child welfare workforce is in crisis due to turnover caused by 1) dissatisfaction with job; 2) excessive stress and burnout, including vicarious trauma; and 3) a lack of support from supervisors and organizations. No instrument was found to evaluate the impact of supervisory support and the use of organizational and professional strategies. The Supervisory and Organizational Support (SOS) survey instrument was created in response to the need for reliable and valid instruments to measure issues related to child welfare workforce turnover.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the SOS survey instrument and was designed to address the following research questions:
1) Does the instrument have demonstrated content validity?
2) Does the instrument have demonstrated construct validity as developed through factor analysis techniques?
3) Does the instrument have demonstrated reliability?
4) To what extent do the instrument and its' subscales correlate with measures of theoretically related and unrelated variables?
The results of this study with a sample of 387 employees in 18 Virginia Department of Social Services agencies provide good beginning evidence of content, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity, and reliability of the SOS survey instrument. As such, the SOS survey can be used in studies of social services workforce turnover/ retention. However, to increase confidence in this recommendation, further research should address the implications and limitations of the current study and provide replication of the results with a different sample using confirmatory factor analysis. Finally, the SOS survey instrument may serve to assist in the evaluation of practice and policy efforts aimed at increasing worker retention. / Ph. D.
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The implementation and evaluation of a constructivist intervention in secondary school Science teaching in SeychellesAnyanwu, Raymond Ndubisi 31 August 2008 (has links)
Recent studies on human cognition have presented credible
evidence that learners are not tabula rasa as previously
conceived by traditional theorists, rather they enter new
lessons with some preconceptions, most of which are resistant
to change in spite of teachers' efforts to assuage them. As
such the challenges confronting science educators and
educational psychologists are to understand the nature of
learners' preconceptions, designing and implement appropriate
instructional interventions that would enable the learners
become aware of and reconcile their conceptions that are
inconsistent with accepted views of science.
Several perspectives have been advocated on how learners'
preconceptions can be modified through instructions. While
traditional theorists subscribe to substitution of inaccurate
conceptions with accurate ones, the constructivists identify
with giving the learners autonomy to inquire and re-evaluate
their own ideas. The former has been confronted with
widespread criticism and is becoming less and less tenable.
This research identifies with the latter.
Conceptual change entails restructuring of ideas. It is a
cognitive process that involves change in attitude toward
learning. Based on the theoretical assumption that learning is
facilitated through teaching that give the learners autonomy
search to new ideas, verify them, and restructure existing
ideas, I developed a model of conceptual change from where I deduced the four sub variables of the conceptual change that
this study explored. The sub variables include formulation of
ideas, search for new ideas, review of meaning, and transfer
of knowledge. My assumption was that conceptual change can be
facilitated through instructions that engage learners in
experiences relevant to the four sub variables that I have
mentioned. This conceptual framework served as my reference
point for the designing of the Constructivist Teaching Model
that consists of four instructional phases.
Judging that I was resident and working in Seychelles as a
teacher trainer at a time I developed the Constructivist
Teaching Model, I chose to implement and evaluate it first in
Seychelles. Hence this study is titled `The implementation and
evaluation of a constructivist intervention in secondary
school science teaching in Seychelles'.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the
constructivist teaching model as an intervention to facilitate
conceptual change. Basically, there are two main aims of this
study. First, to investigate to what extent the constructivist
teaching model facilitates conceptual change. Secondly, to
investigate if the paradigms shift from the traditional method
to the constructivist method of science teaching is welcomed
in Seychelles.
This study was carried out in two phases Pretest and
Evaluation. Pretest was aimed at identifying the weaknesses of
the initial version of my model of constructivist teaching with a view to eliminate those weaknesses to further
strengthen the model. In a nutshell pretest was a step taken
to enhance the validity of the model. Evaluation on the other
hand was aimed at making a judgment whether a difference
actually exists between the learners that received
constructivist instruction and those that received traditional
lecture instruction in terms of the four sub variables of
conceptual change. To enable for this judgment necessitated an
experiment.
The experiment was conducted with a total of six secondary
schools selected from the ten secondary schools on the island.
The participants included 178 learners, 6 science teachers and
8 independent persons. The learners were constituted into
three Bands; 1, 2 and 3. Each Band consisted of a Control
group and an Experimental group. Altogether six groups were
formed, with 3 Control groups and 3 Experimental groups. There
were 59 learners in Band 1, comprising of 29 learners in the
Control group and 30 learners in the Experimental group; Band
2 comprised a Control group of 25 learners and an Experimental
group of 28 learners; and Band 3 consisted of 33 learners in
each group. The learners in Band 1 were used for pretest that
lasted for five week. The learners in Bands 2 and 3 were used
in the evaluation that lasted for thirteen weeks.
The groups were non-equivalent, suggesting that randomisation
was not possible as the learners were in intact classes.
Learners in the experimental groups received constructivist
instruction while their counterparts in the control groups received traditional lecture instruction. Both groups were
exposed to the same experimental conditions except in the
methods of teaching. Data was collected through teacher
interviews, independent observation, measurement of learners'
achievement, and analysis of documents. Quantitative data was
analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Qualitative data was analysed on the basis of content or
meaning of the information given by the respondents. Following
the design of this study the performance and achievements of
learners that received constructivist instruction were
compared with their counterparts who received traditional
instruction.
Guiding this study are two main assumptions. The first is the
assumption of equality of the variance, and the second is the
assumption of normality of the distribution. The results of
Levene's test of equality of variances indicated a violation
of the assumption of homogeneity of the variances of TI and CI
groups while the results of test of skewness and kurtosis give
the indication of normality of distribution of scores in both
groups.
The results of descriptive statistics analysis showed that the
learners who received constructivist instruction performed
better than the learners that received traditional instruction
in terms of formulation of ideas, search for new ideas, review
of meaning, and transfer of knowledge. The results of
inferential statistics showed that the difference in the means
of the two groups on each of the sub variables of conceptual change is significant. This evidence indicates that my model
of constructivist teaching produced an effect measuring 0.86
and a power of 0.85 based on Cohen's Blueprint, and a
reliability of 0.72 based on Cronbach's test of internal
consistency. Besides statistical evidence, analysis of the
opinions of science teachers who implemented the
Constructivist Teaching Model in their respective classes and
the independent persons who observed teaching and learning in
both the experimental and control groups showed a preference
for the constructivist approach over the traditional approach.
On the grounds of the evidence gathered through observation
and measurement this study concludes that the constructivist
approach to science teaching is more effective than
traditional lecture approach in facilitating the ability of
secondary school learners in Seychelles to reconstruct ideas.
This study also found that science educationists in Seychelles
welcome the paradigm shift from the traditional approach to
the constructivist approach. / Educational Studies / D. Educ. (Psychology of Education)
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The impact of computer simulations on the teaching and learning of electromagnetism in grade 11 : a case study of a school in the Mpumalanga ProvinceKotoka, Jonas Kwadzo 06 1900 (has links)
The study investigated the impact of computer simulations on the teaching and learning of electromagnetism in grade 11. Electromagnetism is a section of the Physical Science curriculum. Two grade 11 classes in the Mgwenya circuit in Mpumalanga province of South Africa were used as a case study. Using a pre-test, post-test non-equivalent control group design, it was found that learners in the experimental group (n = 30) who were taught using the simulations achieved significantly higher scores on the post-test than learners in the control group (n = 35) who were taught using traditional teacher-centred teaching method; (t statistic = 3.582, df = 56, p<0.05). Learners were more active during the lessons, predicting, observing, discussing and explaining concepts. The use of simulations also provided support (scaffolding) that the learners need to enhance learning. The Hake’s normalized gain for the experimental group <g> = 0.32 compared to <g> = 0.18 for the control group confirmed conceptual improvement. Both teachers and learners indicated that they accept the use of computer simulations in teaching and learning of electromagnetism. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)
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Conflicted custody: the unfolding of a professional problem-determined systemFasser, Robyn Lesley 01 1900 (has links)
With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and
the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators are
expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that conform to
model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely overlooked in the
literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that investigators should
self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral. Furthermore, this position of
neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and natural.
By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child custody
investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the impossibility of any
investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation automatically, regardless of the
procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights the participant observer status of
investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise investigators to this inevitable
vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness may allow investigators to establish
processes to render investigations consciously more balanced, considered, and transparent.
A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic perspective by
contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it belongs. This description
includes the investigation as part of an evolving
problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable investigators
to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It may also act as an
inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the investigative system.
With the maturation of the child custody investigative process, the role of investigators and
the process of these investigations have come under increasing scrutiny. The investigators
are expected to be objective, neutral, and professional while following procedures that
conform to model standards. However, this assumption of a lack of bias has been largely
overlooked in the literature regarding the investigative process. It is assumed that
investigators should self-monitor to ensure that their stance is objective and neutral.
Furthermore, this position of neutrality and objectivity is assumed to be intuitive and
natural.
By using a case study, this thesis investigates and describes the process of a child
custody investigation predicated on a constructivist epistemology. It highlights the
impossibility of any investigator to be objective and neutral in any investigation
automatically, regardless of the procedures and methods employed. The thesis highlights
the participant observer status of investigators. An aim of the thesis is thus to sensitise
investigators to this inevitable vulnerability with the expectation that such an awareness
may allow investigators to establish processes to render investigations consciously more
balanced, considered, and transparent.
A further aim is to describe a child custody evaluation from an eco-systemic
perspective by contextualising the investigation in the larger ecosystem to which it
belongs. This description includes the investigation as part of an evolving
problem-determined system. An awareness of this wider and evolving context may enable
investigators to approximate a position of objectivity and neutrality more effectively. It
may also act as an inoculation against the ‘contamination’ of the investigator by the
investigative system.
xviii
In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model
standard of practice or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what
could be included in both areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by
describing the investigator’s position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In
line with current literature, it highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a
considered manner. Furthermore, it indicates the benefits of a team approach to
investigations, which could be considered an area for further investigation.
In South Africa, we have yet to formulate a document that establishes a model standard of practice
or specific, dedicated training in this area. This thesis identifies what could be included in both
areas (in addition to the expected protocols and procedures) by describing the investigator’s
position as an expert learner, rather than just an ‘expert’. In line with current literature, it
highlights the benefits of thinking consciously and in a considered manner. Furthermore, it
indicates the benefits of a team approach to investigations, which could be considered an area for
further investigation. / Psychology / D. LITT et. Phil. ( Psychology)
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An action research case study of active learning through dialogue, action and structure in self-study distance education packagesWilson, Henrietta 06 1900 (has links)
This study investigates the terms, dialogue, structure and active learning in Open Distance Learning
texts in aa constructivist and problem-solving approach. In-text activities are imbedded in selfstudy
texts. Their construct is validated against appropriate instructional design and learning
theories for active learning.
A course team developed, implemented and piloted a Unisa course for mathematics teachers in
South Africa. The results describe their professional development through action learning. The
Tornado-approach affects teams in organisations.
A team used participatory action research and action learning with rich descriptions to document
the longitudinal case study of four action research cycles over eight years. Qualitative research
involved a literature survey, notes, portfolios, mindmaps, letters, interviews, document analyses,
and assessment results.
Our action research demonstrates ways to implement a post-modern learning design in an
industrialized institution. The researcher applies action learning in professional development, in
team management, and suggests models for successful/unsuccessful teams (tornado-effect). / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)
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Learning styles and attitudes towards active learning of students at different levels in EthiopiaAdamu Assefa Mihrka, Mihrka, Adamu Assefa 11 1900 (has links)
The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia proclaimed a new curriculum for reconstructing the education system. The programme aimed at changing the predominantly-used teacher-centred instructional strategies to student-centred, active learning methods. This motivated the main research question of this study namely What are Ethiopian students’ learning styles and attitudes towards active learning approaches? The specific research questions that were investigated were:
• What are the learning styles of students in Grade 10 public and private schools and at second year university level, and do these students prefer certain learning styles?
• What are the attitudes of students at Grade 10 public and private schools, and at second year university level in respect of active learning approaches?
• Do significant relationships exist between the students’ learning styles and their attitudes towards active learning as regards the four dimensions of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), namely active-reflective, sensing-intuitive, visual-reflective and sequential-global?
• Are there significant differences in the students’ learning styles and their attitudes towards active learning in respect of gender, different education levels and types of schools?
In order to answer these questions, the study made use of an exploratory, descriptive design. By means of questionnaires data were collected from a purposefully and a conveniently selected sample of 920 students from Grade 10 government and private schools and second year university students in Hawassa, Ethiopia. The sample comprised of 506 males and 414 females, 400 students from Government schools and 249 from private schools, and 271 from the university. The data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics (means and correlations) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance).
The results indicated that the majority of the students’ learning styles were balanced between the two dimensions of the ILS scales. As secondary preference, they tended towards moderate categories, and a small section of the students preferred the strong categories of the scales. Secondly, the study determined that the sampled students in general, demonstrated a positive attitude towards active learning. Thirdly, by means of the study a significant relationship was ascertained between the students’ attitudes towards active learning and the active-reflective dimension of the ILS. Fourthly, significant differences were indicated in the students’ learning styles and attitudes towards active learning in respect of their gender, their education level and the types of schools. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)
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Mobile educational technologies currently used as a means to enhance teaching and learning in a privileged high schoolHlagala, Agnes Ramaesele 02 1900 (has links)
Technology continues to progress due to the enormous growth of wireless technologies and mobile computing. Mobile devices such as handheld computers, smartphones and mobile phones are integrated into the daily lives of many people irrespective of their age, nationality or gender. These devices are embedded with computer functionalities and their ease of use and mobility functionality enable the people to use and move around with the mobile devices everywhere they go; the sophistication of these devices fascinates many learners thus they are fluent in using digital technology.
The aim of this thesis is to describe how these devices are being utilised for learning purposes using the qualitative data collection method, to use the FRAME model to evaluate the usefulness of mobile digital technology and to also understand the educator’s role in the mobile age. This thesis explores the relationship between education (what is being taught), society (individual learners and their learning preferences) and technology (mobile tools used for learning), conceptualising the learner’s perspective.
The research findings indicate that learners in the case study are enthusiastic about mobile educational technology, fluent in using digital technology and they prefer pen and paper for taking notes. The outcomes of this study suggest that although mobile technology has the potential to enhance teaching and learning, educators need to put more emphasis on providing technology-rich learning activities to empower high level of student involvement and take into consideration the learner’s learning preferences towards learning using mobile technology. / College of Engineering, Science and Technology / M.Tech. (Information Technology)
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Influence of process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) on Science Foundation students’ achievements in stoichiometry problems at the University of NamibiaKaundjwa, Abed Osmund Tashiya 08 1900 (has links)
The study investigated the influence of Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning Approach (POGIL) on Science Foundation students’ achievements in stoichiometry versus traditional lecture centered pedagogy. Two intact science foundation class groups at the University of Namibia were used as a case study. A quasi-experimental non-randomized pre and posttests control group design was used to investigate the achievement in stoichiometry. Data on student achievements were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The ANCOVA results showed that there was a significant statistical difference in achievements when comparing the adjusted mean score (54.5%) obtained by the control group and the adjusted mean score (60.5%) obtained by students in the POGIL group; (F (1,75) = 17.990, p < 0.05). The POGIL group also showed the highest average improvement (65%) on questions related to reaction stoichiometry and limiting reagents, whereas the control group recorded improvements of about 53% in the same section. The results from the analysis of student’s test solutions revealed that the POGIL group students were able to give concrete reasons for their answers that they had obtained through numerical calculations or multiple choices and demonstrated enhanced understanding of linking various stoichiometry concepts. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Chemistry Education)
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