This thesis examines the roles of the New Zealand university in a knowledge society. Gaps in the literature of the New Zealand university in a contemporary context mean that the enquiry is informed by European and North American discussions of the educational requirements of a knowledge society. As the notions of the knowledge society and a liberal university education are both problematic and central to this enquiry, they are interrogated, in the second chapter, in some depth. A second review examines the work, recommendations and subsequent legislative outcomes of the Tertiary Education Advisory Commission (TEAC) policy process of 1999 to 2003. The principles of critical theory and critical policy scholarship inform these interpretative textual analyses. The two review chapters, which follow the introductory chapter, comprise the first part of the thesis. A description of the methodological framework employed throughout the project and a report of the findings of a survey of stakeholders follow. The discussion chapter comprises the third and final part of the thesis. The thesis seeks to distinguish the notion of the knowledge society from that of the neo-liberal approach to social and economic management. I argue that the notion of the knowledge society is viable in a range of socio-economic conditions. I suggest that the educational requirements of a knowledge society are better addressed when the scope of a university education is framed by holistic individual, social, and economic determinants, rather than rigid ideological imperatives such as those characteristic of neo-liberalism. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies is employed. Primary data are gathered by way of a postal questionnaire. The perceptions of three cohorts of stakeholders of the New Zealand university are analysed using both statistical and interpretative tools. Data gathered through a review of the literature of the university in relation to the notion of the knowledge society in New Zealand, North America, and various European contexts are analysed using a combination of critical and interpretive approaches. The major finding to emerge from the enquiry is that stakeholders of the New Zealand university associate an effective university education with breadth of learning. The notion of a liberal university education, with its attendant beyond-vocation curriculum assumptions, is not considered anachronistic by the majority of stakeholders surveyed during this project. Public and private sector employers and university students strongly associate a liberal university education with effective preparation for participation in a knowledge-intensive environment. Year 13 secondary students are less certain. A secondary finding is that most stakeholders consider that the research activities of the university academic should continue to inform university teaching, but that the teaching role is of growing importance, and therefore worthy of greater emphasis, in the context of a knowledge society. The project is intended to provoke further discussion around the relationship between the New Zealand university and the knowledge society. To date there has been little academic consideration of this relationship. The contribution of this thesis, relative to this gap, is therefore significant.

Abstract This thesis acknowledges the social and cultural importance of education and the role the institution plays in the construction of knowledge – in this case of young Nunga males. It also recognizes that education is a contested field. I have disrupted constructions of knowledge about young Nunga males in mainstream education by mapping and rapping - or mappin and rappin Aboriginal English - the theories of race, masculinity, performance, cultural capital, body and desire and space and place through the use of Nunga time-space pathways. Through disruption I have shown how the theories of race and masculinity underpin ways in which Blackness and Indignity are played out within the racialisation of education and how the process of racialisation informs young Nunga males’ experiences of schooling. The cultural capital that young Nunga males bring to the classroom and schooling environment must be acknowledged to enable performance of agency in contested time, space and knowledge paradigms. Agency privileges their understanding and desire for change and encourages them to apply strategies that contribute to their own journeys home through time-space pathways that are (at least in part) of their own choosing.

In which purpose, for who and when does equality get fullfilled in the education system? This studie takes aim on the upper level and second upper level school system to study what the curriculum says on the one hand and what the system brings out on the other. With critical theory as method, with Herbert Tingsten as founder, this studie analyzes the logic of the education system to set out if the pupils choice of education, after the upper level lower secondary school, in second upper level is legit with democratic principles such as freedom (of choice). The theory, used to analyze the individuals progress to be autonomous, uses Adam Swifts definition of freedom as an individual being autonomous. The findings of the study shows that what politicians chases as equality really i´snt equality. What sets out be a guarantee in the upper level lower secondary schools official documents, that every student are concerned by the goals of the school, really don’t apply to all students. Equality is withheld, politicians have put forward, when every student gets at least the grade E. This stands against that the grade E as it is graded by the Swedish school department “Skolverket” and so by the teachers in local schools doesn’t reach to the goals outlined in the official documents. Equality as it is defined in earlier studies is partly confirmed by this study, partly redefined as it shows that equality in the education system don’t seem have anything to do with the opportunities or possibilities of the pupils in the school system.

This qualitative study sought to provide a list of outcomes that mentors have as a result of being involved in a service-learning course over the course of one academic semester. The service learning course, Leadership in the Community, requires the enrollees to serve as a mentor to a local middle school student. Specifically, this study examined the mentoring outcomes of student development, self-esteem, and personal reflection. Data included semistructured interviews, researcher observations, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), mentor journals, and personal reflection papers. Twenty-one participants were included in this study. An analysis of the data sources illustrated how each participant experiences mentoring and its outcomes and was informed using literature on mentoring, self-esteem, student development, and service-learning including: Maslow (1976), Chickering and Reisser (1993), Boyer (1990), Kram (1985), and Rosenberg (1965). In summary, this study's purpose was to identify mentoring outcomes and how participation in a service- learning course can contribute to changes in student development, self-esteem levels, and personal reflection. This study found that participants enrolled in the course for specific reasons, which included (a) forming relationships, (b) providing hope and promoting personal development, and (c) modeling goal setting. In regards to self-esteem development, the Leadership in the Community course provided the participants with a positive support system, a forum for sharing personal accomplishments, and an outlet to serve the local community by serving as a mentor. The participants displayed the ability to personally reflect about themselves and their mentoring experience in classroom interactions, mentor journals, interviews, and personal reflection papers. Themes and patterns noted in the participants' personal reflection were reflections about (a) personal growth, (b) identity formation, (c) past experiences, and (d) experiences with their classmates. This study suggests that service-learning courses that require mentoring as an enrollment requirement provides participants with an opportunity to develop as a student and as a person by contributing to the local community, increasing self-esteem, and reflecting upon one's past experiences. This study also makes a contribution to the literature by examining the mentoring relationship from the mentor's perspective. This departure from the existing literature on the mentoring relationship provides a new perspective for future research. / text

Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η μελέτη της επίδρασης των εφαρμοζόμενων διδακτικών στρατηγικών για την διδασκαλία της Χρηματοοικονομικής στη διαμόρφωση των μαθησιακών στρατηγικών των φοιτητών και στην ανάπτυξη των δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης, με την χρησιμοποίηση της οικονομετρικής τεχνικής της quantile regression (QR). Η επισκόπηση της διεθνούς βιβλιογραφίας καθώς και η έρευνα για την παρούσα διατριβή δείχνουν, αφενός ότι στους συγγενείς επιστημονικούς χώρους της Οικονομικής, της Χρηματοοικονομικής και της Λογιστικής εφαρμόζονται διδακτικές στρατηγικές που βασίζονται στη μέθοδο των διαλέξεων και φαίνεται να επηρεάζουν την διαμόρφωση των μαθησιακών στρατηγικών και αφετέρου ότι η χρησιμοποίηση διδακτικών στρατηγικών ενεργού εμπλοκής των φοιτητών στην μάθηση μπορεί πράγματι να επηρεάζει τη διαμόρφωση των μαθησιακών στρατηγικών και να συμβάλλει στην ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης. Από την ως άνω επισκόπηση έχει καταφανεί ότι η στατιστική ανάλυση των ως άνω επιδράσεων στηρίζεται, κατά το πλείστον, σε υπολογισμό συντελεστών συσχέτισης, σε ανάλυση της διακύμανσης καθώς και στην χρησιμοποίηση της κλασικής παλινδρόμησης. Η διαμόρφωση των μαθησιακών στρατηγικών εκτιμάται μέσα από την διαμόρφωση των τρόπων και τύπων μάθησης των φοιτητών, με τη χρησιμοποίηση του Learning Style Inventory (LSI) του Kolb και του Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ) των Honey και Mumford. Με το LSI (που χρησιμοποιήθηκε και στις δυο φάσεις της έρευνας) εκτιμάται η προτίμηση προς τέσσερεις τρόπους μάθησης (Απτή Εμπειρία, Στοχαστική Παρατήρηση, Αφηρημένη Αντίληψη Εννοιών και Ενεργός Πειραματισμός), με βάση τους οποίους προκύπτουν τέσσερεις τύποι μάθησης (Αποκλίνων, Αφομοιωτικός, Συγκλίνων και Διευκολύνων). Για την εκτίμηση του επιπέδου ανάπτυξης των δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης των φοιτητών, χρησιμοποιείται το California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST), δημιουργημένο από τον Peter Facione με βάση τα συμπεράσματα της Delphi Report (American Philosophical Association). Το CCTST εκτιμά πέντε επιμέρους δεξιότητες κριτικής σκέψης (Ανάλυση, Αξιολόγηση, Συμπερασμός, Επαγωγικός και Απαγωγικός Συλλογισμός) καθώς και την συνολική ικανότητα στις δεξιότητες κριτικής σκέψης. Η έρευνα δια την συγκέντρωση παρατηρήσεων διενεργήθηκε σε δυο φάσεις: στην πρώτη εκτιμήθηκαν μόνο οι τρόποι και τύποι μάθησης με τη χρήση των LSQ και LSI και στην δεύτερη εκτιμήθηκαν οι τρόποι και τύποι μάθησης με τη χρήση μόνο του LSI καθώς και οι δεξιότητες κριτικής σκέψης με τη χρήση του CCTST. Η στατιστική ανάλυση των δεδομένων της έρευνας στηρίζεται στη χρησιμοποίηση του οικονομετρικού μοντέλου της quantile regression (QR), με το οποίο μπορούν να υπολογιστούν συντελεστές ακόμη και για τα 99 εκατοστημόρια της κατανομής της εξαρτημένης μεταβλητής, αυξάνοντας θεαματικά την αντλούμενη πληροφόρηση, έναντι της κλασικής παλινδρόμησης. Προκύπτει έτσι ένα σημαντικό ερμηνευτικό πλεονέκτημα, το οποίο φωτίζει την επίδραση που ασκείται σε όλο το εύρος της κατανομής και συμβάλλει στην εκτενέστερη και βαθύτερη κατανόηση των ασκούμενων επιδράσεων. Αυτή η δυνατότητα έχει κατ’ εξοχήν σημασία στην ερμηνεία της αλλαγής της προτίμησης από τον έναν τρόπο μάθησης στον διαμετρικά αντίθετό του και την ενδιάμεση κατάσταση της ισορροπημένης μάθησης, για κάθε μια από τις δυο διαστάσεις μάθησης του μοντέλου Εμπειρικής Μάθησης του Kolb. Η QR χρησιμοποιείται επίσης για την έρευνα της επίδρασης των διαμορφωμένων τρόπων και τύπων μάθησης στην ανάπτυξη των δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης. Θεωρητικά υποστηρίζεται ότι ο Συγκλίνων μαθήτυπος του μοντέλου του Kolb υπερτερεί στην επίδοση στις δεξιότητες κριτικής σκέψης, υπόθεση που δεν τεκμηριώνεται στην περίπτωση που αναπτύσσεται ισορροπημένη προτίμηση προς τους τέσσερεις τρόπους μάθησης. Οι εν λόγω επιδράσεις τεκμηριώνονται με την ανάλυση των δεδομένων από την πειραματική εφαρμογή διδακτικού μοντέλου ενεργού εμπλοκής των φοιτητών στην διαδικασία διδασκαλίας-μάθησης της Χρηματοοικονομικής με τη χρήση της QR. Τα βασικά συμπεράσματα της παρούσας διατριβής είναι τα εξής: α) Το μαθησιακό περιβάλλον που διαμορφώνεται από την εκάστοτε εφαρμοζόμενη διδακτική στρατηγική επιδρά διαφορετικά σε κάθε τμήμα της κατανομής της εξαρτημένης μεταβλητής. β) Η ανάπτυξη ισορροπημένης προτίμησης προς τους τρόπους μάθησης είναι επωφελέστερη, έναντι της επιλεκτικής προτίμησης, για την ανάπτυξη δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης. γ) Η διάδραση που αναπτύσσεται μεταξύ των φοιτητών σε ομάδες που απαρτίζονται από διαφορετικούς τύπους μάθησης ασκεί σημαντική επίδραση στην ανάπτυξη ισορροπημένης μάθησης και στη βελτίωση του επιπέδου των δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης. δ) Η εκτίμηση πολλών συντελεστών παλινδρόμησης με την χρήση της QR διευρύνει σημαντικά την ερμηνεία των επιδράσεων των ανεξάρτητων στις εξαρτημένες μεταβλητές, έναντι άλλων απλών στατιστικών μέτρων καθώς και της κλασικής παλινδρόμησης. ε) Στον τομέα της διδασκαλίας στον επιστημονικό χώρο της Χρηματοοικονομικής στην Ελλάδα, η παρούσα εργασία είναι μοναδική και πρωτότυπη και η συμβολή της είναι καθολική, αναδεικνύοντας ταυτόχρονα ένα οικονομετρικό μοντέλο – την QR – σε ερμηνευτικό εργαλείο των σχέσεων που αναπτύσσονται στην διδακτική πράξη. / The aim of this dissertation is the study of the effect of the implemented teaching strategies in Finance teaching on the formation of students’ learning strategies and development of critical thinking skills, by using the econometric model of quantile regression (QR). The review of the relevant literature, as well as the research for this dissertation show that on the one hand the implemented teaching strategies in the related disciplines of Economics, Finance and Accounting are mainly based on the use of the lecture method and seem to affect the formation of students’ learning strategies and on the other hand the use of teaching strategies that involve students in the teaching-learning process may affect the formation of students’ learning strategies and contribute to the development of critical thinking skills as well. The literature review also shows that statistical analysis of effects is mostly based on correlation coefficients and analysis of variance, as well as the use of traditional regression. The formation of students’ learning strategies is estimated through student learning styles and types, by the use of Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory (LSI) and Honey & Mumford’s Learning Styles Questionnaire (LSQ). By the use of the LSI (which has been used in both phases of the relative research), student preferences towards four learning styles (Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experimentation) are estimated. Based on the relevant preference for two consecutive learning styles, in the order depicted above, four learning types may occur: Divergers, Assimilators, Convergers, and Accommodators. The California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) is used for estimating the level of development of students’ critical thinking skills. This instrument has been developed by Peter Facione and is based on the results and recommendations of the Delphi Report of the American Philosophical Association. The CCTST estimates five discrete critical thinking skills, namely Analysis, Evaluation, Inference, Induction and Deduction and the overall critical thinking skills ability as well. The research for the collection of data has been carried out in two phases. In the first phase the LSQ and LSI instruments have been used for the estimation of students’ learning styles and types and in the second phase the LSI has been used for the estimation of students’ learning styles and types and the CCTST for the estimation of students’ critical thinking skills. The statistical analysis of the research data is based on the use of the econometric model of the quantile regression (QR), by which coefficients for as many as 99 percentiles of the dependent variable can be computed. In this way derived information is extremely richer than that derived by using traditional regression. This renders a significant explanatory advantage, which sheds light of the impact on the whole distribution of the dependent variable and thus it contributes to the more comprehensive and deeper understanding of the caused effect. This capability is especially important for explaining the change in the preference from one learning style to its diametrically opposite one and the interim situation of balanced learning, for each of the two dimensions of learning of Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model. QR is also used for the exploration of the impact of the formed learning styles and types on the development of critical thinking skills. Theory suggests that the Converging learning type of Kolb’s model beats the other three in critical thinking skills performance, but this suggestion is not corroborated in the case that a balanced preference towards all four learning styles is developed. The aforementioned impact is documented by the analysis of data rendered by the experimental implementation of a teaching strategy of active engagement of students in the teaching-learning process in Finance teaching, by using the QR. Basic results of this dissertation are as follows: a) The learning environment develop by the implemented teaching strategy has a different impact on each segment of the distribution of the dependent variable. b) The development of balanced preference towards the learning styles is more beneficial for critical thinking skills development than selective preference. c) The developed interactivity between students in groups made up by different learning types has a significant effect on developing balanced learning and on the improvement of the level of critical thinking skills development. d) The use of the Quantile Regression and the computation of many regression coefficients expands significantly the explanatoty potential about the impact of the independent variables on the dependent ones, against other simple statistical metres as well as traditional regression. e) Regarding the teaching endeavors of instructors in the area of Finance in Greece, this dissertation is unique and original and contributes in a total sense, while it simultaneously highlights the advantages of an econometric model – the QR – as an hermeneutic instrument for the relationships development in the teaching process.

This descriptive case study examines the use of medical simulation technology in the three-year Thompson Rivers University respiratory therapy training program. Qualitative analysis of data gathered from 78 participants through interviews, observations, and discussion groups reveal a wide variety of low- intermediate- and high-fidelity technologies used for education and evaluation. Deliberate practice is the predominant learning theory informing the use of simulation for safe and ethical training in competencies that would otherwise pose significant risk to patients. Recommendations include enhancements of the existing technology with psychological and environmental fidelity, and for optimal curriculum placement of high-fidelity simulators at hospital sites for student development of critical thinking and team training. Further research into learning with high-fidelity simulation specifically within the context of a student respiratory therapist as an embedded hospital team member is needed. Keywords: respiratory therapy, patient simulation, critical thinking, learning, critical care, deliberate practice

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

It is imperative to prepare South African learners to participate and function confidently within the context of a rapidly changing world. The curriculum of the South African Education System emphasises the significance of optimising learners‟ cognitive development as early as pre-school age to enable them to become creative and critical citizens who lead purposeful lives in a safe and prejudice-free environment. Despite continuous efforts by educators to optimise cognitive development, recently executed research studies indicate that cognitive development has not been adequately optimised in South African schools. This study was undertaken to establish the cognitive development level (cognitive and meta-cognitive skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors) of Grade R-learners and to determine the effect of an intervention programme, the Cognitive Enhancement Programme for Pre-schoolers (CEPP), on their cognitive development. By means of a literature study, I investigated whether, to what extent the cognitive development of Grade R-learners was taking place, and established which cognitive and meta-cognitive thinking skills and strategies, cognitive functions and non-intellective factors are required for effective cognitive development among Grade R-learners. In addition to this, the role of mediation for optimising cognitive development was investigated. A concurrent embedded mixed methods design was conducted in the implementation of the research. Intervention research within a quasi-experimental research design was applied. The data collection by means of a quantitative strategy (quasi-experimental research) and qualitative strategy (observation study) was executed simultaneously. By means of convenient sampling, one Grade R-class with twenty learners was subjected to a pre-test to establish their cognitive developmental level. The test results as well as the observations conducted during the pre-test revealed that the learners experienced problems related to their cognitive development. Ten of the twenty learners were then divided purposively based on their test performance into two experimental groups, Experimental Group A and Experimental Group B consisting of five participants each. Experimental group A and Experimental Group B took part in the CEPP intervention based on the principles of mediation on a rotational basis over a period of twelve weeks, during which intentional attempts were made to optimise their cognitive development. Both groups completed a post-test and delayed post-test (retention) to determine the effect of the CEPP intervention on their cognitive development. In addition to the test results, observations in the form of structured running and anecdotal records and reflective notes were utilised to understand the nature and quality of the cognitive development of the learners better. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on their cognitive development was established. The cognitive development of Grade R-learners who participated in this study was optimised, which is a clear indication that cognitive capacity can be optimised when instruction is based on the principles of mediation / PhD, Teaching and Learning, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2012

The primary aim of the study was to design a model for changing teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills. Currently, information regarding the conceptualisation of this topic is inadequate and vague. In this study the nature of the complexities involved in the management and implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills were researched through a literature study and an empirical investigation. A model was then designed for the effective management of the implementation thereof. The findings from the research indicated that teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills to learners are negative. It also became evident that the school principal should manage the implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills to learners. The focus of the proposed model is on how teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills can be changed to ensure quality educative teaching and learning in and outside of the classroom. The study therefore serves to present a useable model for the management of the implementation of teaching critical thinking skills to learners. The study is further based on a well balanced opinion as experiences of teachers in the senior phase (grades 7, 8, & 9) were investigated by means of structured questionnaires. Recommendations regarding research findings were made for stakeholders and education departmental officials to note. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education Management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.

The primary aim of the study was to design a model for changing teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills. Currently, information regarding the conceptualisation of this topic is inadequate and vague. In this study the nature of the complexities involved in the management and implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills were researched through a literature study and an empirical investigation. A model was then designed for the effective management of the implementation thereof. The findings from the research indicated that teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills to learners are negative. It also became evident that the school principal should manage the implementation of the teaching of critical thinking skills to learners. The focus of the proposed model is on how teachers' attitudes towards the value of teaching critical thinking skills can be changed to ensure quality educative teaching and learning in and outside of the classroom. The study therefore serves to present a useable model for the management of the implementation of teaching critical thinking skills to learners. The study is further based on a well balanced opinion as experiences of teachers in the senior phase (grades 7, 8, & 9) were investigated by means of structured questionnaires. Recommendations regarding research findings were made for stakeholders and education departmental officials to note. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education Management))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.