D.Ed. (Education) / In this research the core syllabuses, departmental syllabuses and the matriculation examination papers were evaluated. For the purpose of evaluation certain criteria were developed based on inherent curriculum design principles, including a situation-analysis. Cognizance was taken of the data obtained in an earlier investigation by the Human Sciences Research Council on the needs.and demands of the work situation. Criteria were developed in the areas of Education, Linguistics and Language Didactics. Linguistic criteria are based on a Pragmatic language perspective, including a Pragmatic component as part of language structure. In order to obtain a clearer criterial focus, the different structure oriented, content based and educational criteria were integrated in a criterial structure. In the application of the criterial structure to the abovementioned curriculum documents, it was found that the language syllabuses do not adequately equip the learner to become adult educated users of the language. The learner is being inadequately equipped for the demands of the various social contexts in which he or she is required to use the language. The essential nature of language according to the dynamic interaction between language use and structure within a given context is negated. A theoretical basis is lacking resulting in the negation of the essentially communicative nature of language and the role of context in the functional use of language. Guidelines, based on the stated criteria, have been put forward with a view to accountable curriculum and syllabus innovation.

In this study I set out to critically evaluate the B.Ed 'Analysing Education' module, one of the first OBE programmes to be implemented at a South African academic institution in the Department of Education, at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. I took as my starting point the belief that 'Analysing Education' was a response to the new OBE paradigm, hence it should have been an exemplar of OBE. It should therefore reflect OBE philosophy in its structure; design, implementation and assessment methods and strategies. These are the areas which were evaluated in this research programme. The purpose of the study was two-fold: on one hand, it was to explore the extent to which the module was guided by OBE principles; on the other hand it was intended to evaluate the effectiveness and constraints of the module in implementing OBE principles. In evaluating the module, I consulted the sources which I perceived relevant for the study. 'Analysing Education' learning material, lecturers who designed the module, tutors who implemented the module, and learners of the module were the relevant sources for this study. A naturalistic 'qualitative' and 'descriptive' approach was used to collect and analyse data from all the stakeholders who were involved in this module. The findings indicated that some strengths and weaknesses existed in the module's attempt to implement OBE principles. The strengths were discovered in the use of tutorial methods where learners engaged in group discussions and debates and where they acquired skills of interaction. The success of the module in introducing OBE concepts explicitly to the learners, was another strength. A weakness was discovered in the strategies used to assess the progress of the learners in the module. The findings indicated that this weakness emanated from the module's development strategy - the involvement of external forces such as SAIDE and the Ministry of Education confused the purpose of the module. The confusion of the purpose brought about the failure of the module to address certain OBE principles such as criterion-referenced assessment, and continuous progress assessment. Assessment was found to be a non-formative linear process. The module eventually had to meet three diverse needs: those of SAIDE , of the National Ministry of Education, and of the B.Ed students in the department. At the end of the module students had made good progress towards understanding OBE as a system, but had made considerably less progress in developing skills of analysis, interpretation and argument, which were purported to be the fundamental outcomes of the module. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1999.

The horse industry is a significant contributor to the economy of any area in which it is found. Products and services oriented toward its recreational and competitive aspects are provided by workers in more than 71 categories of equine occupations. The equine industry is undergoing continuous technological change, and there is increasing competition for equine industry jobs; both affect its work force. Graduates of 46 two-year college equine programs are appearing on the job market yearly and many are finding equine industry jobs. However, there was no formal, organized communication about equine curricula among these institutions, and needs-based prioritized curricula did not exist. A current study of equine educators and employers was needed to advise equine curricular planners of the curricular content goals needed to align equine curriculum with equine industry job requirements. The procedural problem of this study was to analyze occupational needs-based curricular objectives for two-year equine curricula. The equine industry occupations were determined and categorized according to the U.S. Department of Labor (1977). Two-year equine curricular content goals were identified from the literature and from existing college equine programs. These goals were made consistent in syntax utilizing Vogler's Performance Instruction System (1991). Course titles according to the U.S. Office of Education's (1981) classification system were used, and college level educational requirements were gleaned from accreditation standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1991). Equine industry employers were polled according to frequency of use and difficulty of execution of the skills in the work place while educators determined the level and type of expertise desirable in their graduates; these data were analyzed according to Vogler (1991). Prioritized lists of content goals by course were determined, as well as curricula for one- and two-year equine educational programs at the college level. / Ed. D.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 S33

D.Ed. (Didactics) / South Africa is presently experiencing a transitional phase where change is the order of the day. Providing education cannot be ruled out. As education plays a universal role in preparing the child for life the general demand for relevance in school education as well as instruction in both the Science and Biology curriculums are investigated in this research projegt. The present provision of education in our schools does not meet the demands of a changing and developing society. High unemployment figures can be attributed to, inter alia, the inability of the education system to provide a well-trained work-force. Education in the senior secondary phase should therefore cater for a curriculum which is more vocationally-oriented and which prepares the pupil for a profession. Science must simultaneously be targeted on the training of scientists as well as non-scientists. A vocationally-oriented content will particularly increase the relevance of the Biology curriculum because the pupil will become aware of the practical (iii) application possibilities of theoretical knowledge in a profession. In addition skills such ee , cognitive (intellectual) skills and psychomotor (practical) skills and techniques will be developed which will not only benefit the pupil who wants to embark a career in biology but will also result in a general science literacy and equip him to handle all community aspects with responsibility and confidence. The empirical investigation of this study centres on determining the relevance of the themes, research skills and laboratory techniques with regard to the present Biology syllabus aimed at both the pupil who desires to pursue an academic course of study and the pupil who wishes to enter a profession in the field of biological science. Therefore lecturers and students at institutions' for tertiary education, as well as employers and employees of professional/vocational institutions were approached in order to determine the relevance of the present Biology syllabus to tertiary studies or to professional life...

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

This is what experts are saying: African American students need a "dynamic curriculum" in order to gain the competitive edge over their peers (Marshall, 1992). Top educators and industry executives at the 1993 Annual CHRIE Conference stated that "hospitality schools need to overhaul their curricula if they are to be more relevant in today’s market place" (Walkup, 1993). The purpose of the research project was to obtain information on how the curricula of HPBCUs with hospitality administration programs compared to ACPHA standards. The study sought information from those institutions of higher education and made comparisons based on ACPHA standards and expert reviewers. The study was aimed primarily at identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the HPBCUs’ curricula using the ACPHA standards as the foundation. A total of 11 HPBCUS were evaluated by 18 ACPHA reviewers. The reviewers compared the HPBCUs’ curricula to ACPHA standards using a Likert-type scale (4=Superior, 3=Satisfactory, 2=Unsatisfactory, 1=Poor). Each HPBCU curriculum was evaluated by two reviewers. Forty percent of the institutions received an approval rating for accreditation and 40% were deferred accreditation. The remaining 20% were denied the accreditation status. All accrediting decisions reflected curriculum only. It was recommended that the 11 HPBCUs follow ACPHA standards to ensure the quality of education being offered. It was also recommended that the HPBCUs’ curricula be revised to reflect areas of hospitality administration deemed necessary by ACPHA. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education