Thesis (MEd) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Learning and the development of numeracy in the foundation phase are regarded as highly important. In this critical period learners attain the fundamental knowledge that is needed for future learning and development. A serious problem within South African schools is that a great number of foundation phase learners show difficulties in numeracy. Various reasons can be provided for these difficulties, for example, learners do not receive good teaching, they hold negative attitudes towards numeracy, they encounter language barriers, and so forth. It is important that the learners’ difficulties in numeracy are attended to immediately and effectively, to be able to minimise the gaps between the learners’ functioning level and the level the learner is suppose to be on. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) laid bare their concern with the current problem in numeracy when they launched the WCED Literacy and Numeracy Strategy 2006-2016. As part of this the Metropole North Education and Management Development Centre (EMDC) requested and implemented an intervention programme for grade 2 and grade 3 learners. Part of this problem is that many foundation phase educators lack the necessary knowledge to identify the learners with difficulties and especially to attend to these difficulties. The goal of this research study was to investigate the realization of an early intervention programme implemented over a limited period of time of ten weeks in grade 2 and grade 3 classrooms. The current study aimed at providing educators with resources to offer learning support to their disadvantaged learners within the Numeracy classroom. This study has implications for the way in which educators approach and teach numeracy, as well as for the type of learning support the educators provide their disadvantaged learners with. The intervention programme is based on a problem centered approach with constructivism as underlying epistemology. This approach views the educator as a facilitator who provides the learners with opportunities to be actively involved in the learning environment to construct knowledge. The importance of word problems and discussion within the Numeracy classroom are emphasized and it is necessary that the educator create the appropriate classroom atmosphere so that this approach can be implemented effectively. Learning is an active process and it is the responsibility of the educator to provide the learners with appropriate learning activities for learning and development to take place. The study made use of programme evaluation as research methodology. Programme evaluation refers to a research goal instead of specific research methods, because various methods can be used which may be quantitative or qualitative in nature. The gathering of data was done through classroom observations by the researcher, informal interviews with participating educators, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with the educators at the four schools the researcher monitored intensively during the implementation process of the intervention programme. The gathering of data was an ongoing process and the researcher analysed and interpreted the learners’ work at the end of the implementation process. The researcher checked this analysis by means of the literature review, transcripts and field notes. This formed the basis on which conclusions and recommendations could be made. The conclusions confirmed the importance of early intervention and the efficacy of the problem centered approach within the numeracy classroom. It also confirmed the disadvantages of the training model that was used, that is the Cascade model. With this study it was possible to determine that a ten week intervention programme was too short a period to observe meaningful improvements in learners. Therefore further research should be done on addressing learners’ difficulties and to train and support educators to provide learning support to their learners.

Thesis (MPhil (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / Over the past 10 to 15 years significant changes have taken place in higher education. Higher education institutions have been influenced by globalisation, an information explosion, shifts in teaching approaches to facilitate learning and new approaches to governance. Some of these factors have had implications on the decision-making processes which were traditionally used in higher education. Amongst these demands for change, the one which has apparently presented the most challenges is the demand for accountability to the stakeholders of higher education institutions. These stakeholders include the government, students, different communities and the constituents of the labour market. In order to meet the demands for accountability, an instrument referred to as quality assurance was introduced at all higher education institutions. Many institutions resorted to adopting a managerial approach to manage quality assurance and to facilitate efficiency. In using this approach, more regulation and demands for compliance were sought. The managerial approach appeared to be more bureaucratic than the traditional collegial ethos of universities. Lecturers experienced that their autonomy was being undermined and their academic freedom restricted. Therefore they often resorted to resistance. In this study the literature overview revealed that there is a strong debate as to which approach to quality management is most suited to higher education. A case study was conducted at Helderberg College, which is a private higher education institution in the Western Cape Province. The aim of this study was to explore how lecturers reacted to the concept of quality assurance, but more specifically, which approach to quality management they preferred. The main objective was to establish what lecturers would regard as a suitable quality assurance framework that would contribute to accountability and trust. Findings from the study suggest that there is no single model for quality assurance which would suit every institution, and Helderberg College in particular. The preference indicated by staff was for a collegial approach, which may include elements of managerialism to address the demands for efficiency, whilst protecting the autonomy of the lecturers. Other elements that were identified as likely to promote trust and accountability within a quality assurance framework, were shared vision, consultation, collaboration and involvement in decision-making processes.

Thesis (MPhil (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond tot die studie: As gevolg van die druk wat op die sukses van eerstejaarstudente by hoëronderwysinstellings geplaas word, word ‘n hulpgroep in ‘n eerstejaarsmodule, Finansiële Rekeningkunde, in die B.Rekeningkunde graadprogram by die Universiteit van Stellenbosch aangebied. Die hulpgroep is daarop gemik om studente, in besonder die voorheen-benadeelde eerstejaarstudente, te help om sukses te behaal in Finansiële Rekeningkunde. Die hulpgroep het verskeie kenmerke. Daar is byvoorbeeld 6 lesings per week in plaas van die normale 4 lesings en bywoning van die lesings is verpligtend. Die hulpgroep grootte word beperk tot ‘n maksimum van 70 studente om aktiewe leer aan te moedig. Op Vrydae is daar ‘n tutoriaalklas waar studente ‘n vraag uitwerk in die klas met die hulp van studente-assistente. ‘n Verskeidenheid bystandsprogramme en hulp word jaarliks aangebied om die deurvloeikoerse van eerstejaarstudente te verhoog en ook om vir studente ‘n positiewe eerstejaarservaring te verseker. Die probleem is dat al hierdie bystand en hulp baie tyd en spesiale insette van dosente en die departement verg, sodat die vraag ontstaan of dit werklik waarde toevoeg. ‘n Verdere kwessie behels die studente se belewenis van so ‘n hulpgroep. Dit was dus noodsaaklik om hierdie en soortgelyke vrae te ondersoek en vas te stel of ‘n hulpgroep beantwoord aan die doel waarvoor dit geskep is. Opsomming van die werk: Daar is gebruik gemaak van ‘n gevallestudie-ontwerp. Die doel van die studie was om vas te stel wat studente se belewenisse van ‘n hulpgroep by die eerstejaarsmodule in Finansiële Rekeningkunde is. ‘n Kombinasie van die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is in die ondersoek gebruik deur middel van vraelyste, onderhoude en die analise van prestasiepunte. Gevolgtrekking: Die algehele gevolgtrekking wat uit die ondersoek voortgevloei het, is dat die hulpgroep positief deur die studente beleef word. Verskeie implikasies en voorstelle om die hulpgroep van Finansiële Rekeningkunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch meer doeltreffend te maak, het uit die studie voortgevloei. Voorstelle vir verdere navorsing is ook gemaak. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background to the study: Due to the pressures that are being placed on the success of first year students at higher education institutions, a support group was established in a first year module, Financial Accounting, in the B.Accounting degree programme at the University of Stellenbosch. The support group is aimed at helping students, in particular previously disadvantaged first-year students, to achieve success in Financial Accounting. The support group has various features. There are, for example, 6 lectures per week instead of the normal 4 lectures and attendance of the lectures is compulsory. The size of the support group is limited to a maximum of 70 students in order to promote active learning. On Fridays there are tutorial classes where students work on a question in class with the help of student assistants. A variety of support programmes and help are offered annually to increase the pass rates of first year students and also to ensure a positive first year experience. The problem is that all this support and help is very time consuming and requires special inputs from lecturers and the department. This raises the question if it actually adds value. Another issue that was considered is how students experience being part of such a support group. It was thus necessary to investigate this as well as related questions to establish whether a support group meets the purpose for which it was created. Summary of the work: A case study design was used. The purpose of the study was to establish the experiences of the students of a support group at the first year module in Financial Accounting. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data was used in the study, generated by means of questionnaires, interviews and the analysis of performance marks. Conclusion: The overall conclusion that resulted from this study is that the support group is experienced positively by the students. Various implications and suggestions on how to improve the efficiency of the support group in Financial Accounting at the University of Stellenbosch were a direct result of this study. Suggestions for further research were also made.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The political and social changes that occurred after 1994 in South Africa, inevitably led to the emergence of a new educational era. Life Orientation (LO) was introduced as a new learning area within the Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) and seeks to preventatively empower learners to take up their legitimate place as citizens within the national and international society (DoE, 2003:2). LO cannot only be liable for the holistic development of individual learners. The community in which learners grow up are faced with unique challenges that will inescapably influence their development. I highlight the influence of “Ubuntu” and “Ukama” on the process of becoming of each individual and therefore use the ecosystemic perspective as a theoretical framework for this study. I reflect on my own experiences within the LO classroom that led to the creation of fictional characters and case studies as a teaching strategy. In this study I distinguish between case study as a teaching strategy and a research methodology. I determine the lived experiences of Grade 8 learners in a secondary school where this teaching strategy was used within the LO classroom. A case study as research methodology is used where qualitative data was produced through personal documentation. A random sample of ten participants from the case study is used to obtain a thorough understanding of their lived experiences. Qualitative data was further produced by twenty individual and two focus group interviews with the sample group. I used the constant comparative method to ensure that I identify the units of meaning and discuss the findings on the basis of three categories. First, the data indicated that the participants found guidance through the case studies of the characters. Secondly, it appeared that the experiences of the characters influenced the participants’ decision making processes. Thirdly, the data indicated that participants used this teaching strategy as a platform to voice their own personal emotions and experiences. On the basis of Gilles Deleuze (in Wallin, 2010) and Magdeleine Grumet (1981) this study emphasizes the potential role that an evolving, active form of curriculum can play in the becoming processes of each individual learner and teacher. I conclude by recommending that uniqueness and diversity must be encouraged within the classroom to ensure that curriculum will not be a homogeneous policy document, but that it will be active and developmental in nature. I use the work of Wallin (2010), Sutton and Martin-Jones (2008) and Grumet (1981) to offer new insights about the pedagogical making process within the South African context. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die politiese en sosiale veranderinge wat na 1994 binne Suid-Afrika plaasgevind het, het onvermydelik gelei tot die ontstaan van ʼn nuwe opvoedkundige era. Lewensoriëntering (LO) was as ʼn nuwe leerarea binne die Hersiene Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (HNKV) bekendgestel en poog om op ʼn voorkomende wyse leerders te bemagtig om hul geregmatige plek as burgers binne die nasionale, sowel as internasionale samelewing op te neem (DvO, 2003:2). LO kan nie alleen aanpreeklik gehou word vir die holistiese ontwikkeling van individuele leerders nie. Die gemeenskap waarbinne die individuele leerders groot word het sy unieke uitdagings en sal daarom onwillekeurig hierdie ontwikkelingsproses beïnvloed. Ek beklemtoon daarom “Ubuntu” en “Ukama” se invloed op die individu se wordingsproses en gebruik die ekosistemiese perspektief as ʼn teoretiese raamwerk vir hierdie studie. Ek reflekteer oor my eie ervarings binne die LO-klaskamer wat aanleiding gegee het tot die ontstaan van fiktiewe karakters en gevallestudies as onderrigstrategie. In hierdie studie onderskei ek tussen gevallestudies as onderrigstrategie en navorsingsmetodologie. Ek bepaal die geleefde ervaring van graad 8-leerders in een sekondêre skool waar dié onderrigstrategie in die LO-klaskamer gebruik word. ʼn Gevallestudie word as navorsingsmetodologie gebruik waar kwalitatiewe data deur persoonlike dokumentasie geproduseer is. Ten einde ʼn deeglike begrip te verkry van die gevallestudie se geleefde ervaring is ʼn ewekansige steekproef van tien deelnemers gebruik. Kwalitatiewe data is verder deur twintig individuele en twee fokusgroeponderhoude met hierdie steekproef geproduseer. Ek het deurgaans die konstante vergelykende metode om eenhede van betekenis te identifiseer gebruik en bespreek my bevindinge aan die hand van drie kategorieë. Eerstens dui die data aan dat deelnemers leiding uit die gevallestudies van karakters ontvang het. Tweedens blyk dit of die ervarings van die karakters die deelnemers se besluitnemingsproses beïnvloed het. Derdens dui die data aan dat deelnemers hierdie onderrigstrategie as ʼn platform gebruik het wat hulle in staat gestel het om uiting aan hul persoonlike emosies en ervarings te gee. Ten slotte beklemtoon hierdie navorsingstudie aan die hand van Gilles Deleuze (in Wallin, 2010) en Magdeleine Grumet (1981) se werk die potensiële rol wat ʼn ontwikkelende, aktiewe vorm van kurrikulum in die wordingsproses van elke individuele leerder en opvoeder kan speel. Ek beveel daarom aan dat uniekhede en diversiteit binne die klaskamer aangemoedig moet word ten einde te verseker dat kurrikulum nie as ʼn homogene beleidsdokument aanvaar word nie, maar dat dit aktief en ontwikkelend van aard sal wees. Ek gebruik die werk van Wallin (2010), Sutton en Martin-Jones (2008) en Grumet (1981) om nuwe insigte rondom die pedagogiese wordingsproses binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks aan te bied.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I investigate whether the South African government’s Growth and Development Frameworks (GDFs) are aligned with the learning outcomes of the Further Education and Training (FET) Economics curriculum as presented through the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). Central to the GDFs is the cultivation of social justice, more specifically the eradication of inequalities and the establishment of employment opportunities for all the country’s citizens. Also, the government hopes to achieve social justice through the cultivation of democratic relations amongst people that will hopefully contribute towards economic development in society, more specifically local economic development (LED). Similarly, the four learning outcomes, namely macroeconomics, microeconomics, economic pursuit and contemporary economic issues, emphasise the importance of people contributing towards social justice in their communities. The learning outcomes hope to achieve this by inculcating in learners an affinity for democratic action and the acquisition of economics skills, values, knowledge and attitudes that can engender LED. Consequently, the learning outcomes can be said to be aligned with the GDFs on the basis that the common theme that seems to drive both aspects is social justice through democratic action and economic development. Finally, the alignment between the GDFs and learning outcomes has the effect that teaching and learning will and should be more deliberative, engaging and ‘free’ – a matter of people exercising their capabilities towards the attainment of human freedoms such as equality, solidarity and the exercise of their rights. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis ondersoek ek of daar ‘n verbintenis is tussen die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se Groei en Ontwikkelingsraamwerke (GOR’e) en die leeruitkomste van die Verdere Onderwys en Opleiding (VOO) Ekonomie-kurrikulum soos wat dit in die Nationale Kurrikulumverklaring (NKV) voorgestel word. Sentraal tot die GOR’e is die kultivering van sosiale geregtigheid, meer spesifiek die verwydering van ongelykhede en die skepping van werksgeleenthede vir alle landsburgers. Die regering beoog juis om sosiale geregtigheid te verwesenlik deur die kultivering van demokratiese verhoudinge tussen mense wat hopelik ‘n bydrae kan lewer tot ekonomiese onwikkeling in die samelewing, veral plaaslike ekonomiese onwikkeling (PEO). Terselfdertyd word daar deur die vier leeruitkomstes, naamlik makroekonomie, mikroekonomie, ekonomiese vooruitgang en huidige ekonomiese aangeleenthede, die belangrikheid van mense se bydraes tot sosiale geregtigheid in hulle gemeenskappe beklemtoon. Die leeruitkomstes hoop om laasgenoemde te bereik deurdat in leerders ‘n aangetrokkenheid tot demokratiese aksie en Ekonomie-vaardighede, -waardes, -kennis en -houdings gekweek word wat PEO kan bevorder. Gevolglik kan voorgehou word dat die leeruitkomste met die GOR’e vereenselwig kan word op grond van die gemeenskaplike tema van sosiale geregtigheid deur demokratiese aksie en ekonomiese ontwikkeling wat blykbaar beide aspekte dryf. Laastens, die verwantskap tussen die GOR’e en leeruitkomste het die effek dat onderrig en leer meer beraadslagend, interkatief en ‘vry’ behoort te wees – ‘n geval van mense wat hulle vaardighede uitoefen om menslike vryhede soos gelykheid, solidariteit en die uitoefening van hulle regte te bekom.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Includes glossary of terms / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the study presented, two English curriculum documents were analysed, one from South Africa and the other from Lesotho. The analysis was focused on English first additional language curriculum documents for what is known as Grade 12 in South Africa and Form E in Lesotho. The two curricula are both informed by Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), with the concept of communicative competence, which is the ability to use the linguistic system effectively and appropriately, at its core. The two curricula are distinguished from each other as being locally developed (South Africa) and internationally developed (Lesotho) curriculum documents. Research contributions on the role that English plays in today‟s language learning and teaching context introduce the study . An overview is provided of the CLT appr oach and the essentials and difficulties perceived in CLT introduction in Africa and particularly Southern Africa. Jacobs and Farrell‟s (2003) evaluative framework for CLT is proposed as an indication of the extent to which CLT is evident in curricula. Ag ainst this background, the question arises of how CLT is realised in English first additional language curriculum documents for Grade 12 in South Africa and for Form E in Lesotho . In answering the question, a qualitative content analysis method that sets in interpretivist paradigm is employed for analysis of the curricula, and coding is applied using the evaluative framework proposed by Jacobs and Farrell (2003). The analysis attempts to evaluate the two English first additional language curriculum documents (curricula plans ). First, an exploration of the structures of the two curriculum documents was done. Second, the evaluation of the curricula against Jacobs and Farrell‟s (2003 :10 ) “ eight changes in language teaching and learning ” followed. Third, the comparison of the two curricula was carried out. Evaluation and comparison processes were carried out for the purpose of determining which of the two curricula best realises CLT. Reflecting on what is needed in the choice of English first additional language curricula, the conclusion is reached that (a) curricula need to be explicit in describing texts for language teaching, (b) they need to include oral and listening proficiency, and (c) a locally developed curriculum realises the CLT elements better than an internationally developed curriculum document. This means that learners‟ needs are be tter accommodated when local context and situations are in use. With this, learners bring their learning experiences as close as possible to their own real-life situations and thereby contribute towards language development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie analiseer twee kurrikulumdokumente vir die onderrig van Engels: een Suid-Afrikaans en die ander van Lesotho. Die analise fokus op Engels as eerste addisionele taal kurrikula vir wat as Graad 12 bekend staan in Suid-Afrika en as Vorm E in Lesotho. Beide kurrikula is in die Kommunikatiewe Taalonderrigtradisie ontwikkel; ʼn tradisie wat vereis dat die taalstruktuur effektief in realistiese situasies gebruik word. Die twee kurrikula word onderskei deur die feit dat die Suid-Afrikaanse een plaaslik ontwikkel is en die Lesotho onderwyssisteem gebruik ʼn internasionaal - ontwikkelde kurrikulum, die Cambridge Overseas English Certificate. Die studie word ingelei deur ʼn bespreking oor die r ol wat Engels speel in die huidige leer- en onderrigkonteks. ʼn Oorsig word gegee van Kommunikatiewe Taalonderrig (KTO), gevolg deur ʼn bespreking van die elemente en probleme wat ervaar word met KTO in Afrika en in Suider- Afrika in die besonder. ʼn Raamwerk, voorgestel deur Jacobs en Farrell (2003) vir die evaluering van KTO, word voorgestel as ʼn aanduiding van die mate waartoe kurrikula die beginsels en praktyke van KTO insluit. Die probleem wat hierdie studie bestudeer is die mate waartoe KTO manifesteer in die Graad 12 Engels Eerste Addisionele Taal kurrikulum in Suid-Afrika en in die Vorm E kurrikulum, die Cambridge Overseas English Certificate, in Lesotho. Die navorsingsbenadering is interpretatief en kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise word gebruik om die kurrikula te analiseer. Deur die raamwerk van Jacobs en Farrell (2003) te gebruik, word dit moontlik om die twee kurrikulum dokumente te analiseer en te vergelyk . As ʼn eerste stap word die struktuur van beide dokumente bespreek, gevolg deur ʼn evaluering van elke kurrikulum in terme van die agt veranderings in onderrig en leer wat veronderstel is om KTO te karakteriseer (Jacobs en Farrell 2003:10). Hierdie twee stappe is nodig om die finale vergelyking van die twee kurrikula te kan doen sodat die mate waartoe hulle KTO manifesteer, aangedui kan word. Hierdie analise kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die Engels eerste addisionele taalkurrikulum in Lesotho (a) duideliker riglyne moet verskaf vir die aard van tekste wat vir Engels taalonderrig gebruik kan word, (b) dat hierdie kurrikulum mondelinge- en luistervaardighede moet insluit en (c) dat die plaaslik-ontwerpte, Suid-Afrikaanse kurrikulum beter rekenskap gee van KTO as die Cambridge Overseas English Certificate, die internasionaal-ontwikkelde dokument wat in Lesotho gebruik word. As gevolg van die vergelyking met die Jacobs en Farrell raamwerk, blyk dit dat leerders se behoeftes beter ondervang kan word wanneer plaaslike kontekste en situasies gebruik word omdat leerders op hulle eie leerervarings kan staatmaak om hulle taalvermoë te ontwikkel.

Distance education and open and flexible learning policies have done much to extend accessibility to higher education throughout the world. However, distance education is not just a move away from learning in the classroom. It is a complete paradigm shift and when delivering learning materials outside the classroom across any distance, it is important that technologies and techniques support students. Against this background, the case has been made that the provision of student support services, according to the diverse needs and expectations of adult distance education students, should be an integral part of the provision of open and distance learning. The focal point of this study was to evaluate student support services, provided at the northern campus of the University of Namibia, from a student perspective. A combination of both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was chosen and data were collected by means of a literature review and a questionnaire, supplemented with open-ended questions. The subjects of the study were second- and third-year B.Ed. students from the northern campus of the University of Namibia. The results of this study have provided evidence that adult distance education students indeed value the provision of student support services. Specifically, students in this study placed the greatest importance on student support services related to getting started with their studies, for example orientation sessions about available student support services and contact and communication with tutors and fellow students by means of vacation schools, face-to-face tutorials on Saturdays at regional centres and support through study groups. One of the conclusions of the study was that the institutional policy and the role of management are crucial in the establishment of an effective student support model to facilitate distance learning. The following recommendations were formulated: The University’s Centre for External Studies (CES) should conduct periodic and regular evaluation studies of its distance education students to design, develop and provide student support services that will be tailored to students’ specific needs and expectations. CES should pay attention to support services that help reduce barriers if it is to attain its mission of making quality higher education more accessible. CES should provide adequate training to tutors to prepare them for the special challenges presented by open and distance learning. CES should design and implement an appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) course to empower distance education students adequately for the use of modern ICT.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa has reached pandemic levels, with over 1 000 deaths per day. The church in South Africa represents a largely untapped resource for addressing this problem. One of the largest Evangelical church groups in South Africa is the Assemblies of God (AOG/SA). This church group consists of three culturally distinct fraternals: The Group (white), The Association (coloured), and The Movement (black). Although they function under one executive committee, these fraternals have remained organizationally distinct even after the dismantling of apartheid laws in 1991. On the issue of HIV/AIDS, all three fraternals have remained largely quiet and uninvolved. They have made no attempt to strategize on a unified response to the pandemic, nor have they attempted to promote culturally relevant curricula capable of empowering their pastors and theological students to respond effectively to this crisis. The research consisted of two phases, following Rothman and Thomas's Intervention Research model (1994), with special emphasis on the design and development component. The first phase identified and assessed educational, cultural, and religious factors relevant to the development and delivery of a clergy-focused multicultural curriculum intervention addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa. Data-gathering strategy for the first phase consisted of semi-structured interviews with ethnographic notions. The target groups for the first phase of the research included 15 credentialed AOG/SA pastors and the three fraternal leaders. The leaders and fraternal members participated in semistructured interviews designed to establish cultural and religious points of divergence pertaining to topics surrounding the AIDS pandemic (e.g. sickness, death, sexuality and gender roles). The second phase of the research consisted of the development and delivery of a curriculum intervention. Integrating the cultural and religious factors identified in the first phase of the research, the nine-day curriculum intervention was presented to 34 tertiary-level theological students in two culturally distinct venues. The content of the curriculum primarily emphasized aspects of gender, tradition, and culture as they relate to HIV/AIDS and surrounding issues. The intervention utilized three curriculum theories that were deemed relevant to the educational context of South Africa: humanistic curriculum theory, social reconstructionist curriculum theory and dialogue curriculum theory. Data-gathering strategies for the second phase of the research utilized both quantitative and qualitative instruments with ethnographic notions. The quantitative instruments included the Scale of Basic HIV/AIDS Knowledge (SHAK), Personal Reflections of Men with HIV/AIDS (PRM) and Personal Reflections of Women with HIV/AIDS (PRW). Reflective journaling was used to acquire qualitative data from student participants. Scores significantly improved on the SHAK in both venues. Scores on the PRW improved in both venues, significantly so in one. Unexpectedly, scores on the PRM declined at both venues, although not significantly so. Males with HIV/AIDS were viewed more negatively by both genders at the end of the intervention in both venues. Reflective journal entries indicated that students at both venues clearly perceived a need for the church to be involved in the pandemic; many proposed that sex education should be taking place within the context of church youth ministry. Affective responses were markedly positive for those suffering with AIDS, particularly females. The data clearly indicated that the curriculum was effective in two culturally distinct venues.

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This action research study was aimed at establishing the importance and role of communication, and determining to what extent it impacts on formative assessment in the mathematics classroom with particular reference to feedback. During the first cycle of research it was evident that conditions within the mathematics classroom were preventing this from being realised. If we as researchers were to assess the nature of communication patterns within the classroom situation, then those communication patterns should have existed. Our findings reflect that teachers were generally in control of all aspects of communication of their learners, and that communication was usually a type of monologue, with very limited response from learners to closed questions, (characterised by “yes” and “no” responses), which were frequently posed. The feedback from learners (perhaps inadvertently ignored), was not optimally utilised to enhance learning. Through observation it was determined that teachers’ ability to engage learners meaningfully for longer periods, or to consciously reflect upon their actions, needed to be developed. Praxis as research paradigm, which is based on reflection and appropriate response or action geared towards improving the circumstances or conditions of the people concerned (in this case teachers), underlies this study. This research is furthermore based on the following learning theories: enactivism, constructivism, facilitation theory, action learning, andragogy, reification, and situated learning...

Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This dissertation is an interpretive analysis of the professional experiences of six beginning Home Economics teachers in Malawi. The specific aim of the study was to explore the opportunities, challenges and problems of the teachers in their first year of teaching. The data for the study were developed using a triangulation of five research methods, including a questionnaire, face-to-face interviews, classroom observations, teachers’ reflective diaries and focus group discussions. Grounded theory was used as the methodology and analytical framework of the study. Research in teacher education acknowledges that learning to teach is a complex process (Calderhead & Shorrock, 1997; Flores, 2001; Flores & Day, 2006; Solmon, Worthy & Carter, 1993) and that the first year of teaching has a very important impact on the future careers of beginning teachers (Stokking, Leender, De Jong and Van Tarwijk, 2003; Solmon et al., 1993). The transition from the teacher training institution to the secondary school classroom is characterised by a type of reality shock in which the ideals that were formed during teacher training are replaced by the reality of school life (Lortie, 1975). The results in this study point at the school context as the ‘reality definer’ in the professional experiences of the teachers. The findings also support previous studies of beginning teachers which have emphasised the vulnerability of beginning teachers and show the first year of teaching as a ‘sink or swim experience’. However, the results show a unique relationship between the school context and school expectations. In this dissertation I contend that it is this relationship that was fundamental to the professional experiences of the six beginning Home Economics teachers. In the dissertation I present a three-stage substantive-level theory of the beginning teachers’ experiences and argue for the redefinition of the perception of teacher learning in Malawi: from a definition of pre-service teacher education as teacher learning, to teacher learning as a ‘triadic process’ comprised of teacher education, school induction and continued professional development.