Thesis (Ed.D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University, 1993. / Includes tables. Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: L. Lee Knefelkamp. Dissertation Committee: Dawn R. Person. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 269-274).

Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Food and Beverage Management at the Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / Historically, any large hotel of standing/rating in South Africa would staff the top levels of their kitchen brigade with educated, professional cooks imported from all over the world from such places as Germany, Switzerland, England or France, to name but a few / M

The study focuses on enrolled nurses' experiences of conversion and altered perceptions of self and others as they progress through a conversion course to first level. The experience involves a cultural transition that requires questioning of traditionally held values and adoption of a critical stance to professional practice. The transition mirrors current tensions within nursing as the prevalent direction of professionalisation in recent years has influenced the need for individual accountability that has implications for the self-regulation of practice. Thirty enrolled nurses participated in the study and were interviewed on three occasions as they progressed through specific parts of a conversion course. A grounded theory approach was utilised and important findings emerged in relation to the nature of learning from practice, the influence of gender and class on perceptions of academic ability and occupational standing and the development of self-agency through critical reflection. The findings challenge predominant scientific values within professional nurse education and support the validity of a situated learning approach for this group of experienced nurses. It is contended that, if opportunities for professional development and education are to be genuinely accessible, the diverse needs influencing learner participation must be considered. The main recommendations include the provision of accessible, experiential learning conversion courses for enrolled nurses and the development of a facilitative approach to professional development within nurse education.

Due to the shortage of clinical sites, nursing educators, deans, and directors are compelled to implement alternative clinical solutions such as high-fidelity simulation (HFS). The problem is that nursing educators are often not prepared to implement HFS as a teaching strategy. Faculty readiness is imperative for a successful simulation program and student outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and practices of faculty, deans, and directors on the implementation of HFS across the nursing curriculum. Kolb's experiential learning theory provided the theoretical support for both the teaching and learning required by faculty for a successful simulation program. The key research question was to investigate how nursing educators perceived the implementation of HFS across the curriculum and how nursing deans and directors provided support for integrating HFS throughout the curriculum. The study population included 13 nursing faculty and 7 deans using simulation at prelicensure programs. Data collection included interviews, observations of simulation labs, and document analysis. Data were analyzed using open and priori coding. Five themes emerged relating to need for faculty development, need for time, need for resources, need for space, and need for support. These findings were consistent with the literature. Based on the findings, a professional development program in simulation pedagogy was developed. The faculty development program could lead to a positive social change by reducing barriers and increasing the use of simulation. Increasing the use of simulation allows nursing students to practice clinical reasoning skills and gain confidence and competence with the goal of improving patient outcomes.

Background: The growing importance of online mode as an effective alternative was accelerated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Considering the differences of experiences that teachers and students of online Business education of in developed and developing countries faced during the pandemic, there is a need for a comparative study of the experiences in this field to point out the challenges and opportunities in using online Business education during crisis like Covid-19 and guide countries. The significance of sensemaking in online education during crisis and the role of Experiential Learning in making sense of online education and its lack of emphasis in Business discipline calls for discussing the role of Experiential Learning in sensemaking of the online educational experiences of teachers and learners of Business programs in countries of different developmental context, identifying the best practices to provide them with necessary guidelines and help use online mode effectively during crisis. Aim: The main purpose is to compare between developed and developing countries regarding the role of Experiential Learning in the sensemaking of the experiences of teachers and learners in online business education during crisis in order to provide guidelines to for using online mode effectively during crisis. Methodology: This is a qualitative study conducted through semi-structured interviews for primary data collection. Primary data was collected by interviewing teachers and students of Business programs of Linkoping University in Sweden and University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. 13 interviews were conducted from Linkoping University and 12 interviews were conducted from University of Dhaka. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the findings. Findings: Findings indicate that teachers and students of Business Programs can effectively use online Business education during crisis by adapting Experiential Learning Cycle for retrospective learning when no knowledge or resource is available, Converging learning when knowledge is available and accommodating style when support for resource skill or knowledge is insufficient. The main difference in experience between developed and developing countries are the availability of resource, training and knowledge. / <p>The presentation was held online as the author of the thesis was in Dhaka, Bangladesh at that time. </p>

Project failures are a reality that most project managers face several times in their careers, but even more significant than the failure itself, is what these individuals learn after experiencing it. Studies do exist within the entrepreneurship literature which analyze failure of entrepreneurial projects. But these are not particularly focused on projects executed within organizations and the experiences of entrepreneurs would be different to those of project managers within firms, after a failure occurs. The authors have made a research from a sample of 6 project managers over such project failures. Using Kolb's experiential Theory to understand the learning that occurs after project failures helped the authors to create a model which the project managers can use in their process of learning after failures. This study also elaborates about the project management literature in association with project failures and also the various aspects of learning that can be achieved in an organization.

Vi har genomfört en kvalitativ intervjustudie som är inspirerad av fenomenologin. 14 verksamma lärare inom grundsärskolans inriktning träningsskola deltog i studien. Samtliga arbetade med olika former av AKK och upplevelsebaserat lärande. Syftet med studien var att beskriva och analysera hur 14 verksamma lärare i grundsärskolan, inriktning träningsskola, upplevde att AKK och upplevelsebaserat lärande kunde främja elevernas kommunikation och vara möjliga vägar till att nå målen i ämnesområdet kommunikation. Det framkom i resultatet att elevernas kommunikation, inom deltagarnas respektive skolor, till stor del bestod av samspel och olika former av AKK. Samtliga deltagare menade att upplevelsebaserat lärande var en förutsättning i deras undervisning för att ha något att kommunicera om då deras elever hade relativt få upplevelser för sin ålder. Eleverna hade också nedsatt förmåga till abstrakt tänkande och därför fanns behov av konkreta arbetsformer. Kombinationen av olika former av AKK och upplevelsebaserat lärande innebar att deltagarna kunde klä upplevelserna och deras naturliga sammanhang i ord vilket främjade elevernas kommunikation. Resultatet av studien ledde fram till flera slutsatser varav den främsta var att samtliga deltagare upplevde att både AKK och upplevelsebaserat lärande var förutsättningar för att främja elevernas kommunikation och för att nå målen i ämnesområdet. AKK och upplevelsebaserat lärande ansågs med andra ord inte bara främja kommunikationen och vara möjliga vägar mot målen utan ansågs dessutom vara nödvändiga förutsättningar i träningsskolan

Children's oral health is an important but often overlooked component of overall health. Tooth decay therefore remains a common phenomenon among children. It is however entirely preventable through early and sustained intervention. The aim of this research was to develop an age-appropriate programme to enhance children's knowledge and awareness of proper dental care. Action research was applied in this research, which was characterized by various cyclical research phases, including planning, reflecting and implementing. The initial phase of the research included a thorough literature investigation and a baseline assessment, consisting of a questionnaire which assessed preschool children's basic knowledge and awareness of proper dental care. Purposive sampling was used to select 52 Afrikaans-speaking children, between the ages of five and seven years, of different preschools. This age group was chosen because children in this developmental phase are at an age where their activity, curiosity and ability to construct a better system for understanding the world, are key to the process of development. The data obtained indicated a moderate level of knowledge and awareness among the participating children. The initial literature study and the baseline data informed the development of an age-appropriate dental care programme, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development. The different developmental tasks of the identified age group were considered to be very important in the development of an age-appropriate programme and to teach children the basic aspects of proper dental care by using information and activities that are stimulating, creative and challenging. The programme focuses on basic aspects of proper dental care, including the healthy tooth, loss of primary teeth, the importance of primary teeth and development of permanent teeth, the process of tooth decay, diet, different ways of caring for teeth, and visiting the dentist. Parent involvement was also emphasized in the presentation of the programme. Specialist practitioners in the fields of developmental psychology and dentistry were asked to evaluate the newly developed programme. They were asked to focus on four specific areas, namely, general feedback on the questionnaire that was used for the initial baseline assessment, the overall appearance and presentation of the dental care programme, the relevance and appropriateness of the programme and its activities for the specific age group, and suggestions for further adjustments and improvements. Programme evaluation is an important part of the developmental process and contributes to the eventual appropriate and relevance of the intervention. The specialists' evaluation indicated that the programme appears to be a well-designed intervention that could contribute to enhancing preschool children's knowledge and awareness of proper dental care. Suggestions were made to adjust the programme in certain areas to make it more appealing to children and to enhance its appropriateness and relevance. For example it was suggested that the language used in the programme be more consistent. More structure should be added to the programme manual to assist facilitators in presenting it. These suggestions were considered to be valuable in improving the efficacy of the age-appropriate programme and the adjustments were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The skills shortage is one of the problems that existed in South Africa as a result of its historic political situation. South Africa was characterized by a white dominant government in an economy which was marked by exclusions of various people of race and gender. In the working environment, the situation reflected job reservation for white males, limited career opportunities for white females with repercussions of isolation, sanctions and global deprivation. The 1994 elections brought a change in leadership and a democratic government had as its primary mission skills development for all. On a macro level, South Africa was marginalized from global participation and on a micro level, many people were not able to enter the workforce because of a lack of skills let alone be active in the economy. The South African government’s resultant Human Resources Development – (HRDS) and National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) were driven by supportive legislation namely the Skills Development Act No 97 of 1998, Employment Equity Act No 55 of 1998, Skills Development Levies Act of 1999 and the South African Qualifications Authority Act No 58 of 1995. These strategies and legislative measures intended to address the skills shortages through the implementation of learnerships as a national qualification. Following from the high level strategy were the initial over-ambitious targets for people to become qualified learners. The result was a push-through effect of individuals who were not necessarily suited to a particular learnership nor were they able to function on the required standard. Low level evaluations were used to ‘certify’ potential learners in terms of their numeracy and literacy levels only. This provided an opportunity to evaluate the suitability of learners on the New Venture Creation Learnership in terms of their entrepreneurial functionality and leadership qualities. After evaluating a number of models (Carland Entrepreneurial Index, the Bar-on Emotional Intelligence test and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), the Functional ii Intelligence Assessment Tool (FIAT) scientific model was selected because of its holistic approach of the individual and his/her functionality within an environment. The Functional Intelligence Assessment Tool identified and substantiated the suitability or non-suitability of the respondents in terms of entrepreneurial requirements. An additional questionnaire was administered to evaluate leadership qualities which are an essential component of the entrepreneur. The first of three research goals were attained when the respondents who were in the process of completing the New Venture Creation Learnership were successfully assessed in terms of entrepreneurial functionality. The outcome of this research concluded that only three (3) out of nineteen (19) candidates were found to be suitable for the entrepreneurial environment while two of the three had leadership qualities. The analysis of one candidate was such that no accurate analysis in terms of leadership qualities could be obtained. In terms of Functional Tendency, eight (8) candidates showed extrovert tendencies, six (6) showed introvert tendencies while five (5) candidates rendered results that did not give a clear indication of the individual’s functionality. Nine (9) individuals intentionally tried to manipulate their results but were identified through their inconsistent results while candidate 1 manipulated her results unintentionally; Five (5) individuals tried to disguise their results by giving extreme scores thereby hoping to impress with their choice of answers (impression management) while two (2) individuals were in denial about their situation having scored unrealistic results. Two (2) individuals had serious problems with their emotional functioning to the extent that they should consult a professional person (professional intervention). Twelve (12) individuals revealed inconsistent results while the remainder of candidates shows some or an insignificant degree of inconsistency in their results. Only three (3) individuals should be re-assessed due to the extent of their inconsistency. iii The second research goal to give comprehensive feedback to the Services Seta and respondents regarding the outcome of the Functional Intelligence Assessment Tool assessments will only be attained after this thesis but it sets the base for follow-up of the respondents’ progress and to conduct future research. The third research goal is also more medium - to long term - to apply this tool to potential learners and – employees in addition to the initial research performed. This goal will also only be attained after negotiations with SETAs and continuous populating of a central database with the FIAT’s assessments. The holistic approach to assessing the functionality of an individual gives the person a vast number of areas known as super constructs (self perception and emotional functioning; relationships and corporate functioning, personal – and organizational value comparison) that will either highlight a serious situation or spell out how the individual will react and interact in certain situations. Small business is said to drive the economy of a country. It is therefore critical that the entrepreneurs in a country are identified early (through a scientific instrument such as FIAT) and skilled appropriately (through learnerships or other educational routes). It is equally important that individuals that are not entrepreneurs be found their rightful vocation and then everyone can contribute effectively to the economic activity. / Prof. J.J.D. Havenga

Student Number : 0301924V - MA dissertation - School of Psychology - Faculty of Humanities / In the field of mentoring the psychological needs of mentors have been given little attention in previous research. The aim of this study is to analyse mentors’ psychological needs within a corporate environment. The research approach is exploratory and was conducted within a qualitative framework. A sample of 5 mentors within the corporate environment was drawn and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. Thematic content analysis was applied to report and summarise the data and Covey’s (1989) four dimensions of human functioning (mental, social-emotional, physical and spiritual) was used to categorise mentor needs. The key findings of the study from a mental perspective indicate that mentors identified continuous and experiential learning as a method for continual mental growth. Further mentor training was recommended by the mentors to assist in addressing their mental needs and help them to improve their time-management skills. Mentors’ social-emotional needs focused around the need for a supportive social network from significant others to maintain a state of well-being. The ability to be understanding, to be good listeners and the ability to set appropriate boundaries within the mentoring relationship were identified by mentors as emotional skills (needs) that they would like to improve. From a physical needs perspective, all the mentors revealed an awareness of the need to stay healthy in various ways. Every mentor stated that he/she was affected by stress and that it manifested in different ways, however, the mentors were satisfied with the resources provided by their organisation for their health and well-being. From a spiritual perspective, mentors experienced satisfaction from assisting in others’ growth, suggesting a need for engaging with and learning from others.