A literature and an empirical study were undertaken to investigate home factors affecting the academic performance of a group of learners in three primary schools in the Brits district. From the literature it became evident that the early years of an individual's life are critical for development, especially cognitive development. Parents, as a child's primary educators have an important role to play in their child's cognitive development. By establishing a challenging and stimulating environment in which the child is exposed to a variety of experiences, the parents can enhance their child's cognitive development and by implication his/her later academic performance. Various other factors such as parental involvement, expectations, parenting style and home background were found to affect a child's academic performance. In the empirical study a group of academic achievers and underachievers were compared with regards to early cognitive stimulation received, degree of parental involvement and the quality of their homes. / Psychology of Education / M.Ed. (Specialisation in Guidance and Counselling)

Text in Afrikaans / Die huidige onderwyssituasie in Suid-Afrika bied 'n uitdaging om te besin oor die relevansie van bestaande kurrikulurninhoude. 'n Paradigmaverskuiwing is nodig om aan alle leerders die geleentheid te bied om hulle leerpotensiaal te optimaliseer. Hierdie studie fokus op 'n paradigmaverskuiwing in preprimere onderwys. Die verslag van die studie begin met 'n literatuurstudie wat vanuit 'n opvoedkundig-sielkundige en neurosielkundige perspektief fokus op toereik.ende leer. Die uitkoms van hierdie fokus toon die volgende kemaspekte: Kognitiewe en metakognitiewe vaardighede is 'n voorvereiste. Die opvoeder se rol as begeleier is van kardinale belang. Kognitiewe vaardighede stel die leerder in staat om sy eie logiese denksisteem te konstrueer. Die intrinsieke motivering van die leerder tot deelname aan die leerhandeling is belangrik. Neurologiese gereedheid, wat onder andere hemisferiese integrasie sowel as inter- en intrasensoriese integrasieprosesse behels, is 'n voorvereiste vir toereikende leer. Vir die opvoedkundige sielkundige wat horn ten doel stel om hierdie kognitiewe benadering tot toereikende leer in die praktyk toe te pas, is dit nodig om ontoereikende kognitiewe funksionering te identifiseer. Daar is in hierdie studie gepoog om 'n werkswyse vir die identifi.sering van ontoereikende kognitiewe funksies daar te stel aan die hand van die Junior Suid Afrikaanse Individuele Skaal. 'n Onderrigmodel wat voorsiening maak vir die ontwikkeling van kognitiewe vaardighede en neurologiese gereedheid is voorgestel. Die onderrigmodel behels die integrering van die "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" van Carl Haywood en Paul Dennison se "Brain Gym" in die normale dagprogram van preprimere onderwys. Die empiriese navorsing is daarop gemik om vas te stel of dit moontlik is om die onderrigmodel in die normale dagprogram te implementeer, aangesien dit 'n bydrae sal lewer tot algemene praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van elke voorskoolse leerder. 'n Uiteensetting van die navorsingsontwerp en data-analise is verskaf en uit die empiriese studie kan gekonkludeer word dat die program, met noodwendige aanpassings aan die bestaande preprimere dagprogram en ook die onderrigmodel, wel 'n positiewe bydrae sal maak tot praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van die skoolbeginner. Hierdie aanpassings wat juis die paradigmaverskuiwing behels, is vervat in die aanbevelings wat uit hierdie studie voortvloei. / The present situation in education in South Africa offers a challenge to consider the relevance of existing curricula. A paradigm shift is necessary to provide all learners with the opportunity to optimise their learning potential. This study focuses on a paradigm shift in preprimary education. The report of the study commences with a theory framework from an educational and neuro-psychological viewpoint that focuses on effective learning. The key concepts that emerged from this study were the following: Cognitive and metacognitive skills are prerequisite to effective learning. The educator's role as mediator is of cardinal importance. Cognitive skills enable the learner to construct his own logic system for effective learning. Intrinsic motivation of the learner towards participation in the learning process is important. Neurological readiness for learning including among other aspects, the intra- and intersensory as well as hemispheric integration, is fundamental to effective learning. For the educational psychologist wishing to apply this cognitive approach to effective learning, it is necessary to be able to identify cognitive dysfunctioning. In this study an attempt is made to establish a methodology for the identification of cognitive dysfunctioning using the Junior South African Individual Scale. An educational model making provision for the development of cognitive skills and neurological readiness is proposed. This model involves the integration of "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" by Carl Haywood .and "Brain Gym" by Paul Dennison into the normal preschool programme. The empirical research is intended to determine the feasibility of implementing this educational model within the existing preschool programme. A presentation of the research design and the data analysis is included in the study. From the results of the research it can be concluded that, with approriate adaption of the existing pre-primary programme and the educational model, the programme would make a positive contribution to an enhanced curriculum and thereby also the optimisation of the learning potential of the schoolbeginner. The required adaptions that will result in a paradigm shift are included in the recommendations arising from this study. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

The present study sets out to evaluate the effectiveness of a dynamic approach to aptitude testing. It was proposed that it is not always appropriate to use conventional aptitude tests to predict future academic success in the South African context. The study posited the belief that an alternative testing format could be facilitated by using a test-train-test procedure within a learning potential paradigm. The learning potential paradigm as formulated through Vygotskian and Feuersteinian theory is operationalised in the form of a Newtest Battery. The Newtest procedure is in direct contrast to traditional approaches to aptitude testing. The latter approaches both implicitly and explicitly adopt a static view of ability, whereas the Newtest approach focuses on the learning potential of the testee, as well as consequent performance. However, the assessment of learning potential poses problems of its own. Modifications were introduced to ensure that the Newtest format is both appropriate and psychometrically defensible. The construction and evaluation of the Newtest Battery is described. A sample of both advantaged and disadvantaged students were tested on a battery of traditional aptitude tests. This group of students was contrasted with another sample of both advantaged and disadvantaged students who undertook the Newtest Battery in the modified dynamic testing format. The traditional measures of aptitude were found to be invalid predictors of university success. Matric results showed a relationship with academic success for both groups. The Newtest measures enhanced the prediction of academic success for both advantaged and disadvantaged students. The Deductive Reasoning dynamic measure was found to be a valid predictor of university success for the disadvantaged students. The results thus successfully extend the learning potential paradigm into the realm of group aptitude testing. The validity of traditional aptitude test measures has been brought into question by the findings of the study. The study points the way forward to a more equitable and relevant aptitude testing procedure. Finally, it was shown that the testing environment forms part of the socio-educational context. Personnel involved in the administration of aptitude tests are given guidelines \vi th the aim of equalising the test process. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Teoretiese navorsing is onderneem om 'n model vir kurrikulumontwikkeling vir die Diploma vir Registrasie as Verpleegkundige (algemene, psigiatriese, gemeenskaps-) en Vroedvrou te ontwikkel. Twee hooffaktore beinvloed verpleegonderwys. Op globale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur die realiteite van 'n inligtingtegnologie-gedrewe samelewing. Dit noodsaak die ontwikkeling van kritiese denke, aanpasbaarheid ten opsigte van konstante sosiale verandering en 'n verbintenis tot lewenslange leer. Op nasionale vlak word verpleegonderwys beinvloed deur 'n nasionale gesondheidstelsel wat gekwalifiseerde verpleegkundiges vereis, wat in staat is om omvattende gesondheidsorg te lewer. 'n Situasie-analise het gelei tot die identifisering van twee hoofkonsepte wat die verpleegkundekurrikulum beinvloed, naamlik lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg. Vorige navorsing dui daarop dat verpleegdosente nie paraat is ten opsigte van verwikkelinge in die onderwys nie. Dit kan negatiewe gevolge he vir innoverende kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde ten einde die professie strategies te posisioneer om te voldoen aan die eise van die komende eeu. Die navorser het beoog om die leemte te oorbrug deur middel van navorsing wat gemik was op die daarstelling van 'n omvattende kurrikulumontwikkelingstrategie wat kan dien as praktiese riglyn vir die implementering van kurrikulumontwikkeling in verpleegkunde. Op grond van 'n analise van die konsep kurri/culum, 'n situasie-analise en die interpretering daarvan, is die Model vir Kurrikulumontwikkeling in Verpleegkunde gekonseptualiseer. Die model kan verpleegdosente in staat stel om fundamentele kurrikulumverandering te bewerkstellig en 'n relevante kurrikulum daar te stel, deur gespesifiseerde kurrikulumontwikkelingstake stelselmatig af te handel. Die implikasies van die konsepte lcritiese denke en omvattende gesondheidsorg vir die verpleegkundekurrikulum, is uitgespel deur kriteria vir die nuwe verpleegkundekurrikulum te formuleer / The researcher undertook theoretical research to develop a curriculum development model for the Diploma for Registration as a Nurse (General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwife. There are two main tendencies that influence nursing education. On a global level nursing education is influenced by realities that are inherent in an information technology-driven world. This requires the development of critical thinking skills, adaptability to constant social change and a commitment to life-long learning. Nationally, nursing education is influenced by a national health system requiring trained nurses who are able to render comprehensive health care. A situation analysis resulted in the identification of two main concepts that influence the nursing curriculum namely, critical thinking and comprehensive health care. Previous research indicates that nurse educators are outdated in terms of developments in education. This can have negative consequences for innovative curriculum development in nursing in order to position the nursing profession strategically to meet the demands of the next century. This limitation prompted the researcher to conduct research that was aimed at designing a comprehensive curriculum development strategy to serve as a practical guideline on how to implement curriculum development in nursing. Based on an analysis of the concept curriculum, a situation analysis and the interpretation thereof: the researcher conceptualized the Curriculum Development Model for Nursing. The model will enable nurse educators to effect fundamental curriculum change and the development of a relevant curriculum by completing specified curriculum development tasks systematically. The implications of the concepts critical thinking and comprehensive health care for the nursing curriculum, were elucidated by formulating criteria for a new nursing curriculum. Key terms: curriculum; curriculum development; curriculum foundation; curriculum structure; curriculum design; situation analysis; critical thinking; reflective practice; comprehensive health care; comprehensive nursing curriculum; community based curriculum; problem based learning; media assisted learning; ~ve learning; reflective learning; experiential learning; mediated learning. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Science)

A Sociedade e o mercado de trabalho exigem de cidadãos e trabalhadores, nos últimos tempos, um perfil de desempenho diferente daquele até então aceito. As principais carências do trabalhador dizem respeito, dentre outras necessidades, ao desempenho de certas competências pessoais e a melhoria do funcionamento cognitivo. As escolas, responsáveis pela preparação dessas pessoas para viver em Sociedade - o que inclui a preparação para o mundo do trabalho - não costumam realizar ações educacionais intencionais na direção da melhoria do desenvolvimento cognitivo de seus alunos. O foco do presente estudo está na possibilidade da Escola realizar intencionalmente o desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes, futuros trabalhadores. utilizando um programa já existente, criado e estruturado para essa finalidade por Reuven Feuerstein. No final da década de 1940, coube a Feuerstein a tarefa de educar centenas de crianças e jovens, órfãos da guerra, para que se tornassem cidadãos autônomos e produtivos. Diante da necessidade real de modificar o desempenho cognitivo e resgatar a cidadania dessas pessoas, Feuerstein criou - a partir de sua visão de mundo, de um conjunto de crenças por ele estabelecido e de sua experiência - duas teorias: Modificabilidade Cognitiva Estrutural e Experiência de Aprendizagem Mediada e três sistemas inter-relacionados, ou seja, um sistema de avaliação: Avaliação Dinâmica do Potencial de Aprendizagem, um sistema de intervenção: Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental e um sistema de manutenção: Modelagem de Ambientes Modificadores. Avaliar o efeito do primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I) no desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes da 3ª série de Escolas pública ou privada de Ensino Médio é o objetivo amplo desse trabalho. Em resumo, foram envolvidos no projeto 96 estudantes (54 rapazes e 42 moças) de duas Escolas de Ensino Médio: uma privada e outra pública. Sessenta e sete desses alunos participaram dos grupos experimentais que se submeteram ao PEI I e as outras 29 pessoas integraram grupos de controle, não participando, portanto, da aplicação do Programa. Todos os estudantes participaram de uma avaliação inicial diante de seis instrumentos, sendo que alguns deles permitiam avaliação dinâmica. Da análise dos resultados dos instrumentos, que envolviam avaliação dinâmica, foram levantadas necessidades e estabelecidos procedimentos de intervenção. Os alunos dos grupos experimentais foram submetidos ao primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I). Durante a aplicação do PEI I, alunos participaram de avaliação intermediária, realizada a partir da aplicação de instrumento de avaliação e ou de questionário para levantamento da percepção dos estudantes sobre o PEI. Finalmente, todos os participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação final. Os resultados foram analisados de forma descritiva e estatística. Os testes U ou de Mann- Whitney e o teste t de Student foram utilizados para indicar semelhanças e diferenças prováveis entre os desempenhos dos grupos de alunos. A partir da discussão desses resultados foram montadas proposições que justificaram as seguintes conclusões: A modificabilidade cognitiva estrutural dos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi ampliada. O desenvolvimento cognitivo demonstrado pelos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi maior que o desempenho cognitivo demonstrado pelos alunos do grupo de controle. / In the recent past, both society and labour market are demanding from citizens a performance far different from those accept until then. The major lacks of workers may concern, among others, to the development of specific personal competences and to the improve of the cognitive process. Schools, responsible for the preparation for life in society - including the life in the labour market - don\'t usually take intentional educational actions aiming the improve of the cognitive development of their students. The focus of the present study is mainly on analyzing the possibility of Schools to make an intentional effort to develop student\'s cognitive habilities, future workers, using a preexisting program created and structured for this meaning by Reuven Feuerstein. In the late 40\'s, Feurstein took the task of teaching hundreds of children and teenagers, war orphan children, to become autonomous and productive citizens. Facing the real need of improving their cognitive habilities and rescuing their citizenship, Feuerstein came up - using his own wide world perception, personal beliefs and experience - with two theories: Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM) and Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) and three interrelated systems, or an evaluation system: Learning Potential Assesment Device (LPAD), an interventional system: Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) and a maintenance system: Shaping Modifying Environments (ME). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I) on 3rd grade public or private High School student\'s cognitive development. Summing up, there were 96 students involved in this project (54 boys and 42 girls) from two different High Schools: one private and one public. Sixty seven of these students were placed on experimental groups that were submitted to FIE I and the other 29 kids took part on control groups, staying away from the program application. All the students participated on an initial evaluation, facing six instruments, some of then allowing a dynamic evaluation. From the instrument result analysys, needs were raised and intervention procedures were established. The students\'s experimental group was submitted to the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I). During its application, the students had an intermediary evaluation, made by the application of the evaluation instrument and by a questionnaire to measure the student\'s level of perception about the (FIE I). Finally, all the participants were submitted to a final evaluation. The results were analyzed in a descriptive statistical way. The U or Mann-Whitney tests and the t for Student test were used to indicate probable similarities and differences among the student\'s groups performances. From its discussion were put together propositions to justify the following conclusions: The student\'s experimental group structural cognitive modifiability was raised. The cognitive development shown by the student\'s experimental group was higher than the cognitive performance shown by the student\'s control group.

The dissertation thesis presents the results of a research project which focused on the application of mediated learning experience theory to teaching with respect to cognitive development of pupils. The first chapter introduces cognitive education, which concentrates on the process of learning. It also compares this approach with traditional methods aimed at the content of learning. The following parts of the thesis deal with selected theories postulated by Reuven Feuerstein which are important for understanding the context in which his other theory was developed: the theory of mediated learning experience. This theory is the central theme of the theoretical part of the thesis. Apart from its definition and parameters, the thesis presents specific recommendations for teachers about how to develop cognitive functions of their pupils by applying this theory directly in class. Afterwards, attention is paid to Feuerstein's well-known worldwide intervention program called The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment. This program is used in the Czech school system, too. The essential part of this chapter introduces a number of studies which focused on the verification of benefits of Feuerstein's approaches to cognitive development in children and adolescents. The last chapter of the theoretical part...

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / With compulsory education in the New South· Africa, an increase in the number of school beginners can be expected, together with the probability of large gaps in their readiness for school. In £his study, materials have been developed together with a structure for the organisation of teaching_~!?.r trainers/subject advisers, teachers and pupils, to ensure effective education for school beginners. The "Battery for the Assessment of Bridging period Yields" (BABY) has been developed as a valid, realiable and usable school readiness battery of tests for teachers as unregistered test users. The Pre-Test for division into homogeneous ability groups is applied shortly after entrance to school. The Battery of Diagnostic Tests ensures continuous evaluation of pupils during the school readiness programme. The Post-Test is applied at the end of the first term. In this dynamic interaction between tester and pupil in an instruction-test-instruction cycle, the pupils' readiness to progress with formal instruction is continuously evaluated. / Met verpligte onderwys in die Nuwe Suid-Afrika, kan 'n toename in die getal swart skoolbeginners ve:wag word, asook dat daar in hulle skoolvoorbereiding groot leemtes kan voorkom. In die onderhawige studie is hulpmiddels en 'n struktuur vir onderwysorganisasie vir opleiers/vakadviseurs, onderwyseresse en leerlinge ontwikkel om aan skoolbeginners effektiewe onderwys te verseker. Die "Battery for the Assessment of Bridging period Yields" (BABY), 'n geldige, betroubare en bruikbare skoolgereedheidstoetsbattery vir onderwyseresse as ongeregistreerde toetsgebruikers, is ontwikkel. Die Voortoets vtr indeling in homogene bevoegdheidsgroepe word kort na skooltoetrede toegepas. Die Diagnostiese Toetsbattery verseker deurlopende evaluering van leerlinge gedurende die skoolgereedmakingsprogram. Die Natoets word aan die einde van die eerste kwartaal toegepas. In hierdie dinamiese interaksie tussen toetser en leerling in 'n onderrig-toets-onderrig siklus, word leerlinge se gereedheid om met formele onderrig voort te gaan, deurlopend geevalueer. / Psychology og Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / With compulsory education in the New South· Africa, an increase in the number of school beginners can be expected, together with the probability of large gaps in their readiness for school. In £his study, materials have been developed together with a structure for the organisation of teaching_~!?.r trainers/subject advisers, teachers and pupils, to ensure effective education for school beginners. The "Battery for the Assessment of Bridging period Yields" (BABY) has been developed as a valid, realiable and usable school readiness battery of tests for teachers as unregistered test users. The Pre-Test for division into homogeneous ability groups is applied shortly after entrance to school. The Battery of Diagnostic Tests ensures continuous evaluation of pupils during the school readiness programme. The Post-Test is applied at the end of the first term. In this dynamic interaction between tester and pupil in an instruction-test-instruction cycle, the pupils' readiness to progress with formal instruction is continuously evaluated. / Met verpligte onderwys in die Nuwe Suid-Afrika, kan 'n toename in die getal swart skoolbeginners ve:wag word, asook dat daar in hulle skoolvoorbereiding groot leemtes kan voorkom. In die onderhawige studie is hulpmiddels en 'n struktuur vir onderwysorganisasie vir opleiers/vakadviseurs, onderwyseresse en leerlinge ontwikkel om aan skoolbeginners effektiewe onderwys te verseker. Die "Battery for the Assessment of Bridging period Yields" (BABY), 'n geldige, betroubare en bruikbare skoolgereedheidstoetsbattery vir onderwyseresse as ongeregistreerde toetsgebruikers, is ontwikkel. Die Voortoets vtr indeling in homogene bevoegdheidsgroepe word kort na skooltoetrede toegepas. Die Diagnostiese Toetsbattery verseker deurlopende evaluering van leerlinge gedurende die skoolgereedmakingsprogram. Die Natoets word aan die einde van die eerste kwartaal toegepas. In hierdie dinamiese interaksie tussen toetser en leerling in 'n onderrig-toets-onderrig siklus, word leerlinge se gereedheid om met formele onderrig voort te gaan, deurlopend geevalueer. / Psychology og Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)