This qualitative study was conducted to develop a better understanding of the place of praxis in higher education women’s studies programs in the U.S. Built upon theories of feminist pedagogy, feminist praxis, activism, experiential education, and academic service-learning, the research explores how praxis is reflected and taught in women’s studies programs, how these programs impact students’ understanding of feminist theory and practice, and what factors affect the implementation of action-oriented pedagogy. Examples of several action-oriented projects that have successfully been implemented in women’s studies courses are offered, and a case study demonstrates the impact of these projects. The methods used include document review of women’s studies mission statements and syllabi, and interviews with women’s studies faculty and alumnae. The interview data were coded and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The demand for virtual education is rapidly increasing due to the proliferation of legislation demanding class size limitations, funding cuts, and school choice across the United States. Virtual education leaders are discovering new ways to enhance and develop teachers to become more efficient and increase quality of learning online. Learning teams are one tool implemented by professional development departments in order to obtain a community of shared best practices and increase professional learning for teachers. ... The purpose of this exploratory case study was to investigate teachers' perceptions of the contribution of virtual learning teams to their professional development in a completely online K-12 environment. ... Five major themes emerged from the interviews, which were teacher professional development as it relates to student success, collaboration, balance, knowledge gained from being part of a virtual learning team, and teachers' perception of student success. / by Courtney Paschal Purnell. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The purpose of the study was to find out if there is a mentorship tool available to guide mentorship after merger; determine effective mentoring techniques for improving work performance; and develop an appropriate mentorship model for improving work performance within tertiary institution . The main challenge is that the National Department of Education started a process of merging institutions of Higher Education. A number of tools that will help to support these mergers are lacking. The case study used was based on an in-depth analysis of events and programmes culminating from the merger of the two institutions. The Durban Institute of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal was identified and selected because it is the first institution to result in a merger. The documents selected provide the greatest amount of data and the researcher knows which documents deserve more attention than others. The following data sources were selected: Technikon Natal and M L Sultan Technikon merger documentation of 26 March 2002; Department of Education National Plan for Higher Education of 2001 and Andersen's Climate Survey Report on the Durban Institute of Technology of 2002. The theory behind this mentoring tool is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow's view of human needs in the work place is described as self-actualization . This theory of human needs guided the development of the mentorship tool. This is because employees who are mentored will achieve job performance expected of them. Although a well implemented mentoring programme can help with retention of staff, an institution needs to be aware that it may foster an individual's growth faster. Mentoring affects self-confidence and sense of marketability among employees and may thus cause an increase in market vulnerability. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This exploratory case study investigated the Graduate Assistant (GA) Scholarship Programme at Technikon Natal (TN) as a staff development mechanism. Although GA programmes are not a new concept and have been used internationally for decades as a means to develop academic staff, the programme at TN has some differences. This programme was initiated to address the development of young Black, and in the main African, academics in order to assist with meeting future employment equity requirements. The programme in its simplest form offers the GA the opportunity to gain teaching experience while studying for a post graduate qualification. Between 1995 and 2000, fifty GAs were involved in the programme at TN, with the majority of GAs studying at the BTech qualification level. This case study identified the juxtaposition of two perspectives of influence, those of the institutional and the individual issues. The institutional issues identified were categorised into policy and procedural issues and the individual issues focused on staff development and mentorship issues. Although the findings cannot be generalised, significant issues have been identified which could prove of value to a wider audience. In addition to developing Black academics, the programme makes a significant contribution to increasing the achievement of higher qualifications from the technikon sector. This is desirable in order to produce the technological foundation for South Africa's future economy. The study identified great potential in the GAs and in the community at TN who have embraced this opportunity to develop young academics of the future. Although there are a number of issues to be addressed, the key stakeholders of this study; the GAs and their Heads of Departments, are well supported by the management and relevant units at TN. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

The broad theme of this investigation is Human Resource Management (HRM) in education. It has been widely publicised both in the media and other areas that the salary bill for state paid educators represents the major area of expenditure. More than ninety percent of the education budget in the KwaZulu Natal Department of Education and Culture is spent on the salary bill. It therefore becomes necessary to ensure that newly appointed educators and those appointed into promotion posts who are earning these salaries do justice in their jobs and produce the goods. School management teams have to ensure that these newcomers settle into their new jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. A newcomer into the teaching profession will have to cope with increasingly complex situations such as heterogeneous pupil population, teacher rationalisation, new curricula, teacher redeployment and increased pupil/teacher ratios. It is therefore important that educators, who are the most expensive asset in the school, are managed effectively. The first few days on the plant is considered to be important in any profession, as this will determine whether the employee will continue to provide his/her service or resign. With education as well, the induction of educators has to be managed by the school as quickly as possible to enable and to empower the inductee in becoming an effective educator. While some aspects of induction and mentoring are instituted in an informal way at the school under investigation, many other areas are sorely neglected. The p management of people in South African schools is circumscribed through legislation J* and regulation. The professional development of educators therefore rests with management and must be in line with legislation prescribed in government gazettes. However not much attention is being given to induction and mentoring programmes which focus on utilising and empowering the human capital (staff members) at the school. The challenge for school level management is to come to terms with what it means to manage the performance and productivity of people in ways, which meets the aspirations of the people and the needs of the organisation. This project has attempted to investigate the management of induction and mentoring at a school in Phoenix, north of Durban. It has been found that no formal programmes p on induction and mentoring exist at the school. It is therefore recommended that management together with, and in consultation with staff members, draw up and implement a policy on induction and mentoring. This will ensure that with guidance and training (induction and mentoring), new human resources will be best utilised to suit the needs of the school. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This study originates from experiences I had as supervisor of the mentoring programme for first year students in the Faculty of Pharmacy, at Rhodes University. Our mentoring programme is a strategy for first year students – specifically those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds – to succeed at Rhodes University. Using an ontological meta-theory - critical realism - as my analytical lens, discourse as my unit of analysis, and Invitational Learning Theory as a theoretical tool I developed a model of mentoring based on Bhaskar’s transformational model (1993). This model illustrates the relationship between structure, culture and agency. Whilst developing this model I focussed on determining how mentors construct mentoring, and how mentoring facilitates access to a Community of Practice (CoP). Mentoring involves providing a shared space that is safe, that the mentor and mentee feel comfortable in, and that supports and challenges both the mentor and the mentee. It is a reciprocal, developmental relationship for both the mentor and the mentee that deals with issues that the mentee deems as ‘real’. Mentoring is a process, not an outcome. The mentoring strategies that the mentors employed changed as the mentors mentored. Mentors help mentees by using structures and mechanisms that worked for them, and/or by helping mentees access these structures and mechanisms. Mentoring facilitates access to a CoP by providing opportunities for engagement. This involves sharing of experiences and knowledge, and promoting discussion. The mentor helps the mentee move from being a peripheral member of the CoP to becoming a main member, i.e., becoming active, learning with and from others within the CoP. CoPs develop social capital and knowledge management. My research suggests that the knowledge, skills and attitude developed by the mentors within this study may be transferable to other aspects in Pharmacy.

The purpose of this project is to examine interactive methodologies which provide effective EFL instruction and curricula that foster listening, speaking, and reading through the teaching of writing, peer review, and oral presentation skills.

Cross-race mentoring relationships are of interest to the theory and practice of mentoring and they also speak to a longstanding problem in the sociological study of prejudice. The mentoring literature reveals some disagreement regarding the advisability of cross-race matching for young protégés. Some researchers stress same-race matching, while others emphasize the problem this creates for minority's facing a dearth of mentors. Sociologists and psychologists, on the other hand, have amassed evidence showing support for a contact hypothesis, which states frequent intergroup contact between equal-status members can lead to improved perceptions of the Other. However, to date, the contact hypothesis has not been explored in the context of mentoring relationships between white adults and minority youth. This Thesis hopes to fill these gaps in the literature. The purpose of this Thesis is to better understand the perceptions and understandings mentors and protégés attach to their cross-race mentoring relationship. It is primarily concerned with identifying the conditions that lead to successful outcomes of interracial mentoring experiences. Specifically, this study explores the perceptions of white adult mentors and black and Latino protégés of their activities, interactions, and their views on the advantages and drawbacks of their cross-race mentoring relationship. This study explores mentors and protégés in cross-race mentoring relationships to grasp a better idea of the meanings each mentoring partner attaches to their mentoring experience. Respondents are sampled from one formal mentoring program at a four-year university. Nine mentors and eleven protégés are interviewed following a semi-structured format. From this sample of twenty participants, six complete pairs participated. The remaining seven respondents make up the supplemental data group, as their mentoring partner did not participate in this study. This study suggests that the intergroup contact theory is useful in explaining the outcomes of these cross-race mentoring relationships. Not only does this Thesis support the intergroup contact theory, it also broadens our understanding by painting a more complete picture of how the optimal conditions emerge and work to strengthen and reinforce one another. Additionally, this research highlights how important understanding both the in-group and out-group member's perceptions are when exploring cross-race mentoring relationships and the intergroup contact theory. Finally, this study supports the notion that a mentoring program's structure is an important feature that can greatly enhance or inhibit mentoring bonds between mentors and protégés.

This study focuses on the induction of novice teachers in Community Junior Secondary Schools (CJSS) in Gaborone, Botswana. The point of departure is that induction is an important factor that is essential to the success of every beginner teacher. It is the responsibility of the school management to provide comprehensive induction programmes that will support beginner teachers and retain them in the teaching profession. This problem was investigated by means of a literature study and an empirical investigation using a qualitative approach. A small sample of beginner teachers in six selected schools in Gaborone formed the sample for this study. Findings indicated that the extent to which novice teachers are given professional guidance and support in schools is not enough. It is recommended that induction programmes receive more priority in schools since the first year of teaching is the most important determiner in the teaching career of an individual. / Education management / M.Ed. (Education Management)

Beginner principals need support through a mentoring and coaching program to ensure effective curriculum management and to develop as curriculum leaders. The aim of the study was to determine the need of and the requirements for mentoring and coaching programs to ensure support in effective curriculum management. A comprehensive literature study was done and resulted in the success of mentoring and coaching programs and the focus pointing to effective curriculum management and specifically curriculum leadership in South Africa. The results from the literature study guided the empirical study through combined research. The focus fell on the roles, expectations, problems and support of beginner principals, curriculum management and leadership and the need of and the requirements for mentoring and coaching programs. Empirically it was dicovered that beginner principals are not supported efficiently as curriculum managers and curriculum leaders. Mentoring and coaching will address this need. The requirements of mentoring and coaching programs consist of: (1) Compulsary mentoring and coaching programs for all beginner principals; (2) Experienced principals as mentors; (3) Approved mentors who should receive training; (4) The beginner principal being allowed to choose his/her own mentor; (5) Mentors as curriculum experts / Beginnerprinsipale benodig ondersteuning in die vorm van 'n mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogram om die kurrikulum effektief te bestuur en om as kurrikulumleier te ontwikkel. Die doe! van hierdie studie was om die behoefte aan en die vereistes vir mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogramme te bepaal om beginnerprinsipale in effektiewe kurrikulumbestuur te ondersteun. 'n Uitgebreide literatuurstudie is uitgevoer wat die sukses van mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogramme vir beginnerprinsipale aandui en die fokus op kurrikulumbestuur en meer spesifiek kurrikulumleierskap in Suid-Afrika plaas. Die Iiteratuurstudie het as basis gedien vir die empiriese studie wat uit gekombineerde navorsing bestaan het. In die empiriese studie is daar op rolle, verwagtinge, probleme en ondersteuning van beginnerprinsipale gefokus. Daar is verder aandag gegee aan kurrikulumbestuur en -Ieierskap van beginnerprinsipale en die behoefte aan en vereistes vir mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogramme. Empiries is daar bevind dat beginnerprinsipale nie voldoende in kurrikulumbestuur en die ontwikkeling as kurrikulumleiers ondersteun word me. Mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogramme sal hierdie behoefte aanspreek. Die vereistes vir die mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogramme bestaan uit: (1) Verpligte mentorskap- en afrigtingsprogram vir aile beginnerprinsipale; (2) Die gebruik van ervare prinsipale as mentors; (3) Goedgekeurde mentors wat opleiding ontvang; ( 4) 'n Keuse deur die beginnerprinsipaal ten opsigte van sy/haar mentor; (5) Mentors wat kurrikulumkundiges is. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Onderwysbestuur)