The nurturing of critical thinking skills is one of the cornerstones of Outcomes Based Education (OBE). This study investigated to what extent teachers create classroom climates that nurture the development of critical thinking abilities. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of the development of critical thinking skills, and to establish the relationship between classroom climate and the development of critical thinking abilities. The use of teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques, the role of the teacher and the role of the learner during teaching and learning in the classroom were explored. The literature review provided the conceptual framework for the study, as well as the framework for designing a questionnaire that was utilized to obtain the perceptions of teachers and learners regarding the opportunities provided by teachers for the development of critical thinking abilities in the classroom. By means of quantitative, non-experimental descriptive survey research, a self-constructed questionnaire was administrated to a convenient sample of a purposively selected group of Grade 9 and Grade 11 teachers (n=241) and learners (n=403) in the Sedibeng West District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The triangulation of learner and teacher data revealed differences and similarities in opinion related to the classroom climates that teachers create for nurturing critical thinking. In essence, the data revealed that teachers are, to some extent, creating classroom climates that nurture critical thinking through their choice of teaching methods and strategies, questioning techniques and the learning activities that they choose. However, the responses did not convincingly indicate to the researcher that the nurturing of critical thinking skills takes place on a regular and frequent basis. According to the learner responses, it appeared that teaching and learning methods and strategies that promote interactive learning, are underutilized by the teachers. This study is concluded with recommendations to teachers on how to create classroom climates that promote the development of critical thinking skills. Key words: cognition, cognitive development, critical thinking, classroom climate, teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques. / M.Ed., North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

The nurturing of critical thinking skills is one of the cornerstones of Outcomes Based Education (OBE). This study investigated to what extent teachers create classroom climates that nurture the development of critical thinking abilities. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of the development of critical thinking skills, and to establish the relationship between classroom climate and the development of critical thinking abilities. The use of teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques, the role of the teacher and the role of the learner during teaching and learning in the classroom were explored. The literature review provided the conceptual framework for the study, as well as the framework for designing a questionnaire that was utilized to obtain the perceptions of teachers and learners regarding the opportunities provided by teachers for the development of critical thinking abilities in the classroom. By means of quantitative, non-experimental descriptive survey research, a self-constructed questionnaire was administrated to a convenient sample of a purposively selected group of Grade 9 and Grade 11 teachers (n=241) and learners (n=403) in the Sedibeng West District of the Gauteng Department of Education. The triangulation of learner and teacher data revealed differences and similarities in opinion related to the classroom climates that teachers create for nurturing critical thinking. In essence, the data revealed that teachers are, to some extent, creating classroom climates that nurture critical thinking through their choice of teaching methods and strategies, questioning techniques and the learning activities that they choose. However, the responses did not convincingly indicate to the researcher that the nurturing of critical thinking skills takes place on a regular and frequent basis. According to the learner responses, it appeared that teaching and learning methods and strategies that promote interactive learning, are underutilized by the teachers. This study is concluded with recommendations to teachers on how to create classroom climates that promote the development of critical thinking skills. Key words: cognition, cognitive development, critical thinking, classroom climate, teaching methods and strategies, learning activities, questioning techniques. / M.Ed., North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010

The problem area that the study examines is how Lindström's (2008) theory and model can be conceptualized in the integration of digital technology and how it affects children's learning and development as well as preschool teachers' attitude to digital technology. This study is conducted both qualitative (semi-structured interviews) and quantitative (surveys) for empirical work. The study is limited to Skåne, which means it was conducted with respondents in Skåne. In the qualitative study, the participants are two preschool teachers who have also answered the questionnaire (Appendix 2), while in the quantitative study, the participants are from different professional categories such as preschool teachers, childminders and pedagogues in order to get a broader and diverse perspective on the problem area. The study's results showed that digital technology is important for children's learning and development. In order to make the use of digital technology more efficient and for the children to benefit in the best way from the education that the preschool offers, it is important that preschool teachers and other workers receive education in it. When investigating the preschool teacher's methods and strategies in the integration of digital technology, it emerged that also in both the results and the analysis part that Lindström's (2008) theory and model invisible concepts "learning ABOUT", "learning IN", "learning THROUGH", "learning WITH", “divergent learning” and “convergent learning” are used in different ways. The central conclusion is that digital technology is important in preschool and with the help of Lindström's (2008) theory and model can be used as a method and strategy to promote children's versatile learning.

The nurturing of creative thinking skills is one of the cornerstones of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE). This study investigated to what extent teachers nurture the development of creative thinking through the choice of teaching methods, which include the application of teaching strategies and the utilization of resources, in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of the development of creative thinking skills, and to establish which teaching methods, strategies and resources nurture the development of creative thinking in Social Sciences classrooms. The literature review provided the conceptual framework for the study, as well as the framework for designing a questionnaire that was utilized to obtain the perceptions of learners regarding the teaching methods, strategies and resources that their teachers use to nurture the development of creative thinking in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. By means of a sequential explanatory mixed method research design, quantitative data were collected by means of a self-constructed questionnaire that was administrated to a convenient sample of a purposively selected group of Grade 9 Social Sciences learners (n=399) in the D7 district of the Gauteng Department of Education. Following this, a qualitative interview, which was constructed from the findings in the questionnaire, was conducted with purposively selected Grade 9 Social Sciences teachers (n=6) in order to ascertain the reasons behind the quantitative findings. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data revealed differences and similarities in opinion related to the teaching methods, strategies and resources that teachers use for nurturing creative thinking. In essence, the data revealed that teachers are, to some extent, nurturing creative thinking through their choice of teaching methods and strategies as well as the questioning techniques that they choose. However, the responses did not convincingly indicate to the researcher that the nurturing of creative thinking skills takes place on a regular and frequent basis. According to the learner responses, it appeared that teaching and learning methods and strategies that promote indirect, independent, interactive and experiential learning, are under-used by the Grade 9 Social Sciences teachers. In addition, resources that nurture creative elaboration such as political cartoons and photographs appear to be under-utilized. This study is concluded with recommendations to teachers concerning which teaching methods, strategies and resources could be implemented in order to promote the nurturing of creative thinking in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. / Thesis (MEd (Learning and Teaching))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

The nurturing of creative thinking skills is one of the cornerstones of Outcomes-Based Education (OBE). This study investigated to what extent teachers nurture the development of creative thinking through the choice of teaching methods, which include the application of teaching strategies and the utilization of resources, in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. A literature study was undertaken to highlight the importance and nature of the development of creative thinking skills, and to establish which teaching methods, strategies and resources nurture the development of creative thinking in Social Sciences classrooms. The literature review provided the conceptual framework for the study, as well as the framework for designing a questionnaire that was utilized to obtain the perceptions of learners regarding the teaching methods, strategies and resources that their teachers use to nurture the development of creative thinking in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. By means of a sequential explanatory mixed method research design, quantitative data were collected by means of a self-constructed questionnaire that was administrated to a convenient sample of a purposively selected group of Grade 9 Social Sciences learners (n=399) in the D7 district of the Gauteng Department of Education. Following this, a qualitative interview, which was constructed from the findings in the questionnaire, was conducted with purposively selected Grade 9 Social Sciences teachers (n=6) in order to ascertain the reasons behind the quantitative findings. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data revealed differences and similarities in opinion related to the teaching methods, strategies and resources that teachers use for nurturing creative thinking. In essence, the data revealed that teachers are, to some extent, nurturing creative thinking through their choice of teaching methods and strategies as well as the questioning techniques that they choose. However, the responses did not convincingly indicate to the researcher that the nurturing of creative thinking skills takes place on a regular and frequent basis. According to the learner responses, it appeared that teaching and learning methods and strategies that promote indirect, independent, interactive and experiential learning, are under-used by the Grade 9 Social Sciences teachers. In addition, resources that nurture creative elaboration such as political cartoons and photographs appear to be under-utilized. This study is concluded with recommendations to teachers concerning which teaching methods, strategies and resources could be implemented in order to promote the nurturing of creative thinking in the Grade 9 Social Sciences classroom. / Thesis (MEd (Learning and Teaching))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

The thesis reacts on the contemporary schooling when there is the need of differentiation and individualisation of teaching in heterogeneous classrooms. However, the teachers are not prepared enough to differentiate and there is only a minimum of relevant literature and methodological support. The main aim of the thesis is to summarise the latest findings in this field, to detect possible strategies of differentiation and individualisation at the lower primary school and to design feasible steps for the teachers to follow. In the theoretical part there are summarised already familiar findings from the external literature. In the empirical part I am focusing on the differentiation methods of two sample teachers, who are important models for the students - future teachers. The methods used predominantly in the research are the in-depth interviews with the teachers and an analysis of a recording of observed lessons.

The aim of this study is to understand and investigate how social workers handle and cope with their emotional management in work with children who have been exposed to traumatic events. And to understand what kind of emotions that can arise before, during and after meetings with vulnerable children. But also to see and understand what kind of support different workplaces offer social workers for emotion management. This study was  conducted through six semi-structured interviews with social workers who work or have worked with children that have been exposed to trauma in Sweden. With the interviews we did an analysis with help from previous research on the subject and by a theoretical framework, Hoschchilds theroy of emotional work. The results prove that emotional work isa subject that some social workers find very difficult to handle. How social workers manage to handle heartbreaking stories from children is something that each social worker handles differently. The analysis also shows that social workers feel that the support in their workplace towards social workers has improved over the years. Emotional work and how to help vulnerable children is a challenging work and therefore is this a subject that needs more attention.

My diploma thesis is about prevention of the most risky behaviour on primary school which is bullying. Prevention is presented through the methods and strategie sof drama education. In the theoretical section acquaints readers with important informations of bullying and substance of drama in education, which are the basis for a comprehensive understanding of this issue. The theoretical part is also the basis for creating bullying prevention project using the methods and strategies of drama education, presented and reflected in the practical part. The practical part is also the result of a questionnaire, which is focused on opinion surveys of teachers of primary schools to prevent bullying and the use of methods and techniques of drama in this issue. KEYWORDS: Drama in Education, methods and strategies, risky behaviour, bullying, prevention, classroom, primary school

The thesis focuses on differentiation, which is currently a highly discussed topic in connection with inclusive education. Teachers are expected to adjust their way of teaching to the individual needs of students in heterogeneous classrooms. The aim of this thesis is to examine various differentiation strategies and methods, which teachers could use and moreover, to discover whether the methods are being applied to education scheme in a private primary school and if so, then in what ways. The theoretical part introduces the terms differentiation and individualisation and in addition, explores teaching strategies and methods supporting differentiation together with allowing for the individual students' needs. The empirical study investigates the use of differentiation strategies among private primary school teachers. Qualitative research is based on in-depth interviews with teachers, which were conducted right before and after detailed in class-observation of their teaching. The research discovered that out of various differentiation strategies and methods, which were introduced in the theoretical part, the majority of observed classes were focusing on group work and critical thinking. It was clear that in practice, the internal differentiation prevailed over the external one together with working...

This diploma thesis deals with theme of a work of a novice drama teacher at the beginning of school attendance. Specially in the first mid-term of the first class. The theoretical part is a vocational knowledge file which is the practical part based on. The thesis allows a deep view into the drama education. It will help us to learn about a child in the start of schooling and also the aims of the early education of the first mid-term. It also defines the drama education and its principles, goals and forms. The thesis describes an inclusion of drama education in FEP (for Elementary Education) and the ideal properties of a drama education teacher. It deals with an idea of dramatic game, system of the preparatory games and exercises. It does not only introduce methods and techniques of drama education, but it also helps us to create and plan the lessons, often with a use of literary basis. Practical part is based on an assumption or editing of ten lessons of drama education taught by a novice teacher. The lessons aim to develop friendly climate in a class, cooperation support, child social development and teaching of drama education with basic techniques. Other components of the practical part are reflections of lessons describing the progress of the pupils. This is also described by a survey from...