Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a useful tool in education, with the potential to enhance teaching through the use of digital learning environments (DLEs) such as intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs). This thesis investigates the development and evaluation of an AI-assisted web-based platform for pure question-based learning (pQBL) in upper secondary school mathematics. The study aims to assess the prototype's effects compared to traditional classroom instruction and the quality of AI-generated multiple-choice questions (MCQs) using OpenAI’s GPT-4. To do this, the following research questions were formulated: (1) How can an AI-assisted platform for pQBL be designed and implemented? (2) To what extent do GPT-4 generated MCQs meet quality criteria? (3) How do learning outcomes compare between students using AI-assisted pQBL materials and those receiving traditional instruction? The study utilized principles of Question Construction and Prompt Engineering, ensuring AI-generated MCQs adhered to predefined quality standards. Human evaluation by a Teacher Quality Control panel refined and validated the generated MCQs. The effectiveness of the developed prototype was tested using a pretest/posttest design where score changes were analyzed using paired-samples t-tests. The findings indicate that generating high-quality MCQs remains a challenge. Human evaluation is essential to ensure educational efficacy, as only a fraction of the AI-generated MCQs met quality standards. User testing revealed comparable learning outcomes between the pQBL and control groups, with statistically significant results, though limitations in the pretest/posttest design may have influenced these findings. This research highlights the potential and limitations of AI in education, suggesting the need for further studies on AI-assisted tools, including exploring other language models and conducting longitudinal assessments to optimize learning outcomes. / AI utgör en viktig resurs inom utbildning och har potential att förbättra undervisningen genom digitala lärmiljöer (DLE), såsom intelligenta handledningssystem (ITS). Detta examensarbete undersöker utvecklingen och utvärderingen av en AI-stödd webbaserad plattform för rent frågebaserat lärande (pQBL) i matematik på gymnasiet. Studien syftar till att bedöma plattformens effektivitet jämfört med traditionell klassrumsundervisning och att utvärdera kvaliteten på flervalsfrågor som genereras av OpenAI:s GPT-4. För att uppnå detta formulerades följande forskningsfrågor: (1) Hur kan en AI-stödd plattform för pQBL designas och implementeras? (2) I vilken utsträckning uppfyller GPT-4- genererade flervalsfrågor fördefinierade kvalitetskriterier? (3) Hur skiljer sig inlärningsresultaten mellan elever som använder AI-stött pQBL-material och de som får traditionell klassrumsundervisning? Studien tillämpade principer för fråge- och promptkonstruktion för att säkerställa att de AI-genererade flervalsfrågorna följde fördefinierade kvalitetsstandarder. En panel av lärare genomförde mänsklig utvärdering för att förbättra och validera de genererade flervalsfrågorna. Effekten av den utvecklade prototypen testades genom en förtest/eftertest-design där poängförändringen analyserades genom parvisa t-tester. Resultaten indikerar att det finns utmaningar i att generera högkvalitativa flervalsfrågor. Mänsklig utvärdering är nödvändig för att säkerställa kvaliteten hos de AI-genererade flervalsfrågornas eftersom endast en mindre del av dem uppfyllde kvalitetskraven. Användartester visade jämförbara inlärningsresultat mellan pQBL-gruppen och kontrollgruppen med statistiskt signifikanta resultat även om begränsningar i förtest/eftertest-designen kan ha påverkat dessa resultat. Denna forskning belyser AI:s potential och begränsningar inom utbildning och föreslår behovet av ytterligare studier kring AI-drivna verktyg, inklusive undersökning av andra språkmodeller och genomförande av longitudinella studier för att optimera inlärningsresultaten.

Heart failure is a growing public health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Family support positively affects outcomes for the person with heart failure while also leading to caregiver burden. Registered nurses have a key role in supporting and meeting the needs of family caregivers. The overall aim was to explore the situation and needs of family caregivers to a person with heart failure, and explore requisites and ways of supporting and involving family caregivers in heart failure nursing care. Two interview studies, one web survey study and one intervention study were conducted between 2012 and 2017. A total of 22 family caregivers, eight persons with heart failure and 331 registered nurses participated in the studies. Family caregivers' daily life was characterized by worry, uncertainty and relational incongruence but salutogenic behaviours restored new strength and motivation to care. Family caregivers experienced that their caregiving was taken for granted by health care professionals. Family caregivers expressed a need for a permanent health care contact and more involvement in the planning and implementation of their near one’s health care together with health care professionals. Registered nurses acknowledged family caregivers’ burden, lack of knowledge and relational incongruence. A registered nurse was suggested as a permanent health care contact to improve continuity and security. Registered nurses neither acknowledged family caregivers as a resource nor their need for involvement. Registered nurses working in primary health care centres, in nurse-led heart failure clinics, with district nurse specialization, with education in cardiac nursing care held the most supportive attitudes toward family involvement in heart failure nursing care. Family health conversations via telephone in nurse-led heart failure clinics were found to successfully support and involve families. The conversations enhanced nurse-family relationship and relations within the family. They also provided registered nurses with new, relevant knowledge and understanding about the family as a whole. Family health conversations via telephone were feasible to both families and registered nurses, although fewer and shorter conversations were preferred by registered nurses. This thesis highlights the divergence between family caregivers’ experiences and needs, and registered nurses’ perceptions about family caregivers’ situation and attitudes toward the importance of family involvement. It adds to the knowledge on the importance to acknowledge family caregivers as a resource and to support and involve them in heart failure nursing care. One feasible and successful way is to conduct Family health conversations via telephone in nurse-led heart failure clinics.

In hierdie studie is psigoterapeutiese uitkoms navorsing gedoen (Lindegger, 1999). Die navorser het as intern opvoedkundige sielkundige ‘n groepgebaseerde gestalt-dramaterapie program van 12 sessies ontwikkel ten einde selfagting-ontwikkeling by die kind met leerhindernisse aan te spreek. Gebrekkige motivering, ongunstige selfagting, sowel as problematiese sosiale vaardighede word geassosieer met leerhindernisse (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). Die Self-Esteem Index (SEI) is as meetinstrument gebruik en met aanvang en terminering van die intervensie afgeneem. Sekere strategieë is toegepas ten einde leerhindernisse te akkommodeer tydens die afneem van die meetinstrument. Na afloop van die intervensie, wat hoofsaaklik bestaan het uit dramatisering en rollespelle in kleingroep-verband, is die versamelde data statisties geanaliseer ten einde te bepaal of die intervensie moontlik tot die ontwikkeling van gunstige selfagting by die betrokke leerdergroep bygedra het. Die steekproef (n=17) is vanuit die SEI-vraelysdata van die Afrikaanssprekende Graad 4-leerders (tussen die ouderdomme van 10 tot 12 jaar) verbonde aan die betrokke remediërende skool, wie aan die LOD-program deelgeneem het, op sistematiese wyse getrek. Gepaarde t-toetse is gedoen ten einde te bepaal of daar enige statisties betekenisvolle verskille tussen die voortoets-/natoets-data bestaan. Die terapeutiese proses waartydens die data gegenereer is vir hierdie studie, was soortgelyk aan die pre-eksperimentele een groep voortoets-/natoets ontwerp. Die navorsingsresultate het aangedui dat die nulhipotese nie verwerp kan word nie. Die alternatiewe hipotese moet dus verder ondersoek word en vele moontlikhede vir toekomstige navorsing het vanuit die studie ontwikkel. ENGLISH : In this study psychotherapy outcome research was conducted (Lindegger, 1999). The researcher developed a group based gestalt drama therapy program during her internship as educational psychologist in a remedial school. The main therapeutic aim was to develop the self-esteem of the child with barriers to learning. Demoralization, low self-esteem, and deficits in social skills may be associated with barriers to learning (DSM-IV-TR, 2000). The intervention was facilitated over 12 sessions and all the Grade 4 pupils of the specific school participated in the intervention. The Self-Esteem Index (SEI) was administered during the beginning and at the end of the intervention. Certain strategies were used to accommodate barriers to learning during the administration of the SEI. After termination of the intervention the data were statistically analysed. The pretest/posttest results were compared in order to determine if the intervention contributed to self-esteem development of the participants. A data-sample (n=17) was systematically drawn from the Afrikaans speaking Grade 4 learner participants’ (between the ages of 10 to 12 years) SEI questionnaires. The therapeutic process during which the data was generated resembled a pre-experimental one group pretest/posttest design. Paired t-tests were used and the research results indicated no statistical significance which means that the null hypothesis could not be rejected. This resulted in the formulation of further hypothesis. The aim of this study therefore was to explore the possible effect of the intervention on the self-esteem development of the child with barriers to learning. Possibilities for further research emerged from this research study. Copyright / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

<p dir="ltr">Infographics are increasingly used as visual communication tools for conveying health information to diverse audiences. However, research is lacking on how specific infographic design factors influence learning outcomes. This study aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness of automatically advanced (Group A) versus manually advanced (Group B) infographics for promoting breast cancer awareness and knowledge. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was utilized. The sample comprised 42 participants for analysis. Of these, the majority, 41 persons self-reported as female, with one participant indicating their gender as 'other.' Participant ages ranged from 25 to 55 years (M = 40.5, SD = 7.62). Most participants were well-educated, with graduate degrees or other advanced education beyond a bachelor's degree. Participants were randomly assigned to either the automatically advanced infographic group (Group A) or the manually advanced infographic group (Group B). Results indicated that Group B had significantly higher scores on the knowledge post-test compared to Group A, suggesting improved recall and comprehension of key information. There were no significant differences in cognitive load ratings or viewing duration between the groups. Qualitative feedback from participants suggested that Group B's manually advanced infographic facilitated better self-pacing and absorption of content. While the study's findings provide preliminary evidence supporting the efficacy of manually advanced infographics in learning complex health information, limitations are acknowledged. The research contributes to the design of patient education materials and underscores the necessity for further investigations across varied populations and health topics to understand the impact of infographic design more comprehensively on learning and behavior.</p>

The effect of the academic literacy intervention programme on the SATAP English scores was evaluated. This study begins as a longitudinal study in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (FSET). 120 subjects from the Electrical, Civil, Building and Mechanical departments in the FSET were randomly selected to serve as an experimental group. The research design employed a quantitative methodology. Data was collected using the Standardised Assessment Tests for Access and Placement (SATAP) English Test. The test was administered to the experimental group as a pre- test and post-test measure at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. The SPSS statistical programme with frequency tables and graphs was utilised to analyse the data obtained. The results indicated that the difference between the pre-test scores and the post-test scores was statistically significant. The post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test ones. It was concluded that the academic literacy intervention programme was effective in increasing the SATAP scores and therefore addressed some of the language needs of students. / Language Education Arts and Culture / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

The effect of the academic literacy intervention programme on the SATAP English scores was evaluated. This study begins as a longitudinal study in the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (FSET). 120 subjects from the Electrical, Civil, Building and Mechanical departments in the FSET were randomly selected to serve as an experimental group. The research design employed a quantitative methodology. Data was collected using the Standardised Assessment Tests for Access and Placement (SATAP) English Test. The test was administered to the experimental group as a pre- test and post-test measure at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. The SPSS statistical programme with frequency tables and graphs was utilised to analyse the data obtained. The results indicated that the difference between the pre-test scores and the post-test scores was statistically significant. The post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test ones. It was concluded that the academic literacy intervention programme was effective in increasing the SATAP scores and therefore addressed some of the language needs of students. / Language Education Arts and Culture / M. Ed. (Adult Education)