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Nur langsam scheinen jene Schockwellen abzuebben, die ausgelöst durch die Ergebnisse der PISA-Erhebungen seit mehr als einem Jahrzehnt die Bildungsrepublik Deutschland durchqueren und weite Teile der Gesellschaft in den Zustand regelrechter Bildungspanik versetzten. An der Schwelle zum 21. Jahrhundert belegte eine Reihe von Studien für das wiedervereinte Deutschland eine im OECD-Vergleich besonders ausgeprägte Abhängigkeit des Bildungserfolges von der sozialen Herkunft. Als eine Konsequenz ist der Zugang zu tertiärer Bildung bis dato deutlich durch soziale Ungleichheit gekennzeichnet. Vor diesem Hintergrund leistet die vorliegende Dissertationsschrift einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur ursächlichen Erklärung von Mustern sozialer Selektivität, die an den Gelenkstellen zwischen sekundären und postsekundären Bildungsangeboten sichtbar werden. Auf innovative Weise verbindet die Arbeit ein zeitgemäßes handlungstheoretisches Modell mit einer komplexen Lebensstilanalyse. Die Analyse stützt sich auf Erhebungsdaten, die zwischen Januar und April 2010 an mehr als 30 weiterführenden Schulen des Bundeslandes Brandenburg erhoben wurden. Im Mittelpunkt des Forschungsinteresses steht einerseits die Identifikation von sozial-kognitiven Determinanten, die das Niveau und die Richtung postsekundärer Bildungsaspirationen maßgeblich vorstrukturieren sowie andererseits deren Verortung im Kontext jugendlicher Lebensstile. Das komplexe Analysedesign erweist sich als empirisch fruchtbar: So erbringt die Arbeit den empirischen Nachweis, dass die spezifischen Konfigurationen der bestätigten psychosozialen Prädiktoren nicht nur statistisch bedeutsam zwischen jugendlichen Stilmustern variieren, sondern sich diesbezüglich erfolgreiche von weniger erfolgreichen Typen unterscheiden lassen. / The results of the PISA-inquiry sent shock waves through society, influencing education policy and causing large portions of society angst over education; these effects have subsided slowly over the past decade. A series of studies concerning a reunited Germany conducted at the beginning of the 21st century found a particularly strong correlation between educational success and social demographics as compared to the OECD, the consequence of this pattern being an inequality between social demographics in terms of access to tertiary education. Against this background, the presented dissertation thesis contributes to a causal explanation of patterns of social selectivity which become visible at the transition between secondary and post-secondary education. This thesis combines a contemporary action-theoretical approach with a complex life-style analysis in an innovative way. The analysis is based on survey data collected at more than 30 continuative/ post-secondary schools in Brandenburg (Germany) between January and April of 2010. Focus of the research is the identification of social-cognitive factors which significantly structure standard and direction of post-secondary aspirations as well as their localization in context of adolescent life-styles. The complex design of the analysis proves to be empirical fertile: Therefore, this thesis provides the empirical verification that the specific configurations of the affirmed psycho-social predicators do not only vary statistically important between adolescent style-patterns but provide the basis to differentiate between successful and less successful types.

The purpose of this study was to explore an asset-based intervention with educators in enhancing their knowledge of HIV&AIDS and their skills in supporting community members in coping with the challenges associated with HIV&AIDS. The goals of the study were firstly to explore and describe the ways in which educators are currently supporting community members infected with and affected by HIV&AIDS (more specifically in terms of coping with the learners in their classrooms and the caregivers or parents of these children). Secondly, the study focused on identifying the areas related to supporting community members in coping with the challenges associated with HIV&AIDS in which the participants (educators) felt that they needed more skills or information. Thirdly, I developed and facilitated an asset-based intervention, in the format of a workshop, with the participants (educators) to address the identified competence limitations. Fourthly, I assessed the outcome of the asset-based intervention in terms of the degree to which it fulfilled the participants’ need to be better equipped to support community members infected with and affected by HIV&AIDS. The primary working assumption with which I approached this study was that educators do possess the necessary competencies to support their communities in coping with the challenges presented by HIV&AIDS. I followed a qualitative research approach and selected a case study research design, applying some participatory action research principles, with the case being an informal settlement community situated in the Eastern Cape. Four participants were selected by means of convenience sampling to participate in face-to-face interviews, upon which four areas of support in which participants experienced a lack of sufficient competencies could be identified based on analysis. These areas related to referral of infected individuals; coping with infected learners in a classroom as well as ways in which educators might support community members on both an emotional and physical level. These four areas were addressed during an asset-based intervention with ten educators, which I facilitated during a follow-up field visit. During interviews the educators also indicated that they wanted to support their community (both learners and parents) to cope with the challenges presented by HIV&AIDS but that they felt inadequate in supporting the community, despite their efforts. After completion of the asset-based intervention, I facilitated a focus group discussion, focusing on whether or not the asset-based intervention had addressed participants’ (perceived) lack of competencies in supporting the community to cope within the context of HIV&AIDS. Two sub-themes emerged. Firstly, participating educators reported that they experienced increased levels of self-confidence in their ability to support their community in the context of HIV&AIDS, as well as a general feeling of empowerment, as a result of attending the asset-based intervention. The second sub-theme relates to the potential snowball effect of the asset-based intervention, whereby participating educators indicated that their role in the community had expanded and that they reportedly could transmit the knowledge obtained during the asset-based intervention sessions to others. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Educational Psychology / MEd / unrestricted

<h2>Abstract</h2><p dir="ltr">Currently, only 22% of high school graduates meet the basic requirements for one or more college courses in mathematics, science, reading, or English signifying fewer students with the skills to enter careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) (Smithsonian Science Education Center, 2015). In contrast, science and engineering employment in the United States has grown more rapidly than the overall workforce and now represents 5% of all jobs which is projected to increase to 8% by 2029 (Khan et al., 2020). The current statistics represent a future labor force entering the labor market without the skills needed to obtain a large portion of future occupations. To bridge this gap, the U.S. Federal government outlined a vision with three goals to provide Americans access to high-quality STEM education to increase the skills of the future workforce (National Science & Technology Council, 2018). The three goals include 1) building a strong foundation for STEM literacy; 2) increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM; 3) preparing the STEM workers for the future (National Science & Technology Council, 2018). As the economy and workforce develop in future years, students will require a high-quality STEM education to enter this growing workforce to meet the goals of the federal government and the needs of future occupations. Robotic platforms are diverse and have the ability to provide students with instant feedback, integrate multiple subjects during the design challenge, and support self-efficacy development through mastery events where students practice skills until they receive a favorable result. Robotics in a life-centered context could interest a diverse range of young adults into STEM career fields. This study implements robotic learning activies in an assistive technology context which centers around improving the lives of living organisms.</p>