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This case study began as a peer mediation program for a class of Year 4 students, implemented over an eighteen-month period as part of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabus. The program developed into a process that integrated skills development, an understanding of interpersonal interactions, emotional responses and self understanding. Using an action research model and analysis based in grounded theory it became an interactive, interpretative analysis of conflictual issues between student/student and student/teacher as together they explored a major psychological and philosophical issue, conflict resolution, on a local and personal level. This thesis seeks to authenticate the participants? attempts to change the way in which learning about conflict occurs, to change the ambience of the classroom and to develop a web of interrelationships that work towards a greater understanding of the problem area and ultimately of the wider social and cultural network in which we choose to li / Master of Education (Hons)

The issue investigated in this thesis concerned the adaptive coping strategies that caregivers of the mentally ill adopt at different stages of encounter with their family member’s illness. Specifically, family caregivers’ responses to the illness were investigated within the parameters of the Spaniol and Zipple (1994) 4-stage model of the evolution of caregivers’ responses to mental illness. The accuracy of the model’s representation of the experience of caregivers across all kinship relationships to the care-recipient was evaluated. Spaniol and Zipple proposed four stages which they termed (1) Discovery/Denial, (2) Recognition/Acceptance, (3) Coping and (4) Personal/Political Advocacy. The first stage is characterised by persistent denial of mental illness and seeking answers from multiple sources. The second stage involves caregivers’ expectations of professionals providing answers when the illness is recognised. At this stage caregivers experience guilt, embarrassment and blame. The cyclical nature of the illness impedes acceptance and caregivers experience a deep sense of loss and crisis of meaning as they gradually accept the reality of the situation. In the third stage coping replaces grieving and the issues encountered include loss of faith in professionals, disruption to family life and recurrent crises. Belief in family expertise grows and the focus of coping changes. The fourth stage proposes that caregivers become more assertive, self-blame decreases and the focus is upon changing the system. New meanings and values are integrated. This study found that the model did not accurately describe the experience of all caregivers. Caregiver did not deny mental illness and adaptive coping occurred throughout all stages. Coping evolved as the issues encountered changed and was independent of resolution of grief. The issues encountered were more extensive than the model proposed and differed according to kinship relationship to the care recipient. The ways in which adaptive coping evolved were identified, as were the issues and their accompanying responses. Caregivers coped by adaptively responding to the requirements of care provision, maintaining a sense of self worth and generating positive effect.

The ability to maximise learning efficiently is of concern to all who are involved in an educational environment. The process of learning that will facilitate change is well documented. This documentation suggests that: (1) the understanding of what is occurring in the process of change is essential for it to be successful, and (2) this process includes certain specific traits that will facilitate change. In this study, a design to acquire data from individuals involved in this process of change is developed. To acquire the data sought in this study, observation was made of ten trainees involved in a skills enhancement programme at Caloola Farm; a training centre sponsored by the Federal Government and operated through the Baptist Community Services (A.C.T.). The conclusion reached supported the original premise that recognisable traits exist and aid in the process of accepting change.

The aim of this study was to establish the differences in perception of competence in processes practised in Home Economics education as expressed by students of Home Economics and those who have not studied Home Economics. The research method consisted of applying a questionnaire to five hundred senior students enrolled in high schools in Brisbane, Queensland. The survey items were designed to test students perception and source of competence and the value they place on Home Economics knowledge expressed in terms of life skills. To augment the study, teachers of Home Economics were surveyed to establish the emphasis they place on processes during teaching, their perception of sources of students' skills and the value they place on life skills taught during Home Economics classes. The questions focused upon management and design skills and interpersonal interaction competence. Results indicated that students of Home Economics perceived an enhanced level of competence in life skills at all stages of the design and management processes. Home Economics students also perceived competence in practices of caring and a significant number of behaviours implicit in interpersonal interaction when compared with non Home Economics students. Students of Home Economics perceived the school, the home and their friends as positive sources for skill development in management, design and interpersonal interaction. Non Home Economics perceived the home as the only resource for management skills, but they do not perceive school, home or friends as resources for acquiring design skills. However, they target the school, their friends and home as sources for interpersonal skill development. Teachers of Home Economics perceived the school, home and student's friends as a source of management and interpersonal skills but responded negatively to the home as a source of design skills. Home Economics students, non Home Economics students and teachers of Home Economics placed a high value on Home Economics knowledge expressed as life skills. This study provides useful insights for curriculum design in Home Economics education.

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<p>The paper will clear out the student perspective in order to examine students' attitude towards what would be important to touch on a matter of life. The essay will explore what is important for students to discuss and respond to their environment in schools and perceived to be relevant to talk about in life skills. There is an object which deals with gender and masculinity in the study. The study would examine whether a student perspective on life can affect the current knowledge of gender structures in the school. Qualitative research interviews were carried out in seven students in grade 9 at a school located in inner suburbs of Stockholm. In-terviews were of semi-structured nature and after transcription analyzed with hermeneutic and phe-nomenological method. A theoretical background of theories on life skills and other core subjects has also been behind the thesis conclusions.</p>

Interest in gesture production has considerably increased in recent decades, yet few studies have examined the preschool population. Even fewer studies have examined the intriguing interaction between motor skills and gesture. The original intent of this study was to investigate the relationship of gesture and motor skills in individuals who stutter. However due to recruitment limitations the enrolled sample consists solely of typically developing preschoolers, 3:8 to 6:6 years. Data are presented on gestures and disfluencies during spontaneous speech, a cartoon narration, and a video narration. Additionally, disfluencies were observed during a procedural description task with restricted hand use and hand tapping. Data indicated that higher frequencies of gestures and disfluencies were seen during the cartoon narration. A greater frequency of disfluencies was also experienced with restricted hand use. Relationships between the variables were also explored. Limitations and implications of these results are discussed from both theoretical and clinical perspectives. / Rangos School of Health Sciences / Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) / MS / Thesis

Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.