Current learning support in an effort to address the learning needs of learners with learning disabilities tends to focus on their language abilities (reading and writing), without enough emphasis on the cognitive manifestations that could contribute to barriers to learning, if not addressed appropriately from within the school system. In this study the organisation skills of learners with learning disabilities were studied to determine their true nature. The research was undertaken with Grade 8 and 9 pupils in a private school for learners with learning disabilities. The research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, assessment data of the learners with learning disabilities were analysed. Three different categories of learning needs regarding the organisation skills of learners with learning disabilities were identified. In the second phase, these categories of learning needs were explored using an Ethnographic Approach with Action Research as design. The outcomes of the action research were examined by analysing behaviours and written products of the learners, consistently within the context of the learning situation. It was established that the barriers to learning regarding the organisation skills of these learners are at least in part intrinsic and therefore make a strong appeal to the learning system for support. Learning support should be seen as an integral part of the teaching and learning process in all schools. It was therefore clear that a Systemic approach should be used to address the barriers to learning that learners with learning disabilities experience. A different perspective than that of the fragmented medical model was taken in exploring and addressing these needs. It was a shift towards a more holistic Ecological Systemic Approach. / Thesis (PhD (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

Approximately 20% of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) are sent to an alternative campus for their lack of social competence. Social skills training (SST) is an evidence-based intervention to help increase social competence for students with E/BD, but there is limited research that addresses SST for students with E/BD at alternative campuses. A mixed-methods design was utilized to examine SST at an alternative campus for students with E/BD. Pre-intervention data were collected for students' attendance, grades, office disciplinary referrals, and behavioral rating scales, after which, the Why Try SST program was implemented. Following the intervention, the same type of data were collected. Nonparametric statistics guided the quantitative analysis, because of the small population being studied. Differences from pre- to post-intervention were examined. Triangulation methods drove the qualitative data collection and analysis through observations, student interviews, and teacher interviews. Students exhibited significant differences from pre- to post-intervention in the number of office disciplinary referrals and several areas on the behavioral rating scales. Important insight into motivation and perceptions was gained through the observations and interviews.

Title: Assessment of selected components of game performance in soccer in the U10 category Objectives: The main objective is to determine the relationship between selected indicators of fundamental motor skills, physical skills, specific football skills and the success of game indicators in a match for 9-year-old football players. At the same time, the aim of the work is to find out the current level of fitness and their comparison with the population norm. Methods: Quantitative research with empirical elements was used for the practical part of this thesis. The method of measurement and observation was chosen as the research method. The research group consisted of U10 players from the AC Sparta Prague (n = 16). The level of fundamental motor skills was determined by using the TGMD-2 test (Test of Gross Motor Development), the level of specific football skills was determined using slalom and LSPT (Loughborough Soccer Passing Test), the level of fitness was determined using the agility test and beep test. The success of the game skills in the match (passing and 1on1) was determined from the video recordings of selected matches. Results: No relationship was found between the evaluated performance based on the analysis of the success of selected game skills and the basic motor skills evaluated by the...

Studien undersöker hur sju förskollärare tolkar och arbetar med barns motoriska träning i den pedagogiska verksamheten samt om hur de anser att barns motorik påverkar utveckling och lärande. Den empiriska undersökningen utgår från en kvalitativ ansats med semistruktuerade intervjuer utifrån två frågeställningar: Hur resonerar förskollärare om motorisk träning kopplat till barns utveckling och lärande? Samt På vilka sätt utmanas barnen till motorisk träning på förskolan, enligt förskollärarna?. Resultatet visar att majoriteten av förskollärarna uttrycker att motorisk träning vanligtvis sker via oplanerade aktiviteter och att fokus för planeringen ligger på andra mål i förskolans läroplan. Vidare visar resultatet på vikten av att vara närvarande för att upptäcka barns eventuella motoriska svårigheter i tidiga år i syfte att kunna stötta barnens vidareutveckling, enligt förskollärarnas utsagor. Det uttrycks även att förhållningsätt och kunskaper om motorik utgör gränser i arbetet med motoriska aktiviteter och att förskollärarna är medvetna om att motorik innehåller både fin- och grovmotorik, men att det praktiska arbetet skiljer sig åt genom att de nästan enbart beskriver ett grovmotoriskt arbete. / The study examines how seven preschool teachers interpret and work with children's motor training in the educational activities and how they believe that children's motor skills affect development and learning. The empirical study is based on a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews based on two questions: How do preschool teachers reason about motor training linked to children's development and learning? And In what ways are children challenged to motor training in preschool, according to preschool teachers?. The results show that the majority of preschool teachers express that motor training usually takes place via unplanned activities and that the focus for planning is on other goals in the preschool curriculum. Furthermore, the results show the importance of being present to detect children's possible motor difficulties in the early years in order to be able to support the children's further development, according to the preschool teachers' statements. It is also stated that attitudes and knowledge about motor skills constitute limits in the work with motor activities and that preschool teachers are aware that motor skills contain both fine and gross motor skills, but that the practical work differs in that they almost only describe gross motor work.

This dissertation outlines the music therapists’ perceptions of training needs for current practice in South Africa. The purpose of my research is to construct a profile of music therapy graduates from the University of Pretoria who are currently practising in South Africa and to find how they perceive the MMus (Music Therapy) training programme in terms of their currents needs in practice, as well as their suggestions in terms of the adaptation of the training programme. The study is conducted within the qualitative and quantitative research paradigm, using questionnaires as data collection method, that were sent out to music therapists that graduated from the University of Pretoria. The survey collected data on the demographics and personal details of the respondents, their professional training and practice trends and their views of the fit between the training programme and practice needs, and suggestions as to where adaptations to the training programme might need to be made, based on their practice experience. Training in business skills and marketing together with additional information on client groups, contexts and the development of clinical and practical skills were identified as perceived needs in their practices. These correlated with the suggestions made for adaptation of the training programme. / Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Music / MMus (Music Therapy) / Unrestricted

I takt med att nya teknologier såsom Robotic Process Automation (RPA) införs och används inom organisationer ökar kompetensbehovet av digitala kompetenser. I organisationer prioriteras dock inte alltid den kompetensutveckling som behövs vilket gör att anställda inte hinner anpassa sig till digitaliseringens framfart, vilket därmed kan leda till att organisationen blir beroende av extern kompetens. Studien undersöker hur användningen av RPA kan förändra en organisations kompetensbehov. Denna studie syftar därför till att bidra med fördjupad kunskap inom de kompetenser som krävs av organisationer för att kunna använda RPA framgångsrikt. Vidare har denna studie genomförts med genom en kvalitativ metodansats och därmed har det genomförts semistrukturerade intervjuer med respondenter som har erfarenheter av att använda RPA. Studien visar på att det finns en ökad efterfrågan på två kompetensområden hos organisationer som använder RPA. Dessa är; (1) Digital kompetens och (2) Mänskliga förmågor. Studien visar även på att de nya rollerna som tillkommer har skillnader i kompetensbehovet. Slutligen visar studien på att ett ledningsstöd är viktigt för att kunna uppnå en intern kompetens och att anställda ska kunna använda RPA framgångsrikt. Studien har resulterat i rekommendationer som organisationer som använder RPA eller funderar på att använda RPA kan förhålla sig till för att uppnå en framgångsrik användning av RPA. / As new technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA) are introduced and used within organizations, the need for digital skills is increasing. However, organizations do not always prioritize the necessary skills development, which means that employees do not have time to adapt to the progress of digitalization, which can thus lead to the organization becoming dependent on external expertise. The study examines how the use of RPA can change an organization's competence needs. This study therefore aims to contribute in-depth knowledge of the competencies required by organizations to be able to use RPA successfully. Furthermore, this study was conducted through a qualitative method approach and thus semistructured interviews were conducted with respondents who have experience of using RPA. The study shows that there is an increased demand for two areas of expertise in organizations using RPA. These are: (1) Digital skills and (2) Human abilities. The study also shows that the new roles that are emerging have differences in the need for skills. Finally, the study shows that management support is important to achieve internal competence and that employees should be able to use RPA successfully. The study has resulted in recommendations that organizations who are using or are considering using RPA can relate to achieve successful use of RPA.

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A review of the related literature revealed that international students face specific academic challenges. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of international student peer advising sessions on English as a Second Language (ESL) international students' perceptions of their language skills and strategies for dealing with academic tasks. The research design included a control and an experimental group with a pretest and a posttest administration of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) and the Xu International Student Academic Language Needs Assessment (ISALNA-2) instruments. Qualitative data was also collected. The participants in the study were upper-intermediate level international students in an intensive English program at a large metropolitan university. Scores (n = 23) on the SILL and the ISALNA-2 were used to investigate the changing perspectives of students receiving similar information from different sources, classroom teachers and peer advisors or only classroom teachers. Peer advising sessions were provided to the experimental group of students. The focus of the sessions was advice and direction in language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) for university academic tasks. A split-plot analysis of variance was employed to analyze the quantitative data obtained from pre- and posttest administrations of the instruments. Analysis of the data did not reveal a statistically significant effect of the peer advising sessions as regards the improvement of scores on the SILL and ISALNA-2. Qualitative data (n = 29) indicated that the experimental participants were positively impacted in understanding the necessary language skills necessary for academic success. Interviews with the peer advisors revealed that they had enhanced their understanding of university expectations and had developed a higher level of confidence as a result of their participation in the advising sessions. Qualitative data revealed positive attitudes by the peer advisors in giving language skills information and by the ESL international students involved in receiving that information. The study format could contribute to future studies and may have implications for the development of international peer advising for English language instruction, foreign student orientation programs, host family programs, and programs linking foreign students with American student study partners.

The research deals with the formation of motor skills and self-help skills in terms of family upbringing. As a result the developed program, which included: diagnosis of formation of motor skills and self-help skills; advice for parents; training activities and monitoring the formation of motor skills. The resulting research positive results allow to recommend the program developed a wide range of professionals working with children with cerebral palsy. / В диссертационном исследовании рассмотрены вопросы формирования двигательных навыков и навыков самообслуживания в условиях семейного воспитания. В результате разработана программа, в которую вошли: диагностика формирования двигательных навыков и навыков самообслуживания; консультации для родителей; тренировочная деятельность и мониторинг формирования двигательных навыков. Полученные в результате исследования положительные результаты позволяют рекомендовать разработанную программу широкому кругу специалистов, работающих с детьми ДЦП.

Background Individuals with intellectual disabilities need continued supports in completing daily living tasks to increase the likelihood of achieving independence. Fortunately, research has shown that assistive technology, and particularly video prompting helps support independent living for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Aims This study investigated the efficacy of a highly customizable task analysis smartphone application in assisting three young adults with intellectual disabilities learn how to cook three different multistep recipes. Materials & Methods Three young adults with intellectual disabilities enrolled in a four-year postsecondary education program (PSE) participated in a multiple probe design across participants to examine the effect of a Task Analysis app on the participants' completion of three cooking tasks. Results In this present study, the use of video prompting to teach a daily living skill resulted in large and meaningful effect size gains of 99%–100% for all three participants, as measured by Tau-U. Discussion Video prompting is an effective instructional strategy which allows the user to self-prompt and manage their ability to successfully complete daily living skills. In this current study, video prompting made a substantial difference in the safety of participants. Conclusion The use of video prompting can decrease the reliance on others (e.g., teachers and caregivers), improve self-confidence of the user, and improve the user's level of autonomy.