Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), an intellectual impairment, generally characterised by inattentiveness and impulsivity has become prevalent in South African schools. ADHD learners require support from within the classroom to accommodate their academic and behavioural needs. A quantitative research was undertaken to determine the impact of an educator's knowledge of ADHD on teaching support strategies. An educator's ADHD knowledge is based on their understanding of the diagnosis, causes, symptoms and management of ADHD as well as the effect that ADHD has on a learner's classroom skills. Data was obtained from responses to questionnaires from randomly selected respondents within randomly selected government secondary schools in the Umlazi District of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The data was descriptively analysed to conclude that the level of ADHD knowledge possessed by educators impact on the appropriateness of their teaching strategies. There is a need to impart knowledge regarding learning barriers to educators, to ensure the efficacy of teaching strategies. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), an intellectual impairment, generally characterised by inattentiveness and impulsivity has become prevalent in South African schools. ADHD learners require support from within the classroom to accommodate their academic and behavioural needs. A quantitative research was undertaken to determine the impact of an educator's knowledge of ADHD on teaching support strategies. An educator's ADHD knowledge is based on their understanding of the diagnosis, causes, symptoms and management of ADHD as well as the effect that ADHD has on a learner's classroom skills. Data was obtained from responses to questionnaires from randomly selected respondents within randomly selected government secondary schools in the Umlazi District of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The data was descriptively analysed to conclude that the level of ADHD knowledge possessed by educators impact on the appropriateness of their teaching strategies. There is a need to impart knowledge regarding learning barriers to educators, to ensure the efficacy of teaching strategies. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study is to make visible whether, and in these cases how, the children who do not take up so much space gain speaking space and influence in preschool and kindergarten. The goal is to answer the questions about what thoughts preschool teachers have about influence, the children I call the quiet children and what strategies preschool teachers have for including these children. The qualitative survey was conducted with the help of semi-structured interviews where six preschool teachers were interviewed to make visible how they work. The interviews were transcribed, and the results were categorized according to the research questions. The results have been analyzed and interpreted with the help of Vygotsky's sociocultural theory and with a phenomenographic approach, and in the discussion, I have commented on previous research. It appears that the preschool teachers have a greater awareness of including the quiet children than I before the survey had feared in my hypotheses. Preschool teachers do see the problems that exist, and with different strategies they do what they can to see, hear and support these children. Something that also emerges is the strengths that preschool teachers see in the quiet children. Further research could be done by visiting the teaching activities to make observations of what it looks like in reality. / Denna undersökning har som syfte att synliggöra om, och i sådana fall hur, de barn som inte tar så mycket plats får talutrymme och inflytande i förskolan. Målet är att besvara frågorna om vad förskollärarna har för tankar kring inflytande, de barn jag kallar de tysta barnen samt vad förskollärarna har för strategier för att inkludera dessa barn. Den kvalitativa undersökningen har genomförts med hjälp av semistrukturerade intervjuer där sex förskollärare har intervjuats för att synliggöra hur de arbetar. Intervjuerna transkriberades och resultatet kategoriserades utefter frågeställningen. Resultaten har analyserats och tolkats med hjälp av Vygotskys sociokulturella teori samt med fenomenografisk ansats, och i diskussionen har jag jämfört med tidigare forskning.Det framkommer att förskollärarna har en större medvetenhet kring att inkludera de tysta barnen än jag innan undersökningen hade befarat i min hypotes. Förskollärarna ser problematiken som finns, och med olika strategier gör de vad de kan för att se, höra och stötta dessa barn. Något som också framkommer är vilka styrkor som förskollärarna ser hos de tysta barnen. Vidare forskning skulle kunna göras genom att besöka verksamheterna för att göra observationer av hur det ser ut i realiteten.

This study investigates the incorporation of Environmental Education as a phase organiser in learning programmes in the Foundation Phase by educators as recommended by Curriculum 2005. A literature review indicates the role which Environmental Education plays in society. It presents a feasible strategy for changing attitudes to the environment. It is interdisciplinary and holistic, relevant, practical and focuses on learners and learning. It can improve the quality of life of all by enabling people to utilise resources, make informed decisions, apply and transfer knowledge, thereby empowering others. An empirical investigation adopted a qualitative research approach. Participants in a case study from primary schools in the Malamulele area, Northern Province, as well as two specialists were purposefully selected. Multiple methods of data collection, such as observation. and in-depth Interviews based on questionnaires, were used. Photographs and relevant documents complemented the data gathering. Finally, recommendations based on the findings were made. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Environmental Education)

A quantitative, descriptive research study was conducted at a nursing college to investigate the nature of nursing learners' exposure to computer assisted instruction and computer-based learning, the perceived benefits of this exposure, and the problems that they had encountered. Learners, who had been exposed to computer assisted instruction and computer-based learning, participated. A self-administered, structured questionnaire was administered to collect data. The research results revealed that the learners had limited exposure to educational computer packages, and computer-based learning activities. They encountered numerous problems. Although the learners derived many benefits from computer assisted instruction, this did not result in effective learning. They indicated that they preferred computer assisted instruction more than traditional teaching methods. This study contributed towards recommendations on improving learners' access to the necessary facilities, equipment and educational computer software. The researcher also recommended strategies to ensure that computer assisted instruction is based on sound educational principles. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Processing of my thesis is focused on the possibilities of support of the first grade scholars on primary school. In this theoretical part deals with the general characteristics of pupil motivation 1st grade of primary school learning. More detailed characteristics of individual innovative teaching strategies that help to increase pupils motivation for learning, and their importance in education. In the practical part deals with research to determine how teachers think about the motivation of students in relation to the use of innovative teaching strategies and identify innovative teaching strategies and approaches used in teaching. The survey is carried out through a questionnaire completed by the teachers of the first grade of primary school.

Abstract This was a modified integrated mixed methods study of teachers’ perceptions of factors that influence transfer of research-based teaching strategies into classroom practice. Participants were made up of 66 respondents to a researcher made survey, “Survey of Teacher Attitudes toward Change and Classroom Implementation of Research–Based Strategies”. Respondents were divided into two groups based on participation in Louisiana Systemic Initiatives Programs (LaSIP): LaSIP, N= 39 and Non-LaSIP, N= 27. Answers to five research questions were based on analysis of quantitative data from a survey, recorded on a five-point Likert scale and qualitative data from analyses of transcripts of three personal interviews, two focus group discussions and five short-answer questions on the survey. SPSS software version 9 and Atlas.ti version 7 were used in quantitative and qualitative analyses, respectively. Concurrent quantitative and qualitative strands of data were integrated throughout the study. Findings from quantitative data included the following: (1) Teacher perceptions of features of the LaSIP were predictive of reported frequency of use of research-based teaching strategies (RBTS); (2) Reported frequency of use of RBTS was not significantly different in LaSIP versus non-LaSIP teachers, except in reported use of alternative assessments. (3) Both LaSIP and non-LaSIP teachers indicated that implementation of RBTS increased student achievement (4) LaSIP teachers identified factors such as opportunity to collaborate with colleagues, time to acquire content knowledge, practice with material and supplies as features of the LaSIP that influenced implementation of RBTS. (5) Perceived barriers to implementation of RBTS included lack of equipment and lack of teacher input into planning of professional development. and modeling of RBTS as factors that positively influence classroom implementation. Analyses of qualitative data supported many of the findings due to quantitative analyses. Additionally, qualitative data provided more in-depth information concerning teacher perceptions of barriers to implementation such as lack of teacher input into planning and implementation of professional development, and lack of time for in-depth learning during professional development activities. Key Words: Teacher Professional Development, Research-based Teaching Strategies, Classroom Implementation, Science Pedagogy, Mixed Methods, Student Achievement

Sexual abstinence has become the primary response to prevention against sexually transmitted infection (STI) and unplanned pregnancies amongst young people. However, not much is known about the perceptions of young men on sexual abstinence. The central aim in this study was to explore the perceptions of sexual abstinence among young black males. The research aims to examine men’s understandings of their own sexuality and the way these might influence their decision on sexual abstinence. A total of 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted individually with young men aged between 18 and 25 years, studying at The University of the Witwatersrand. All data collected were then qualitatively analysed through the use of thematic content analysis (TCA). Findings show that in constructing their masculinities participants predominantly endorsed discourses of male hegemony. At some instances the young men retracted to subjective alternative masculinities, although there was a stronger need to fit in with their peers, to protect themselves from being ridiculed or rejected. As such conforming to the hegemonic masculinity was expected. The young men constructed women as sexual objects and as a means towards affirming their masculinity. A key conclusion drawn was that some traditional notions of manhood still held sway, and these tied in strongly with how these participants constructed their masculinity and this influenced most of them to not sexually abstain.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur grundskolelärares uppfattning om problemlösning stämmer överens med hur forskning och styrdokument och ser på problemlösning. Undersökningen genomfördes med en kvalitativ forskningsmetod. Genom lärar-observationer och semistrukturerade intervjuer studerade lärares syn på problemlösning och hur de arbetar med problemlösning. Efter genomförandet analyserades lärarnas syn på problemlösning, lärares uppfattningar om syftet, hur de arbetade samt lärarnas roll i arbetet med problemlösning.  Resultatet visar att grundskolelärarna arbetar med problemlösning men att det kan finnas en osäkerhet kring begreppets innebörd och betydelse. Slutsatsen blev att grundskolelärarna till viss del arbetar med vad forskning anser är problemlösning. / The aim of the study is to examine how teachers’ perception of problem solving are consistent with that of which is concluded in both research and the curriculum. The investigation was conducted with a qualitative method. Through teacher observations and semi-structured interviews, we studied teachers' views on problem solving and how they work with problem solving. After the implementation an analysis was made containing teachers' views on problem solving, their perceptions about the aim, how they work and their place in the work on problem solving. The result shows that primary school teachers work with problem solving, but that there may be uncertainty about the meaning and significance of the concept. The conclusion, based on the results, shows that elementary school teachers work to some extent of what science considers problem solving. However, the result also shows that the lack of basic knowledge in the matter has lead to a deficient education in solving problem.

Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, is the leading cause of death among male and female Middle Eastern Americans. In 2016, a medical center located in the northeastern region of the United States had an estimated 35% of heart failure patients readmitted within 30 days of discharge, 10% of these readmitted patients belonged to the local Middle Eastern community. The gap in nursing practice noted by nursing staff, patients, and their families was that the patient education materials on heart failure were not tailored to the cultural beliefs and customs of this high-risk population. The purpose of this project was to adapt the American Heart Association teaching tools on heart failure education to the Middle Eastern community to enhance compliance with treatment care plans, minimize days spent in the hospital, and decrease the readmission rates. The practice-focused question explored whether a team of experts could adapt heart failure education materials for the Middle Eastern community. An expert team met weekly to adapt the teaching materials to include information regarding effective communication techniques, adaptation to religious strictures, and modification of behavioral risks specific to Middle Eastern cultures. The information gathered was compiled and will be shared with the host medical facility. The positive social change resulting from this project might include improved culturally appropriate communication and support for the medical center's Middle Eastern population of heart failure patients, which may result in improved health outcomes.