Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Student-centred teaching'

This thesis reports the findings of an essentially phenomenographic research study into nurse teachers’ Conceptions of Student-Centred Teaching and Student-Centred Approaches to Teaching. The focus on the experience of student-centred aspects of teaching is a departure from previous research from this perspective in Higher Education that has focused upon teachers’ experience of teaching. The approach and focus of this study is also a departure from research into student-centred teaching in nurse education. Previous research in Higher Education has identified and reported qualitative variation in conceptions of teaching and qualitative variation in approaches to teaching and these have been categorised as either teacher-centred or student-centred. However, the interpretation and separation of conceptions of teaching and approaches to teaching has been largely as a result of the researchers’ interpretation of what it means to be teacher-centred or student-centred in teaching. This study aimed at identifying the qualitative variation that exists in conceptions of student-centred teaching and student-centred approaches to teaching from the perspectives of those nurse teachers who claimed to adopt student-centred methods in their teaching practice. The findings of this study indicate that there are significant qualitative differences in nurse teachers’ conceptions of student-centred teaching and their approaches to student-centred teaching than has hitherto been identified. In both cases a limited number of qualitatively different categories of description were identified (5 in each case) ranging from approaches to teaching that result in the reproduction of expert knowledge and skills to students developing their professional attitudes and values (affective components), and acquisition of disciplinary concepts and skills to student self-empowerment conceptions of student-centred teaching. This study also reports that the relations between conceptions of student-centred teaching and student-centred approaches to teaching are significantly different from previous research in this area, and suggests that some teachers holding student development conceptions of student- centred teaching adopt a similar sophisticated approach to student-centred teaching despite the existence of qualitative variation in their conceptions of student-centred teaching. This research extends our awareness of the experience of student-centred teaching. Finally, the implications of these findings for teacher development are discussed.

This study analysed the educational life histories of five EFL teachers at a Mexican university. The aims of the study were: 1) to explore how these teachers’ beliefs about student-centred learning had evolved over the course of their lives; and 2) to examine the relationships between their beliefs and teaching practices at different points in time. In order to achieve these aims, a life history approach was adopted, which incorporated a series of extended interviews as well as an innovative timeline activity. Classroom observations and student focus groups were also included, mainly for triangulation purposes. The four main findings which emerged from the study were as follows. Firstly, all five teachers’ felt their early beliefs about teaching were predominately teacher-centred, which appeared to be linked to their immersion in the generally teacher-centred Mexican educational culture. Secondly, all five teachers felt that their beliefs eventually became more student-centred over the course of their educational life histories. These changes towards more student-centred beliefs were attributed to a number of experiences the teachers had over the course of their lives, and in particular, the characteristics of certain training courses. Thirdly, despite all the teachers eventually starting to believe in more student-centred approaches, they reported that they were rarely able to fully put these beliefs into practices. These mismatches between beliefs and practices seem to have been linked to a number of contextual constraints which they encountered within their working contexts. Finally, all five teachers started to believe in more “hybrid” approaches to teaching by the ends of their educational life histories. This implied using a combination of teacher- and student-centred practices, depending on how appropriate they were perceived to be within their specific contexts. The emergence of this more “hybrid” approach raises important questions about what we should realistically expect from educational changes and whether student-centred learning should still be considered the undisputed “gold standard” of education.

This thesis is about the recent education reform in Laos as a global and a local process. When the economy was deteriorating in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the so called New Economic Mechanism (NEM) was introduced and the country opened up for global donors and markets. This also had an effect on the education system. To get hold of financial support there were demands on Lao PDR to replace the previous strong centralised governing of education with more decentralised strategies. There were further demands to replace teacher-led lessons and rote learning with more student-centred classroom practices. The research questions asked in this thesis are: How are education reform and the new methods of teaching governed in policy and through the formal education organisations from ministry level to school level? How do teachers and students in teacher education respond to the education reform and the new methods of teaching? What attention is put to gender and ethnic minorities in these matters? The thesis is inspired by Gita Steiner-Khamsi’s global perspectives on education reform; consensus, conflict and culturalist perspectives. It is also based on a local understanding taking its starting point in a pragmatic approach and a mosaic epistemology and a qualitative inductive methodological approach. The empirical findings are based on 36 documents that govern the education reform, 119 individual interviews with teachers and students in social science and science at teacher education, some observations and a contextual analysis of education, gender and ethnicity in Laos. The findings show that there is a consensus with the international community about bringing education to all people in Lao PDR. However, the political understanding is in conflict between neoliberal and socialist traditions. Democratic centralism is the foundation which built the governing system in Laos; information flows up through the system and decisions down. Even though the system leaves 20 percent autonomy to teachers to develop local curricula in line with the new methods of teaching, there are yet no major signs that such curricula exist. Teacher educators and teacher students understand new methods of teaching mainly as group learning and individual learning with only small variations between the two subjects. According to current policy the goal is to improve access to education for females and ethnic minority students. The ethnic minority students regarded individual studies as difficult because of language problems. They preferred group learning because they could be supported in language issues. Females also felt supported in group learning. However, because of old gender traditions especially females from the dominating Lao Loum group also found individual learning supportive. In individual learning females got opportunities to show individual capacities without being constrained by societal norms. The thesis ends up in a pragmatic tradition where possibilities and constraints with the education reform in Lao PDR are commented on.

Mathematics has been seen to act as a ‘critical filter’ in the social, economic and professional development of individuals. The Island of Mauritius relies to a great extent on its human resource power to meet the challenges of recent technological developments, and a substantial core of mathematics is needed to prepare students for their involvements in these challenges. After an analysis of the School Certificate examination results for the past ten years in Mauritius, it was found that boys were out-performing girls in mathematics at that level. This study aimed to examine this gender difference in mathematics performance at the secondary level by exploring factors affecting mathematics teaching and learning, and by identifying and implementing strategies to enhance positive factors. The study was conducted using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology in three phases. A survey approach was used in the Phase One of the study to analyse the performance of selected students from seventeen schools across Mauritius in a specially designed mathematics test. The attitudes of these students were also analysed through administration of the Modified Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scale questionnaire. In Phase Two a case study method was employed, involving selected students from four Mauritian secondary schools. After the administration of the two instruments used in Phase One to these selected students, qualitative techniques were introduced. These included classroom observations and interviews of students, teachers, parents and key informants. Data from these interviews assisted in analysing and interpreting the influence of these individuals on students, and the influence of the students’ own attitudes towards mathematics on their learning of mathematics.The results of Phases One and Two provided further evidence that boys were outperforming girls in mathematics at the secondary level in Mauritius. It was noted that students rated teachers highly in influencing their learning of mathematics. However, the teaching methods usually employed in the mathematics classrooms were found to be teacher-centered, and it was apparent that there existed a lack of opportunity for students to be involved in their own learning. It was also determined that parents and peers played a significant role in students’ learning of mathematics. After having analysed the difficulties students encountered in their mathematical studies, a package was designed with a view to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject at the secondary level. The package was designed to promote student-centred practices, where students would be actively involved in their own learning, and to foster appropriate use of collaborative learning. It was anticipated that the package would motivate students towards learning mathematics and would enhance their conceptual understanding of the subject. The efficacy of the package was examined in Phase Three of the study when students from a number of Mauritian secondary schools engaged with the package over a period of three months. Pre- and post-tests were used to measure students’ achievement gains. The What Is Happening in This Class (WIHIC) questionnaire also was used to analyse issues related to the affective domains of the students. An overall appreciation of the approaches used in the teaching and learning package was provided by students in the form of self-reports.The outcomes of the Third Phase demonstrated an improvement in the achievement of students in the areas of mathematics which were tested. The students’ perceptions of the classroom learning environment were also found to be positive. Through their self-reports, students demonstrated an appreciation for the package’s strategies used in motivating them to learn mathematics and in helping them gain a better understanding of the mathematical concepts introduced.

This thesis examines the potential of experiential education as a 'best practice' pedagogy for pre-service teacher education in environmental education. The study involves forty pre-service teachers working collaboratively with the researcher in 1998 to test the assumptions of two previous groups of beginning teachers (1996 and 1997) who indicated in their course evaluations that experiential education may provide an effective teaching and learning approach for environmental education. This study combines two approaches to participative inquiry: action inquiry and cooperative inquiry. Both research approaches promote reflection-in-action and involve groups of individuals working collaboratively together as reflective practitioners. The data sources included reflective journals, a researcher diary, pre and post course questionnaires, individual interviews and group interviews. The environmental education course is a single case study and reflects the experience of three groups of students. The first group completed a 20 hour course in experiential education before starting the environmental education course, the second group completed both courses concurrently, while the third group only completed the environmental education course. The purpose of the literature review in experiential education and environmental education in teacher education is to provide a rationale for using a transformative teaching and learning approach in pre-service teacher education for environmental education. Contemporary best practice pedagogical approaches for environmental education are supported by many of the core principles of experiential education highlighting compatibility between theory and practice. The findings show that a transformative teaching and learning approach in environmental education was achieved by combining four key characteristics of experiential education in a holistic process. The four characteristics included reflection, connection to personal experience, emotionally engaged learning and student-centred teaching and learning. The impact of combining these four characteristics resulted in higher interest, motivation and enthusiasm for achieving the social action outcomes of environmental education. Thus, the pre-service teachers confirmed a synergy emerged between the outcomes of environmental education and the pedagogical process of experiential education. The experiential approach allowed the pre-service teachers to engage in the role of the critical reflective practitioner. Consequently, the pre-service teachers were able to identify the potential and possibilities for implementing experiential education strategies in environmental education and also recognise and challenge the barriers that confine and constrain its use in teacher education and formal schooling. As a consequence the pre-service teachers identified that working in collaborative groups of reflective practitioners was essential to continue developing effective facilitation skills and also to help them challenge traditional practice that limited their professional development. They also identified significant changes to the pre-service environmental education course to ensure a higher quality experience for subsequent groups of beginning teachers. The study highlights the need for more research into how well beginning teacher implementing environmental education function as reflective practitioners in their first few years in teaching and are able to challenge the barriers that limit transformative pedagogical approaches in schools.

This thesis examines the potential of experiential education as a 'best practice' pedagogy for pre-service teacher education in environmental education. The study involves forty pre-service teachers working collaboratively with the researcher in 1998 to test the assumptions of two previous groups of beginning teachers (1996 and 1997) who indicated in their course evaluations that experiential education may provide an effective teaching and learning approach for environmental education. This study combines two approaches to participative inquiry: action inquiry and cooperative inquiry. Both research approaches promote reflection-in-action and involve groups of individuals working collaboratively together as reflective practitioners. The data sources included reflective journals, a researcher diary, pre and post course questionnaires, individual interviews and group interviews. The environmental education course is a single case study and reflects the experience of three groups of students. The first group completed a 20 hour course in experiential education before starting the environmental education course, the second group completed both courses concurrently, while the third group only completed the environmental education course. The purpose of the literature review in experiential education and environmental education in teacher education is to provide a rationale for using a transformative teaching and learning approach in pre-service teacher education for environmental education. Contemporary best practice pedagogical approaches for environmental education are supported by many of the core principles of experiential education highlighting compatibility between theory and practice. The findings show that a transformative teaching and learning approach in environmental education was achieved by combining four key characteristics of experiential education in a holistic process. The four characteristics included reflection, connection to personal experience, emotionally engaged learning and student-centred teaching and learning. The impact of combining these four characteristics resulted in higher interest, motivation and enthusiasm for achieving the social action outcomes of environmental education. Thus, the pre-service teachers confirmed a synergy emerged between the outcomes of environmental education and the pedagogical process of experiential education. The experiential approach allowed the pre-service teachers to engage in the role of the critical reflective practitioner. Consequently, the pre-service teachers were able to identify the potential and possibilities for implementing experiential education strategies in environmental education and also recognise and challenge the barriers that confine and constrain its use in teacher education and formal schooling. As a consequence the pre-service teachers identified that working in collaborative groups of reflective practitioners was essential to continue developing effective facilitation skills and also to help them challenge traditional practice that limited their professional development. They also identified significant changes to the pre-service environmental education course to ensure a higher quality experience for subsequent groups of beginning teachers. The study highlights the need for more research into how well beginning teacher implementing environmental education function as reflective practitioners in their first few years in teaching and are able to challenge the barriers that limit transformative pedagogical approaches in schools.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Australian School of Environmental Studies
Faculty of Environmental Sciences
Full Text

Whilst there are numerous studies on young people’s engagement in academic study, the internal relationship between young people and academic study is still unclear. This thesis seeks to explain the relation of young people to their academic study, in the context of Brunei Darussalam, through analysing young people’s motive hierarchy. The research is based on the understanding that young people are faced with multiple contradicting demands from the society, which evolve with their developmental age. The contradicting demands generate conflicts for young people as they participate across the different institutional practices in their everyday lives. The research entailed a semi-participatory research approach, which emphasised young people’s lived experiences, from a first-person perspective. Eight (8) young people aged 16-18 years who are studying for their GCE A Level examinations, played roles as both trained Student Researchers, as well as participants in this research. Data were collected from focus group discussions, annotated photo albums (MyAlbum) and a ‘participant self-generated’ questionnaire (MyQuestionnaire). The focus of the data collection was on the young people’s experiences of conflicts with respect to their academic study and the different agendas in their everyday lives. Intermediary tools were developed to focus the data analysis to identify motive-orientations and their relative importance in the construct of the motive hierarchy of a young person. An initial general model of motive hierarchy was developed from this study too. It is a societal demand for young people in late adolescence to be vocational and career oriented. However this study shows the eight (8) young people are also oriented towards other objects, apart from being future oriented. They can still have a dominant motive-orientation towards intimate personal relations, which usually prevails for early adolescence. Two other motive-orientations have also emerged from this study, i.e. the societal value system and self-comfort related. These different motive-orientations of the young people contradict the societal demands and create conflicts for the young people as they participate in and across the practices. These findings are important in informing intervention programmes to improve young people’s engagement in academic study.

This study is about young adolescents' engagement in learning science. The middle years of schooling are critical in the development of students' interest and engagement with learning. Successful school experiences enhance dispositions towards a career related to those experiences. Poor experiences lead to negative attitudes and rejection of certain career pathways. At a time when students are becoming more aware, more independent and focused on peer relationships and social status, the high school environment in some circumstances offers more a content-centred curriculum that is less personally relevant to their lives than the social melee surrounding them. Science education can further exacerbate the situation by presenting abstract concepts that have limited contextual relevance and a seemingly difficult vocabulary that further alienates adolescents from the curriculum. In an attempt to reverse a perceived growing disinterest by students to science (Goodrum, Druhan & Abbs, 2011), a study was initiated based on a student-centred unit designed to enhance and sustain adolescent engagement in science. The premise of the study was that adolescent students are more responsive toward learning if they are given an appropriate learning environment that helps connect their learning with life beyond the school. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of young adolescents with the aim of transforming school learning in science into meaningful experiences that connected with their lives. Two areas were specifically canvassed and subsumed within the study to strengthen the design base. One area that of the middle schooling ideology, offered specific pedagogical approaches and a philosophical framework that could provide opportunities for reform. The other area, the construct of scientific literacy (OECD, 2007) as defined by Holbrook and Rannikmae, (2009) appeared to provide a sense of purpose for students to aim toward and value for becoming active citizens. The study reported here is a self-reflection of a teacher/researcher exploring practice and challenging existing approaches to the teaching of science in the middle years of schooling. The case study approach (Yin, 2003) was adopted to guide the design of the study. Over a 6-month period, the researcher, an experienced secondary-science teacher, designed, implemented and documented a range of student-centred pedagogical practices with a Year-7 secondary science class. Data for this case study included video recordings, journals, interviews and surveys of students. Both quantitative and qualitative data sources were employed in a partially mixed methods research approach (Leech & Onwuegbuzie, 2009) dominated by qualitative data with the concurrent collection of quantitative data to corroborate interpretations as a means of analysing and developing a model of the dynamic learning environment. The findings from the case study identified five propositions that became the basis for a model of a student-centred learning environment that was able to sustain student participation and thus engagement in science. The study suggested that adolescent student engagement can be promoted and sustained by providing a classroom climate that encourages and strengthens social interaction. Engagement in science can be enhanced by presenting developmentally appropriate challenges that require rigorous exploration of contextually relevant learning environments; supporting students to develop connections with a curriculum that aligns with their own experiences. By setting an environment empathetic to adolescent needs and understandings, students were able to actively explore phenomena collaboratively through developmentally appropriate experiences. A significant outcome of this study was the transformative experiences of an insider, the teacher as researcher, whose reflections provide an authentic model for reforming pedagogy. The model and theory presented became an adjunct to my repertoire for science teaching in the middle years of schooling. The study was rewarding in that it helped address a void in my understanding of middle years of schooling by prompting me to re-think the notion of adolescence in the context of the science classroom. This study is timely given the report "The Status and Quality of Year 11 and 12 Science in Australian Schools" (Goodrum, Druhan & Abbs, 2011) and national curricular changes that are being proposed for science (ACARA, 2009).

This thesis analyses the implementation of a student-centred learning approach at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), in the context of the current curricular reform. The main objective of the thesis is to gain understanding of the implementation of a student-centred learning approach and how the innovation is related to the acquisition of teachers’ pedagogical competence at the above mentioned university. A sociocultural approach and more specifically Cultural Historical Activity Theory is used as a theoretical framework given that it provides a view of learning as a context based social activity. A qualitative approach based on document analysis, classroom observations and semi-structured interviews with different actors in the process of teaching, learning and teacher training was used. The findings of the three studies carried out and presented in four articles in the thesis show that the lecturers do not feel ownership of the curriculum reform introducing the new pedagogical approach, and revealed a conflict of interests in the process of implementation of the reform. Students appear to be unclear about the significance of the new approach and they cannot judge if it is correctly implemented. Contextual factors such as a high number of students in the classroom, poor infrastructure and inadequate access to educational resources also affect the students’ performance in their learning. The university teachers expressed a need for training and the creation of adequate material conditions in order to be able to apply the innovations. However, signs of positive attitudes towards this approach were also revealed by the informants, which demonstrates the existing potential of the reform. It was found that the role of the teacher is crucial in making students active, motivated and self-regulated. Moreover, the students’ active learning depends on several factors, such as contextual, social and psychological aspects of the process. In relation to the acquisition of teachers’ pedagogical competence, a comparative study of the official documents of Eduardo Mondlane University and Umeå University explicitly shows a focus on the development of pedagogical competence for all categories of teachers. However, due to significant differences in historical pre-conditions, cultural contexts and educational artefacts the findings revealed many differences in the corresponding collective activity systems. In conclusion, the thesis indicates that the implementation of student-centred learning at UEM depends on the availability of good educational infrastructure and also the development of human resources. Furthermore, less hierarchical communication at the university could accelerate the process.

This study examines how closely aligned the teaching and learning practices, in selected mixed-mode programmes are with a student-centred approach as well as the impact of the practices on the quality of learning and teaching in a New Zealand Māori institution.Using a sequential, mixed-methods research approach, a survey was conducted in class followed by one-to-one interviews with the tutors and students in the sample to gather their perceptions and views regarding learning and teaching practices.

Mathematics has been seen to act as a ‘critical filter’ in the social, economic and professional development of individuals. The Island of Mauritius relies to a great extent on its human resource power to meet the challenges of recent technological developments, and a substantial core of mathematics is needed to prepare students for their involvements in these challenges. After an analysis of the School Certificate examination results for the past ten years in Mauritius, it was found that boys were out-performing girls in mathematics at that level. This study aimed to examine this gender difference in mathematics performance at the secondary level by exploring factors affecting mathematics teaching and learning, and by identifying and implementing strategies to enhance positive factors. The study was conducted using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology in three phases. A survey approach was used in the Phase One of the study to analyse the performance of selected students from seventeen schools across Mauritius in a specially designed mathematics test. The attitudes of these students were also analysed through administration of the Modified Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Scale questionnaire. In Phase Two a case study method was employed, involving selected students from four Mauritian secondary schools. After the administration of the two instruments used in Phase One to these selected students, qualitative techniques were introduced. These included classroom observations and interviews of students, teachers, parents and key informants. Data from these interviews assisted in analysing and interpreting the influence of these individuals on students, and the influence of the students’ own attitudes towards mathematics on their learning of mathematics.
The results of Phases One and Two provided further evidence that boys were outperforming girls in mathematics at the secondary level in Mauritius. It was noted that students rated teachers highly in influencing their learning of mathematics. However, the teaching methods usually employed in the mathematics classrooms were found to be teacher-centered, and it was apparent that there existed a lack of opportunity for students to be involved in their own learning. It was also determined that parents and peers played a significant role in students’ learning of mathematics. After having analysed the difficulties students encountered in their mathematical studies, a package was designed with a view to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject at the secondary level. The package was designed to promote student-centred practices, where students would be actively involved in their own learning, and to foster appropriate use of collaborative learning. It was anticipated that the package would motivate students towards learning mathematics and would enhance their conceptual understanding of the subject. The efficacy of the package was examined in Phase Three of the study when students from a number of Mauritian secondary schools engaged with the package over a period of three months. Pre- and post-tests were used to measure students’ achievement gains. The What Is Happening in This Class (WIHIC) questionnaire also was used to analyse issues related to the affective domains of the students. An overall appreciation of the approaches used in the teaching and learning package was provided by students in the form of self-reports.
The outcomes of the Third Phase demonstrated an improvement in the achievement of students in the areas of mathematics which were tested. The students’ perceptions of the classroom learning environment were also found to be positive. Through their self-reports, students demonstrated an appreciation for the package’s strategies used in motivating them to learn mathematics and in helping them gain a better understanding of the mathematical concepts introduced.

Educational reforms currently being enacted in Kuwaiti Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) in response to contemporary demands for increased student-centred teaching and learning are challenging for FCS teachers due to their limited experience with student-centred learning tools such as Graphic Organisers (GOs). To adopt these reforms, Kuwaiti teachers require a better understanding of and competency in promoting cognitive learning processes that will maximise student-centred learning approaches. This study followed the experiences of four Grade 6 FCS Kuwaiti teachers as they undertook a Professional Development (PD) program specifically designed to advance their understanding of the use of GOs and then as they implemented what they had learned in their Grade 6 FCS classroom. The PD program developed for this study was informed by Nasseh.s competency PD model as well as Piaget and Ausubel.s cognitive theories. This model enabled an assessment and evaluation of the development of the teachers. competencies as an outcome of the PD program in terms of the adoption of GOs, in particular, and their capacity to use GOs to engage students in personalised, in-depth, learning through critical thinking and understanding. The research revealed that the PD program was influential in reforming the teachers. learning, understanding of and competency in, cognitive and visual theories of learning, so that they facilitated student-centred teaching and learning processes that enabled students to adopt and adapt GOs in constructivist learning. The implementation of five GOs - Flow Chart, Concept Maps, K-W-L Chart, Fishbone Diagram and Venn Diagram - as learning tools in classrooms was investigated to find if changes in pedagogical approach for supporting conceptual learning through cognitive information processing would reduce the cognitive work load of students and produce better learning approaches. The study as evidenced by the participant teachers. responses and classroom observations, showed a marked increase in student interest, participation, critical thought, problem solving skills, as a result of using GOs, compared to using traditional teaching and learning methods. A theoretical model was developed from the study based on the premise that teachers. knowledge of the subject, pedagogy and student learning precede the implementation of student-centred learning reform, that it plays an important role in the implementation of student-centred learning and that it brings about a change in teaching practice. The model affirmed that observed change in teaching-practice included aspects of teachers. beliefs, as well as confidence and effect on workplace and on student learning, including engagement, understanding, critical thinking and problem solving. The model assumed that change in teaching practice is inseparable from teachers. lifelong PD needs related to knowledge, understanding, skills and competency. These findings produced a set of preliminary guidelines for establishing student-centred constructivist strategies in Kuwaiti education while retaining Kuwait.s cultural uniqueness.

The lessons from Catalonia and Sweden, based in instrumental or vocal music performance, are analysed taking into account the respective teachers’ goals and practices. The implications of the two different methodologies used, top-down big ensemble and collaborative small groups, and their relationship to constructivist pedagogies are discussed.

The purpose of the thesis is to explore excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL), its philosophical underpinnings, pedagogical implications and possibilities. How pedagogic devices can be used to encourage tutors' reflections on EBL, and is concerned with producing and sharing knowledge in relation facilitating student-centred teaching and learning practices. The study is in the tradition of practitioner research, where my role was that of an educational developer at the Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-based Learning. It is centred around the development of EBL models as pedagogic instruments to facilitate tutors' reflections on their practice. The thesis investigates how to facilitate the incorporation of more student-centred approaches into tutors' practice in a UK university through employing EBL models as a tool for reflection, how these models were introduced to tutors, and the findings from the process. A critical action research approach was undertaken for the educational development practitioner research journey. The primary methods of data collection consisted of interviews with students and tutors, and data obtained during individual reflections and group discussions in a series of workshops that involved tutors studying EBL models. Thirty-one tutors were involved in these workshops and interviews where they quantitatively and qualitatively explored multiple dimensions of teaching and learning. Content analysis of the results was conducted on the data with an emphasis on dilemma analysis to gain insights into tutors' decisions about their practice, and an empirical abductive strategy was employed to inform the development of new EBL models. In the course of the action research phases two new EBL models were iteratively developed informed by the literature and stakeholders. Finally, a new Student Involvement in Learning and Teaching Model was proposed, empirically abducted from student narratives derived from photo-elicited interviews. This Model constituted the development of a new conceptual framework for thinking about EBL within the context of broader teaching and learning practice. This study articulates new student involvement dimensions which conveyed the nature of power within the proximal processes of teaching and learning. The thesis contributes towards the practice of educational development by documenting both the process and outcomes of introducing EBL and learning and teaching models to tutors as reflective instruments, and by proposing a new perspective on excellence in EBL where student involvement is enhanced when reciprocal power relationships exist in the proximal processes between tutors and students. Tutor decisions were framed as a series of dilemmas created by external contextual influences (the University social micro, meso, exo and macro-systems); and internal factors (the tutors' personal force-resource characteristics) which affected tutors' reported actual and espoused ideal practice. The data demonstrated that most tutors espoused including more EBL, but they preferred an incremental change in their practice.

This paper examines how we discuss social issues in the L2 classroom under the guidelines of Lgr11. To answer this, I ask the following sub-questions; How are the overall goals of education and parts (see Appendix B) of the Curriculum for English currently perceived by English teachers? How are the social subjects in the L2 classroom currently handled? Thirdly, what kind of lesson plan can be implemented in the classroom context under the guidelines of Lgr11? Looking at past research and relevant documents along with the qualitative data and through a triangulation of evidence carried out consisting of semi-structured interviews, supported by netnography research I propose a lesson plan using the collaborative action research model. All data was collected through technical means such as Zoom, phone calls and Facebook groups. The results of the interviews with teachers have shown that there is a unity in some respects with similar interpretations of Lgr11 and the curriculum. As well as differences of views and approaches concerning social issues in the L2 classroom. Based on the netnography research findings, most tasks given consisted of receptive skills while productive skills were used less. The netnography also supported the interview findings in the claim that popular topics were used more, whereas unpopular topics were neglected significantly. CLIL as a method was found to be absent in most of the collected data with some exceptions.

This thesis comprises a critical review and suggestions for enhancement of the Community of Inquiry Framework (CoIF), the frequently cited model of collaborative community-based online learning. It combines a systematic engagement of relevant literature and research, with the application of the CoIF thinking to six of my peer-reviewed publications. Although not initially conceived as forming part of a doctorate submission, these publications are drawn upon throughout this narrative, to assist my interrogation of the CoIF. They are also used to provide evidence of my continuing journey as an education researcher. This thesis is therefore not an exegesis – a traditional meta-narrative encompassing this candidate’s publications. It moves beyond my findings in the publications to create and present supplementary concepts, and develop pointed guidance about using the Framework in supporting online learning in tertiary education. My review first critically interrogates the three constituent elements or Presences of the CoIF. Social presence emerges as a highly complex and multi-faceted construct, in which the de-emphasising of the affective in the CoIF seems at variance with current research reporting the strong student emotional response to working online, and particularly in collaborative, community-based groupings. Then, in Cognitive presence, there has been little consideration of, and specificity about, reflection in the CoIF. My critique proposes that reflection and critical thinking are distinct but inter-related concepts; both of which need to be addressed. Teaching presence is renamed ‘Tutoring presence’ informed by my review based upon my emergent understandings of student-centred learning. Two enhancements to the CoIF are then proposed, together with the rationale for establishment of a Tutors’ Network. The first enhancement, referred to as 'the Influences,’ unites and enriches the individual Presences. The second argues for the existence and use of a personal learning retreat at the heart of a community of inquiry, addressing a perceived omission in the CoIF. This learner ‘space’ provides a ‘quiet, safe place’ for the private (internal) world of the learner, as a foil to the shared collaborative space in the CoIF (the external world). Finally, a Tutors’ Network is outlined as a vehicle for advancing their understandings and knowledge of online, collaborative, community-based learning in general, and in particular of communities of inquiry. This should develop the abilities of online tutors, improve their learners’ educational experiences and encourage research and scholarship into the CoIF.

The abstract dwells on the key issues related to the necessity of changing teacher-student partnership formats in the context of learner-centred approach to teaching foreign languages. The interpretation of "learner-centredness" as a concept is put into the humanistic perspective, the perspective of practical necessity, and the curriculum design perspective.
Тези розглядають основні питання взаємодії викладача та студента у контексті студентоцентричного підходу до викладання іноземних мов. "Студентоцентризм" як концепт інтерпретується з точки зору гуманістичної перспективи, практичної необхідності зміни форматів співробітництва викладача та студента та перспектив розробки навчальних робочих програм з іноземних мов.

Geography, more than other subjects in the curriculum, plays a central role in general education in equipping learners with skills and competencies needed for modern living and global citizenship. A learner-centred education in Namibia was adopted to provide more opportunities for learners to develop the required skills and competencies irrespective of their different cultural background. This small-scale case study investigated three Grade 10 geography teachers' understanding and implementation ofa learner-centred approach to gain insights into how leamer-centred education is being implemented in the context of Geography. The research design adopted a qualitative approach within an interpretative orientation. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations and documentary analysis. The research was conducted at three selected schools in Oshikoto Region with three Grade 10 geography teachers The findings revealed, firstly, that teachers have a limited understanding of the key ideas ofLCE, such as, prior knowledge, role of questioning, and social interaction in learning; use of resources and the types of assessment activities which comply with the aims of LCE. Seconclly, the findings revealed that the policy documents, such as syllabuses, that are being used by the participants are not in line with the tenets ofLCE. Thirdly, teachers appeared to have limited subject knowledge, as revealed by their lack of understanding of how to translate the aims and assessment objectives into their daily lessons. The study therefore raises some possibilities for improving the implementation of LCE in the selected schools if the gaps as identified by this study are reduced.

Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the understanding of and experiences in the implementation of learner-centred education (LCE) and enquiry-based teaching of Grade 10 Geography teachers against the backdrop of curriculum reform in Namibia. The Namibian curriculum is premised on the view that there is a need for the holistic development and preparation of learners for a knowledge-based society. Globally, LCE, with its potential for broadening access to quality education, has been a recurring theme of national reform policies and has been promoted as an innovative way of teaching. The usefulness of the LCE approach and associated enquiry-based teaching is embedded in constructivism and is introduced with the promise that it will enable learners to develop investigative and critical thinking skills that will put them at the centre of learning. This interpretative study employed a case study approach that utilised qualitative methods to gather information on the experiences of the three Geography teachers at the sampled schools as they implement LCE and enquiry-based teaching. The main data-gathering techniques in phases 1 and 2 of the research respectively were semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The findings revealed that the teachers have different understandings of what LCE and enquiry-based teaching approaches are, although their teaching employs some elements of it. The research also indicated that there is one big factor that impinges on their implementation of LCE and enquiry-based teaching approaches. The teachers admitted that, due to the pressure of learner success in the end-of-year Grade 10 examination, they rather teach to the test. This diverts their teaching from focusing on implementing approaches that actively involve learners in the learning process and nurture enquiry skills when these skills are not formally assessed in examinations. Consequently, teachers fail to implement the syllabus as intended by policy makers and curriculum developers. Even though the findings of this study may be specific to the sampled schools and the participating teachers, it can be assumed that similar situations exist in schools with comparable contexts. It is therefore important that education policy makers and relevant stakeholders strive to allocate sufficient support and resources for teachers to implement LCE and enquiry-based teaching effectively in schools.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die verstaan van en ervarings met die implementering van leerder-gesentreerde en ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrig van Graad 10 Geografie-onderwysers teen die agtergrond van kurrikulumhervorming in Namibië. Die Namibiese leerplan berus op die siening dat daar „n behoefte is aan die holistiese ontwikkeling en voorbereiding van leerders vir „n kennis-gebaseerde samelewing. Leerder-gesentreerde onderrig met sy potensiaal om toegang tot gehalte onderwys te verbreed, is „n tema wat wêreldwyd herhaaldelik in nasionale hervormingsbeleid voorkom en as „n innoverende wyse van onderrig bevorder word. Die nut van die leerder-gesentreerde benadering en gepaardgaande ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrig is in konstruktivisme gebaseer en word voorgestel met die belofte dat dit leerders in staat sal stel om ondersoekende en kritiese denkvaardighede te ontwikkel, wat hulle sentraal in die leerproses sal plaas. Hierdie interpretatiewe studie het 'n gevallestudie-benadering gevolg en kwalitatiewe metodes gebruik om inligting in te samel oor die ervarings van drie Geografie-onderwysers se implementering van leerder-gesentreerde en ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrig by skole wat as steekproef gekies is. Die belangrikste onderskeidelike data-insamelingstegnieke in fases 1 en 2 van die navorsing was semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en klaskamerwaarneming. Die bevindinge toon dat die onderwysers verskillende begrippe handhaaf van wat leerder-gesentreerde en ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrigbenaderings behels, hoewel hulle onderrig sommige elemente daarvan toon. Die navorsing het ook aangedui dat een belangrike faktor inbreuk doen op hul implementering van leerder-gesentreerde en ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrigbenaderings. Die onderwysers het erken dat die druk van leerdersukses in die graad 10-eksamen aan die einde van die jaar hulle eerder met die oog op die toets laat onderrig gee. Dit verplaas die fokus van hul onderrig weg van die implementering van benaderings wat leerders aktief by die leerproses betrek en die koestering van ondersoekvaardighede, veral ook omdat hierdie vaardighede nie formeel in eksamens beoordeel word nie. Onderwysers slaag gevolglik nie daarin om die leerplan soos beleidmakers en kurrikulum-ontwikkelaars dit bedoel, te implementeer nie. Selfs al sou die bevindinge van hierdie studie slegs spesifiek op die betrokke skole en die deelnemende onderwysers betrekking hê, kan aanvaar word dat soortgelyke situasies in skole in vergelykbare kontekste bestaan. Dit is dus belangrik dat onderwysbeleidmakers en relevante rolspelers daarna moet streef om voldoende ondersteuning en hulpbronne vir onderwysers beskikbaar te stel om leerder-gesentreerde en ondersoek-gebaseerde onderrig effektief in skole te implementeer.

Learner-centred education has been in force in all schools in the Republic of Namibia since 1996. Progress towards adoption of learner-centred methods of teaching by teachers has been slow. The main purpose of this study is to examine how teachers understand the principles of learner-centred education in selected Secondary Schools in Omaheke Education Region. The secondary purpose of this study is to determine how teachers could be helped to improve the implementation of learner-centred education (LCE). The study used a qualitative approach. Data were collected from a purposively selected sample of Grade 10 accounting teachers in a specific region in Namibia by means of interviews, classroom observations and a qualitative questionnaire. Data were analysed thematically. The results indicated that, although the teachers had a positive attitude towards learner-centred education, they did not have the skills to adapt their teaching in an appropriate way to cope with the learner‟s lack of English literacy. The teachers possessed basic knowledge of learner-centred education practices, but found it very difficult to implement them in resource-poor environments. In addition, factors that hindered the effective implementation of learner-centred education in the classroom were identified. The study suggests ways to improve the knowledge and practices of teachers with regard to learner-centred teaching practices.

This study sought to develop a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of professional growth in pre-service teachers during their final practicum. The research was situated in a primary school and involved three pre-service teachers with widely differing backgrounds who brought differing experiences to the practicum. The study identified personal and contextual variables that affected the pre-service teachers’ professional growth and explored how professional discourse within a learning community of peers, informed by multiple perspectives on teaching practice that were facilitated by video, influenced professional growth. This qualitative research project used a broad phenomenological approach in that the methods used were designed to illuminate the process of a pre-service teacher becoming a teacher. Data were gathered over a six month period using semi-structured pre and post interviews, direct observations, video recordings of lessons, audio recordings of video discussion meetings, student questionnaires, and written feedback and reflections. Triangulated data from multiple sources were collated for each case, then open coded and grouped into themes. Cross-case analysis identified patterns in the emerging themes across all three cases, forming the basis for the discussion. This study found that pre-service teachers’ beliefs about the roles of teachers and learners influenced their approach to teaching during their final practicum; their approach to the use of feedback for their own learning; and, their response to pressure during their practicum. Pre-service teacher motivation and capacity to interpret and act on mentor feedback was shaped by the mentoring relationship, which in turn was influenced by mentors’ beliefs about their own role, and their expectations of pre-service teacher capabilities upon arrival. The inclusion of video in a purposeful, reflective process enabled pre-service teachers to relive their experiences and to recall the affective factors that influenced their thoughts and actions as they were brought back into the moment of noticing, reasoning and acting. This decreased pre-service teachers’ reliance on mentor feedback and gave them an opportunity to triangulate evidence about their practice and interpret that evidence in a way that continually refined their understanding of teaching and learning. Importantly, this study found that pre-service teachers’ capacity to adapt practice, and to grow as a teacher, is filtered through an affective lens.

У дисертацији су истраживани педагошки ефекти примене елемената Програма „Корак по корак“ у основним школама у Републици Србији. Указано је на стратешке правце развоја образовања у Републици Србији дефинисаних документом, који је 25. октобра 2012. године усвојила Влада Републике Србије, „Стратегија развоја образовања у Србији до 2020. године“, чија је мисија да у XXI веку осигура систем образовања у Републици Србији као основни темељ живота и развоја сваког појединца, друштва и државе заснованог на знању.Посебнo је сагледаван Програм „Корак по корак“, методологијa усмеренa на дете, који се у основним школама Републике Србије реализује у својим елементима од 2003/4. школске године. Основни циљ нашег истраживања је да на основу анкетирања ставовa и мишљењa наставника, родитеља и ученика, тестирања знања ученика и социометријског испитивања утврдимо педагошке ефекте примене елемената Програма „Корак по корак“ у Републици Србији испитивањем когнитивних, социјалних и афективних ефеката. Конкретно, циљ нам је да утврдимо разлике у педагошким ефектима који се остварују у одељењима у којима се примењују елементи Програма „Корак по корак“ у односу на одељења у којима се елементи овог програма не примењују. Поред тога, намера нам је и да испитамо какве су могућности примене Програма „Корак по корак“ у Републици Србији и који су фактори који су подстицали, а који отежавали досадашњу примену овог програма у Републици Србији.Истраживање је спроведено на узорку од 1617 испитаника, од којих је 43 наставника који предају у другом, трећем и четвртом разреду основне школе, 807 ученика из другог, трећег и четвртог разреда основне школе и 767 родитеља тих ученика у осам основних школа из Новог Сада, Селенче, Пивница, Ниша и Београда. Укупан узорак смо поделили у две групе – прву и другу групу. Прву групу су чинили наставници, родитељи ученика и ученици који су у одељењима у којима се примењују елементи Програма „Корак по корак“, а другу групу наставници, родитељи ученика и ученици који су у одељењима у којима се не примењују елементи овог програма.viiИстраживање ефеката Програма „Корак по корак“ је емпиријског карактера и одговара корелационом, неексперименталном нацрту. Истраживање је сложено и састоји се из неколико фаза и одвојених студија, које су спровођене на различитим популацијама, односно узорцима, наставника, ученика основних школа и њихових родитеља. Прва студија се односи на анализу педагошких ефеката наставе на основу процене наставника, ученика и родитеља понуђених тврдњи из упитника, друга студија на постигнућа ученика на тесту знања из предмета Природа и друштво, трећа студија на интерперсоналне односе међу ученицима, а четврта на анализу могућности и факторе спровођења Програма „Корак по корак“ у школама у Републици Србији. Да би се провериле хипотезе и реализовали истраживачки задаци, у истраживању су коришћене, како квантитивне, тако и квалитативне технике прикупљања података. Конкретно, коришћена је анализа садржаја, затим скале процене, тестови знања и социометријски поступак. Испитивање ефеката програма остварено је анкетирањем на основу скале процене, упоређивањем постигнућа ученика на националном тесту и социометријским испитивањем. У првој студији упитником је анкетирано свих 1617 испитаника из узорка. Израђена су три упитника – упитник за наставнике, упитник за ученике и упитник за родитеље. Сваки упитник садржао је двадесет седам тврдњи (девет за когнитивне, девет за социјалне и девет за афективне ефекте) на основу ИССА педагошких стандарда за шест области квалитета (Интеракција; Породица и заједница; Инклузија, различитости деморатске вредности; Праћење, Процењивање и планирање; Стратегије поучавања и Окружење за учење) и омогућио испитивање и упоређивање ставова и мишљења наставника, ученика и родитеља о ефектима овог програма. У оквиру друге студије, упоређивањем постигнућа на националном тесту ученика четвртог разреда који су у одељењима у којима се примењују елементи Програма „Корак по корак“ (прва група) и ученика који су у одељењима у којима се не примењују елементи овог програма (друга група) остварен је увид у когнитивне ефекте на укупном узорку од 391 испитаника. У оквиру треће студије, испитивали смо интерперсоналне везе социометријским испитивањем на укупном узорку од 788 ученика прве и друге групе, а потом смо добијене податке груписали и ставили у функцију закључака о ефектима програма. За испитивање ставова о могућностима прилагођавања примене овог програма постојећим условима у Републици Србији и факторима који подстичу иviiiотежавају примену ове методологије, што представља четврту студију, израдили смо два упитника и анкетирали 21 наставника, који су обучени за рад по овој методологији и који дужи низ година примењују елементе Програма „Корак по корак“.На основу података добијених упитницима за наставнике, родитеље и ученике, на основу статистички значајних разлика у постигнућу ученика на тесту знања из предмата Природа и друштво, као и на основу статистички значајних разлика на социометријском испитивању по питању бројности избора ученика закључили смо да је наша општа хипотеза – Педагошки (когнитивни, социјални и афективни) ефекти образовно-васпитног рада су боље процењени од стране наставника, родитеља и ученика, постигнућа ученика на тесту знања су већа и интерперсонални односи имају више позитивних и мање негативних избора међу ученицима у одељењима у којима се примењују елементи Програма „Корак по корак” у односу на наставике, родитеље и ученике у одељењима у којима се елементи овог програма не примењују – делимично потврђена. Када је реч о когнитивним и социјалним доменима, помоћу т-теста на независним узорцима, добијене су статистички значајне разлике, док код афективног домена разлике нису добијене. Такође, ученици који похађају одељења у којима се Програм „Корак по корак“ примењује, имају значајно боље постигнуће на тесту знања из Природе и друштва, као и више међусобних позитивних, а мање негативних избора у оквиру социометријског поступка. На основу свих резултата, може се закључити да су когнитивни и социјални педагошки ефекти квалитетнији у одељењима у којима се примењују елементи Програма „Корак по корак“.Упитницима за наставнике који примењују елементе Програма „Корак по корак“ дошли смо до значајних података о могућностима прилагођавања овог програма условима у Републици Србији, као и о факторима који подстичу и факторима који отежавају примену овог програма. На основу свих резултатa нашег истраживања потврђујемо научну оправданост примене методологија усмерених на дете и процесе учења, као што је то Програм „Корак по корак“, у функцији унапређивања квалитета образовања и васпитања у Републици Србији.
U disertaciji su istraživani pedagoški efekti primene elemenata Programa „Korak po korak“ u osnovnim školama u Republici Srbiji. Ukazano je na strateške pravce razvoja obrazovanja u Republici Srbiji definisanih dokumentom, koji je 25. oktobra 2012. godine usvojila Vlada Republike Srbije, „Strategija razvoja obrazovanja u Srbiji do 2020. godine“, čija je misija da u XXI veku osigura sistem obrazovanja u Republici Srbiji kao osnovni temelj života i razvoja svakog pojedinca, društva i države zasnovanog na znanju.Posebno je sagledavan Program „Korak po korak“, metodologija usmerena na dete, koji se u osnovnim školama Republike Srbije realizuje u svojim elementima od 2003/4. školske godine. Osnovni cilj našeg istraživanja je da na osnovu anketiranja stavova i mišljenja nastavnika, roditelja i učenika, testiranja znanja učenika i sociometrijskog ispitivanja utvrdimo pedagoške efekte primene elemenata Programa „Korak po korak“ u Republici Srbiji ispitivanjem kognitivnih, socijalnih i afektivnih efekata. Konkretno, cilj nam je da utvrdimo razlike u pedagoškim efektima koji se ostvaruju u odeljenjima u kojima se primenjuju elementi Programa „Korak po korak“ u odnosu na odeljenja u kojima se elementi ovog programa ne primenjuju. Pored toga, namera nam je i da ispitamo kakve su mogućnosti primene Programa „Korak po korak“ u Republici Srbiji i koji su faktori koji su podsticali, a koji otežavali dosadašnju primenu ovog programa u Republici Srbiji.Istraživanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od 1617 ispitanika, od kojih je 43 nastavnika koji predaju u drugom, trećem i četvrtom razredu osnovne škole, 807 učenika iz drugog, trećeg i četvrtog razreda osnovne škole i 767 roditelja tih učenika u osam osnovnih škola iz Novog Sada, Selenče, Pivnica, Niša i Beograda. Ukupan uzorak smo podelili u dve grupe – prvu i drugu grupu. Prvu grupu su činili nastavnici, roditelji učenika i učenici koji su u odeljenjima u kojima se primenjuju elementi Programa „Korak po korak“, a drugu grupu nastavnici, roditelji učenika i učenici koji su u odeljenjima u kojima se ne primenjuju elementi ovog programa.viiIstraživanje efekata Programa „Korak po korak“ je empirijskog karaktera i odgovara korelacionom, neeksperimentalnom nacrtu. Istraživanje je složeno i sastoji se iz nekoliko faza i odvojenih studija, koje su sprovođene na različitim populacijama, odnosno uzorcima, nastavnika, učenika osnovnih škola i njihovih roditelja. Prva studija se odnosi na analizu pedagoških efekata nastave na osnovu procene nastavnika, učenika i roditelja ponuđenih tvrdnji iz upitnika, druga studija na postignuća učenika na testu znanja iz predmeta Priroda i društvo, treća studija na interpersonalne odnose među učenicima, a četvrta na analizu mogućnosti i faktore sprovođenja Programa „Korak po korak“ u školama u Republici Srbiji. Da bi se proverile hipoteze i realizovali istraživački zadaci, u istraživanju su korišćene, kako kvantitivne, tako i kvalitativne tehnike prikupljanja podataka. Konkretno, korišćena je analiza sadržaja, zatim skale procene, testovi znanja i sociometrijski postupak. Ispitivanje efekata programa ostvareno je anketiranjem na osnovu skale procene, upoređivanjem postignuća učenika na nacionalnom testu i sociometrijskim ispitivanjem. U prvoj studiji upitnikom je anketirano svih 1617 ispitanika iz uzorka. Izrađena su tri upitnika – upitnik za nastavnike, upitnik za učenike i upitnik za roditelje. Svaki upitnik sadržao je dvadeset sedam tvrdnji (devet za kognitivne, devet za socijalne i devet za afektivne efekte) na osnovu ISSA pedagoških standarda za šest oblasti kvaliteta (Interakcija; Porodica i zajednica; Inkluzija, različitosti demoratske vrednosti; Praćenje, Procenjivanje i planiranje; Strategije poučavanja i Okruženje za učenje) i omogućio ispitivanje i upoređivanje stavova i mišljenja nastavnika, učenika i roditelja o efektima ovog programa. U okviru druge studije, upoređivanjem postignuća na nacionalnom testu učenika četvrtog razreda koji su u odeljenjima u kojima se primenjuju elementi Programa „Korak po korak“ (prva grupa) i učenika koji su u odeljenjima u kojima se ne primenjuju elementi ovog programa (druga grupa) ostvaren je uvid u kognitivne efekte na ukupnom uzorku od 391 ispitanika. U okviru treće studije, ispitivali smo interpersonalne veze sociometrijskim ispitivanjem na ukupnom uzorku od 788 učenika prve i druge grupe, a potom smo dobijene podatke grupisali i stavili u funkciju zaključaka o efektima programa. Za ispitivanje stavova o mogućnostima prilagođavanja primene ovog programa postojećim uslovima u Republici Srbiji i faktorima koji podstiču iviiiotežavaju primenu ove metodologije, što predstavlja četvrtu studiju, izradili smo dva upitnika i anketirali 21 nastavnika, koji su obučeni za rad po ovoj metodologiji i koji duži niz godina primenjuju elemente Programa „Korak po korak“.Na osnovu podataka dobijenih upitnicima za nastavnike, roditelje i učenike, na osnovu statistički značajnih razlika u postignuću učenika na testu znanja iz predmata Priroda i društvo, kao i na osnovu statistički značajnih razlika na sociometrijskom ispitivanju po pitanju brojnosti izbora učenika zaključili smo da je naša opšta hipoteza – Pedagoški (kognitivni, socijalni i afektivni) efekti obrazovno-vaspitnog rada su bolje procenjeni od strane nastavnika, roditelja i učenika, postignuća učenika na testu znanja su veća i interpersonalni odnosi imaju više pozitivnih i manje negativnih izbora među učenicima u odeljenjima u kojima se primenjuju elementi Programa „Korak po korak” u odnosu na nastavike, roditelje i učenike u odeljenjima u kojima se elementi ovog programa ne primenjuju – delimično potvrđena. Kada je reč o kognitivnim i socijalnim domenima, pomoću t-testa na nezavisnim uzorcima, dobijene su statistički značajne razlike, dok kod afektivnog domena razlike nisu dobijene. Takođe, učenici koji pohađaju odeljenja u kojima se Program „Korak po korak“ primenjuje, imaju značajno bolje postignuće na testu znanja iz Prirode i društva, kao i više međusobnih pozitivnih, a manje negativnih izbora u okviru sociometrijskog postupka. Na osnovu svih rezultata, može se zaključiti da su kognitivni i socijalni pedagoški efekti kvalitetniji u odeljenjima u kojima se primenjuju elementi Programa „Korak po korak“.Upitnicima za nastavnike koji primenjuju elemente Programa „Korak po korak“ došli smo do značajnih podataka o mogućnostima prilagođavanja ovog programa uslovima u Republici Srbiji, kao i o faktorima koji podstiču i faktorima koji otežavaju primenu ovog programa. Na osnovu svih rezultata našeg istraživanja potvrđujemo naučnu opravdanost primene metodologija usmerenih na dete i procese učenja, kao što je to Program „Korak po korak“, u funkciji unapređivanja kvaliteta obrazovanja i vaspitanja u Republici Srbiji.
In this dissertation are researched pedagogical effects of implementing new elements of “Step by Step” program in primary schools of the Republic of Serbia. The focus was on strategies and methods in education development in the Republic of Serbia that were defined by the document and carried on by the Government of Serbia on October 25, 2012. The mission of “ Strategy of education development in the Republic of Serbia until 2020.” is to ensure that education system in the Republic of Serbia in 21st century is set as the main foundation based on knowledge in life and growth of each individual, society and state in general.The main focus was primarily on the program “ Step by Step”, a student-centered methodology, which has been carrying on in primary schools of the Republic of Serbia in its core elements since 2003/4. The main goal of our research study is to define pedagogical effects of the new program “ Step by Step” on the basis of surveyed points of views and opinions of teachers, parents and students, testing their knowledge level and doing socio-metric research. In addition, some cognitive, social and affective elements were incorporated in the study as well. Actually, the goal is to determine the differences in pedagogical effects that are realized in “Step by Step” classes in comparison to those classes that do not have elements of this program. Besides, our idea was to explore the options of implementing “Step by Step” program in the Republic of Serbia, which were its most influential factors, and also which factors made the implementation of this program more difficult.The research has been done on the sample of 1617 examinees, 43 of those were teachers of Grades 2, 3 and 4 in primary schools, 807 primary school students of Grades 2,3 and 4 and 767 parents of the students in 8 primary schools from Novi Sad, Selenca, Pivnica , Nis and Belgrade. The overall score was divided into two groups – first and second. First group was made of teachers, parents and students of classes with “Step by Step” program, and the second group was made of parents and students of classes without the elements of this program. The research of effects of “Step by Step” program is of empirical nature and corresponds to correlative, non-experimental scale drawing. It is complex and consists of several phases and separate studies, being done on various populations, that is, samples of teachers, primary school students and their parents. The first study represents the analysis of pedagogical effects of teaching method based on estimate of teachers, students and parents answering multiple choice questions in the survey; second study covers the results of students being tested in Science; third study covers interpersonal relations among students; fourth study covers the analysis of possibilities and implementation factors of “Step by Step” program in schools of the Republic of Serbia.To verify theories and realize research projects, there were certain quantitative and qualitative techniques of collecting data that had been applied. In particular, content analysis, scales of estimate, knowledge tests and socio-metric method were used at this point. Examining the program effects was realized using surveys and scales of estimate as well as comparing students’ results in national testing and socio-metric examination. First study covered the total of 1617 examinees being tested by questionnaire sample. There are three questionnaires – questionnaire for teachers, questionnaire for students and questionnaire for parents. Each questionnaire had 27 statements (nine for cognitive, nine for social and nine for affective effects) according to ISSA pedagogical standards for six quality domains (Interaction, Family and Environment, Inclusion, Differences of Democratic Values, Tracking, Reviewing and Planning, Teaching strategies and Studying surroundings). It enforced the examination and comparison of attitudes and opinions of teachers, students and parents regarding this program. The focus of the second study was comparing results in national testing of Grade four students in classes with elements of“ Step by Step” program (first group) to those students in classes without the elements of this program (second group) thus giving an insight into cognitive effects on the total sample of 391 examinees. The focus of third study was to examine interpersonal relations using socio-metric method on the total sample of 788 students of first and second group. Then, we organized the obtained results and grouped them as conclusions relating to effects of this program. Finally, for the purpose of examining opinions about options of adjusting the implementation of this program to the existing conditions in the Republic of Serbia and presenting factors that make its usage difficult, the fourth study had been introduced that consists of two questionnaires in which 21 teachers were examined who had been trained to use this method and who have been implementing elements of “Step by Step” program in their teaching for many years.Using the data from surveys for teachers, parents and students as well as statistical discrepancies in terms of students’ results on knowledge test from Science and those done based on socio-metric method in terms of number of choices of students, we came to conclusion that our general hypothesis is partially confirmed. It means that pedagogical (cognitive, social and affective) effects of educative and pedagogical work had been estimated better by teachers, parents and students; students’ achievements on knowledge tests are higher and interpersonal relations are more numerous among students in those classes with elements of “Step by Step” program when compared to those teachers, parents and students of classes where elements of this program were not implemented.When it comes to cognitive and social domains, using T-test on independent samples, there are some statistically important differences, whereas those differences were not present with affective domain. Also, those students attending classes where “Step by Step” program has been used achieve considerably better results on knowledge test in Science as well as more interpersonal positive and fewer negative choices within socio-metric method. Based on these results, it can be summarized that cognitive and social pedagogical effects are of better quality in those classes with elements of “Step by Step” program.Using surveys for the teachers who are implementing elements of “Step by Step” program we found out some sort of significant data about possibilities of adjusting this program to the conditions in the Republic of Serbia, as well as those stimulating factors and also factors that make this implementation difficult. The results of this research confirm scientific justification of implementation of methodologies focused on child and teaching processes, such as “Step by Step” program, the function of which is to improve the quality of education and instruction in the Republic of Serbia.

Information technologies now enable people to communicate m real-time on a planetary scale. Previously isolated cultures have become interdependent in dynamic relationships of economy, government and society, where electronic information is a universal currency instantly distributed by a global web of inter-computer networks. Traditional labour theories of value are being rapidly superseded by knowledge value systems. Government and corporate rhetoric is now suffused with references to intellectual capital and employment opportunities that increasingly depend on people who can put knowledge to work in fluid, fast-changing landscapes. Thus, education has a critical and enhanced role in this new world order where knowledge is seen as the key to wealth and the engine of social change. By implication, universities are under increased pressure to develop and produce 'fast' knowledge workers by means of flexible formats of educational delivery. This dissertation examines the implications of these imperatives by undertaking an investigation into the professional development of the author as university teacher. The work responds to what has become known as the 'triple challenge' for universities, that is, i) to provide increased accessibility and student-centredness of higher education, ii) to achieve greater economy of operations but with less traditional sources of funding, and iii) to maintain quality, but also improve learning outcomes. The aim is to scrutinise the meaning of the terms 'flexible delivery' and 'lifelong learning' in the context of changing university structures and priorities. To do so, the author investigates teaching and learning practices that arise from within his specialist domains of professional music-making and education in music technology. The dissertation then argues the implications of this project for an overarching investigation of 'new learning' arising out of global change and its effects on all participants within the pedagogical arena - students, teachers, and the university as an organisational culture. The research is located amid two sets of contestations - that which exists between corporate managers and practitioners, and that which exists between practical creativity and the traditional research culture. In keeping with the challenge of working in this shifting and fragmented terrain, the research methodology makes a postmodern break with traditional formats by employing a generative 'double-science' approach to practitioner-research. However, the project was not generated out of postmodern theory, but out of the 'messiness' inherent in teaching practice. It is not, therefore, a 'postmodern' project, despite the fact that postmodern scholarship informs recent developments in the author's thinking about pedagogical praxis. The enquiry strives to transcend the divides of 'science' and 'experience' by generating a confluence of knowledges, a co-authorship arising from a symbiosis of analytical scholarship and artistic creativiry. The action is about both 'doing practice' and 'troubling practice'. It acknowledges the non-innocence of any knowledge production where the practitioner is both the researcher and the researched. Central to the design is a double-pronged engagement in/with analysis/application whereby recurring themes are deconstructed in chaptered sub-cycles that spiral toward validation and theory-building. It is a reflexive process which works through compounding reconstructions of information, through re-comparisons and member-checks that provide multiple accounts of the data-as-evidence. The dissertation argues a new logic that arises out of an explicit interrogation of the complexiry, uncertainty, and artistry of pedagogical practices in the context of the author's work. It demonstrates how flexible learning mechanisms can exist amid the artificially imposed boundaries of class segregation and discipline. In the exploration of these opportunities, it is shown that powerful new relationships can be mobilised by the supportive use of information technologies. An examination of collaborative teamwork, interdisciplinary groupings and cross-year activities suggests ways in which current demands for increased accessibility and student-centredness might be met. With its focus on improving practice, the research documents pedagogical activity that is not only generative of theory, but of learning and self-improvement. In its open-endedness, the dissertation also signals that this pedagogical project is unfinished, yet amenable to completion. It imagines a complete, yet on-going body of work that invites further experimentation, innovation and self-reflection in university teaching.

The study explored instructors' conceptions of teaching and their teaching practices in four Ethiopian universities in the light of the existing calls for the employment of student-centred approach to teaching in higher education in Ethiopia. The study was grounded on the assumption that instructors are unlikely to adopt student-centred approach to teaching unless their conceptions of teaching are developed and/or unless the teaching environment is supportive. To address the objective of the study, data were collected using a mixed methods research design using a sequential exploratory strategy. Based on this strategy, data were obtained first qualitatively from 20 instructors through interviews and classroom observations and then quantitatively from 160 instructors and 170 students through questionnaires. The data from the interviews and the classroom observations were analysed qualitatively using a phenomenographic approach and content analysis respectively whereas the data from the questionnaires were analysed statistically using SPSS. From this, frequencies, mean scores and percentages were computed in order to summarise and interpret responses. In addition, independent samples test and one-way ANOVA were applied to examine the differences in conceptions of and approaches to teaching among instructors. Furthermore, Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to examine the relationship between instructors‟ conceptions of teaching and their teaching practices. From the results, it was found that instructors‟ conceptions of teaching in the four universities incline towards the student-centred conception of teaching though there were also instructors whose conceptions of teaching were the traditional teacher-centred. Regarding teaching practices, although the instructors claimed that their teaching practices were student-centred, the results of the study appear to suggest that meaningful instructional practices were still under the influence of the traditional conception of teaching. In addition, numerous factors were found to be impeding the proper implementation of student-centred instruction including the background of the students, the instructors‟ obsession with lecturing and lack of enabling environment. Based on the findings, teaching improvement programs that develop instructors‟ conceptions of teaching were suggested. Furthermore, a supportive environment that enables instructors to translate their changed conceptions of teaching into their teaching practices was recommended. Finally, recommendations for further studies were provided.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The literature regarding clinical education strategies, that simultaneously meet both the student's and the client's needs, is limited. The purpose of this research was to identify features of clinical education processes that epitomize student-centred education and client-centred care. The literature explored the concepts of undergraduate clinical education and the need for health practitioners to be client-centred. Focusing on physiotherapy pre-professional education in ambulatory care settings, a mixed method approach using surveys, observation and interviews was used within the analytical and interpretive paradigm of research. The participants were the students, clinical educators and their clients for whom care was provided. It was found that while physiotherapy clinical educators say they have time to participate in professional development in clinical education, they often only attend a one-day workshop. Only in those working in private clinics thought they were underpaid. They all believe, they are well informed, supported by the university. Students report educators display high-quality teaching behaviours. Educators match their style of supervision and teaching strategies to their perception of the students’ learning needs and the clients’ health care needs. There was no association between the model of supervision and the client-centredness of the consultation, or the dialogue and feedback between the student and the educator. The management of the education and health care scenario is dependent on the expertise of the educator. Clients, in the main, are satisfied that clinical education events do meet their expectations and health care needs and they have a positive attitude toward participation in physiotherapy clinical education. Their willingness to participate is balanced with a sense of altruism and self-centeredness. Some clients edit the feedback they offer students, with the idea that their genuine thoughts might negatively affect the students’ learning. If this is not checked in the normal course of management of clinical education, it is possible that students might develop a false sense of how their activities actually affect clients. Thus the student may develop a false sense of their skills and abilities. The findings suggest strengthening the clinical educator’s deeper knowledge of education, particularly around models and theories, might enhance clinical education outcomes because there is a disparity between what students and educators reported regarding the timing of their discussions about episodes of client care. Further, the students’ perceptions are totally different from the educators’ regarding which particular topics they discuss. There is a clear need to strengthen the alignment between students’ learning needs and educators’ foci of discussion – to raise awareness of the importance of de-briefing as an opportunity for promoting deeper reflection on learning. Also, to be more explicit about the active nature of the client’s role in the learning event and to emphasise student–educator discussions about how the client can contribute to the management of the client’s self-care. Such discussion ought to build on the student’s previous knowledge in an effort to provide opportunities to construct learning from prior experience. Kolb's (1984) Experiential Learning Cycle was proposed as a model to critique contemporary clinical teaching practices, but in a way that included the third party (the client) in consideration of any clinical education event. Consequently, Kolb’s model was extended to include the client’s voice in the experiential learning processes, through processes involved in obtaining consent and post-consultation evaluation of the clients’ experience of the clinical education event. Given that the Australian Physiotherapy Council (2006; 2009) advocates for entry level health professionals to be client-centred, this emerging educational framework adds to current approaches on the management of professional practice experiences. It has the potential to significantly inform and impact on the student’s development of a client-centred approach to clinical practice.

Competency Based Training focuses on the acquisition of work related competencies. This study examines the acquisition of such competencies and it investigates students’ progress in the direction of their career goals and personal aspirations when a humanistic/student centred approach to teaching is used in a Competency-Based program. Nineteen students in Certificate III, Community Services Education (Aged Care Work) participated in the study. Information was collected during the 17-week program, three and six months after the program. The methodology for the study was derived from the Theory of Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) as presented by George Kelly (1955/1991). The theory of PCP acknowledges individuals as responsible, active and meaning seeking agents who are open to change and to personal development. The theory also proposes active participation between researcher and respondents. In the study therefore, the respondents became co-researchers who monitored and interpreted their constructs systems. Through their stories and personal reflections the study monitored their progress in becoming “the person that I would like to be”.

Meaningful learning requires active teaching and learning approaches. Thus, with a specific focus on Mathematics teaching at university in Oramia, the study aimed to: • examine the extent to which active learning/student-centered approaches were implemented; • assess the attitudes of university lecturers towards active-learning; • investigate whether appropriate training and support have been provided for the implementation of an active learning approaches • assess the major challenges that hinder the implementation of active learning approaches and • recommend ways that could advance the use of active learning approaches in Mathematics teaching at university. A mixed-methods design was used. Among the six universities in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia, two of the newly established universities (younger than 5 years) and two of the old universities (15 years and older) were involved in the study. A total of 84 lecturers participated in the study and completed questionnaires. This was complemented by a qualitative approach that used observation checklists and interviews for data gathering: 16 lessons were observed while the lecturers taught their mathematics classes (two lecturers from each of the four sample universities were twice observed). In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with four mathematics department heads and eight of the observed lecturers. The study adhered to ethical principles and to applied several techniques to enhance the validity/trustworthiness of the findings.
Psychology of Education
D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

In Lesotho the policy regarding language learning and teaching is spelt out in the syllabus. Inspired by the constitution and resulting from broad consultations the policy requires the active involvement of learners through a learner-centred mode of delivery. This study investigates the use of learner-centred approach in the teaching of English and Sesotho languages in Lesotho secondary schools. The researcher describes the learner-centred approach to teaching as it can be observed in the context of Lesotho; examines skills acquired through the learner-centred approach; inquires into the learning that is experienced in learner-centred classrooms; and considers how the approach can be improved. The findings, based on learners’ and teachers’ questionnaires, observations and focus group discussions, indicate that certain learner-centred strategies suggested in the syllabus as well as other methods are used; and certain skills and content knowledge are acquired from each learner-centred strategy simultaneously. Past experience is crucial in assisting learners to form and build new knowledge. Moreover, it is apparent that learners and teachers consider working alone (not always considered a learner-centred strategy) to be important in building confidence and independence skills. Suggestions are also forwarded as to how to improve and maximise the teaching of languages using the learner-centred approach.

This research presents a case study at a South African University, involving students who had studied mathematics in a pre-undergraduate Foundation Programme (FP) and who were currently in their first year of study in Information Technology (IT) at the same institution. The study investigated a possible relationship between the teaching approach used in the FP mathematics classroom and the extent of students’ abilities to use important mathematical practices, such as using procedures flexibly; using representation; understanding/explaining concepts; questioning; justifying claims; disagreeing; strategising; and generalising, in an undergraduate IT context. Focus group interviews and task-based interviews were used to answer three related questions: “To what extent are students aware of differences in teaching approaches between FP mathematics and undergraduate study?”; “To what extent do students believe that their experiences of the teaching approaches in the Foundation Programme mathematics class have helped them in undergraduate study in other courses?”; and “In what ways are the mathematical practices taught in the Foundation Programme used in undergraduate study in IT?” A bricolage of learning theories was used as a framework for understanding the possible relationships between teaching approach, development of mathematical practices and learning transfer. The students in the focus groups described the teaching approach used in the FP mathematics classes as studentcentred, whereas many of the undergraduate IT lectures and tutorials were described as teachercentred. The students felt that the approach used in the FP mathematics classroom was beneficial to further study, in that it taught them how to become responsible for their own learning and brought about deep understanding of the mathematical concepts learned in the FP. The task-based interviews showed that all students used mathematical practices to solve IT problems to a greater or lesser extent. The use of these mathematical practices was best understood as being influenced by all past cognitive, social and cultural experiences, and was therefore not a case of “transfer” in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, the use of mathematical practices could be described as an extreme case of “cognitive accommodation” from a cognitive constructivist perspective, or a case of “generality” from a situative perspective. Furthermore, an inter-relationship emerged between student-centred teaching, students’ productive disposition towards mathematics, and the extent of “transfer” of mathematical practices to the IT domain. This interesting relationship warrants further investigation.

Recent nursing literature has repeatedly proclaimed the need for creativity in nursing. The complexity of contemporary nursing practice as a result of the explosion of knowledge and technology, changing human values and diverse health care systems, requires an innovative and creative nurse who can adapt to change and provide holistic, individualised, context-specific patient care. Higher levels of cognitive thought, creative thinking and problem-solving skills have been stressed as desirable qualities of student nurses. It is suggested in the literature that the evolution of innovative strategies and the ways to implement them into nursing curricula be explored in order to assist and encourage students to develop these higher cognitive skills. From an analytical study of the literature which was undertaken with the aim of exploring the nature of creativity and the processes involved in creative thinking and learning, and of identifying innovative strategies particularly relevant to the teaching of nursing, it became apparent that the most significant determinants in teaching for creativity, are the learning enviromnent, the educator-student relationship, and the provision of a variety of teaching strategies, which are student-centred with a problem-solving focus. It was established that stimulation of both the left and right hemispheres of the brain is essential for the development of creative thinking skills. Based on the insights and knowledge gained in the study, a nursing education model for the fostering of creativity was developed. This model encompasses a wide variety of didactic considerations and is designed to stimulate whole brain learning. It is hoped that its use will be of value in the production of innovative and courageous nurse practitioners who will be better equipped to cope with the changes and challenges of their working environment and be able to provide context-specific nursing care.
Health Studies
D. Litt. et Phil. (Nursing Science)

The study looks at Lesotho Science teachers' understanding, practice and explanation of learner-centred education (LCE) prior to, during and after different activities. Six Physics teachers from Maseru were selected from 20 who attended an initial meeting and workshop. The selected teachers participated in the research for two years, completing a Baseline Study, then 3 cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting in the action research on LCE. During the Baseline Study and each of the action research cycles, the teachers' explanations, understandings and practices of learner-centred education were determined through analyses of discussions and meetings, lesson plans, classroom practices, responses to the literature and other support activities, and interviews with the teachers. The process was collaborative, with the teachers and the researcher working as a team in the planning, observations of classrooms, reflections and analyses. The teachers changed their understanding and practices significantly in the course of the study. Consistent with the Concerns-based Adoption Model (CBAM), their primary concerns shifted from classroom management issues and impediments to learner-centred education in their schools at the start, to adaptation, innovation, and conducting teacher-workshops at the end. Early in the project, they opted for a model of learner-centred education comprised of three levels: caring for learners and their learning; adopting learner-centred teaching methods and allowing learners to influence the content and desired outcomes of the learning. During the research, within the team and in classrooms, the teachers developed each of these levels, though they applied the third level more in their own learning as part of the action research, than in their classrooms. At the end, the teachers co-constructed a model of LCE which they felt was doable under the conditions in Lesotho (including school constraints and competing demands on teachers and curriculum), and which would meet the expectations of principals, parents and learners. The teachers changed not only in their professional knowledge and skills, but in social-professional and self-professional aspects. For example, they began inviting other teachers to observe their classes, they conducted workshops in their schools, and enrolled for higher degrees. The teachers persisted with the study for two years, not because of school expectations or pressures, but because they wanted to participate. Their motivation was high, arising from a mix of personal, professional, career and school factors. Their motivations shifted during the research, as their knowledge and concerns changed, and they came to see different opportunities from what they had imagined at the start. Through participation and collaboration, they extended the objectives and outcomes of the study beyond its initial focus on learner-centred education in classrooms: they defined and addressed their own personal, social and professional interests. The data demonstrated that teachers' engagement with in-service activities that provide for long-term project-based learning, critical collaboration, support and reflection, can bring personal and group change more significantly than in conventional district and national workshops.
Theses (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu Natal, 2005.

The educational changes introduced by the South African democratic dispensation after 1994 were meant to address the apartheid imbalances. The self-governing regime sought to bring and safeguard quality education for all, and to amend the previous education inequalities among all racial groups. Hence, the new curriculum that was introduced by the National Department of Basic Education was meant to be a drastic departure from the school curricula of the apartheid administration. One critical innovation sought was to replace a teacher-centred curriculum with a learner-centred curriculum. The emphasis of this study, therefore, was to determine the level to which learner- centred teaching has been adopted by rural and underdeveloped schools. The selection of rural schools was informed by the obvious differences that still persist between the former Model C schools and those that were predominantly black and underdeveloped, particularly in terms of resources and the quality of teachers. Given the fact that the main feature of the Outcomes Based Education (OBE) that was introduced from 1996 is that it is resource-reliant, the main research question of the study was therefore: How do educators in rural and underdeveloped schools cope with a learner-centred teaching as part of the curriculum innovation? In order to riposte to the study’s main question, the researcher used qualitative research methods to discern data from Physical Sciences teachers, learners and Physical Sciences Heads of Departments (Hods) from the selected schools. In addition, the researcher conducted classroom teaching observations, analysed relevant documents and interviewed some participants to determine their views and experiences on using a learner-centred approach. The findings of the study revealed many challenges to rural schools in adopting and implementing a learner-centred approach. These include the lack of relevant resources, poor quality of teachers, insufficient and inappropriate teacher-support programmes for teachers as well as the rural environmental challenges. The overall conclusion of the study is that, after two decades since the introduction of a learner-centred approach in South Africa, rural schools have not yet managed to adopt and implement learner-centred pedagogy as an important part of the post-1994 educational innovations. The researcher finds it ironic that apartheid education was demonized for promoting inequality around racial lines. Sadly, the post-apartheid innovations have yet to address equality among the racial groups and areas of resident. The inability of rural schools to adopt and implement learner-centred approach is depriving black and rural learners of quality learning. They are still subjected to a teacher-centred learning which does not assist them to acquire required skills which can help them to compete with those learners who are attending affluent urban schools.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The goal of this research study was to understand the use of learner-centred approaches in teaching Accounting to enhance performance of learners at high schools (Grades 10-12). The teaching of Accounting in high schools is facing challenges. The Department of Education, through many curriculum implementations and revisions, have introduced a new approach to teaching as outlined in the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). This policy, as with previous ones, emphasises a change in teaching pedagogy emphasising learner-centred approaches in contrast to the traditional teacher-centred approaches which favour rote learning. The Department aims at developing knowledge but links that with acquiring and developing the skills of thinking critically and creatively, working as an individual or a member of a team, organising and managing oneself responsibly and effectively, collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information, communicating effectively, using science and technology effective (DBE, 2011:5) in order to be able to adapt to the requirements of the commercial industries. It was found out that learner-centred approaches can enhance the performance of learners in Accounting in high schools. The researcher used a qualitative approach together with an interpretive perspective to examine the themes. Four high schools, four Accounting teachers and four Heads of Departments were selected from the Ximhungwe circuit in Bohlabela District in Bushbuckridge. Data was collected through observations and interviews. Data were analysed and findings presented. The findings reveal how the Economic and Management Sciences curriculum has a negative effect on Accounting in the higher grades of 10-12, by not developing a solid foundation for the subject. It also revealed that school, parent and learner-based challenges also contribute to a poor perception of Accounting and high failure rates. The research study revealed that learner-centred approaches can improve teaching and learning of Accounting. Recommendations were made in that respect.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
M. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)

Namibia is one of the countries with distinct historical education systems that shifted from the traditional teacher-centred approach to learner-centred approach to improve learning outcomes. Despite for the call upon secondary school teachers in Namibia to adopt the learner-centred approach, the pass rates for Grade 10 Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) in Namibia remains very low with about 50% of the Grade 10 JSC learners failing to make it for senior secondary level. Therefore, this study sought to explore science teachers’ knowledge, practice and perception of learner-centred approach. This study employed a pragmatic approach using an explanatory sequential mixedmethods design to collect quantitative data first and then explaining the quantitative results with in-depth qualitative data. The structured questionnaire, interview protocol and observation protocol were used as research instruments to collect data from a sample of 20 participants. The quantitative data analysis was used for the data collected by the questionnaire while qualitative data analysis was used for the data collected by interview and the observation protocols. The results showed an understanding of learner-centred approach and most teachers use a mixed approach to teaching that incorporates both learner-centred approach and teacher-centred approach. Furthermore, results showed that teachers view learner-centred approach as effective but its effectiveness is reduced by poor participation of learners, large class sizes and inadequate instructional materials. Following the results, it was recommended that the Ministry of Education and education policy makers must consider strategies to reduce challenges to the effectiveness of learner-centred approach to improve learner performance.
Science and Technology Education
M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

This study investigated the psychological approach and the classroom methodology needed by an educator to teach street children effectively in a special school created for them. Street children with their psychological trauma, their independent, self-sufficient outlook and educational deprivation make their adaption to the methods and educational environment of mainstream schooling difficult. To meet the special educational, psychological and emotional needs of street children, Masupatsela School was started. The study was carried out in this school. The qualitative research methodology used an action research design which consisted of a reconnaissance phase and three cycles. Each cycle made use of a planning, implementation and evaluation phase. A general plan was formulated after the reconnaissance phase and revised after each cycle. The teaching was done by the researcher using four grades of street children ranging form grade 7 to grade 10. Because of their specific psychological makeup, street children, who have lacked close, comforting and trusting relationships and role models, require a classroom environment, atmosphere and a relationship with the educator which is supportive, caring, warm and firm. To achieve this a client centred approach was used based predominantly on the therapeutic principles of congruence, empathetic understanding and unconditional positive regard. The interaction with the children was based on openness, tolerance, the affirmation of others and honest firmness. The teaching methodology was an eclectic one which made use primarily of a cognitive teaching style which was introduced incrementally over the three cycles. The main components of this style consisted of cognitive questioning, cooperative learning and strategic reading for information. The results of the study showed that both the psychological and educational approach in the classroom to be very appropriate and successful. However the wider negative contextual influences such as the school organization, staffing and curriculum made the classroom strategies difficult to sustain. It is recommended that a programme using these educational and psychological approaches and incorporating functional literacy and numeracy, vocational skills, recreation and a therapeutic programme be incorporated when designing a programme for street children in a formal setting.
Psychology
D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia proclaimed a new curriculum for reconstructing the education system. The programme aimed at changing the predominantly-used teacher-centred instructional strategies to student-centred, active learning methods. This motivated the main research question of this study namely What are Ethiopian students’ learning styles and attitudes towards active learning approaches? The specific research questions that were investigated were: • What are the learning styles of students in Grade 10 public and private schools and at second year university level, and do these students prefer certain learning styles? • What are the attitudes of students at Grade 10 public and private schools, and at second year university level in respect of active learning approaches? • Do significant relationships exist between the students’ learning styles and their attitudes towards active learning as regards the four dimensions of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), namely active-reflective, sensing-intuitive, visual-reflective and sequential-global? • Are there significant differences in the students’ learning styles and their attitudes towards active learning in respect of gender, different education levels and types of schools? In order to answer these questions, the study made use of an exploratory, descriptive design. By means of questionnaires data were collected from a purposefully and a conveniently selected sample of 920 students from Grade 10 government and private schools and second year university students in Hawassa, Ethiopia. The sample comprised of 506 males and 414 females, 400 students from Government schools and 249 from private schools, and 271 from the university. The data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics (means and correlations) and inferential statistics (analysis of variance). The results indicated that the majority of the students’ learning styles were balanced between the two dimensions of the ILS scales. As secondary preference, they tended towards moderate categories, and a small section of the students preferred the strong categories of the scales. Secondly, the study determined that the sampled students in general, demonstrated a positive attitude towards active learning. Thirdly, by means of the study a significant relationship was ascertained between the students’ attitudes towards active learning and the active-reflective dimension of the ILS. Fourthly, significant differences were indicated in the students’ learning styles and attitudes towards active learning in respect of their gender, their education level and the types of schools.
Psychology of Education
D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The researcher wants to create a learning environment where learners are much more involved in their own learning. The progressive teaching design implies that the contribution of the learner to the development of knowledge is recognised. The educator also acknowledges the learner as a social being reliant on interaction with others to generate meaning. The problem statement for this study is based on the researcher’s opinion that In South African schools rote learning and memorisation are still the main methods of learning. The reason for this is because the majority of educators have been schooled in the traditional educational paradigm where the teaching process essentially revolves around the educator. In such a system learners who can recall facts best and obtain the best grades are regarded as having learnt well. The researcher contests the assertion that the learners learnt authentically. The progressive teaching approach is proffered by the educator as an alternative for the attainment of authentic learning in a grade 10 Economics classroom. In an authentic learning environment learners are prepared to face challenges in the real world through the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learners collaborate and cooperate as members of a group to unravel problems. The researcher makes use of a qualitative research design for this study. The grade 10 Economics class of the researcher is used a case study to ascertain whether a progressive teaching approach can enhance authentic learning. Twelve learners out 26 that indicated that they would participate eventually took part in the study. The research instruments used were the video recorded lessons, teacher observation sheets and learner focused-group interviews. One of the findings from the study was that authentic learning skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking can be developed through the educator using the progressive teaching approach. This is in line with the principles of the CAPS for Economics. Another finding is that although more learner involvement is required for the progressive approach, the role of the educator remains crucial as a knowledge expert and a facilitator in the classroom. A further finding was that learners embraced the co-operative learning strategy which is one of the fundamentals of authentic learning. They enjoyed teaching to and learning from one another in group work. Finally, learners appreciated the use of cartoons and team-games by the progressive educator as additional strategies to further authenticate and enhance the learning experience. In summary the researcher wants to contend that from the literature study, the findings of the empirical research and the recommendation of this study that by working within the parameters of the CAPS for Economics, authentic learning can be achieved via a progressive teaching design.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

In Lesotho the policy regarding language learning and teaching is spelt out in the syllabus. Inspired by the constitution and resulting from broad consultations the policy requires the active involvement of learners through a learner-centred mode of delivery. This study investigates the use of learner-centred approach in the teaching of English and Sesotho languages in Lesotho secondary schools. The researcher describes the learner-centred approach to teaching as it can be observed in the context of Lesotho; examines skills acquired through the learner-centred approach; inquires into the learning that is experienced in learner-centred classrooms; and considers how the approach can be improved. The findings, based on learners’ and teachers’ questionnaires, observations and focus group discussions, indicate that certain learner-centred strategies suggested in the syllabus as well as other methods are used; and certain skills and content knowledge are acquired from each learner-centred strategy simultaneously. Past experience is crucial in assisting learners to form and build new knowledge. Moreover, it is apparent that learners and teachers consider working alone (not always considered a learner-centred strategy) to be important in building confidence and independence skills. Suggestions are also forwarded as to how to improve and maximise the teaching of languages using the learner-centred approach.

The general aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of active learning approaches in the teaching of English Language support courses to first-year university students. The study was planned to identify factors that affected the implementation of active learning in classrooms where English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is taught, the perceptions of EFL instructors and their students regarding active learning, the linkage between assessment practices and productive skills, and the commonly used types of active learning techniques. The study was conducted in three Ethiopian universities and employed a qualitative approach to data generation and analysis. As such, data generation strategies focused on relevant documents, classroom observation, individual interviews, and focus group discussions. The participants of the study included 27 EFL instructors and their students (17 groups of focus group discussion), enrolled for English Language support courses at freshman level. Based on my analysis of the data, the primary barriers to the implementation of active learning techniques in EFL classrooms were as follows: Students’ poor background exposure to the English language; Students’ negative associations with language learning; EFL instructors’ ineffective classroom management; The adverse influence of students’ external social environments; Dependency in group work; low relevance of English Language support courses; Lack of administrative support from Universities. The participants of the study were aware of the importance of active learning and student-centred approaches and in favour of the implementation thereof. Despite this, they did not feel that they practised them effectively in the teaching and learning process. In fact, the instructors explained that, in the face of very unfavourable circumstances for active learning and student-centred approaches, they felt utterly disappointed, with no sense of achievement, when attempting to use these approaches in their classrooms; they did not believe that the existing situation was conducive to the implementation of active learning and student-centred approach. Furthermore, these EFL instructors did not use a variety of active learning techniques in the teaching and learning process of English supportive courses. The dominant techniques they used were group work and pair work. They did not utilise alternative techniques to teach essential productive skills (i.e. speaking and writing).The participants also indicated that the assessment techniques they used were not closely related to lesson objectives or language learning goals in the development of productive skills. The relationship between assessment types and active learning techniques was characterised by traditional pencil-and-paper tests designed solely for grading purposes; and not to improve the actual learning process. In grading, the weight given to productive skills was very small in contrast to that assigned to receptive skills (i.e. listening and reading), grammar and vocabulary. Their relationship involved teaching simply to prepare students for tests, irrelevant and untimely feedback, substandard assessment, absence of dynamism in the two-dimensional assessment techniques, and incongruence between assessment techniques and actual language skills and competence. In relation to feedback, both the students and their instructors pointed out that EFL students were more concerned with their grades than with the potential to learn when receiving feedback on their writing or oral presentations. In line with these findings, this thesis concluded by offering relevant recommendations for alleviating the problems observed in the teaching of English language support courses - both in general and with particular regard to productive skills development.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
D. Ed. (Didactics)

Practical work forms an integral part of physical science. Most schools in Venda have no laboratories for practical work. Teachers use the telling method. Students learn by rote. They learn without understanding science concepts. They cannot apply their knowledge to real life situations. This research investigates the use of equipment from inexpensive material in teaching physical science. Teachers trained to improvise equipment use them in classroom teaching. These help teachers to understand many science concepts and use the process approach in their teaching. The research found that when science is taught through experiments with improvised apparatus, student learning occurs at various domains of science education. The bad effects of lack of facilities for practical work are mostly eliminated. Meaningful learning leads to the understanding of science concepts. Students construct their own knowledge, apply it to any situation and enjoy learning the subject.
Curriculum and Instructional Studies
M. Ed. (Didactics)

In this research, the teaching styles of one biology teacher in each of three high schools in Rwanda are investigated. The purpose of the research is to find out how the adopted biology teaching styles impact on the teacher-student interaction and on the student‟s learning of biology in Kigali City in Rwanda. This research is descriptive and it is conducted in the qualitative research paradigm. The research approach used is a case study in three state and subsidised high schools. The research methods included interviews with six students and three teachers, classroom observations of three biology lessons per teacher and field-notes. The Rwandan education system has introduced a new approach to teaching i.e. the learner-centred pedagogy through an associative teaching style. In high schools, this new approach was first implemented in the school year 2011 but this implementation has been constrained by the scarcity of resources. Furthermore, some biology teachers, at the start of 2011, were not yet informed by educational authorities about the implementation of the learner-centred pedagogy. Thus, this research shows that some biology teachers are still using the teacher-centred approach; this is the case for Mr. Odumbe, whose teaching style is dominated by the transmissive approach, or the case of Mr. Kaggwa, whose view is that the educational authorities encourage the transmissive method of teaching. Even though the learner-centred pedagogy is encouraged because it fosters lasting knowledge and easy application of knowledge acquired in everyday life, the group work approach to teaching has been poorly managed and did not achieve desired results where it was used during this research. The participating biology students and teachers see the learner-centred pedagogy as slowing down the progression of teaching the content matter while the national examination covers the whole curriculum content. Therefore, although teachers were using different teaching approaches, once they are asked which approach they can choose to use, both students and teachers prefer to continue to use the teacher-centred approach in order to meet the content outcomes required in the national examination. Another result was that all participating students found their teachers supportive and nurturing and research is encouraged by all teachers regardless of their dominating teaching styles.

The theme and scope of submitted thesis is "Activating methods and forms in teaching of natural sciences" then followed with regard to the author's certification in chemistry and biology. The thesis is solved in conformity with requirements of the Framework Educational Programme, especially the change of the teaching style in schools. The thesis is written down with respect of a natural continuation of previous work of the author - diploma thesis dealt with project teaching and rigorous thesis was focused on cooperative activities. With regard to the objectives of submitted work the design of the research project is divided into two component parts: a questionnaire survey and a video study.

Constructivism is a relatively recent theory of learning which focuses on using learner-centred strategies in learning. Reform efforts in education in Zimbabwe have been aimed at incorporating constructivist-inspired strategies in the classroom, with mixed results. Some teachers continue to prefer traditional approaches to learning in their classrooms, despite these being teacher-centred and generally looked down upon. The study examined the perceptions of primary school student teachers regarding the practical application of constructivism in the classroom. A qualitative research design was adopted, and the study was grounded in a constructivist and interpretivist paradigm aimed at understanding perceptions emanating from the lived experiences of the student teachers. In all, eight student teachers were sampled for the study by means of purposive, convenience and stratified random sampling. Data was collected through a literature review, lesson observations and semi-structured individual interviews. The rigour of the study was maintained by ensuring trustworthiness and the credibility of the findings. Ethical issues were adhered to. Data was analysed using Tesch’s method of data analysis, through which the researcher identified categories and themes, and reported on in narrative format. The study findings indicate that student teachers have a positive perception of the practical application of constructivism in learning. Participants expressed the view that the practical application of constructivism leads to deeper learning and greater understanding by learners. Participants nevertheless stated that in their efforts to implement constructivism in learning and teaching during their practicums they experienced a lack of support from mentor teachers and shortages of resources. Considering these findings, the researcher made several recommendations to various stakeholders with the aim of helping student teachers to be more effective constructivist teachers. The recommendations include the need to carry out more research on the constructivist learning theory and its practical application in the classroom as well as encouraging teachers to apply constructivist learner-centred strategies in their classrooms. The researcher also made recommendations for further research.
Psychology of Education