Doctoral Degrees (Curriculum Studies)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Curriculum Studies) by browse.metadata.advisor "Cilliers, C. D."

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    Academic development : bridging at a South African University
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1999-12) Troskie-de Bruin, Christel; Botha, H. L.; Cilliers, C. D.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Curriculum Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study two of the academic development initiatives of the University of Stellenbosch, namely the Gencor Bridging Programme (GBP) and the foundation programme (FP) were investigated. The GBP is a four-week bridging programme that is held annually during January, before the start of the academic year. The main purpose of this programme is to channel students into appropriate programmes. The FP forms part of the extended curriculum. Students who participate in the FP follow a programme that is extended over a longer period and provides additional support modules during the first year. A two-pronged research approach was followed, which consisted of both a quantitative and qualitative investigation. The purpose of the quantitative research was to investigate the influence of the GBP and FP on students' academic performance and persistence. A control group of mainstream students with a cultural and educational background similar to that of the GBP and/or FP participants was used during the quantitative investigation. The aim of the qualitative investigation was to establish how the GBP and FP are perceived by the students and to identify some of the factors that influence student performance both positively and negatively. The main findings of the quantitative research were that there was no consistent pattern in the fluctuation in students' academic performance at different year levels, and that the influence of the GBP and FP on students' persistence seemed to be positive during the first year, but the long-term influence on student performance could not be established with certainty. The main findings of the qualitative investigation were that students perceived both the GBP and the FP to be of greater social than academic value, and that students relied mainly on peers from their own cultural group for academic and emotional support.
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    Teaching thinking skills in science to learners with special needs : an evaluation study
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-12) Galyam, Nilly; Le Grange, L. L. L.; Cilliers, C. D.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Curriculum Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Effective use of thinking skills and processes affects every aspect of our lives. This study investigates the nexus between an alternative approach to science teaching with an emphasis on teaching thinking skills, and the special needs of learners in two South African classrooms. Two cycles of intervention programmes with an emphasis on thinking skills were introduced to learners with special needs and evaluated. The aims of this study are to critically explore whether and to what extent teaching science to learners with special needs using selected Instrumental Enrichment instruments can: • Contribute to the development of basic and science thinking skills and the transfer of these thinking skills and processes to other disciplines; • Provide learners with special needs with an interactive science programme that is suitable for their special needs; and • Increase student engagement in the science classroom as well as positively influence the classroom learning environment. The study was conducted using action research as a method for teachers-researchers to investigate the teaching-learning situation in situ for the purpose of improvement and change of practice as well as for the benefit of the learners who participate in the intervention. Cross-referencing triangulation was used, in which different perspectives obtained from different sources - the teacher's, the observer's and the learners' -were combined as a way to increase the validity, credibility and dependability of the findings. This research report offers insights into science instruction, the acquisition of science content knowledge and the improvement of thinking skills in learners with special needs. The research also deals with the transfer of thinking skills taught in one discipline into another, and raises questions about the assumptions regarding this issue in Curriculum 2005. It also throws light on the inclusive approach, underpinning the South African educational policy of inclusive education and its suitability for learners with special needs.