Department of Educational Psychology

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Browsing Department of Educational Psychology by Author "Aitken, Sharon Anne"

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    Exploring the ecosystemic variables in the implementation of a study and thinking skills programme
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-12) Aitken, Sharon Anne; Hall, Riana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Educational Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was undertaken with the view to explore the ecosystemic variables that may impact on learners' acquisition and generalisation of the study and thinking skills that they have been introduced to. In addition, my own journey of growth as a reflective practitioner has been recorded. A literature review was undertaken in order to obtain a perspective of research conducted in this field. I fulfilled the dual role of researcher and reflective practitioner which enabled me to use both the 'objective knowledge' gained from the literature review and my 'personal knowledge' which resulted from teaching experience. I selected the ecosystemic framework as the preferred educational psychological framework with which to approach this study. The nature of this research study is post-modernist, phenomenological and emancipatory. I have taken a qualitative stance in an attempt to explore, firstly, the learners' impressions of the usefulness of the programme and secondly, the variables that may be impacting on the learners' ability to acquire and generalise new strategies. The information has been gathered from my observations and questionnaires. The research report describes my observations of the ecosystemic variables that affected the implementation of a study and thinking skills programme, and the learners' impressions of the programme. In addition, I reflected on my journey through this research process. Suggestions were made as to how a study and thinking skills programme could best be implemented in a school; and as to the usefulness of emancipatory action research in South Africa.