Education and New Developments 2021最新文献

{"title":"ASCERTAINING THE USE OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN PROMOTING LEARNERS’ HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT IN MULTICULTURAL SCHOOL SETTINGS","authors":"G. Alexander, S. Matoti, Pieter Van Zyl","doi":"10.36315/2021end039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end039","url":null,"abstract":"Encouraging learners to participate in extracurricular activities should commence in the early phase of their growth where a basis for their personality, learning and development is laid. Extracurricular activities could further assist in improving learners’ creativity and artistic talents. Philosophers, such as Rousseau, Spencer and Dewey further reiterate the value of extracurricular activities in developing social relationships and intellectual intelligence. Learners associate with different peer groups which may satisfy their socialisation, self-assessment, self-identification and the fulfilment of their needs in becoming self-actualised. Learners can further be enabled to reach self-actualisation by participating in academic activities, such as maths, science clubs and research projects. Such activities seemingly contribute to learners’ academic development which in turn may assist them in mastering certain life tasks; developing leadership roles; increasing their involvement in the community and expressing their civil responsibility. Amidst the latter, it is noted that the lack or in some cases, the non-existence of extracurricular activities hinder learners’ growth and learning, especially in multicultural school settings, where the foundation for learners’ development has to occur in a conducive environment. Multicultural schools in the Letjweleputswa educational district, Free State province of South Africa seem not to use extracurricular activities as an effective tool in promoting learners’ holistic development. The aim of this paper is to ascertain the use of extracurricular activities in promoting learners’ holistic development in the Letjweleputswa educational district. Via a qualitative research methodology, three focus group interviews were conducted with 20 learners attached to four multicultural schools. Findings of the study revealed that learner participants are of the view that their involvement in extracurricular activities could give them a greater chance of being employed; of getting a better job; of being accepted into university and of developing certain attributes, such as creativity, innovation, problem solving and endurance. The study further recommends that multicultural schools in the Letjweleputswa educational district need to implement various extracurricular activities as a means of developing various traits and competencies such as learners’ physical-, emotional-, cognitive and social skills; moral underpinnings, life-skills, well-being, leadership qualities, analytical thinking processes and communication abilities.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128876262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"USING EVERYDAY LANGUAGE TO SUPPORT LEARNERS’ ACCESS TO MATHEMATICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE","authors":"Azwidowi Emmanuel Libusha","doi":"10.36315/2021end013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end013","url":null,"abstract":"The language of mathematics can hinder the development of some learners’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. Language as a whole plays a crucial role in the teaching and learning of mathematics as it serves as the medium in which the teachers and learners think and communicate in the classroom. Ball, Thames and Phelps (2008) argue that the demands of teaching mathematics require specialized mathematical knowledge that only pertains to mathematics teaching and is not required in other mathematics professions. The role of the teacher is to use resources available to them to support learners in accessing mathematical content knowledge. Previous researchers acknowledged the difficulty learners face when trying to interpret the formal language of mathematics in order to access mathematical content knowledge. Consequently, the current study explored the various ways in which the language of learning and teaching can be utilized by teachers to mitigate language difficulties their learners may experience. The study was guided by the research question: What is the informal mathematical language that Grade 10 teachers use to inform effective instruction when teaching functions? This paper aims to describe how teachers use informal mathematical language to teach inequalities and functions. The research is qualitative and the descriptive method was employed, with the researcher serving as the main instrument. The required data was collected by observing two teachers teaching inequalities and functions. The findings indicate that the use of transliteration and demonstrations as teaching strategies reduced the challenges of using English as a medium of instruction to interpret mathematical symbolic language and that the use of everyday language makes a difference in the learning of functions and inequalities. The study informs both pre-service and in-service teacher development programmes.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114529472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ATTITUDES OF GRADE ONE EDUCATORS TOWARDS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INCLUSIVE EDUCATION IN CLASSROOMS AT BOTSHABELO SCHOOLS","authors":"Nomvuyo Joyce Mantshiyane, W. Setlalentoa, P. Phindane","doi":"10.36315/2021end081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end081","url":null,"abstract":"The provision for learners with disabilities has been part of a process and the development of an inclusive education system can be traced back to the nation’s founding document, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 108 of 1996. Creating an inclusive education environment is about celebrating diversity among learners and creating a welcoming culture where all learners are valued and made to feel that they belong. Inclusivity is about recognising that no two children are alike, and all children can learn. Most children with barriers to learning are accommodated in ordinary schools. Frequent causes of barriers to learning include discriminatory attitudes, labelling and discouragement. The study investigated Grade one educators’ attitude towards the implementation of inclusive education at selected Botshabelo Primary Schools in the Free State Province. The study adopted an interactive qualitative approach. The population comprised educators and principals from selected primary schools in Botshabelo. A non-probability selection of participants was used to randomly select educators and principals from five schools. Data were analyzed by means of thematic analysis. The results of the study revealed that there are different factors contributing to the attitudes of Grade one educators towards the implementation of inclusive education in classrooms, amongst others, untrained educators for inclusive education; unsuitable environment for the disabled learners with learning barriers; lack of resources for inclusive education and curriculum at the level of learners with learning barriers; lack of parental involvement; and classroom overcrowding. The results revealed solutions to the negative attitudes of Grade one educators towards the implementation of inclusive education in classrooms which include training educators for inclusive education; parental involvement in learner’s education; a suitable environment for disabled learners and those with learning barriers, consideration of learner-teacher ratio; availability of suitable resources for inclusive education; and availability of inclusive curriculum. The study recommends that educators should be developed professionally by being trained about inclusive education; parents should be involved to support educators and their children; the school environment and buildings should be free from hazards; and overcrowding in classrooms should be avoided.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"102 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132996941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"EXPERIMENT D‘ – SERIOUS GAME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCES. CONCEPT, CONTENT, AND EXPERIENCES","authors":"Gala Rebane, Maik Arnold","doi":"10.36315/2021end080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end080","url":null,"abstract":"The paper presents an intercultural serious game ‘Experiment D’, which was developed in a cooperation between the junior professor of Intercultural Competence (Chemnitz University of Technology) and the chair of Social Work Management (FHD Dresden – University of Applied Sciences). The game was successfully tested and assessed in the summer term 2017 and 2018. The main plot consists of a communicative negotiation and strategic handling of a complex situation at university that involves various stakeholders, both within and without it. The game fosters cultural awareness and self-reflection, appreciation of and a creative approach towards diversity, as well as general communicative, social, and team competences. Since it does not require any specialised prior knowledge, ‘Experiment D’ potentially addresses students of all disciplines. The participants of the two test sessions were students of the study fields MERGE Technologies for Resource Efficiency (study component “Soft Skills”, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering) and Intercultural Communication and Competence (compulsory study component Intercultural Learning, Faculty of Humanities) at the Chemnitz University of Technology. Ethnicity, nationality, first language(s), degree of proficiency in English and German, and academic background were all factors that engendered a highly diverse game setting. Aside from the concept of the game, as well as its methodology and didactics, the paper also discusses the results of its assessment.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"24 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131639309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ENHANCING EDUCATORS’ CREDIBILITY IN INTELLIGENT LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS","authors":"Mario Mallia Milanes, M. Montebello","doi":"10.36315/2021end132","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end132","url":null,"abstract":"The deployment and use of Artificially Intelligent tools and techniques has proved to be effective and convenient, rendering them highly popular and desirable within any application. The benefits that such smart services provide are increasingly becoming popular within virtual learning environments as educators and learners continue to revert to such online portals during the academic process of higher education programmes. However, numerous educators have been sceptical of the inferences made by the machine learning techniques that implicitly at the background of the learning environment are monitoring the learner and collecting data to optimize the educational process as well as the learning experience. In an effort to enhance such a credibility we present an intelligent learning environment that justifies its decisions and propositions through an explainable interface that tracks back its conclusions to reasonable and plausible justifications. In this paper we present our research work together with our experiences in developing and deploying such a ground-breaking concept.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134202417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ENABLING TRANSFORMATIVE INCLUSIVE LEARNING PEDAGOGIES OF PRESERVICE TEACHERS IN MULTICULTURAL HIGHER LEARNING CONTEXTS","authors":"J. Palmer, R. Kgothule, G. Alexander, E. D. Klerk","doi":"10.36315/2021end129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end129","url":null,"abstract":"Several studies echo the role of participation and interaction in learning activities as crucial to valorise all students equally. Inclusive pedagogy should recognize the disputed nature of inclusive education and the subsequent unpredictability in teaching practices as a means of identifying students requiring additional learning support particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Such variability raises significant questions about the nature and value of educational provision, around the globe, but particularly in the South African multicultural higher learning context. Having applied a transformative learning methodology this paper explores the influence of inclusive learning pedagogies in shaping preservice teachers’ repertoires in multicultural higher learning contexts. The findings suggest that transformative learning promotes specific practices such as trusting relationships within the learning context and an appreciation for diversity and inclusivity, opportunities for critical reflection, shared and collective learning, and transformative leadership development. Ultimately, when circumstances permit, transformative preservice teachers move toward a frame of reference that is more self-reflective, integrative and inclusive of experience. In conclusion we suggest that stakeholders in higher education contexts consider creating institutional spaces for preservice teachers to change their frame of reference in approaching their own teaching and learning repertoires in transformative and inclusive ways.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"16 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134214933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"INVESTIGATING THE USE ACTION LEARNING APPROACHES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION STUDIES: A CASE OF SKILLS CENTRE","authors":"K. Mokhothu, C. S. Masoabi, A. Makura","doi":"10.36315/2021end045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end045","url":null,"abstract":"Civil Engineering and Construction studies are the study fields that embraces practical and theory. While action learning approaches is encompassed with a myriad of teaching and learning methods to closed the deficits. The research aims to investigate the use of action learning approaches in Civil engineering and Construction studies. while the objective of the research is to assess the extent to which action learning approaches is employed in teaching practical and content knowledge in Civil Engineering and Construction studies. The research used a mixed-method approach comprising quantitative and qualitative methodology to collect data. Questionnaire and face to face semi-structured interview were used as the tools to gather data. Participants were all 10 lecturers and assistance lecturers, males and females from different culture, age and race. Findings of the research revealed that lecturers are using action learning approaches unaware. The research, suggests that all lecturer at the skills centres should be afforded opportunities to attend facilitations and assessor courses or Universities of Technology should develop a short education methodology for them of which it will equip their teaching and learning skills.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"117 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130154851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"BLUEPRINTS FOR CHANGE: WHAT MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE OFFERS INSTRUCTORS OF PRE-SERVICE EARLY EDUCATION TEACHERS","authors":"M. Morrone, Y. Matsuyama","doi":"10.36315/2021end143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end143","url":null,"abstract":"This research is part of a long-term study focused on the redesign of pre-service early teacher education based on observations of schools that use a multicultural inclusive model. The Swedish school highlighted in this research provides a case study in how international standards are appraised by education stakeholders (researchers, educators, the local community, etc.) and then transformed into curricula in local practice. The key to this Swedish approach is the emphasis on democratic values in education. This gives the educators at the preschool in question a traditional “Swedish” basis for their progressive efforts to rise to the challenges presented by their multicultural student body, challenges they meet by creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all members of the school community, students, teachers, and parents alike. The goal is to make each person feel valued and included in the educational process. The emphasis is on inclusivity for all, whatever their background, religion or socio-economic status. The approach of the Ringmuren Forskolan is presented as a potential model for institutions that have the responsibility of preparing pre-service teachers for their work in an increasingly multicultural world.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"12 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133121268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"THE IMPORTANCE OF REFLECTION-BASED STRATEGIES IN TRAINING PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH MDVI CHILDREN","authors":"Andrea Hathazi, Ioana-Letiția Șerban","doi":"10.36315/2021end048","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end048","url":null,"abstract":"This paper focuses on the professional development regarding communication abilities of the teachers and therapists working with children with multiple disabilities and a visual impairment (MDVI). Since the development of communication abilities is a complex process, it must be approached from a continuous, systemic and structured perspective. MDVI children acquire and develop communication skills based on various factors which depend on their specific features and usually they need a large amount of time to learn how to employ different systems of communication so they can express a need or a desire and have an impact on other people or on the environment. In this context, a team of 3 universities, 4 special schools for the blind and visual impaired, one NGO and one IT company have come together in an Erasmus+ European project called PrECIVIM (Promoting Effective Communication for Individuals with a Vision Impairment and Multiple Disabilities) to address the need of a professional training in communication abilities of the specialists working with MDVI children. As a result, a complex training program has been created, based on common experiences, reflective strategies, and different training components. Method: We have focused on a group of 21 professionals working with MDVI children. They were the beneficiaries of a four-part training programme conducted by three experienced trainers on a time frame of 6 months. The programme was delivered in multiple ways, each of them with great reflective value: training manual (individual study), onsite group training, online group supervision and written individual reflective logs. Results: The individual feedback of each participant has been processed and discussed revealing significant improvement in their intervention approach toward MDVI children, in their selection of communication methods or in their professional relationship with the MDVI child. The results of the training programme are presented in terms of the efficiency of the reflection-based strategies for the professional development of each participant. Conclusion: The training programme applied to this group of professionals has emphasized the need of mentors and partners who offer constructive feedback and who implement reflective strategies in the intervention process regarding communication with MDVI children. In this sense, the reflective logs should be considered a great resource in the intervention and therapeutic process of MDVI children.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"100 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122414543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ STRUGGLES WITH ONLINE LEARNING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN","authors":"Esther Chiner, Marcos Gómez‐Puerta, V. García-Vera, M. Cardona‐Moltó","doi":"10.36315/2021end057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36315/2021end057","url":null,"abstract":"As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that affected most countries during the year 2020, the society had to adapt rapidly to new forms of working in which the Internet has been an essential tool. And so did the higher institutions around the world, which had to move from a face-to-face classroom environment to an online one. The change from traditional learning to online learning was so unexpected that neither the instructors nor the students may have been prepared for it and could have important consequences on students’ learning and academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to explore how university students had to struggle with online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown attending to three aspects: (a) availability and use of electronic devices, (b) personal factors, and (c) teaching factors. A non-experimental study based on a survey design was conducted, in which a convenience sample of 496 undergraduate and graduate students from two different universities located in south eastern Spain participated. The majority of the participants (66.3%) had very little or no experience in online learning and 55% considered that their academic performance was being worse than in face-to-face classes. Findings showed that most of the students had the electronic devices required for online learning (e.g. laptops, earphones, webcams, smartphones), although they mainly used laptops and earphones. They did not have other devices at home such as desktop computers, printers and scanners. The personal factors that most affected their academic performance were family problems and/or responsibilities (46.6%), psychological or emotional problems (41.6%), an inappropriate study environment (41.2%), and a bad Internet connection (31.4%). With regard to teaching factors, students complained of excessive assignments (82.6%), lack of lesson explanations (78.6%), loss of concentration during synchronous classes (64.3%), having to learn through the computer screen (58.9%), and feeling of being abandoned (57.4%), among others. In sum, university students’ struggles with online learning were more related to teaching factors than to personal and material factors. Therefore, higher education institutions and faculty should be prepared to respond to student’s needs in different teaching scenarios, and more specifically in online environments, by adapting not only their teaching styles and resources but also the way they interact with students.","PeriodicalId":135903,"journal":{"name":"Education and New Developments 2021","volume":"64 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2021-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129462954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}