Browsing by Author "Donald, David"
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- ItemOpen AccessDeveloping the reading comprehension skills of English second language primary school teacher trainees at an Afrikaans-medium college of education(1989) Souter, Colin W; Donald, David; Archer, MaureenThere is evidence that many primary school teachers of English Second Language (EL2) are inadequately equipped to teach reading comprehension skills. They test their pupils on literal, at the expense of inferential, reading skills. This investigation therefore sought to test the literal and inferential reading comprehension skills of a group of Afrikaans-speaking EL2 teacher trainees and to design a reading comprehension programme which would improve their thinking skills over a period of nine months. The students were also instructed in a programmed reading course (the SRA Reading Laboratory) to determine its efficacy in improving their thinking skills. A further objective was to establish whether a programmed reading course or the author's cognitive reading development programme benefitted high-status (proficient in English) more than low-status (less proficient) EL2 students and what effects the two different programmes would exert on their reading comprehension skills a year after formal instruction in reading comprehension ceased. It was found that specific sequences of the two different instructional programmes were associated with significant changes in the students' reading comprehension scores. It was also found that, while high-status students benefitted sooner from the author's cognitive reading comprehension programme, that approach was also ultimately beneficial for low-status students. It is suggested that cognitive reading development programmes be implemented at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions where language skills and levels of meaningful reading need to be raised.
- ItemOpen AccessThe educational psychologist as a consultant : an evaluation of a systematic problem-solving approach in the junior-primary section of a school hostel(1993) Frank, Elzan; Donald, DavidThe application of systemic principles to a consultancy model was explored, using the systemic problem-solving methodologies developed in Britain by Burden (1978, 1981, 1983) and Checkland (1981). It is argued that, in addition to the traditional role of the educational psychologist as a child and family psychologist, the role of the educational psychologist should be extended to include a function as a consultant to social systems. The focus of the intervention was the children in the junior-primary section of a boarding-school. A team of consultants was formed for the duration of the intervention. The team comprised of key members from the system and the novice educational psychologist, with the academic supervisor acting as an outside consultant. The analysis focused on rules and patterns. Patterns of communication, support, isolation and problem-solving were highlighted. The intervention focused on structural changes. Structural changes, attitudinal changes and the process itself were evaluated. Agreement by consensus was used as a measure of change. Consensus was reached that the model had impacted positively on the problem-solving skills of the team and the previous isolation of team members. However limited news of difference was found in relation to the children. This was connected to the fact that many of the changes had not been implemented fully or for a sufficient period of time.
- ItemOpen AccessThe foundations of affective development : proactive involvement of the educational psychologist(1991) Cooper, Daphne C; Donald, DavidIn this thesis the foundations of affective development are discussed. The context of development is considered to be the relationship between infant and caregiver. The theoretical bases of developmental psychology and the practice of clinical psychology have been drawn on and applied to a model of promotive and preventive work. Affective development may be enhanced by psychologists, and it is therefore important for them to consider promotion of mental health as well as more traditional ways of therapeutic intervention. A survey was done in four infant clinics in Cape Town, and had the aim of establishing whether health care workers in this context were doing anything to promote affective development. There seemed to be minimal intervention in this regard. The second aim of the research section of this thesis addressed the question of whether there might be a place within the clinic structures for educational psychologists. To this end groups of caregivers were set up, and a pilot promotive programme was administered and evaluated over five sessions. In general the response of the mothers was positive. In the final chapter some of the particular strains that are placed on South African families are considered. Finally recommendations and ideas for establishing programmes that seek to promote affective development in contexts other than clinics are discussed.
- ItemOpen AccessAn investigation of a group of Khayelitsha parents' understanding of the causes and management of their childrens' epilepsy(1998) Keikelame, Mpoe Johannah; Donald, DavidThe purpose of this dissertation was to document the findings of a study on what the parents of children with epilepsy understood as the cause of their childrens' condition, and how they managed it The study utilised the framework of medical, anthropological and eco - systemic models to gain an understanding of the causes and management of epilepsy. Twelve parents of children with epilepsy in Khayelitsha, a peri-urban township in Cape Town, were interviewed with the use of a semi- structured interview schedule. Interviews were recorded and later transcribed and data was analysed through the constant comparative method. The interview explored the causes of epilepsy and the factors that trigger the onset of seizures of which most respondents had no understanding. It further explored the medical management of epilepsy in regard to kind of treatment received by child, understanding of required dose and when medication bad to be taken.
- ItemOpen AccessThe relationship between study habits, study attitudes and intellectual achievement responsibility in a group of learning disabled adolescents(2000) Kaimowitz, Caryn; Donald, DavidThe objectives of this study were to explore whether a significant relationship exists between study habits, study attitudes, academic locus of control and academic results in a group of learning disabled adolescents. In order to investigate this relationship, all of the grade 8 students at a remedial high school were required to complete the Survey of Study Habits and Attitudes, as well as the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale. Rank order correlations on the above variables yielded significant relationships between study habits and study attitudes, study habits and locus of control, study attitudes and locus of control, study attitudes and academic results and locus of control and academic results. Implications of these findings are discussed, as well as their significance in designing intervention programmes for learning disabled adolescents.
- ItemOpen AccessThe role of the microcomputer as a diagnostic, prescriptive and learning instrument in remedial education(1986) Robinson, Stuart Ivan; Donald, DavidThe number of pupils with learning disabilities is on the increase and effective ways of attempting to remediate such pupils are always being sought. Current technology has presented remedial teachers with a potentially dynamic aid in the form of the microcomputer. Many of the attributes of computer-aided learning closely parallel the principles of remedial teaching and to this end it was attempted to establish the role of the microcomputer in remedial education. An in-depth study of the literature was undertaken. In the practical sphere, a survey was conducted to obtain the views of practicing remedial teachers as well as to establish the extent of applications in schools. Learning disabled pupils were observed interacting with microcomputers. The study revealed that the prognosis for embracing microcomputers in remedial education is encouraging. Applications exist for diagnosis and prescription of specific deficits as well as for prescribing the microcomputer in the sphere of general educational development of learning disabled pupils. Further applications for administrative and management purposes have reached-an advanced stage of development. With the development of appropriate software and proper "teacher education" the microcomputer has the potential to become a dynamic educational aid for the learning disabled; especially because of its motivational and user-friendly nature.