Ghanaian Parents’ Perspectives on Young Children’s Play Experiences during the Coronavirus Pandemic

This study examined Ghanaian parents’ perspectives on how their children’s play experiences were influenced by the 2019 coronavirus pandemic. Purposive criterion sampling was used to select 15 parents (aged 20-50 years old) from three communities in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. The selection criteria were that potential parents had at least one child between the ages of four and eight years old, and that the child or children must be living with the parent(s) at the time of the study. Semi-structured interviews served as the primary source of data. Inductive data analysis strategies were employed to analyze the data. Results showed that children’s play experiences changed during the pandemic in terms of play types, play places, play partners, play materials, frequency of play, and gender dynamics. The major factors that influenced children’s play during the coronavirus outbreak were parents’ personal factors and the availability of play materials. Additionally, children were active agents in their own play experiences. There needs to be a concerted effort among parents, schools, and other stakeholders aimed at providing developmentally appropriate play experiences for young children

'n Evaluasie van ‘n geletterheidsondersteuningsprogram vir die intermediêre fase

Thesis (MEdPsych )--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adequate literacy skills form the basis for learning and development. Unfortunately, a lack of adequate literacy skills is a world-wide tendency. Literacy in South Africa is part of this problem. The Department of Basic Education has, since 2000, been using the National Systemic Evaluation (NSE) to determine the level of learners' literacy skills. This evaluation takes place in grades 3 and 6 every alternate year. The latest evaluation indicated that the number of Intermediate Phase learners in South Africa who do not have the required literacy skills has increased over the last few years. The school where this research was undertaken also experiences problems with learners whose literacy skills are not up to standard. The results of the National Systemic Evaluation (NSE) of 2005 indicate that only 30% of the grade 6 learners in the school are able to read and write at the required age level. As a result, a large percentage of the learners' reading and writing skills can be compared to learners in the Foundation Phase. Teachers in the Intermediate Phase have indicated that they do not have sufficient knowledge and self-confidence to support learners whose literacy skills are comparable with those in the Foundation Phase. It is within this frame of reference that I developed a support programme for teachers who teach in the Intermediate Phase. The aim of the research was to evaluate the efficacy of the Literacy Support Programme (GOP) for the Intermediate Phase. The study will determine if the teachers' self-confidence, skills and strategies for literacy support have improved. Transformation of the learners' backlog cannot take place before their teachers' self-confidence to support them has improved dramatically.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Voldoende geletterdheidsvaardighede vorm die basis van leer en ontwikkeling. Ongelukkig is 'n gebrek aan voldoende geletterdheidsvaardighede 'n wêreldwye tendens. Suid-Afrika ondervind ook hierdie probleem. Die Departement van Onderwys gebruik sedert 2000 die Nasionale Sistemiese Evaluering (NSE) om die vlak van leerders se geletterdheidsvaardighede te bepaal. Hierdie evaluering vind al om die ander jaar in graad 3 en 6 plaas. Die evaluering het getoon dat die aantal Intermediêre Fase-leerders in Suid-Afrikaanse skole wat nie oor voldoende geletterdheidsvaardighede beskik nie, die afgelope paar jaar toegeneem het. Die skool waar hierdie navorsing gedoen is ondervind ook probleme met leerders se geletterheidsvaardighede wat nie op standaard is nie. Die sistemiese evalueringsuitslae van 2005 het getoon dat slegs 30% van die Graad 6-leerders in dié skool volgens hul ouderdomsvlak kan lees en skryf. Gevolglik is daar 'n baie groot persentasie leerders wie se lees- en skryfvaardighede met leerders in die Grondslagfase (GF) vergelyk kan word. Die onderwysers in die Intermediêre Fase het aangedui dat hulle nie oor genoeg kennis of selfvertroue beskik om leerders te ondersteun wie se geletterdheidsvaardighede steeds met die van die Grondslagfase vergelyk kan word nie. Dit is binne hierdie verwysingsraamwerk dat ek 'n ondersteuningsprogram vir onderwysers van die Intermediêre Fase ontwikkel het. Die doel van die navorsingstudie was om die effektiwiteit van die Geletterdheidsondersteuningprogram (GOP) vir die Intermediêre Fase te evalueer. Die studie wil bepaal of die onderwysers se selfvertroue en vaardighede/strategieë vir geletterdheidsondersteuning in die Intermediêre Fase verbeter het. Transformasie van leerders se agterstande kan nie plaasvind alvorens die onderwysers nie oor genoeg selfvertroue beskik om hierdie leerders te ondersteun nie

Grade R educators’ experience of their professional development following an intervention programme

This study investigates Grade R educators’ experience of their professional development, following an intervention programme. An intervention programme was compiled based on baseline data. The baseline data indicated that the participants’ prior knowledge of play-based literacy was very limited. In the baseline data, the participants indicated that they experienced fears and concerns about the use of a play-based approach for Grade R learners. The participants were uncertain about how or whether to plan for play-based literacy, as well as how to identify their learners’ challenges through a play-based approach. Participatory action research was chosen as a meta-theoretical paradigm for the study. One of the characteristics of participatory action research is that it is conducted in cycles. Empirical data were collected over a period of eight weeks through the five cycles of participatory action research. The data were generated by means of qualitative data collection methods. These methods included research reflection journals of the participants and the researcher, collaborative discussions, semi-structured focus group interviews, observation, open-ended questions and open-ended interviews. Based on the baseline data collected, and as the study focused on the professional development of educators, two models were chosen as theoretical frameworks. The first models used, were CRASP I and CRASP II, focusing on the professional development of educators through participatory action research. Through participatory action research, educators can do critical self-evaluation about their own knowledge. A critical attitude causes a search for answers and leads to responsibility and a need for professional development. The purpose of the CRASP models is to change educators’ attitudes, skills and practices through professional development so that there can be an improvement in learners’ learning outcomes. The second model used during the study is the concerns-based model of teacher development. Education changes regularly, and as educators develop fears and worries about their own teaching methods, the concerns-based model of teacher development aims to help educators overcome their fears and concerns about teaching. CRASP I and CRASP II, as well as the concerns-based model of teacher development, have been combined to contribute to the professional development of Grade R educators through play-based literacy. The findings of the study indicate that the participants experienced the intervention programme as very positive. The findings further indicate that through the intervention programme, all the participants have gained insight into the learners’ deficits, as well as insight into their own teaching methods. Nine out of ten of the participants in the study indicated that their self-confidence in the utilisation of play-based education had improved to such an extent that following the intervention programme, they understood the value of a spell-based approach and that they could effectively plan for a play-based approach. The participants further pointed out that they had improved their knowledge to such an extent that they could better identify and support learners with challenges. The study, the findings and the recommendations may contribute to the professional development of educators in terms of the teaching of play-based literacy.https://journals.co.za/content/journal/akgeesam2019Early Childhood Educatio