Exploring Senior Phase teachers' competencies in supporting learners with specific learning difficulties: Implications for inclusive education

Teaching learners with specific learning difficulties requires competent teachers who can provide learning support. Competencies such as identifying learning difficulties, assessing learners, designing interventions such as curriculum differentiation and facilitating referral systems are crucial. However, Senior Phase teachers in South Africa seem to be challenged when it comes to providing learning support. Consequently, learners do not meet the desired learning outcomes. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore Senior Phase teachers' competencies in supporting learners with specific learning difficulties in four mainstream schools. Methods: A qualitative research approach and phenomenological research design were used. Eighteen teachers who were members of the school-based support teams, including learning support educators, were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through individual and focus group interviews, the analysis of support forms and field notes. A thematic data analysis was used to generate findings. Results: The thematic data analysis revealed discrepancies relating to participants' competencies in identifying language difficulties, short-term memory problems and contextual barriers. Also, participants differed in collaborating with peers, social workers, and the district-based support teams. Furthermore, some participants were able to design intervention programs and facilitate internal and external referral processes. Conclusion: The study concludes that teachers have different competencies in providing learning support. Therefore, the Department of Basic Education should provide a clear practical learning support strategy in the Senior Phase mainstream schools as well as continuous professional development for teachers couple with monitoring. Contribution: It is envisioned that the study will contribute to understanding teachers' competences in providing learning support for learners with specific learning difficulties in the senior phase. The study advocates for collaborative continuous professional teacher development focusing on interventions programs to support learners with specific learning difficulties in the mainstream schools

2. Learner Support for Medical Students Who Are Delay in Learning / 医学教育

In this paper, as support for “students who are showing signs of academic underachievement”, a fictional case of a medical student will be examined from the following three perspectives. The first is a cognitive/neuropsychological perspective on the possibility of “incongruence between cognitive characteristics and learning strategies” and “higher brain dysfunction” . In support, it is important to identify the the student’s traits and adopt appropriate learning strategies. The second, from a clinical psychological perspective, discusses the possibility of “depression” due to tasks in “identity development”. Self-understanding and environmental coordination are required for support. Third, from the perspective of neurodevelopmental syndrome, the possibility of “specific learning disorder” is considered. In this case, too, it is necessary to devise learning strategies that match the student’s traits and provide continuous motivation. For individualized understanding as already mentioned, interdepartment collaboration is also expected.

Assessment of an Academic Skills Development Program for Youths in Juvenile Correctional Facilities / Avaliação de um Programa de Desenvolvimento de Habilidades Acadêmicas em Adolescentes no Regime de Internação em Unidade de Socioeducação / Evaluación de un Programa de Desarrollo de Habilidades Académicas para Adolescentes Internados en Unidad de Socio Educación

Abstract School deficit is considered a risk factor for the development of antisocial behavior. This study assessed the efficacy of individual program on academic skills for adolescents admitted to juvenile detention. The sample consisted of 18 adolescents, nine who received the intervention (experimental group) and nine in the control group. The schooling activities were developed in a range of 12 to 18 weeks with two to four hours per week and efficacy was measured by School Performance Test (SPT) that evaluates writing, reading and arithmetics. The results of the comparison between pretest and post-test showed a statistically significant increase in the experimental group's math skills (Z = -2.673, p = .008) and overall score (Z = -2.549, p = .012). Calculated via the STP the average educational lag at the time of the pretest was 8.3 years for the experimental group and 8.9 years for the control group. Subsequent to the intervention, the average lag dropped to 7.3 years for the experimental group and remained to 8.6 years for the control group. This intervention proved to be a promising technique to reduce academic deficits in adolescents from juvenile detention.

Resumo O déficit escolar é considerado um fator de risco para o desenvolvimento do comportamento antissocial. Esse estudo avaliou a eficácia de um programa para o desenvolvimento de habilidades acadêmicas para adolescentes em conflito com a lei. A amostra foi composta por 18 adolescentes, nove receberam a intervenção (grupo experimental) e nove participaram do grupo controle. As atividades de estimulação foram desenvolvidas entre duas e quatro horas semanais em um período entre 12 e 18 semanas. A eficácia do programa foi medida pelo Teste de Desenvolvimento Escolar (TDE) que avalia habilidades de escrita, leitura e aritmética. Os resultados da comparação entre pré teste e pós teste demonstraram que o grupo experimental teve melhoras significativas nas habilidades aritméticas (Z = -2,673, p = 0,008) e no escore total (Z = -2,549, p = 0,012). Medida pelo TDE a média de atraso escolar no pré teste foi de 8,3 anos no grupo experimental e de 8,9 anos no grupo controle. Após a intervenção a média caiu para 7,3 anos no grupo experimental e se manteve em 8,6 anos no grupo controle. Essa intervenção demonstrou ser uma técnica promissora para reduzir déficits escolares em adolescentes em conflito com a lei.

Resumen El déficit escolar se considera un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo del comportamiento antisocial. Esta investigación evaluó un programa de escolarización individual, en la modalidad refuerzo escolar, con adolescentes internados en unidad de socio educación. La muestra se constituyó de 18 adolescentes, nueve que recibieron la intervención y nueve en grupo control. Las actividades de escolarización se desarrollaron en un intervalo de 12 a 18 semanas, con duración de dos a cuatro horas por semana. Sus efectos fueron medidos por el Teste de Desarrollo Escolar (STP) que evaluó lectura, escritura y aritmética. Los resultados de la comparación del pre con el pos test demostraron que hubo aumento significativo de aprendizaje en aritmética (Z = -2.673, p <0,008) y en la puntuación total (Z = -2,549, p <0,012) en el grupo objetivo. El promedio del desfase escolar en pre-test, calculado por el STP, fue de 8,3 años para el grupo objetivo y 8,9 años para el control; después de la intervención promedio el desfasaje escolar cayó a 7,3 años para el grupo objetivo y se mantuvo en 8,6 para el control. La intervención en la escolarización se mostró prometedora para reducir el déficit escolar de adolescentes en régimen de internación.

The learning situation and support for pharmacy students failing their final exam the previous year / 医学教育

<p>Purpose: The learning situation of pharmacy students failing their final exam the previous year (referred to as US) was investigated, and a method of learning support for students with low scholastic abilities was examined.</p><p>Method: Questionnaires were completed by students who were unsuccessful in the previous year's final exam a total of three times from April to July 2014, and changes in their academic record were compared with the questionnaire results. Questionnaire contents were: (1)self-learning time, (2)learning support method, (3)weak subject area, (4) progress in the printed material we distributed.</p><p>Results: The students with a low academic performance hoped to study by themselves. They felt that physicochemistry and pharmacology were weak subject areas, because high-level understanding was necessary. We realized that the quality of learning was more important than the number of practice problems the students could complete, based on the tests we distributed. In addition, a decline in academic ability was seen in many students at the beginning of the following fiscal year.</p><p>Discussion: It is necessary to begin physicochemistry and pharmacology education support when students start their programs for those with a low scholastic ability. Support that incorporates unification-type learning for students unsuccessful in their final exams is also necessary. Furthermore, it is important to design specialized practice problems and individual guidance for students with a low academic performance.</p>

Efeitos de variáveis individuais e contextuais sobre desempenho individual no trabalho / Effects of individuals and contextual variables on individual performance at work

O presente trabalho objetivou testar empiricamente um modelo teórico multinível de predição de desempenho individual no trabalho. As variáveis antecedentes investigadas, isoladas ou em interação, corresponderam à idade, gênero, cargo, grau de escolaridade, tempo de serviço e percepção de suporte à aprendizagem, medidas no nível individual e de contexto, e satisfação no trabalho, de nível individual. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma empresa pública, do ramo de pesquisas agropecuária e atuação nacional. A amostra (N = 808) contou com funcionários distribuídos em 45 unidades centralizadas e descentralizadas da empresa pelo Brasil. A coleta de dados foi realizada à distância, via e-mail. Os resultados multiníveis corroboraram o modelo teórico de pesquisa hipotetizado e evidenciaram que a variância de desempenho foi explicada por distintos preditores de nível individual e de contexto, isoladamente ou em interação.

This paper aims to empirically test a theoretical multilevel model for the prediction of individual performance at work. Antecedent variables, isolated or in interaction, were age, gender, function, scholarity, period of function and perception of learning support, in the individual and contextual levels, and satisfaction at work, an individual variable. This study was accomplished in a public corporation which deals with agricultural research in a national scope. The participants (N = 808) were distribute in 45 central and noncentral units for the Brazil. Data collection was done online, by e-mail. The multilevel results confirm the hypothetic theoretical model and make evident that the performance's variance were predicted by different individuals and context variables, isolated or in interaction.