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Many South African schools are underperforming academically and are labelled as trapped or yo-yo schools. The motivation and commitment of school leadership and educators play a critical role in realising improved academic results and sustainable improvement. In the study reported on here a 2-fold perspective was used to explore the problem of motivation: (a) motivational factors influencing sustainable improvement in performing, trapped and yo-yo schools and (b) how the self-determination theory (SDT) can cast light on the issue of motivation and sustainable improvement in schools. Following a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design, purposive sampling was used to select 6 secondary schools. We conducted individual and focus group interviews with the 6 school principals and 36 educators and heads of department who participated in the study. The findings reveal external factors that operate as negative and positive influences on the participants’ controlled motivation, amotivation and autonomous motivation. Reactions to the labelling of the schools and the motivation brought about by the school leadership styles enabled the participants to internalise the goals of the interventions of the Department of Basic Education for school improvement. One-size-fits-all interventions for school improvement are not effective in all trapped schools. Interventions should be based on individual analyses of root causes of problems and not on the symptoms.

In South Africa, many non-native Englishspeaking learners experience a variety of language challenges in classrooms and, as a result, underperform in national and international assessment opportunities. Teachers need to assist these learners with sufficient and effective feedback. The purpose of this qualitative study was, firstly, to explore the relationship between Hattie and Timperley’s (2007) model for effective feedback and the Interactionist Theory of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) (Gass & Mackey, 2006) and, secondly, to explore the corrective feedback practices of Intermediate Phase English Home Language teachers that promote SLA. Observations and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 15 purposively selected teachers from five different schools. The research findings indicate that the participants experienced various language-related challenges in their teaching of Intermediate Phase English Home Language. Mostly, the participants utilised transmission teaching approaches to provide formative, oral, written, descriptive, and self- feedback. Feedback in terms of Hattie and Timperley’s (2007) model on the task level was mostly applied as opposed to feedback on the process, self-regulation, and the self-level.

Learners’ self-regulation, which includes motivational variables, is influenced by personal variables within learners themselves, as well as by contextual factors. A great deal of research has focused on personal variables in learners that influence their self-regulated behaviours; yet contextual influences that operate outside of formal schooling of township school learners, although generally acknowledged, remain under-researched. The research presented in this paper explored 14 secondary township school teachers’ perceptions of the factors that influence learners’ motivation to achieve academic success. A better understanding of contextual motivational factors could influence teaching and learning, as well as provide the needed support that ultimately will enhance the academic achievement of South African township school learners. Participants perceived autonomy-supportive, extrinsic motivation, schools as positive learning environments, study and job opportunities, community projects, friends ...

This paper presents a case study of tutor and learner perceptions of Grade 10 Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) learners’ self-regulated learning (SRL) skills to achieve academic success. Zimmerman and Moylan’s (2009) model of SRL, grounded in social cognitive theory, formed the theoretical framework of the study. A qualitative research design, guided by a phenomenological case study in an interpretivist paradigm, was used to explore the perceptions of tutors and learners regarding the Grade 10 NAMCOL learners’ SRL skills to cope with the challenges of open distance learning (ODL). Three NAMCOL centres, six tutors and 15 learners were conveniently and purposively selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data. The findings reveal discrepancies between tutors’ and learners’ perceptions of Grade 10 NAMCOL learners’ SRL skills to cope with ODL and to achieve academic success. The findings underline the importance of academic support for ODL learners as well as the development of tutors’ knowledge and use of SRL teaching strategies to foster SRL learning, self- directed learning and academic success. Recommendations are offered to the Namibian Ministry of Education to improve the infrastructure of ODL centres and to NAMCOL to adapt their curriculum design and tutor training. Further studies should be conducted to explore academic and institutional support for NAMCOL learners.

Self-directed learning is a significant requirement for the development of lifelong learning and has globally developed into a vital role in academic learning. In this chapter, the author will firstly reflect on the social, cultural, educational, and economic characteristics of ODeL students studying through an open and distributed e-learning model. The purpose of this chapter is to reflect on various skills such as cognitive, organizational, emotional, and information communication technology skills that studying through an open and distributed e-learning model (ODeL) demands. A few situational challenges stemming from students' social, cultural, and previous educational contexts are discussed. Thereafter, the concept, self-directed learning, as a requirement for successful academic achievement in ODeL is presented. Lastly, instructional strategies are recommended to support and enhance students' self-directed learning to empower them to overcome the academic challenges in open and distributed e-learning.

In the persisting South African education crisis, low quintile schools are known for their lack of adequate resources, poorly trained teachers who lack content and pedagogical knowledge, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of parental support. I used a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design to explore South African low quintile school teachers' knowledge of self-regulated learning as well as their perceptions of how they develop self-regulated learning in learners. I conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively and conveniently selected Grade 8 secondary school teachers. The participants hold positive beliefs about self-regulated learning but lack pedagogical knowledge to develop this. They also experience departmental pressure regarding curriculum coverage, assessment, and administration that inhibits their time to do so. The participants perceive their efforts to develop self-regulated learning as being weighed down because this is not a priority at school, with high pass rates in the Annual National Assessment and Senior Secondary School Certificate examinations taking precedence. Future research needs more classroom-based studies to determine how teachers might start to become more skilful at teaching self-regulated learning skills since the development of this is not an automatic process but needs to be supported in learners.

Open distance students differ in their preparedness for higher education studies. Students who are less self-regulated risk failure and drop out in the challenging milieu of open distance learning. In this study, the differences between the application of self-regulated learning strategies by low and high achievers were explored. A multi-method research design was applied. Quantitative data were statistically analysed by factor analysis (n = 246) and effect sizes. Medium to small effect sizes were found in quantitative data. Qualitative data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. Low achievers rated their self-regulatory behaviour higher than high achievers, yet qualitative data revealed that high achievers are more self-regulated. The value of this research lies in the identification of low achievers’ use of self-regulated learning, and recognising the need to create awareness of the self-regulated learning skills necessary to support these students.

The aim of this paper is to present a case study of the perceptions of self-regulated learning (SRL) of 14 secondary township schoolteachers and their teaching behaviour to develop SRL strategies in their learners. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive research design was used. Semi-structured interviews and lesson observations were conducted with 14 purposively selected secondary school teachers. Specifically, this study explores how participants use teaching strategies to promote various SRL strategies such as goal-setting and planning, time management, peer learning, and self-evaluation. Findings indicate that participants’ teaching behaviour differ in terms of opportunities to encourage learners to become conscious of their learning processes as they use SRL strategies in different subjects across Grades 8-12 in the two township schools. Discrepancies have been noted between some lesson observations and teachers’ perceptions of how they integrate strategies to develop SRL. The findings underline the importance of developing teachers’ knowledge and the use of SRL teaching strategies to foster SRL learning and, hence, academic success.

Learning is a complex process that has generated numerous interpretations and theories as to how exactly it can be effectively facilitated to ensure that meaningful learning is achieved. This article will examine the value of different learning theories to develop self-directedness in Open distance learning students. While the basic assumptions and principles of social constructivism are not disputed, it is argued that we must be mindful not to replace one learning theory with yet another and promote a ‘one size fits all’ notion of what good teaching and learning is supposed to be. The concern is raised whether there is a single “best” learning theory and whether one theory is more efficient than the others when it comes to adult learners in ODL. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n6p11