Healthy societies can only be built on a realistic understanding of people and their world. The call for African solutions to the continent's problems demands an innovative pool of knowledgeable and skilled social researchers. Fundamentals of social research methods: An African perspective draws examples from a broad spectrum of fields including agriculture, public health, social welfare, community development and regional planning. The material is compatible with social science methods courses in sociology, economics, political science, psychology and education.

Community psychology is an applied branch of psychology that strives to promote the health and wellbeing of people in various contexts. This discipline is of particular relevance in South Africa, where excellent infrastructure and meaningful pockets of wealth coexist with extremely poor communities experiencing specific social and psychological issues. Community psychology in South Africa presents the depth and width of the field of Community psychology in its quest to eradicate psychosocial problems and empower people through community development. This book considers the theoretical foundations of the field and how these theories can be applied to understanding psychosocial problems within the multicultural South African context. Psychosocial problems discussed in the book include the following: Health promotion; Mental health; HIV/AIDS; Substance abuse; Poverty; Crime and violence; Violence towards women and children; Interracial relationships. This second edition has been updated to include recent developments, especially regarding cultural awareness. Community psychology in South Africa is aimed at experienced psychologists, professionals dealing with community development and the wellbeing of individuals and communities, as well as students of social sciences.

It is not unusual for even seasoned educators to express some bewilderment about teaching in today's fast-paced, technological, outcome-oriented environment. The overwhelming quantity of media messages bombarding learners has led them to develop a significant level of scepticism towards any information that they receive, and the old methods of teaching no longer seem to be effective. An educator's guide to effective classroom management provides clear and concise discussions of classroom management aspects within a present-day South African context to give educators an opportunity to question and enhance their approach to teaching and reduce the bureaucracy of their classrooms. An educator's guide to effective classroom management provides valuable knowledge, practical ideas and advice on the development of a personal classroom management plan to suit individual styles of teaching and thus promote successful learning. It is student centred and interactive, including practical activities and mind maps for clarity as well as opportunities for self-assessment. Contents include the following: The millennial learner; Self-management for the educator; Classroom management tasks; Planning in the classroom; Leadership in the classroom; Laws and constitutional provisions regulating classroom management and administration, learner discipline and safety. An educator's guide to effective classroom management is aimed at pre-service education students as well as already practising educators who wish to improve their classroom practice.

An unfortunate consequence of the restructuring of teacher education in South Africa over the past 15 years has been the virtual disappearance of history of education from tertiary programmes and a corresponding decline in the number of publications on the subject. But this is now changing; especially in postgraduate courses. A history of schooling in South Africa: method and context provides a perspective on the development of schooling for all of South Africa's diverse population groups, from pre-colonial times to present day, in as much detail as is possible in a single volume.

This title focuses on the fundamentals of supervision and how supervision can be utilised effectively. The authors are involved in the fields of education, counseling and clinical psychology. Written primarily by South African practitioners and trainers, the title is particularly relevant to the supervisors of counsellors and counsellor supervisees.

Chris Wright's pioneering 2006 book, The Mission of God, revealed that the typical Christian understanding of "missions" encompasses only a small part of God's overarching mission for the world. God is relentlessly reclaiming the entire world for himself. In The Mission of God's People, Wright shows how God's big-picture plan directs the purpose of God's people, the church. Wright emphasizes what the Old Testament teaches Christians about being the people of God. He addresses questions of both ecclesiology and missiology with topics like "called to care for creation," "called to bless the nations," "sending and being sent," and "rejecting false gods." As part of the Biblical Theology for Life Series, this book provides pastors, teachers, and lay learners with first-rate biblical study while at the same time addressing the practical concerns of contemporary ministry. The Mission of God's People promises to enliven and refocus the study, teaching, and ministry of those truly committed to joining God's work in the world.

"But what does scripture say?"

That question has echoed through a thousand debates in the life of the worldwide church. All churches have officially endorsed strong statements about the centrality of scripture and its authority in their mission, life, doctrine, and discipline. But there is no agreement on what this might mean or how it might work in practice. Individuals and churches struggle with how to respond to issues such as war, homosexuality, and abortion, and especially how to interpret biblical passages that discuss these topics. These disagreements often serve to undermine our confidence in the authority of the Bible.

Bishop and Bible scholar N. T. Wright delivers a new model for how to understand the place of scripture and God's authority in the midst of religious confusion. Wright gives new life to the old, tattered doctrine of the authority of scripture, delivering a fresh, helpful, and concise statement on how to read the Bible today, restoring scripture as a place to find God's voice.

In this revised and expanded edition of the previously titled book The Last Word, Wright provides two case studies that delve into what it means to keep Sabbath and how Christians can defend marital monogamy. These studies offer not only bold biblical insights but also showcase Wright's new model for how to interpret scripture and restore its role as the church's main resource for teaching and guidance. Removing the baggage that the last 100 years of controversy and confusion have placed on this doctrine, Wright renews our confidence in the Bible and shows how it can once again serve as the living Word of God for our lives.