Social Learning and Regenerative Sustainability: Unlocking value created in sustainability projects in higher education
- Authors: Royle, Carlene
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Social Learning South Africa Makhanda , Sustainability South Africa Makhanda , Education, Higher Social aspects South Africa Makhanda , Social accounting South Africa Makhanda , Education, Higher Activity programs South Africa Makhanda , Value creation , Agent (Philosophy) , Sustainable Development Goals
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402981 , vital:69911
- Description: This qualitative study considers two bodies of theory, regenerative sustainability and social learning theory, within a tertiary education context. Universities offer unique opportunities, across both the formal and informal curriculum, that engage with the two-fold socioeconomic and environmental crises. The study explores both the promise of unlocking value in an ex-linear economy; and the healing and regenerative benefits in moving toward greener practices. Through an embedded case study at Rhodes University, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, this research explores the value that is being unlocked in campus-based sustainability projects, when considered through a social learning lens (Lave and Wenger, 1991). Invitations to participate in this study were extended to project-leads of sustainability initiatives originating from Rhodes University campus. Six projects, which have been active on campus in recent years, were selected and, through semi-structured interviews, the insights of 12 participants were captured and analysed using the associated Value Creation Framework (VCF) developed by Wenger, Trayner and De Laat (Wenger, Trayner, de Laat, 2011) and later Wenger-Trayner and Wenger Trayner (2014, 2015, 2020). The VCF consists of value cycles that interconnect dynamically, including Orientating, Strategic, Enabling, Immediate, Potential, Applied, Realised and Reframed or Transformative value cycles. The study identified instances of all these value cycles, within and across the six embedded case studies (project). Drawing on social learning theorists the analysis further focused on instances of collaboration, agency and boundary crossing. Additional themes that emerged across the majority of the embedded study projects, were a convergence of socio and eco; a whole-systems perspective shared by project leads; the importance of the social commons; language as an enabler; and problem solving for system change. A recommendation is proposed to further unlock the unbounded value created through such projects by reframing the informal curriculum opportunities offered on university campuses as social learning spaces where students can practice agency. To do so, would require formalizing various forms of system support, thus facilitating expanded learning in regenerative sustainability activities, for the common social and planetary good. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
The potential of social learning to upscale the Community Based Water Quality Management (CBWQM) process: A case study of the Mpophomeni and Baynespruit Enviro Champs project
- Authors: Sithole, Nkosingithandile
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Community of practice , Social learning , Water quality management South Africa Pietermaritzburg Citizen participation , Citizen science , Water quality South Africa Pietermaritzburg
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/402966 , vital:69910
- Description: Water is an essential component of human survival, with a wide variety of uses such as washing, cooking, drinking and growing food. Covering approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface, water is necessary for all human survival, and is a source of life for plants and animals. Only 0.036% of freshwater can be accessed and utilised by humans, which is not enough to support the rapidly growing population and economic development. This water is further exhausted by pollution caused by sewage leaks, littering, agricultural runoff and industry discharge which deteriorate water quality significantly. To exacerbate these water issues, the major issue of water accessibility is not directly linked to quantity but has been primarily attributed to poor water governance, at a global and local level (in South Africa). Poorly maintained water infrastructure and inadequate cooperative governance have resulted in the establishment of many Community Based Water Quality Management (CBWQM) projects in South Africa, to respond to water quality monitoring and management challenges. The aim of this study was firstly, to investigate how social learning was occurring within two CBWQM Communities of Practice (CoPs) located in KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, namely, the Baynespruit and the Mpophomeni Enviro Champs project (Case Study 1 and 2 respectively), and the potential of social learning to upscale CBWQM. Additionally, it sought to identify the type of support required for the scaling of social learning outcomes in CBWQM communities of practice, along two potential scaling pathways that were identified in a national study on scaling of CBWQM: Scaling Pathway 1(Policy engagement and support) and Scaling Pathway 2 (Capacity building). The research was undertaken as a qualitative case study approach, with data collected through semi-structured interviews, document, and questionnaire analysis to investigate social learning within the two selected case studies. The data was coded and indexed using a thematic analysis technique and an analytical framework as a tool to investigate how social learning was occurring in both case studies and explore the potential required to upscale it. The study found that there is an existing gap between policy and practice with regard to CBWQM support by government structures. Despite South African water policy advocating for public participation in water resource management, there has been limited support from government to support and resource CBWQM projects over a long period of time. To upscale the practice of CBWQM, the study found that capacity building and learning needs to be improved and better supported practically through models such as the 5Ts of learning, and through supporting CBWQM participants’ learning journey to establish learning pathways for them. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Pedagogical practices teachers use to teach reading lessons in the junior primary phase in Kavango West region’
- Authors: Shimafo, Hildegard
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408762 , vital:70523
- Description: Learning to read for meaning and enjoyment in the Junior Primary phase is an essential goal for every child during their primary schooling. Despite this, reading for meaning and enjoyment in the Namibian context, specifically for primary learners, remains a concern. Current research suggests that there are very few studies that have been done in Namibia that examine the pedagogical practices of Junior Primary teachers to develop learners’ reading competence. In view of that, this study focused on the pedagogical practices of Junior Primary teachers in mediating reading in their classrooms. The study is a qualitative interpretive case study using observation and interviews as tools to generate in-depth data on how teachers teach reading. The study sample comprised of three Junior Primary teachers from Grades 1-3 who participated in this study. The selection criteria were based on historical background and the culture of teaching reading lessons for Grade 1-3 teachers. The study revealed some factors that impede the teaching of reading. Amongst them are a lack of in-service training, language barriers, and the lack of resources. The study found that English used as the LoLT (Language of Learning and Teaching) at the school where the study took place made it difficult for the teachers to convey the correct information to the learners due to a lack of proficiency. The study revealed that this situation limited most of the learners’ reading opportunities. Theory of Practice Architecture (ToPA), in particular by Kemmis and Grootenboer (2008), was used as an explanatory and analytical tool. This research asked the questions: 1.What pedagogical practices do Junior Primary teachers employ to mediate reading? and 2. What factors enable and constrain the pedagogical practices of teachers? As a way forward, this study recommends for a compulsory reading program be instituted at Higher Education Institutions responsible for teacher education. This should empower the teachers to enter a Junior Primary classroom with more confidence to teach the various reading components. This study recommends continuous in-service courses for teachers. The study further recommends that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture make provisions for textbooks in all schools for all learners if the learners reading performance is to improve in Namibia. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
The use of lesson study to assist junior primary ‘in-service training teachers’ to develop learners’ number sense using number talks
- Authors: Ortman-Gaweseb, Dominika
- Date: 2023-03-30
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408750 , vital:70522
- Description: Thesis embargoed. To be released in 2025. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-30
The nature of Visual Representations of multiplication and division exercises in nine Grades 1 to 3 South African textbooks
- Authors: Booysen, Tammy Irene
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/422579 , vital:71959
- Description: Mathematics is a language that is rich in visual representations (Mudaly & Rampersad, 2010). Visual Representations assist us in developing our reasoning skills when solving a problem and our understanding of the relationships between concepts (Ozkan et al., 2018). This thesis focuses on the different visual representations (VR) in South African Foundation Phase mathematics textbooks and workbooks. Textbooks and workbooks play an important role in developing an understanding of mathematical concepts for both teachers and learners (Harries & Spooner, 2000). While teachers generally rely heavily on textbooks, they were a key resource while schools were closed due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. The theory of Constructivism forms part of the theoretical framework for this study. Constructivism advocates that learners actively construct knowledge through experiences rather than passively receiving knowledge from the outside (Von Glaserfeld, 2001). Vygotsky believed that social interactions create experiences that facilitate the learning and meaning-making process (Vygotsky, 1978). This case study is underpinned by an interpretivist paradigm as it sought to examine the nature of VRs in three Grades 1 - 3 textbooks/workbooks. My research approach is primarily qualitative with descriptive statistics to assist in developing a more comprehensive understanding of the research questions. The study was guided by the analytic tool designed by Fotakopoulou and Spiliotopoulou (2008) which I adapted for Foundation Phase mathematics use. The framework provides insight on the type of VR, VRs relation to content, VRs relation to reality, the function of the VR and dimensionality of a VR. While the workbooks had many more VRs than textbooks, the dominant type of VR in textbooks and workbooks are images. The VRs mostly have a strong relation to content with a realistic relation to reality as they were predominantly 2D representation of a 3D object that had an exemplifying function (type b). , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
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- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
An investigation of the English language demands of mathematical texts on data handling used in intermediate phase mathematics
- Authors: Jones, Angela Peta
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Mathematics Study and teaching (Elementary) South Africa , Middle school education South Africa , Information storage and retrieval systems Mathematics , Language complexity , Textbooks Readability , Language arts Correlation with content subjects South Africa , Content area reading South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405259 , vital:70155
- Description: In the Intermediate Phase the majority of South African learners are transitioning from learning in their mother tongue to learning in English as well as from learning to read to reading to learn, and this is a major challenge. Textbooks are a key mediating artefact in the learning of mathematics and they present a challenge to the learner in terms of the language comprehension demands The data handling sections of mathematics textbooks are particularly dense in text. This is an important part of the mathematics curriculum as it is the beginning of statistical literacy learning. We need to be able to question, evaluate claims based on data, create arguments we can defend and use data meaningfully, it is thus crucial that learners acquire statistical literacy. This research sets out to examine the text in the data handling sections of four Intermediate Phase Mathematics book series in order to answer the following research question: What are the language comprehension demands of English mathematical texts on data handling that are used in South African Intermediate Phase Mathematics? The theories framing the study are Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Cummins’ second language acquisition theory. It is an interpretivist mixed method case study that takes the form of a document analysis.. The findings indicate that many units in the books analysed have a higher readability level than the grade level and will thus present a challenge to learners in terms of their ability to access the mathematical content. An analysis of the linguistic complexity revealed that the features contributing most to the complexity of the texts included words with seven or more letters, prepositional phrases, infinitives, complex verbs and complex/compound sentences. An examination of the non-textual elements revealed that most of them are accurate, connected, concise, contextual and these add to the comprehensibility although there were a few which could be possibly be distractors. It is hoped that the empirical findings of this study, will sensitise educators and publishers involved with the design of textbooks and workbooks to the type of language currently found and that they might give attention to the needs of English language learners when developing these texts. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Application of systems theory for analysing the sustainability foci and practices of the Faculty of Economics and Information Technology Systems: (A Case Study of Walter Sisulu University: Komani campus)
- Authors: Klishi, Konwaba Bomikazi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Sustainable development Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa Mthatha , System theory , Curriculum evaluation South Africa Mthatha , Community engagement , Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405281 , vital:70157
- Description: Sustainable development is a global concern that intertwines several factors, including poverty, biodiversity, inequality, water, and energy. This interconnection does not only affect the current generation but may have long term implications for future generations as we see the rapid spread of environmental risk in our local communities. In this study, systems theory was adapted for analysing the sustainability focus of the Faculty of Economics and Information Technology Systems (FEITS) at Walter Sisulu University. A qualitative research method was used during this research, and data collected from a purposive sample of staff, activities and documentation. In this study, Von Bertalanffy’s systems theory is applied to analyse the sustainability foci and practices of the FEITS. The study describes sustainability practices and concerns that emerge from research activities, community engagement activities and work-integrated learning. The theory is also used to analyse the connection between various subsystems of the faculty when addressing emerging local sustainability concerns. Education for sustainable development is an important aspect of this study as it considers the sustainability concerns in the curriculum from the perspective of current and future alternatives for the economy and socio-ecological aspects of communities. The following findings have emerged from the study: Contextual realities related to inequality were foci of discussion and concern in various qualifications. Socioecological issues and risks were found to be related to water and sanitation, food security and climate change. Sustainability discourse is related to health and wellbeing, peace, and security. There is an alignment of green skills to the curriculum of the faculty and pedagogical practices which relate to sustainability. The faculty participates in stakeholder platforms to respond local sustainability challenges and is developing courses in response to local development needs. This study has implications for the faculty’s curriculum in terms of the content of various qualifications, future research, and community engagement activities of the university. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring extensive reading in cultivating positive attitudes and reading comprehension with Grade 8 Learners: a case study in a selected Namibian secondary school
- Authors: Engelbrecht, Sylviana
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Reading comprehension Namibia , High school students Books and reading Namibia , High school students Attitudes , Fluency (Language learning) Namibia , Motivation in education Namibia , Affective education Namibia , Second language acquisition
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/403092 , vital:69921
- Description: Extensive reading, otherwise known as “reading for pleasure”, “recreational reading” or “voluntary reading”, appears to be absent in the Namibian society, especially within public educational institutions. With the reformed Education System, the Namibian Curriculum for Basic Education makes room for a reading period in a 7-day cycle, from grade 1 to 11, in which all learners are expected to engage in a sustained silent reading (SSR) of interesting material of their choice. Nevertheless, such a period seems to be insufficient for engaging learners in an enjoyable reading experience, which could possibly create a positive attitude towards reading as well as enhance their reading skills of comprehension and reading fluency, possibly resulting in a habit of individual SSR. This research intended to explore an out-of-school, extensive reading program, over the period of one year, in the hope of cultivating Grade 8 learners’ positive attitude toward reading, in a selected secondary school in the township of Katutura, Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia. This one-year study, in which eight Grade 8 learners participated, focused on English only reading, as it is the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT). Operating within the interpretivist paradigm, the research adopted a qualitative approach, using a single case study to explore how participants make meaning of their experiences and attitudes toward ER. Qualitative data was collected through pre- and post-questionnaires and document analysis of learners’ reading journals as well as the researcher’s reflective journal. The research site was purposively and conveniently selected. The study drew on Krashen’s, input and affective filter hypotheses as the driving theory of this study, which according to some scholars, is the main second language acquisition theory applied in ER research. Findings of this study suggest that ER programs have a positive impact on learners’ attitudes towards reading as well as on their reading comprehension, even in poorly resourced schools in previously disadvantaged communities. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring how Grade 10 Biology teachers implement practical activities on food tests in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia
- Authors: Shoopala, Julia Nelago
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Pedagogical content knowledge , Biology Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia , Biology Study and teaching Activity programs Namibia , Food Testing , Visual learning , Biology teachers In-service training Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405401 , vital:70168
- Description: The Namibian examiners’ reports have repeatedly reported that Biology is generally poorly performed in most schools and the topic on food tests has been identified as one of the problematic areas. My assumption is that this could be due in part to the lack of inadequate hands-on practical activities that are conducted in most schools in Namibia. In my view, for students to understand food tests and its associated concepts, they need to do hands-on practical activities. It is against this background that in this study I explored enablers and/or constraints when Grade 10 Biology teachers mediate learning of food tests using hands-on practical activities. This study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm, within which a qualitative case study approach was employed. For my baseline data, I used a questionnaire and I also interviewed two Grade 10 Biology teachers using semi-structured interviews. Afterwards, the two Grade 10 Biology teachers were observed while teaching the topic of food tests. The lessons were videotaped and thereafter I conducted a stimulated recall interview watching the videos with each of these teachers. Further, we also discussed and reflected as a group on the mediation of learning on food tests. I used Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) as my theoretical framework. Within PCK, I used the five Topic-Specific Pedagogical Knowledge (TSPCK) components by Mavhunga and Rollnick as my analytical framework. A thematic approach to data analysis was employed to come up with categories, sub-themes and themes. The findings revealed that Biology teachers do not have a dedicated laboratory for conducting Biology practicals and would instead conduct them in a common laboratory that is employed for both Physical Science and Biology or in their classrooms. There are inadequate resources to complement hands-on activities and teachers lack the capacity, skills and necessary knowledge needed to deliver practical work. The two participants did not bother to do enough practical work and instead taught Biology as a very theoretical topic, which disadvantaged learners for Paper 3, which serves as an alternative to course work. The study also revealed that teachers failed to conduct Biology practicals. They claimed to be doing so, but there were few practicals/experiments being carried out in those schools. The participants stated that the issue of time to conduct practical experiments for food tests was not sufficient. They complained that the processes were exhausting and tiresome and left them drained as they ran around trying to implement the practical experiments. Furthermore, a large number of learners results in overcrowded Biology classes and makes it difficult for the teachers to control them, which affected the teachers’ ability to perform practical experiments. The participants said that the high number of learners makes it difficult for them to accommodate all students in the laboratories, and that the laboratories themselves do not accommodate many learners. The study, thus, recommends that there should be continuous professional development programmes in schools to assist Biology teachers who have challenges in doing hands-on practical activities. Additionally, improvisation in terms of field trips that deal with biological aspects such as food and chemical manufacturers and hospitals should be carried out to allow learners to gain appreciation of the practical aspects of Biology in education. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring how the use of a mini-ecosystem enables and/or constrains grade 5 learners to make sense of scientific inquiry
- Authors: Tobias, Ruusa Taimi
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Science Study and teaching (Elementary) Namibia , Health education (Elementary) Namibia , Education for sustainable development , Sensemaking , Inquiry-based learning Namibia , Terrariums , Social learning Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405423 , vital:70170
- Description: The Namibian Science curriculum clearly states that learning of science should be promoted through using inquiry-based approaches. However, it does not state how teachers should go about promoting inquiry-based approaches in their classrooms, especially in under-resourced rural schools. This is exacerbated in part by the fact that there is inadequate or lack of professional development for science teachers which focus in particular on promotion of inquiry-based approaches. As a result, science teachers tend to ignore inquiry-based approaches in their classrooms. It is against this background that my study sought to explore how the use of a ‘mini-ecosystem’ enables and/or constrains grade 5 learners from an under-resourced rural school to make sense of scientific inquiry. The study is underpinned by an interpretive paradigm. Within the interpretive paradigm, a qualitative case study approach, using the Predict-Explain-Explore-Observe-Explain (PEEOE) framework was adopted. This case study was carried out in an under-resourced rural Namibian school and the participants were grade 5 Natural Science and Health Education learners. I also invited a teacher from the school to be my critical friend and a participant observer. Data were generated using the Views About Scientific Inquiry (VASI) questionnaire, observations, focus group interviews and learners’ reflections. Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory was my theoretical framework, and within this theory, I used mediation of learning, social interactions, the zone of proximal development and self-regulation as lenses to analyse my data. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted. That is, qualitative data were analysed inductively to come up with sub-themes and thereafter common sub-themes were combined to form themes. The findings of the study revealed that the observation of mini-ecosystems enabled learners to interact and participate with each other in their respective groups. Moreover, learners were able to identify some scientific concepts such as evaporation, condensation, water cycle and rainfall. These findings are in contrast with the fact that they seemed to struggle to answer the VASI questionnaire that was conducted prior to observation. The study thus recommends that science teachers should make efforts to use easily accessible resources such as a ‘mini-ecosystem’ to promote scientific inquiry amongst their learners. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring integration for the topic of stoichiometry in South African natural sciences and physical sciences school curricula
- Authors: Mgolozeli, Kwanele
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405330 , vital:70162
- Description: Many developing countries, including South Africa, have identified the provision and implementation of strong science curricula as central to their developmental needs. Stoichiometry is a fundamental chemistry topic because the concepts involved form the basis of later topics such as chemical equilibrium, rates of reactions, redox reactions, and acid-base reactions. School students consistently demonstrate lack of understanding of stoichiometry-related concepts and skills such as the particulate nature of matter and related mathematical problem-solving. The poor performance of high school students in central science topics such as stoichiometry is problematic for their further study of chemistry and for the country meeting its need for science graduates. Successive examiner reports pointed to the lack of integration of stoichiometry concepts across the grades being the main problem. However, no study could be found which explores how stoichiometry is integrated in the South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curriculum across the grades. This provided the rationale for the current study. The case study reported in this thesis thus aimed to explore integration of stoichiometry concepts in South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences school curricula. It involved document analysis as the method of collecting data. The research adopted the social realist paradigm, with its realist ontology and relativist epistemology. Legitimation Code Theory provided the theoretical framing. Chemistry concepts that are foundational to the understanding of stoichiometry according to literature, were chosen as root concepts for the concept mapping undertaken to identify types of integration. The concept maps revealed four stoichiometry integration themes: integration of stoichiometry concepts with symbols, integration of stoichiometry concepts with explanations, integration with applications in a chemistry context, and integration with an everyday context. These themes provided integration categories. A semantic gravity translation device was then developed for characterising the types of integration in terms of the degree of contextualisation. The results of this study show that stoichiometry integration of weaker semantic gravity is legitimated more strongly over other semantic gravity codes in the Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curricula across all grade levels. While this has advantages in terms of knowledge-building potential, the consequence is that the integration occurs at very abstract levels that are far removed from learners’ everyday lives. The practical implication for curriculum developers involves increasing the instances of integration of stoichiometry concepts at stronger levels of semantic gravity, for a more even semantic gravity range of integration types. Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences teachers also need to source and include real-life examples for explanations and applications of stoichiometry concepts when teaching, in light of current curriculum documents focusing more on abstract forms of integration. Methodologically, this study contributes to the increased utility of semantic gravity through its exploration of integration in relation to knowledge-building potential of curriculum for hierarchical knowledge structures such as chemistry. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring primary school mathematics teachers use of gamification in formative assessment: a case study
- Authors: Simelane, Thando
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405412 , vital:70169
- Description: Technology integration has gained much influence with the emergence of technological tools in educational areas. The vast resources and opportunities that technologies and the Internet have brought new approaches, strategies, and tools to assess learners' performance in many subject areas. Teachers have many computer/mobile device applications and learning management systems. Most teachers are trying new ways of integrating technology into the mathematics classroom to increase the quality of teaching and learning. Thus, this study explored how primary school mathematics teachers use Kahoot as a formative assessment tool. The study adopted an exploratory case study underpinned by the interpretive paradigm. It was conducted in a primary school in the Shiselweni Region in Swaziland. The participants were ten mathematics teachers teaching different grades at the school. Data was generated using observations, workshops, structured questionnaires, journal reflections and focus group interviews. The theoretical and analytical framework that underpinned this study was a combination of Davis' (1989) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Mishra & Koehler's (2006) Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. The study results showed that the perceptions and attitudes of primary school mathematics teachers towards using Kahoot generally appear to be positive. The study also revealed that all the participants found Kahoot helpful and perceived it as easy to use. The study found that the provision of technical support for teachers; and financial support for schools to implement technology use in the classroom were enabling factors for using Kahoot as a formative assessment technology. Constraining factors were lack of high-speed internet connectivity; and lack of basic technological knowledge for using Kahoot in formative assessment. The study concluded that Kahoot increases learner motivation, engagement, attention, enjoyment, and knowledge retention. This study recommended the integration of Kahoot gamification into the mathematics curriculum.The study recommends that there is a need for schools to initiate the presence of technologies in mathematics classrooms and encourage teachers to integrate technologies assessment and teaching. The study suggest future research to explore use of Kahoot as a formative assessment technology in resource-constrained schooling contexts using multiple cases. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Exploring the lexical and semantic access afforded by novice and experienced Namibian physical science teachers’ talk during electricity and magnetism lessons
- Authors: Muzambani, Efraim Hiamueze
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Knowledge, Theory of , Education, Secondary Aims and objectives Namibia , Science Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia , Systemic functional linguistics , Lexical density , Electricity Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia , Magnetism Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405346 , vital:70163
- Description: Challenges to learners’ meaning-making in the topic of electricity and magnetism contributes to underperformance in grade 10 Physical Science in Namibian schools. Teacher talk in content-based classrooms not only contributes to learners’ language development (Gibbons, 2003), but also facilitates meaning-making and cumulative knowledge-building (Halliday, 1999). However, it is possible that there are differences between the classrooms talk of novice and experienced Namibian Physical Science teachers. An understanding of differences between experienced and novice Namibian science teacher talk could inform teacher training and professional development and potentially help improve learners’ meaning-making in topics such as electricity and magnetism. However, no study could be found in the Namibian context which explored whether novice and experienced teacher talk afforded similar semantic and lexical access to meaning-making. This research gap provided a strong rationale for undertaking the study reported in this thesis. The study sought to investigate the extent to which novice and experienced grade 10 Namibian Physical Science teachers’ classroom talk provides semantic and lexical access to learners for the topic of electricity and magnetism. The research is informed by Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Research has shown that the two theories are complementary and can be used to characterize teachers’ pedagogical practices (Maton, 2014). A quantitative case study methodology was followed in this study with LCT’s semantic density and SFL’s lexical density as analytical tools to analyze the two teachers’ classroom talk. The results from a t-test for semantic density show that there is a significant difference in the means for “semantic density waving” criterion (t-value of -2.331; p-value for 2 tail test at 95% level of 0.0040) and for the “linking downward escalators or single references” criterion (t-value of 4.649; p-value for 2 tail test at 95% level of 0.001) of teacher talk by the teachers. The overall results for semantic density indicate that the experienced teacher affords better epistemological access through semantic waves than the novice teacher, whereas the novice teacher affords better epistemological access through semantic range and semantic flow. In terms of lexical density, both teachers afforded similar access, characterized by their talk veering towards the level of information density associated with written text. The study makes a methodological contribution to science education research through its characterization of novice and experienced teachers’ talk in terms of semantic waves and lexical density. This study also provides empirical insight into the differences between language use by novice and experienced Namibian Physical Science teachers, which can inform the work of educational institutions, advisory and inspectorate services in the ministry of education, and school managers. Relevant Namibian stakeholders are encouraged to consider including the topics of semantic density and lexical density, in continuous professional development programmes towards improving the meaning-making affordances of science teachers’ talk. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Gamification technology in teaching: Exploring how mathematics teachers make use of Kahoot! Gamification to facilitate learning of probability in classrooms
- Authors: Mbete, Ayanda
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Gamification , Kahoot! , Mathematics Study and teaching (Elementary) South Africa Eastern Cape , Probabilities , Educational technology , Rural schools South Africa Eastern Cape , Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge , Cultural-historical activity theory
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405311 , vital:70160
- Description: This study seeks to examine the use of Kahoot! as a gamification technology in practice with Grade six teachers to explore its use in supporting the learning of Probability in Mathematics in rural primary schools. Purposive sampling was adopted wherein nine Grade six mathematics teachers from four rural primary schools in Amathole East district were selected as participants of the study. In addition, to inform this qualitative case study, an interpretive paradigm was adopted. Data was collected using semi-questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, non-participant observations, workshop discussions and reflective journals. The TPACK by Mishra & Koehler (2009) and Vygotsky’s (1978) socio-cultural theory were employed as the lenses through which all the proceedings of the study were based. The key findings indicate that integrating Kahoot! gamification technology, in the ‘Probability’ lesson, has positive consequences such as bringing fun into the classroom, enhancing learner participation, prompt feedback and offering a learner-driven approach to learning as opposed to the conventional teaching strategies. The findings also revealed that enabling and constraining factors are associated with using Kahoot! in teaching: the ICT infrastructure, teachers’ competency levels and the environment in which teaching and learning occurs. This study concluded that the use of Kahoot enhances the learning of probability in rural under-resourced primary schools. This study recommended the integration of Kahoot gamification into the mathematics curriculum. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Mobilising indigenous technologies of making oshikundu and uumboloto to motivate and enable sense making of the topic carbon dioxide by grade 8 rural school learners
- Authors: Nandjedi, Fredinard Nghinaounditala
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Science Study and teaching (Secondary) Social aspects Namibia , Culturally relevant pedagogy Namibia , Ethnoscience Namibia , Carbon dioxide
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405357 , vital:70164
- Description: Poor performance in Science has been noted in most rural schools and this has become a concern to education planners and implementers. Part of the failure is said to be caused by inadequate school resources, under-preparedness of teachers to teach Science, poor command of the Language of Learning and Teaching, negative attitudes that are accompanied by lack of insights into the value of Science, low self-efficacy, and poor-quality environments for learning Science. In this regard, literature has revealed that many Science teachers in Namibia do not consider learners’ local indigenous knowledge (IK) also known as indigenous technology to mediate learning. Yet, it is a requirement of the Namibian Science curriculum. I assume that this could be due in part to the fact that the Science curriculum is not explicit on how IK should be integrated into Science teaching. It is against this backdrop that this study sought to explore the opportunities IK integration into Science may offer in mediating learning and sense-making on the topic of carbon dioxide (CO2). Learners’ indigenous technological practices of making oshikundu and uumboloto were used as vehicles of learning. This qualitative case study is underpinned by the interpretive and indigenous research paradigms. Within the indigenous research paradigm, I focused on the Ubuntu perspective. This study was conducted at a rural under-resourced school in the Ohangwena region in Namibia. Thirty Grade 8 learners, one science teacher and two expert community members were involved as participants. Data were gathered using focus group interviews (sharing circles), group activities, participatory observations, and journal reflections. Data interpretation and analysis were done using Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Ogunniyi’s contiguity argumentative theory. A thematic approach to data analysis was adopted. That is, an inductive approach was employed whereby sub-themes were identified, and thereafter common sub-themes were combined into themes. The findings of this study revealed that the process of making oshikundu and uumboloto can be used to enable learners to make sense of the topic of CO2 and other related concepts. Furthermore, the study revealed that hands-on practical activities done with easily accessible resources which are related to learners’ indigenous technologies help learners learn Science easily. The study thus recommends that educators should use oshikundu and/or uumboloto to mediate learning of topics such as CO2. Science teachers should always try to tap into learners’ socio-cultural backgrounds in their lessons to enhance better understanding of Science concepts. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Mobilising the indigenous technology of making soap to mediate learning of saponification in organic chemistry
- Authors: Neporo, Johannes Kanyetu
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Chemistry Study and teaching (Secondary) Social aspects Namibia , Culturally relevant pedagogy Namibia , Ethnoscience Namibia , Saponification , Ubuntu (Philosophy) , Pedagogical content knowledge
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405368 , vital:70165
- Description: Scholars across the world are advocating for culturally responsive pedagogies that allow for the integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) in science teaching. This is in the hope of making science accessibleand relevant to learners from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. Although the Namibian curriculum welcomes the integration of IK in teaching, it, however, does not stipulate how it should be implemented. It is against this backdrop that this interventionist study aimed to mobilise the indigenous technology of making soap to mediate the learning of saponification in organic chemistry. This study is underpinned by the interpretive and indigenous research paradigms. Within these paradigms, it employed a qualitative case study research design. The study was conducted in Walvis Bay in Namibia with four Grade 11 chemistry teachers, two expert community members and a critical friend who were purposively and conveniently sampled. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews, semi-structured questionnaires, workshop discussions, participatory observation, stimulated recall interviews and journal reflections. Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory (SCT) and Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) were used as theoretical frameworks. Within PCK, Mavhunga and Rollnick’s Topic-Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TSPCK) served as an analytical framework. A thematic approach to data analysis was employed. That is, data were analysed inductively to come up with sub-themes. Thereafter, common sub-themes were combined to form themes. The findings of the study revealed that the Grade 11 chemistry teachers demonstrated positive attitudes toward the integration of IK in their teaching. However, they seemed not tohave pedagogical insights on how to do it. Despite this, they learnt, interacted and participated actively during the two expert community members’ presentation workshops on making soap. That subsequently enabled them to co-developan exemplar lesson plan on saponification that integrated IK. This study implies that there is a need for Chemistry teachers to be empowered on how to make science accessible and relevant to learners’ socio-cultural backgrounds. The study thus recommends that higher education institutions and educational authorities reform and amend the curriculum to cater for the integration of IK. The study further recommends that Chemistry teachers should tap into the cultural heritage of expert community members in mediating the learning of science concepts. Lastly, Chemistry teachers are encouraged to form professional learning communities to develop themselves professionally. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Teachers’ knowledge and practice in Grade 3 Group Guided Reading: a case study
- Authors: Kitsili, Ntsikohlanga Anthony
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Reading (Elementary) , Guided reading , Group reading , Teaching practices
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405270 , vital:70156
- Description: Group guided reading (GGR) was introduced as part of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in 2012, but it appears that teachers are still experiencing great difficulty in teaching it (Hoadley 2018). Several interventions have been designed across South Africa to support teachers in no-fee schools to improve the teaching of reading. The evaluations of such interventions show that teachers receiving support such as coaching are able to master the procedural aspects of GGR but not the conceptual aspects, for example, teaching comprehension strategies and providing formative assessment (Fleisch & Dixon, 2019; Hoadley, 2017). The research reported in this thesis aimed to find out what kinds of knowledge are required to teach GGR and to what extent teachers enact this knowledge in their practice, using Shulman’s (1987) knowledge categories: subject content, pedagogical content and curriculum knowledge, general pedagogical knowledge and strategic knowledge. The research took the form of an interpretivist case study focusing on three Grade 3 teachers using GGR to teach reading in their classrooms. It was carried out in three no-fee, township schools where isiXhosa is the language of learning and teaching. Data was generated through observations, stimulated recall interviews, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. There are two policy documents that guide teachers’ practices in terms of how they should teach reading during GGR and that give clear guidance on what children should learn during GGR: the Foundation Phase CAPS and the National Framework for the Teaching of Reading in African Languages in the Foundation Phase. These documents were analysed using Shulman’s (1987) knowledge categories. Transcripts of teachers’ reflections on their GGR lessons during stimulated recall interviews were read hand in hand with transcripts of the GGR lessons that were video and audio recorded, and these were analysed using Shulman’s knowledge categories. The findings of the research are that teachers’ subject content knowledge is largely tacit; it is knowledge-in-practice. The teachers in the study seemed confident in showing rather than explaining what it is that they are doing and why they are doing it. All three teachers have mastered, to a large extent, the procedural aspects of GGR and some of the more conceptual aspects, for example some aspects of fluency, the teaching of decoding strategies and formative assessment. However, there was limited evidence of the teaching of comprehension strategies and the use of higher order questions, and assessment was not evident in the recorded lessons. , Ukufunda ngokwamaqela kusetyenziswe njengenxalenye yoluhlu lwezifundo kunye novavanyo mgaqo nkqubo lexwebhuCurriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) lonyaka ka 2012, kodwa kubonakala ukuba ootitshala basatsala nzima ukusifundisa esisifundo (Hoadley 2018). Aliqela amaphulo aye ayilwa eMzantsi Afrika jikelele ngeenzame zokuxhasa ootitshala abafundisa kwizikolo zafelefele ukuba baphuhle kwisakhono sokufundisa ukufunda. Iziphumo zovavanyo zalamaphulo zibonakalise ukuba ootitshala abafumana inkxaso ekukuqeqeshwa baye bagqwesa ekufundiseni indlela ezilandelwayo ekufundiseni ukufunda ngokwamaqela, kodwa isengumcelamngeni ukufundisa izakhono eziphuhlisa ukufunda ngengqiqo nokuhlola inkqubela yabafundi ekufundeni, (Fleisch & Dixon, 2019; Hoadley, 2017). Ingxelo yophando lwale tyhisisi - belujole ekuboniseni ukuba loluphi ulwazi ekumele ootitshala babenalo ekufundiseni ukufunda ngokwamaqela, kwaye olulwazi lungancedisana njani nootitshala ekufundiseni ukufunda, ndisebenzisa iindidi zolwazi eziqulunqwe nguShulmna (1987): ulwazi ngomxholo wesosifundo, ulwazi ngeendlela ezifanelekileyo zokufundisa esosifundo kunye nolwazi oluqulathwe kuluhlu lwezifundo (curriculum), ulwazi oluphangaleleyo noluquka iindlela ezifanelekileyo zokufundisa, kunye nolwazi malunga namaqhinga athile ancedisana nokufundisa ukufunda ngendlela efanelekileyo. Oluphando lulandele indlela yokuphanda ebizwa ngokuba yi interpretivist case study ngokolwimi lwase mzini, eyona nto esisifundo besigqale kuyo ibi ngootitshala abathathu bebanga lesithathu abafundisa ukufunda kubantwana bengamaqela kumagumbi wabo okufundela. Oluphando luqhutyelwe kwizikolo ezintathu zafelefele (zikaRhulumente) elokishini apho isiXhosa ilulwimi olusetyenziswayo ekufundiseni nasekufundeni. Iinkukacha ziqokelelwe ngoku qwalasela okuqhubekayo egumbini lokufundela, nangokwenza uviwano ndlebe oluzindlela ezimbini: olokuqala lwenziwe emveni kwesifundo, ze olwesibini lwaqhutywa emveni kwesikolo apho utitshala uye wabukela umfanekiso oshicelelweyo wesifundo asiqhubileyo aze ahlatywe imibuzo ngesosifundo asijongileyo, kunye nangoku hlalutya okuqulathiweyo kumaxwebhu afana no CAPS. Mabini amaxwebhu aqulathe umgaqo nkqubo ochazela ootitshala ukuba mabakufundise njani ukufunda ngelixa abantwana befunda bengamaqela, kwaye angumkhombandlela ochaza gca okulindeleke abantwana bakufude ngexesha lokufunda bengamaqela: the Foundation Phase CAPS and the National Framework for the Teaching of Reading in African Languages in the Foundation Phase. Lamaxwebhu ahlalutywe ngokulandela iindidi zolwazi zika Shulmna (1987). Imibhalo ekhutshelweyo (transcripts) enika ingxelo ngokucingwa ngootitshala ngomsebenzi wabo wokufundisa abantwana bengamaqela ngexesha loviwano ndlebe ifundwe ngaxesha nye nemibhalo ekhutshelweyo yokufundiswa kwabantwana bengamaqela ebishicelelwe yangumboniso bhanyabhanya kunye nophulaphulekayo, oku kuye kwahlalutywa ngokusebenzisa iindidi zolwazi zika Shulman (1987). Iziphumo zophando zibonakalise ukuba ulwazi lootitshala malunga nomxholo wezifundo alubonakali ngokuthe gca, lubonakale ilulwazi olubonakala ngezenzo. Ootitshala abathathe inxaxheba kwesisifundo babonakale bezithembile ekuboniseni indlela abaqhuba ngayo, kodwa basilela ukucacisa ngokwamazwi abo into abayenzayo okanye unobangela wokwenza ngandlela ithile. Bonke ootisthala abathathu bagqwesile ekuboniseni ukuba bayayazi imigaqo ekufuneka ilandelwe xa kufundiswa isifunda samaqela ngamaqela, kwaye babonisile ukuba banalo ulwazi lokuphuhlisa izakhono zokufunda ngokutyibilika, nokufundisa abantwana amaqhinga athile abanowasebenzisa xabeguqula okufihlakele entethweni, kunye nendlela ezisesikweni zokuhlola. Nangona kunjalo nje ubungqina obubonisa ukuba abatitshala bathathu banaso isakhono sokufundisa amaqhinga okufunda ngengqiqo, kunye nokubuza imibuzo ekwinqanaba eliphezulu, kwaye namaxwebhu abonisa uhlolo luka titshala bunqongophele. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
Teachers’ practice in developing visually impaired learners’ reading skills in the junior primary phase in northern Namibia
- Authors: Nuugonya, Elizabeth Nangula
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Children with visual disabilities Education Namibia Oshana , Reading (Elementary) Namibia Oshana , Inclusive education Namibia Oshana , Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol (2007 March 30) , Braille Study and teaching (Elementary) Namibia Oshana , Teachers of the blind Namibia Oshana
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405379 , vital:70166
- Description: Namibia has adopted, ratified and followed several international policies on disability and inclusive education including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Since 2014, the Namibian education system has been working towards the implementation of the Sector Policy on Inclusive Education to promote an education system that is accessible, inclusive, equitable and of good quality (Namibia. Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture: Sector Policy on Inclusive Education, 2013). The policy aims to address barriers faced by learners with disabilities and how teachers develop ways of teaching that respond to the individual differences. Reading in a second language tends to develop more slowly by visually impaired learners, although the Junior Primary Phase syllabus promotes equal opportunity for all learners to participate in reading equally irrespective of learners’ disabilities. Teachers should understand how to teach and accommodate learners who are visually impaired and all reading materials should be fit for purpose and support these learners appropriately. Thus, this study explores how Junior Primary teachers develop visually impaired learners’ reading skills to provide accessible education to them. Learning to read is challenging for most learners, but even more for learners who are visually impaired. Learning to read braille is a complex process, far more than reading print texts. This study seeks to examine how learners are taught to read using braille in a school for visually impaired learners in Namibia, Oshana region. The motivation for this research study was twofold - firstly, my interest in the development of reading skills with visually impaired learners was aroused by my teaching experience. Secondly, due to my realisation that the area was under-researched in Namibia; I wanted to fill the existing gap in the development of reading skills in braille and print. The study critically engaged teachers to help me obtain an understanding of how they develop reading instructions with visually impaired learners and the factors that enabled the development of braille literacy and the challenges that hampered the development of reading skills. The study took the qualitative case study approach underpinned by an interpretivist orientation. Data was collected using semi-structured observation during reading lessons and focus group interviews. The Theory of Practice Architectures (ToPA) was used as a lens to analyse the promoting and constraining factors in teaching visually impaired learners reading skills. The study found that teachers used different reading methods to promote the development of reading skills such as reading aloud, tactile methods and phonics. The study further noted that teachers mostly created their own reading materials due to the lack of reading materials and reading books printed in braille. Although learners were supported during reading, the challenge of developing reading skills with visually impaired learners remains a challenge. I hope that the findings from this research study strengthen the development of reading skills in all special schools and contribute to the creation of knowledge on the development of reading skills with visually impaired learners in Namibia. As a means to further support learners who experience visual impairments, this study recommends that more formative research studies on the notion of teachers’ practice in developing reading skills with visually impaired learners should be conducted to bring about change. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
The development of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in the mediation of chemical equilibrium: A formative interventionist study
- Authors: Manamike, Tasara
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Chemical equilibrium , Chemistry Study and teaching (Secondary) Nambia , Expansive learning , Career development Nambia , Professional learning communities Nambia , Pedagogical content knowledge , Cultural-historical activity theory
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405300 , vital:70159
- Description: Persistent student errors in understanding chemical equilibrium as shown by poor student achievement in national examinations reflect student difficulties in learning and deficiencies in teaching methodologies. Studies which have been conducted in Namibia have explored the teaching of chemical equilibrium and revealed that teachers seem not to have adequate pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for mediating chemical equilibrium and therefore there is a need for continuing professional development (CPD). However, it seems the CPD facilitators also find this topic difficult and are unsure of which methods are really effective owing to the disagreements among teachers and researchers. In addition, current CPD practices ostensibly fail to address the teachers’ needs because the facilitators have their own commitments and accountabilities and may ignore teachers’ contexts. It is against this backdrop that I conducted this formative interventionist study to improve teachers’ PCK for mediating chemical equilibrium through expansive learning (learning something that does not yet exist). A blend of the interpretivist and critical paradigm underpinned this study, which assumed a transactional epistemology. The qualitative case study research design was used to gather in-depth information about the multiple realities of the participants, bearing in mind that teaching is idiosyncratic, and the teaching approaches or strategies employed heavily depend on the contexts. Accordingly, the cultural historical activity theory was used to guide the teachers’ activities during the intervention for generating the data which were analysed using the topic-specific pedagogical content knowledge. The study revealed that the participants faced challenges in their teaching, namely: (i) students’ difficulties with comprehension and (ii) teachers’ instructional problems or deficiencies in instructional skills. The findings also revealed that the intervention enabled the participants to collectively transform their practices and therefore address the major challenges in their practices, that is, they expansively learnt how to effectively teach chemical equilibrium. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14
The use of lesson study to support grade 2 teachers in implementing differentiated instruction to develop learners’ reading comprehension skills
- Authors: Shipanga, Elizabeth Magano
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Reading comprehension Study and teaching (Elementary) Namibia , Lesson study , Differentiated instruction , Teaching Social aspects Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405390 , vital:70167
- Description: Research has found that learners in Namibia have poor reading comprehension (UNESCO, 2017). The Ministry of Education Arts and Culture (MoEAC) is concerned that teachers do not have the required pedagogical content knowledge to teach reading, and particularly reading comprehension in English Second Language. In addition, the MoEAC (2015) advocates for Differentiated Instruction (DI) to accommodate the needs of all learners in the classroom. Despite, numerous Continuous Professional Development programs, there has not been much change in the way teachers teach reading. The Lesson Study (LS) approach is viewed as a means to support teachers’ professional development. It provides teachers with the agency to take responsibility for their own professional development. It is against this background that an interpretivist action research was utilised to ascertain how LS can be used to support Grade 2 teachers in implementing DI to develop learners’ reading comprehension skill. This study asked the question: How can Lesson Study be used to support Grade 2 teachers in implementing Differentiated Instruction to develop the learners’ reading comprehension? Data was generated through observations, document analysis and interviews. The Theory of Practice Architectures was used to analyse data. As teachers we began this study with knowledge of the goals and terminology of DI but lacked the competence to implement it. The LS process used in the study enhanced teamwork as we planned, taught, observed each other, and reflected on the lessons taught during the intervention. We shared diverse insights in a supportive environment. Despite still novices with LS and DI we worked on redesigning lessons to become more intentional in catering for the needs of all learners in developing their reading comprehension in English Second Language. The emerging evidence from this and other studies is that LS is a very useful vehicle for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), but it is time consuming and in this study planning and reflecting on the lessons had to occur after hours. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-10-14