Rural students' local knowledge of learning in formal and informal contexts
- Authors: Visser, Alvin-Jon
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Non-formal education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Rural children -- Education -- South Africa , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Community and school -- South Africa , Education, Rural -- Social Aspects -- South Africa , Rural schools -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002588 , Non-formal education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Rural children -- Education -- South Africa , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Community and school -- South Africa , Education, Rural -- Social Aspects -- South Africa , Rural schools -- South Africa
- Description: The general aim of this thesis is to illuminate the process of learning as it occurs in formal and informal contexts. The study focuses on South African scholars attending school in rural areas where the contrast between learning in formal and informal learning contexts is more pronounced than that in urban areas. The research draws on rural scholars' local knowledge of formal and informal learning contexts in order to gain a rich insight into how cognition is situated in different learning contexts. This is accomplished through investigating the structure of the respective learning tasks, the mediators involved, the task objectives and the means for achieving these objectives in the different learning contexts. The thesis draws on a socio-cultural approach to the study of cognitive development to probe the activity of learning in a formal and informal learning context. Through the use of a context sensitive methodological methods especially Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and techniques, it was possible to illuminate tacit local knowledge structures and to get participants to actively explicate their understandings related to learning in different contexts The research results illustrate the assertion that the activity of learning is fundamentally situated in the learning context from which it arises. Learning is framed by the community of practice which structures affordances for situated learning, through mediation, within zones of proximal development. Learning in a formal context such as the school is often abstract, rule-based, standardised and theory related. Learners also find it difficult to reflect on the learning tasks and the mediational means used in a formal learning context. In contrast, the learning which takes place in an informal setting is often practical, individualised, flexible and environment based. This learning is structured around everyday activities and is dynamically defined and supported. In a situation where a learner is exposed to dislocated learning contexts, the essential goal of educational initiatives is to bridge the gap between the two. This can be achieved through mediators creating effective zones of proximal development which facilitate the individuals adaptation between learning contexts. Exposing rural scholars' local knowledge of learning in formal and informal contexts allows for a fuller understanding of the cognitive development structured within formal and informal communities of practice. It is this understanding that is necessary to address the situation where learning contexts, drawing on different knowledge bases find ways of thinking, prove challenging and/or conflicting to the scholar.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
- Authors: Visser, Alvin-Jon
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: Non-formal education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Rural children -- Education -- South Africa , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Community and school -- South Africa , Education, Rural -- Social Aspects -- South Africa , Rural schools -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002588 , Non-formal education -- South Africa , Education and state -- South Africa , Rural children -- Education -- South Africa , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Community and school -- South Africa , Education, Rural -- Social Aspects -- South Africa , Rural schools -- South Africa
- Description: The general aim of this thesis is to illuminate the process of learning as it occurs in formal and informal contexts. The study focuses on South African scholars attending school in rural areas where the contrast between learning in formal and informal learning contexts is more pronounced than that in urban areas. The research draws on rural scholars' local knowledge of formal and informal learning contexts in order to gain a rich insight into how cognition is situated in different learning contexts. This is accomplished through investigating the structure of the respective learning tasks, the mediators involved, the task objectives and the means for achieving these objectives in the different learning contexts. The thesis draws on a socio-cultural approach to the study of cognitive development to probe the activity of learning in a formal and informal learning context. Through the use of a context sensitive methodological methods especially Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and techniques, it was possible to illuminate tacit local knowledge structures and to get participants to actively explicate their understandings related to learning in different contexts The research results illustrate the assertion that the activity of learning is fundamentally situated in the learning context from which it arises. Learning is framed by the community of practice which structures affordances for situated learning, through mediation, within zones of proximal development. Learning in a formal context such as the school is often abstract, rule-based, standardised and theory related. Learners also find it difficult to reflect on the learning tasks and the mediational means used in a formal learning context. In contrast, the learning which takes place in an informal setting is often practical, individualised, flexible and environment based. This learning is structured around everyday activities and is dynamically defined and supported. In a situation where a learner is exposed to dislocated learning contexts, the essential goal of educational initiatives is to bridge the gap between the two. This can be achieved through mediators creating effective zones of proximal development which facilitate the individuals adaptation between learning contexts. Exposing rural scholars' local knowledge of learning in formal and informal contexts allows for a fuller understanding of the cognitive development structured within formal and informal communities of practice. It is this understanding that is necessary to address the situation where learning contexts, drawing on different knowledge bases find ways of thinking, prove challenging and/or conflicting to the scholar.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
Responses to Western education among the conservative people of Transkei
- Authors: Deliwe, Dumisani
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Xhosa (African people) -- Education -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2099 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002662 , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Xhosa (African people) -- Education -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Description: This thesis is concerned with the impact of Western education on the social life of the members of a Transkeian village. Various authors in the locally relevant literature, have for a long time commented that, due to Western education and Christianity, African societies became divided into 'school'people, who readily accepted Western education and culture, and 'red' people, who initially resisted these. Whilst the terms 'red' and 'school' became used as analytical constructs for the differing responses to Western culture, they were also used by African people. My findings at Qhude, Transkei, confirmed such a social division. I argue that this social division does not present an absolute distinction, but may best be conceived in terms of a continuum. Whilst the thesis considers interaction between the 'school' and the 'red' people of Qhude in various fields of life such as politics, law, religion (see Chapter Two) and education (see Chapter Six), the main emphasis is on the 'red' people. Thus, the thesis concerns itself, to a large degree, with an analysis of the 'red' people's experience and interpretation of Western education and Western educated people. The main argument is that the 'red' people's perception of Western education and Western educated people is ambiguous. That is, they see them in both positive and negative terms (see Chapter Five). This ambiguity is looked at here as a manifestation of the difficulties encountered by the 'red' people in adjusting to an institution (i.e Western education)that was initially foreign, and to which they were initially opposed. The perception of Western education as positive follows from the fact that it is seen as leading to economic empowerement by the 'red' people of Qhude, who are facing poverty, due to an economic decline (see Chapter Three). However, the economic contribution of the young (who are the ones receiving western education) and the knowledge they gather from school, threaten the authority of elders, as the young become increasingly independent from the elders. As a result of such independence, and other factors, Western education is seen in negative terms by the 'red' people. Such potential dangers of Western education are well recognised by the 'reds' of Qhude, and are dealt with culturally. That is, it is made clear to the young, in particular during occasions such as circumcision rituals, that education has to be made relevant to the building of the homestead, which is under the overlordship of parents whom the young are called upon to respect (see Chapter Six). In conclusion, it is argued that the use of culture in this way, shows how 'tradition' is employed to deal with crisis. Such use of culture necessitates a clarification of the opinion that uneducated Africans rejected Western education (see Chapter Seven).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
- Authors: Deliwe, Dumisani
- Date: 1993
- Subjects: Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Xhosa (African people) -- Education -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2099 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002662 , Xhosa (African people) -- Attitudes , Xhosa (African people) -- Social life and customs , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Xhosa (African people) -- Education -- South Africa -- Transkei
- Description: This thesis is concerned with the impact of Western education on the social life of the members of a Transkeian village. Various authors in the locally relevant literature, have for a long time commented that, due to Western education and Christianity, African societies became divided into 'school'people, who readily accepted Western education and culture, and 'red' people, who initially resisted these. Whilst the terms 'red' and 'school' became used as analytical constructs for the differing responses to Western culture, they were also used by African people. My findings at Qhude, Transkei, confirmed such a social division. I argue that this social division does not present an absolute distinction, but may best be conceived in terms of a continuum. Whilst the thesis considers interaction between the 'school' and the 'red' people of Qhude in various fields of life such as politics, law, religion (see Chapter Two) and education (see Chapter Six), the main emphasis is on the 'red' people. Thus, the thesis concerns itself, to a large degree, with an analysis of the 'red' people's experience and interpretation of Western education and Western educated people. The main argument is that the 'red' people's perception of Western education and Western educated people is ambiguous. That is, they see them in both positive and negative terms (see Chapter Five). This ambiguity is looked at here as a manifestation of the difficulties encountered by the 'red' people in adjusting to an institution (i.e Western education)that was initially foreign, and to which they were initially opposed. The perception of Western education as positive follows from the fact that it is seen as leading to economic empowerement by the 'red' people of Qhude, who are facing poverty, due to an economic decline (see Chapter Three). However, the economic contribution of the young (who are the ones receiving western education) and the knowledge they gather from school, threaten the authority of elders, as the young become increasingly independent from the elders. As a result of such independence, and other factors, Western education is seen in negative terms by the 'red' people. Such potential dangers of Western education are well recognised by the 'reds' of Qhude, and are dealt with culturally. That is, it is made clear to the young, in particular during occasions such as circumcision rituals, that education has to be made relevant to the building of the homestead, which is under the overlordship of parents whom the young are called upon to respect (see Chapter Six). In conclusion, it is argued that the use of culture in this way, shows how 'tradition' is employed to deal with crisis. Such use of culture necessitates a clarification of the opinion that uneducated Africans rejected Western education (see Chapter Seven).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1993
Fieldwork as a compensatory teaching strategy for rural black senior secondary schools
- Authors: Boqwana, Eleanor Pindiwe
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching , Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003426 , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching , Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Description: The understanding of geographical concepts and the development of skills requires the use of appropriate teaching strategies. Modern school syllabuses emphasize the development of concepts and skills which are basic to the understanding of geography. Geography provides practical learning opportunities which directly involve the learner. Techniques which directly involve the learner are perceived to be the most valuable. Fieldwork, which embraces a wide range of innovative teaching strategies, is the one best suited to give first-hand experience to the pupils. This study investigates the potential of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding in geography with special reference to pupils in rural schools. Extensive literature on fieldwork in geographical education was analysed. Surveys of geography teachers and pupils in senior secondary schools were conducted to assess their attitudes towards geography and the use of learner-centred approaches with special reference to fieldwork. The role of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding was evaluated by exposing two groups of pupils to different field activities. This revealed that fieldwork promotes understanding, stimulates interest and builds up confidence even when first introduced at senior secondary level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
- Authors: Boqwana, Eleanor Pindiwe
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching , Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003426 , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Geography -- Fieldwork -- Study and teaching , Geography -- Study and teaching -- South Africa
- Description: The understanding of geographical concepts and the development of skills requires the use of appropriate teaching strategies. Modern school syllabuses emphasize the development of concepts and skills which are basic to the understanding of geography. Geography provides practical learning opportunities which directly involve the learner. Techniques which directly involve the learner are perceived to be the most valuable. Fieldwork, which embraces a wide range of innovative teaching strategies, is the one best suited to give first-hand experience to the pupils. This study investigates the potential of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding in geography with special reference to pupils in rural schools. Extensive literature on fieldwork in geographical education was analysed. Surveys of geography teachers and pupils in senior secondary schools were conducted to assess their attitudes towards geography and the use of learner-centred approaches with special reference to fieldwork. The role of fieldwork to promote conceptual understanding was evaluated by exposing two groups of pupils to different field activities. This revealed that fieldwork promotes understanding, stimulates interest and builds up confidence even when first introduced at senior secondary level.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
Standardization of Raven's standard progressive matrices for secondary school African pupils in the Grahamstown region
- Authors: Vass, Vasili Arthur
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Intelligence tests -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Cognition and culture , Raven's Progressive Matrices
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3078 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002587 , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Intelligence tests -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Cognition and culture , Raven's Progressive Matrices
- Description: Arising out of a need, expressed by Clinical Psychologists in the Grahamstown region, for the fair assessment of secondary School African pupils, norms for the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) were established. Two methods of presentation were used, the first using the original instructions of John Raven translated into the students' first language of Xhosa, hence-forth referred to as the Alternate sample. The second method of presenting the instructions was adapted, to include the use of visual aids and active participation in the instruction phase of the test, hence-forth referred to as the Normative sample. In addition to the establishment of norms, the two methods of test presentation were investigated to see if the method of presentation had an effect on the results of the Raven's SPM. The population was drawn from the three African Secondary Schools in the Grahamstown municipality. The total population consisted of 3 232 students. Classes were randomly sampled across the three schools, with the average age of the Normative sample being 19.3 years. The sample consisted of 812 pupils, 711 in the Normative sample and 101 in the Alternate Sample. The following results and conclusions arose from the study: 1) Norms generated were considerably lower than previously established norms in similar studies. 2) t-Test results indicated that the method of test presentation on the Raven's SPM is important when assessing students that may be regarded as 'disadvantaged'. 3) Respondents scored significantly higher when the method of presenting the instructions ensured a greater understanding of the task demanded of the respondents. 4) The analyses of covariance indicate that male subjects score significantly higher than female subjects, and that there is a significant difference between the ages and educational standard, on the scores of the Raven's SPM. 5) The differences found contradict previous findings using the test, and question the cultural fairness of the test.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
- Authors: Vass, Vasili Arthur
- Date: 1992
- Subjects: Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Intelligence tests -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Cognition and culture , Raven's Progressive Matrices
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3078 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002587 , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Intelligence tests -- South Africa , Educational tests and measurements -- South Africa , Cognition and culture , Raven's Progressive Matrices
- Description: Arising out of a need, expressed by Clinical Psychologists in the Grahamstown region, for the fair assessment of secondary School African pupils, norms for the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) were established. Two methods of presentation were used, the first using the original instructions of John Raven translated into the students' first language of Xhosa, hence-forth referred to as the Alternate sample. The second method of presenting the instructions was adapted, to include the use of visual aids and active participation in the instruction phase of the test, hence-forth referred to as the Normative sample. In addition to the establishment of norms, the two methods of test presentation were investigated to see if the method of presentation had an effect on the results of the Raven's SPM. The population was drawn from the three African Secondary Schools in the Grahamstown municipality. The total population consisted of 3 232 students. Classes were randomly sampled across the three schools, with the average age of the Normative sample being 19.3 years. The sample consisted of 812 pupils, 711 in the Normative sample and 101 in the Alternate Sample. The following results and conclusions arose from the study: 1) Norms generated were considerably lower than previously established norms in similar studies. 2) t-Test results indicated that the method of test presentation on the Raven's SPM is important when assessing students that may be regarded as 'disadvantaged'. 3) Respondents scored significantly higher when the method of presenting the instructions ensured a greater understanding of the task demanded of the respondents. 4) The analyses of covariance indicate that male subjects score significantly higher than female subjects, and that there is a significant difference between the ages and educational standard, on the scores of the Raven's SPM. 5) The differences found contradict previous findings using the test, and question the cultural fairness of the test.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1992
The role of the educator
- National Union of MetalWorkers of South Africa
- Authors: National Union of MetalWorkers of South Africa
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Capitalism and education , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Teachers, Black -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110914 , vital:33350
- Description: In South Africa, like all other capitalist societies, workers are forced to work for wages to buy the things they need to survive. The land, factories, mines, etc are privately owned by the capitalists. Because the capitalists own the land, factories and mines they control the wealth that is produced. With this wealth, as well as with the ownership of several newspapers and investment in radio and television stations, the capitalists can try and influence how people think. The capitalists also use the political rights and the wealth they have to influence how the government behaves. In South Africa, black workers have no political rights, because of apartheid. So they cannot influence the government in the same way as the capitalists. Workers standing on their own are also weak against their employers because the employers do not need any one particular worker. But the employers cannot do without all their workers. Machines without workers are useless. So if all workers can organise themselves to act together, to act collectively as it is called, then the balance of power changes. Capitalism needs the labour of workers to survive. So organised workers can be the most powerful weapon against capitalism. But the capitalists in South Africa are very powerful. They have a good friend in the apartheid state. Workers need to be well organised to challenge the power of the capitalists. But to build this strength, we need unity. We also need discipline and clear direction. The first step in making a union strong is for the union to have a very large membership. But the members cannot be sleeping members. They must understand the broader aims and objectives of the union and how the union fits into the wider struggle in South Africa. They must also have the skills and knowledge to be able to participate actively in all the activities of the union. Democratic practices increase the strength of workers' organisations and make them more effective. Democratic organisations are also necessary for building democratic societies because they make it possible for the masses of the people to participate in decisions about their lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
- Authors: National Union of MetalWorkers of South Africa
- Date: 19--?
- Subjects: Capitalism and education , Black people -- Education -- South Africa , Teachers, Black -- Psychology
- Language: English
- Type: text , pamphlet
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/110914 , vital:33350
- Description: In South Africa, like all other capitalist societies, workers are forced to work for wages to buy the things they need to survive. The land, factories, mines, etc are privately owned by the capitalists. Because the capitalists own the land, factories and mines they control the wealth that is produced. With this wealth, as well as with the ownership of several newspapers and investment in radio and television stations, the capitalists can try and influence how people think. The capitalists also use the political rights and the wealth they have to influence how the government behaves. In South Africa, black workers have no political rights, because of apartheid. So they cannot influence the government in the same way as the capitalists. Workers standing on their own are also weak against their employers because the employers do not need any one particular worker. But the employers cannot do without all their workers. Machines without workers are useless. So if all workers can organise themselves to act together, to act collectively as it is called, then the balance of power changes. Capitalism needs the labour of workers to survive. So organised workers can be the most powerful weapon against capitalism. But the capitalists in South Africa are very powerful. They have a good friend in the apartheid state. Workers need to be well organised to challenge the power of the capitalists. But to build this strength, we need unity. We also need discipline and clear direction. The first step in making a union strong is for the union to have a very large membership. But the members cannot be sleeping members. They must understand the broader aims and objectives of the union and how the union fits into the wider struggle in South Africa. They must also have the skills and knowledge to be able to participate actively in all the activities of the union. Democratic practices increase the strength of workers' organisations and make them more effective. Democratic organisations are also necessary for building democratic societies because they make it possible for the masses of the people to participate in decisions about their lives.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 19--?
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