Errors and misconceptions of grade 6 learners in common fractions : a case study of two primary schools in the Queenstown education district
- Authors: Libazi ,Babini Precious
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Arithmetic--Study and teaching (Elementary) Mathematics--Problems, exercises, etc School children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11652 , vital:39093
- Description: The objective of this study was to investigate and explore the errors and misconceptions associated with the concept of fractions which are displayed by Grade 6 learners in two primary schools in the Queenstown Education District of the Eastern Cape Province. The research was done specifically to identify errors and misconceptions made by these learners in the addition and subtraction of common and mixed fractions. The study further tried to establish the causes of these errors and misconceptions. The research explored whether Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) can assist in the improvement or reduction of these errors and misconceptions. The study was conducted at Mlungisi and Xhalanga primary schools (pseudo – names) of the Queenstown Education District in the Eastern Cape Province. This was a mixed method research design, where 100 learners from two purposively identified primary schools were selected and subjected to a pre-test. From the 100 learners, 10 purposively selected learners were identified for interviews. The learners were also subjected to direct observations and documents (such as the Caps document, ANA examination papers, learners’ home and classwork books, November/December Grades 5 & 6 mark sheets and schedules, etc.) which were analysed and a post-test was administered. Two mathematics teachers teaching at the two primary schools were interviewed. Triangulation was used for data analysis. A Cognitively Guided Instruction was used to investigate whether the errors and misconceptions can be reduced or improved. The findings of the study were that learners do make errors when learning common fractions and that the types of errors were careless mistakes, conceptual errors, procedural errors and application errors which were identified and discussed in the study. The study further established that the Cognitively Guided Instruction approach recommended by the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) can be used to develop the learners’ conceptual understanding of common fractions. The CGI approach advocates the use of concrete materials for conceptual learning to take place. The findings of the study confirmed well documented research on the learners’ difficulties when dealing with fractions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Libazi ,Babini Precious
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Arithmetic--Study and teaching (Elementary) Mathematics--Problems, exercises, etc School children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Education
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/11652 , vital:39093
- Description: The objective of this study was to investigate and explore the errors and misconceptions associated with the concept of fractions which are displayed by Grade 6 learners in two primary schools in the Queenstown Education District of the Eastern Cape Province. The research was done specifically to identify errors and misconceptions made by these learners in the addition and subtraction of common and mixed fractions. The study further tried to establish the causes of these errors and misconceptions. The research explored whether Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI) can assist in the improvement or reduction of these errors and misconceptions. The study was conducted at Mlungisi and Xhalanga primary schools (pseudo – names) of the Queenstown Education District in the Eastern Cape Province. This was a mixed method research design, where 100 learners from two purposively identified primary schools were selected and subjected to a pre-test. From the 100 learners, 10 purposively selected learners were identified for interviews. The learners were also subjected to direct observations and documents (such as the Caps document, ANA examination papers, learners’ home and classwork books, November/December Grades 5 & 6 mark sheets and schedules, etc.) which were analysed and a post-test was administered. Two mathematics teachers teaching at the two primary schools were interviewed. Triangulation was used for data analysis. A Cognitively Guided Instruction was used to investigate whether the errors and misconceptions can be reduced or improved. The findings of the study were that learners do make errors when learning common fractions and that the types of errors were careless mistakes, conceptual errors, procedural errors and application errors which were identified and discussed in the study. The study further established that the Cognitively Guided Instruction approach recommended by the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) can be used to develop the learners’ conceptual understanding of common fractions. The CGI approach advocates the use of concrete materials for conceptual learning to take place. The findings of the study confirmed well documented research on the learners’ difficulties when dealing with fractions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
The impact of road construction on the livelihoods of rural communities : a case of Nyandeni Municipality in Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Ndesi, Zabambo Nale
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Roads -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8769 , vital:33542
- Description: All over the world many rural households are engaged in different economic activities to sustain their livelihoods. To a large extent, a household’s ability to do this depends on access to basic assets such as infrastructure, social, human, finance or physical. Access to these assets can be affected by large projects such as road construction which can either enhance or hinder access to key assets. The main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Highway in the Eastern Cape Province on the livelihoods of rural households in the Nyandeni local municipality. The study also seeks to investigate the dominant household economic activities within the municipality, factors affecting the choice of these activities and the probable impact of the construction of the N2 highway on these economic activities and livelihood strategies. The road construction is translated as a ‘shock’ in the livelihood context, hence the study further seeks to document how households respond to road construction ‘shock’ to their livelihoods, based on the findings of the study. The study applied a mixed methods approach, applying both qualitative and quantitative data. Two sources of data are used; a survey of 40 households in the Nyandeni local municipality which provided the qualitative data and survey data from the PSPPD-II quantitative data from project conducted by the Economics department at the University of Fort Hare, which provided the quantitative data. The multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the livelihood strategies used as well as the related determinants. The results showed that financial, social and physical capitals are key assets that support livelihoods in Nyandeni municipality, which were highly determined by the deprivation score, social grants and community networks. To get a clearer understanding of the underlying effects of the road construction, focus prompts interviews were also conducted. These were analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the road construction had both the negative and positive effects. The positive effects included better links to social facilities such as hospitals and schools as well as neighbouring municipalities. The construction also created employment for construction workers. In addition, the construction company helped households whose houses were destroyed near the road to build better houses. Although the households complained of danger from high speed vehicles because of better roads, they also indicated that the speed bumps in some areas led to an improvement in well-being especially for school children. The negative effects included destruction of burial grounds as well as the weakening of housing structures due to blasting. Further, some vegetation which was used by households as a source of livelihood was destroyed during road construction. In some cases, social capital assets were also disturbed as a result of the displacement that occurred in the process. Responses by households have been mixed, with some households taking advantage of increased access to markets as well as finances to find alternative sources of livelihoods. Households that responded negatively constantly seek out reimbursement from the government and construction company without much success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Ndesi, Zabambo Nale
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Roads -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/8769 , vital:33542
- Description: All over the world many rural households are engaged in different economic activities to sustain their livelihoods. To a large extent, a household’s ability to do this depends on access to basic assets such as infrastructure, social, human, finance or physical. Access to these assets can be affected by large projects such as road construction which can either enhance or hinder access to key assets. The main objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the construction of the N2 Wild Coast Highway in the Eastern Cape Province on the livelihoods of rural households in the Nyandeni local municipality. The study also seeks to investigate the dominant household economic activities within the municipality, factors affecting the choice of these activities and the probable impact of the construction of the N2 highway on these economic activities and livelihood strategies. The road construction is translated as a ‘shock’ in the livelihood context, hence the study further seeks to document how households respond to road construction ‘shock’ to their livelihoods, based on the findings of the study. The study applied a mixed methods approach, applying both qualitative and quantitative data. Two sources of data are used; a survey of 40 households in the Nyandeni local municipality which provided the qualitative data and survey data from the PSPPD-II quantitative data from project conducted by the Economics department at the University of Fort Hare, which provided the quantitative data. The multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the livelihood strategies used as well as the related determinants. The results showed that financial, social and physical capitals are key assets that support livelihoods in Nyandeni municipality, which were highly determined by the deprivation score, social grants and community networks. To get a clearer understanding of the underlying effects of the road construction, focus prompts interviews were also conducted. These were analysed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the road construction had both the negative and positive effects. The positive effects included better links to social facilities such as hospitals and schools as well as neighbouring municipalities. The construction also created employment for construction workers. In addition, the construction company helped households whose houses were destroyed near the road to build better houses. Although the households complained of danger from high speed vehicles because of better roads, they also indicated that the speed bumps in some areas led to an improvement in well-being especially for school children. The negative effects included destruction of burial grounds as well as the weakening of housing structures due to blasting. Further, some vegetation which was used by households as a source of livelihood was destroyed during road construction. In some cases, social capital assets were also disturbed as a result of the displacement that occurred in the process. Responses by households have been mixed, with some households taking advantage of increased access to markets as well as finances to find alternative sources of livelihoods. Households that responded negatively constantly seek out reimbursement from the government and construction company without much success.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
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