Language is a crucial means of gaining comprehension of Physics content as well as providing correct answers to Physics questions and explanations of Physics phenomena. Therefore language determines the academic achievement of Physics learners. Consequently, language diversity plays a pivotal role in the outcomes of education in a multicultural society such as South Africa. The research reports on the role played by language in the academic performance of learners whose language of instruction is different from their home language. A mixed method approach was used in which the participants were assigned to either the control or experimental group. Intervention was provided to the experimental group in form of Physics lessons in the learners’ home language. The mixed method approach was used to elicit responses from a sample of 40 learners on the role of language in the learning and teaching of Physics to learners whose home language is different from the language of learning and teaching. Data was collected from 3 written tests (an English Language Proficiency test, pre- and post- tests) and interview responses. The sample comprised 24 girls and 16 boys aged between 15 and 17 years. Quantitative data was analysed using R- computing while interview responses were analysed using Glᾰser and Laudel’s model. A paired t- test revealed statistically significant difference in the academic performance of the two groups in the post- test in favour of the experimental group which had been afforded intervention. The results of this study show that translanguaging approaches, where languages of input and output are deliberately interchanged, proved to be a valuable pedagogical strategy as learners got the chance to learn in their home language leading to an improvement in their academic performance in Physics. The findings of this research are in line with some previous research which demonstrated that the use of learners’ home language is a social practice that goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. The use of pedagogies that embrace multilingualism is therefore highly recommended in 21st century Physics classes. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Submitted by Herbert João (herbertusp@gmail.com) on 2017-12-07T00:45:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Herbert_Joao.pdf: 2657068 bytes, checksum: 8fa1a3ab78779cd61ccc13237056f75b (MD5) / Rejected by Ronildo Prado (bco.producao.intelectual@gmail.com), reason: Oi , Faltou enviar a Carta comprovante assinada pelo orientador. Solicite o modelo em sua Secretaria de Pós-graduação, preencha e colete a assinatura com o orientador e acesse novamente o sistema para fazer o Upload. Fico no aguardo para finalizarmos o processo. Abraços Ronildo on 2017-12-12T11:54:01Z (GMT) / Submitted by Herbert João (herbertusp@gmail.com) on 2017-12-12T13:54:48Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Herbert_Joao.pdf: 2657068 bytes, checksum: 8fa1a3ab78779cd61ccc13237056f75b (MD5) Carta_comprovante_Herbert_Joao_nov2017.pdf: 201185 bytes, checksum: 81d82f7792024c746aedb98c7ab84e94 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (bco.producao.intelectual@gmail.com) on 2018-01-22T12:17:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Herbert_Joao.pdf: 2657068 bytes, checksum: 8fa1a3ab78779cd61ccc13237056f75b (MD5) Carta_comprovante_Herbert_Joao_nov2017.pdf: 201185 bytes, checksum: 81d82f7792024c746aedb98c7ab84e94 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (bco.producao.intelectual@gmail.com) on 2018-01-22T12:17:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Herbert_Joao.pdf: 2657068 bytes, checksum: 8fa1a3ab78779cd61ccc13237056f75b (MD5) Carta_comprovante_Herbert_Joao_nov2017.pdf: 201185 bytes, checksum: 81d82f7792024c746aedb98c7ab84e94 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-22T12:18:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertacao Herbert_Joao.pdf: 2657068 bytes, checksum: 8fa1a3ab78779cd61ccc13237056f75b (MD5) Carta_comprovante_Herbert_Joao_nov2017.pdf: 201185 bytes, checksum: 81d82f7792024c746aedb98c7ab84e94 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The present work intends to produce and provide instructional material to high school teachers of physics, focusing on workshop methodology as a viable alternative to physics classes. It is proposed to equip teachers with innovative tools and context for the process of teaching-learning physics, based on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and experimental practices. Detailed scripts were developed for the implementation of the methodology and offer of workshops in classrooms about Modern Physics (MP). From the literature it was observed that the workshops when developed with its own teachers, would make it possible to overcome deficits in their initial formation, including those regarding to the use of experimentation, technology, innovative methodologies and concepts of MP. Studies have demonstrated the real need to help teachers in the search for new alternatives for insertion of physics and its teaching in the social and technological reality of its students; As well as the effectiveness of instructional material in overcoming, even if timidly, some shortcomings with regard to pedagogical practice and the teaching of certain challenging content, in a contextualizing and motivating perspective. / O presente trabalho objetivou a produção e disponibilização de material instrucional aos professores do Ensino Médio (EM) de física, focando-se a metodologia de oficinas como alternativa viável às aulas de física. Propõe-se a instrumentalização do professor com ferramentas de inovação e de contextualização para o processo ensino-aprendizagem de física, baseada no uso das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TIC) e das práticas experimentais. Como produto foram elaborados roteiros detalhados para a implementação da metodologia e oferta das oficinas em salas de aulas sobre tópicos de Física Moderna (FM). A partir da literatura de referência observou-se que as oficinas, quando trabalhadas com os próprios professores, possibilitariam a superação de déficits na formação inicial, inclusive no que diz respeito ao uso da experimentação, da tecnologia, de metodologias inovadoras e, de conceitos em FM. Estudos tem demonstrado a necessidade real de se auxiliar os professores na busca por novas alternativas para inserção da física e do seu ensino na realidade social e tecnológica de seus alunos; assim como, a efetividade do material instrucional em suprir, mesmo que timidamente, algumas lacunas com relação à prática pedagógica e ao ensino de determinados conteúdos desafiadores, numa perspectiva contextualizadora e motivadora.

A combination of theoretical perspectives is used to create a rich description of student reasoning when facing a highly-geometric electricity and magnetism problem in an upper-division active-engagement physics classroom at Oregon State University. Geometric reasoning as students encounter problem situations ranging from familiar to novel is described using van Zee and Manogue's (2010) ethnography of communication. Bing's (2008) epistemic framing model is used to illuminate how students are framing what they are doing and whether or not they see the problem as geometric. Kuo, Hull, Gupta, and Elby's (2010) blending model and Krutetskii's (1976) model of harmonic reasoning are used to illuminate ways students show problem-solving expertise. Sayer and Wittmann's (2008) model is used to show how resource plasticity impacts students' geometric reasoning and the degree to which students accept incorrect results. / Graduation date: 2013

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an active teaching strategy that could be implemented in the South African educational system to assist in developing problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, self-directed learning and intrinsic motivation in students. Even though it is not easy to drift from a teacher-centred strategy to a student-centred strategy, but this drift is supposed to be a paradigm drift for the nation. ‘Physics is difficult’ has been the anthem of students in South African high schools. This has led to lower pass rates in physics and as a result low physics career person in society. Physics students in high schools need to be exposed to the PBL strategy since the PBL strategy focuses on real-life problems to develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills and self-directed learning in students which are the skills needed for concept formation in Physical Science. Basically, the education of Physical Science students focused on the ability to acquire skills to solve real-life problems. This study focuses on exploring the experiences of high school physics teachers at Entsikeni cluster, South African, when implementing problem-based learning (PBL) in their physics classrooms. The study uses the mixed-method approach where three different research instruments were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data sequentially. Questionnaires, RTOP and interview protocol were employed. The findings of the study indicate that teachers project positive attitudes toward the PBL strategy but may probably not continue to use it because it requires more time than that which is allocated in the Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS) Physical Science document and as a result may not be able to finish their ATP on time. Teachers are teaching physics with no specialization in physics, which probably could lead to poor, pass rates in Physical Science. Teachers were inexperienced in teaching physics in the FET and could probably affect students’ academic performance. It is recommended they apply the PBL strategy to correct the negative effect of their inexperience on students’ performance. It is evident that if inexperienced trained teachers apply an instructional strategy based on research, they tend to develop students' performance as compared to applying the traditional instructional strategy. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Physics Education)