This thesis examines the development of children's reading skills, in both the mother tongue and English as a foreign language, during their first four years of school. It is an attempt to enter the reading world of very young learners in underdeveloped, mainly rural communities in search of practical insights into the teaching of reading in the junior primary classroom. The research focuses specifically on two approaches to reading instruction. The first is the approach traditionally used in black South African schools, characterised by teacher-centredness and rote-recall techniques. The second is a more progressive and communicative approach encapsulated in the language courses of the Molteno Project. Both approaches, and their theoretical underpinnings, are described in some detail. The context of language-in-education policy in South Africa is also reviewed. The research then tests the hypothesis that a communicative approach to reading pedagogy produces measurably better results in pupils than more traditional methods. The research explores the use of quantitative methods of evaluation, giving justification for their use, and examines the practicability of standardised EFL tests at junior primary level. Existing tests are evaluated and found wanting. The process of developing and administering original hybrid-communicative tests is described. The results of these, which were administered over four years to a total of some 6 000 pupils across the first four years of school, are assessed. Implications for testers, teachers, educational administrators and educational NGOs are extrapolated.

Thesis (MTech (Quality (Faculty of Engineering) Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / While the necessary Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure at the Holy Cross Sisters' School (HCSS) has been established, there has been little evidence of the successful integration of ICT into the school. While traditional teaching methods are still being practiced, ICT integration into the curriculum has been non- existent and mundane administrative tasks are still being performed manually. Furthermore, management has no real vision in place with regards to ICT integration at the school. Due to the fact that the HCSS has not optimally used its ICT capabilities results in administrative processes being inefficient and impacting adversely on the quality of the education provided. The objectives of this research study are to develop a model that mitigates the research problem with focus on improving administrative processes, integrating ICT into the curriculum, and combining ICT with traditional teaching methods to exponentially improve upon the efficiency of teaching and learning. The research methodology for this dissertation will fall within the ambit of action research, using both qualitative and quantitative research paradigms. The research question that will form the crux of this dissertation reads as follows: 'What mechanistic approach can be deployed at the HCSS to integrate ICT within the organization to improve the quality of education and improve on the efficiency of internal processes?' Observations, focus groups and a survey will serve as data collection methods for this research. Data collected will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

M.Ed. (Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (M. Ed.(Language Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Learners in rural areas are disadvantaged in terms of exposure to English First Additional Language (EFAL).They require more basic attention in reading and writing skills. For this reason, the study analyses why Intermediate Phase learners in schools in rural areas are struggling to read and write in EFAL. In view of this, Darara (2012:4) argues that reading and writing is not an educational hurdle affecting only learners at Intermediate Phase in schools. The purpose of this study is to bring to light learners’ challenges in reading and writing in EFAL at Intermediate Phase. The study thus employs how to eliminate learners’ reading and writing challenges emanating at this phase. The method used in this study is qualitative and it is used in order for teachers to bring out their experiences on EFAL teaching. Data collection was done through structured interviews and non-participant observation. Nine teachers were sampled from three primary schools in the Mankweng Circuit. Each school forwarded three teachers, this means one from each intermediate grades. The research results from both interviews and observations are jointly presented in order to avoid repetitions. The researcher presents profiles of schools and teachers together with the way reading and writing are conducted in schools. The study, in its presentation, highlights the way teachers are moved around the province through the government programme Rationalisation and Redeployment. Amongst the findings revealed by the study, most of the teachers do not take English as their major subject in their teaching career. This is one reason why reading and writing at Intermediate Phase in rural schools is almost unachievable. The study recommends that EFAL teachers conduct workshops and training with fellow teachers in ex-model C and private schools to learn from each other in order to overcome challenges emanating from the two skills.

The study aimed at developing a curriculum for technology teacher education and training for technology teachers teaching Grade R-9 in South African schools. The study was motivated by the national implementation of Curriculum 2005 as well as the Revised National Curriculum Statements Grades R-9 to be implemented from 2004. The cognitive framework was illuminated by the conceptualisation of technology education and examined the philosophical foundation and theoretical context of technology education, including the historical background of technical education in relation to teacher training in South Africa. The Norms and Standards for Educators as a benchmark for teacher education and training programmes is explored. Moreover, a conceptual framework for the proposed curriculum was investigated. This involved an analysis of selected educational philosophies and their influence on curriculum development, various curriculum approaches and models, including outcomes-based education, a needs analysis and curriculum evaluation and assessment. A small-scale empirical investigation using qualitative and quantitative approaches was carried out. Questionnaires designed for educators of the Technology Learning Area and educators of technical subjects were used to gather data. The empirical investigation comprised a needs analysis of the curriculum development process. To ascertain validity and reliability of findings, instruments were subjected to a pilot study. Data were analysed by a MS Excell spreadsheet computer programme and findings presented in tables and graphs. The curriculum for technology teacher education and training, particularly curriculum content, was based on the empirical findings and the philosophical foundations discussed in the literature review. The proposed curriculum stresses the importance of partnership between schools and industry and resulted in the following outcomes: * knowledge of technology education; * applied and integrated teaching competence; * applied and integrated assessment; * recommendations for improving the school-industry relationships through partnerships programmes emphasising the design of technological projects. Finally, the following recommendations emanated: * improvement of technology teacher education and training programmes in higher education; * development of expertise in the teaching and learning of technology; * resurgence of research in the teaching and learning of the technological design process. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didatics)

An emphasis ·on creativity as well as its implications for teacher education is significant for the South African education system. In this study some relevant issues related to the creative teaching of English in the· Junior Primary phase of schooling as well as to the training of teachers are highlighted. The transitional changes that are taking place currently, present a challenge for all educators, particularly language educators. It is evident that teachers need to acquire competencies which would enable them to function effectively in a multicultural, multilingual society. They need to be a skilled, flexible and innovative work-force. The main area of focus. is the training programme used at Springfield College of Education. An analysis of the Junior Primary English Syllabus reveals that there is a need for the programme to be orientated towards the development of creative teachers. This study includes some recommendations for teaching practice and teacher training. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)

Transforming society towards following an environmentally sustainable path will not be easy because it means a fundamental shift in thinking, values and actions of all institutions, communities and individuals worldwide. Education is the key to ensure that future generations of South Africans will be able to deliver the society envisaged by our Constitution. The formative years of the Foundation Phase are an ideal place for environmental education (EE) to begin. The purpose of this study was to explore conceptions of EE held by educators in the Foundation Phase at a primary school in KwaZulu-Natal. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

M.Ed. (Psychology of Education) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

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Research Report submitted to the Wits School of Education, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg In partial fulfilment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Science (Mathematics Education) Johannesburg, 2017 / South Africa’s performance in mathematics education is ranked amongst the world’s worst. This performance is not only alarming at an international level, but also nationally. Annual National Assessments (ANA) conducted by the Department of Education have showed that the level of mathematics across the foundation and intermediate phase is poor with a pronounced dip in performance at a Grade 4 level (Department of Basic Education, 2014). Multiplication and division are common challenging areas that contribute to this poor performance. This is concerning as mathematics is globally recognised as a key competence for providing access to higher education and developing a country’s society and economy. My study, aimed at exploring multiplicative reasoning with Grade 4 learners through structured problem solving, is focused on the learning of multiplication and division within the context of an intervention concentrated on developing learners’ ability to model multiplicative situations. Shifts in the use of models were investigated following a smallscale intervention in which different modelling approaches (particularly ratio modelling) were introduced and developed. A control group was used to determine the usefulness of the intervention. Questions which I sought to answer were: (a) what kinds of multiplicative reasoning (models) are Grade 4 learners using prior to intervention, (b) what changes, if any, are seen in overall performance, across the intervention and control group, in the post-test, and, (c) what kinds of differences in model use were associated with the shifts in performance? The main dataset comprised of 61 pre- and post-test scripts across three Grade 4 classes in a former Model C school in a Johannesburg district. A sample of 15 interviews were also conducted across the classes. Document analysis and transcription notes were used to analyse data with a Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) framework informing my analysis. Findings from my study reveal that prior to intervention, Grade 4 learners presented limited multiplicative models which were predominantly confined to traditional algorithms. After the small-scale intervention, learners used a broader range of models with an emerging take up of ratio models. The success rate associated with the models presented by learners also improved. Limited and/or no changes in model use and their respective success rates were seen in the control group suggesting that the intervention program was useful. These findings suggest that, as a future recommendation, it would be worthwhile to investigate the outcomes of running a similar intervention in less privileged settings. / MT 2018