Student Number : 9407325P - PhD thesis - Faculty of Human and Social Sciences / This thesis focuses on the challenges a particular group of rural primary school teachers experienced as they implemented a national outcomes-based curriculum through the support of an external agent. It uses Fairclough’s (1991) model of critical discourse analysis and his theory of critical language study as a framework to explore the discourses and practices of this group of South African teachers. Methodologically, this thesis is located in the qualitative paradigm, and uses interviews and observations to systematically probe teachers’ understandings of curriculum and change. Three themes are developed in this thesis. First, the theme of teacher collaboration is presented as a new social practice that the teachers creatively took up during a school development project. It shows that while social and institutional process determined the nature of the project as a social practice, at a situational level, the teachers played a much more determinative role as they shaped the project and its practices in several intriguing ways. Second, the curriculum roles that were discursively produced by the teachers as they struggled to transform their practice from isolation to collaboration are revealed. This demonstrates that while many of these roles were common to all schools, the role of the teacher as leader emerged in only two of the schools. And third, through analysing the lessons taught by this group of teachers in their classrooms, the tacit knowledge of pedagogy and content on which their practice was based is made explicit. These themes provide opportunities for certain common sense assumptions about teacher collaboration, leadership, learning and practice to be interrogated in terms of their applicability to the schools in the project. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the possibilities that still exist for teacher educators to enhance understanding of what happens inside traditional rural schools.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in 25% fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and Development Management) 2015. / The purpose of the study was to explore the township schools foundation phase teachers' experiences in the implementation of CAPS with regard to curriculum implementation and how their knowledge and experiences influence the implementation of the curriculum. The literature review provides insights into the current practices regarding CAPS in the foundation phase in South African primary schools comparatively throughout the world. A qualitative case study research was adopted for this study and semistructured interviews. The findings highlight that although teachers experienced challenges in implementing CAPS, they acknowledge the benefits of previous workshops. The article recommends that curriculum designers and the Department of Education need to urgently review CAPS. It has been emphasised that teachers need to be actively involved during the review process. Amongst all the requirements for curriculum implementation, teachers need to be constantly monitored and supported to ensure the quality of teaching and learning. / AC2016

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-11-09T11:20:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariza de Paula Dias Coelho.pdf: 1957287 bytes, checksum: 7282573bf010dd9bc45e821868e3ce67 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-09T11:20:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariza de Paula Dias Coelho.pdf: 1957287 bytes, checksum: 7282573bf010dd9bc45e821868e3ce67 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-15 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / This study aims to study how the first public competitions for teachers of the primary level of public education in the city of São Paulo occurred in order to investigate elements related to the rituals in the first tender processes for schools in the years 1892, 1893, 1894. The privileged sources for this purpose and elaboration of the dissertation are the regulations of public instruction, educational legislation produced by the provinces, more specifically that of São Paulo, reports of the provincial presidents, pertinent authors that approach the theme, laws, decrees but mainly documentation required for the registration and the written tests and answered by the candidates. From the theoretical considerations of Vicentini and Lugli (2009) that discuss the importance of professional consolidation of the teacher, and present the tender process as one of these elements. It seeks to analyze this action within the complex set of appointments for public education in the period. As a result, it is understood that there were different ways of recruiting teachers for primary schools in São Paulo. About the rituals there is a great appeal about the candidate's morality and suitability, as evidenced in the pilgrimage through the search of the documents for the inscription / Esta pesquisa de objetiva estudar de que maneira ocorreu a execução dos primeiros concursos públicos para professores do nível primário da instrução pública na cidade de São Paulo, a fim de investigar elementos relativos aos rituais nos primeiros processos de concurso para as escolas, nos anos 1892,1893,1894. As fontes privilegiadas para este objetivo e elaboração da dissertação são os regulamentos de instrução pública, legislação educacional produzida pelas províncias, mais especificamente a de São Paulo, relatórios dos presidentes provinciais, autores pertinentes que abordam o tema, leis, decretos, mas principalmente a documentação requerida para a inscrição e as provas escritas e respondidas pelos candidatos. A partir das considerações teóricas de Vicentini e Lugli (2009) que discutem a importância da consolidação profissional do docente, e apresentam o processo de concurso como um desses elementos. Busca-se analisar essa ação dentro do complexo jogo de provimentos de cargos para a instrução pública no período. Como resultado, compreende-se que havia diferentes formas de recrutamento de professores para as escolas primárias paulistas. Sobre os rituais percebe-se um grande apelo em torno da moral e da idoneidade do candidato, de modo evidenciado na peregrinação pela busca dos documentos para a inscrição

O objetivo do presente estudo, de cunho teórico-analítico, configura-se como uma tentativa de compreensão da forma pela qual se estabeleceram, no Brasil, as identidades profissionais das professoras de primeiras letras e das coordenadoras pedagógicas, mutuamente referidas, e o mal-estar decorrente das modalidades pelas quais se instituíram, com as reformas educacionais, suas competências desejáveis mediante diferentes descrições das respectivas funções. Na busca de entender teoricamente como se produzem essas identidades nas estruturas hierárquicas das instituições escolares, os aportes teóricos de Foucault forneceram ferramentas úteis para problematizar os saberes vigentes e compreender como certos saberes são desqualificados nas relações de poder. A compreensão de Foucault acerca da relação entre saber e poder, principalmente, possibilita outras leituras dos discursos pedagógicos, acumulados e veiculados como verdades, que permeiam a construção das identidades dessas profissionais. A análise sociológica de Bauman, por sua vez, ajuda a elucidar o presente em que estamos imersos, que ele chama de modernidade \"leve\" e \"líquida\" e, assim, torna possível entender as redistribuições e realocações dos poderes e os novos padrões de dependência na instituição escolar, apesar de o discurso pedagógico dominante aparentemente convocar \"autodeterminação\" e \"liberdade\" como características centrais da constituição dessas identidades em estudo. A presente investigação busca, dessa forma, primeiramente elucidar no Brasil o percurso histórico da profissão de professora das primeiras letras e assim compreender como se configuraram as estruturas hierárquicas, isto é, a \"função supervisora\" nas reformas educacionais das décadas de 20 e 30, caracterizada pela inspiração empresarial na administração escolar e pela instituição da figura do especialista em novos métodos de ensino. É realizada a seguir a análise de quatro volumes da coleção O Coordenador pedagógico, organizada por Vera Nigro de Souza Placco e Laurinda Ramalho de Almeida, publicada a partir de 1998, escolhida pelo elevado número de edições, o que demonstra sua aprovação pelo público. A coleção possibilita o acesso a alguns dos principais discursos que norteiam a constituição da identidade desses profissionais. Os artigos aí presentes são resultados, na sua maioria, de dissertações de teses e de pesquisas de avaliação de projetos implementados na rede pública ou particular. Como conclusão, observa-se que os discursos educacionais em geral enfatizam a constituição de profissionais \"autônomos\", \"críticos\" e \"reflexivos\". Imersos nesse discurso homogeneizante e sofisticado nas suas propostas de auto-exame, no entanto, tanto professores como coordenadores paradoxalmente vão limitando as possibilidades de pensar e de constituir suas identidades. Uma possível ação questionadora seria a de duvidar desse lugar idealizado nas descrições da função dos coordenadores pedagógicos, que definem missões impossíveis, lugar em que, na maioria das vezes, são vistos como detentores de uma consciência crítica embasada nos conhecimentos da ciência, e capazes de constituir professores \"autônomos\" e \"reflexivos\". Duvidar, assim, dessa relação, quando ela se estabelece pela necessidade da tutela desse especialista, a fim de buscar outras formas de relação que permitam de fato que as professoras das primeiras letras possam se desenvolver enquanto profissionais. / This study aims at attempting to comprehend the way the professional identities of primary school teachers and pedagogic coordinators has been established in Brazil and the subsequent ill-feeling originated by the educational restructuring of their competencies in the light of their new roles. The search for the understanding of how these identities are constructed in the hierarchical structure of schools can be backed up by Foucault-based theories that provide useful tools for analyzing the present kinds of knowledge, at the same time that it helps understand how they can be disqualified before unequal encounters. Foucault\'s understanding of the relationship between power and knowledge makes it possible to envisage different interpretations of the pedagogical discourse which has been established and passed on as truths that permeate the make-up of the identity of a teaching professional. Bauman\'s sociological approach, in turn, helps to elucidate the present scenario where we are, which he named \"light\" and \"liquid\" modernity. Such suggested approach makes it possible to understand the redistributions and allocations of the powers and the new patterns of dependence at the educational institution, despite the fact that the dominant pedagogical discourse seems to capitalize on \"self-determination\" and \"freedom\" as central characteristics in the construction of the identities under investigation. Thus, the present study seeks to elucidate, from a historical perspective, the path of the primary school teacher as a means to shed some light on how the hierarchical relations came to be, namely that of the \"supervisor\" in the educational restructuring of the 20\'s and 30?\'s. The referred restructuring seems to have been highly influenced by the entrepreneurial spirit present in school administration trends and by the institution of a specialist in the new teaching methods. Four volumes of the series O Coordenador Pedagógico (the Pedagogic Coordinatior) published as of 1998 and organized by Vera Nigro de Souza Placco and Laurinda Ramalho de Almeida are chosen and analyzed due to the significant number of editions, which seems to be indicative of its approval by the target audience. This collection makes it possible to have access to some of the main discourse samples that guide the identity construction of the professionals of the area. Most of the articles therein result from theses, dissertations and research on the evaluation of projects implemented in private and public educational institutions. As a conclusion, it is possible to observe that the educational discourse, in general, emphasizes the construction of \"autonomous\", \"critical\" and \"reflexive\" professionals. Given the homogenous and sophisticated nature of such discourse, filled with self-analysis proposals, both teachers and coordinators limit their possibilities of thinking and constructing their identities. One possible approach to this paradox would be to dispute the idealization of the role of the pedagogical coordinator that defines impossible missions and appears to be the bearer of a critical conscience that, based on scientific background, is capable of educating teachers to be \"autonomous\" and \"reflexive\". This way, disputing this relation may bring in new possibilities of relationships and approaches to allow the primary school teachers to develop as professionals.

Professional development of beginning teachers through induction and mentoring has been commonly viewed as important for teachers' success and continuation in the teaching profession. Induction and specifically mentoring programs focus attention on transitions from one stage of teacher development to another. The three phases of teacher development are initial teacher education, known as pre-service, the induction phase and the ongoing teacher in-service education. The move from student to teacher is the most demanding change in learning to teach. The beginning teacher in this change must adjust from thinking and acting as a student, absorbed with his or her own learning and performance, to thinking and acting as a teacher, accepting responsibility for the learning and performance of others. Beginning teachers are fully engaged in this essential development, and mentoring programs are purposely intended to support them through this period of change. This study has established that beginning teachers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) do experience challenges in the first few months of teaching but these issues lapse over time with the support and assistance of mentors/supervisors. Mentoring has great potential for group effort and transformational teacher learning within schools as professional learning communities. In order for mentors to perform their tasks well and draw benefits from mentoring, appropriate support and training for mentors is recommended. As well as support and training, other incentives for mentors such as salary increments and reduced teaching loads would be a welcome step to enhancing induction and mentoring programs in PNG primary schools.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This evaluation research study is concerned with the quality of support and in-service development for Malawian primary teachers through the medium of radio. The study aims to evaluate the influence that the current United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded interactive radio instruction (IRI) programme has on teachers’ behaviours, with the aim of proposing some guidelines for the development of a model of continuing professional development (CPD), appropriate to the Malawian context, using IRI. It identifies the teacher as a critical entity in raising levels of learners’ achievement within the primary school and posits that through improved teacher support and development, higher levels of learner achievement can be attained. The study identifies the potential that communication technology in the form of interactive radio instruction (IRI) offers in improving CPD of teachers at a cost that could be affordable to disadvantaged school communities in the country. The study takes place in a context where the Malawi government has been challenged to provide quality universal primary education after introducing free primary education (FPE) in 1994, which resulted in a massive expansion of primary schools, resulting in acute shortages of teachers. The study has drawn on aspects of practice theory and in particular the work of Giddens (1984), Bourdieu (1977, 1978), Shatzki et al (2001) and Reckwitz (2002a) in an attempt to emphasise the role of artefacts, such as interactive radio, as part of social practice. A practice theoretic perspective has been used to highlight the contentious role played by learning-objects in teacher practice and the need for flexibility and innovation in employing learning-objects like interactive radio as part of teaching practice. To carry out a critical exploration of the issues of teacher learning and practice, a longitudinal qualitative research approach was proposed for the evaluation of the existing IRI programme in Malawi. As the researcher was also actively involved in the planning of the Malawi IRI programme from onset, he therefore maintained a dual role of researcher and co-founder throughout the research process. The empirical evidence employed within this research was elicited through three main processes: interview survey, participant observation and focus groups in order to achieve validity through methodical triangulation. The analysis of this evidence shows the considerable difficulties faced by classroom teachers in attempting to adopt interactive radio and therefore be able to use interactive/active learner-centred instruction as part of their ongoing teaching practice. The analysis, however, also highlights the possibility of exploiting interactive radio for provision of an integrated, sustainable CPD of teachers in educationally deprived school communities. Overall, the research study puts emphasis on the need for paying attention to the social practices (contextually specific) within which the use of educational technologies (such as interactive radio), are enmeshed. There is need to explicate the details of such practices (instead of adopting a narrow, technical, focus on attributes of interactive radio itself) in order to improve the efficacy of using interactive radio.

Lärares genusmedvetenhet i relation till naturvetenskaplig verksamhet är fokus för denna avhandling, som belyses genom två studier: en longitudinell aktionsforskningsstudie som genomfördes tillsammans med en grupp förskollärare/lärare och en studie där verksamma förskollärare/lärare under en fortbildningskurs fick tillämpa en genusteori på en verklig klassrumshändelse. Studierna visar att genusarbete är komplicerat eftersom det inbegriper många aspekter av livet och en viktig del av genusmedvetenheten är att förhålla sig till dessa olika aspekter. Det är av avgörande betydelse att utmana föreställningar om genus, där utmaningarna resulterar i att föreställningarna blir verbaliserade och därmed synliggjorda. Vidare visar studierna att genom att ta avstamp i feministisk vetenskapskritik och pedagogik kan ett alternativt sätt att förhålla sig till lärande och undervisning i naturvetenskap bli möjligt. För lärare som inte har en naturvetenskaplig bakgrund, men som ska genomföra aktiviteter eller undervisa i ämnena, blir de didaktiska och pedagogiska kompetenser de redan besitter en startpunkt för att utveckla sina ämnesdidaktiska förmågor. Kompetensutveckling med ett feministiskt anslag kan ge lärarna ”empowerment” som medför att de känner större delaktighet i den naturvetenskapliga praktiken och därmed kan bidra till att utveckla såväl dess kultur som kunskapsstoffet. Avhandlingen ger också nya metodologiska kunskapsbidrag om aktionsforskning. Ett resultat är att tid är en viktig faktor som man måste ta hänsyn till beroende på vilken förändring man vill åstadkomma. Forskaren som deltar i aktionsforskningen som en ”outsider” har en viktig funktion genom att kunna överblicka processen samt uppmärksamma och använda sig av kritiska händelser för att driva förändringsarbetet framåt. / The main focus in this thesis is teachers’ gender awareness related to scientific practice. The thesis is based on two different empirical studies: a longitudinal action research study together with a group of teachers (K-6) and a study during an in-service development course where experienced teachers applied gender theory on a real classroom situation, a case. The studies show that working with gender is complicated and comprises of many aspects of human life. An important part of gender awareness is to be able to relate to these aspects. A question of vital importance is to challenge conceptions of gender in such a way that the conceptions will be verbalized and thereby visualized. Moreover, the studies show that feminist pedagogy and theory of science can lead to a new approach to teaching and learning in science. For teachers without any background in science, there are other competences than just subject matter knowledge that are vital for teaching. Feminist perspectives in professional development reinforce teachers’ pedagogical competences and their pedagogical content knowledge and thereby make these teachers feel they participate in the scientific practice and contribute in developing both the stuff of knowledge and its culture. The thesis also contributes to new methodological knowledge about action research. One of the results is that time is an important factor to take into consideration depending on what kind of change you want to receive. The researcher engaged in action research as an "outsider" has an important function in order to monitor the process and pay attention and use critical events to drive the change process forward.

An investigation into the extent to which rural black primary school teachers of English in Kwazulu-Natal have been exposed to a culture of reading in general and, more particularly, their perceptions of the value of proficiency in reading English. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1999.

This research study is an examination of teacher engagement in pedagogy in the foundation phase, within the context of a literacy learning programme. The study explores what teachers know and do in foundation phase classrooms and how this impacts on learner performance. The study aims to identify areas of pedagogy that need to be strengthened so that all South African learners can compete with others, not only at national level (systemic evaluations), but also at international level in tests such as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and Progress in Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). The critical question of the study was: How do teachers‟ engagements in pedagogy influence their practice in the literacy learning programmes of selected foundation phase classes in KwaZulu-Natal? It is expected that the findings of my study will stimulate discussions on teacher development and classroom practices for improved learner performance. The research was conducted in three schools in urban KwaZulu-Natal. For purposes of confidentiality and anonymity, the exact location and names of the schools have not been indicated. These schools were selected on the basis of convenience sampling and are within close proximity of each other. Since teachers were the unit of study, learners were only involved as far as their participation in normal classroom lessons was concerned and where samples of their work were examined. This study is located in the interpretive paradigm. An interpretive approach allows me the flexibility to describe, make sense of and interpret teacher engagement in pedagogy within the literacy learning programme. A qualitative research method has been employed and involves the use of case studies as a means to gather information. First, individual face-to- face interviews were held with teachers; then literacy lessons in progress were observed, and finally, documents that the teachers used in planning, preparation and delivery of lessons were examined. Samples of learners‟ work were also examined. Results of the studies on teacher engagement in pedagogy revealed that teachers had followed the Foundations for Learning documents so religiously that they had neglected the essential components of pedagogy, namely the use of appropriate teaching strategies, creating of appropriate learning environments, establishing conducive learning climates, monitoring learners‟ achievements and giving feedback, and use of learner and teacher support materials. Arising from these findings, recommendations are made for these essential components to be considered when engaging in pedagogy for Foundation Phase learners. This study concludes with the recommendation of a teacher engagement model labeled The Teacher Engagement for Learner Improvement Model. This model focuses on improving learner performance and is built around the six interconnected components of pedagogy. The model suggests that the level of learners' achievements will improve as the level of teachers' engagement with these components increases. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.