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

The central focus of this research is the implementation of curriculum innovation: this is examined by looking in detail at one particular innovation, the Schools Council project, Science 5/13, and attempting to isolate factors affecting its use. The research has been undertaken in a sample of those schools who tried out the project materials in the initial trial stages. These schools were contacted a number of years after the completion of the trials to examine the development of the project in the post trial period.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, June 2017 / The language issues in South Africa recently made headlines where inclusive education in respective mother tongues has been the outcry. South Africa has been a democratic state for more than 20 years and still such language inequalities are most prevalent. The issue of language redress to accommodate the country’s educational needs and demographics remains a big concern even at University levels. The focus of this study was to investigate the challenges, concerns, familiarity and understandings of the difficulties that non-technical terms presented to B.Ed. second year University students. This case study explored whether issues with non-technical terms’ science contextual meanings and familiarity in science related fields of study were still persistent at University level. The study was conducted at an English medium South African University, with student demographics coming from mostly urban settings with mixed home language backgrounds where English was highly spoken in school. The data collected in this case study was derived from University students’ responses on a questionnaire to predetermined questions that focused on non-technical terms’ meanings followed by a semi-structured group interview. The findings in the interview with participants gave an indication to their contextual familiarity and understanding of non-technical terms’ science context meanings, with the aim to improving teaching and learning of physical sciences in schools as a preparatory measure for further University studying. Similar to the findings from studies with South African teachers and Grade 12 learners’ (see Oyoo, 2016, in press; Oyoo & Semeon, 2015) which revealed that South African school learners encountered difficulties with non-technical terms presented in the science context, this study revealed that South African University students’ also experience difficulty with non-technical terms’ science context meanings. The main sources of difficulty identified in the study were attributed to the South African language and historical background which contributes to poor vocabulary. Students’ lacked the exposure, and contextual familiarity to the language that these meanings are embedded in. This led to students’ inability to differentiate between non-technical terms’ specific scientific context meaning from terms’ everyday meaning. The lowered exposure to these terms’ actual contextual use inside and outside classroom conversations is a factor that needs to be countered. Students’ acknowledged that explicit meaning of non-technical terms’ science context meanings should have been made when learning science at school. School science instruction needs to pay special attention to details on the context of the word in use as a preparatory measure for University. This claim is more on the fact that, participants acknowledged that familiarity is the major factor to their difficulty based on their different lived experiences. / LG2017

M.Sc., Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011 / Some teachers perceive radioactivity as a difficult topic to teach due to its abstract nature. This topic is included at senior secondary level in the combined science syllabus and is taught for the first time to learners who study physics. This study was carried out to make explicit two teachers‟ PCK (pedagogical content knowledge) on teaching radioactivity and to investigate the role of experience in the PCK of the two physics teachers. Mr Victor had 19 years while Ms Grace had 3 years of teaching experience at the time of this study. I used pre-observation interviews, video recorded classroom observations, field notes, diagnostic test and post observation discussions as data collection methods. The data was processed using Content Representation (CoRe) and Pedagogical and Professional experience Repertoires (PaP-eRs) as methodological tools to document and portray the teachers‟ PCK in teaching radioactivity. The CoRe that helped to give insights into how the two teachers framed the topic of radioactivity was constructed from the pre-observation interview data and video recorded classroom observations transcripts. The PaP-eRs were constructed from video recorded classroom observation transcripts and field notes and they were narratives of the classroom practice of the teachers. I also used the model of Rollnick et al. (2008) to analyse data. This study has not come out clear on total absence of PCK in Ms Grace as a beginning teacher. There are some very good aspects that have been demonstrated by Ms Grace that have not been demonstrated by Mr Victor with reference to the topic specific strategies. Both teachers showed that they had a repertoire of teaching strategies to suit their teaching context. As Mr Victor did, Ms Grace as a beginning teacher employed some effective strategies to suit her learning demands and this indicated that the teachers were able to manifest their well developed PCK when the four knowledge domains that generate teachers‟ PCK were integrated. Pertaining to knowledge of assessment and curricular saliency, there were no observable PCK differences between the two teachers. The study showed that Mr Victor used a variety of representations to teach radioactivity while Ms Grace‟s use of representations was more limited. Through the use of the model of Rollnick et al. (2008), I indicated that Mr Victor had well developed PCK while Ms Grace‟s was less developed with regard to representations used. The manifested knowledge of various representations for Mr Victor was produced from the integrated knowledge of the four knowledge domains in the model. The diagnostic test revealed that Mr Victor had required subject matter knowledge to teach within the syllabus he was teaching. Ms Grace‟s subject matter knowledge seemed fragile. The existence of PCK in Ms Grace implies that both experienced and beginning teachers can learn from each other to improve their teaching.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Education. Johannesburg, 2016 / Argumentation is viewed as an important pedagogical tool that is central to the teaching and learning of science. Research has shown argumentation as one of the pedagogical practices that promote meaningful learner talk and engagement. In South Africa, most such research has been carried out in high schools and universities on tutored ability in argumentation. There is no research on untutored learner ability in argumentation in primary school science. This study sought to address this gap by determining untutored learner argumentation in science in a Gauteng primary school. I wanted to establish whether and how untutored learners argue and the nature of their arguments. I also wanted to examine the evidence that they give to support assertions. I observed learner interactions in my two Grade 7 science classes through small group discussions and whole class discussions. All the participants were from a public primary school in Gauteng. These learners were untutored (had not been taught) in argumentation, but as their teacher, I had been exposed to argumentation through participation in a masters course. I used qualitative research methodology and drew from Toulmin’s Argument Pattern (TAP) to determine the construction of arguments during the science lessons. I used an analytic frame work by Erduran, Simon and Osborne (2004) which helps to categorize the various components of an argument into different levels. My findings indicated that learners who are untutored in argumentation are able to formulate arguments. Literature has reported that untutored learners in high schools in South Africa present only level 2 arguments. In this study, Grade 7 learners who are untutored in argumentation were able to formulate level 3 arguments in some instances. The study further revealed that some of the learners were able to support their arguments using scientific evidence although most tended to be simple constructs consisting of only data and claims. The fact that they were taught by a teacher, who is tutored in argumentation, may have literature bearing on the learners’ argument ability. Current work in South Africa has shown how untutored teachers do not argue: how untutored learners do not argue: how tutored teachers learn to argue and how tutored learners can learn to argue. What we do not know is how untutored learners argue if they have a tutored teacher. Further research might inform teacher education and classroom argumentation in constrained environments where learners are generally untutored as is the case in many South African classrooms.

A research report submitted by Safura Khan in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Science Education, Faculty of Science. University of the Witwatersrand, School of Physics, September 2008. / This study investigated understanding of measurements by students in scientific activities that are experimentally based. The study focused on grade 12 high school learners in an urban South African School. The majority of these students were second language English speakers. Data were obtained through a written questionnaire given to students, to explore learners’ ideas about data collection, data processing and data comparison, in particular the need to repeat measurements and the implication of the scatter associated with numerical and graphical data. An alphanumeric coding scheme adapted from Lubben et al. (2000), was used as an analysis tool. This included categorising responses into point or set paradigms. The findings of this limited study maybe summed up as follows: There is some consistency in reasoning across the experimental phases of data collection and data processing but it was noted that there is little use of set reasoning. It seems that students had specific difficulties in understanding the role and value of statistical tools in assessing confidence in measurement. By and large the learners in this study did not appreciate the need for error analysis. The overall study suggests that though the correct procedures are followed students have little or no understanding of the factors taken into account during data analysis. The findings show that very few students are true set reasoners; 75% of the students chose to take an average because that is the way it was always done. Students’ views may have been influenced by either exposure to ‘cook book’ laboratory sessions or by the context of the questionnaire which asks for three repeats. The study also shows that students had specific difficulty in understanding the role and value of statistical tools in assessing confidence in measurement (Mc Dermott & Redish, 1999). In conclusion though analysis shows a large percentage of students appear to be point reasoners, they may appear at first sight to be set reasoners. The term average was used by students yet a recurring value was chosen. There is therefore a need to perform experiments in a meaningful context and move away from ‘cook book’ laboratories to appropriate non-traditional laboratory activities, so as to enhance higher order thinking.

A research report submitted to the faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science by combination of coursework and research report. Johannesburg, 2016. / The merits of argumentation for science teaching and learning have been established not just for South Africa, but globally. However, little is known about what both students and teachers understand by argumentation for science learning and teaching. This study aimed to investigate what seventy nine students and two teachers understood about argumentation and to examine the nature of students written scientific arguments. A sample of 79 students from two high schools in the north of Johannesburg, South Africa, was selected to complete a questionnaire that included a single Multiple Choice Question task. Students’ respective teachers were interviewed for their understanding on argumentation. The interviews were inductively analysed to extract themes related on teachers’ perspectives on argumentation. The MCQ task item was analysed using Toulmins Argumentation Pattern as adapted by Erduran et al, to show levels of argumentation. The rest of the questions on the questionnaire were analysed according to my research questions to get students’ understanding on argumentation. Three main findings were found from the study. Firstly, students understand what a good scientific argument constitutes of. They mentioned debates and discussions as an opportunity to engage in an argument. Secondly, teachers demonstrated an understanding that argumentation requires facts and evidence to support claims. Meanwhile, findings also show that teachers value science arguments as they demand students to use evidence, rather than opinions to support their claims. Thirdly, most students struggled to construct levels at a higher level. This meant that most students wrote arguments that consisted of a claim, data/ evidence or a weak warrant. Hence, arguments were at levels 1, 2 and seldom at level 3. Students written scientific arguments revealed that only 24 out of 79 students were able select the correct scientific answer. The remaining fifty students selected the wrong answer and their arguments were based on the incorrect scientific justification that, when a solid substance is in a gaseous phase in a closed system it would have lesser mass, simply because gas weighs less than a solid. This was a common misconception that most students had. These outcomes imply that there is a need to train teachers how to help students write valid scientific arguments, the inclusion of more debates and consideration to ideas as to how students can construct written argument. Lastly, those argumentation practices should assist teachers on how to minimise students’ misconception on the law of the conservation of mass. As such, argumentation can serve as an instruction for learner-centred approach to teaching and learning of science. Keywords: argumentation, written argument, nature of an argument / LG2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Science, School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in partial fulfilment of the award of Master of Science (M.Sc) in Science Education. 6 November 2017. / The gap between theory and practice in education remains a persistent problem identified by some researchers as today’s “Achilles heel of teacher education”. The experience in science education is no different. Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) has emerged as a theoretical construct that offers science education practitioners a framework to bridge the theory-practice divide because of its ability to transform content knowledge. However, little is known about how the complexity of classroom practice influences PCK acquired by pre-service teachers from structured courses. The purpose of this study was to illuminate pre-service teachers’ PCK as it develops from a point of reasoning about teaching a specific topic into classroom delivery. This study was performed as a qualitative case study of 23 final year pre-service science teachers. It was located in a methodology class that had a specific objective to develop PCK in core topics of science. The students were exposed to an explict intervention on developing PCK in teaching stochiometry then placed in various High Schools around Johannesburg during teaching experience. Data collected was largely during their placement in schools. It consisted of qualitative data such as lesson plans, audio recordings of classroom teaching and self - analysis reports submitted after the teaching experience. Analysis was based on a qualitative in-depth method for identification of evidence of teaching segments illustrating pedagogical transformation. These are segments where there is evidence of two or more topic specific components of PCK defined as Topic Specific Content Knowledge (TSPCK). These were called TSPCK episodes. The TSPCK episodes identified in lessons plans and in recorded lessons were analysed for identificaton of components present and the nature of interactions. These were turned into pictorial TSPCK MAPS. The analysis of pre-service teachers’ views on TSPCK were analysed through a combination of open statements and a science teacher belief tool. The findings indicated that TSPCK episodes identified in lessons plans experience an authentic expansion, blossoming into a cluster of episodes which still carried out the original intention. In some cases the intention could be seen through a similar TSPCK episode in some cases the component sequence and identity had changed. Furthermore, pre-service teachers showed positive awareness of their own level of teacher development and credited their development to the TSPCK framework. Recommendations in this report include promotion of the implementation of the TSPCK framework in Initial Teacher Education, particularly in the methodology courses with reference to classroom complexity. / LG2018

Orientador: Wilson Massashiro Yonezawa / Banca: Klaus Schlünzen Junior / Banca: Ana Maria de Andrade Caldeira / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar se o uso de um objeto de aprendizagem (OA) poderia auxiliar alunos do Ensino Fundamental a desenvolverem funções cognitivas sobre a digestão. A escolha do sistema digestório como conteúdo para a construção de um OA reside no fato de que é um assunto de sala de aula e que envolve questões sociais e ambientais, além dos próprios conceitos científicos inerentes ao assunto. A teoria sócio-construtivista de Vygotsky orientou essa pesquisa sobre o desenvolvimento dos conceitos científicos das alunas mediado pela interação com o OA digital. Os resultados mostraram que foi percebido a integração dos sistemas digestório, circulatório e respiratório após o trabalho das alunas com o OA. A metodologia utilizada neste trabalho foi qualitativa, sendo os dados colhidos a partir de observações durante e após as aulas ministradas a alunas da 7ª série do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola estadual de Bauru. Diante dos resultados apresentados considera-se que a tecnologia da informação, mais especificamente um OA digital, oferece um potencial a ser explorado para melhoria do ensino e aprendizagem de conceitos científicos. / Abstract: A contemporary challenge is in front of science education: is it educated students able to realize the relationship between science and technology? This work will show how computer technology can be used as a tool for science teaching. The technology discussed here is a Digital Learning Object about the human digestive system. The students have your own ideas about the digestive system and these ideas are often discussed between teacher and the students. Our finding have suggested that computer technology can create new teaching possibilities. In addition the Learning Object has a significant effect on development scientific concepts. / Mestre

Orientador: Wilson Massahiro Yonezawa / Banca: Ricardo Alexino Ferreira / Banca: Ana Maria de Andrade Caldeira / Banca: Adilson Vaz Cabral / Banca: Aguinaldo Robinson de Souza / O Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia de Materiais, PosMat, tem caráter institucional e integra as atividades de pesquisa em materiais de diversos campi / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho é produzir e avaliar um modelo de produção de programa de TV Digital Interativa para o Ensino de ciências através da utilização de seis referenciais fundamentais: Ensino de Ciências, Objetos de Aprendizagem (OA), Edutretenimento, Storytelling, Animação e TV Digital Interativa. Para tanto optou-se por adaptar um Objeto de Aprendizagem (OA) desenvolvido para o projeto RIVED - Rede Interativa Virtual de Educação (http://rived.mec.gov.br) chamado "Calorímetro" para a TV Digital Interativa. É proposta uma metodologia híbrida entre produção de OA e produção audiovisual voltada para TV Digital que será avaliada qualitativamente através de metologia híbrida entre Estudo de Caso, Avaliação Qualitativa (PATTON, 2003), Avaliação Focada na Utilização (PATTON, 1997, 2002) e Avaliação Por Uso do Processo (Process Use, Patton, 1998, 2005). / Abstract: The objective of this is to produce and evaluate a production model of Interactive Digital TV for Science Teaching through the use of six key benchmarks: Science Teaching, Learning Objects, Edutainment, Storytelling, Animation and Interactive Digital TV. To this end we chose to adapt a Learning Object developed for the RIVED project - Network Interative Virtual Education (http://rived.mec.gov.br) called "Calorimeter" for the Interactive Digital TV. It proposed a hybrid method of production of a Learning Object and audiovisual production focused on Interactive Digital TV to be evaluated qualitatively through hybrid method between Case Study, Qualitative Evaluation (Patton, 2003), Evaluation Focused on Use (Patton, 1997, 2002) and Process Use (PATTON, 1998, 2005). / Doutor