The research problem reflected a lower number of female postgraduate students and academics as compared to their male counterparts within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. A descriptive survey was disseminated to a stratified sample of undergraduate final year students in the disciplines of Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Bioresources Engineering. An online survey was also sent to the nine female academics within the Faculty. The study indicates that the social and academic environment within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal was not a deterrent to female graduates studying further and entering academia. The exam performance of both male and female students was similar and neither the drop-out rate nor failure was due to gender but rather to the choice of degree. An issue of concern to both the student and the academic group was the low numbers of female academics. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

The purpose of this research was to investigate the role that science education can play both in facilitating and in enhancing the delivery of environmental education at South African schools. The theoretical links between science education and environmental education were examined. This was followed by a practical investigation which involves the researcher conducting interviews with educators of natural science in order to determine their perspectives on the relationship between science education and environmental education. The results of the research indicate that science education has tremendous potential for incorporating and enhancing the delivery of environmental education. However, this potential is not being fuIly realised due to a number of limiting factors. It is, therefore, imperative that the education authorities take immediate action to rectify this situation so that the synergy between science education and environmental education comes to fruition. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

A growing body of research has emphasised the social processes by which teachers – who are curriculum policy implementing agents – are trained and supported on how to practically implement policies in the classroom. Yet, little attention has been paid to the factors that influence teachers’ interpretation of curriculum policy and how their understanding of policy implementation influences the ways in which they respond to policies. Some research has already been done on the implementation of curriculum policies in schools, with findings centred largely on the disjuncture between policy and practice. Research has also established that much of what teachers are doing in the classroom does not reflect policy. Although teachers have opportunities to enhance the implementation of policy, there are also factors that negatively influence their implementation of educational policy. This is basically because of the gap between the policy makers and the implementing agents. The lack of a shared understanding between these two stakeholders’ results in a perception of policy as a set of strict rules and procedures meant to be followed by teachers. This study aims to develop an understanding of what influences teachers in their attempts to implement the curriculum policy on environmental education in the classroom. The study further aims to gain an understanding, from the practitioners’ perspectives, of how policy implementation challenges their habitual patterns of teaching and schooling and whether, to them, this implementation seems to threaten the conventional disciplinary curricular structures of fixed timetables and depending on textbooks, and leaves little room for outdoor or hands-on activities. The focus on teachers is motivated by the fact that they are the primary curriculum implementers in schools and as such, are expected to play a significant role in implementing the curriculum according to policy. This study advocates an interdisciplinary approach to implementing environmental education policy in teaching and learning in the Natural Sciences. This entails environmental education becoming part of the curriculum, and being taught as a cross-curricula component. In this context, environmental education will form part of teaching and learning in every learning area of the curriculum for the General Education and Training band of the South African education system. What this means for teachers is that they have to integrate environmental concepts or topics within their respective learning areas, and that they have to follow a learner-centred approach that allows learners the opportunity to become active participants, responsible for their own learning. This implies that, for learners to develop knowledge, skills, and correct attitudes regarding the environment, teachers have to use available, local teaching materials or resources. As the classroom becomes free from traditional teaching styles, learners become active and take responsibility for their own learning. They discuss and share ideas with one another, and the teacher becomes the facilitator of the teaching and learning process. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

This qualitative study explores the factors related to learner performance in Natural Science and to propose remedial measures to improve such performance. The purpose of this research is to deepen and widen understanding of scientific literacy, science concepts, practical work, graphic organisers and visual representations, incorporated into the classroom as instructional strategies to increase learners’ motivation and their learning of science concepts. The natural-science curriculum aims to provide learners with opportunities to make sense of ideas they have about nature. It also encourages learners to ask questions that could lead to further research and investigation. A case study method was used at the research site (school). The Natural science educators’ experiences in teaching science concepts, science literacy, science language and compliance with the requirements of Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements were identified by means of document analysis, focus group interviews and completion of a questionnaire. Results indicated several factors that could affect learners’ performance in Natural Science including inappropriate teaching strategies, overcrowded classrooms, lack of discipline, inadequate conceptual comprehension, lack of laboratory equipment and resources, non-compliance with Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements, and incomplete or unsatisfactory preparation of teachers’ lesson plans. Recommendations and suggestions for further research aimed at addressing the identified factors are indicated. The study concludes with recommendations to improve senior-phase learners’ Natural science performance. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

Empirical research evidences have confirmed the pedagogical power of formative assessment to improve students‟ learning, particularly in science education. Thus, this study investigated science teachers‟ practice of assessment for learning in second cycle secondary schools at East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State. To meet this objective mixed method research design, particularly concurrent mixed method was used. The subjects of the study were all of science teachers in the randomly selected schools. Questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and observation were used to collect the data. From 186 science teachers, 153 teachers properly filled and returned the questionnaire. Moreover, 8 purposively selected teachers were included in the interview and observation sessions. To analyze the quantitative data, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, one-sample t-test, multiple regression, MANOVA, and ANOVA were used. For the qualitative data content analysis was used. The results of the quantitative and qualitative data showed that the practice of assessment for learning in the selected schools was very low. Most science teachers administered tests, home works, assignments, and class works at the end of the lesson to consolidate what they taught and to collect marks, but they did not integrate different assessment for learning methods throughout their instruction for the sake of learning. Teachers mentioned lack of science resources, large class size, shortage of instructional time, inadequate school support, lack of appropriate professional development activities, lack of instructional materials, students‟ and teachers‟ negative perception on formative assessment, teachers‟ lack of knowledge and skill about formative assessment, and large content of courses as major factors for not implementing assessment for learning. Besides, this study revealed a significant relationship between teachers‟ perception and school supports with teachers‟ overall practice of assessment for learning. Teaching experience has also significant effect on the combined practice of assessment for learning, particularly teaching experience significantly affects the collection of learning evidences than other factors. However, class size, subject taught, and teaching load per week have no significant effect on the combined practice of assessment for learning. Moreover, the pre-service and in-service assessment trainings have no significant contributions to the practice of assessment for learning. Therefore, comprehensive and relevant assessment trainings should be given for science teachers on a regular basis to integrate assessment with daily instruction to improve learning. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

Este trabalho de pesquisa teve por objetivo elaborar, aplicar e avaliar as contribuições de unidades de ensino potencialmente significativas (UEPS) para a aprendizagem de conteúdos sobre o corpo humano e saúde, em uma turma de 8º ano, na disciplina de ciências em uma escola municipal de Bento Gonçalves/RS. A metodologia de pesquisa segue uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza aplicada. Quanto aos objetivos, ela é do tipo exploratória. O procedimento metodológico adotado é a pesquisa participante. A análise dos resultados utilizou os dados registrados no diário de bordo da pesquisadora, bem como os trabalhos escritos, produções artísticas e a própria fala dos alunos, os quais, ao término de cada UEPS, foram utilizados para evidenciar se a aprendizagem foi significativa. As atividades desenvolvidas visaram desafiar a transposição dos conhecimentos teóricos em diferentes linguagens que pudessem evidenciar a ocorrência da aprendizagem significativa. A diversidade de estratégias atendeu ao objetivo de realizar uma avaliação qualitativa ao longo do processo. Ao término da aplicação das UEPS, foi possível verificar que esse é um método potencialmente facilitador da aprendizagem significativa e será divulgado na forma de um guia didático, no qual todas as atividades e recursos pedagógicos serão detalhados para que outros educadores tenham acesso e possam utilizá-lo. / Submitted by Ana Guimarães Pereira (agpereir@ucs.br) on 2017-03-20T18:47:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Ariane Pegoraro Nuncio.pdf: 28738358 bytes, checksum: 7503849d406f36093683d764d2da7b3b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-20T18:47:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Ariane Pegoraro Nuncio.pdf: 28738358 bytes, checksum: 7503849d406f36093683d764d2da7b3b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-20 / This research aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the contributions of Potentially Significant Teaching Units (UEPS: Unidades de Ensino Potencialmente Significativas, acronym in Portuguese that means Potentially Significant Teaching Units) for the learning content on the human body and health, in a class of eighth school year, in science discipline in a municipal school the city of Bento Gonçalves /RS. The research methodology follows a qualitative approach applied nature. As to the objectives it is the exploratory. The methodological procedure adopted is the participant research. The analysis used the data recorded in the logbook researcher, as well as written works, artistic productions and speech own students, which at the end of each UEPS were used to show if learning was significant. The activities aimed to challenge the implementation of theoretical knowledge in different languages that could show significant learning. The diversity of strategies attended the purpose of making a qualitative assessment throughout the process. At the end of the application of UEPS, we found that this is a potentially facilitative methodology of meaningful learning and thus deserves to be disclosed in form of didactic guide, so that other educators have access to these methodologies.

Acompanha: Guia didático: cine animação na escola / Este trabalho apresenta a análise e os resultados de um estudo desenvolvido com alunos de uma turma de 7º ano de um colégio estadual público de São João do Triunfo - PR, Brasil, em relação ao tema Cinema e Ensino. O objetivo da pesquisa foi verificar as contribuições de se ensinar Ciências (conteúdo de vírus e bactérias) em um enfoque CTS - Ciência, Tecnologia e Sociedade; visando a Alfabetização Científica e Tecnológica - ACT, utilizando como estratégia didática a produção de Cinema de Animação com a técnica Stop Motion. O Stop Motion é um processo de animação onde é feita a captação de fotograma a fotograma, usando uma máquina fotográfica e uma fonte de luz. A abordagem metodológica foi qualitativa de natureza descritiva com observação participante. Durante o estudo os alunos e a professora de Ciências da turma, participaram de aulas de Ciências com enfoque CTS, pesquisas sobre os temas abordados e oficinas de produção dos vídeos. Os alunos criaram personagens a partir de materiais como massa de modelar, desenhos, recortes de revistas e pequenos objetos, para dar vida e movimento nas animações. Os principais autores que fundamentam esse estudo são: Lorenzetti (2000), Gowdak; Martins (2015), Bazzo (2014), Silveira (2005), Santos e Auler (2011), Chassot (2011), Delizoicov (2015), Fresquet (2013) e Duarte (2009). Ao final do estudo, observou-se que a pesquisa trouxe contribuições para a Educação em Ciências e a promoção da Alfabetização Científica e Tecnológica. Os alunos demostraram mais segurança para falar sobre o tema abordado, mostrando interesse e motivação. Também se percebeu que os alunos analisaram os assuntos discutidos durante as aulas de Ciências de forma mais crítica, fazendo questionamentos e relacionando o conteúdo estudado com suas próprias vidas. Os estudantes se preocuparam com questões como: o surgimento das vacinas, as doenças negligenciadas no país, bactérias na produção de plástico, alimentos que ajudam na imunidade do corpo, entre outros assuntos de relevância para o processo de reflexão e desenvolvimento do senso crítico dos mesmos. / This paper presents the results the study developed with students of the secondary education in a group of the 7th grade of a public school in São João do Triunfo - PR, Brazil, in relation to the theme Cinema and Teaching. The aim of of the research was to verify the contributions of teaching Science (content virus and bacteria) in a STS approach - Science, Technology and Society, aiming at the Scientific and Technological Literacy, using as a didactic strategy the production of Animation Cinema with the Stop Motion technique. Stop Motion is an animation process where frame-by-frame capture is performed using a camera and a light source. The methodological approach was qualitative of a descriptive nature with participant observation. During the study the students and the classroom science teacher participated in science classes with a STS approach, Research on the topics covered and workshops for the production of videos.The students created characters from materials like modeling mass, drawings, magazine clippings and small objects, to give life and movement in the animations.The main authors that base this study are: Lorenzetti (2000), Gowdak, Martins (2015), Bazzo (2014), Silveira (2005), Santos and Auler (2011), Chassot (2011), Delizoicov (2015), Fresquet (2013) and Duarte (2009). At the end of the study, it was observed that the research brought contributions to Science Education and the promotion of Scientific and Technological Literacy. The students demonstrated more confidence to talk about the topic addressed, showing interest and motivation. It was also noticed that the students analyzed the subjects discussed during the science classes in a more critical way, questioning and relating the content studied with their own lives. Students are concerned with issues such as: the emergence of vaccines, diseases neglected in the country, bacteria in the production of plastic, foods that help immunity of the body, among other issues of relevance to the process of reflection and development of the critical sense of the same.

A mini-dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Magister Educationis (M Ed) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / This mini-dissertation describes the difficulties faced by educators who teach Natural Science in Grade 6 using isiXhosa mother tongue instruction. The researcher has investigated how educators dealt with Natural Science terminology when they were teaching Grade 6. The sample consisted of 10 educators from 10 schools in Gugulethu who were teaching Grade 6 Natural Science. The researcher used a focus group interview of 10 educators from 10 schools in Gugulethu. The researcher unpacked the issues of teaching Natural Science in mother tongue instruction, as it was the policy of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). The researcher looked at the measures put in place by the WCED to pilot schools, such as resources and training of the educators. As a researcher I looked broadly and compared educational policies in other neighbouring countries, such as Mozambique and Swaziland, to South Africa. In a purposive sample, one was likely to get the opinions of one’s target population, but one was also likely to overweight subgroups in one’s population that were more readily accessible. Researcher also consulted some literature such as that of Baker, Alexander, Brock-Utne etc. In conclusion, the researcher used exploratory studies for hypothesis generation, and by researchers interested in obtaining ideas of the range of responses on ideas that people had. However, in this study the researcher used the qualitative methods, with a focus group interview, to gather data on the implementation of mother tongue instruction in a Grade 6 Natural Science classes. The findings of the study seem to indicate that learners understand better if they are taught Natural Science in isiXhosa mother tongue. Therefore, recommendations pose a number of challenges to those committed in the implementation of mother tongue instruction in the Western Cape schools.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment/partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Education: in the Faculty of Education at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology Supervisor: Professor Fred Lubben Mowbray, 2012 / Practical work in Science is considered to be an important component of science education. However, teachers in poor schools in the rural areas generally find it difficult to conduct practical work. An outreach project ‘Science for Rural Communities’ was launched to address this problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature and coherence of the project and its influence on science teachers’ content knowledge, skills and classroom practice. The research is situated within a qualitative interpretive paradigm and has adopted an evaluative research design, underpinned by grounded theory as a method of analysis. The use of an evaluative framework normally used for curriculum innovation was adapted for the exploration of impact of the teachers’ professional development project. Teachers reported that they benefitted from participation in the project in various ways, such as increased conceptual understanding of science knowledge, improved practical skills and enhanced confidence. However, there were some inconsistencies identified in terms of project intentions and project outcomes. The suitability of the evaluation framework for teacher professional development programmes is discussed

Acompanha: Manual do usuário do produto pedagógico Projeto Genus / O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a produção de um objeto educacional no formato de jogo didático, intitulado Projeto Genus, que constitui material de apoio e recurso facilitador para a compreensão da Genética mendeliana clássica. Este jogo é o produto referente a mestrado profissional desenvolvido no âmbito do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Formação Científica, Educacional e Tecnológica – PPGFCET – da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR). Parte-se da constatação que a compreensão dos fenômenos hereditários é constantemente referenciada como ponto de grandes dificuldades no ensino de biologia, particularmente o ensino de genética. O Projeto Genus foi concebido enquanto proposta metodológica e elemento motivacional para instigar uma prática de ensino visando à construção do conhecimento científico em contexto que proporciona uma interação de maior qualidade entre alunos e professores, estimulando relações cooperativas. Considerando o aspecto educacional, foram utilizados como princípios pedagógicos norteadores a aprendizagem significativa e as metodologias ativas aplicadas na fixação dos conhecimentos teóricos a respeito da genética mendeliana clássica trabalhada no ensino médio. A dinâmica do jogo inclui elementos que remetem à ficção científica e é inspirada em conceitos de “gamificação”. São apresentadas evidências, a partir da utilização do Projeto Genus em sala de aula, de que o jogo constitui material didático com potencial de ser utilizado em aulas genética, fomentando a interação entre professor e alunos no sentido de promover o protagonismo destes no processo educativo. / This work aims at the production of an educational object based on a game platform, entitled Genus Project. Our objective is to support and facilitate the understanding of classical mendelian genetics. This project is under a Professional Masters’ program in Scientific, Educational and Technological Formation – PPGFCET – at the Federal University of Technology, Paraná (UTFPR). Game platforms constitute important educational objects and motivational strategies to stimulate students’ learning. Games can also be considered as alternative proposals for the teaching of diverse aspects of scientific knowledge; in addition, they provide high quality interaction between students and teachers, encouraging cooperative relations between them. From the educational aspect, we focused on meaningful learning and active learning methodologies as pedagogical principles for the teaching of classical mendelian genetics at high school level. Hereditary phenomena are often pointed out as a especially difficult subject in the learning of genetics. Therefore, the Genus Project was developed in order to present alternatives to overcome those difficulties by establishing a science fiction scenario for the game – which is inspired by concepts of "gamification" – including traditional exercises and problems in genetics. In this way, the game stimulates students’ interaction, and promotes educational strategies to empower students and make them protagonists of their own learning process.