In the climate of poor student achievement and a lack of skilled teachers in natural science and mathematics, the main research question of this study was: How can the professional development of primary school teachers be managed by means of action research? The aim of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a site-based collaboration programme to promote the professional development of the teachers in these subjects within a home-based or semi home-based teaching context. The theory of situated learning within a community of practice (CoP) was used as conceptual framework. Purposeful and convenient sampling was implemented to select participants. Five grade 4 teachers, five grade 5 teachers, four grade 6 teachers and eight members of the school management team participated in the three year study. During the planning phase a needs analysis was done. During the action phase, lead teachers were responsible for the planning in one or two subjects. The teachers met once every six school days (about 30 meetings per year), for up to two hours to discuss content and methodological issues, plan assessment strategies, analyse and reflect on results and decide on intervention strategies. The grade 4, 5 and 6 groups completed six, four and two action research cycles respectively, and the school management team six action research cycles of about six months each. To evaluate the professional development that resulted, data collection was by means of observation, field notes, typed minutes, four focus groups, 12 individual interviews, teachers’ files, a questionnaire and students’ books and achievements. The results indicate that the professional development of primary school teachers could be managed and constantly improved by means of action research. When school managers organise teachers into communities of practice and implement action research cycles, the teachers learn in a context-sensitive way. This learning is characterised by two social stages involving participation in the subject and grade CoP, and an independent stage of personal involvement when teachers internalise knowledge and practices of other teachers. The professional development of the teachers was in the areas of content knowledge, pedagogic content knowledge, assessment literacy and professional attitudes. Student achievement improved. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Mentorship as a tool to develop the pedagogical and content knowledge of inservice teachers, regardless of experience, is a field in education which has gained popularity worldwide. The review of literature however, provided evidence that mentoring in education has primarily focused on the benefits received by novice teachers and not experienced teachers. Areas addressed in the literature review include the important role of continuous professional development programmes in the improvement of the teachers’ classroom practices and by inference, their learners’ achievements. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences and understandings of seven experienced natural science teachers as mentees in a professional development programme (the ILLS project). Through the use of a qualitative case study approach, I examined the activities that supported the development of the participants as they interacted with the guided support of a mentor teacher, and aimed to understand how the mentees made sense of their experiences in this mentoring relationship. The activities included lesson-planning, classroom observations and reflection meetings and the professional development support, through mentoring, was embedded on-site and in-context. This research revealed that the mentee teachers were motivated by the opportunity to enhance their professional growth through the support of a mentor. The teachers also perceived that their subject content and pedagogical knowledge were enriched by participating in the mentoring process. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

In the climate of poor student achievement and a lack of skilled teachers in natural science and mathematics, the main research question of this study was: How can the professional development of primary school teachers be managed by means of action research? The aim of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a site-based collaboration programme to promote the professional development of the teachers in these subjects within a home-based or semi home-based teaching context. The theory of situated learning within a community of practice (CoP) was used as conceptual framework. Purposeful and convenient sampling was implemented to select participants. Five grade 4 teachers, five grade 5 teachers, four grade 6 teachers and eight members of the school management team participated in the three year study. During the planning phase a needs analysis was done. During the action phase, lead teachers were responsible for the planning in one or two subjects. The teachers met once every six school days (about 30 meetings per year), for up to two hours to discuss content and methodological issues, plan assessment strategies, analyse and reflect on results and decide on intervention strategies. The grade 4, 5 and 6 groups completed six, four and two action research cycles respectively, and the school management team six action research cycles of about six months each. To evaluate the professional development that resulted, data collection was by means of observation, field notes, typed minutes, four focus groups, 12 individual interviews, teachers’ files, a questionnaire and students’ books and achievements. The results indicate that the professional development of primary school teachers could be managed and constantly improved by means of action research. When school managers organise teachers into communities of practice and implement action research cycles, the teachers learn in a context-sensitive way. This learning is characterised by two social stages involving participation in the subject and grade CoP, and an independent stage of personal involvement when teachers internalise knowledge and practices of other teachers. The professional development of the teachers was in the areas of content knowledge, pedagogic content knowledge, assessment literacy and professional attitudes. Student achievement improved. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Thesis (MPhil (Information Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are in the era where Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are increasingly becoming as common as desks and chalkboard in our classrooms. Government, students, parents and the community at large are now expecting ICTs to be integrated in the school curriculum and to be used as tools of instruction.

Gender stereotyping is a phenomenon found in all spheres of life. School children often have to bear the brunt of these prescribed roles and stereotypes. This study includes a literature review of the characteristics of a professional educator as well as the theoretical background on gender issues. It employed Participatory Action Research as a strategy with the aim to empower teachers to improve their classroom practice, and ultimately, to improve the teaching-learning dynamics for learners in the science and technology classrooms. The participants, who are science and technology teachers, are vastly different people whose one common goal it was to empower themselves and to change their classroom practice on a continuous basis. The study looks at some of the beliefs these teachers now hold after the intervention for promoting gender equality in the classroom. Science and technology are the domains of historically male-dominated fields, and by means of this study I aim to equalise the learning opportunities for both boys and girls. / Comparative Education / M. Ed. (Comparative Education)

Mentorship as a tool to develop the pedagogical and content knowledge of inservice teachers, regardless of experience, is a field in education which has gained popularity worldwide. The review of literature however, provided evidence that mentoring in education has primarily focused on the benefits received by novice teachers and not experienced teachers. Areas addressed in the literature review include the important role of continuous professional development programmes in the improvement of the teachers’ classroom practices and by inference, their learners’ achievements. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences and understandings of seven experienced natural science teachers as mentees in a professional development programme (the ILLS project). Through the use of a qualitative case study approach, I examined the activities that supported the development of the participants as they interacted with the guided support of a mentor teacher, and aimed to understand how the mentees made sense of their experiences in this mentoring relationship. The activities included lesson-planning, classroom observations and reflection meetings and the professional development support, through mentoring, was embedded on-site and in-context. This research revealed that the mentee teachers were motivated by the opportunity to enhance their professional growth through the support of a mentor. The teachers also perceived that their subject content and pedagogical knowledge were enriched by participating in the mentoring process. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

Acompanha produto:"Pegada ecológica do lixo" / A Educação Ambiental de forma transversal no currículo escolar contribui para contextualização do ensino. Além da ótima receptividade, as discussões dos temas ambientais trazem para o Ensino de Ciências contribuições que permitem despertar o sentido de pertencimento e tomada de responsabilidade em relação ao meio ambiente. Nessa dissertação o objetivo foi analisar o desenvolvimento crítico, analítico e científico de estudantes do 6ºano do Ensino Fundamental do Colégio Estadual Júlia Wanderlei, de Curitiba-PR. Para isso foi desenvolvido um Recurso Educacional Aberto com o tema “Pegada Ecológica do Lixo” e aplicado numa Sequência Didática para uso nas aulas de Ciências com enfoque na Educação Ambiental. A metodologia da pesquisa foi qualitativa na modalidade pesquisa participante. Os dados foram coletados através da aplicação de um questionário inicial antes da aplicação da Sequência Didática e outro depois. A análise dos dados teve como método a Análise de conteúdo onde se constatou no questionário inicial pouco ou quase inexistente alfabetização científica relacionada à temática estudada, além de uma crítica moderada, carente de argumentos e pouco analítica quanto à problemática do lixo. O questionário final permitiu verificar que as discussões acerca da Educação Ambiental de forma contextualizada no Ensino de Ciências possibilitaram a sensibilização dos estudantes quanto ao Meio Ambiente evidenciando suas potencialidades, suscitando a adoção de posturas pessoais e comportamentos sociais construtivos, colaborando para a construção de um ambiente saudável. Pôde-se concluir que é preciso inserir a Educação Ambiental no currículo escolar e no Ensino de Ciências de forma contextualizada e romper com práticas isoladas e pontuais e com a Educação mecanicista e conservadora, visto que o desenvolvimento de ações integradas e participativas potencializa as discussões que emergem das relações entre os seres humanos, sociedade e natureza. Além disso, a sensibilização dos estudantes quantos aos problemas da geração e destino do lixo os tornam em cidadãos críticos, analíticos e conhecedores das ciências, sendo ativos na preservação do Meio Ambiente. / Environmental Education across the school curriculum contributes to the contextualization of education. Besides the great receptivity, the discussions of the environmental themes bring to Science Education contributions that allow awakening the sense of belonging and taking responsibility in relation to the environment. In this dissertation the objective was to analyze the critical, analytical and scientific development of students from the 6th grade of Elementary School of the Júlia Wanderlei State College, Curitiba-PR. For this, an Open Educational Resource with the theme "Garbage Ecological Footprint" was developed and applied in a Didactic Sequence for use in Science classes focusing on Environmental Education. The research methodology was qualitative in the participant research modality. The data were collected through the application of an initial questionnaire before the application of the Didactic Sequence and another one afterwards. The analysis of the data had as a method Content analysis where the initial questionnaire found little or almost no scientific literacy related to the subject studied, as well as a moderate criticism, lacking in arguments and little analytical regarding the problem of garbage. The final questionnaire allowed us to verify that the discussions about Environmental Education in a contextualized way in Science Teaching made it possible to raise students' awareness about the Environment, highlighting their potentialities, leading to the adoption of personal postures and constructive social behaviors, collaborating to construct an environment healthy. It could be concluded that it is necessary to insert Environmental Education in the school curriculum and in the teaching of science in a contextualized way and to break with isolated and punctual practices and with the mechanistic and conservative Education, since the development of integrated and participative actions potentiates the discussions that emerge from the relationships between human beings, society and nature. In addition, the students' awareness of the problems of the generation and destination of garbage make them critical, analytical and knowledgeable citizens of the sciences, being active in the preservation of the Environment.

Acompanha produto:"Pegada ecológica do lixo" / A Educação Ambiental de forma transversal no currículo escolar contribui para contextualização do ensino. Além da ótima receptividade, as discussões dos temas ambientais trazem para o Ensino de Ciências contribuições que permitem despertar o sentido de pertencimento e tomada de responsabilidade em relação ao meio ambiente. Nessa dissertação o objetivo foi analisar o desenvolvimento crítico, analítico e científico de estudantes do 6ºano do Ensino Fundamental do Colégio Estadual Júlia Wanderlei, de Curitiba-PR. Para isso foi desenvolvido um Recurso Educacional Aberto com o tema “Pegada Ecológica do Lixo” e aplicado numa Sequência Didática para uso nas aulas de Ciências com enfoque na Educação Ambiental. A metodologia da pesquisa foi qualitativa na modalidade pesquisa participante. Os dados foram coletados através da aplicação de um questionário inicial antes da aplicação da Sequência Didática e outro depois. A análise dos dados teve como método a Análise de conteúdo onde se constatou no questionário inicial pouco ou quase inexistente alfabetização científica relacionada à temática estudada, além de uma crítica moderada, carente de argumentos e pouco analítica quanto à problemática do lixo. O questionário final permitiu verificar que as discussões acerca da Educação Ambiental de forma contextualizada no Ensino de Ciências possibilitaram a sensibilização dos estudantes quanto ao Meio Ambiente evidenciando suas potencialidades, suscitando a adoção de posturas pessoais e comportamentos sociais construtivos, colaborando para a construção de um ambiente saudável. Pôde-se concluir que é preciso inserir a Educação Ambiental no currículo escolar e no Ensino de Ciências de forma contextualizada e romper com práticas isoladas e pontuais e com a Educação mecanicista e conservadora, visto que o desenvolvimento de ações integradas e participativas potencializa as discussões que emergem das relações entre os seres humanos, sociedade e natureza. Além disso, a sensibilização dos estudantes quantos aos problemas da geração e destino do lixo os tornam em cidadãos críticos, analíticos e conhecedores das ciências, sendo ativos na preservação do Meio Ambiente. / Environmental Education across the school curriculum contributes to the contextualization of education. Besides the great receptivity, the discussions of the environmental themes bring to Science Education contributions that allow awakening the sense of belonging and taking responsibility in relation to the environment. In this dissertation the objective was to analyze the critical, analytical and scientific development of students from the 6th grade of Elementary School of the Júlia Wanderlei State College, Curitiba-PR. For this, an Open Educational Resource with the theme "Garbage Ecological Footprint" was developed and applied in a Didactic Sequence for use in Science classes focusing on Environmental Education. The research methodology was qualitative in the participant research modality. The data were collected through the application of an initial questionnaire before the application of the Didactic Sequence and another one afterwards. The analysis of the data had as a method Content analysis where the initial questionnaire found little or almost no scientific literacy related to the subject studied, as well as a moderate criticism, lacking in arguments and little analytical regarding the problem of garbage. The final questionnaire allowed us to verify that the discussions about Environmental Education in a contextualized way in Science Teaching made it possible to raise students' awareness about the Environment, highlighting their potentialities, leading to the adoption of personal postures and constructive social behaviors, collaborating to construct an environment healthy. It could be concluded that it is necessary to insert Environmental Education in the school curriculum and in the teaching of science in a contextualized way and to break with isolated and punctual practices and with the mechanistic and conservative Education, since the development of integrated and participative actions potentiates the discussions that emerge from the relationships between human beings, society and nature. In addition, the students' awareness of the problems of the generation and destination of garbage make them critical, analytical and knowledgeable citizens of the sciences, being active in the preservation of the Environment.

This project recommends a professional development model for the integration of language arts and science skills to improve the literacy and scientific proficiency of elementary students, specifically English language learners. The goal is to prepare students to score well on the fluency aspects of the advanced levels of the California English Language Development Test (CELDT).

This study sought to explore the pedagogical practices of teachers in science classrooms. In this study, pedagogical practices are taken as interactions between teachers, learners and learning tasks which aim to promote and facilitate learning of their learners The study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from the senior phase (i.e. grades 7-9) Science teachers. The teachers were purposively selected; two from rural schools and two from urban schools in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Data on teachers’ pedagogical practices were collected using survey questionnaire, focus group interview and lesson observation. The main research question for the study is “what are teachers’ pedagogical practices when teaching science?” This overriding research question was addressed by exploring the specific research questions: 1) how do science teachers teach their lessons? And 2) what informs teachers’ pedagogical practice when teaching science? The null hypothesis for this study was “there is no significant difference between teachers’ qualification and their pedagogical practice when teaching science” while the alternative hypothesis was “there is significant difference between teachers’ qualification and their pedagogical practice when teaching science”. The quantitative data collected by means of structured questionnaires was analysed using a computer package (i.e. SPSS version 22) while the qualitative data collected by means of focus group interviews and lesson observation was analysed using content and thematic analysis. The findings from the study revealed that teachers in the study incorporate in varying degrees learner – centred; and teacher- centred pedagogies in their science lessons. Whilst majority of the teachers in the study expressed a behaviouristic view of learning, which indicates a predisposition to teacher – centred pedagogy in the classroom; however, other pedagogical practices indicated by the teachers and observed in the science lessons are consistent with constructivist or learner – centred pedagogy which suggests strategies that may be used to provide a meaningful learning experience in science. The study further found that there is a significant association between the educational qualification and their pedagogical practice when teaching science in the visited schools; therefore the alternative hypothesis is accepted and the null hypothesis is rejected. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made: i. In service training on subject content knowledge for natural science teachers, especially those without science qualifications so that they can grapple with the subject content knowledge. ii. Science workshops to be organized from time to time to train teachers on effective teaching practices in the classroom. iii. Outsourcing or involving more than one teacher in the teaching of natural science in schools. iv. Equipping of schools with science laboratories so that teachers can carry out science experiments with learners. v. The schools must ensure that only teachers with science qualifications are assigned to teach natural sciences in the senior phase. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / Ph. D. (Education (Curriculum Studies))