In South African classrooms a strong emphasis is placed on assessing learners by means of portfolios. Through the utilisation of portfolios it is envisaged that learner growth and development should be enhanced in order for learners to become expert learners who are strategic, self-regulated and self-reflecting. This study aimed to determine how effective the implementation of portfolio assessment presently is, and if necessary, to develop a model that could improve the implementation of portfolio assessment in the Senior Phase, Grade 9 in particular. By means of explanatory mixed method research through the completion of questionnaires by 369 learners and 88 educators, and focus group interviews conducted with 36 of the 88 educators from the Sedibeng West District, disconcerting results were revealed. It appeared that educators are not equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to implement portfolio assessment in order to enhance learner growth and development. Based on the disturbing findings, a model was designed to highlight the processes and components involved in the successful implementation of portfolio assessment. As no evidence of any other model to improve the implementation of portfolio assessment at school level could be located, the contribution of this study lies in the development of a tool that could be utilized by the Department of Education to train educators to become effective implementers of portfolio assessment. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

In South African classrooms a strong emphasis is placed on assessing learners by means of portfolios. Through the utilisation of portfolios it is envisaged that learner growth and development should be enhanced in order for learners to become expert learners who are strategic, self-regulated and self-reflecting. This study aimed to determine how effective the implementation of portfolio assessment presently is, and if necessary, to develop a model that could improve the implementation of portfolio assessment in the Senior Phase, Grade 9 in particular. By means of explanatory mixed method research through the completion of questionnaires by 369 learners and 88 educators, and focus group interviews conducted with 36 of the 88 educators from the Sedibeng West District, disconcerting results were revealed. It appeared that educators are not equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to implement portfolio assessment in order to enhance learner growth and development. Based on the disturbing findings, a model was designed to highlight the processes and components involved in the successful implementation of portfolio assessment. As no evidence of any other model to improve the implementation of portfolio assessment at school level could be located, the contribution of this study lies in the development of a tool that could be utilized by the Department of Education to train educators to become effective implementers of portfolio assessment. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

In South African classrooms a strong emphasis is placed on assessing learners by means of portfolios. Through the utilisation of portfolios it is envisaged that learner growth and development should be enhanced in order for learners to become expert learners who are strategic, self-regulated and self-reflecting. This study aimed to determine how effective the implementation of portfolio assessment presently is, and if necessary, to develop a model that could improve the implementation of portfolio assessment in the Senior Phase, Grade 9 in particular. By means of explanatory mixed method research through the completion of questionnaires by 369 learners and 88 educators, and focus group interviews conducted with 36 of the 88 educators from the Sedibeng West District, disconcerting results were revealed. It appeared that educators are not equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to implement portfolio assessment in order to enhance learner growth and development. Based on the disturbing findings, a model was designed to highlight the processes and components involved in the successful implementation of portfolio assessment. As no evidence of any other model to improve the implementation of portfolio assessment at school level could be located, the contribution of this study lies in the development of a tool that could be utilized by the Department of Education to train educators to become effective implementers of portfolio assessment. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Magister Educationis - MEd / The 1994 transition process provided an opportunity for a massive change in South African society in all spheres, including education. In the previous political era, deaf learners and other learners with disabilities were marginalized by the education system. In particular, there were weak mechanisms in place to ensure that these learners were placed in a system which recognized the many challenges of learners with disabilities, such as their disability needs, the training of teachers for deaf learners, acquiring equipment to support deaf learners, reserving special classes for deaf education, and most importantly, integrating all these aspects into the curriculum. Hence, the transition during the 1994 period provided a chance and an opportunity to address these challenges. / 2023

Mathematics education is a human activity that helps to develop mental processes in order to enhance logical and critical thinking which will contribute to one’s decision-making process and to solve problems (DBE, 2011c). For one to be able to do Mathematics, strategies should be generated in order to solve problems. The performance in Mathematics is very poor and educational researchers have identified various reasons for the poor performance in mathematics. Therefore, South Africa has developed an assessment tool known as the ANA, to determine the learners’ weaknesses in mathematics at national, provincial, district and school level (DBE, 2013). An approach research (in the South African context) was to explore Intermediate Phase Mathematics teacher’s awareness of their metacognitive strategy use. The main purpose of my research study was to understand, to what extent Intermediate Phase Mathematics teachers become aware of metacognitive strategies during an adapted lesson study process. To achieve this purpose, the study aims to investigate the teachers’ awareness of metacognitive strategies before and during an adapted lesson study process. Empirical qualitative research based on a design research approach took place within the interpretative paradigm. Descriptive data was generated by means of semi-structured focus group interviews and a reflective diary was held with double-medium participants who were selected. The data were analysed by means of content analyses which proceeded by using mind maps, where codes and themes were related to the literature. The results show that most of the teachers were aware of the metacognitive strategies, but it can be that they lack knowing when, where and how to use these metacognitive strategies as they do not plan their lessons on a regular basis. Teachers also feel more comfortable when planning lesson collaboratively as they feel that they learn from one another. In conclusion an adapted lesson study could be a positive plan of action to provide teachers with the opportunity to plan lessons collaboratively and reflect on one another’s’ ideas. Teachers can become more aware of their metacognitive strategies when planning lessons in order to implement these metacognitive strategies during their lessons. In this way learners could be empowered to become metacognitive (think about their thinking) and to reflect on their actions which might contribute to their performance of mathematics. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Mathematics education is a human activity that helps to develop mental processes in order to enhance logical and critical thinking which will contribute to one’s decision-making process and to solve problems (DBE, 2011c). For one to be able to do Mathematics, strategies should be generated in order to solve problems. The performance in Mathematics is very poor and educational researchers have identified various reasons for the poor performance in mathematics. Therefore, South Africa has developed an assessment tool known as the ANA, to determine the learners’ weaknesses in mathematics at national, provincial, district and school level (DBE, 2013). An approach research (in the South African context) was to explore Intermediate Phase Mathematics teacher’s awareness of their metacognitive strategy use. The main purpose of my research study was to understand, to what extent Intermediate Phase Mathematics teachers become aware of metacognitive strategies during an adapted lesson study process. To achieve this purpose, the study aims to investigate the teachers’ awareness of metacognitive strategies before and during an adapted lesson study process. Empirical qualitative research based on a design research approach took place within the interpretative paradigm. Descriptive data was generated by means of semi-structured focus group interviews and a reflective diary was held with double-medium participants who were selected. The data were analysed by means of content analyses which proceeded by using mind maps, where codes and themes were related to the literature. The results show that most of the teachers were aware of the metacognitive strategies, but it can be that they lack knowing when, where and how to use these metacognitive strategies as they do not plan their lessons on a regular basis. Teachers also feel more comfortable when planning lesson collaboratively as they feel that they learn from one another. In conclusion an adapted lesson study could be a positive plan of action to provide teachers with the opportunity to plan lessons collaboratively and reflect on one another’s’ ideas. Teachers can become more aware of their metacognitive strategies when planning lessons in order to implement these metacognitive strategies during their lessons. In this way learners could be empowered to become metacognitive (think about their thinking) and to reflect on their actions which might contribute to their performance of mathematics. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Empowerment through proficiency in mathematics could better not only one’s life, but also one’s chances in study and work. The current study is an exploration of what reflection and mathematics confidence entail during mathematics problem solving. Reflections on experiences with mathematics create awareness of the individual’s level of confidence in the social, psychological and intellectual domains. Personal, strategic and task knowledge enhances meaning and promotes the understanding of mathematics tasks during problem solving. The level of mathematics confidence can be described as either fearful or fearless when solving mathematics problems. Reflecting on achievement, with or without fear, is regarded as vital for higher-order reasoning by means of metacognitive processes, moderates mathematic confidence and fosters achievement. Although research in metacognition is increasing, literature involving mathematics confidence and reflection is scarce. The current study explores this link between reflection and mathematics confidence by focusing on metacognitive reflective skills. A mixed-method design consisting of positivist and interpretivist paradigms is employed. Merging of the quantitative and qualitative findings indicates that metacognitive strategies include reflecting on task, personal and strategic awareness. Regulating understanding, planning, monitoring and evaluating during problem solving occurs in accordance with these active internal processes. Mathematics confidence during problem-solving emerges from experiences relating to a variety of contexts involving mathematics. The findings confirm the dimensionality of mathematics confidence and present sources of participants’ mathematics confidence and metacognitive skills as reflected upon. The schools in the sample represent single-gender (all-boys and all-girls) and co-ed schools and findings should not be generalised to all schools. Reflection on metacognitive knowledge and regulation deepens the awareness of the level of confidence and promotes, to some extent, a knowing of knowledge. The study therefore evaluates the role reflection and mathematics confidence play during problem solving in senior phase mathematics. / Thesis (MEd (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Empowerment through proficiency in mathematics could better not only one’s life, but also one’s chances in study and work. The current study is an exploration of what reflection and mathematics confidence entail during mathematics problem solving. Reflections on experiences with mathematics create awareness of the individual’s level of confidence in the social, psychological and intellectual domains. Personal, strategic and task knowledge enhances meaning and promotes the understanding of mathematics tasks during problem solving. The level of mathematics confidence can be described as either fearful or fearless when solving mathematics problems. Reflecting on achievement, with or without fear, is regarded as vital for higher-order reasoning by means of metacognitive processes, moderates mathematic confidence and fosters achievement. Although research in metacognition is increasing, literature involving mathematics confidence and reflection is scarce. The current study explores this link between reflection and mathematics confidence by focusing on metacognitive reflective skills. A mixed-method design consisting of positivist and interpretivist paradigms is employed. Merging of the quantitative and qualitative findings indicates that metacognitive strategies include reflecting on task, personal and strategic awareness. Regulating understanding, planning, monitoring and evaluating during problem solving occurs in accordance with these active internal processes. Mathematics confidence during problem-solving emerges from experiences relating to a variety of contexts involving mathematics. The findings confirm the dimensionality of mathematics confidence and present sources of participants’ mathematics confidence and metacognitive skills as reflected upon. The schools in the sample represent single-gender (all-boys and all-girls) and co-ed schools and findings should not be generalised to all schools. Reflection on metacognitive knowledge and regulation deepens the awareness of the level of confidence and promotes, to some extent, a knowing of knowledge. The study therefore evaluates the role reflection and mathematics confidence play during problem solving in senior phase mathematics. / Thesis (MEd (Mathematics Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Thesis (M.Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / This study focuses on alternative strategies to improve the performance of learners with special needs at Khulunolwazi Primary School, Mpumalanga. In South Africa, learners with learning barriers are taught in mainstream schools together with learners who do not have learning barriers. Some mainstream schools are full/service schools. Full-service schools are expected to accommodate learners with learning barriers in their mainstream classrooms. However, the majority of teachers experience challenges on how to address the learning needs of learners with learning barriers. This is coupled with a lack of resources and inflexible curricula for learners with learning barriers. The research was conducted by interviewing sampled participants teaching learners with learning barriers in the Senior Phase. Data was collected from those participants and through analysis of documents such as results and Support Needs and Assessment (SNA) 1 and 2 from the School-Based Support Team file. The research findings were that teachers lack sufficient training and continued support to identify and address challenges or learning barriers, especially to learners with learning barriers in the Senior Phase. Furthermore, the research revealed that there was minimal support from support structures like DoE, parents and other stakeholders in education. Recommendations for future research were discussed in support of learners with learning barriers in the mainstream setting

Since 1997, curriculum implementation was introduced in South African schools. A timetable was given to all schools to implement C2005 in each grade for each year. The study had attempted to identify major factors that hindered or promoted the implementation of C2005 in two schools in Mpumalanga. A case study was conducted where one learning area, namely, natural science was investigated. Each school was visited for an entire week by the researcher. During the visit, the researcher conducted individual interviews with principal, two science teachers and two focus group interviews composed of five learners. Observations of natural science lesson were made of which two of them were recorded on video camera for further analysis. Practices, which were captured in classes, were compared to Rogan and Grayson (2001) model of curriculum implementation. In the final analysis, the study compiled a profile for each school. Both schools rated poorly (level one) in the implementation of C2005. The capacity to support innovation was poor in one school. The study also found that teachers in their attempt to implement C2005 were actually moving from 'frying pan into fire'. Lack of resources and intensive training was creating stress and making most of teachers want to leave the profession. Recommendations were also provided by the study for short and long-term considerations. / Dissertation (MA (Research Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Psychology / unrestricted