The thesis which was originally undertaken to improve my teaching skills and determine ways of allowing me space to live my academic values also turned out to become the enquiry to investigate students’ learning and study skills. Students and I collaborated in a year-long self-study action research where we were trying different teaching-learning strategies in order to improve our practice(s). Throughout the study I kept a reflective journal and students also reflected in a portfolio of learning their impressions about the new teaching-learning strategies. In addition to these data gathering methods data from students were gathered using chats, observation, and open-ended questionnaire. Data was analysed using a narrative method, reflexivity principle, and grounded theory. There are two major steps I followed in this study which are aimed at improving students’ basic study and learning skills, and my teaching skills. The first relates to action research into student learning at the school of Mathematics Science and Technology (MSTE) at a rural university. The study reveals that: Students have their own different and unique styles of learning, implementing various learning styles afford students an opportunity to find a style that matches their own. The second action step relates to my own self-study research trying different teaching methods based on my academic and personal values. Here, the study reveals that: The best teaching-learning practice is the one developed and agreed upon between the teacher educator and his or her students. These ‘action’ steps were not mutually exclusive – they were conducted in parallel. After the description of developing student learning skills at undergraduate level my reflections on the study followed in relation to theories and methods of teaching-learning and further revealed that what works with one group of students will not necessarily work with another group. The best teacher educator is constantly seeking ways of improving the learning experience of his or her students. The recommendations that teacher educators should become self reflective practitioners and improve their professions using self-study collaborative approach will benefit other teacher educators who are keen to study and improve their practice.

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

D.Phil. / The aim of this research is to determine the state of concept learning and concept teaching in History at Vista University. In order to determine this, the following objectives were formulated: To determine the role of concepts in History. To determine, from a learning-psychological perspective, the importance of concept-learning as a significant part of the process of meaningful learning. To identify factors which influence concept learning. - To determine guidelines for the meaningful learning and teaching of concepts from a didactical perspective. - To illustrate the link between the learning theories and the distinctive nature of History as an academic discipline by means of an example. In order to address the aim and objectives, an extensive and comprehensive literature study was undertaken. The literature study firstly focussed on the various conceptualizations regarding concepts, its value in teaching and learning, its distinctive nature, as well as its general and unique characteristics. The differences between the use of concepts in the Natural Sciences and Social Sciences were highlighted. It was further established that concepts in History have a significant structuring value as well as formative value. For this very reason, the close link between concepts and generalizations in History was elaborated upon. Generalizations in History should however not be equated to laws formulated in the Natural Sciences. Generalizations in History have no control or predictive value, but rather explain historical events by providing detail (local expressions in time, place and circumstance). These local expressions are made up of concepts. Attention was given to the theoretical substructure of concept learning in general by studying the learning theories of Piaget, Bruner, Ausubel, Gagne and Vygotsky. Concept learning was identified as an integral link in the chain/process of meaningful learning.

M.A. (Linguistics and Literary Theory) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This investigation emanates from the realization that Grade 3 children at schools in disadvantaged areas perform poorly in basic mathematics computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The aim of the research was to establish the approaches teachers use when teaching mathematics computation. The qualitative approach, together with the research techniques commonly used with it, namely observation, interviews and document analysis was deemed appropriate for the investigation. The outcomes of the investigation revealed that the multilingual Grade 3 classes made it difficult to assist all children who experienced mathematics problems because teachers could not speak all the other languages that were not the language of learning (LoLT) of the school. Another obstacle that prohibited teachers from spending adequate time with children with mathematics problems was the time teachers were expected to spend on intervention programmes from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) aimed at improving schooling in general. Teachers could not make additional time that could afford children the opportunity of individual attention. With regard to the approach used for teaching mathematics, this study established that the teachers used the whole class teaching approach which is not a recommended approach because each child learns differently. It is recommended that teachers use a variety of teaching methods in order to accommodate all children and also encourage children to use concrete objects. It is also recommended that teachers involved in the SBSTs should consist only of members qualified in the subject and once these children are identified, remediation should take place promptly by their being enrolled (children) in the proposed programme. Finally, this study could benefit foundation Phase teachers in teaching mathematics based on the proposed strategy outlined after teachers’ challenges were identified. The outcome of the study could also be of value to the DBE, especially with curriculum designers. / Early Childhood Education and Development / D. Ed. (Early Childhood Education)

This study investigates how listening, as part of the literacy learning programme is planned for and taught in the grade one class. The data was produced through semi-structured interviews of five participants, who were grade one educators in the urban area of Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal. Findings suggested the many factors that accounted for why some children in the grade one class do not listen and that educators need to plan for the teaching of listening. The researcher examines the use of multiple strategies, such as teaching responsively, including stimulating tasks, reading aloud, creating a purpose for listening, setting the stage for listening and modeling as strategies to teach listening. The study ends with recommendations for the Department of Education to present workshops to educators on the teaching of listening and for module courses at colleges and universities to offer specialized courses on the teaching of listening. The aim of this research which was conducted in the urban area of Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, was to investigate how grade one educators were planning for and teaching listening. During this study, data was produced through semi-structured interviews of five participants, who were grade one educators. Findings of this study suggest that there were many factors that accounted for why some children in the grade one class do not listen. Findings also indicated that educators need to plan for the teaching of listening. / Ed. (Didactics))

The purpose of this investigation was to establish the role of project work in the teaching of biology. Questionnaires were sent to biology teachers and judges of a project competition. Participants of this competition were asked for positive and negative aspects of project work. Teachers indicated that the entire range of objectives of biology teaching can be achieved by project work. Judges of Expo felt that most of the objectives were achieved. Pupils expressed similar sentiments. However, teachers felt that... (a) there were several factors which limited the use of project work as a regular teaching strategy. (b) objectives concerned with inquiry skills, attitudes and values were difficult to achieve in normal classroom teaching. It is therefore, imperative that educational authorities do all they can in promoting project work as a teaching strategy in biology. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Didactics)

<p>This thesis investigates grade seven learners perceived experiences in learning algebra.Things that learners do and say during algebra lessons and about algebra were investigated. The study was done at one of the previously disadvantaged schools in Cape Town, South Africa.The data were collected through observations, a questionnaire and interviews. Observations were made from the day the topic was started in two grade seven classes. Two different teachers taught the two classes. Focus group interviews were conducted, two group of learners, ten learners from each of the two classes were interviewed. Learners devised a number of strategies for solving problems related to sums and differences. The principal learning difficulties experienced by learners in algebra related to the transition from arithmetic conventions to those of algebra, the meaning of literal symbols and the recoginition of structures. It became obvious then that developing algebraic thinking is not necessarily dependent upon algebraic notation and that the presence of algebraic notation says little about the level of problem solving.</p>

<p>The purpose of this study was to investigate grade 12 students conceptual understanding of chemical reaction using fluoridation of public water supply as a practical example of chemical reaction. The study also attempted to find out the effectiveness of concept mapping in facilitation the students understanding of chemical reaction, particularly redox reactions.</p>

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the PhD degree of the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, 2016. / This study compares school based assessments to standardised national assessments in South Africa. The purpose of this research was to understand widespread evidence of a discrepancy in South Africa between the judgements of mathematical achievement made within internal school-based assessments (SBA) and external standardised national assessments (SNA). The study considers the possibility of a mismatch between the design feature rules of SBA and SNA and explores the nature of this discrepancy at a Grade 6 level in three different school settings (suburban, township, and inner-city). The context of the study was characterised by the aims espoused for assessment in South African national policy interpreted in terms of an activity theory-based nested conceptualization of motives, goals and operational activities. Specific interest was directed at how operations or design features at national policy document level come to function as “rules” for SNA and SBA activity systems. The study was then directed towards explanations and findings on discrepancies between advocated rules and espoused design feature rules interpreted from an analysis of artefacts in SNA and SBA. The key artefacts analysed in the study were the Annual National Assessment (ANA) designed by the Department of Basic Education and the internal SBA assessments designed by Grade 6 teachers. The study shows that motives and goals that advocate design rules are inferred from a curriculum implementation discourse, with less emphasis on psychological needs and curriculum standards. The enacted activities are considerably varied across school settings. This is evidenced by lower levels of coverage and range and scope of questions in the township school in comparison to the suburban and inner city schools, even when the local district is a protagonist. Across activity systems, comparative analysis of SNA and SBA artefacts showed that there were critical disjunctures leading to deviations from suggested design features, with the state driven ANA and district mediation tools unable to close the gap. The study concludes with notable theoretical and policy implications for thinking about Grade 6 SNA and SBA activity systems in South Africa.