The subject of teacher competencies or knowledge has been a key issue in mathematics education reform. This study attempts to identify and analyze teacher competencies necessary in the orchestration of a problem-centred approach to dynamic geometry teaching and learning. The advent of dynamic geometry environments into classrooms has placed new demands and expectations on mathematics teachers. In this study the Teacher Development Experiment was used as the main method of investigation. Twenty third-year mathematics major teachers participated in workshop and microteaching sessions involving the use of the Geometer's Sketchpad dynamic geometry software in the teaching and learning of the geometry of triangles and quadrilaterals. Five intersecting categories of teacher competencies were identified: mathematical/geometrical competencies. pedagogical competencies. computer and software competences, language and assessment competencies. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Ed. (Mathematical Education)

In 2006 South Africans celebrated the twelfth anniversary of a democratic South African. A paradigm shift in education was a prerequisite and the government introduced an inclusive education system. The aim of this investigation was to make a contribution to the understanding of educational needs of learners who experience barriers to learning and to provide guidelines on how to support them. This research will however attempt to examine how educators manage inclusion in the classroom, their competencies and the strategies they need to be competent inclusive teachers. The data is based on focused group interviews, observation and document analysis. The researcher selected Maloka primary school as the research site. The subjects that were chosen were 2 Grade 5 classrooms and 6 educators. The main themes identified in the interviews were among others availability of resources, strategies need and problems encountered in teaching inclusive classes. The conclusion reached is that inclusive education is here to stay so the Department of Education and all other stakeholders should join hands and make it work. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

In 2006 South Africans celebrated the twelfth anniversary of a democratic South African. A paradigm shift in education was a prerequisite and the government introduced an inclusive education system. The aim of this investigation was to make a contribution to the understanding of educational needs of learners who experience barriers to learning and to provide guidelines on how to support them. This research will however attempt to examine how educators manage inclusion in the classroom, their competencies and the strategies they need to be competent inclusive teachers. The data is based on focused group interviews, observation and document analysis. The researcher selected Maloka primary school as the research site. The subjects that were chosen were 2 Grade 5 classrooms and 6 educators. The main themes identified in the interviews were among others availability of resources, strategies need and problems encountered in teaching inclusive classes. The conclusion reached is that inclusive education is here to stay so the Department of Education and all other stakeholders should join hands and make it work. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The subject of teacher competences or knowledge has been a key issue in mathematics education reform. This study attempts to identify and analyze teacher competences necessary in the orchestration of a problem-centred approach to dynamic geometry teaching and learning. The advent of dynamic geometry environments into classrooms has placed new demands and expectations on mathematics teachers. In this study the Teacher Development Experiment was used as the main method of investigation. Twenty third-year mathematics major teachers participated in workshop and microteaching sessions involving the use of the Geometer’s Sketchpad dynamic geometry software in the teaching and learning of the geometry of triangles and quadrilaterals. Five intersecting categories of teacher competences were identified: mathematical/geometrical competences, pedagogical competences, computer and software competences, language and assessment competencies. / Mathematics Education / M. Ed. (Mathematics Education)

Primary school teaching and learning, and indeed the whole teaching profession continue to be shaped by the ever – changing knowledge economy and global educational trends. To this end, professional teacher development in Zimbabwean primary schools has become an important focus area in terms of how it can facilitate and contribute to effective teaching and learning in line with the new educational developments. There is consensus among primary school stakeholders that the success of teaching and learning is dependent on promoting an efficient and student - needs driven in – service programme. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of the university B.Ed (primary) in – service teacher development programme in its mandate to fulfill the critical function to develop primary school teachers with knowledge, skills and competencies for the Zimbabwean primary education system. The imperative has been for the university in – service programme to offer competences and skills that are needed by primary school teachers and for these teachers to upgrade and update their skills for effective teaching and student learning. The theoretical approach that informed the study was Vygotsky’s Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) with its main perspective being that knowledge is socially constructed and takes place in real contexts. The study ontology was interpretivism in which the qualitative single case study design was employed. The data were collected through semi - structured interviews with the Chairperson and five lecturers of the Curriculum Studies Department and focus group discussion in respect of ten B.Ed (primary) in – service student teachers. The participants were purposefully sampled taking into account their knowledge and experience with the in – service programme and primary school teaching - learning contexts. The study found that the B.Ed (primary) in – service programme had minimal influence on primary school teachers’ teaching and learning needs. The programme had not fully addressed the primary school teachers’ expectations in terms of imparting knowledge and skills useful for classroom teaching and learning. One of the major contributory factors was that there were curriculum design frailties of the programme which were as a result of lack of dialogue, engagement and consultation between and among important primary school education stakeholders especially in – service teachers. As a result, the programme had not adequately raised the teachers’ knowledge and skills in the critical areas of their practice, yet this was the core function of the programme. From the findings, the study recommends that the University sets up a strong Curriculum Development Department funded and staffed with experts in research and curriculum design and development. These should manage the designing and preparation of curriculum documents by involving primary school stakeholders, especially primary school teachers. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / Ph. D. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)