Ph.D. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways in which Social Network Analysis can be used to enhance the conitinuous professional development of the Mathematics teachers of a secondary school. With this in mind a literature study was first undertaken in order to clarify exactly what is meant by a Social Network Analysis perspective, online social networks and the continuous professional development of teachers. The study was framed in a Multi Method Mixed Methods framework to enable the integration of a Design Based (DBR) study and Social Network Analysis (SNA) in different phases of the overarching research. The purpose of the DBR study was to design and develop an online social network to provide the Mathematics teachers of sufficient opportunities for continuous professional development. The assumtion was made that the online social network will develop into a Learn 2.0 technology if a) it could provide access to appropriate content, b) teachers could use it to develop own professional development opportunities, c) it could provide opportunities for collaboration between the teachers and d) if it could provide opportunities to connect with those teachers who could contribute their Professional Development. This study refers to the ties which were used to enable the flow of information, knowledge, advice, leadership, support, experience and concrete artefacts (documents) as a teachers’ Personal Development Network. From a SNA perspective the personal development networks of the teachers cannot be fully understood without studying the social network in which these ties are embedded. I refer to this network as the Development Network. The development network is at any given point a stable social construct, but it changes as soon as new ties vii are formed or old ties disintegrate. Therefore a Social Network Analysis was done before, during and after the intervention to explore the development network to understand, explain and predict the effectiveness of CPTD. The findings show that DPO.com (the online social network) provided the teachers of sufficient CPTD opportunities and developed during the course of the study into a Learn 2.0 technology. It also shows that SNA provides an effective method to understand and predict the CPTD of the Mathematics teachers.

The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers’ practice either supports or constrains learners’ conceptual understanding. The study is structured within an interpretive paradigm. The research takes the form of a case study and focused on the teaching practice of two purposefully selected teachers who had been identified as being effective/successful practitioners. The data was collected in two stages. In the first stage, qualitative data was collected by video recording six classroom lessons, three for each of the two participating teachers. In stage 2, participating teachers were individually interviewed. In these interviews the two participating teachers were asked to reflect on their classroom practice, through a process of stimulated recall, where their actions seemed to either support or constrain the development of learners’ conceptual understanding. The study identified a number of elements of the two teachers’ practice that related to the development of learners’ conceptual understanding in the classroom. These include building on learners’ prior knowledge, the use of concrete manipulatives, questioning that promotes critical thinking, and the use of multiple representations and connections. The study also identified elements of the two teachers’ practice that had the potential to constrain the development of learners’ conceptual understanding. These include the lack of opportunities for co-operative or peer-oriented learning, the absence of questioning that leads to discussion, and a scarcity of activities that build mathematical concepts through hands-on engagement. The study highlights the need for supporting teachers and helping them strengthen their practice with regard to those activities that support the development of conceptual understanding in their learners.

This investigation is primarily concerned with the In-Service Education and Training (INSET) needs of primary school mathematics educators. The research is grounded in the proposition that in order for senior primary mathematics educators to keep abreast with the current knowledge explosion and rapid rate of technological growth, they are under serious obligation to improve their expertise, knowledge and skills in mathematics teaching and learning through INSET. Pre-Service Education and Training (PRESET) serves only as preparation for entry into the teaching profession and cannot last the whole teaching career. INSET is thus necessary for the senior primary mathematics educator’s continuing education. In this investigation an attempt is made at establishing a framework for INSET and mathematics educators. It is hoped that these theoretical frameworks will enable mathematics educators to cope with the changing needs of senior primary mathematics education. There is no doubt that the developments of senior primary mathematics education and INSET in the United Kingdom can have a profound effect on the senior primary mathematics education in South Africa. The extent to which the developments in the United Kingdom influences the educational initiatives presently being undertaken in South Africa will depend upon those who teach senior primary mathematics and those who are responsible for the provision of INSET of senior primary mathematics educators. The past South African discriminatory policies led to numerous iniquities in the provision of mathematics materials and development of mathematical human resources. Consequently, there is a large number of unqualified and under-qualified mathematics educators especially amongst Blacks in South Africa. It is through INSET that this condition can be rectified. A questionnaire survey revealed that senior primary mathematics educators are fully conscious of the importance and significance of INSET. The recommendations made for the INSET of primary school mathematics educators based on the literature survey and the empirical investigation are: the need to establish a national and provincial policy for the INSET of primary school mathematics educators; there must be a concerted effort to establish school focused INSET; many of the methods of INSET courses emphasizing the participative approach needs to be explored; the value of teachers’ centres as exciting brokers for new ideas and as networks for personnel proves invaluable and finally, pivotal to the INSET of primary school mathematics educators is the need for them to update their in-depth knowledge of mathematics. There is no doubt that the INSET of primary school mathematics educators is a crucial factor in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). It is clear from this research that INSET for both academic and professional upgrading of the senior primary mathematics educators and the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning I the primary school is only limited by one’s imagination. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Humanities Education / MEd / Unrestricted

This thesis was an attempt to better understand what it would take for faculty development decision makers to promote faculty vitality more effectively in British Columbia community colleges. First, it was necessary to examine governmental expectations and objectives for the entire system. Next, a review of the complex terminology used to describe multiple aspects of faculty development was presented. This was followed by an extensive review of the literature on the subject, going back to its early development through to the year 1992. This review revealed the existence of considerable diversity throughout the field. In an effort to somewhat rationalize what faculty development pursuits had come to, a comprehensive model was developed and put to the test with a sampling of decision makers employed at two-year institutions. The model served as a base for the development of an integrated questionnaire which featured an elaborated checklist of potential faculty development activities. Respondents were asked to provide strategic as well as operational information as it related to the developmental needs of regular full-time faculty members. The study's inductive findings supported the model well, enabling an analysis of its implications regarding theory, research, and practice. / Education, Faculty of / Educational Studies (EDST), Department of / Graduate

This study of science teachers in a Philippine state school explored the potential of group discussions as a learning landscape considering, in particular, how sharing of teaching experiences may contribute to professional growth. The study was conducted from July 1997 to January 1998. The main objectives were to gain an understanding of the influence of social interactions in improving the practice of individual teachers; and to explore how Filipino culture affects the interaction process. The setting of the study was the science department at a state school (K-10) in the Philippines. A discussion group was established to explore how teacher interaction might serve to raise awareness and shape classroom practice. The group discussions and individual interviews were videotaped and audiotaped, respectively. Group discussion as an intervention of the study provided an opportunity to examine how certain Filipino cultural traits and traditions may influence the participation of teachers in the interaction process. Qualitative analyses of the data provided information about the nature, value, benefits, and constraints of group discussions in learning to teach. The findings suggest that improvement in teaching is a collective rather than an individual enterprise and that teaching happens best in concert with colleagues (Rosenholtz, 1989); that collaboration is linked with norms and opportunities for continuous improvement and career-long learning (Fullan, 1991); that by interacting collaboratively, strengths can be maximized, weaknesses can be minimized, and the result will be better for all (Friend & Cook, 1992); that a learning forum free from traditional restraints is instructive (Krupnick, 1997); and that the field of education needs to capitalize on the knowledge of teachers who know about education as few others do (Duckworth, 1997). The researcher argues that Filipino culture plays a significant role in the dynamics of interaction occurring during group discussions. Recognizing and identifying this role is important if we wish to provide the teachers with the support, reassurance, and strength that their school and work demand. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

M.Ed. (Educational Management) / Contented, motivated and well-trained subject teachers are a basic requirement for the effective functioning of the Department of Economic Sciences. Within this department the quality of the in-service training provided by the Head of Department will be a high priority. A prerequisite for the successful accomplishment of his task as in service trainer and developer of staff members is, amongst other things, the managerial application of in-service training strategies. In this education environment, the Head of Department finds himself in a prescribed management, leadership and trainer situation. Though he has not been formally trained for this delegated task of in-service training, he is directly involved in personnel management. It is clear, however, that in most organisations in-service training and staff development do not receive the required attention from those in leadership positions. Moreover, some Heads of Department experience difficulty in practicing effective leadership and guidance because of a lack of management expertise. In order to ensure both quality teaching in his department and efficient execution of his in-service training task he has to apply managerial skills. Thus this investigation proves that the Head of Department should not only be professionally equipped, but should also possess certain managerial skills in order to be able to undertake the in-service training of his staff. Staff training further indicates the management of people, each with their own unique needs and specific capabilities. It seems that members of staff can be motivated towards better work and self-realization. It is thus imperative that the Head of Department should be informed as to the various theories regarding motivation and that he should apply the principles involved. The investigation also shows that practicing leadership is a critical factor which influences the effective execution of the staff training task. Various approaches to leadership have shown that, although the leadership style may be situation bound, it is the democratic style which creates an open, supportive school climate.

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Ed. (Media Studies) / The twentieth century is characterised by technological development, and even more by electronic development. It is therefore logical that the computer is increasingly used in the labour market and at home. This puts greater pressure on schools to educate and train pupils to attain computer literacy. As it appears that teachers are insufficiently trained to convey these skills, there is a definite need for in-service training regarding computer literacy. The function and task of the media centre teacher are such that he is the most suitable person to present this in-service training. In-service training is non-formal and andragogically grounded. The presentation of in-service training must .therefore be based on specific principles. To be of any value it must be directed at the teacher's professional needs. These needs determine that in-service training may be presented from the macro-, meso- and microlevels. The direct involvement of the media centre teacher in computer literacy occurs at microlevel and it is indicated that In-service training and guidance are related matters. The computer, as an aid and a medium, has qualities which make it useful in education. Although the computer has many advantages as an educational medium, many didactitions object to its being regarded as a super medium. At present there are many limitations which curtail the maximal usage of the computer as an educational medium. The concept of computer literacy is non-static and differs from culture to culture and person to person; consequently a variety of knowledge and skills is needed for computer literacy. An effort has, however, been made to identify the generally valid knowledge and skills. A model of the guidance activity, as a teaching skill, has been applied to computer usage. The given reference framework and guidance activity are followed by guidelines for the media center teacher's androgenic guidance task regarding computer literacy.

D.Ed. (Education Science) / In this study the realisation of practical evaluation in Distance Education Institutions was researched. The goal of this study is to set guidelines for a unique teaching model, or an in-service training model for teachers by means of distance education. The research is relevant to Vista University's Campus for Further Training ...

M.Ed. / Education is South Africa is characterized by ineffective teaching practices that prevent the pupils from learning in a meaningful and reasonably satisfying way.. Ostensive methods of teaching that prevent pupil participation are emphasized while heuristic methods are disregarded, and in the process, concept teaching is neglected. To solve this problem, the following aims have been generated: 1.3.1 Training senior primary school teachers in the teaching of concepts to increase pupil learning This could be a more effective and relevant strategy which could be applied to curb the ostensive methods of teaching used by most teachers as indicated already in par. 1.2 above, as well as poor classroom organization. As Bruner (1967) avers, concept teaching offers the following benefits: "The pupils are equiped with thinking skills which are helpful in the process of discriminating, classifying and categorizing. The ability to categorize data helps the learner in problem-solving and reduces the necessity to re-learn what was previously learned. This refers to all the situations, events and symbols which have the same set of general characteristics." 1.3.2 Provision of in-service training opportunities to limit incompetent teaching This would help to remedy the ills and frustrations brought about the fact that poorly qualified teachers have been given the opportunity to provide tuition to the pupils who defintely need only the best teachers to guide them towards what they ought to be. Because it is not possible to get rid of all the poorly qualified teachers, what could be done is what Bester (1988:5) suggests: "... hef die bestaande onderwysers se vlakke van vaardigheid en bevoegdheid op." An intensive in-service training programme is therefore, suggested as a collaborative effort to improve educational effectiveness. The most urgent of needs identified is the training of teachers in the concept approach to teaching, as indicated in par. 1.3.1. In the process of upgrading the teachers' classroom skills, the pupils' potential to learn effectively have a chance of increasing. Teaching is a multi-faceted process that also involves the pupil. For the pupil to be able to learn effectively, he must be actively involved in the teaching-learning process. As Astin, Green and Korn (1987:15) maintain: "The student has a role to play in the process, too: There must be a commitment and involvement on his or her part for effective learning to happen." The aim of this investigation is not only to provide the teachers with demonstrations and lectures that emphasize theories of how to teach but to focus on the teacher as a unique individual with needs that have to be addressed, someone with strengths as well as weaknesses (Main, 1985;15). In the process of developing classroom teaching techniques and promoting personal development, the ideal would be to encourage peer coaching so as to overcome teacher isolation. Peer coaching, according to Munro and Elliott (1987:25-28), is a method of improving teacher effectiveness, in which teachers work with one or more colleagues to achieve specific instructional goals and key skills, through a process of regular observation and feedback and by using specific materials to support them. Teachers would, therefore, be brought together as fellow participants in a context in which each of them needs to learn about teaching. They meet as teachers and at the same time as 'teachers-as-learners'. 1.3.3 The use of micro-teaching for training purposes In using "... specific materials to support them..." as indicated by Munro and Elliott (1987) the specific material applicable in this investigation is the micro-teaching technique used as a training modality in training the teachers in concept teaching. In so doing, an attempt is being made to come to terms with the root problem linked to teacher inadequacy.