The ongoing debate about the capacity of distance learning (DL) to assist in the development of teaching skills and to improve teaching practice is the focus of many inquiries in the field of teacher education. The practice-based nature of Foundation Phase teaching poses unique challenges for professional development of teachers through DL programmes. In order to address inadequacies identified in the literature and previous research, a practical component was designed and included in the revised version of the Advanced Certificate: Education - Foundation Phase, as part of a bursary project. In 2011 the Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDoE) enrolled 50 practising Foundation Phase teachers for this distance learning programme as the first of three cohorts in the bursary project. A learning portfolio and audio-visual resources, designed according to principles derived from previous research and related literature, formed part of this practical component. The aim was to support teacher applied competence through developing pedagogical content knowledge, self-directedness, and a professional attitude, and through guiding the application of new knowledge and skills in practice. The completed portfolios further served as an instrument for the assessment of teacher performance with regard to applied competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of the practical component of the revised Foundation Phase ACE programme delivered by the NWU via distance learning with specific focus on the way this component facilitates the development of applied competence and the way the portfolio provides for the assessment of professional classroom competencies of practising Foundation Phase teachers. The study further aimed to put forward a model for the development of applied practice based on the findings of the study. In order to attain the aims of the study, the literature was explored to firstly determine the elements which contribute to applied competence in effective teacher professional development programmes. The literature was further explored to determine what the body of scholarship indicates with respect to programme design features that support applied competence in DL programmes for teacher professional development. An implementation evaluation study was then conducted on the programme by collecting data from 50 Foundation Phase teachers as the first of three cohorts enrolled for the bursary project. Data were primarily collected through multiple qualitative methods including a focus-group interview, individual interviews, written expectations as well as open ended questions of questionnaires. Descriptive data were also collected through semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis to determine the theoretical and conceptual implications of the profile and teaching context of the Northern Cape Foundation Phase teacher enrolled for the DL Foundation Phase ACE programme, the expectations of these teachers regarding the way the practical component would support their applied competence in their contexts, and the teachers’ experiences of the way the programme component supported the development of their applied competence. The study further determined the extent to which the learning portfolios interrogate the elements of applied competence. Quantitative data collected through semi-structured questionnaires were statistically analysed and served to support the interpretation of qualitative data. The investigation was approached from a constructivist paradigm; an approach that falls under an interpretivist philosophical orientation. Although quantitative methods were used to gather descriptive statistical data in support of the qualitative data, the study is grounded in qualitative research methodology where the concern is with the formative evaluation of the DL programme component The findings strongly confirm the value of such a practical component as part of a DL programme to support the elements of applied competence. However, the way the programme accommodates teacher profiles and teaching contexts will greatly influence the sustainability of the programme outcomes in practice. The findings further show that the portfolio as instrument for the assessment of applied competence requires careful planning and should provide strong guidance in the reflective process to support sustained outcomes of the programme in practice. A suggested model for a DL programme for the professional development of Foundation Phase teachers is based on the findings of the study. / PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The ongoing debate about the capacity of distance learning (DL) to assist in the development of teaching skills and to improve teaching practice is the focus of many inquiries in the field of teacher education. The practice-based nature of Foundation Phase teaching poses unique challenges for professional development of teachers through DL programmes. In order to address inadequacies identified in the literature and previous research, a practical component was designed and included in the revised version of the Advanced Certificate: Education - Foundation Phase, as part of a bursary project. In 2011 the Northern Cape Department of Education (NCDoE) enrolled 50 practising Foundation Phase teachers for this distance learning programme as the first of three cohorts in the bursary project. A learning portfolio and audio-visual resources, designed according to principles derived from previous research and related literature, formed part of this practical component. The aim was to support teacher applied competence through developing pedagogical content knowledge, self-directedness, and a professional attitude, and through guiding the application of new knowledge and skills in practice. The completed portfolios further served as an instrument for the assessment of teacher performance with regard to applied competence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of the practical component of the revised Foundation Phase ACE programme delivered by the NWU via distance learning with specific focus on the way this component facilitates the development of applied competence and the way the portfolio provides for the assessment of professional classroom competencies of practising Foundation Phase teachers. The study further aimed to put forward a model for the development of applied practice based on the findings of the study. In order to attain the aims of the study, the literature was explored to firstly determine the elements which contribute to applied competence in effective teacher professional development programmes. The literature was further explored to determine what the body of scholarship indicates with respect to programme design features that support applied competence in DL programmes for teacher professional development. An implementation evaluation study was then conducted on the programme by collecting data from 50 Foundation Phase teachers as the first of three cohorts enrolled for the bursary project. Data were primarily collected through multiple qualitative methods including a focus-group interview, individual interviews, written expectations as well as open ended questions of questionnaires. Descriptive data were also collected through semi-structured questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed through content analysis to determine the theoretical and conceptual implications of the profile and teaching context of the Northern Cape Foundation Phase teacher enrolled for the DL Foundation Phase ACE programme, the expectations of these teachers regarding the way the practical component would support their applied competence in their contexts, and the teachers’ experiences of the way the programme component supported the development of their applied competence. The study further determined the extent to which the learning portfolios interrogate the elements of applied competence. Quantitative data collected through semi-structured questionnaires were statistically analysed and served to support the interpretation of qualitative data. The investigation was approached from a constructivist paradigm; an approach that falls under an interpretivist philosophical orientation. Although quantitative methods were used to gather descriptive statistical data in support of the qualitative data, the study is grounded in qualitative research methodology where the concern is with the formative evaluation of the DL programme component The findings strongly confirm the value of such a practical component as part of a DL programme to support the elements of applied competence. However, the way the programme accommodates teacher profiles and teaching contexts will greatly influence the sustainability of the programme outcomes in practice. The findings further show that the portfolio as instrument for the assessment of applied competence requires careful planning and should provide strong guidance in the reflective process to support sustained outcomes of the programme in practice. A suggested model for a DL programme for the professional development of Foundation Phase teachers is based on the findings of the study. / PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The South African Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training (2011a) made a call for the development of mathematics knowledge and practice standards in the foundation phase to serve as guidelines for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in the different higher education institutions. The purpose of the study in hand was to develop draft knowledge and practice standards in the number domain for the preparation of foundation phase teachers (referred to as mathematics knowledge and practice standards). These standards have to be refined and improved in further studies and should in the end serve as knowledge and practice standards for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa. Through a conceptual qualitative research methodology the researcher purposefully collected documents and analysed them through content analysis. The data-gathering process took place in three phases. During the first phase, policy documents with regard to general standards for teacher preparation, written school curriculum documents and mathematical standards for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa, the United States of America, Australia and the Netherlands were gathered. The second phase involved the purposeful gathering of articles, research reports and teacher preparation textbooks with regard to the preparation of foundation phase teachers to teach the number domain. During the first and second phases of data gathering, the documents were analysed according to mathematical knowledge for teaching as described by Ball, Thames and Phelps (2008) and the first draft of mathematical knowledge and practice standards was compiled. During the third data-gathering phase, critical evaluation reports were gathered from experts in the field of mathematics education (including researchers at universities and practising foundation phase teachers). The critical evaluation includes gaps/shortcomings in the draft mathematics knowledge and practice standards, as well as comments with regard to the clarity, applicability and functionality of the document. The draft mathematics knowledge and practice standards (MKPSs) for the preparation of foundation phase teachers include: Standard 1: Common content knowledge – The foundation phase teacher has a clear understanding of the common content knowledge of the number domain. Standard 2: Specialised content knowledge – The foundation phase teacher has a clear understanding of the specialised content of the number domain. Standard 3: Knowledge at the mathematical horizon – The foundation phase teacher understands how mathematical themes in the number domain relate to other themes in the different foundation phase year groups and in other phases. Standard 4: Knowledge of content and teaching – The foundation phase teacher is able to plan lessons and knows how to teach the number domain. Standard 5: Knowledge of content and learners – The foundation phase teacher knows the foundation phase learners and knows how they learn the number domain. Standard 6: Knowledge of content and the curriculum – The foundation phase teacher understands the South African school curriculum, as well as international trends in the school curriculum concerning the number domain. Those experts in the field of mathematics education in the foundation phase who participated in the study all indicated that the mathematics knowledge and practice standards in the number domain have the potential to boost the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The South African Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training (2011a) made a call for the development of mathematics knowledge and practice standards in the foundation phase to serve as guidelines for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in the different higher education institutions. The purpose of the study in hand was to develop draft knowledge and practice standards in the number domain for the preparation of foundation phase teachers (referred to as mathematics knowledge and practice standards). These standards have to be refined and improved in further studies and should in the end serve as knowledge and practice standards for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa. Through a conceptual qualitative research methodology the researcher purposefully collected documents and analysed them through content analysis. The data-gathering process took place in three phases. During the first phase, policy documents with regard to general standards for teacher preparation, written school curriculum documents and mathematical standards for the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa, the United States of America, Australia and the Netherlands were gathered. The second phase involved the purposeful gathering of articles, research reports and teacher preparation textbooks with regard to the preparation of foundation phase teachers to teach the number domain. During the first and second phases of data gathering, the documents were analysed according to mathematical knowledge for teaching as described by Ball, Thames and Phelps (2008) and the first draft of mathematical knowledge and practice standards was compiled. During the third data-gathering phase, critical evaluation reports were gathered from experts in the field of mathematics education (including researchers at universities and practising foundation phase teachers). The critical evaluation includes gaps/shortcomings in the draft mathematics knowledge and practice standards, as well as comments with regard to the clarity, applicability and functionality of the document. The draft mathematics knowledge and practice standards (MKPSs) for the preparation of foundation phase teachers include: Standard 1: Common content knowledge – The foundation phase teacher has a clear understanding of the common content knowledge of the number domain. Standard 2: Specialised content knowledge – The foundation phase teacher has a clear understanding of the specialised content of the number domain. Standard 3: Knowledge at the mathematical horizon – The foundation phase teacher understands how mathematical themes in the number domain relate to other themes in the different foundation phase year groups and in other phases. Standard 4: Knowledge of content and teaching – The foundation phase teacher is able to plan lessons and knows how to teach the number domain. Standard 5: Knowledge of content and learners – The foundation phase teacher knows the foundation phase learners and knows how they learn the number domain. Standard 6: Knowledge of content and the curriculum – The foundation phase teacher understands the South African school curriculum, as well as international trends in the school curriculum concerning the number domain. Those experts in the field of mathematics education in the foundation phase who participated in the study all indicated that the mathematics knowledge and practice standards in the number domain have the potential to boost the preparation of foundation phase teachers in South Africa. / MEd (Mathematics Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014