Submitted to the department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE) in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Education (Natural Sciences) in the Faculty of Education, 2018. / Teaching strategies support learners in developing knowledge or skills. The teacher therefore needs to have the skills to develop the knowledge and skills of the learners (Killen, 2010). Hence CAPS states that NCS is based on principles including, inter alia, encouraging an Active and Critical approach to learning rather than rote learning and uncritical learning of given truths. Teaching strategies play a role in developing the love of the subject. South African Science teachers are struggling due to inadequate Science content knowledge, pedagogic skills and lack of confidence (Bantwini, 2010 and 2012; Centre for Development Enterprise, 2007 and 2014; DBE, 2013; Muwanga, 2003; Kriek and Grayson, 2009).
The study aimed to explore the teaching strategies that teachers used in Grade 6 in the teaching of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Ngwelezane Circuit schools. The objectives of the study were to identify the teaching strategies used by the Grade 6 Natural Sciences and Technology teachers in their teaching; to explore the views of teachers on the teaching strategies they use in teaching Natural Sciences and Technology in Grade 6 and, to determine the extent to which teaching strategies align to the principles and purposes of the CAPS as indicated in the problem statement. The study employed the Qualitative Research Methodology. The information was derived through the use of survey questionnaires, in-class observation, interviews and document analysis. The study sample comprised of five Intermediate Phase teachers per school.
The findings revealed that telling method, text book and question and answer are dominating in the classes as lessons were conducted, which does not align with CAPS requirements and is promoting passive learning. Teachers are aware of the teaching strategies developing Critical and Active learning as per the responses from the questionnaires and the interviews, but they are not used in class, used to a lesser extent, or not used at all. Lessons were more content based. Very few or no critical learning and problem solving, was developed in learners through active involvement in learning. No proper training was received towards teaching the subject. Other teachers having no background in the subject were mandated to teach the subject by management. The best teaching strategies are those which make the students active participants in the learning process through Active Learning where learners construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experience reflecting upon that experience than through rote learning (Harasim, 2012).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uzulu/oai:uzspace.unizulu.ac.za:10530/1824 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Buthelezi, Bonithemba Wellington, Pillay, R., Mosoloane, R. |
| Publisher | University of Zululand |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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