Research-informed development of comprehensible isiXhosa teaching material: the Department of Basic Education Mental Starters doubling and halving unit
- Authors: Booi, Tabisa
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Native language and education South Africa , Mathematics Translating South Africa , South Africa. Department of Basic Education , Translanguaging (Linguistics) , Mathematics Study and teaching (Elementary) South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463680 , vital:76431
- Description: One of the challenges faced by schools that teach in isiXhosa in the Foundation Phase is the impact of nature of language used in the early-grade mathematics classroom. This is the focus of this research study. Despite numerous programs addressing the poor performance in mathematics, a significant majority of interventions are presented in English, creating barriers for learners and teachers using their native languages. While the Language in Education Policy allows for home language instruction in isiXhosa, the translation of materials often contains distortion in meaning and unfamiliar terms, complicating comprehension for indigenous language learners. Motivated by concerns over low mathematics performance, as highlighted in TIMSS (2019), and my personal experiences in teaching Foundation Phase mathematics in isiXhosa at a rural primary school, this study explores the challenges arising from using translated materials. The use of mediating materials in isiXhosa can be hindered by unfamiliar terms and distortion in meaning. For this reason, I adopted a translanguaging approach, incorporating transliteration between English and isiXhosa, especially in mathematics teaching. Grounded in the pragmatism paradigm, this qualitative design research unfolds in an isiXhosa medium primary school in Makhanda. The investigation centers first on document analysis of the Doubling and Halving unit in the Mental Starters Assessment Programme (MSAP) Teacher Guide (in English and isiXhosa), and then focuses on the teaching of two grade 3 classes, in isiXhosa, using the MSAP Doubling and Halving teaching sequence. Two grade 3 teachers and their principal participate as critical friends. The key research questions are: (1) What are the enablers and constraints that are experienced by the teacher during the mediation of the doubling and halving calculating strategies in isiXhosa?; (2) What are the key terms and phrases (vocabulary) needed to teach doubling and halving in isiXhosa?; (3) What are the perspectives and pedagogical insights of the critical friends on the isiXhosa vocabulary that was developed? The research unfolds in multiple stages, beginning with a document analysis of the MSAP using Toury’s Descriptive Translation Studies. Subsequently, I adapt eight lesson starters for doubling and halving, implementing them across two grade 3 classes in a double action research cycle. Focus group discussions with critical friends, aided by video recordings for stimulated recall, provide valuable insights. Data collected throughout these stages are analyzed through the lens of Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural theory, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and potential solutions in this educational context. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Primary and Early Childhood Education, 2024
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Exploring outdoor mathematics learning for conceptual understanding through smartphones
- Authors: Pop, Vuyani Samuel
- Date: 2024-04-05
- Subjects: Mathematics Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa Lejweleputswa District Municipality , Educational technology , Mobile communication systems in education , Math walk , Concept learning
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/436477 , vital:73275
- Description: This study investigated how selected grade 11 mathematics learners used smartphones with the MathCityMap application to learn trigonometry outdoors for conceptual understanding. The aim of this research project was to explore outdoor mathematics learning for conceptual understanding using smartphones. This case study of grade 11 mathematics learners in Lejweleputswa District in the Free State Province, was informed by the Realistic Mathematics Education theory. The study is grounded within an interpretive paradigm and used the explanatory sequential mixed-method design. Forty-two grade 11 mathematics learners participated in the survey and from these 12 were purposively selected to participate in walking the mathematics trails and interviews. The findings revealed that, while the grade 11 mathematics learners acknowledged the significance and value of using smartphones for learning mathematics, they were prohibited from carrying or using smartphones on the school premises, as part of the school code of conduct. The preferred use of smartphones for learning mathematics was understandable, as the survey was conducted at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions were still in place. The survey unearthed that among applications for learning mathematics, the MathCityMap application was not known by the learners who participated in the survey. Mathematics trails observations indicated that outdoor tasks were a source of mathematical concepts or formal mathematical knowledge, and enabled learners to reinvent mathematical ideas and concepts with adult guidance. Learners were able to make use of appropriate mathematical models and connections. The mathematics trails ignited robust discussions among learners, and prompted learners to draw from prior knowledge, and recognise and identify suitable mathematical models and shapes from the real-world objects. Learners were able to use multiple representations, make necessary mathematical links, and use their prior knowledge to enhance their trigonometry conceptual understanding. This study concluded that using smartphones with the MathCityMap application could enhance conceptual understanding of trigonometry. The implications for teachers are that learners should be exposed to outdoor mathematics learning using smartphones with the MathCityMap application to improve their conceptual understanding. It is hoped that the results of this study can be used by various stakeholders, who include, inter alia, mathematics subject advisors and teacher training institutions, to enhance learners’ conceptual understanding of mathematics. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Secondary and Post School Education, 2024
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Characterisation of two novel ferrocenyl benzoxazines as in vitro triple-negative breast cancer inhibitors
- Authors: Mhlanga, Richwell
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/365689 , vital:65776
- Description: Thesis access embargoed. Expected released date early 2025. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2022
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Identification of potential inhibitors of the folate biosynthesis enzymes HPPK of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli and pteridine reductase of Trypanosoma brucei through molecular docking and enzyme assays
- Authors: Gerwel, Tiaan Marc
- Date: 2021-10-29
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/192419 , vital:45224
- Description: Antimicrobial resistance has become a serious threat to the survival of the human species especially those living in rural areas where access to medicine and the knowledge for proper use is scarce. It has been estimated that the number of extreme untreatable resistant infections in Africa will increase to as much as 10 million by the year 2050. Thus the need for novel drugs to act as therapeutic agents is becoming more compelling each year. The subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei) is responsible for the Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) also known as sleeping sickness and results in large numbers of deaths and loss of income for many homes. Resistance to current therapeutic agents has been observed and is on the rise increasing the difficulty to treat the infection. Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) serotypes are responsible for acute diarrhoeal disease in humans ranging from invasive typhoid to non-invasive non-typhoid disease, resulting in a large number of deaths, with an estimated 180 million people falling ill annually. The pathogen is spread via the faecal-oral route or through food contaminated with bacterium and prepared in an unsanitary environment. The chance of recovery in rural populations is low. Escherichia coli (E. coli), forming part of commensal gut flora, spread via the faecal-oral route or unhygienic practices, causes a diarrhoeal disease which can progress to a haemorrhagic phase. More than 241 million annual infections are caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli. A common strategy to develop antimicrobial agents is to target the biosynthesis of essential biological molecules, thereby rendering the microbes less viable. One such group of molecules are folates, which are generally synthesised de novo by bacteria. Higher organisms have a scavenger mechanism to obtain their folates from the extracellular environment and in some cases, organisms have both mechanisms. In this study, two enzymes falling into the folate scavenger and de novo synthesis groups were examined to identify potential agents to act as inhibitors. Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) is a scavenger enzyme used by a variety of trypanosomes and 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropterin pyrophosphokinase (HPPK) is an enzyme that overlaps the kingdoms of protozoa and bacteria forming part of the de novo biosynthetic pathway. Homology modelling was performed on the HPPK enzyme of S. enterica using Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) as a template providing a model to use for docking studies. The E. coli HPPK enzyme structure was retrieved from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and bound molecules were removed to render the enzyme in an apo-state. Docking studies using the generated S. enterica homology model and apo E. coli HPPK was performed using the ZINC 15 database and resulted in 9 hit compounds which showed high binding affinities and binding energy to the enzyme. The HPPK and PTR1 enzyme coding sequences were cloned into pET-28a(+) plasmids and supplied by GenScript, to enable the expression of histidine-tagged proteins in T7 Express lysY competent E. coli cells. Analytical scale expression studies showed the recombinant proteins to be in a soluble form and purification was achieved using nickel-NTA affinity chromatography. The purified PTR1 recombinant protein was used to establish and optimise an NADPH absorbance microplate assay to screen compounds previously identified in docking studies by Kimuda, Laming, Hoppe, & Bishop, (2019). The assay yielded a Z´-factor of above 0.8 indicating an excellent assay to use for screening. An unsuccessful attempt was made to use resazurin reduction as an alternative method to demonstrate PTR1 enzyme activity. HPPK purified recombinant proteins were used to establish and optimise a luminescence microplate assay for the screening of compounds identified in in silico docking studies against the HPPK enzymes of S. enterica and E. coli. The Z´-factor of the luminescence assay was above 0.5, indicative of a functional assay with good separation between enzyme activity signal and negative control of reaction without enzyme. The target-based enzyme screening resulted in the confirmation of compound 3 (3-chloro-N-[(4-oxo-3,4-dihydrophthalazin-1-yl)methyl]benzamide) as an inhibitor of S. enterica HPPK with an IC₅₀ of 10.4 μM. At 50 μM none of the compounds decreased E. coli HPPK enzyme activity by 50%. Further bacterial studies would provide more compelling data to motivate the optimisation of compound 3 as an S. enterica inhibitor. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using computational methods in the drug discovery process, correlating in silico results with those obtained from target-based assays producing a hit compound that can be used for future drug optimisation. , Thesis (MSc (Pharm)) -- Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmacy, 2021
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Ectomycorrhizal fungal assessment of South African Pinus patula seedlings and their biological control potential to enhance seedling growth
- Authors: FitzGerald, Véronique Chartier
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Ectomycorrhizal fungi , Pinus patula Diseases and pests Biological control South Africa , Fusarium , Forest nurseries , Seedlings Growth , Seedlings Diseases and pests
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67902 , vital:29167
- Description: The South Africa forestry industry, covering 1.3 million hectares, is dependent on exotic pine and eucalyptus species. Nursery seedlings are not inoculated with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi or other beneficial microbes. Fusarium circinatum is an economically important pathogen affecting seedling survival. The purpose of this investigation was to assess levels of naturally occurring ECM colonisation in South African nurseries and to determine the effects of seedling inoculation with selected ECM and bacterial isolates on plant growth and resistance to the fungal pathogen F. circiantum. Pinus patula seedlings from 10 different South African nurseries were assessed for ECM colonisation using a grid line intersect method and molecularly identified using morphological and next-generation Illumina sequencing. Explants from ECM basidiocarps, collected from Pinus stands, were plated onto MMN medium to obtain isolates which were verified using molecular techniques. Mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) were also isolated from these basiocarps, tested for MHB properties, siderophore production, phospahte solubilising and IAA production. ECM and associated bacterial isolates were used to inoculate seedlings and growth was assessed over a 5 month period. Colonisation of seedlings in production nurseries was low (2-21%). Morphologically the ECM fungi T. terrestris, Suillus sibiricus, and the genera Russula, Pseudotomentella were identified. Molecularly the ECM fungi T. terrestris, Inocybe jacobi and the genera Sphaerosporella and several other ECM containing families were identified along with many saprotrophic/endophytic fungi belonging to genera such as, Penicillium, Ramasonia and Talaromyces. Inoculated seedlings showed a significant increase in growth in comparison to the un-inoculated control seedlings. ECM fungal colonisation levels of these seedlings were significantly increased and colonisation was promoted by the Suillus isolate, Salmon Suillus. Seedling growth in the presence of the pathogen F. circinatum was significantly increased and promoted by the Lactarius isolate Lactarius quieticolor. Inoculation of seedlings in the nursery would ensure the production of stronger healthy plants which may be more tolerant to fusarial infection increasing survival in the plantation. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Biochemistry and Microbiology, 2019
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