Developed teacher leadership in a township high school : an interpretive case study
- Authors: John, Daisy Mary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018548
- Description: South Africa’s future success depends on a number of national priorities, amongst them the transformation of its education system. Education is the best route to follow to alleviate poverty and many other social ills. One way to overcome some of the complex challenges and crises that we face in South African schools is to pay attention to issues of leading and leadership, including the leadership of teachers. This study is done with the hope that research into teacher leadership will be one of the answers to the crisis in education. It should become a beacon of hope for all educationists who passionately want progress in the youth of South Africa. What better way than to ‘Awaken the Sleeping Giant’ of teacher leadership, borrowing the term from Katzenmeyer and Moller (2009). This study was designed as a case study, the purpose of which was to find out about the enactment of teacher leadership in an Eastern Cape township high school as well as the enhancing and hindering factors to this enactment. This study was done as a replication study of a similar study done by a group of 11Master’s students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010. Similar to the original study, this case study was located within the interpretive paradigm and drew on school profiling, survey questionnaires, a focus group interview, selfreflective journals and individual interviews for its methods of data collection. The study was framed by distributed leadership while Grant’s (2008; 2012) Model of teacher leadership was adopted as the analytical tool. It emerged from the data that the three teacher leaders, my primary participants, exhibited teacher leadership across all four zones of Grant’s (2008) Model. The first zone was leadership in the classroom where all three teacher leaders showed leadership to varying degrees. Zones Two to Four are about leadership beyond the classroom into the school and beyond. In Zone Two, the zone where teachers work with each other and the learners outside the classroom, substantial levels of leadership were enacted by the three teacher leaders. Zone Three, where leadership is exhibited in whole-school development, the three primary participants showed distinct leadership qualities as well. The fourth zone, which is about interaction with neighbouring schools, also revealed that all three teacher leaders demonstrated active leadership on a regular basis. Findings further revealed that there were only a few inhibiting factors to the leadership of teachers at the case study school, including limited resources and infrastructure as well as insufficient support and acknowledgement from the relevant stakeholders when leadership initiatives were made, either successfully or otherwise. However, the enhancing factors superseded the inhibiting factors. A functional committee culture guided by a shared vision existed in the case study school together with an ethos of trust which enabled the staff to work collaboratively. Though there was certainly room for improvement in leadership practices at this case study school, the enactment of teacher leadership in this school illustrated a strong case of ‘developed’ teacher leadership (Muijs& Harris, 2007) within a dispersed leadership framing (Gunter, 2005)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: John, Daisy Mary
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , School management and organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2052 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018548
- Description: South Africa’s future success depends on a number of national priorities, amongst them the transformation of its education system. Education is the best route to follow to alleviate poverty and many other social ills. One way to overcome some of the complex challenges and crises that we face in South African schools is to pay attention to issues of leading and leadership, including the leadership of teachers. This study is done with the hope that research into teacher leadership will be one of the answers to the crisis in education. It should become a beacon of hope for all educationists who passionately want progress in the youth of South Africa. What better way than to ‘Awaken the Sleeping Giant’ of teacher leadership, borrowing the term from Katzenmeyer and Moller (2009). This study was designed as a case study, the purpose of which was to find out about the enactment of teacher leadership in an Eastern Cape township high school as well as the enhancing and hindering factors to this enactment. This study was done as a replication study of a similar study done by a group of 11Master’s students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010. Similar to the original study, this case study was located within the interpretive paradigm and drew on school profiling, survey questionnaires, a focus group interview, selfreflective journals and individual interviews for its methods of data collection. The study was framed by distributed leadership while Grant’s (2008; 2012) Model of teacher leadership was adopted as the analytical tool. It emerged from the data that the three teacher leaders, my primary participants, exhibited teacher leadership across all four zones of Grant’s (2008) Model. The first zone was leadership in the classroom where all three teacher leaders showed leadership to varying degrees. Zones Two to Four are about leadership beyond the classroom into the school and beyond. In Zone Two, the zone where teachers work with each other and the learners outside the classroom, substantial levels of leadership were enacted by the three teacher leaders. Zone Three, where leadership is exhibited in whole-school development, the three primary participants showed distinct leadership qualities as well. The fourth zone, which is about interaction with neighbouring schools, also revealed that all three teacher leaders demonstrated active leadership on a regular basis. Findings further revealed that there were only a few inhibiting factors to the leadership of teachers at the case study school, including limited resources and infrastructure as well as insufficient support and acknowledgement from the relevant stakeholders when leadership initiatives were made, either successfully or otherwise. However, the enhancing factors superseded the inhibiting factors. A functional committee culture guided by a shared vision existed in the case study school together with an ethos of trust which enabled the staff to work collaboratively. Though there was certainly room for improvement in leadership practices at this case study school, the enactment of teacher leadership in this school illustrated a strong case of ‘developed’ teacher leadership (Muijs& Harris, 2007) within a dispersed leadership framing (Gunter, 2005)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Developing and using an assessment instrument for spatial skills in Grade 10 geometry learners
- Authors: Cowley, Jane
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geometry -- Evaluation. , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2025 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017336
- Description: This qualitative investigation took the form of a case study and fell within the interpretive research paradigm. The Mathematics Chair at the Education Department of Rhodes University launched the Mathematics Teacher Enrichment Programme (MTEP) in 2010 in order to combat poor Mathematics performance of learners in the lower Albany district of the Eastern Cape. The challenge that the participating MTEP teachers faced was a lack of time available to implement new teaching ideas. This was because most of their time was spent catching up “lost” or untaught concepts in the classroom. To address this problem, the Catch-Up Project was launched, whereby selected Mathematics teachers in the area taught lost concepts to Grade Ten learners during afternoon classes in an attempt to improve their fundamental Mathematics knowledge. In order to establish which sections of Mathematics were more difficult for the learners in this programme, bench mark tests were administered biannually. Whilst these tests certainly identified deficient areas within their Mathematics knowledge, the poorest performance areas were the sections of the syllabus which were spatial in nature, such as Space and Shape and Geometry. However, a more in depth assessment tool was required to establish which specific spatial skills the learners were not able to employ when doing these Geometry tasks. To this end, the Spatial Skills Assessment Tasks (SSAT) was developed. It consisted of traditional text book type Geometry tasks and real-world context tasks, both of which were used to assess six spatial skills deemed crucial to successfully facilitate learning Geometry. The case study took place in two of the schools which participated in the Grade Ten Catch-Up project. The case was focused on Grade Ten learners and the unit of analysis was their responses to the SSAT instrument. The learners that participated all did so on a strictly voluntary basis and great care was taken to protect their wellbeing and anonymity at all times. The results of the SSAT instrument revealed that the real world context tasks were in general far more successfully answered than the traditional text book type questions. Important trends in learner responses were noted and highlighted. For example, geometric terminology remains a huge challenge for learners, especially as they study Mathematics in their second language. The ability of the learners to differentiate between such concepts as congruency and similarity is severely compromised, partly due to a lack of terminological understanding but also due to a perceived lack of exposure to the material. Concepts such as verticality and horizontality also remain a huge challenge, possibly for the same reasons. They are poorly understood and yet vital to achievement in Geometry. Recommendations for the development and strengthening of spatial skills support the constructivist approach to learning. Hands on activities and intensive sustained practice over a period of a few months, in which both teachers and learners are actively involved in the learning process, would be considered most beneficial to the long term enhancement of these vital spatial skills and to the learning of Geometry in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Cowley, Jane
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Geometry -- Evaluation. , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2025 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017336
- Description: This qualitative investigation took the form of a case study and fell within the interpretive research paradigm. The Mathematics Chair at the Education Department of Rhodes University launched the Mathematics Teacher Enrichment Programme (MTEP) in 2010 in order to combat poor Mathematics performance of learners in the lower Albany district of the Eastern Cape. The challenge that the participating MTEP teachers faced was a lack of time available to implement new teaching ideas. This was because most of their time was spent catching up “lost” or untaught concepts in the classroom. To address this problem, the Catch-Up Project was launched, whereby selected Mathematics teachers in the area taught lost concepts to Grade Ten learners during afternoon classes in an attempt to improve their fundamental Mathematics knowledge. In order to establish which sections of Mathematics were more difficult for the learners in this programme, bench mark tests were administered biannually. Whilst these tests certainly identified deficient areas within their Mathematics knowledge, the poorest performance areas were the sections of the syllabus which were spatial in nature, such as Space and Shape and Geometry. However, a more in depth assessment tool was required to establish which specific spatial skills the learners were not able to employ when doing these Geometry tasks. To this end, the Spatial Skills Assessment Tasks (SSAT) was developed. It consisted of traditional text book type Geometry tasks and real-world context tasks, both of which were used to assess six spatial skills deemed crucial to successfully facilitate learning Geometry. The case study took place in two of the schools which participated in the Grade Ten Catch-Up project. The case was focused on Grade Ten learners and the unit of analysis was their responses to the SSAT instrument. The learners that participated all did so on a strictly voluntary basis and great care was taken to protect their wellbeing and anonymity at all times. The results of the SSAT instrument revealed that the real world context tasks were in general far more successfully answered than the traditional text book type questions. Important trends in learner responses were noted and highlighted. For example, geometric terminology remains a huge challenge for learners, especially as they study Mathematics in their second language. The ability of the learners to differentiate between such concepts as congruency and similarity is severely compromised, partly due to a lack of terminological understanding but also due to a perceived lack of exposure to the material. Concepts such as verticality and horizontality also remain a huge challenge, possibly for the same reasons. They are poorly understood and yet vital to achievement in Geometry. Recommendations for the development and strengthening of spatial skills support the constructivist approach to learning. Hands on activities and intensive sustained practice over a period of a few months, in which both teachers and learners are actively involved in the learning process, would be considered most beneficial to the long term enhancement of these vital spatial skills and to the learning of Geometry in general.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Engaging within zones of proximal development on Facebook : the case of using Facebook to support learning and mentoring on a NQF Level 5 environmental education, training and development practices learnership
- Authors: Chetty, Preven
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Social media -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Internet in education , Online social networks , Organizational learning , Employees -- Training of , Group work in education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017335
- Description: This study focuses on two roll-outs of a, year-long National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 5, environmental education learnership in South Africa and attempts at enhancing collaborative learning at workplaces using a familiar social networking site called Facebook. This study uses the Facebook group sites created for the workplace course component of the course as one of the means of data collection. Additional interviews and focus groups with learners and administrators on both Environmental Education Training and Development Practices (EETDP) courses also informed the study. The study is located within the context of the rise of the information age, its effects on socio-ecological landscape at large and ways of using social networking sites in order to facilitate scaffolding and meaning making within zones of proximal development for environmental education learnerships. It also looks at the model of apprenticeship and workplace based learning as it is broadly located at the nexus of the SAQA-led academic inquiry into workplace based learning and professional development. It was found that the use of Facebook on the EETDP learnership allowed for collaborative learning to take place between peer to peer interactions as well as between tutors and learners. It was also noted that scaffolding processes requires both technical assistance and strong instructional input from course tutors. One of the most important findings in terms of collaborative learning and engaging within the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) was that learners were able to communicate more effectively and freely with both fellow learners and tutors on course after participating on the Facebook group sites. The study offers recommendations on how a social networking platform like Facebook can be utilised effectively for environmental education. The study recommends that scaffolding of workplace based tasks and concepts needs to be better integrated with the course and in both online and offline interactions between learners. It also illustrates how social networking sites can become powerful tools for creating meaning making when combined with course work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Chetty, Preven
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Social media -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- South Africa , Internet in education , Online social networks , Organizational learning , Employees -- Training of , Group work in education
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2024 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017335
- Description: This study focuses on two roll-outs of a, year-long National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 5, environmental education learnership in South Africa and attempts at enhancing collaborative learning at workplaces using a familiar social networking site called Facebook. This study uses the Facebook group sites created for the workplace course component of the course as one of the means of data collection. Additional interviews and focus groups with learners and administrators on both Environmental Education Training and Development Practices (EETDP) courses also informed the study. The study is located within the context of the rise of the information age, its effects on socio-ecological landscape at large and ways of using social networking sites in order to facilitate scaffolding and meaning making within zones of proximal development for environmental education learnerships. It also looks at the model of apprenticeship and workplace based learning as it is broadly located at the nexus of the SAQA-led academic inquiry into workplace based learning and professional development. It was found that the use of Facebook on the EETDP learnership allowed for collaborative learning to take place between peer to peer interactions as well as between tutors and learners. It was also noted that scaffolding processes requires both technical assistance and strong instructional input from course tutors. One of the most important findings in terms of collaborative learning and engaging within the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) was that learners were able to communicate more effectively and freely with both fellow learners and tutors on course after participating on the Facebook group sites. The study offers recommendations on how a social networking platform like Facebook can be utilised effectively for environmental education. The study recommends that scaffolding of workplace based tasks and concepts needs to be better integrated with the course and in both online and offline interactions between learners. It also illustrates how social networking sites can become powerful tools for creating meaning making when combined with course work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Environmental citizenship in citizen science: a case study of a volunteer toad conservation group in Noordhoek, South Africa
- Authors: Van Wyk, Sheraine Maud
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Toad NUTS (Noordhoek, South Africa) , Environmental education -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Environmental education -- Citizen participation , Social learning -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Toads -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Toads -- Conservation -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2048 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017359
- Description: The endangered Western Leopard Toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus) is endemic to the winter-rainfall parts of the Western Cape, areas which are also favoured for human settlement. Residents in the Noordhoek area witnessed many toads being killed on roads during their annual migration to breeding ponds. Concerned citizens mobilised a volunteer group to mitigate this threat to the species. Toad NUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers), a well-established and successful citizen science group is explored as a case study of how environmental citizenship emerges in a citizen science group. This research has three research goals. Firstly to probe the enabling and constraining factors shaping the Toad NUTS practices, secondly to investigate the learning dynamics in the citizen science group and thirdly to understand how participation in citizen science develops environmental citizenship. Practice architectures theory (Kemmis & Grootenboer, 2008) was used to explore how cultural-discursive, economic-material and social-political arrangements shape the practices of the Toad NUTS group. The Toad NUTS group was identified as a community of practice, therefore Lave and Wenger’s (1991) communities of practice theory was used to better understand the social learning processes within the group. The Global Citizenship Education international policy document was used to capture the aims of citizenship education as it relates to environmental issues and identifies the competencies that citizenship education initiatives should develop. The practices of the Toad NUTS group were investigated for evidence of the goals and competencies identified in the Global Citizenship Education policy documents of environmental citizenship. Data was generated through documentary research, surveys, a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and observations. The data was stored, organised and analysed using NVivo data management software in three phases corresponding to the three research goals. With respect to Goal 1, the evidence suggested that there are various shaping arrangements of cultural-discursive, material-economic and social-political configurations which influence Toad NUTS practices. Volunteers must learn to navigate these arrangements in order to successfully implement conservation strategies. The shaping features identified were the WhatsApp group communication system used by volunteers; public awareness and education strategies; equipment, material and funding required for implementing the group’s practices; power balances and exchanges between stakeholders in the conservation field; bureaucratic processes and scientist-lay person exchanges. Very important for facilitating social-political connections to various stakeholders, is the membership Toad NUTS enjoys on the Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee. With respect to Goal 2, four interconnected components of learning were investigated. These were: learning as belonging, learning as doing, learning as meaning-making experience and learning as becoming. Members learn by doing things together like training, patrolling and deliberating problems in the field. They learn by exploring what is collectively known from past and unfolding experiences. Evidence showed that learning deepens as Toad NUTS members perceive their praxis as meaningful and their identities evolve as their knowledge and experience grows. This strengthens members’ sense of belonging and identification with the Toad NUTS group. In time the group develops a reputation and the wider community acknowledges the expertise and knowledge that resides with the group. With respect to Goal 3, it was found that volunteers who have a predisposition for environmental citizenship are more likely to join a citizen science group. Although volunteers care about nature and want to make a difference, it is after gaining access to the embedded knowledge and knowledge processes of the citizen science group that they realise meaningful sustainable solutions to the issue(s) that the project is concerned with. It was found that knowledge paired with reasoned practice enables the agency of volunteers to bring about positive and meaningful change in the local environment. If facilitated carefully, citizen science can make positive contributions to the field, in this instance, conservation, while allowing volunteers to exercise environmental citizenship engaging in participative governance with regard to the project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Van Wyk, Sheraine Maud
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Toad NUTS (Noordhoek, South Africa) , Environmental education -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Environmental education -- Citizen participation , Social learning -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Toads -- Conservation -- South Africa -- Noordhoek , Toads -- Conservation -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2048 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017359
- Description: The endangered Western Leopard Toad (Amietophrynus pantherinus) is endemic to the winter-rainfall parts of the Western Cape, areas which are also favoured for human settlement. Residents in the Noordhoek area witnessed many toads being killed on roads during their annual migration to breeding ponds. Concerned citizens mobilised a volunteer group to mitigate this threat to the species. Toad NUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers), a well-established and successful citizen science group is explored as a case study of how environmental citizenship emerges in a citizen science group. This research has three research goals. Firstly to probe the enabling and constraining factors shaping the Toad NUTS practices, secondly to investigate the learning dynamics in the citizen science group and thirdly to understand how participation in citizen science develops environmental citizenship. Practice architectures theory (Kemmis & Grootenboer, 2008) was used to explore how cultural-discursive, economic-material and social-political arrangements shape the practices of the Toad NUTS group. The Toad NUTS group was identified as a community of practice, therefore Lave and Wenger’s (1991) communities of practice theory was used to better understand the social learning processes within the group. The Global Citizenship Education international policy document was used to capture the aims of citizenship education as it relates to environmental issues and identifies the competencies that citizenship education initiatives should develop. The practices of the Toad NUTS group were investigated for evidence of the goals and competencies identified in the Global Citizenship Education policy documents of environmental citizenship. Data was generated through documentary research, surveys, a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and observations. The data was stored, organised and analysed using NVivo data management software in three phases corresponding to the three research goals. With respect to Goal 1, the evidence suggested that there are various shaping arrangements of cultural-discursive, material-economic and social-political configurations which influence Toad NUTS practices. Volunteers must learn to navigate these arrangements in order to successfully implement conservation strategies. The shaping features identified were the WhatsApp group communication system used by volunteers; public awareness and education strategies; equipment, material and funding required for implementing the group’s practices; power balances and exchanges between stakeholders in the conservation field; bureaucratic processes and scientist-lay person exchanges. Very important for facilitating social-political connections to various stakeholders, is the membership Toad NUTS enjoys on the Western Leopard Toad Conservation Committee. With respect to Goal 2, four interconnected components of learning were investigated. These were: learning as belonging, learning as doing, learning as meaning-making experience and learning as becoming. Members learn by doing things together like training, patrolling and deliberating problems in the field. They learn by exploring what is collectively known from past and unfolding experiences. Evidence showed that learning deepens as Toad NUTS members perceive their praxis as meaningful and their identities evolve as their knowledge and experience grows. This strengthens members’ sense of belonging and identification with the Toad NUTS group. In time the group develops a reputation and the wider community acknowledges the expertise and knowledge that resides with the group. With respect to Goal 3, it was found that volunteers who have a predisposition for environmental citizenship are more likely to join a citizen science group. Although volunteers care about nature and want to make a difference, it is after gaining access to the embedded knowledge and knowledge processes of the citizen science group that they realise meaningful sustainable solutions to the issue(s) that the project is concerned with. It was found that knowledge paired with reasoned practice enables the agency of volunteers to bring about positive and meaningful change in the local environment. If facilitated carefully, citizen science can make positive contributions to the field, in this instance, conservation, while allowing volunteers to exercise environmental citizenship engaging in participative governance with regard to the project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Exploring Grade 12 biology teachers' perceptions and experiences of the dissemination and utilization of Examiners' reports in the Khomas region of Namibia: a case study
- Authors: Bezuidenhoudt, Anthea
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Biology -- Examinations -- Namibia , Biology -- Study and teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017332
- Description: Teachers’ perceptions are that currently dissemination in schools is ineffective and must change. The tensions that surround the dissemination of the reports are late arrival of Examiners’ reports which clash with preparation of learners for the first term examinations. Furthermore, the time the Examiners’ reports get into teachers’ hands are late and thus result in teachers rushing through it to incorporate the recommendations given in it in the second term or in some instances teachers do not attend to it at all. The number of copies of the Examiners’ reports provided to schools appears to be inadequate. HODs still having to duplicate reports before disseminating them add to their work load and further delay dissemination of the reports to individual subject teachers. Although the teaching and learning approach in Namibian classrooms should be based on LCE, dissemination of the actual physical reports are currently restricted to teachers only with them only verbally communicating feedback given in the reports to their learners. Support in dissemination of Examiners’ reports from peers and superiors in the majority of the schools appear to be lacking. Changes would like to be seen in the timing the Examiners’ reports are available at schools, the number of hard copies provided to schools and exploring and embarking on alternative ways of disseminating the reports. The percentage of utilization of the Examiners’ reports is relatively high, yet still not the optimum. A reasonable number of Namibian learners are disadvantaged and not exposed to a source of information that can make their Biology learning more efficient because some of their teachers are not using Examiners’ reports in their teaching. The main reason for non-utilization of the reports by Biology teachers is a result of inefficient dissemination at individual schools. The argument being that if the reports are not given to the teachers they and especially novice teachers will not know about the existence of this useful teaching and learning resource. Examiners’ reports are an important and systematic impartial source of high quality data on learning in the Namibian education system. Therefore, effective dissemination and utilization of the reports must be advocated and strengthened. DNEA and the Khomas regional office should embark on tapping into available development in information technology by doing research into the possibility of disseminating the Examiners’ reports electronically. A pilot in this regard should be conducted in the Khomas region as a measure to ensure dissemination can become more efficient in the future. To ensure that teachers optimally utilize the Examiners’ reports, they should be provided to schools when the school first term commences. The Khomas regional office should strengthen their involvement in utilization by arranging annual workshops where the content of the reports can be discussed to ensure that the feedback given in the reports can aid in developing and strengthening Biology teachers’ subject content knowledge as well as pedagogical content knowledge. Optimal utilization of Examiners’ reports can enable mediation in learners which can ensure effective learning and mastery of Biology by learners which can ultimately lead to an improvement in pass rate in Biology. Therefore, appropriate support to aid teachers’ professional development can enhance maximum utilization. Furthermore, an area for future research could be to give the Examiners’ reports to learners to determine the impact it has on their learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Bezuidenhoudt, Anthea
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Biology -- Examinations -- Namibia , Biology -- Study and teaching -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2021 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017332
- Description: Teachers’ perceptions are that currently dissemination in schools is ineffective and must change. The tensions that surround the dissemination of the reports are late arrival of Examiners’ reports which clash with preparation of learners for the first term examinations. Furthermore, the time the Examiners’ reports get into teachers’ hands are late and thus result in teachers rushing through it to incorporate the recommendations given in it in the second term or in some instances teachers do not attend to it at all. The number of copies of the Examiners’ reports provided to schools appears to be inadequate. HODs still having to duplicate reports before disseminating them add to their work load and further delay dissemination of the reports to individual subject teachers. Although the teaching and learning approach in Namibian classrooms should be based on LCE, dissemination of the actual physical reports are currently restricted to teachers only with them only verbally communicating feedback given in the reports to their learners. Support in dissemination of Examiners’ reports from peers and superiors in the majority of the schools appear to be lacking. Changes would like to be seen in the timing the Examiners’ reports are available at schools, the number of hard copies provided to schools and exploring and embarking on alternative ways of disseminating the reports. The percentage of utilization of the Examiners’ reports is relatively high, yet still not the optimum. A reasonable number of Namibian learners are disadvantaged and not exposed to a source of information that can make their Biology learning more efficient because some of their teachers are not using Examiners’ reports in their teaching. The main reason for non-utilization of the reports by Biology teachers is a result of inefficient dissemination at individual schools. The argument being that if the reports are not given to the teachers they and especially novice teachers will not know about the existence of this useful teaching and learning resource. Examiners’ reports are an important and systematic impartial source of high quality data on learning in the Namibian education system. Therefore, effective dissemination and utilization of the reports must be advocated and strengthened. DNEA and the Khomas regional office should embark on tapping into available development in information technology by doing research into the possibility of disseminating the Examiners’ reports electronically. A pilot in this regard should be conducted in the Khomas region as a measure to ensure dissemination can become more efficient in the future. To ensure that teachers optimally utilize the Examiners’ reports, they should be provided to schools when the school first term commences. The Khomas regional office should strengthen their involvement in utilization by arranging annual workshops where the content of the reports can be discussed to ensure that the feedback given in the reports can aid in developing and strengthening Biology teachers’ subject content knowledge as well as pedagogical content knowledge. Optimal utilization of Examiners’ reports can enable mediation in learners which can ensure effective learning and mastery of Biology by learners which can ultimately lead to an improvement in pass rate in Biology. Therefore, appropriate support to aid teachers’ professional development can enhance maximum utilization. Furthermore, an area for future research could be to give the Examiners’ reports to learners to determine the impact it has on their learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Exploring lecturer experiences of the use of ICT in blended learning : a case study at a South African university
- Authors: Ntlabathi, Siyanda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Blended learning -- South Africa , Information technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Technological innovations , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa , Internet in education -- South Africa , Educational technology -- South Africa , Critical realism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017355
- Description: ICTs have had a tremendous impact on our educational environment. There have been a huge number of developments and support in implementation of ICT in Higher Education teaching and learning, also referred to as e-learning. Similarly there appears to be quite a number of research conducted on the use of ICTs in blended learning settings worldwide and as well as in South Africa. Very little research however, has focussed on the experiences of lecturers with e-learning, specifically as it relates to Learning Management Systems (LMS). In trying to meet the requirements of its academic programmes and be in line with new developments worldwide, the University which is the focus of this study pilot projected the use of an LMS in a blended learning approach which integrates face-to-face classes with Blackboard, an ICT-based system or tool. Following the implementation of the pilot project, this study explores the experiences of lecturers in their blended learning environments at this university in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research design was that of an interpretative paradigm within a qualitative research approach in a case study methodology. Purposive sampling of six lecturers from departments within faculties across two campuses was done. The data was gathered through interviews, a follow-up questionnaire and document analysis was employed. Using Critical and Social Realism as meta-theories the study employed aspects of Activity Theory as substantive theory to understand particular experiences of blended learning environments and identify conditions which enable and constrain engagement in these environments so as to explore potential lessons to inform the kind of educational support which could be offered to facilitate uptake of the LMS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Ntlabathi, Siyanda
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Blended learning -- South Africa , Information technology -- South Africa , Education, Higher -- Technological innovations , Computer-assisted instruction -- South Africa , Internet in education -- South Africa , Educational technology -- South Africa , Critical realism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2044 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017355
- Description: ICTs have had a tremendous impact on our educational environment. There have been a huge number of developments and support in implementation of ICT in Higher Education teaching and learning, also referred to as e-learning. Similarly there appears to be quite a number of research conducted on the use of ICTs in blended learning settings worldwide and as well as in South Africa. Very little research however, has focussed on the experiences of lecturers with e-learning, specifically as it relates to Learning Management Systems (LMS). In trying to meet the requirements of its academic programmes and be in line with new developments worldwide, the University which is the focus of this study pilot projected the use of an LMS in a blended learning approach which integrates face-to-face classes with Blackboard, an ICT-based system or tool. Following the implementation of the pilot project, this study explores the experiences of lecturers in their blended learning environments at this university in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The research design was that of an interpretative paradigm within a qualitative research approach in a case study methodology. Purposive sampling of six lecturers from departments within faculties across two campuses was done. The data was gathered through interviews, a follow-up questionnaire and document analysis was employed. Using Critical and Social Realism as meta-theories the study employed aspects of Activity Theory as substantive theory to understand particular experiences of blended learning environments and identify conditions which enable and constrain engagement in these environments so as to explore potential lessons to inform the kind of educational support which could be offered to facilitate uptake of the LMS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Horns of dilemma : Department head and subject teacher : a case study of Heads of Department in a public secondary school, northern Namibia
- Authors: Naundobe, Robert Natukondye
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: High school department heads -- Namibia , High school teachers -- Workload -- Namibia , Teacher effectiveness -- Namibia , Educational leadership -- Namibia , Conflict of interests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2043 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017354
- Description: The accountability and responsibilities of school leaders have intensified greatly over the past decades and school leadership has become a strong focus of research. Meanwhile, Bush (2003) asserts that “school leaders [experience] tensions between competing elements of leadership, management and administration” (p. 7). This study uses observations, questionnaires, interviews and document analysis to unpack the perceptions of four Heads of Department (HoDs), the principal, and eight teachers on the tensions inherent in balancing the responsibilities of department head and subject teacher for HoDs in public secondary school. The study goes beyond the mere task of influence in its attempts to unpack how the leadership and teaching practices of HoDs may, or may not, be in conflict with each other. Using distributed leadership as a theoretical framing and drawing in particular on the work of Spillane and colleagues (2001; 2004), the study examines the roles HoDs enact; the challenges HoDs encounter in enacting their responsibilities as department head and subject teacher; and the strategies HoDs employ to combat the emerging challenges. The study found that the roles of HoDs are extensive and stretch across the classroom, the department, the whole school and beyond. However, the majority of these roles are biased in favour of management systems and processes and opportunities for leadership are rare. The many and extensive management responsibilities of the HoDs limit both their classroom teaching as well as their agency as leaders. The weight of their management work thus restricts their leadership, resulting in an authorised form of distributed leadership (Grant, 2010). The data also revealed that HoDs struggle to balance the responsibilities of department head and subject teacher due to both inter-role and intra-sender conflict. However, the study also found that the HoDs strategically adopt a range of strategies to assist them in doing their work, these include: compensatory teaching; delegation; and planning and prioritizing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Naundobe, Robert Natukondye
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: High school department heads -- Namibia , High school teachers -- Workload -- Namibia , Teacher effectiveness -- Namibia , Educational leadership -- Namibia , Conflict of interests
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2043 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017354
- Description: The accountability and responsibilities of school leaders have intensified greatly over the past decades and school leadership has become a strong focus of research. Meanwhile, Bush (2003) asserts that “school leaders [experience] tensions between competing elements of leadership, management and administration” (p. 7). This study uses observations, questionnaires, interviews and document analysis to unpack the perceptions of four Heads of Department (HoDs), the principal, and eight teachers on the tensions inherent in balancing the responsibilities of department head and subject teacher for HoDs in public secondary school. The study goes beyond the mere task of influence in its attempts to unpack how the leadership and teaching practices of HoDs may, or may not, be in conflict with each other. Using distributed leadership as a theoretical framing and drawing in particular on the work of Spillane and colleagues (2001; 2004), the study examines the roles HoDs enact; the challenges HoDs encounter in enacting their responsibilities as department head and subject teacher; and the strategies HoDs employ to combat the emerging challenges. The study found that the roles of HoDs are extensive and stretch across the classroom, the department, the whole school and beyond. However, the majority of these roles are biased in favour of management systems and processes and opportunities for leadership are rare. The many and extensive management responsibilities of the HoDs limit both their classroom teaching as well as their agency as leaders. The weight of their management work thus restricts their leadership, resulting in an authorised form of distributed leadership (Grant, 2010). The data also revealed that HoDs struggle to balance the responsibilities of department head and subject teacher due to both inter-role and intra-sender conflict. However, the study also found that the HoDs strategically adopt a range of strategies to assist them in doing their work, these include: compensatory teaching; delegation; and planning and prioritizing.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating a way of teaching transformation geometry in grade 9 applying van Hiele’s theory and Kilpatrick’s model : a case study
- Authors: Geja, Nokuzola Hlaleleni
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hiele, Pierre M. van , Kilpatrick, Jeremy , Transformations (Mathematics) , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Geometry -- Mathematical models , Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2066 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020601
- Description: Transformation geometry has been neglected in our schools because teachers are often not proficient enough to teach it, as it was not part of the syllabus during their training. The study investigates effective ways of teaching transformation geometry in grade 9, applying van Hiele’s theory (1986) of geometry teaching and learning and Kilpatrick’s model of mathematical proficiency. The teaching programme activities require consistent use of physical manipulatives by the teacher for effective teaching, learning and understanding of geometric concepts. The type of study is a case study. Data collection tools are: - baseline evaluation, teacher & learner interviews (pre & post programme intervention) and observation (pre & post) during the implementation of the teaching programme. Results were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. My research findings show some improvement of learner performance after the application of the programme. Baseline evaluation shows that some learners attained below and above 30%. Interviews showed that some learners had problems before the implementation of the programme and some problems were eliminated by the use of the programme activities and learning progression was evident. Learner performance showed that learners had acquired some knowledge and critical thinking and reasoning skills, reflection skills, communication through LOLT improved, commitment to activities of the programme and teaching practice had improved. Learner performance showed that a learner can be in two different levels at the same time. Consistent use of manipulatives resulted in effective teaching and learning of geometry in grade 9. The results of this research support other researchers’ views of teaching geometry using van Hiele’s theory (1986) and Kilpatrick et al. (2001). Shaw (2002) argues that teaching geometry with manipulatives enhances conceptual understanding by the learner. In my opinion, it also promotes immediate intervention by the teacher as soon as the learner picks an incorrect object. The project enhanced and improved levels of communication between the learner, teacher and others in the classroom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Geja, Nokuzola Hlaleleni
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Hiele, Pierre M. van , Kilpatrick, Jeremy , Transformations (Mathematics) , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Geometry -- Mathematical models , Educational tests and measurements
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2066 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020601
- Description: Transformation geometry has been neglected in our schools because teachers are often not proficient enough to teach it, as it was not part of the syllabus during their training. The study investigates effective ways of teaching transformation geometry in grade 9, applying van Hiele’s theory (1986) of geometry teaching and learning and Kilpatrick’s model of mathematical proficiency. The teaching programme activities require consistent use of physical manipulatives by the teacher for effective teaching, learning and understanding of geometric concepts. The type of study is a case study. Data collection tools are: - baseline evaluation, teacher & learner interviews (pre & post programme intervention) and observation (pre & post) during the implementation of the teaching programme. Results were analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively. My research findings show some improvement of learner performance after the application of the programme. Baseline evaluation shows that some learners attained below and above 30%. Interviews showed that some learners had problems before the implementation of the programme and some problems were eliminated by the use of the programme activities and learning progression was evident. Learner performance showed that learners had acquired some knowledge and critical thinking and reasoning skills, reflection skills, communication through LOLT improved, commitment to activities of the programme and teaching practice had improved. Learner performance showed that a learner can be in two different levels at the same time. Consistent use of manipulatives resulted in effective teaching and learning of geometry in grade 9. The results of this research support other researchers’ views of teaching geometry using van Hiele’s theory (1986) and Kilpatrick et al. (2001). Shaw (2002) argues that teaching geometry with manipulatives enhances conceptual understanding by the learner. In my opinion, it also promotes immediate intervention by the teacher as soon as the learner picks an incorrect object. The project enhanced and improved levels of communication between the learner, teacher and others in the classroom.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating and expanding learning in co-management of fisheries resources to inform extension training
- Kachilonda, Dick Daffu Kachanga
- Authors: Kachilonda, Dick Daffu Kachanga
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Fishery management -- Study and teaching -- Malawi , Environmental education -- Malawi , Social learning -- Malawi , Community-based conservation -- Malawi , Learning -- Philosophy , Critical realism , Education -- Social aspects -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2053 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018659
- Description: This study investigates and expands learning associated with the co-management of fisheries resources to inform extension and training in the fisheries sector in two case study sites in Malawi. The study was located in the field of environmental education with a specific focus on community learning, agency and sustainability practices in co-management of fisheries resources. It focuses on how fisheries stakeholder learning can be mediated through expansive social learning processes to inform extension and training in the Malawi fisheries sector and aims at understanding learning as an emergent, agency centred process of change through social learning models that are said to have power to mobilise community agency for change. The empirical research for the study was conducted in two Malawian fishing communities: in Lake Malombe and the south-east arm of Lake Malawi using qualitative case study research design. The two sites were selected because they were the first sites in Malawi to implement fisheries co-management programmes following the failure of centralised management of fisheries resources. Data was generated through interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, observations and change laboratory workshops in both sites. The two sites fall under one administrative office based in Mangochi where the two important institutions of the sector – the Fisheries Research Unit of the Department of Fisheries and the Fisheries College (a government institution responsible for the training of extension services) are also based. Both sites have implemented new governance structures named Beach Village Committees which are community-based organisational structures that function in parallel with traditional authorities to manage the fishery. Contextual and literature review work showed that extension services and programmes over the past hundred years, as observed in the fisheries sector in Malawi and in extension services elsewhere, have co-evolved with approaches to natural resources management. Early approaches to natural resources management involved traditional management (associated extension services and programmes were community based); later fisheries governance practices changed to centralised management and associated extension approaches were mainly top-down involving command and control or technology transfer. These early approaches have been problematic as resource users were pushed away from their own resources and were viewed as poachers. This resulted in loss of ownership among resources users. Recently in Malawi, after the change of government to democracy in 1994, fisheries management policy focused on co-management and/or adaptive co-management approaches, an approach that has also been adopted in other African water bodies. This has implications for extension service programmes in the fisheries sector that are not yet well defined. The study’s literature review revealed that co-management approaches assume collaborative learning, or co-learning, also termed social learning, or approaches that promote the engagement of different actors who are working on shared practice. They also assume a new form of agency among co-management stakeholders and extension workers. However, the theoretical foundations for establishing co-learning or social learning approaches in support of co-management policies are not well established in the fisheries co-management sector in Malawi, nor are the practices of how to support co-learning amongst diverse stakeholders in the fisheries co-management in the Lake Malawi context. This study sought to address this gap in knowledge and practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kachilonda, Dick Daffu Kachanga
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Fishery management -- Study and teaching -- Malawi , Environmental education -- Malawi , Social learning -- Malawi , Community-based conservation -- Malawi , Learning -- Philosophy , Critical realism , Education -- Social aspects -- Research
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2053 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018659
- Description: This study investigates and expands learning associated with the co-management of fisheries resources to inform extension and training in the fisheries sector in two case study sites in Malawi. The study was located in the field of environmental education with a specific focus on community learning, agency and sustainability practices in co-management of fisheries resources. It focuses on how fisheries stakeholder learning can be mediated through expansive social learning processes to inform extension and training in the Malawi fisheries sector and aims at understanding learning as an emergent, agency centred process of change through social learning models that are said to have power to mobilise community agency for change. The empirical research for the study was conducted in two Malawian fishing communities: in Lake Malombe and the south-east arm of Lake Malawi using qualitative case study research design. The two sites were selected because they were the first sites in Malawi to implement fisheries co-management programmes following the failure of centralised management of fisheries resources. Data was generated through interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, observations and change laboratory workshops in both sites. The two sites fall under one administrative office based in Mangochi where the two important institutions of the sector – the Fisheries Research Unit of the Department of Fisheries and the Fisheries College (a government institution responsible for the training of extension services) are also based. Both sites have implemented new governance structures named Beach Village Committees which are community-based organisational structures that function in parallel with traditional authorities to manage the fishery. Contextual and literature review work showed that extension services and programmes over the past hundred years, as observed in the fisheries sector in Malawi and in extension services elsewhere, have co-evolved with approaches to natural resources management. Early approaches to natural resources management involved traditional management (associated extension services and programmes were community based); later fisheries governance practices changed to centralised management and associated extension approaches were mainly top-down involving command and control or technology transfer. These early approaches have been problematic as resource users were pushed away from their own resources and were viewed as poachers. This resulted in loss of ownership among resources users. Recently in Malawi, after the change of government to democracy in 1994, fisheries management policy focused on co-management and/or adaptive co-management approaches, an approach that has also been adopted in other African water bodies. This has implications for extension service programmes in the fisheries sector that are not yet well defined. The study’s literature review revealed that co-management approaches assume collaborative learning, or co-learning, also termed social learning, or approaches that promote the engagement of different actors who are working on shared practice. They also assume a new form of agency among co-management stakeholders and extension workers. However, the theoretical foundations for establishing co-learning or social learning approaches in support of co-management policies are not well established in the fisheries co-management sector in Malawi, nor are the practices of how to support co-learning amongst diverse stakeholders in the fisheries co-management in the Lake Malawi context. This study sought to address this gap in knowledge and practice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating how a peer teaching programme could shape the mathematical experience of the participating tutors
- Authors: Lubasi, Justin Mwandamena
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Peer teaching , Mathematical ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017350
- Description: This case study, involving six Grade 10 learners, investigates how a peer tutoring programme could shape the mathematical experience and disposition of the participating tutors. The study is grounded in an interpretive paradigm and data was collected in four sequential phases. The Mathematics Dispositional Functions Inventory (MDFI) instrument was completed by the tutors prior to commencement of the tutoring programme. The tutoring sessions then took place over a three week period during which time each tutor kept a reflective journal. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted, after which each tutor completed the MDFI instrument again in order to track any potential changes in their mathematical disposition. The study found that the participating tutors showed an improved mathematics disposition after the peer tutoring experience. Not only was the peer tutoring programme an empowering experience for the tutors, it also had a positive influence on both the tutors’ self-confidence as well as their perceived mathematical ability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Lubasi, Justin Mwandamena
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) , Peer teaching , Mathematical ability
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2039 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017350
- Description: This case study, involving six Grade 10 learners, investigates how a peer tutoring programme could shape the mathematical experience and disposition of the participating tutors. The study is grounded in an interpretive paradigm and data was collected in four sequential phases. The Mathematics Dispositional Functions Inventory (MDFI) instrument was completed by the tutors prior to commencement of the tutoring programme. The tutoring sessions then took place over a three week period during which time each tutor kept a reflective journal. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted, after which each tutor completed the MDFI instrument again in order to track any potential changes in their mathematical disposition. The study found that the participating tutors showed an improved mathematics disposition after the peer tutoring experience. Not only was the peer tutoring programme an empowering experience for the tutors, it also had a positive influence on both the tutors’ self-confidence as well as their perceived mathematical ability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating quality in Education through the use of an active learning framework : the case of an intervention in the Namibian Environmental Studies curriculum
- Authors: Jacobs, Nicola Clara
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs -- Namibia -- Windhoek , Active learning -- Namibia -- Windhoek , Education -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2058 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019803
- Description: The study was conducted to explore the relationship between active learning processes emerging from the use of O’Donoghue’s (2001) active learning framework and a series of education quality indicators proposed by Nikel and Lowe (2010). To achieve this aim a professional educational intervention was conducted encouraging the use of this active learning framework in the Namibian Environmental Studies Curriculum, in order to strengthen educational quality within the Environmental Studies Curriculum. The research was conducted in the Windhoek region at the school where I am currently teaching. Four teachers took part in this study, including myself in the role of a participantobserver. The active learning framework was used to guide us in the planning and presentations of environmental learning lessons. The study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm and was qualitative in nature as well as focusing on a quantitative aspect to analyse some of the data (learners’ written work). Qualitative data were generated through individual interviews, focus-group discussions, lesson observations and document analysis. The key findings of the study were that: a) prior to the intervention with the active learning framework the teachers who took part in the study did not ask learners to explore environmental issues in the environment or to respond to particular environmental issues; b) active learning processes have the potential to facilitate the exploration of environmental issues in the environment, and responses to particular environmental issues. Active learning also have the potential to strengthen all aspects of education quality indicated in Nikel and Lowe’s (2010) quality model, namely effectiveness, efficiency, equity, relevance, responsiveness, reflexivity and sustainability; c) the active learning framework encouraged teachers to use a variety of situated learning approaches, such as the collaborative method, the cooperative method, the problem-solving method and the enquiry method, in order to strengthen the educational quality in Environmental Studies classrooms; and d) teachers find the active learning framework useful as a tool for planning and presenting environmental learning lessons. The findings of the study have the potential to inform curriculum developers, materials developers and educators with an interest in improving education quality through environmental learning processes within the Environmental Studies Curriculum in Namibia. Furthermore, Nikel and Lowe’s education quality indicators provided an informative and comprehensive understanding of education quality and provided a useful tool in evaluating and reflecting on education quality as well as my own work as a teacher.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Jacobs, Nicola Clara
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Environmental education -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs -- Namibia -- Windhoek , Active learning -- Namibia -- Windhoek , Education -- Evaluation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2058 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019803
- Description: The study was conducted to explore the relationship between active learning processes emerging from the use of O’Donoghue’s (2001) active learning framework and a series of education quality indicators proposed by Nikel and Lowe (2010). To achieve this aim a professional educational intervention was conducted encouraging the use of this active learning framework in the Namibian Environmental Studies Curriculum, in order to strengthen educational quality within the Environmental Studies Curriculum. The research was conducted in the Windhoek region at the school where I am currently teaching. Four teachers took part in this study, including myself in the role of a participantobserver. The active learning framework was used to guide us in the planning and presentations of environmental learning lessons. The study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm and was qualitative in nature as well as focusing on a quantitative aspect to analyse some of the data (learners’ written work). Qualitative data were generated through individual interviews, focus-group discussions, lesson observations and document analysis. The key findings of the study were that: a) prior to the intervention with the active learning framework the teachers who took part in the study did not ask learners to explore environmental issues in the environment or to respond to particular environmental issues; b) active learning processes have the potential to facilitate the exploration of environmental issues in the environment, and responses to particular environmental issues. Active learning also have the potential to strengthen all aspects of education quality indicated in Nikel and Lowe’s (2010) quality model, namely effectiveness, efficiency, equity, relevance, responsiveness, reflexivity and sustainability; c) the active learning framework encouraged teachers to use a variety of situated learning approaches, such as the collaborative method, the cooperative method, the problem-solving method and the enquiry method, in order to strengthen the educational quality in Environmental Studies classrooms; and d) teachers find the active learning framework useful as a tool for planning and presenting environmental learning lessons. The findings of the study have the potential to inform curriculum developers, materials developers and educators with an interest in improving education quality through environmental learning processes within the Environmental Studies Curriculum in Namibia. Furthermore, Nikel and Lowe’s education quality indicators provided an informative and comprehensive understanding of education quality and provided a useful tool in evaluating and reflecting on education quality as well as my own work as a teacher.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Investigating the inclusion of environmental learning in the Life Science Grade 10 curriculum : a case study of three Namibian schools
- Authors: Joseph, Cecilia Namuhuya
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Life sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia -- Omusati , Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia -- Omusati , Curriculum-based assessment -- Namibia -- Omusati , Pedagogical content knowledge , Educational tests and measurements -- Namibia -- Omusati
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2033 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017344
- Description: This study was carried out to investigate how Grade 10 Life Science teachers in three schools in the Omusati region of Namibia are including Environmental Learning (EL) in terms of the curriculum policy. A qualitative approach was used to generate data through document analysis, interviews and classroom observations to investigate the application of the policy of including environmental learning in classroom curriculum practice. The research was primarily directed towards examining constraints and enabling factors in the context of the three schools that participated in the study. The study revealed that teaching strategies for the inclusion of environmental learning were not widely evident, suggesting disparities between the policy of enabling environmental education through the inclusion of environmental learning across the curriculum. It was notable that teacher knowledge and interest in environmental education influence how they include environmental learning and that assessment practices narrow the scope of environmental learning in ways that do not include critical thinking and problem solving skills. The study concludes that despite diverse constraints inhibiting inclusion, the evidence suggests that the inclusion of environmental learning in Namibia’s Life Science curriculum can enable environmental education. The above main findings are used to make recommendations toward strengthening environmental content knowledge of teachers and to improve assessment practices. It was also noted that some of the environmental learning constraints could be transformed into enablers with more teacher support and by making a better link between environmental learning theories and practices. This will involve a redirection of the curriculum documents as well as the provision of other learning support materials to support environmental learning. The study has enabled me to conclude that what is happening should be encouraged so that it continues and is strengthened although the implementation of environmental learning is not as clear as the policy had mapped out.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Joseph, Cecilia Namuhuya
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Life sciences -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia -- Omusati , Environmental education -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia -- Omusati , Curriculum-based assessment -- Namibia -- Omusati , Pedagogical content knowledge , Educational tests and measurements -- Namibia -- Omusati
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2033 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017344
- Description: This study was carried out to investigate how Grade 10 Life Science teachers in three schools in the Omusati region of Namibia are including Environmental Learning (EL) in terms of the curriculum policy. A qualitative approach was used to generate data through document analysis, interviews and classroom observations to investigate the application of the policy of including environmental learning in classroom curriculum practice. The research was primarily directed towards examining constraints and enabling factors in the context of the three schools that participated in the study. The study revealed that teaching strategies for the inclusion of environmental learning were not widely evident, suggesting disparities between the policy of enabling environmental education through the inclusion of environmental learning across the curriculum. It was notable that teacher knowledge and interest in environmental education influence how they include environmental learning and that assessment practices narrow the scope of environmental learning in ways that do not include critical thinking and problem solving skills. The study concludes that despite diverse constraints inhibiting inclusion, the evidence suggests that the inclusion of environmental learning in Namibia’s Life Science curriculum can enable environmental education. The above main findings are used to make recommendations toward strengthening environmental content knowledge of teachers and to improve assessment practices. It was also noted that some of the environmental learning constraints could be transformed into enablers with more teacher support and by making a better link between environmental learning theories and practices. This will involve a redirection of the curriculum documents as well as the provision of other learning support materials to support environmental learning. The study has enabled me to conclude that what is happening should be encouraged so that it continues and is strengthened although the implementation of environmental learning is not as clear as the policy had mapped out.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Learners' numeracy progression and the role of mediation in the context of two after school mathematics clubs
- Authors: Stott, Deborah Ann
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , After-school programs -- South Africa , Numeracy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Learning, Psychology of , Education -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017181
- Description: National and international assessment results, research studies and reports point to South Africa as having educational challenges, specifically with mathematics, science and language. Addressing some of these issues is a key aim for the SANC project at Rhodes University, the context in which this study takes place. Working from a broad Vygotskian perspective of learning and development, this study had a dual focus and investigated how Grade 3 learners’ mathematical proficiency progressed (or not) whilst participating in after school maths clubs over the course of a year, and explored how the mediation offered in the clubs enabled or constrained the emergence of zones of proximal development (ZPD) and thus learning for the club learners. Methodologically, this study works within a largely qualitative, interpretive research paradigm and is designed using a longitudinal case study research strategy. Two after school maths clubs formed the empirical field. The study drew on a range of data collection methods to investigate the dual nature of the research questions for Grade 3 learners. Examples include adapted one-to-one mathematical proficiency interviews and paired task based interviews. The study highlighted the relationship between the multiple roles I played both within the research study and within the SANC project context and emphasises the influence and future implications for these various roles within the SANC project and beyond in terms of my own role as club mentor, for the future design of the SANC project maths club programme and for broader teacher and club facilitator development within and beyond the project. This study has offered insight into how mathematical proficiency may develop in Grade 3 South African learners and as such is an important contribution to the newly developing field of both numeracy and primary educational research in Southern Africa. Additionally, the research findings point to the clubs, as an example of an out-of-school time (OST) programme, providing potentially enabling spaces for both recovery and extension of mathematical proficiency in learners as these spaces are free from several contextual constraints that teachers face in their classrooms. Furthermore, it was found that learners showed development of their conceptual understanding, procedural fluency and adaptive reasoning as proposed by Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell (2001). The use of various elements of the Maths Recovery (MR) programme (Wright, 2003) in the research process has highlighted various important contributions for broader research. For example, the need to investigate less time consuming approaches to both diagnostic assessment and learner mathematical profiling. Findings from this study support Meira and Lerman’s (2001, 2009) recently developed notion that catching attention is key to the creation or emergence of a ZPD. The study found that a combination of ‘attention catching’ and ‘tuning in’ enabled the creation (emergence) and sustainment of ZPDs in club learners. The study proposed the notion of tuning in where participants in a mathematical interaction continually adjust to each other in order to communicate mathematically. Furthermore, the study found that when attention is not caught or the participants are not tuned in, the learning activity may still be useful in assisting learners to consolidate their existing learning and / or build confidence and as such is particularly relevant to the South African context where fluency in calculating is weak (Hoadley, 2012; Schollar, 2008). This emergent notion of ‘flow’ additionally can play a supporting role in the emergence of a ZPD. The study also found that the manner in which the mediation was offered is important. The results show that the mathematical contributions learners make during interactions captured the mentors’ attention and resulted in mediation that was intentional but spontaneous, flexible, responsive and in-the-moment. This study makes theoretical and methodological contributions to various aspects of mathematics education research particularly with regard to how ZPDs emerge and are sustained and how mediation is offered to facilitate the emergence of ZPDs. Additionally, some aspects of the Learning Framework in Number (LFIN) as part of the Maths Recovery programme have been extended to work in a South African after school club context and to provide useful information for both learner progression over time and for planning of club activities. As such this study thus also contributes to the newly developing field of primary mathematics research in South Africa and to the body of research on primary after school learning programmes both locally and internationally.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Stott, Deborah Ann
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , After-school programs -- South Africa , Numeracy -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Learning, Psychology of , Education -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2017 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017181
- Description: National and international assessment results, research studies and reports point to South Africa as having educational challenges, specifically with mathematics, science and language. Addressing some of these issues is a key aim for the SANC project at Rhodes University, the context in which this study takes place. Working from a broad Vygotskian perspective of learning and development, this study had a dual focus and investigated how Grade 3 learners’ mathematical proficiency progressed (or not) whilst participating in after school maths clubs over the course of a year, and explored how the mediation offered in the clubs enabled or constrained the emergence of zones of proximal development (ZPD) and thus learning for the club learners. Methodologically, this study works within a largely qualitative, interpretive research paradigm and is designed using a longitudinal case study research strategy. Two after school maths clubs formed the empirical field. The study drew on a range of data collection methods to investigate the dual nature of the research questions for Grade 3 learners. Examples include adapted one-to-one mathematical proficiency interviews and paired task based interviews. The study highlighted the relationship between the multiple roles I played both within the research study and within the SANC project context and emphasises the influence and future implications for these various roles within the SANC project and beyond in terms of my own role as club mentor, for the future design of the SANC project maths club programme and for broader teacher and club facilitator development within and beyond the project. This study has offered insight into how mathematical proficiency may develop in Grade 3 South African learners and as such is an important contribution to the newly developing field of both numeracy and primary educational research in Southern Africa. Additionally, the research findings point to the clubs, as an example of an out-of-school time (OST) programme, providing potentially enabling spaces for both recovery and extension of mathematical proficiency in learners as these spaces are free from several contextual constraints that teachers face in their classrooms. Furthermore, it was found that learners showed development of their conceptual understanding, procedural fluency and adaptive reasoning as proposed by Kilpatrick, Swafford and Findell (2001). The use of various elements of the Maths Recovery (MR) programme (Wright, 2003) in the research process has highlighted various important contributions for broader research. For example, the need to investigate less time consuming approaches to both diagnostic assessment and learner mathematical profiling. Findings from this study support Meira and Lerman’s (2001, 2009) recently developed notion that catching attention is key to the creation or emergence of a ZPD. The study found that a combination of ‘attention catching’ and ‘tuning in’ enabled the creation (emergence) and sustainment of ZPDs in club learners. The study proposed the notion of tuning in where participants in a mathematical interaction continually adjust to each other in order to communicate mathematically. Furthermore, the study found that when attention is not caught or the participants are not tuned in, the learning activity may still be useful in assisting learners to consolidate their existing learning and / or build confidence and as such is particularly relevant to the South African context where fluency in calculating is weak (Hoadley, 2012; Schollar, 2008). This emergent notion of ‘flow’ additionally can play a supporting role in the emergence of a ZPD. The study also found that the manner in which the mediation was offered is important. The results show that the mathematical contributions learners make during interactions captured the mentors’ attention and resulted in mediation that was intentional but spontaneous, flexible, responsive and in-the-moment. This study makes theoretical and methodological contributions to various aspects of mathematics education research particularly with regard to how ZPDs emerge and are sustained and how mediation is offered to facilitate the emergence of ZPDs. Additionally, some aspects of the Learning Framework in Number (LFIN) as part of the Maths Recovery programme have been extended to work in a South African after school club context and to provide useful information for both learner progression over time and for planning of club activities. As such this study thus also contributes to the newly developing field of primary mathematics research in South Africa and to the body of research on primary after school learning programmes both locally and internationally.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Parental involvement in school governance: a case study of a secondary school in Okahandja, Namibia
- Authors: Shikwambi, Victoria
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Parent-teacher relationships -- Namibia -- Okahandja , Education -- Parent participation -- Namibia -- Okahandja , School management and organization -- Namibia -- Okahandja , School boards -- Namibia -- Okahandja
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2047 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017358
- Description: Since Namibia gained independence parents have increasingly been seen as equal partners in the education process. The Education Act 16 of 2001 provides for the democratic participation in schools by parents, learners and other education stakeholders through the introduction of regional Education Forums and School Boards in schools Parental involvement in school governance has been widely researched and has become a ‘hot topic’ worldwide, including in Namibia. This study investigated and described parental involvement through the School Board in school governance in a secondary school in Otjozondjupa region, Namibia. The study was conducted within a qualitative, interpretive paradigm. The study employed three data collection tools namely, semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation. The School Board was made up of parents of different classes and backgrounds, i.e. employed, unemployed, professionals and business persons and with different levels of educational background. These members create a network that represents the voices of parents from different social groups, with different levels of social capital. The different levels of social capital shape the nature of the contributions and interactions on the Board. The study found that in spite of the frequency of interaction between the School Board, parents and the community the School Board is still in a dilemma as it is unable to connect with its prominent source of potential support, such as the business community, due to an outdated view that the school is well-off based on its historic status of privilege. With respect to communications with parents the focus tends to be on the negatives of learners’ behaviour or performance and the task of the parents in this regard. Broadening the agenda of the collaboration to include positive aspects of the child would add to the motivation of parents and open possibilities for new forms of collaboration. The school lacks a well-coordinated system for utilizing the available resources as well as community expertise for the benefit of the school. On the strength of the findings, one of the recommendations is for a more structured program and strategy for the Boards various interactions with the community and parents.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Shikwambi, Victoria
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Parent-teacher relationships -- Namibia -- Okahandja , Education -- Parent participation -- Namibia -- Okahandja , School management and organization -- Namibia -- Okahandja , School boards -- Namibia -- Okahandja
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2047 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017358
- Description: Since Namibia gained independence parents have increasingly been seen as equal partners in the education process. The Education Act 16 of 2001 provides for the democratic participation in schools by parents, learners and other education stakeholders through the introduction of regional Education Forums and School Boards in schools Parental involvement in school governance has been widely researched and has become a ‘hot topic’ worldwide, including in Namibia. This study investigated and described parental involvement through the School Board in school governance in a secondary school in Otjozondjupa region, Namibia. The study was conducted within a qualitative, interpretive paradigm. The study employed three data collection tools namely, semi-structured interviews, document analysis and observation. The School Board was made up of parents of different classes and backgrounds, i.e. employed, unemployed, professionals and business persons and with different levels of educational background. These members create a network that represents the voices of parents from different social groups, with different levels of social capital. The different levels of social capital shape the nature of the contributions and interactions on the Board. The study found that in spite of the frequency of interaction between the School Board, parents and the community the School Board is still in a dilemma as it is unable to connect with its prominent source of potential support, such as the business community, due to an outdated view that the school is well-off based on its historic status of privilege. With respect to communications with parents the focus tends to be on the negatives of learners’ behaviour or performance and the task of the parents in this regard. Broadening the agenda of the collaboration to include positive aspects of the child would add to the motivation of parents and open possibilities for new forms of collaboration. The school lacks a well-coordinated system for utilizing the available resources as well as community expertise for the benefit of the school. On the strength of the findings, one of the recommendations is for a more structured program and strategy for the Boards various interactions with the community and parents.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Primary maths teacher learning and identity within a numeracy in-service community of practice
- Authors: Pausigere, Peter
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Student-centered learning -- South Africa , Communities of practice -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017183
- Description: This study focuses on the processes of primary maths teacher learning and how their identities and practices evolve in relation to participation in a primary maths focused in-service teacher education programme, called the Numeracy Inquiry Community of Leader Educators (NICLE).Additionally it investigates activities, relations and forms of participation within the Community of Practice (CoP) which enable or constrain evolving primary maths identities and practices and how these relate to the broader context. The study draws from the situative-participationists (Lave, 1996; Wenger, 1998; Sfard & Prusak, 2005; Wenger et al, 2002) theoretical framework supplemented by Bernstein’s (2000) pedagogic identity model. Using a qualitative educational interpretive approach I sampled 8 primary teachers drawn from NICLE and gathered data through participant observations, interactive interviews, document analysis and reflective journals. Analysing the key data themes that emerged from teacher learning stories, which I have called stelos, the study explains the nature of the primary maths teachers’ learning, transformation and participation experiences in NICLE using the synonyms reinvigoration and remediation and activation and relating these semantics to the teachers’ mathematical identities and histories. The study also explains the processes through which primary maths teacher identities evolve in relation to participation in an in-service CoP as ‘insiding’ and ‘outcropping’. Interpreting qualitative data from the empirical field indicates that teachers participating in NICLE mostly took-up into their maths classrooms key numeracy-domain concepts, resources and issues presented by primary maths experts which are informed by research and theory that link to practices. Teachers collaboratively and actively engaged in a range of activities that relate to classroom practices. Teacher learning was also enabled when teachers engaged in maths overlapping communities of practice, shared classroom experiences in friendly ways with fellow NICLE teachers and engaged with NICLE presenters who mutually respected and regarded them as professionals. Such affordances were said to enable teachers to engage learners in maths classes and improve their understanding of specific primary maths concepts. On the other hand teachers felt challenged by the travelling distance, limited time and also raised the tension of how to scale-up maths professional development initiatives to include schools from their community. The study makes a theoretical contribution by illustrating how Bernstein’s pedagogic identity model and its elaboration by Tyler (1999) provides analytical tools to interrogate macro educational changes and connect these to the micro processes and teacher identities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Pausigere, Peter
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- South Africa , Teachers -- In-service training -- South Africa , Student-centered learning -- South Africa , Communities of practice -- South Africa , Educational change -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2019 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017183
- Description: This study focuses on the processes of primary maths teacher learning and how their identities and practices evolve in relation to participation in a primary maths focused in-service teacher education programme, called the Numeracy Inquiry Community of Leader Educators (NICLE).Additionally it investigates activities, relations and forms of participation within the Community of Practice (CoP) which enable or constrain evolving primary maths identities and practices and how these relate to the broader context. The study draws from the situative-participationists (Lave, 1996; Wenger, 1998; Sfard & Prusak, 2005; Wenger et al, 2002) theoretical framework supplemented by Bernstein’s (2000) pedagogic identity model. Using a qualitative educational interpretive approach I sampled 8 primary teachers drawn from NICLE and gathered data through participant observations, interactive interviews, document analysis and reflective journals. Analysing the key data themes that emerged from teacher learning stories, which I have called stelos, the study explains the nature of the primary maths teachers’ learning, transformation and participation experiences in NICLE using the synonyms reinvigoration and remediation and activation and relating these semantics to the teachers’ mathematical identities and histories. The study also explains the processes through which primary maths teacher identities evolve in relation to participation in an in-service CoP as ‘insiding’ and ‘outcropping’. Interpreting qualitative data from the empirical field indicates that teachers participating in NICLE mostly took-up into their maths classrooms key numeracy-domain concepts, resources and issues presented by primary maths experts which are informed by research and theory that link to practices. Teachers collaboratively and actively engaged in a range of activities that relate to classroom practices. Teacher learning was also enabled when teachers engaged in maths overlapping communities of practice, shared classroom experiences in friendly ways with fellow NICLE teachers and engaged with NICLE presenters who mutually respected and regarded them as professionals. Such affordances were said to enable teachers to engage learners in maths classes and improve their understanding of specific primary maths concepts. On the other hand teachers felt challenged by the travelling distance, limited time and also raised the tension of how to scale-up maths professional development initiatives to include schools from their community. The study makes a theoretical contribution by illustrating how Bernstein’s pedagogic identity model and its elaboration by Tyler (1999) provides analytical tools to interrogate macro educational changes and connect these to the micro processes and teacher identities.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Review of two sustainability learning programmes for industrial settings in relation to emerging green learning aspects
- Authors: Visagie, Martha Jacoba
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Environmental education , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Natural resources -- Management -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Environmental economics -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Green movement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017360
- Description: Driven by the needs of growing populations, industrial and governing powers are successfully accelerating the rate of industrial consumption, production and employment as if the earth’s resources are in unlimited supply. In contrast, a range of international sustainable development forums, inspired by visionary individuals, have made significant progress in creating awareness that the footprint of human activity is exceeding the earth’s sink and source capacity; and educating people in government, workplaces and communities to slow down industrial consumption and clean up production. Turning around conventional and short sighted ‘business as usual’ logic, and directing economies toward greener, long-term sustainability outcomes, still meet with resistance and hidden unsustainable agendas. The ‘green economy’ drive nevertheless since 2008 attracts financial and human resources and bold action in favour of more sustainable management of human-nature relations. The sustainable development movement for example advocates a ‘triple bottom line’ approach, holding that socially and ecologically responsible economic development would be sustainable. The sustainability movement has attained significant buy-in among governments and business communities. It forms the under-labouring philosophy of the programmes reviewed in this case study. The thesis reviews social-economic events paving the way for a global green economy. Taking a leadership role in the sustainable development movement the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) concurred to respond to the 2008 world-wide economic meltdown with a two-pronged ‘Green New Deal’ (UNEP, 2008). The Green New Deal financial package helps restore multi-national economic growth, employment and markets while re-shaping economies to follow an ecologically and socially responsible growth trajectory. South Africa implements green economy principles as part of the 2010 The New Growth Path overarching policy framework, with an implementation strategy embedded in the 2011 National Development Plan (NDP) (RSA. The Presidency, 2010; 2011). The New Growth Path emphasises that the transformation of South Africa’s un-sustainable economic and educational legacy to a more sustainable future is not expected to follow a smooth, linear process. The transition to a green economy is rather expected to be an event of “… noisy, healthy democracy” (RSA. The Presidency, 2010). A green, low carbon economy particularly constitutes a pledge to slow down and turn the human induced climate change trajectory around. McKinsey (2009) argues that this pledge is attainable on a world-wide scale, as sufficient and suitable environmentally sound techniques and technologies are already in place. Attaining buy-in from business stakeholders toward re-thinking and amending an economy’s self-defying large environmental footprint (inclusive of carbon, water and waste footprints) however requires education starting with awarenessraising followed by educational programmes and official curricula aimed at implementation and continuous improvement of green practices in day to day ‘doings and beings’ (Sen, 1997). This study at implementation level reviews two green economy training programmes and their emergence in South Africa around this rationale. The awareness generation and training programmes elected as case study examples are the ‘Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production’ (RECP) and ‘Industrial Energy Efficiency’ (IEE) programmes, of the hosting agency National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA). The RECP and IEE teams reach out to decision makers, engineers and artisans at industrial workplaces and workplace related events to add green competences to their business-as-usual skill sets. Implementing green options in industry typically slows down industrial scale resource consumption, pollution, waste generation and green-house gas (GHG) emissions while optimising resource productivity and enterprise excellence. Optimised supply side systems allow industry to reduce energy and material intensity of products thus reducing cost and producing more with less. In transitioning to a ‘Green GDP’ economy South Africa is awakening to the reality that natural resources constitute the original, albeit limited feedstock for growth and employment. The RECP and IEE approach also contribute to reduction of industrial waste, waste-to-landfill, and energy and resource security. Literature reviewed for this research provides evidence that the green economy’s triple bottom line philosophy is quantifiable thus manageable. A range of green economy management tools are emerging, including guidelines for carbon, water and environmental footprinting and the green-house gas abatement cost curve (see section 2.2.5) (McKinsey and Company, 2009). Transitioning from business as usual to ecologically sustainable industrial sectors however requires visionary, educated leadership, willing and capable of introducing modern and more efficient techniques and technologies. The boundaries of this half thesis embrace the globally and historically significant Tbilisi Declaration and other education and sustainable development agreements produced by United Nations and OECD mechanisms. Participating nations like South Africa incorporate the essence of these agreements into domestic policies and strategies, and align industries to remain competitive in international markets, which are increasingly enforcing green standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. The focus of this case study guided by inductive, abductive and retroductive inference is to understand how the two sustainability learning programmes for people in industrial workplaces, supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and relevant donors, and overseen by the South African Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), relate to emerging green learning aspects. Producing a review of this nature requires a framework of laterally understanding emerging green learning aspects, for which I have reviewed green economy literature and also green learning and conventional education and training literature respectively. Themes emerging from the literature review informed an analytical instrument (questionnaire) in Phase One. In Phase Two the questionnaire was applied through nested case study methodology to show how the educational content and approaches of the RECP and IEE programmes relate to emerging green learning aspects and as such is suitable for mainstreaming in the national educational system. From an explicit educational perspective potential partners for collaboration include the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) the South African Qualifications Authority’s (SAQA’s) Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) representing the training needs of the industrial workforce but affiliated to QCTO and SAQA. In the extended scenario the NCPC-SA as a dti programme recognises the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) as lead agency guiding implementation of South Africa’s green economy, and specifically DEA’s National Environmental Sector Skills Planning Forum (NESPF), a national leader in green skills development in South Africa, as conduit for productively mainstreaming relevant RECP and IEE content and approaches toward green skills development for the green economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Visagie, Martha Jacoba
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Environmental education , Sustainable development -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Natural resources -- Management -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Environmental economics -- Study and teaching (Continuing education) , Green movement
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2049 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017360
- Description: Driven by the needs of growing populations, industrial and governing powers are successfully accelerating the rate of industrial consumption, production and employment as if the earth’s resources are in unlimited supply. In contrast, a range of international sustainable development forums, inspired by visionary individuals, have made significant progress in creating awareness that the footprint of human activity is exceeding the earth’s sink and source capacity; and educating people in government, workplaces and communities to slow down industrial consumption and clean up production. Turning around conventional and short sighted ‘business as usual’ logic, and directing economies toward greener, long-term sustainability outcomes, still meet with resistance and hidden unsustainable agendas. The ‘green economy’ drive nevertheless since 2008 attracts financial and human resources and bold action in favour of more sustainable management of human-nature relations. The sustainable development movement for example advocates a ‘triple bottom line’ approach, holding that socially and ecologically responsible economic development would be sustainable. The sustainability movement has attained significant buy-in among governments and business communities. It forms the under-labouring philosophy of the programmes reviewed in this case study. The thesis reviews social-economic events paving the way for a global green economy. Taking a leadership role in the sustainable development movement the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) concurred to respond to the 2008 world-wide economic meltdown with a two-pronged ‘Green New Deal’ (UNEP, 2008). The Green New Deal financial package helps restore multi-national economic growth, employment and markets while re-shaping economies to follow an ecologically and socially responsible growth trajectory. South Africa implements green economy principles as part of the 2010 The New Growth Path overarching policy framework, with an implementation strategy embedded in the 2011 National Development Plan (NDP) (RSA. The Presidency, 2010; 2011). The New Growth Path emphasises that the transformation of South Africa’s un-sustainable economic and educational legacy to a more sustainable future is not expected to follow a smooth, linear process. The transition to a green economy is rather expected to be an event of “… noisy, healthy democracy” (RSA. The Presidency, 2010). A green, low carbon economy particularly constitutes a pledge to slow down and turn the human induced climate change trajectory around. McKinsey (2009) argues that this pledge is attainable on a world-wide scale, as sufficient and suitable environmentally sound techniques and technologies are already in place. Attaining buy-in from business stakeholders toward re-thinking and amending an economy’s self-defying large environmental footprint (inclusive of carbon, water and waste footprints) however requires education starting with awarenessraising followed by educational programmes and official curricula aimed at implementation and continuous improvement of green practices in day to day ‘doings and beings’ (Sen, 1997). This study at implementation level reviews two green economy training programmes and their emergence in South Africa around this rationale. The awareness generation and training programmes elected as case study examples are the ‘Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production’ (RECP) and ‘Industrial Energy Efficiency’ (IEE) programmes, of the hosting agency National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA). The RECP and IEE teams reach out to decision makers, engineers and artisans at industrial workplaces and workplace related events to add green competences to their business-as-usual skill sets. Implementing green options in industry typically slows down industrial scale resource consumption, pollution, waste generation and green-house gas (GHG) emissions while optimising resource productivity and enterprise excellence. Optimised supply side systems allow industry to reduce energy and material intensity of products thus reducing cost and producing more with less. In transitioning to a ‘Green GDP’ economy South Africa is awakening to the reality that natural resources constitute the original, albeit limited feedstock for growth and employment. The RECP and IEE approach also contribute to reduction of industrial waste, waste-to-landfill, and energy and resource security. Literature reviewed for this research provides evidence that the green economy’s triple bottom line philosophy is quantifiable thus manageable. A range of green economy management tools are emerging, including guidelines for carbon, water and environmental footprinting and the green-house gas abatement cost curve (see section 2.2.5) (McKinsey and Company, 2009). Transitioning from business as usual to ecologically sustainable industrial sectors however requires visionary, educated leadership, willing and capable of introducing modern and more efficient techniques and technologies. The boundaries of this half thesis embrace the globally and historically significant Tbilisi Declaration and other education and sustainable development agreements produced by United Nations and OECD mechanisms. Participating nations like South Africa incorporate the essence of these agreements into domestic policies and strategies, and align industries to remain competitive in international markets, which are increasingly enforcing green standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 50001. The focus of this case study guided by inductive, abductive and retroductive inference is to understand how the two sustainability learning programmes for people in industrial workplaces, supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and relevant donors, and overseen by the South African Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), relate to emerging green learning aspects. Producing a review of this nature requires a framework of laterally understanding emerging green learning aspects, for which I have reviewed green economy literature and also green learning and conventional education and training literature respectively. Themes emerging from the literature review informed an analytical instrument (questionnaire) in Phase One. In Phase Two the questionnaire was applied through nested case study methodology to show how the educational content and approaches of the RECP and IEE programmes relate to emerging green learning aspects and as such is suitable for mainstreaming in the national educational system. From an explicit educational perspective potential partners for collaboration include the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) the South African Qualifications Authority’s (SAQA’s) Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) representing the training needs of the industrial workforce but affiliated to QCTO and SAQA. In the extended scenario the NCPC-SA as a dti programme recognises the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) as lead agency guiding implementation of South Africa’s green economy, and specifically DEA’s National Environmental Sector Skills Planning Forum (NESPF), a national leader in green skills development in South Africa, as conduit for productively mainstreaming relevant RECP and IEE content and approaches toward green skills development for the green economy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Teacher leadership : a study in a township high school
- Authors: Kumalo, Elizabeth Nomso
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017349
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kumalo, Elizabeth Nomso
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Teacher effectiveness -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2038 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017349
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Teacher leadership practice : a case study of a public primary school in a semi-urban area of the Otjozondjupa Region, central Namibia
- Authors: Hanghuwo, Maria Nahambo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Democracy and education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Educational leadership , Teacher participation in administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017341
- Description: The education system in Namibia was shaped by the policies located within the framework of the apartheid ideology. Since it gained its independence in 1990, the government positioned education at the top of the national priorities. Thus, there has been a growing realisation of the importance of more democratic forms of leadership in the education system for the country to be able to cater for a democratic society. Amongst others, teachers became active creators and managers of the learning outcomes. In addition, teachers are regarded as agents of change and the driving force for productive teaching and learning. Literature describes how the management in schools has been redistributing authority and power so that a culture of teacher leadership in school communities can grow. More importantly, school improvement depends more on the active involvement of teacher leaders as it is realised that people in formal positions cannot do everything. In this line this study investigated the understanding of teachers and members of management of teacher leadership practice and it further identified the structural and cultural factors which enabled and inhibited this practice in a primary school. This study is a case study of a Primary school in a semi-urban area of Otjozondjupa Region, a central part of Namibia. This study was conducted in the interpretive paradigm and it is a qualitative case in nature, employing semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. Triangulation over the data revealed that respondents have an understanding of the concept and that all teachers are involved in leadership roles at school which are more strongly found in the classroom and through involvement with other teachers. Teacher leadership roles at the case study school also occur within the whole school with some limitations and also extend beyond the school. Grant’s (2008) model of teacher leadership was used to analyse the data. The study suggested some hindrances and supporting factors of teacher leadership. The findings suggested that teacher leadership is understood at the case study school and that they experienced factors that enabled and hindered this practice at different stages. Enabling factors included the school structure, further studies and workshops attended, while teacher leadership is impeded by teachers’ unwillingness to collaborate with others and the platoon system. The study recommends future large scale studies, including at secondary schools, so that a broader sense of teacher leadership may emerge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Hanghuwo, Maria Nahambo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Democracy and education -- Study and teaching (Elementary) -- Namibia , Educational leadership , Teacher participation in administration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2030 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017341
- Description: The education system in Namibia was shaped by the policies located within the framework of the apartheid ideology. Since it gained its independence in 1990, the government positioned education at the top of the national priorities. Thus, there has been a growing realisation of the importance of more democratic forms of leadership in the education system for the country to be able to cater for a democratic society. Amongst others, teachers became active creators and managers of the learning outcomes. In addition, teachers are regarded as agents of change and the driving force for productive teaching and learning. Literature describes how the management in schools has been redistributing authority and power so that a culture of teacher leadership in school communities can grow. More importantly, school improvement depends more on the active involvement of teacher leaders as it is realised that people in formal positions cannot do everything. In this line this study investigated the understanding of teachers and members of management of teacher leadership practice and it further identified the structural and cultural factors which enabled and inhibited this practice in a primary school. This study is a case study of a Primary school in a semi-urban area of Otjozondjupa Region, a central part of Namibia. This study was conducted in the interpretive paradigm and it is a qualitative case in nature, employing semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. Triangulation over the data revealed that respondents have an understanding of the concept and that all teachers are involved in leadership roles at school which are more strongly found in the classroom and through involvement with other teachers. Teacher leadership roles at the case study school also occur within the whole school with some limitations and also extend beyond the school. Grant’s (2008) model of teacher leadership was used to analyse the data. The study suggested some hindrances and supporting factors of teacher leadership. The findings suggested that teacher leadership is understood at the case study school and that they experienced factors that enabled and hindered this practice at different stages. Enabling factors included the school structure, further studies and workshops attended, while teacher leadership is impeded by teachers’ unwillingness to collaborate with others and the platoon system. The study recommends future large scale studies, including at secondary schools, so that a broader sense of teacher leadership may emerge.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
Teaching for conceptual understanding : an analysis of selected teachers' practice
- Authors: Kashima, Andreas Akwenye
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Teacher effectiveness -- Namibia , Student-centered learning -- Namibia , Constructivism (Education) -- Namibia , Problem solving , Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017348
- Description: 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.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Kashima, Andreas Akwenye
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Teacher effectiveness -- Namibia , Student-centered learning -- Namibia , Constructivism (Education) -- Namibia , Problem solving , Teachers -- In-service training -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2037 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017348
- Description: 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.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
The enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school : a restricted form
- Authors: Mancoko, Melikhaya Kenneth
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- King William's Town , School management and organization -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- King William's Town
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019886
- Description: Whilst the concept of teacher leadership is not new in the international literature (Grant, 2006), research on the topic of teacher leadership is emerging slowly as a new area of research interest in South Africa (Grant, 2006; Grant, 2005; Singh, 2007). Teacher leadership is basically about teachers who are leaders within and outside the classroom, who identify with and contribute to a community of teacher learners and leaders, influence others to improve their teaching practice and accept responsibility for realising the goals of their organisation (Katzenmeyer & Moller, 2001 in Grant, 2006). Therefore, teachers’ roles in operating as leaders in schools are acknowledged in literature. This study is a replication of a University of KwaZulu-Natal multi-case study on the enactment of teacher leadership conducted in various educational institutions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. In line with the original study, this study aimed at obtaining an understanding of the enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school in the King William’s Town education district, in the Eastern Cape. I further explored what factors promoted or hindered such enactment. As an Eastern Cape Master of Education student participating in a group research programme at Rhodes University, we adopted and used the same research questions, research approach, data collection methods as well as data analysis techniques as utilised in the original study. Therefore, this research study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm, following a qualitative approach. I adopted a case study methodology, with the case being the school and three teacher leaders as units of analysis. Data were gathered through a multi-method approach which consisted of a school profile, a focus group interview, semi-structured individual interviews, questionnaires, self reflective journaling and observations. Whilst the research was guided by distributed leadership theory, Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership and thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Research findings revealed that the enactment of teacher leadership was evident in Zones 1, 2 and 4 of Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership in the case study school. However, a restricted form of teacher leadership was enacted in Zone 3, whereby teachers were not regularly involved in school-wide decision-making processes. When teacher leadership was enacted, it was in a form of authorised distributed leadership. The study further identified the autocratic leadership style of the principal and of the School Management Team members, as well as the non-inclusive school culture as main barriers towards the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school. Despite these barriers, teachers’ high levels of enthusiasm were identified as an enabling factor that promoted the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Mancoko, Melikhaya Kenneth
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Educational leadership -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Teacher participation in administration -- South Africa -- King William's Town , School management and organization -- South Africa -- King William's Town , Education, Secondary -- South Africa -- King William's Town
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:2060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1019886
- Description: Whilst the concept of teacher leadership is not new in the international literature (Grant, 2006), research on the topic of teacher leadership is emerging slowly as a new area of research interest in South Africa (Grant, 2006; Grant, 2005; Singh, 2007). Teacher leadership is basically about teachers who are leaders within and outside the classroom, who identify with and contribute to a community of teacher learners and leaders, influence others to improve their teaching practice and accept responsibility for realising the goals of their organisation (Katzenmeyer & Moller, 2001 in Grant, 2006). Therefore, teachers’ roles in operating as leaders in schools are acknowledged in literature. This study is a replication of a University of KwaZulu-Natal multi-case study on the enactment of teacher leadership conducted in various educational institutions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. In line with the original study, this study aimed at obtaining an understanding of the enactment of teacher leadership in a township high school in the King William’s Town education district, in the Eastern Cape. I further explored what factors promoted or hindered such enactment. As an Eastern Cape Master of Education student participating in a group research programme at Rhodes University, we adopted and used the same research questions, research approach, data collection methods as well as data analysis techniques as utilised in the original study. Therefore, this research study was conducted within the interpretive paradigm, following a qualitative approach. I adopted a case study methodology, with the case being the school and three teacher leaders as units of analysis. Data were gathered through a multi-method approach which consisted of a school profile, a focus group interview, semi-structured individual interviews, questionnaires, self reflective journaling and observations. Whilst the research was guided by distributed leadership theory, Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership and thematic content analysis was used to analyse data. Research findings revealed that the enactment of teacher leadership was evident in Zones 1, 2 and 4 of Grant’s (2008) Model of teacher leadership in the case study school. However, a restricted form of teacher leadership was enacted in Zone 3, whereby teachers were not regularly involved in school-wide decision-making processes. When teacher leadership was enacted, it was in a form of authorised distributed leadership. The study further identified the autocratic leadership style of the principal and of the School Management Team members, as well as the non-inclusive school culture as main barriers towards the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school. Despite these barriers, teachers’ high levels of enthusiasm were identified as an enabling factor that promoted the enactment of teacher leadership in the case study school.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015