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Stanley, Ethel D. Karash Rhodes Dent. "A problem based approach to undergraduate biology education." Normal, Ill. : Illinois State University, 2006. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=0&did=1276406041&SrchMode=1&sid=7&Fmt=2&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1202156244&clientId=43838.
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Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006.Title from title page screen, viewed on February 4, 2008. Dissertation Committee: Dent M. Rhodes (chair), Barbara Nourie, Kenneth F. Jerich. Includes bibliographical references and abstract. Also available in print.
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Mohd, Radzi Fatin Aliana. "Inquiry-based Visual Arts Approach: A Self Study." The Ohio State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1529623380341233.
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Smith, Douglas W. "Elementary students' use of science process skills in problem-solving: The effects of an inquiry-based instructional approach /." The Ohio State University, 1997. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487945320759575.
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Roe, Kathryn R. "Enhancing student learning through small group and class discussions following inquiry-based laboratory experiments." Online full text .pdf document, available to Fuller patrons only, 2002. http://www.tren.com.
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Austin, Pamela Winifred. "A value-based approach to promoting excellence in mathematics education." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1656.
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This research study has emerged as a result of my concern regarding the apparent low self-efficacy amongst initial teacher education students in my mathematics education classes. It also reflects a reported renewed interest in values, and the promotion of excellence in education. The effects of a values-based approach to mathematics education towards improving students’ self-efficacy and promoting excellence have been investigated, grounded within my ontology of excellence in mathematics education, which incorporates the values of respect, fairness, accountability, honesty and compassion. An inquiry-based teaching and learning approach formed the framework within which the study took place. Notions of ‘new scholarship’, premised on the view that teaching is about engagement in participatory learning, and the development of communities of creative students, provided the theoretical framework. Both quantitative and qualitative data gathering methods were used. Data-collection tools included affective-disposition statements, interviews, journal entries, as well as a video recording of a mathematics education lesson. The quantitative and qualitative data generated suggest improved levels of self-efficacy amongst the students who participated in the study. The data also suggest that a valuesbased approach to teaching can be used as an effective approach by mathematics teachers – and mathematics teacher educators – for the purpose of promoting the pursuit of excellence. As teacher education worldwide is currently characterised by a lack of vitality in teacher preparation (Grossman, 2008), the findings of this study should provide insights for teacher educators, teachers and policy makers who wish to promote mathematics self-efficacy, excellence and facilitate enhanced vitality within the teaching profession.
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Scheidemantel, Debora Diane 1957. "Behavioral and natural history studies of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis and inquiry based secondary laboratory lesson development stemming from university research." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/278612.
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This study was conducted to determine behavior patterns of the jumping spider Habronattus oregonensis. Time budgets show spiders spend their time out and about, eating, interacting with other spiders, and in hidden behaviors with out and about behaviors dominating. Agonistic encounters occur in the field and were staged in the laboratory. Whether a spider keeps control of the area is determined differently for males than females. In male-male interactions, the size of the spider as measured by weight is important in winning a skirmish regardless of familiarity with an area (residency). For female-female agonistic interactions, however, residency does affect the outcome. In interactions between male-female pairs, the male readily courts the female. Mature virgin females readily accept a mate; other females do not. Finally, experiences from university research were used to develop lesson plans for student study at the secondary level in biology classrooms.
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Adamson, Robert R. "An investigation of a project-based partnership approach to science education through a teacher's personal narrative inquiry." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape7/PQDD_0001/MQ45017.pdf.
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Nagel, Steven Todd. "Addressing Vision & Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: Two Case Studies." The Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1468847305.
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Hudson, Maren. "Examining the Understanding of Inquiry-Based Learning and Teaching Among Undergraduate Teachers and Students." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3338.
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One of the main aims of inquiry is to engage students as active, not passive, participants in science. The purpose of this study is to describe science educators’ and students’ views about inquiry-based instruction in order to better understand and improve implementation of evidence-based teaching strategies. Inquiry-based techniques have been shown to improve student understanding of scientific concepts, yet, there continue to be challenges in implementing these techniques. This research project utilizes Q Methodology, a research method that captures both common and disparate measures of subjectivity, to identify commonalities and defining viewpoints about inquiry-based teaching and learning. Three significantly different viewpoints were identified and each viewpoint represents differences in teaching styles and classroom environments. Additionally, consensus items reveal students and instructors highly value relating science to everyday life; however, a lack of importance is placed upon peer learning and use of open-ended questions.
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Promyod, Nattida. "Investigating the Shifts in Thai Teachers' Views of Learning and Pedagogical Practices While Adopting an Argument-Based Inquiry Approach." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4900.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the shift of Thai teachers' views of learning and their pedagogical practices from the traditional approach to be more centered on an argument-based inquiry approach (ABI) in Thai classrooms, where teachers and learners have long been familiar with the lecture-based tradition. Other than examining the changes, the study further explored the relationship throughout the ABI implementation phase with a specific focus on driving questions, problem solving and reasoning, and establishing a supportive learning environment.
The study was conducted in Thailand with five physics teachers. Data collection involved classroom observations and teacher interviews. The constant comparative method was employed throughout the data analysis process. The research questions that guided this study were: (1) What changes occurred in teachers' pedagogical practices and views of learning throughout the implementation phase of the argument-based inquiry approach? (2) If change did occur, what was the relationship of the change among the observed criteria (questioning, problem solving, and the establishing of a supportive learning environment)?
The results revealed that after fourteen weeks, the three teachers who expressed a positive attitude toward the ABI approach and expressed their willingness to practice started to shift their practices and views of learning toward a student-centered model. Although each teacher exhibited a different starting point within the three observed criteria, they all began to shift their practices first, before reflecting on their beliefs. In contrast to these teachers, the other two teachers were impeded by several barriers and therefore failed to implement the approach. These positive attitude, willingness, and shift of practice appear to be connected and necessary for change.
The study highlights that in order to support the implementation of the ABI approach, especially in a large class size cultural setting, opportunities for teachers to be challenged in both classroom and cognitive spaces, where they are immersed in authentic practices and be able to reflect on their own actions as well as their existing beliefs, are crucial. However, to advance the dimensions of this issue, long-term professional development and a longitudinal study observing a large class size cultural settings are suggested.
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Pistorova, Stacey L. "Project Study Group: A Narrative Inquiry into how Individual Epistemological Beliefs and Teaching Practices are affected by Participation in a Study Group Implementing the Project Approach." University of Toledo / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1384296285.
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Chanlen, Niphon. "Longitudinal analysis of standardized test scores of students in the science writing heuristic approach." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4953.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal impacts of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach on student science achievement measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). A number of studies have reported positive impact of an inquiry-based instruction on student achievement, critical thinking skills, reasoning skills, attitude toward science, etc. So far, studies have focused on exploring how an intervention affects student achievement using teacher/researcher-generated measurement. Only a few studies have attempted to explore the long-term impacts of an intervention on student science achievement measured by standardized tests.
The students' science and reading ITBS data was collected from 2000 to 2011 from a school district which had adopted the SWH approach as the main approach in science classrooms since 2002. The data consisted of 12,350 data points from 3,039 students. The multilevel model for change with discontinuity in elevation and slope technique was used to analyze changes in student science achievement growth trajectories prior and after adopting the SWH approach.
The results showed that the SWH approach positively impacted students by initially raising science achievement scores. The initial impact was maintained and gradually increased when students were continuously exposed to the SWH approach. Disadvantaged students who were at risk of having low science achievement had bigger benefits from experience with the SWH approach. As a result, existing problematic achievement gaps were narrowed down. Moreover, students who started experience with the SWH approach as early as elementary school seemed to have better science achievement growth compared to students who started experiencing with the SWH approach only in high school.
The results found in this study not only confirmed the positive impacts of the SWH approach on student achievement, but also demonstrated additive impacts found when students had longitudinal experiences with the approach. By engaging in the argument-based classrooms where teachers value students' prior knowledge, encourage students to take control of their learning, and provide non-threatening environment for students to developing big ideas through negotiation, student's achievement can be enhanced. The results also started to shed some light on sustainability of the SWH approach within the school district.
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Owen, Walter Lee. "A new model of evolution education for middle school science." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2006. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2999.
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Proposes a new model for teaching inquiry and critical thinking in the middle school science classroom. This model will assist students in learning the evidence for evolution for themselves, as well as assisting them in developing skills in critical thinking and inquiry. The objective of this model is to create a more scientifically literate student body who can go on to pursue an even greater understanding of the nature of science.
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Pinney, Brian Robert John. "Characterizing the changes in teaching practice during first semester implementation of an argument-based inquiry approach in a middle school science classroom." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4721.
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The purpose of this study was to characterize ways in which teaching practice in classroom undergoing first semester implementation of an argument-based inquiry approach changes in whole-class discussion. Being that argument is explicitly called for in the Next Generation Science Standards and is currently a rare practice in teaching, many teachers will have to transform their teaching practice for inclusion of this feature. Most studies on Argument-Based Inquiry (ABI) agree that development of argument does not come easily and is only acquired through practice.
Few studies have examined the ways in which teaching practice changes in relation to the big idea or disciplinary core idea (NGSS), the development of dialogue, and/or the development of argument during first semester implementation of an argument-based inquiry approach. To explore these areas, this study posed three primary research questions: (1) How does a teacher in his first semester of Science Writing Heuristic professional development make use of the "big idea"?, (1a) Is the indicated big idea consistent with NGSS core concepts?, (2) How did the dialogue in whole-class discussion change during the first semester of argument-based inquiry professional development?, (3) How did the argument in whole-class discussion change during the first semester of argument-based inquiry professional development?
This semester-long study that took place in a middle school in a rural Midwestern city was grounded in interactive constructivism, and utilized a qualitative design to identify the ways in which the teacher utilized big ideas and how dialogue and argumentative dialogue developed over time. The purposefully selected teacher in this study provided a unique situation where he was in his first semester of professional development using the Science Writing Heuristic Approach to argument-based inquiry with 19 students who had two prior years' experience in ABI. Multiple sources of data were collected, including classroom video with transcripts, teacher interview, researcher field notes, student journals, teacher lesson plans from previous years, and a student questionnaire. Data analysis used a basic qualitative approach.
The results showed (1) only the first time period had a true big idea, while the other two units contained topics, (2) each semester contained a similar use for the given big idea, though its role in the class was reduced after the opening activity, (3) the types of teacher questions shifted toward students explaining their comprehension of ideas and more students were involved in discussing each idea and for more turns of talk than in earlier time periods, (4) understanding science term definitions became more prominent later in the semester, with more stating science terms occurring earlier in the semester, (5) no significant changes were seen to the use of argument or claims and evidence throughout the study.
The findings have informed theory and practice about science argumentation, the practice of whole-class dialogue, and the understanding of practice along four aspects: (1) apparent lack of understanding about big ideas and how to utilize them as the central organizing feature of a unit, (2) independent development of dialogue and argument, (3) apparent lack of understanding about the structure of argument and use of basic terminology with argument and big ideas, (4) challenges of ABI implementation. This study provides insight into the importance of prolonged and persistent professional development with ABI in teaching practice.
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Wong, Siu Man. "An arts-based narrative approach to understanding curriculum and teacher development in a Hong Kong context an inquiry into a pre-service early childhood education course /." access full-text online access from Digital Dissertation Consortium, 2005. http://libweb.cityu.edu.hk/cgi-bin/er/db/ddcdiss.pl?NR02758.
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Tseng, Ching-mei. "The effects of the science writing heuristic (SWH) approach versus traditional instruction on yearly critical thinking gain scores in grade 5-8 classrooms." Diss., University of Iowa, 2014. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4776.
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Critical Thinking has been identified in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as skills needed to prepare students for advanced education and the future workforce. In science education, argument-based inquiry (ABI) has been proposed as one way to improve critical thinking. The purpose of the current study was to examine the possible effects of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach, an immersion argument-based inquiry approach to learning science, on students' critical thinking skills. Guided by a question-claims-evidence structure, students who participated in SWH approach were required to negotiate meaning and construct arguments using writing as a tool throughout the scientific investigation process. Students in the control groups learned science in traditional classroom settings. Data from five data sets that included 4417 students were analyzed cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Yearly critical thinking gain scores, as measured by Form X of Cornell Critical Thinking Test, were compared for students who experienced the SWH approach versus students who experienced traditional instruction in both elementary (5th grade) and secondary schools (6th-8th grades). Analyses of yearly gain scores for data sets that represented a single year of implementation yielded statistically significant differences favoring SWH over traditional instruction in all instances and statistically significant interactions between gender and grade level in most instances. The interactions revealed that females had higher gain scores than males at lower grade levels but the reverse was true at higher grade levels. Analyses from data sets that included two years of implementation revealed higher overall gains for SWH instruction than for traditional instruction but most of those gains were achieved during the first year of implementation. Implications of these results for teaching critical thinking skills in science classrooms are discussed in detail.
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Casanoves, de la Hoz Marina. "Biotechnology literacy of future teachers: A new educational approach." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/334392.
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En les últimes dècades, s'ha produït una revolució en el camp de la investigació en biologia, concretament en genètica i biotecnologia. Aquest desenvolupament científic ha deixat una fissura entre els estudis de la comunitat científica i el coneixement dels ciutadans. Per tal d'involucrar a la societat en els processos de presa de decisions sobre la legislació científica, es necessiten ciutadans informats, que siguin capaços de prendre decisions raonades basades en conclusions científiques tenint en compte les consideracions ètiques i morals. Els professors juguen un rol crític i central en el sistema educatiu i són el col•lectiu amb influència en la propera generació.
L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi és explorar el coneixement i les actituds en biotecnologia dels estudiants de magisteri d'un país Nòrdic (Suècia) i un país del Sud (Espanya) d'Europa. A partir dels resultats obtinguts, s'ha desenvolupat una nova activitat educativa per alfabetitzar biotecnològicament als futurs professors.
Primerament s'ha creat un nou qüestionari per analitzar quins són els coneixements i les actituds dels estudiants de magisteri. Les dades s'han analitzat de manera quantitativa. Els resultats mostren que els estudiants de magisteri d'Espanya i Suècia estan interessats en temes de biotecnologia encara que els seus coneixements en genètica bàsica estan per sota dels esperats. A partir d'aquests primers resultats, s'ha desenvolupat una nova activitat basada en Aprenentatge Basat en Problemes (ABP), l’objectiu de la qual és d'incrementar el coneixement dels futurs professors sobre temes de genètica bàsica. Un qüestionari previ i un de final han estat creats per tal de validar l'eficiència de la nova eina educativa. Un cop obtingudes les dades, han estat analitzades tant qualitativa com quantitativament. Finalment, després de participar en l’activitat s'ha demostrat una millora significativa del coneixement dels estudiant i una forta implicació en l’activitat.En las ultimas décadas, se ha producido una revolución en el campo de la investigación en biología y más concretamente de la genética y la biotecnología. Este desarrollo científico ha dejado una grieta entre los estudios de la comunidad científica y los conocimientos de los ciudadanos. Para involucrar a la sociedad en los procesos de toma de decisiones sobre la legislación científica, se necesitan ciudadanos informados y capaces de tomar decisiones razonadas basadas en conclusiones científicas y a la vez con consideraciones éticas y morales. Los profesores juegan un rol crítico y central en el sistema educativo ya que son el colectivo con influencia en la próxima generación. El objetivo de esta tesis es explorar el conocimiento y las actitudes en biotecnología de los estudiantes de magisterio de un país Nórdico (Suecia) y un país del Sur (España) de Europa. En base a estos resultados, se ha desarrollado una nueva actividad educativa para alfabetizar biotecnológicamente a los futuros profesores. Primeramente se ha creado un nuevo cuestionario para poder analizar cuáles son los conocimientos y las actitudes de los estudiantes de magisterio. Los datos se han analizado de forma cuantitativa. Los resultados muestran que los estudiantes de magisterio en España y Suecia están interesados en temas de biotecnología aunque sus conocimientos en genética básica están por debajo de los esperados. A partir de estos primeros resultados, se ha desarrollado una nueva actividad educativa basada en Aprendizaje Basado en Problemas (ABP), el objetivo de la cual es incrementar el conocimiento de los futuros profesores sobre temas de genética básica. Un cuestionario previo y uno de final han sido creados para validar la eficacia de la nueva herramienta educativa. A continuación, los datos han sido analizados tanto cualitativa como cuantitativamente. Finalmente, después de realizar la actividad se ha demostrado una mejora significativa del conocimiento y una fuerte implicación de los estudiantes en la realización de la actividad.
Over the past decades, there has been a revolution in the field of biology research and, more concretely, in biotechnology and genetic fields. This scientific development has led to a huge gap between what scientific comunity studies and what citizens know. In order to involve society in the decision-making process about scientific policies, we need well-informed citizens who are able to make thoughtful decisions based on scientific conclusions combined with ethical and moral considerations. The forefront to educate new generations is teacher. Teachers play a critical and central role in the education system and they are therefore an influential collective because they become teachers of the next generation. The purpose of this thesis is to explore knowledge and attitudes towards biotechnology of pre-service teachers from a Northern (Sweden) and Southern (Spain) countries. After that it is developed a new educational activity in order to make future teachers literate of biotechnology. First, it was created a new questionnaire in order to analyse the knowledge, and attitudes of pre-service teachers. Data is analysed in a quantitative method. The results show that pre-service teachers from Spain and Sweden are interested in biotechnology topics and this research has also shown that their knowledge about basics genetics is lower than expected. Due to these first results, a new Problem-Based Learning (PBL) educational material has been developed. The aim of this educational material is to increase pre-service teacher’s knowledge about genetics topics. A pre and post-test was created in order to validate the efficacy of this new educational tool, then data is analysed in a quantitative and qualitative approach. Finally, a significanlty increase of student’s knowledge is proved with taking part of the learning activity. Moreover, most of the students involved in the activity expressed that they were feeling engaged to this educational dynamic.
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Moctezuma, Jennie A. "The Lived Experience of Teachers Choosing an Arts-Rich Approach in Turnaround Schools." ScholarWorks@UNO, 2017. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2423.
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Increased metacognition, social-emotional growth, and career viability are all researched benefits of including the arts as part of core content instruction, with even greater impact for struggling students, English Language Learners, and students with special needs. Some turnaround schools that are federally funded School Improvement Grant (SIG) schools are beginning to implement an arts-rich method of school reform by teaching core content both through and in the arts. This approach is most often presented as a choice in the high-stakes testing environment of turnaround schools. Since teachers have the most direct impact on students, yet a relatively low amount of authorship in the way school reform is approached, their voice and experience is highlighted in this phenomenological study.
The participants are from three public turnaround schools in the South. The researcher used traditional research methods layered with an arts-based research approach mirroring the techniques used in an arts-rich classroom. The researcher found that participants experienced their work as a vocational calling, used methods of engaged pedagogy, and experienced a number of roadblocks to their work. They swiftly moved through these roadblocks to create pathways leveraging the arts to change their curriculum and classroom contexts, applied the arts as an access point for content areas, and then experienced the use of an art-rich classroom as a contagious practice. Potential implications for this study include a scalable model for turnaround schools, investment in engaged pedagogical practice for turnaround schools, and increased agility for teachers to become curriculum bricoleurs.
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Blanquet, Estelle. "La construction de critères de scientificité pour la démarche d'investigation : une approche pragmatique pour l'enseignement de la physique à l'école primaire." Thesis, Nice, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014NICE4104/document.
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Le mémoire vise à proposer une épistémologie pragmatique de la science scolaire à l’école primaire. Un défaut de compréhension de la nature de la science pourrait en effet justifier en partie les difficultés de l'enseignement des sciences par démarche d'investigation. Une étude des représentations de la science chez les enseignants et futurs enseignants confirme qu’ils n‘en ont pour la plupart qu‘une vision assez floue, relevant majoritairement d'une forme d'empirisme naïf. Un jeu opératoire de critères de scientificité adapté au contexte de l’école est développé dans une approche "bottom-up" partant des pratiques de classe effectives. Sa capacité à discriminer pratiques scientifiques et non scientifiques est discutée, de même que les implications didactiques et épistémologiques de son utilisation. Il est en particulier possible d‘en déduire des définitions évolutives d‘une science scolaire normative mais subsidiaire par rapport à la “science des scientifiques”. Cet outil épistémologique s’avère bien reçu par les enseignants auxquels il a été présenté. Le test en situation de différentes stratégies pédagogiques fait apparaître que les plus efficaces pour l'appropriation de critères de scientificité ajoutent à la démarche d’investigation une composante épistémologique explicite. Certains éléments de méthode scientifique peuvent être travaillés dès la Grande Section de maternelle (5-6 ans) : des élèves ayant vécu des démarches d’investigation s’avèrent capables de revendiquer la primauté de l’expérience, mais aussi de mettre en œuvre des tests relatifs à plusieurs critères de scientificité et de s‘approprier les rudiments de la modélisation scientifiqueThe purpose of this thesis is to propose a pragmatic epistemology of school science in primary school. Indeed, some of the difficulties encountered by inquiry-based science education may be attributed to a lack of understanding of the very nature of science. A survey on the perception of science by incumbent teachers and teachers in training confirms that most of them have a relatively vague vision grounded in a form of naive empiricism. A practical set of criteria of scientificity adapted to the school context is developed through a “bottom-up” approach based on actual classroom practices. Its efficiency at discriminating scientific and non-scientific practices is discussed, as well as the didactical and epistemological implications of its use. It is thus possible to deduce evolutive definitions of a school science that is normative yet subordinated to the “science of scientists”. Teachers responded positively to this epistemological tool when it was presented to them. Among the different teaching strategies tested in a classroom, the most efficient for the acquisition of criteria of scientificity were those which supplemented the inquiry process with an explicit epistemological component. Some elements of scientific method can be introduced as early as kindergarten (5-6 y.o) : after experimenting with inquiry processes, pupils have proved able not only to claim the primacy of experiment but also to run tests related to different criteria of scientificity and acquire the basics of scientific modeling
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De, Jager Thelma. "Factors influencing the implementation of the process approach in Biology secondary education." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1113.
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South Africa needs an economy which is competitive and successful. Therefore, it is
important that an education system will provide a skilled work force. Learners need to
develop biology skills that will equip them for life, enable them to solve problems and think
critically. Unfortunately South Africa is presently encountering a lack of skilled citizens. The
reasons for this most probably is that the biology curriculum is mainly discipline-based,
content-loaded and largely irrelevant, resulting in learners not furthering their studies in
biology and related fields.
The biology matriculation examination has a strangle hold on what is taught. Lengthy,
content-loaded curricula emphasise the memorising of facts by means of expository
teaching methods, leaving little opportunity to teach the application of information and
skills to solve problems in real life situations. The teaching methods of biology are thus not
sufficiently stimulating and motivating. Biology teaching should not only concentrate on
facts or explain facts to learners, but should also concentrate on ways or processes by
means of which these facts can be obtained.
To implement a process approach where learners can develop basic- and integrated skills
is not an easy task for those involved. The empirical research of this study, confirmed the
findings throughout the literature study that various factors hamper the effective
implementation of the process approach. It is important that negative factors such as 'large
classes' and 'a lengthy syllabus' (in historically disadvantaged [HD] and advantaged schools
[HA]) and 'lack of equipment' and 'resource material' (only in HD schools) which received
high percentages in the survey, will duly be considered when implementing the process
approach, curriculum 2005 or 21. These factors can exert a powerful influence on the
success of any changes in biology education.
To ensure the successful implementation of the process approach it is important that all
teachers receive adequate in-service training to keep abreast with new teaching strategies and methodsEducational Studies
D.Ed. (Didactics)
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MANDRYSZOVÁ, Jana. "Praktická cvičení v učivu Biologie buněk na gymnáziu." Master's thesis, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-85109.
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This diploma thesis contains a collection of 29 practical exercises, aimed at cell biology. These excercises were developed on analysis of cell biology curriculum in Framework Education Programme for grammar schools, available biology textbooks and professional literature based on this topic. Practical exercises follow up active and inquiry-based approach of students to biology education. The execises include protocol suggestions for exercises, education goals summary, methodical notes for teachers and model answers.
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VEJDĚLKOVÁ, Zdeňka. "Biologie buněk - učební portfolio pro vzdělávací obor biologie na gymnáziích." Master's thesis, 2012. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-112531.
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The goal of the diploma thesis is to create a teaching portfolio for educational thematic area of the cell biology. Teaching materials are intended for high school students learning. The portfolio is aimed at the topic of cell construction. The portfolio is projected for the independent work of students. It can be used both in subject matter explanation and as home preparation. A revision test is a part of the portfolio. Activating part of the portfolio is composed of thematic games that are suitable for the subject matter revision and deepening of knowledge.
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"Transitioning Science Teachers to an Inquiry-Based Approach to Develop Critical Reasoning Skills in High School Students." Doctoral diss., 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.49083.
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abstract: To develop critical reasoning skills potentially advances students' ability to critically consume information, make informed decisions, and actively participate in a democracy. An inquiry-based pedagogical approach to science teaching remains an effective means to develop critical reasoning skills. Participating in scientific inquiry requires students to generate arguments and test alternative hypotheses using experimental evidence. Scientific inquiry demands that students use their critical reasoning skills. Unfortunately, many teachers fail to allocate an adequate amount of time for genuine experimentation in science classes. As a result, science classes often leave students unprepared to think critically and apply their knowledge in a practical manner.
The focus of this study was to investigate the extent to which an inquiry-based professional development experience, including a two-day summer workshop and 18 weeks of follow up Professional Learning Community (PLC) support, affected the attitudes and pedagogical skills regarding scientific inquiry among six high school biology teachers. A concurrent mixed methods, action research design was used to measure changes in teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and skills regarding inquiry-based pedagogy was measured throughout the 22 weeks of the study. A survey instrument, card sorting activity, classroom observations using the Reformed Teacher Observation Protocol (RTOP), individual interviews, and PLC observations were used to gather data. Results indicated the professional development was effective in transforming the participating teachers' attitudes, perceptions, and skills regarding inquiry-based pedagogy.Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Leadership and Innovation 2018
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Makoni, Robert Davison. "Teaching chemistry of water purification in grade 11 using locally available materials through the scientific inquiry approach." Diss., 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/19033.
Full textAbstract:
This dissertation surveyed the validities of teaching the chemistry of water purification in
South African schools using locally available materials (LAM) through the scientific inquiry
(SI) approach. The researcher randomly selected four secondary schools that provided a small
and purposive study sample of thirty-two Grade 11 learners and four teachers. The research
design applied a mixed-method approach, consisting of qualitative and quantitative methods
of data collection. Within this approach, the outcome of SI instruction that integrated LAM
was compared with that of conventional instruction through a quasi-experimental control
groups design. The researcher identified in the analysis of interviews and questionnaires the
most complex aspects of the chemistry of water purification for learners to understand as
redox reactions, acid-base systems, precipitations, and chlorination. However, the use of
LAM through the scientific inquiry approach made it easier for learners to understand the
concepts.
The high mean scores ( =80.88; SD=10.28) in Research-based Test 2 (RBT2), of the
experimental groups taught through SI signified that those learners immensely benefited from
an active and collaborative learning environment. The lowly scores ( =61.69; SD=4.21) of
control groups could be attributed to a linear and passive participation of learners in the
conventional classroom instruction. The marks of the two groups in post-test RBT2 were
paired and contrasted using GraphPad software. The results showed that t =6.699, df =21
with a significant value of 0.0001, which is less than 0.05 (p<0.05), hence it can be inferred
that the difference between the means of the two groups was not only statistically important
but also worth an explanation. The higher performance scores in RBT2 and the Rubric
Assessment Tool (RAT) in experimental groups represents that the intervention was
successful in the implementation of instructional design in the the study. In addition, the
learners had mastered the crucial aptitudes that included self-discipline in understanding,
cooperative learning, searching relevant text on topic, hands-on or laboratory practice and
logical thinking in problem solving by working through the SI activities that used LAM.Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education with specialization in Chemistry Education)
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Manganye, Hlengani Thomas. "The attitudes of secondary school learners towards Biology and implications for curricula development." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18112.
Full textAbstract:
This study focused on curriculum development in biology education. It was based on the
present biology curricula from grade 10-12. The purpose of the study was to investigate the
attitudes of secondary school learners towards involvement in curriculum development and
specific biology content areas of all three grades. The assumption was that future curriculum
planning and development in science (biology) education should consider learners'
preferences, interests and needs. For the empirical investigation, a sample of 666 grades
10, 11 and 12 learners from three different school types (rural, ex-model C and private
schools) in the Northern Province completed an attitude questionnaire. Statistical analysis
of the results led to the following findings, amongst others.
• With regard to willingness to be involved in curriculum development, the results were
as follows:
(a) Significant differences were found between learners when age and school
type were used as moderator variables.
(b) No significant differences were found when grade and gender were used as
moderator variables.
Regarding the attitudes of learners towards involvement in curriculum development
and specific biology content, some low but significant relationships and a number of
significant differences were found between learners' attitudes towards involvement
in curriculum development and specific biology content for all the grades. In each
instance, age, gender and school type were also taken into consideration.
These findings suggest a complete and significant restructuring of the biology curriculum in
secondary schools. A learner-centred curriculum design that actively involves learners in
decision-making will consider the needs and interests of learners. This is seen as appropriate
in an outcomes-based approach and may lead to more motivated learners.Psychology of Education
D. Ed. (Department of Psychology of Education)
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VOMÁČKOVÁ, Vladislava. "Badatelsky orientovaná výuka ve fyziologii člověka s využitím školních experimentálních systémů." Master's thesis, 2016. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-204526.
Full textAbstract:
VOMÁČKOVÁ V. 2016: Inquiry based education in Human Physiology lessons with using school experimental systems. MSc. Thesis. Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice. 47 pp. Inquiry-based education represents a modern approach to science education. This approach aims to enhance students' interest in these subjects. Nowadays, the laboratory experimental systems are available for use in the inquiry-based tasks so students have possibilities to try in practice what a scientist's work involves. The aim of this thesis was to design inquiry based tasks related to human physiology. In these tasks various kinds of laboratory experimental systems were applied. These tasks have been verified in classes at selected primary schools and at one grammar school. A partial goal of this thesis was to investigate whether inquiry based classes using laboratory systems result in acquiring better knowledge and research skills development compared with the usual laboratory work classes, where students work according to their teacher's instructions. For these purposes a pre-test and a post-test had been created and the students were divided into two groups the experimental group was applying the inquiry based work procedures and the control group was working using the teacher's instructions. The individual tasks have been verified in practice and their impact on the students' knowledge and skills level was monitored. The results have shown that inquiry based education does not lead to worse results compared with the usual conventional teaching methods. The level of students' knowledge and skills has risen after completing the experimental classes. However, the difference between the control and experimental groups was not statistically significant.
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MÍSAŘOVÁ, Alena. "Vrstevnická zpětná vazba při badatelsky orientovaném vyučování přírodopisu na 2. stupni základní školy." Master's thesis, 2019. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-394466.
Full textAbstract:
MÍSAŘOVÁ, A. (2019). Peer-feedback in inquiry-based education in biology lessons at lower-secondary level. Diploma thesis. Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice. 46 pp. This thesis deals with the use of formative assessment methods in inquiry-based education. Particularly, it is focused on the peer-feedback in which the students provide the written feedback to their classmates. The objective of the thesis is finding if the lower-secondary level students are able to provide quality and adequate feedback to their classmates. The process of the peer-feedback was incorporated into the realization of inquiry-based tasks focused on the water regime of the plants. In the beginning, the students created a proposal solution protocols for the given tasks; then the protocols were collected and given away by codes to the other students for the assessment and provision of the written feedback. After the end of the research, the interview was done with the chosen students to obtain their subjective opinions on the process of the peer-feedback. The found results have shown that the majority of the students was able to provide adequate feedback. The feedback quality depended on what part students had an assessment. The students mostly tried to provide adequate advice which led to the improvement of the protocol content, but there were found a few protocol quality decreasing advice also. In these cases, the students did not acceptthis advice. The biggest problem for the students was the assessment of the chosen tools. In the none protocol were the tools correctly chosen, so the result was that the evaluating students were not sure of the correct solution. The research has been proven that peer-feedback can be the useful method of the formative assessment which is easy to incorporate to the various biology lesson tasks, mainly to the inquiry-based activities. The main potential of this assessment method is that the students formulate the feedback with their words and that makes it easier to understand to the particular problematics. During the protocols assessment, the students also have the possibility to compare and look to the other protocols, find their own mistakes and take an edification.
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Masilo, Motshidisi Marleen. "Implementing inquiry-based learning to enhance Grade 11 students' problem-solving skills in Euclidean Geometry." Thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/24966.
Full textAbstract:
Researchers conceptually recommend inquiry-based learning as a necessary means to alleviate the problems of learning but this study has embarked on practical implementation of inquiry-based facilitation and learning in Euclidean Geometry. Inquiry-based learning is student-centred. Therefore, the teaching or monitoring of inquiry-based learning in this study is referred to as inquiry-based facilitation. The null hypothesis discarded in this study explains that there is no difference between inquiry-based facilitation and traditional axiomatic approach in teaching Euclidean Geometry, that is, H0: μinquiry-based facilitation = μtraditional axiomatic approach. This study emphasises a pragmatist view that constructivism is fundamental to realism, that is, inductive inquiry supplements deductive inquiry in teaching and learning. Participants in this study comprise schools in Tshwane North district that served as experimental group and Tshwane West district schools classified as comparison group. The two districts are in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The total number of students who participated is 166, that is, 97 students in the experimental group and 69 students in the comparison group. Convenient sampling applied and three experimental and three comparison group schools were sampled. Embedded mixed-method methodology was employed. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies are integrated in collecting data; analysis and interpretation of data. Inquiry-based-facilitation occurred in experimental group when the facilitator probed asking students to research, weigh evidence, explore, share discoveries, allow students to display authentic knowledge and skills and guiding students to apply knowledge and skills to solve problems for the classroom and for the world out of the classroom. In response to inquiry-based facilitation, students engaged in cooperative learning, exploration, self-centred and self-regulated learning in order to acquire knowledge and skills. In the comparison group, teaching progressed as usual. Quantitative data revealed that on average, participant that received intervention through inquiry-based facilitation acquired inquiry-based learning skills and improved (M= -7.773, SE= 0.7146) than those who did not receive intervention (M= -0.221, SE = 0.4429). This difference (-7.547), 95% CI (-8.08, 5.69), was significant at t (10.88), p = 0.0001, p<0.05 and represented a large effect size of 0.55. The large effect size emphasises that inquiry-based facilitation contributed significantly towards improvement in inquiry-based learning and that the framework contributed by this study can be considered as a framework of inquiry-based facilitation in Euclidean Geometry. This study has shown that the traditional axiomatic approach promotes rote learning; passive, deductive and algorithmic learning that obstructs application of knowledge in problem-solving. Therefore, this study asserts that the application of Inquiry-based facilitation to implement inquiry-based learning promotes deeper, authentic, non-algorithmic, self-regulated learning that enhances problem-solving skills in Euclidean Geometry.Mathematics Education
Ph. D. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)
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HNÁTEK, David. "Studijní materiály pro badatelsky orientované vyučování k tématu sinic a řas na středních školách." Master's thesis, 2019. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-394462.
Full textAbstract:
Introduction of the thesis deals with inquiry-based science learning - from the level of research to its evaluation. The following practical advice summarize information about the possibilities of obtaining natural material for teaching, creating permanent diatom preparations and examples of suitable determination literature for teachers. The main part of this work presents 12 elaborated study materials for research teaching method divided into five phycologically oriented topics: (1) cyanobacterial and algal physiology, (2) biodiversity of standing waters, (3) algae defense mechanisms, (4) cyanobacteria and algae like bioindicators, (5) substances in cyanobacteria and algae and their importance for humans. Individual study materials contain information on the level of research, methodological guidance for teachers with a theoretical basis and introductory questions to motivate students, as well as a recording sheet for students and, in conclusion, own proposed solution for teachers. Another part of this thesis is a comparison of inquiry-based science learning with frontal education, which is done by didactic test.
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LIŠKOVÁ, Jana. "Rozhovor mezi žáky jako metoda vrstevnického hodnocení při badatelských úlohách z biologie člověka v hodinách přírodopisu." Master's thesis, 2017. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-363611.
Full textAbstract:
VOMÁČKOVÁ, J. (2017). The dialogue among students as a method of a peer assessment within inquiry tasks regarding human biology in biology lessons. MSc. Thesis. Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice. 50 pg. The aim of this thesis was to design the inquiry-based task that was focused on the human physiology and that enabled to use the formative assessment, more concretely the peer dialogue. Given task is focused on the blood groups issues and pupils tried to suggest their own advancement how to perform the simplified blood test with the aid of the given working aids. At the same time pupils evaluated work of their peers after the dialogue in group. They gave them the written feedback. On the grounds of this feedback the second group could correct their working procedure before they started to realize the experiment. During the research, there were worked with the audio recording, which were acquired during the peer dialogue, with the written feedback, and with the pupils' protocols. The inquiry based task including the formative assessment was implemented to the three lessons in two chosen schools in the South Bohemian Region. There was found out that the experience with inquiry based education has significant impact on the ability of pupils to provide the feedback for their peers. Pupils, who encountered the inquiry process for the first time, had got problems with particular steps and it lead to the uncertainty during the formulation of feedback for the peers. Nevertheless, mainly thanks to the peer dialogue and thanks to the providing of feedback, most of the pupils were able to become involved to the experiment and also were able to understand given problem. Dialogue between pupils proved to be the proper method of formative assessment because pupils completely openly debated about the classmates' protocols and at the same time they proved to learned more from their mistakes and also from the mistakes of their classmates and subsequently they were able to correct their protocols.
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ROKOS, Lukáš. "Hodnocení badatelsky orientované výuky biologie." Doctoral thesis, 2017. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-295639.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this doctoral thesis is to appraise the efficiency of inquiry-based education in biology (IBSE, inquiry-based science education) and to compare this efficiency with the efficiency of the tuition that uses traditional teaching methods, during the schooling of chosen themes from the human physiology, on different educational levels in the Czech Republic. For the purpose of monitoring the efficiency of both educational attitudes, there were drawn up pretests and posttests. Thanks to them, the level of involved pupils' and students' knowledge of contents and skills, was measured before and subsequently after the application of inquiry based tasks to the laboratory classes. The variety of inquiry based tasks that met the requirements of IBSE, that focused on chosen topics from the human physiology and that complied with the knowledge and age of the given group, was made for the research purpose. The research was realized with elementary school pupils, grammar school pupils and university students. In the lump, there were 145 pupils from the elementary school and grammar school and 168 university students. Pupils and students were divided into the experimental groups, where they solved task with the elements of IBSE, and to the groups with traditional teaching. Conclusions of the researches that were based on the comparing of pupils and students success rate in pretests and posttest showed, the IBSE led to the better knowledge acquirement. But in the comparison with the results of pupils and students from the traditional teaching groups, the improvement was not statistically significant. It was discovered that IBSE leads to the significantly more effective acquirement of science skills (e.g. assessment and suggestion of the science research, design of the scientific and research questions, data interpretation and making of appropriate conclusions). The efficiency was influenced by the educational level (i.e. by the age of involved pupils and students and by the type of school) this approach was the most effective in grammar schools. Given research proves that the application of the IBSE to the teaching of human physiology presents felicitous innovation in the science education. In view of the fact that it leads to the identical or better knowledge adoption and it also significantly develops pupils' and students' scientific skills.
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PROCHÁZKOVÁ, Marie. "Využití biotopu zahradního jezírka ve výuce na 2. stupni základních škol (Komplexní vzdělávací program se zvýšeným důrazem na aplikaci badatelsky orientovaných prvků)." Master's thesis, 2017. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-363599.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this thesis is to develop a comprehensive educational program involving student activities related to the biotope of the garden pond. The theoretical part deals with general issues of inquiry-based education and the utilization of school gardens. The main contribution of the thesis is the creation of a concrete educational program, comprising seven activities which employ the environment of a garden pond. It is designated for biology and geography classes at middle/secondary schools. Each activity portfolio consists of a methodological sheet for teachers and a work sheet for students. Most activities can be carried in the environment of any water tank; some activities can be also done in the school building. The training program was pilot tested with elementary school teachers and subsequently with sixth and seventh grade students. Concurrently, an evaluation of the program's effectiveness was implemented in the form of written tests. The thesis discusses the findings from this evaluation as well as the practical verification of the suggested program that was carried out on teachers and on students.
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MATOUŠKOVÁ, Jitka. "Repertoár demonstrací, experimentů a praktických cvičení s problematikou vodních bezobratlých v práci učitele na základní škole a nižším gymnáziu." Master's thesis, 2014. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-174912.
Full textAbstract:
The thesis analyses how often the teachers in primary schools and in lower classes of multi-year grammar schools integrate practical exercises and experiments into the biology lessons in the issue of water invertebrates. A proposal of laboratory and field practices has also been created and carried out in the school practice in pursuance of water invertebrates with the use of stimulating educational methods, so called Inquiry-based science education.
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Nedomová, Martina. "Aktivity pro badatelsky orientovanou výuku v biologii." Master's thesis, 2012. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-309659.
Full textAbstract:
4 The Abstrakt: The main target of the thesis is to complete and check the materials of inquiry- based education on the topic of 'water in human life'. This thesis has been based on the ESTABLISH project and it is divided into the theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part deals with the characteristics of inquiry-based education, its benefits and history. It introduces us to the national and foreign project and works that treat this type of education. The main passage of the thesis deals with the compilation and verification of materials for the inquiry-based activities within the thematic unit of 'water in human life'. Part of the materials is methodical handbook for teachers and worksheets for individual activities. Further on this thesis includes the results of a questionnaire for students. The feedback reflected verification of the activities and course of materials content and suitability assessment. Consequently, the thesis also includes the application of the questionnaire for educators which evaluated the awareness of the inquiry-based education and its existing usage by biology teacher on Prague grammar schools. Practical part contains the analysis of the exercises focused on water in relation to humans in selected biology and natural science teaching books. The Keywords: Education,...
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VLČKOVÁ, Karolína. "Řešení badatelských úloh žáky 1. stupně základní školy." Master's thesis, 2019. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-394519.
Full textAbstract:
Diploma thesis analyzes pupils' ability to solve inquiry based tasks in biology lessons with regard to original problem solutions and application of theoretical knowledge. The thesis also analyzes in what types of tasks are pupils more successful and what type of problem solution they prefer. The practical part contains four worksheets with inquiry based tasks, which were created and presented to primary school pupils for the purposes of this thesis. The next part of the thesis is a summary of pupils' solutions, which are discussed at the end of the thesis.
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Botha, Marie. "Sustaining the professional identity of beginning teachers in early mathematics, science and technology teaching." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28016.
Full textAbstract:
The focus of this study is on foundation phase and early childhood teachers’ professional identity formation. This study is about six beginning teachers in their first year of teaching early mathematics, science and technology (MST) in different schools and grade levels. Early childhood settings and primary schools in South Africa have a diverse learner body that increasingly demands of beginning early childhood and foundation phase teachers to continually strive to adapt their teaching and young children’s learning to the different learning environments for effective implementation of the curriculum. A learning identity framework was used to generate and analyse data. The learning identity framework is premised on the assumption that identity and learning are closely linked and that both are influenced by factors internal and external to the individual. Specifically, the study sought to answer the research question of how beginning first year early childhood and foundation phase teachers form, sustain or change their professional teacher identity in the teaching of mathematics, science and technology (MST) in the early years and in different school settings. The study used a phenomenological approach and case study method to explain the professional teacher identity formation process and to illuminate what factors influence this process. The study researched how teacher identities can be narratively constructed on the basis of the lived experiences of the six teachers in different school contexts. Data was generated from different sources for the purpose of triangulation which included visual and written narratives, observations and interviews (open and semi-structured). The analysis and results were based on categories of descriptions of themes. The findings indicate that identity formation is an ongoing process of integration of teachers’ personal and professional histories and initial teacher education and training, alongside issues of school culture and institutional (in-school) support. Those key factors emerge as strong determinants of the kinds and the relative stability or otherwise of professional identities which the six teachers develop in the first year of MST teaching, and thus the kind of reform minded teachers they become.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012.
Science, Mathematics and Technology Education
unrestricted
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LANDOVÁ, Tereza. "Využití klíčivosti v badatelsky orientovaném vyučování na ZŠ a nižším stupni gymnázia." Master's thesis, 2018. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-375293.
Full textAbstract:
This diploma thesis discusses the possibilities of diversifying the teaching on the issue of germination in the form of worksheets as well as possibility of using germination tests in the inquiry-based teaching of biology at elementary schools and lower secondary schools. The readers are introduced into the general issues regarding seed development, construction and germination. It then deals with iquiry-based teaching, which is one of the most used methods in biology education in recent years. Worksheets created for this purpose are therefore validated through teaching practice and subsequently processed and evaluated. The paper discusses whether germination is a suitable biological material for inquiry-based teaching and also whether these worksheets can be recommended as a didactic teaching material for the development of skills and theoretical knowledge of germination.
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Novotná, Apolena. "Badatelsky orientovaná výuka rostlinných barviv na 2. stupni ZŠ." Master's thesis, 2017. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-356421.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is focused on interconnection between education of plant pigments and inquiry- based science education in upper primary school. The theoretical section of this thesis deals with the current quality of education and knowledge level of Czech pupils in science subjects, as well as characteristic of inquiry based science education and description of various types of plant pigments. Evaluation of publications focused on occurrence of plant pigments in curricular document is another part of this thesis. The study revealed that plant pigments represent only a marginal topic of these publications. The next section of this thesis is a questionnaire survey about utilization of inquiry based science education among the teachers of biology in upper primary school. The results showed that most of the teachers were well acquainted with the method and applied it during their teaching. The last section of this thesis contains two proposals for experimental tasks of inquiry-based science education of plant pigments, which are focused on interface of biology and chemistry. Both tasks were successfully solved.
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Stuurman, Verna Virginia Felicia. "Enhancing a culture of teaching, learning and values in a grade 12 geography classroom: A case study in a secondary school in the Western Cape." 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/3138.
Full textAbstract:
Magister Educationis - MEdThis research study, which is a case study, investigates strategies employed by educators to enhance the culture of teaching, learning and values in a Grade 12 Geography classroom in a secondary school in the Western Cape. In the contemporary school context educators are experiencing an increasingly challenging time to ensure learner achievement, participation and general interest in their school work. As Geography educator, I often grappled with the issues of low achievement and interest levels among learners. I realised that unless educators • employ effective strategies to develop resilient learners; • change their classroom practice to suit learner needs; • involve learners in decisions regarding their education; and • show a genuine interest in learners the demands and challenges would not be diminished. I conducted a local and global literature review on enhancing a culture of teaching and learning in the Geography classroom as well as a case study carried out by Grade 12 educators and learners at a secondary school in the Western Cape. The research study was an attempt to explore possible solutions to the challenges in the classroom. It focused on an initiative by the Grade 12 educators and learners in pursuit of more creative ways of dealing with Geography content. The research study was qualitative in nature and aimed to investigate strategies educators could employ to enhance a culture of teaching, learning and values in the Geography classroom. The research approach was interpretive and the design was a case study. Interviews, questionnaires and observations were used to collect the required data. The data collected shows that through this project, learners were sensitized on human rights and values issues. They discovered that learning could be an enjoyable experience. The skills, knowledge and values emerging from this project were invaluable, since it changed the way learners viewed the learning experience. The focus was particularly on the Further Education and Training Geography curricular experience. Over the past decade, challenges pertaining to learners’ attitudes to education have intensified. The factors impacting on learner achievement and attitudes are extensive, especially in impoverished and historically deprived communities. In modern society social evils like alcoholism, drug abuse, gangsterism and the associated violence and criminal behaviour are taking their toll. A direct consequence of societal moral decay manifests itself in behavioural problems e.g. aggressive behaviour, vandalism and general ill-discipline. The implementation of the new National Curriculum Statement has also impacted extensively on educators and learners alike. For many educators who were set in conventional methodologies, the process was complicated and difficult to adapt to. The new curriculum poses unique challenges with regard to planning, self discipline and work ethos. It has been associated with a total change in the approach towards teaching and learning. Many educators found it difficult to adapt to the new way of managing the curriculum. Evidence from the data confirmed that educators were willing to employ different strategies to address and improve learner performance. However, the appropriate conditions of teaching and learning are often non-existent. Barriers to teaching and learning need to be addressed efficiently to ensure a supportive and enabling learning environment. The data also showed that educators achieved more through this strategy than initially envisaged. This would pave the way for other initiatives and strategies to ensure improved classroom practice and subsequently enhance the culture of teaching, learning and values.
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Osei-Asiamah, Joel. "An investigation of teaching and learning methods in information technology : a case study at a selected high school in Kwa-Zulu-Natal." Diss., 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26464.
Full textAbstract:
The Information Technology (IT) as subject taught in South African secondary schools is
considered to be a very perplexing subject. The IT as a subject has four learning outcomes
which are E-Communication (weight 10%), Social and Ethical Issues (weight 10%), Hardware
and Systems Software (weight 20%) and Programming and Software Development (weight
60%). The Programming and Software Development enjoys the highest weight as outcome
of IT and it is believed to be the main cause of the difficulty of IT. The number of Grade 9
learners willing to offer IT as a subject in Grade 10 is decreasing and the number of learners
pursuing IT until Grade 12 is declining in every school in South Africa annually. The aim of
this research is to investigate methods that enhance teaching and learning Information
Technology at a selected high school focusing on Grade12 learners. Although this work
investigated many teaching and learning methods, it has come to be known that the hybrid
system or method is the best to adopt and apply in teaching and learning of IT in high schools
especially in the relevant target high school. Thirty (30) participants were sampled. Three (3)
data collection instruments, which were questionnaires, interviews and observations were
used. Results that were obtained from the use of these data collection instruments were
recorded and analysed. Results from these instruments were compared and conclusions
drawn. A major finding was that the hybrid system that combines both teacher-centered and
learner-centered teaching approaches was able to enhance the teaching and learning of IT.Science and Technology Education
M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)