Doctoral Degrees (School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education) by Author "Jita, Loyiso"

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    Controversial topics in the school curriculum: a case study on the teaching of evolution in South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2022) Mukatuni, Gumani Enos; Jita, Loyiso; Tsakeni, Maria
    This study sought to explore how Life Science teachers in South Africa deal with challenges of teaching evolution in a country where Christianity remains dominant and is celebrated through public and/or national holidays. The theoretical framework underpinning this study is a cognitive framework of implementation, enabling the exploration of how teachers can construct understandings of the policy message; construct an interpretation of their own practice and how they integrated the policy signals in their practice. A qualitative approach was employed using an in-depth case study design in order to explore how three Life Sciences teachers in South Africa negotiate controversial topics like evolution within the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement, and what the challenges and opportunities are for teaching about evolution. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. Five major findings emerged from this cross-case analysis. First, it could be observed that two of the teachers did not study evolution when they trained to become teachers, whilst the topic of evolution was part of the third teacher’s training programme. The second finding speaks to the influence of teachers’ beliefs and perspectives on evolution during the lesson. The third finding shows that teachers demonstrated that they could use both teacher-centred and learner-centred approaches when teaching evolution. However, teacher-centred instructional strategies were dominant. The fourth major finding indicates that the teachers experienced challenges that stood in the way of teaching the topic of evolution effectively, which includes the notion that evolution stands as a competing worldview to the learners’ and teachers’ beliefs on the origins of the earth and its people. The fifth major finding shows that the teaching and learning of evolution exposed learners to critical thinking. The study recommends that decision makers, policy makers and educational authorities responsible for the education system in Gauteng and similar school contexts provide clear policy guidelines on the teaching and learning of evolution as a controversial topic and, where possible, provide continuous professional development programmes at various educational levels to equip teachers’ pedagogical practices.
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    Integrating Information and Communication Technologies into the teaching and learning of science in Lesotho
    (University of the Free State, 2023) Taolane, Bonnqe ‘Mamolibeli; Jita, Thuthukile; Jita, Loyiso
    Information and communication technology (ICT) integration in Basic education has been regarded a struggle in some countries, even though the value of technology in education is globally appreciated. Scholars recognised the underutilisation of ICT and many schools in developing countries either have no ICT infrastructure or conditions do not match those where training on ICT integration was held, Lesotho included. This qualitative multiple case study investigated how teachers use ICT in science, currently referred to as Science and Technology at Basic Education in Lesotho, from the interpretive perspective. Three purposively selected Grade 6 - 7 teachers were studied through the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) theory, supported with the High Possibility Classroom (HPC) model with their principals engaged in exit interviews. The study reveals the discourses that inform teachers’ ICT integration practices in Lesotho and document classroom practices of ICT integration into the teaching of science and technology in the reviewed curriculum. Lastly, it accounts for the way teachers integrate ICT into teaching of science in Lesotho. Findings from content analysis of interviews, classroom observations and policy framework revealed some interesting factors that contribute to the way teachers integrate ICT in Lesotho. Specifically, the study highlights the status of teachers’ exposure to productive discourses motivating ICT integration. It further reveals the selected teachers’ patterns of classroom practices of ICT integration, incorporating assessment of learners’ 21st-century skills and how contextual constraints to ICT integration were confronted. The study highlights pointers of ICT integration in the Policy frameworks and gaps in Curriculum and Assessment Policy, 2009 and the Science and Technology curriculum for Grade 7. The study recommends Continuous Professional Development for teachers to strengthen their ICT competences and pedagogy; teachers taking responsibility for improving their careers to fit into the global world; support for experienced ICT-integrating teachers to become model teachers for ICT pedagogy and developing Communities of Practice on ICT integration. The study proposed the model for effective ICT integration in primary schools that could inform the education system, curriculum developers, teachers and policy makers especially, of ICT policy for education in Lesotho currently at draft stage. The study further suggests direction for future studies.