The use of cooperative learning in economics in the further education and training phase in the Free State province

Abstract

English: In recent years, South African teachers were compelled to make an important paradigm shift in education from a teacher-centred approach to a learner-centred approach. Put differently, the emphasis is now on an outcomes-based education (aBE) approach as the key underlying principle of the National Curriculum Statements (NCS). Furthermore this paradigm shift in teaching and learning emphasized an active participation of learners which necessitated Economic teachers to restructure their teaching strategies in terms of the NCS. The purpose of this study was to design a framework for the implementation of cooperative learning as a teaching strategy for Economics teachers in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase in Free State secondary schools. A literature study and an empirical research was conducted for structuring of such a framework with different components in the design and implementation of cooperative learning as a teaching strategy for Economics teachers. To achieve the aforementioned, aBE in general was outlined. Secondly, the elements, principles, different aBE curriculum models were discussed. Thirdly, problem areas and arguments in defence of the implementation thereof in South African schools were explained. Fourthly, a multi paradigm perspective on the aBE approach, the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and the place of the NCS for the FET phase were interrogated from an aBE curriculum model point of view. Furthermore Economics as a social science was compared to other sciences and models of economic teaching. Economics as a school subject and the interrelated components to the curriculum were broadly explained. As reinforcement to the previous mentioned aspects, a historical development as well as viewpoints on cooperative learning were outlined. Subsequently the importance of cooperative learning models, strategies, and group compositions were thoroughly analysed. In conclusion, the perspective on the development of cooperative learning, the rationale thereof, as well as the advantages and disadvantages were scrutinized. Emanating from the literature review an empirical study was conducted to determine the current status of in-service training amongst Economic teachers and to which extent they apply cooperative learning techniques. Economic teachers and Learning facilitators acted as respondents for obtaining data that was used for the design of a framework for implementation of cooperative learning. Findings of the responses of the questionnaires and interviews revealed that there was a great need for more in-service training especially for both beginner and experienced teachers. Furthermore the majority of respondents indicated a deficiency in the application of cooperative learning in their Economic classes. Thereafter a number of recommendations were made regarding the inservice training and the effective application of cooperative learning as a teaching strategy in Economics teaching. In summation, the literature study, the findings of the empirical research and recommendations of this study forms the basis for the design of a framework for the implementation of cooperative learning as a teaching strategy for Economics teachers in the Further Education and Training (FET) phase.

Afrikaans: In onlangse jare, is Suid-Afrikaanse onderwysers genoodsaak om 'n belangrike paradigmaskuif in die onderwys te maak vanaf 'n onderwysergesentreerde na 'n leerdergesentreerde benadering. Die klemverskuiwing as fokus is nou gerig op 'n uitkomsgerigte onderwysbenadering (UGO-benadering) as belangrike onderliggende beginsel van die Nasionale Kurrikulumverklaring (NKV). Verder noodsaak hierdie paradigmaskuif in onderrig en leer 'n aktiewe deelname van leerders waarbinne Ekonomie-onderwysers hulonderrigstrategieë herstruktureer in terme van die NKV. Die doel met hierdie studie is om 'n raamwerk vir die implementering van kooperatiewe leer as 'n onderrigstrategie vir Ekonomie-onderwysers in die Verdere Onderwys- en Opleidingfase (VOO-fase) in Vrystaatse sekondêre skole te ontwerp. 'n Literatuurstudie en 'n empiriese navorsing is uitgevoer vir die strukturering van so 'n raamwerk met verskillende komponente in die ontwerp en implementering van kooperatiewe leer as 'n onderrigstrategie vir Ekonomie-onderwysers. Om die voorafgaande te bereik, is uitkomsgerigte-onderwys (UGO) in die algemeen uitgelig. Tweedens is die elemente, beginsels en verskillende UGOkurrikulummodelle verduidelik. Derdens is probleemareas en argumente ter verdediging van die implementering daarvan in Suid-Afrikaanse skole verduidelik. Vierdens is 'n multiparadigma-perspektief op die UGO-benadering, die Nasionale Kwalifikasieraamwerk (NKR) en die plek van die NKV vir die VOO-fase vanuit In UGO-kurrikulummodel in perspektief gestel. Verder is Ekonomie as sosiale wetenskap vergelyk met ander wetenskappe en modelle van ekonomiese onderrig. Ekonomie as skoolvak en die verwante komponente tot die kurrikulum is breedvoerig bespreek. As versterking tot die voorafgaande apsekte is In historiese ontwikkeling sowel as die beskouings van kooperatiewe leer uitgelig. Daaropvolgens is die belangrike kooperatiewe leermodelle, strategieë asook groepsamestellings volledig ontleed. In die samevatting is die perspektief op die ontwikkeling van kooperatiewe leer, die rasionaal daarvan, asook die voor- en nadele noukeurig ondersoek. Voorspruitend uit die literatuurstudie is In empiriese studie uitgevoer om te bepaal wat die huidige stand van indiensopleiding van Ekonomie-onderwysers is en tot watter mate hul kooperatiewe leer toepas. Ekonomie-onderwysers en leerfasiliteerders het opgetree as respondente vir die verkryging van inligting wat gebruik is vir die ontwerp van In raamwerk vir die implementering van kooperatiewe leer. Bevindinge van response van die vraelyste en onderhoude het aangedui dat daar In groot behoefte vir meer indiensopleiding veral vir beide beginner- en ervare onderwysers bestaan. Verder het die meerderheid respondente aangetoon dat hulle onbevoeg is om kooperatiewe leer in hul Ekonomieklasse toe te pas. Daarna is In aantal aanbevelings ten opsigte van indiensopleiding en die toepassing van kooperatiewe leer as In onderrigstrategie in Ekonomie geformuleer. Opsommend vorm die literatuurstudie, die bevindinge van die empiriese navorsing en aanbevelings van hierdie studie die basis vir die ontwerp van In raamwerk vir die implementering van kooperatiewe leer as In onderrigstrategie vir Ekonomie-onderwysers in die VOO-fase.