A culturally responsive strategy for teaching sexual concepts in rural Xhosa secondary schools
- Authors: Simayi, Ayanda
- Date: 2021-11
- Subjects: Sex instruction for children , Sex instruction for youth , Rural schools -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Doctorate's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58519 , vital:59660
- Description: While research shows that the recognition and integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) is an important issue for developing culturally responsive strategies when teaching and learning science to, and by, indigenous people, little has been said about cultural taboos of a sexual nature and their effects on teaching and learning. This study investigated issues of taboo language use when teaching topics of a sexual nature during high school Biology classes. It also investigated the effects of a teacher development intervention based on Ogunniyi’s Contiguity Argumentation Theory (CATPD) towards culturally responsive teaching strategies. Four phases in one cycle of a Critical Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (CPALAR) design were used in schools located in deep rural villages with a sample of Life Science Grade 12 teachers. Initially, 30 teachers answered a semi-structured questionnaire aimed at identifying cultural restrictions that could impede the teaching of sexual concepts (Stage 1). Stages 2-4 included seven participants of both gender. Data were generated from two sets of drawings with descriptions and audio recorded focus group discussions. The teaching of a collectively developed Indigenised Teaching Strategy lesson by a group-selected ‘modelteacher’ was video-recorded and analysed. Written participant evaluation is presented in a flow chart. Data analysis was done by manual thematic data analysis and by using Atlas ti. 8. The use of multiple data collection strategies contributed to the trustworthiness and credibility of the study. The few existing studies on cultural taboos report avoidance of using the vernacular for biological terminology and promote the exclusive use of standard, terms in English. In contrast, Xhosa IK-based sexual euphemisms derived from elderly, unlearned Xhosa women were successfully used for teaching sexual concepts. The teachers reported their findings through the cultural lens of Xhosa people. Cognitive change from the suppressed level in the CAT hierarchy to a more harmonious equipollent level of understanding was brought about using Bakhtin’s theory of heteroglossia and the indigenist cognitive perspective of Contiguity Argumentation Theory. This cognitive shift enabled verbalisation of the culturally avoided taboo sexual concepts. The transition in thinking symbolised transformation in terms of critical pedagogy. The claim is made that using Contiguity Argumentation Theory (CAT) and Bakhtin’s explanations of heteroglossia provides an effective professional intervention in a deeply culturally determined Xhosa community. While not generalisable, the effect of this strategy should be of value when considering teacher development in indigenous communities and disciplines. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-11
The use of contextually appropriate analogies to teach direct current electric circuit concepts to isiXhosa speaking learners
- Authors: Simayi, Ayanda
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Analogy in science education , Career development , Xhosa language -- Analogy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9570 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1016161
- Description: The study investigates the effects of a professional development strategy which focuses on the use of a contextually appropriate analogy on the development of isiXhosa speaking learners‟ conceptual understanding in direct current electric circuits, where the language of instruction is English. An action research design was implemented, using three data collection cycles to document the research journey. The sample comprised of two Grade 8 and 9 classes drawn (with their respective Natural Sciences teachers) from two neighbouring, township schools in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipal area. Qualitative data were generated from interviews and classroom observation of the two science teachers (a qualified and an unqualified teacher) and learners, over a span of two years. Thematic data analysis revealed that ESL learners have alternative conceptions in simple circuits and teachers have no knowledge about analogies that can be used to teach simple circuits. A professional development was designed as a strategy, targeting the development of the Science Content Knowledge (SCK) and Topic Specific Content Pedagogic Content Knowledge (TPSCK) of the teachers. Data analysis of the professional development initiative (PDI) suggests that the teachers developed increased knowledge of concepts and teaching strategies used in teaching simple circuits, selected a contextually appropriate analogy and taught a lesson in simple circuits using the selected analogy. Analysis of learners‟ post-test results suggests that the implementation of the selected analogy developed their conceptual understanding as more learners developed the correct, scientific model of reasoning. The results of the study suggest that when teachers are given support by being exposed to professional development; their scientific reasoning, confidence and classroom climate become more positive and learners‟ conceptual understanding improves.
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- Date Issued: 2014