Implementing mathematics intervention strategies to enhance understanding of number sense: an informative framework for the Ekurhuleni North District, Gauteng province, South Africa
- Authors: Hove, Netsai
- Date: 2022-11
- Subjects: Number concept , Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/26085 , vital:64835
- Description: This study was prompted by the observation that learners’ performance in mathematics is low in South Africa. Several factors such as teachers’ qualifications, demotivated learners, and limited school resources have been raised and considered. Although number sense forms the foundation blocks for mathematics understanding, limited academic work has been done to explore implementable mathematics instructional interventions for the enhancement of understanding number sense. The purpose of this study was to contribute an implementable mathematics intervention framework for understanding number sense. Since the study focused on exploring intervention activities, it was guided by the pragmatism research philosophy. Data were captured from purposive samples of teachers and stratified samples of 1050 learners from schools in the Ekurhuleni North district in South Africa. The research design comprises the following sequence: survey, pre-test, intervention, post-test, and evaluation by teachers’ focus group discussion. These activities were carried out parallel to document analysis, which provided bench marks. The main data-capturing instruments were the questionnaires, learners’ test, interview, and document analysis guides. Factors analysis to establish associations, differences, and regression was carried out using SPSS and Excel. The study found that: almost all teachers implemented some form of mathematics interventions. Continuous assessment was the main intervention, followed by problem-solving, and the use of games (which was least preferred). Teachers shunned games because they require more time and management skills. Challenges that teachers experienced when implementing mathematics interventions include their limited knowledge and the lack of resources and support from education authorities who expect and emphasise high pass rates in mathematics. The teachers’ focus group discussions evaluated the intervention and proposed the following sequence for instructional intervention on number sense: Stage 1: parroting of number names, for example, six, two, nine and seven Stage 2: symbolic identification, for example, the symbol 6, 2, 9 and 7 Stage 3: association where a learner group six stones, shows two fingers, etc. Stage 4: seriating or ordering done through oral counting and use of inequality symbols: () to compare and estimate values in problems Stage 5: the four operations for addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (x) and division (÷) emphasizing estimation and application. The study recommends the adoption, modification and implementation of mathematics intervention framework to enhance number sense. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, 2022
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- Date Issued: 2022-11
Democratic citizenship in mathematics teachers’ preparation in South African Universities
- Authors: Olawale, Babawande Emmanuel https://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-5265-1583
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Citizenship -- Study and teaching , Authoritarianism , Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20079 , vital:45107
- Description: Promoting a clearer understanding of the role of schools in developing democratic dispositions among young citizens is a matter of importance across the world. This is because school is believed to be the best place where future free and democratic citizens can be prepared. Similarly, it is a place where young people are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge that will assist them in deliberating democratically, developing a better understanding of political structures and economic and world history, and learning the relevant numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills. Unfortunately, current teacher education programmes appear to represent potential stumbling blocks to schooling playing a greater role in educating the youth for democracy and democratic citizenship. This study explored two contradictory theoretical roles for mathematics teacher education programmes, in relation to power and control in education and society. The first is that, in reality, mathematics teacher education is essentially re-productive, in that its authoritarian relationship does not encourage confrontational discussion or critique, or challenge existing and dominant practices. The second is that, in a world where democracy is increasingly becoming a global phenomenon central to development, teacher education is (or should be) essentially democratic in nature. Thus, underpinned by the interpretivist paradigm, this study employed a qualitative research approach. It also utilised a case study design as a strategy for data collection, in order to explore how the mathematics teacher education programmes in South African universities prepare learners for democratic citizenship. As such, three universities in two provinces in South Africa participated in the study, and data were collected through interviews, observation and document reviews. At each institution, interviews were carried out with mathematics teacher educators and pre-service mathematics student teachers in their second to fourth year of study. Similarly, observations took place in different teaching sessions at each institution, and in different formats. Relevant documents were also reviewed for the study. The research findings revealed that the concepts of democracy and democratic citizenship are multifaceted. The participants’ understanding of these concepts was influenced by their individual expectations, as well as their social, political and economic environments, among many other factors. In addition, it was evident that mathematics teacher education programmes play a significant role in developing socially active citizens and democratic mathematics teachers. The research findings revealed, however, that contradictions exist between pedagogical approaches that are capable of developing democratic citizens, mathematics teacher educators’ ideal image of their practices within the classroom, and the participants’ conception of mathematics. As a result, no engagement occurs in social and critical pedagogy within mathematics education classrooms, to allow learners to view mathematics as a tool for confronting issues of justice and inequality in their community and the world at large. The research findings also revealed that the practices of the main structures which are tasked with the responsibility of promoting democratic practices within higher education institutions seem ineffective, as a result of favouritism and an autocratic approach to decision making. Based on the research findings, a recommendation is made that mathematics educators democratise their classrooms, in order to develop democratic citizens who are committed to democratic principles. Another recommendation is that, in their mathematics classrooms, educators use a problem-posing pedagogical approach which is capable of challenging power structures, thereby empowering learners as users of mathematics. This will not be possible without a professional development programme guiding mathematics teacher educators in establishing and managing their democratic classrooms. Similarly, it is recommended that student representative councils, as the structures that are best known for supporting democratic citizenship at universities, strive to follow the basic principles of democratic governance. Finally, the researcher concluded that mathematics education and the task of preparing mathematics student teachers for democratic citizenship are of the utmost importance, if South Africans are to cultivate and maintain a democracy that contributes to a culture which fundamentally supports democratic principles. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02
An analysis of how the use of geoboards as visualisation tools can be utilised in the teaching of quadrilaterals
- Authors: Matengu, Given Kahale
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Manipulatives (Education) , Information visualization , Visualization , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- Activity programs , Geometry -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96724 , vital:31312
- Description: The relationship between visualisation processes and using manipulatives in the teaching and learning of mathematics is apparent and yet not so vocal in the literature. This could be because of the common mistaken understanding that because manipulatives are visual in nature, then visualisation processes should be obvious. Literature warns that just because something is visual therefore it is transparent, is incorrect. This study argues that the effective use of manipulatives in the teaching of mathematics helps learners to effectively understand mathematical concepts. Research on the teaching and learning of mathematics suggests that physical manipulation experiences, especially of concrete materials concerning shapes, is an important process in learning at all ages. One such teaching tool, the Geoboard, a physical manipulative that employs visualisation processes when correctly used, is explored in this study. The aim of this interpretive case study was to investigate and analyse the use of Geoboards as a visualisation tool in the teaching of the properties of quadrilaterals. The study focused on visualisation processes and the use of Geoboards through a teaching framework that was informed by the Van Hiele phases of teaching geometry. The study was conducted in the Opuwo circuit of the Kunene region, Namibia, and it involved three selected Grade 7 mathematics teachers, each from a different primary school. It was underpinned by a constructivist theory using the Van Hiele phases of teaching geometry and framed within visualisation processes. The study employed the use of qualitative data collection techniques such as observations and interviews. The analysis of the findings of this study revealed that Geoboards were very useful in demonstrating the visual representations of the properties of quadrilaterals in a cheap and yet novel way in the selected teachers’ classes. Moreover, the use of Geoboards by the selected teachers effectively fostered visualisation processes such as concrete pictorial imagery, dynamic imagery, perceptual apprehension, sequential apprehension, discursive apprehension and operative apprehension. It was also revealed that Geoboards enabled the selected teachers to structure and teach their lessons in a well-planned manner according to the Van Hiele phases, although it was difficult for them to adhere strictly to the hierarchy of the phases.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Effects of Isixhosa and English versions of GeoGebra on geometry achievement
- Authors: Matsha, Vuyani Hodecius
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Mathematics Multicultural education -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Academic achievement Language and languages
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/41032 , vital:36284
- Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of using GeoGebra in different linguistic situations, namely isiXhosa and English, in township schools in Port Elizabeth. The objectives were to design an isiXhosa version of GeoGebra and investigate whether or not using it in first and second languages would offer any different results with regard to achievement in, and visuospatial ability of, geometry. Learners and teachers’ perceptions of the GeoGebra software were investigated within the framework of these variables. A pre-post-test, mixed method, concurrent, embedded triangulation research design was used with qualitative aspects playing a more prominent role than the quantitative data. Data collection strategies included baseline assessment to determine teachers’ perceptions of their ability to work with GeoGebra, focus group interviews with learners, semi-structured interviews with teachers, classroom observation and learners’ geometry tests. The study used Vygotsky’s socio-cultural model as a philosophical framework, while the explanatory framework of this study was situated within Baddeley’s revised model of working memory. The translation of GeoGebra from English to isiXhosa proved to be successful in terms of user responses and the fact that it is the first official African language of this dynamic software to be published, offered and made available online. Pre-post geometry testing revealed that for all the groups, the section on riders displayed the largest mean increase. Performance on the riders, which were aligned to the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) grade 10 examination papers, can be viewed as an indicator of visuospatial ability. Importantly, the mean scores of the learners using the isiXhosa version of GeoGebra improved more in terms of practical significance (effect size = 0,78 for Riders) than the improvement in scores of learners who used the English version (Effect size = 0,61 for Riders). The total effect sizes of the isiXhosa and English groups were 0,69 and 0,36 respectively. This finding seems to resonate with the findings that language proficiency is an indicator of mathematical achievement. This is so in spite of the small size of the sample because the main purpose of the study was to obtain a brief impression (snapshot) of the situation regarding language issues involved when learning mathematics via the software GeoGebra.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Factors affecting grade 6 learners’ performance in Mathematics in the East London Education District
- Authors: Kwateng, Jesse
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/15935 , vital:40565
- Description: Mathematics is one of the most important subjects rooted in many fields of study but has also been one of the greatest challenges for learners in every country, most especially in the Republic of South Africa. There have been attempts to curb the challenges that have bedeviled the success of mathematics education by governments, the Department of Education and many other stakeholders who have not enjoyed positive results in mathematics in the district of East London. Therefore, this study examines factors affecting grade 6 learners’ performance in mathematics in selected schools within the East London education district. There were three hundred and forty-five (345) grade 6 learners and 12 teachers drawn through a parallel mixed methods sampling. Stratified random sampling was used to select participants for the quantitative strand while purposive sampling was used for selecting 60 learners and 12 teachers for the qualitative strand. The researcher used the mixed method research approach. The instruments used in collecting data were structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to elicit information from grade 6 learners and teachers. Information gathered from the learners and teachers included: biographical information, factors affecting teaching and learning of mathematics and suggestions. The quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics of percentage from the responses of learners. The quantitative analysis was done by using excel 2010 to formulate data into percentages and qualitatively, voice recordings from the respondents semi-structured interviews were reduced through thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that some of the qualified mathematics educators preferred to work in another profession. Quality of teaching and learning were less effective due to overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teaching and learning resources, poor monitoring of educators, some of the learners were not adequately motivated and many others. For performance in mathematics to improve in the primary schools in East London Education District, the study made some recommendations from the findings to the stakeholders in education such as the Department of Education, principals, the government, educators and learners. These recommendations might virtually assist in finding lasting solutions to grade 6 learners with mathematics challenges.
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- Date Issued: 2019
Pre-service education students’ application of visualisation strategies to solve mathematical word-problems
- Authors: Shaw , Peter
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD (Education)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12941 , vital:39406
- Description: This classroom-based action research dissertation examined visualisation strategies used by pre-service Intermediate Phase PGCE education students to solve mathematical word-problems. The setting was an Eastern Cape university. Previous literature indicated a positive correlation between the use of visual scaffolds and success in solving word problems. However, a gap was found insofar as little research had been published on the application of visualisation to word-problems by student teachers in South Africa. This thesis advances our understanding of the role visualisation may play in assisting student teachers to solve word-problems. The theoretic framework was informed by Bruner’s theory of learning. The research was grounded in the hermeneutic tradition. An interpretivist research paradigm was expedited by using an inductive, naturalistic perspective and relativist ontology. Thirtyeight student-teachers participated in the study. Parallel and convergent qualitative and quantitative data gathering instruments were used, thereby facilitating triangulation and examination for microgenesis. It was found that vestiges of past teaching practices initially limited the participants’ knowledge to a deeply-flawed, banking model of routines and an instrumental perception of mathematics. Disruptive calls for social justice impeded progress. Albeit visualisation strategies liberated understanding, many foundational concepts and skills had to be reconstructed. The confluence of time and rehearsal culminated in some measure of expertise. Sustained effort enabled new knowledge to be compressed and consigned to long-term memory. Salient visual representations assisted participants to conceptualise relational mathematical metaconcepts and reduced the cognitive demands imposed by word-problems but that achievement was a hard-won prize.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Generating shared interpretive resources in the mathematics classroom: using philosophy of mathematics to teach mathematics better
- Authors: De Lange, Laura
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Mathematics -- Philosophy
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4293 , vital:20645
- Description: Every student has a unique mathematical lived experience: a unique amalgamation of ideas about mathematics, exposure to mathematical concepts and feelings about mathematics. A student's unique set of circumstances means that not every explanatory account of mathematics will cohere with her previous experiences. For an explanation to have explanatory potential, it must provide an account which coheres with the other beliefs a student has about mathematics. If an explanation has no such coherence, it will not be recognisable as an explanation of the phenomenon of mathematics for the student. Our explanatory accounts of mathematics and mathematical knowledge are our philosophies of mathematics. Different philosophies of mathematics will better explain different sets of mathematical lived experiences. In this thesis I will argue that students should be exposed to a multiplicity of philosophies of mathematics so that they can endorse the philosophy of mathematics which has the most explanatory potential for their particular set of mathematical lived experiences. I argue that this will improve student understanding of mathematics. The claims inherent in any given philosophy of mathematics, when combined with other stereotypes or prejudices, can work to unjustly exclude members of subordinated groups, such as poor, black or female students, from mathematical participation. If we want to avoid reinforcing and reinscribing prejudicial claims about people in the mathematics classroom, we need to be aware of how a certain philosophy of mathematics can exclude certain students. In this thesis I will be defending the idea that, as mathematics educators, we should diversify the way we see mathematics so that we decrease this exclusion from mathematics. In order to diversify the way in which we see mathematics so as to decrease unjust exclusion, members of subordinated groups should be encouraged to share their mathematical experiences in a space sensitive to the power dynamics present in the mathematics classroom. These accounts can then be combined with existing philosophies of mathematics to create new ways of making sense of mathematics which do not unjustly exclude members of subordinated groups.
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- Date Issued: 2017
An investigation of teachers' mathematical task selection in the Zambia context
- Authors: Kangwa, Evaristo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1384 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001512
- Description: This research sought to investigate the sources and type of tasks used in the teaching of trigonometry in Zambia’s secondary schools, and to investigate the criteria used and decisions made by teachers in their selection and implementation of tasks. The study was conducted in three different school types located in high cost, medium cost and low cost respectively. One participant was chosen from each of the different categories of schools. The research was located within an interpretive paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, lesson observations and document analysis which include: lesson plans for five consecutive days, pupils’ activity books and three textbooks predominantly used by the teachers. Document analysis was informed by the task analysis guide and essential themes which were used to tease out teachers’ task practice with regard to criteria used and decisions made in the selection and implementation of tasks. Essential themes that were qualitatively established were validated and explicated by the qualitative analysis. The findings of the study indicate that teachers picked tasks from prescribed textbooks. The study further suggests that teachers selected a mix of low and high level tasks, procedures without connections and procedures with connections tasks to be specific. There were no memorisations and doing mathematics tasks. Their choice of tasks was based on the purpose for which the task was intended. Some tasks were selected for the purpose of practicing the procedures and skills, other tasks for the promotion conceptual development. Most of high level tasks decline to low level tasks during implementation. The findings also indicate that teachers selected and implemented a variety of tasks and concepts. Furthermore, teachers presented tasks in various forms of representations and in a variety of ways. However, the results of this study could not be generalized because of the small sample involved. The results presented reflect the views and task practices of the target group. A possibility for future study would be to consider a large population, drawn across the country.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Case study : using visual representations to enhance conceptual knowledge of division in mathematics
- Authors: Joel, Linea Beautty
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Visual learning , Division -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:1992 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013356
- Description: Literature emphasizes how important it is that procedural and conceptual knowledge of mathematics should be learned in integration. Yet, generally, the learning and teaching in mathematics classrooms relies heavily on isolated procedures. This study aims to improve teaching and learning of partitive and quotitive division, moving away from isolated procedural knowledge to that of procedures with their underlying concepts through the use of manipulatives, visual representation and questioning. Learning and teaching lessons were designed to teach partitive and quotitive division both procedurally and conceptually. The study explored the roles these manipulatives, visual representations and questioning played toward the conceptual learning of partitive and quotitive division. It was found that manipulatives and iconic visualization enhanced learning, and this could be achieved through scaffolding using a questioning approach. It was concluded that manipulatives and iconic visualization need to be properly planned and used, and integrated with questioning to achieve success in the learning of procedural and conceptual knowledge.
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- Date Issued: 2013
Multiple representations and cognitive load: words, arrows, and colours when solving algebraic problems
- Authors: Brey, Amina
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Algebraic logic , Mathematical analysis , Mathematics -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9580 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020392
- Description: This study investigates the possible effects that access to selected multiple representations (words, arrows and colours) have in terms of cognitive load and learner achievement when presented with algebraic problems at grade nine level. The presentation of multiple representations (the intervention) was intended to decrease extraneous cognitive load, manage the intrinsic cognitive load (algebraic problems) and optimise germane cognition (schema acquisition and automation). An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was employed with six hundred and seventy three learners in four secondary schools. Quantitative data were generated via pre-, intervention and post-tests/questionnaires, while qualitative data were obtained from open-ended questions in the pre-, intervention, and post-tests/questionnaires, eight learner focus group interviews (n = 32), and four semi-structured, open-ended teacher interviews. Statistically and practically significant improvement in mean test scores from the pre- to intervention test scores in all schools was noted. No statistically and practically significant improvement was noted in further post-tests except for post-test 2 which employed more challenging problems (statistically significant decrease with a small practical effect). Learners expressed their preference for arrows, followed by colours and then words as effective representations. Teacher generated qualitative data suggests that they realise the importance of using multiple representations as an instructional strategy and implicitly understand the notion of cognitive load. The findings, when considered in the light of literature on cognitive load, suggest that a reduction in extraneous cognitive load by using a more effective instructional design (multiple representations) frees working memory capacity which can then be devoted to the intrinsic cognitive load (algebraic problems) and thereby increase germane cognition (schema acquisition and automation).
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- Date Issued: 2013
Teachers' and learners' experiences and perceptions concerning the use of English as a language of learning and teaching in bi/multilingual mathematical literarcy classrooms
- Authors: Pillai, Saloshni
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Education, Bilingual , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , English language -- Usage
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9440 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021022
- Description: In South Africa, there is concern about the poor achievement by first additional language (FAL) English learners in mathematics, and this is a consequence not solely of the apartheid era but more appropriately, the existing current situation in the classroom. Since 2006, the Department of Basic Education in South Africa introduced mathematical literacy (ML) as another learning area for the Further Education and Training (FET) band. ML, as an alternative choice to mathematics, is envisaged as a key to the understanding of our everyday world filled with numbers. Mathematical literacy FAL English learners and teachers are exposed to a ML curriculum that demands high linguistic skills in English in order to engage with the mathematical concepts through the medium of English which is not their home language. While the Language-in-Education Policy (DoE, 1997) recommends that school language policies promote additive bilingualism and the use of learners’ home languages as languages of learning and teaching (LoLT), there has been little implementation of these recommendations by schools, for the reason that all assessments and learner and teacher support materials (LTSM) are only available in English. Thus it appears that ML creates a language gap when FAL English learners and teachers have to possess a high level of communication and language proficiency of the LoLT English to successfully engage with the mathematical context and content of the ML curriculum since the language itself carries all the meaning. The majority of FAL English learners and teachers struggle with the necessary English language proficiency to successfully interact with the ML curriculum and are often required to use their own home language (code switching) to bring about understanding. In this study, I explore how teachers and learners who are dominantly FAL English speakers, engage in teaching and learning of ML in bi/multilingual classrooms. The main aim of the study is to investigate the FAL English learners’ and teachers’ experiences and perceptions concerning the use of English as the LoLT in bi/multilingual ML classrooms. Qualitative measures were generated through personal interviews (teachers [n=15] and learners [n=25]) from five different secondary schools situated in the rural areas of the Midlands in KwaZulu-Natal. This study is framed by Wenger’s (1991) model of situated learning and Vygotsky’s socio-cultural perspectives, which propose that learning involves a process of engagement in a community of practice and reflects the learners’ sociocultural relationship to school mathematics respectively. The study also describes Cummins’ quadrants and explores the benefits of Cummins’ notion of language use (Cummins, 1984). Analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed that, despite both teachers’ and learners’ difficulty with the language, English is the more popular language to be used in teaching and learning in bi/multilingual mathematical literacy classrooms since English is accepted as a global language. Worldwide emphasis and dominance of English as a powerful language that gives access to goods and social mobility were also highlighted. However, overall results in this study showed that most participants did express their preference for using their home language isiZulu alongside English through the extensive practice of code switching for the teaching and learning of ML.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The use of Blackboard as a tool for the teaching and assessment of large classes in mathematics education: a case study of second year level Bachelor of Education students in one university in South Africa
- Authors: Riley, Alanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006237 , Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Description: This study locates the Blackboard Learning Management System as a Technology Enhanced Learning tool within the bounds of the discipline of eLearning and aimed to interrogate the use of Blackboard for the purposes of teaching, learning and assessment in large classes. It is evident from the literature reviewed that changes in both Higher Education in the South Africa with regards to policy and legislation in addition to international shifts towards increased access and participation in a fast paced, ever-evolving knowledge-based economy, providing the context for this work. The theoretical framework for this study is not unidimensional due to the fact that the educational field of eLearning as an area of specialisation draws on a multitude of theories in terms of their utility value for instructional design of courses utilising Information and Communications Technology as a mode of delivery. This study was conducted within the bounds of an interpretivist paradigm as the researcher sought to focus on the use of Blackboard and the experiences of the lecturers and students involved in the implementation thereof. The research design for this study took the form of a case study and a multiple case method was employed. The researcher collected data through personal interviews conducted with participating lecturers, while student data was collected by means of a qualitative survey which was conducted through the Blackboard Learning Management System. The data was analyzed by means of a thematic analysis, consistent with the interpretive paradigm chosen for this study. The findings of this study revealed that Blackboard was utilised effectively in order to facilitate communication, access to course resources and promoted more efficient assessment processes. The implementation was however not without challenges many of which were systemic and focused on the lack of resources available to the students. The implications of using Blackboard for teaching and assessment of large classes include the use of the Learning Management System as part of a multimodal method of course delivery in an effort to reach the multitude of registered students both conceptually as well as electronically. The recommendations arising from this study include consideration on the part of the faculty for a unified approach in the use of Blackboard for communication as well as deployment of resources. Additionally, this study may form the foundation of further studies in this field, with a focus on the active engagement and training of lecturers in order to integrate traditional teaching methods with blended learning opportunities.
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- Date Issued: 2013
A model for automated topic spotting in a mobile chat based mathematics tutoring environment
- Authors: Butgereit, Laura Lee
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems in education , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Tutors and tutoring -- Mathematics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9809 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013741
- Description: Systems of writing have existed for thousands of years. The history of civilisation and the history of writing are so intertwined that it is hard to separate the one from the other. These systems of writing, however, are not static. They change. One of the latest developments in systems of writing is short electronic messages such as seen on Twitter and in MXit. One novel application which uses these short electronic messages is the Dr Math® project. Dr Math is a mobile online tutoring system where pupils can use MXit on their cell phones and receive help with their mathematics homework from volunteer tutors around the world. These conversations between pupils and tutors are held in MXit lingo or MXit language – this cryptic, abbreviated system 0f ryting w1ch l0ks lyk dis. Project μ (pronounced mu and indicating MXit Understander) investigated how topics could be determined in MXit lingo and Project μ's research outputs spot mathematics topics in conversations between Dr Math tutors and pupils. Once the topics are determined, supporting documentation can be presented to the tutors to assist them in helping pupils with their mathematics homework. Project μ made the following contributions to new knowledge: a statistical and linguistic analysis of MXit lingo provides letter frequencies, word frequencies, message length statistics as well as linguistic bases for new spelling conventions seen in MXit based conversations; a post-stemmer for use with MXit lingo removes suffixes from the ends of words taking into account MXit spelling conventions allowing words such as equashun and equation to be reduced to the same root stem; a list of over ten thousand stop words for MXit lingo appropriate for the domain of mathematics; a misspelling corrector for MXit lingo which corrects words such as acount and equates it to account; and a model for spotting mathematical topics in MXit lingo. The model was instantiated and integrated into the Dr Math tutoring platform. Empirical evidence as to the effectiveness of the μ Topic Spotter and the other contributions is also presented. The empirical evidence includes specific statistical tests with MXit lingo, specific tests of the misspelling corrector, stemmer, and feedback mechanism, and an extensive exercise of content analysis with respect to mathematics topics.
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- Date Issued: 2012
User experience metrics for Dr Math
- Authors: Ngaye, Zonke
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Data processing , Mathematical models , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Numerical analysis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:9799 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1012036 , Mathematics -- Data processing , Mathematical models , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Numerical analysis
- Description: The purpose of this research study is to propose guidelines for providing a positive user experience for pupils using Dr Math®. User experience was found to have a positive impact on the acceptance and adoption of a product. Thus the proposed guidelines contribute in maximizing the adoption and acceptance of Dr Math® among pupils. This study begins with an introductory chapter that describes the problem that forms the basis for this research. The chapter defines the objectives that this study is intended to achieve in order to accomplish its ultimate goal. The methodology followed to conduct this research study as well as its scope are also defined here. The results from a preliminary survey revealed that despite its potential accessibility, Dr Math® has a low adoption rate. However, when compared to other mobile learning (m-learning) applications for mathematics learning, Dr Math® is more popular. Thus Dr Math® was selected as a case for study. Chapter 2 of this study provides a detailed description of Dr Math® as a local mobile application for mathematics learning. It was found that the affordability and accessibility of Dr Math® did not necessarily imply a high adoption rate. There are various possible barriers to its low adoption. User experience (UX), which is the focus of this study, is one of them. Thus, a subsequent chapter deals with UX. Chapter 3 discusses UX, its scope, components and definition and places particular emphasis on its significance in the success of any product. The chapter also highlights the characteristics of a positive UX and the importance of designing for this outcome. In Chapter 4, a discussion and justification of the methodology used to conduct this research is discussed. This study primarily employs a qualitative inductive approach within an interpretivism paradigm. An exploratory single case study was used to obtain an in-depth analysis of the case. Data was collected using Dr Math® log files as a documentary source. Gathered data was then analysed and organized into themes and categories using qualitative content analysis as outlined in Chapter 5. Also the findings obtained from the results, which are mainly the factors that were found to have an impact on the user interaction with Dr Math®, are presented here. The identified factors served as a basis from which the guidelines presented in Chapter 6 were developed. Chapter 7 presents the conclusions and recommendations of the research. From both theoretical and empirical work, it was concluded that Dr Math® has the potential to improve mathematics learning in South Africa. Its adoption rate, however, is not satisfying: hence, the investigation of the factors impacting on the user interaction with Dr Math®, from which the proposed guidelines are based.
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- Date Issued: 2012
An intervention for enhancing the mathematics teaching practices of grade four teachers in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan area
- Authors: Botha, Adele
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Mathematics , Mathematics -- Handbooks, manuals, etc , Mathematics teachers
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:9499 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008176 , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Mathematics , Mathematics -- Handbooks, manuals, etc , Mathematics teachers
- Description: Mathematics is regarded as a driving force in economies worldwide. The performance of South African learners in mathematics over the past decade has highlighted that problems are being experienced across all grades. This situation needs to be addressed with urgency. The South African Department of Education stated that quality learning must be the objective for all grades. The implementation of good teaching practices plays a crucial role in improving the quality of education and in guiding learners towards quality learning. To achieve quality mathematics teaching and learning it is imperative to determine what good mathematics teaching practices are. The identification of good mathematic teaching practices will provide a yard stick to measure the mathematics teaching competency of teachers. This study identifies a set of good mathematics teaching practice indicators and evidences applicable to teachers in the Intermediate phase as a first contribution. These indicators and evidences frame the second research contribution: an assessment instrument entitled “A Classroom Observation Tool for Observing Mathematics Teaching Practices in Primary Schools”. As a third research contribution a generic profile of a Grade four mathematics teacher has been built. This generic profile has been built through an analysis of data gathered by means of self-assessment questionnaires completed by the research sample, as well as through applying the observation tool. The value of the generic profile lies in the identification of shared strengths and shared improvement opportunities in the mathematics teaching practice of the sample and as such, it forms the basis of a theory on Grade four mathematics teaching practice. The fourth research contribution is the design and application of an intervention that addresses the shared improvement opportunities. The research study concludes by comparing pre-intervention classroom observation data with post-intervention classroom observation data and reporting on the impact of the intervention.
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- Date Issued: 2011
Grade 9 second-language learners in township schools : issues of language and mathematics when solving word problems
- Authors: Sepeng, Johannes Percy
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , DEd
- Identifier: vital:9498 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1455 , Mathematics -- Language , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Language and languages -- Mathematics , Second language acquisition -- Study and teaching
- Description: Second language (English) learning of mathematics is common in South African mathematics classrooms, including those in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where isiXhosa speakers are taught in the language that is not spoken at home by both teachers and learners. The purpose of this research was to investigate issues of language, both home (isiXhosa) and the language of learning and teaching (LoLT), i.e. English, when 9th grade second language learners engage in problem-solving and sense-making of wor(l)d problems in multilingual mathematics classrooms. In addition, the aim of the study was to explore whether the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in these classrooms can ameliorate these issues. The study used a pre-test – intervention – post-test mixed method design utilising both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection strategies for the purpose of this study included interviews (learners [n=24] and teachers [n=4]), classroom observations, and tests (experimental [n=107] and comparison [69]) in four experimental and two comparison schools in townships of Port Elizabeth. This study is framed by socio-cultural perspective which proposes that collective and individual processes are directly related and that students‘ unrealistic responses to real world problems reflect the students‘ socio-cultural relationship to school mathematics and their willingness to employ the approaches emphasised in school. Analysis of the data generated from pre- and post-tests, interviews and classroom observation schedule suggest that the interventional strategy significantly improved the experimental learners‘ problem-solving skills and sense-making abilities in both English and isiXhosa (but more significantly in English). The statistical results illustrate that the experimental group performed statistical significantly (p < .0005) better in the English posttest compared to comparison group. The data also suggests that the interventional strategy in this study (discussion and argumentation techniques) positively influenced the participating learners‘ word problem-solving abilities. The experimental group appeared to show a tendency to consider reality marginally better than the comparison group after the intervention. In particular, learners seemed to make realistic considerations better in the isiXhosa translation post-test compared to the English post-test. A large practical significant (d = 0.86) difference between the experimental group and the comparison group was also noted in the isiXhosa translation compared to a moderate practical significance (d = 0.57) noted in the English tests after the intervention. As such, the results of the study suggest that the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems had a positive effect on learners‘ ability to consider reality during word problem-solving in both languages. Analysis of learners‘ interviews suggests that, although English is the preferred LoLT, they would prefer dual-use/parallel-use of English and isiXhosa for teaching and learning mathematics. There was also evidence of the benefits of code-switching throughout most of the lessons observed, coupled with instances of peer translation, and/or re-voicing. Overall results in this study illustrate that number skills displayed and mathematical errors made by learners seem to be directly related to language use in the classroom.
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- Date Issued: 2010
Project 1 - Student teachers' exploration of beadwork : cultural heritage as a resource for mathematical concepts
- Authors: Dabula, Nomonde Patience
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: Ethnomathematics , Beadwork -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Beadwork , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , Culture -- Study and teaching
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:1415 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003292
- Description: This portfolio consists of three research projects that predominantly lie within the socio-cultural strand. The first project is a qualitative ethnomathematical study that links students' knowledge of mathematics to their cultural heritage. The study was conducted with a group of final year student teachers at a College of Education in Umtata, Eastern Cape. These students visited a city museum where mathematics concepts were identified from beadwork artifacts. Mathematics concepts that were identified consisted of symmetry, tessellation and number patterns. Students' views about the nature of mathematics shifted radically after their own explorations. Initially students did not perceive mathematics as relating to socio-cultural practices. But now, they have reviewed their position and see mathematics as inextricably interwoven in everyday activities and as such, a product of all cultures. They also pride themselves of their own cultural heritage to have mathematical connections. A more positive attitude towards studying mathematics in this approach was noticed. Data was collected by means of interviews, reflective journal entries and photographs. The second project is a survey with a group of practising teachers who have already implemented Curriculum 2005, and a group which is about to implement it in 2001. The study sought teachers' understanding of connections between mathematics and socio-cultural issues. The new mathematics curriculum in South Africa calls for teachers to grapple well with these issues. About a third of the articulated specific outcomes specifically relate to socio-cultural issues. If teachers' understanding of these issues is poor, implementation of the new curriculum will remain a mere dream. The findings of the survey revealed that the majority of teachers could not identify the culture related specific outcomes in the new mathematics curriculum. Complicated language used in the OBE policy documents was found to inhibit meaning to these teachers. Although, all teachers showed a positive attitude towards the inclusion of socio-cultural issues in the mathematics classroom, the implementation of these outcomes was found to be very problematic. In this survey data was collected by means of questionnaires. The third project is a literature review on the need to popularise mathematics to students in particular, and to the broader public in general. The 21 st century places great technological demands. Mathematics underpins most thinking behind technological development. The role played by mathematics in advancing other fields is largely hidden to the majority of people. There is, therefore, a need to bring forth the vital role that mathematics plays in these fields. The number of students participating in mathematics is decreasing. Mathematics, as a field, is experiencing competition from other science fields. There is a need to bring some incentives to attract more students into this field and retain those mathematicians already involved. Also important, is the need to change the negative image that the public often holds about mathematics. Many people are mathematically illiterate and do not see mathematics as an everyday activity that relates to their needs. There is, therefore, a need to change the face of mathematics.
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- Date Issued: 2001