3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Exploring the value of a teaching and learning intervention (using an assessment as learning-conceptual thread approach) in addressing acquired learning deficits in mathematics in South Africa(2017) Butchart, TraceyThe purpose of this study was to evaluate an assessment as learning – conceptual thread approach to the teaching and learning of Mathematics. The focus was on South African high school learners with acquired learning deficits that were causing functioning at levels as far back as Grade 2. Using a mixed-methods design, the study’s key findings are: that learners can catch up between 3-6 grade levels despite limited contact time through using a diagnostic assessment as learning – conceptual thread approach for targeted intervention; that learners’ acquired learning deficits are not necessarily insurmountable; and that Grade 10 is not too late to catch up on learners’ grade-level achievement in Mathematics. The assessment as learning – conceptual thread approach provided value: for teachers in revealing the nature of learner difficulties; and for learners enabling their metacognitive activation and stimulating the advancement of their metacognitive skills. Learners developed skills of error detection, diagnosis and analysis; awareness of strengths, weaknesses, learning needs and opportunities; self-reflective performance analysis and self-evaluation of improvement strategies.Item Assessing the algebraic attainment of South African grade 9 learners: designing a test using Rasch analysis(2017) Ehrlich, Samantha AnneSouth African learners perform poorly in national and international mathematics assessments (Howie, 2004). A contributing factor to this poor performance is low mathematics knowledge of mathematics teachers in South Africa (Howie, 2003). One means of addressing this is professional development programs. The Wits Maths Connect Secondary Project runs such a program. A test is required by the project in order to assess whether learners are making learning gains after being taught by teachers who participated in this program. The focus of this study is the design of a test used to assess learners’ algebraic attainment. The aim is to design an informative and fair test using Rasch analysis. A sample of 235 learners’ responses to 47 questions was analysed using the Rasch model. In this study, the mean person measure was 2,87 (SD=1,38) logits, while the mean item measure was 0,41 (SD=2,25) logits, suggesting that overall, the test was too difficult. For the learners who wrote this test the person separation index is 1,78 and the person reliability 0,76. This implies that the test may not be not sensitive enough to distinguish between learners of high attainment from learners with low attainment. Various ways of improving the test are discussed.Item Management of the implementation of internal continuous assessment at Western College in Gauteng(2017) Sebetlene, Selaelo PeterThe National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) qualification was introduced at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in 2007 to enable students to acquire necessary skills and knowledge that would prepare them effectively for the world of work. The NCV is an outcomes-based curriculum and its introduction was accompanied by a general shift to outcomes-based teaching and learning approaches, as well as a rigorous assessment and moderation regime, particularly with regards to the internal assessment (ICASS) component. The shift required lecturers to adopt multi-dimensional assessment of skills, knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and dispositions when assessing students. The report released by Umalusi in 2014 pointed out a number of factors that negatively affect the implementation of ICASS at some TVET colleges. The aim of the study was to explore the factors that constrain or enhance the implementation of the ICASS component of the NCV at TVET colleges. Literature related to the research topic was consulted and, subsequently, document analysis and semi-structured interviews were used to determine ICASS practices applied at Western College (Westcol) for TVET. ICASS requirements as per NCV-related policies and the current ICASS practices at the college were compared to determine the factors that (including those cited by Umalusi) hinder or promote ICASS implementation. The findings reflected that lack of resources (mainly financial and physical resources, as well as under-qualified and unqualified lecturers at the college) hinder the effective implementation of the ICASS component in some subjects at the college. Furthermore, the quality of the assessment elements was of great concern. Most interviewees reported that: some of the ICASS tasks in various subjects were of poor quality; there was lack of or poor moderation of tasks; portfolios were incomplete and there was a lack of structured remedial intervention after tasks were conducted. Interviewees attributed the above situation to increased lecturers’ workloads and students’ poor class attendance. The research recommends that the college build capacity for ICASS implementation through the provision of resources, and the training and development of lecturers, as well as partnerships with industries and other institutions to complement and strengthen the college’s limited resources and to apply knowledge management practices so that the college can leverage and benefit from the knowledge it currently possesses, to improve the implementation of the internal assessment component.Item An exploration of factors that are contributing to unsatisfactory performance in government schools: the case of Duduza township, Eastrand, Gauteng(2016) Maeresera, Rutendo ChikomboreroEducation plays an integral role in human development. It encompasses growth in several dimensions of human well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that are contributing to unsatisfactory performance in Government Schools in the area of Duduza Township, a community in the East rand, Gauteng. Based on the qualitative research conducted, the researcher adopted a multiple case study as a research design. The researcher utilised purposive non-probability sampling in selecting the 15 learners and six key informants. Multiple methods of data collection were used through focus group discussions with learners and individual interviews with key informants. The most important problems that emerged from the thematic content analysis of the discussions included factors in the home environment of learners in that there is lack of parental involvement and motivation. In the school environment, the study showed that challenges were faced due to the usage of English as the medium of instruction, teachers’ discrimination of learners aged 18years and above, condoning or progressing of learners, overcrowding in classes and the usage of inexperienced teachers in critical grades. Furthermore, the study highlighted that one of the community related factors affected learners is their socio-economic background. In view of the study’s findings and conclusions in relation to the factors contributing to unsatisfactory performance in Government Schools, the researcher proposed intervention strategies to be implemented on micro, meso and macro level. In addition, emphasis should be put on revisiting the policy of progressing learners, the improvement of learning outcomes and raising passing grades. A multi-sectoral approach is crucial for all stakeholders comprising of the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Social Development, the school, parents and learners. Measures and recommendations to address the challenges of poor performance have been outlined