Faculty of Humanities (ETDs)

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    A critical realist account of the factors enabling and constraining lesson differentiation in stem education: a case study of a private school in the eastern suburbs of Johannesburg
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Kistoo, Kerisha
    In the past two decades, South Africa's democratic government has prioritised equality, stemming from its history of apartheid and colonialism. This commitment extends to the education sector, where there's a growing emphasis on inclusive education and the need for differentiation – tailoring lessons to accommodate diverse learning needs in mainstream classrooms. However, existing educational research underexplores how teachers go about planning lessons with the aim of differentiating to accommodate their learners’ needs. Recognising this gap, this study explores the enabling and constraining factors of differentiation within South Africa's context, particularly in STEM subjects. Through interviews with seven STEM teachers in a private school in Johannesburg's Eastern suburbs, the study delves into the complex interplay of social, agential, and cultural factors influencing differentiation. It draws on critical realism and social realism as supportive theories underpinning the data analysis. This study highlights that teaching is shaped by teachers’ experiences within the South African education system, which can either constrain or enable differentiation. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the growing knowledge on differentiation for new and existing teachers, aiming to contribute to ongoing discussions on inclusive education and pedagogical practices.
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    High school learners’ experiences of Inclusive Education: Reflections from first year psychology students
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Johnson, Tamlyn; Kern, Anwynne
    Inclusive Education has been implemented in South Africa since 2001 to address the barriers that prevent learners from accessing, participating and achieving in mainstream schools. Research has largely focused on teachers and other educational stakeholders’ evaluation of the progress and efficiency of Inclusive Education. This qualitative study reports on the high school experiences of first year psychology students. The sample included both learners with and without barriers to learning, who attended different schooling systems; Public (urban and township), private and rural schools. Using qualitative surveys, the study investigated students’ experiences and understanding of Inclusive Education. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and the bioecological model. Four key themes were identified; (1)Diverse understandings of barriers to learning (BTL), (2) Experiences with learners with barriers to learning,(3)Teachers’ relations with learners with BTL, and (4) Attitudes towards IE. The findings revealed that most of the participants have had experiences with learners with various BTL in high school. However, their experiences indicate that there are still negative perceptions and treatment of learners with BTL, by teachers and other learners, though they have also witnessed the resilience of learners with barriers to learning. Inclusive Education is gradually being implemented, especially considering that most of the participants have had experiences with learners with various BTL in high school. Of the research found, there is substantial work that is required to successfully implement IE in South African schools.
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    Conceptualisation of Inclusive Education: Impact on primary school principals and Foundation Phase teachers
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-09) Dewa, Nokuthula Ntombiyelizwe; Bekker, Tanya
    This study investigated how the conceptualisations of Inclusive Education (IE) by primary school principals and Foundation Phase teachers impact teaching practices. The study places a high value on participants' IE conceptualisations because they have an impact on teachers' actions in their classrooms, which can either support or limit teachers' inclusive practices in granting epistemic access to learning to all learners. The study addressed the question of how primary school principals and Foundation Phase teachers conceptualise IE and considered the implications of these conceptualisations on their practice. Conceptualisations inform pedagogical practice, and I argue that a pedagogical shift that takes accountability for providing learning opportunities for all learners regardless of difference is necessary. A qualitative transformational research method was used to collect data, and thirteen Foundation Phase (FP) teachers and three school principals were conveniently and purposefully chosen from three Government primary schools, in Johannesburg South. Individual semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews were used to collect data, which was then thematically analysed using both inductive and deductive methods. With some extensions and adjustments, two theoretical frameworks were used for this study: the Inclusive Pedagogical Approach (IPA) and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory. Although Black-Hawkins (2017) argues for three required inclusive pedagogical shifts for teachers to teach inclusively, this study’s findings reveal that teachers in South Africa are currently at three different levels of development toward the required pedagogical shift, which is why IE implementation is hampered despite the numerous IE issues raised by previous studies. According to the findings of this study, there are teachers who have little to no pedagogical shift toward inclusive practices, teachers who have an emerging shift, and teachers who have an established shift. These stages of the pedagogical shift are supported by various conceptualisations that influence teachers' actions, leading to a variety of teaching strategies, some of which do not involve all learners in teaching and learning. The study recommended that the actual stage of shift be considered to support continued progress toward inclusive practice. Teachers who have made little or no pedagogical shift toward inclusivity should be made aware of IE policies and practices, while those who have made an emerging pedagogical shift should be encouraged and assisted in including everyone in their teaching and learning, and those who have made an established pedagogical shift should be developed further in maintaining and improving inclusive practices.