An investigation into how a grade 10 teacher conducts practical work in the context of the National Curriculum Statement.
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Date
2008-09-01T06:34:49Z
Authors
Mudau, Awelani Victor
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Abstract
The study investigated how two grade 10 physical science teachers conducted practical
work within the context of the National Curriculum Statement (NCS). The following
research questions guided the study:
1. What are the grade 10 teachers’ ideas of the nature of practical work?
2. What are the grade 10 teachers’ ideas of the purpose of practical work?
3. How do the grade 10 teachers’ ideas of the nature of practical work and its
purpose shape how they conduct practical work?
Models used by Pekmez et al. (2005) for analysis and explanation of the thinking of
teachers about practical work were used to frame the study. The case methodology was
adopted for the study. Interviews and official documents in the form of laboratory reports
and instruction sheets were used as the sources of data. Research questions, common
sense, personal experience, literature reviewed and the theoretical and conceptual
framework of the study were used to formulate initial categories to guide data analysis.
The study showed that teacher M had ideas of the nature and purpose of practical work
within the framework of the investigation movement. Teacher B had ideas of the nature
and purpose of practical work within the process and investigation movements
respectively. However both teachers conducted practical work tasks within the
explanation model. Hence teachers’ ideas of practical work do not necessarily shape how
they conduct it. Possible reasons for the teachers conducting practical work tasks within
the framework different from that of their ideas are discussed. The implications of the
findings for the NCS are discussed based on Rogan and Grayson’s (2003) theoretical
model of implementation. Current methods of disseminating information on how to
conduct practical work are questioned. More discussions on how to design and conduct
practical work are recommended.