8/2018 vol. 14
Stats
CC BY-NC 4.0
Get citation
RESEARCH PAPER
In Search of a Working Strategy: The AHA... Moment in the Teaching of Science Subjects at Two South African High Schools
Kgomotsego B. Samuel 1
,
 
Washington T. Dudu 1
 
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
North-West University, SOUTH AFRICA
 
 
Online publication date: 2018-06-02
 
 
Publication date: 2018-06-02
 
 
Corresponding author
Kgomotsego B. Samuel   

School for Mathematics, Science and Technology, North-West University, SOUTH AFRICA
 
 
EURASIA J. Math., Sci Tech. Ed 2018;14(8):em1566
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/91921
 
 
Article (PDF)
References (59)
 
KEYWORDS
aha! moment
case study research
learner performance
role-playing
meaningful reception learning theory
 
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to interrogate a ‘working’ strategy established to improve and sustain learner performance by two Life Sciences and two Physical Sciences teachers of two best-performing high schools in the North West province of South Africa. The schools in this study have had a pass rate of over 90% for seven consecutive years in Physical and Life Sciences. Ausubel’s (1963) constructs of Meaningful Reception Learning theory provided the conceptual framework for this study. The study was purely qualitative, employing an exploratory case-study approach. Purposive sampling was adopted to identify participants and research sites for the study. Data was generated through interviews, classroom observations and document analysis. The data were thematically analysed using open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Results of the study demonstrate that the aha! moment originated from the use of role-playing as a teaching strategy. Recommendations for policy and further research are suggested.
REFERENCES (59)
1.
Ausubel, D. (1963). The psychology of meaningful verbal learning. New York: Grune & Stratton.
Google Scholar
 
 
2.
Ausubel, D. P. (1968). Educational psychology: A cognitive view. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc.
Google Scholar
 
 
3.
Basit, T. (2010). Conducting research in educational contexts. London: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Google Scholar
 
 
4.
Bernstein, B. (2000). Pedagogy, symbolic control and identity: Theory, research, critique (revised edition.). London: Rowman & Littlefield.
Google Scholar
 
 
5.
Bhattacharjee, S. (2014, March). Effectiveness of roleplaying as a pedagogical approach in construction education. Paper presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://ascpro0.ascweb.org/arch....
Google Scholar
 
 
6.
BusinessTech (2018). The worrying truth behind SA’s ‘improved’ maths and science marks. Retrieved from https://businesstech.co.za/new....
Google Scholar
 
 
7.
Child Trends Databank. (2015). High school dropout rates. Retrieved from https://www.childtrends.org/?i....
Google Scholar
 
 
8.
Christle, C. A., Jolivette, K., & Nelson, C. M. (2007). School characteristics related to high school dropout rates. Remedial & Special Education, 28(6), 325‒339. https://doi.org/10.1177/074193....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
9.
Craciun, D. (2010). Role-playing as a creative method in science education. Journal of Science and Arts, 1(12), 175‒182.
Google Scholar
 
 
10.
De Medeiros Silva, S. C. G., de Oliveira, M. M., & de Oliveira, G. F. (2017). Playful teaching work of school science teachers fundamental in a municipal school in Pernambuco, Brazil. Early Child Development and Care, 187(2), 233‒243. https://doi.org/10.1080/030044....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
11.
Department of Basic Education. (2011a). The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Grades 10-12: Physical Sciences. Pretoria: Government printers.
Google Scholar
 
 
12.
Department of Basic Education. (2011b). The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Grades 10-12: Life Sciences. Pretoria: Government printers.
Google Scholar
 
 
13.
Department of Basic Education. (2013). National Policy Pertaining to the Programme and Promotion requirement of the National Curriculum statement. Pretoria: Government printers.
Google Scholar
 
 
14.
Department of Basic Education. (2015). 2015 National Strategy for Learner Attainment. Pretoria: Government Printers.
Google Scholar
 
 
15.
Department of Basic Education. (2018). 2017 National Senior Certificate Diagnostic Report Part 1. Pretoria: Government Printers.
Google Scholar
 
 
16.
Ferreira, J. G. (2011). Teaching Life Sciences to English second language learners: What do teachers do? South African Journal of Education, 31, 102‒113. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
17.
Fogg, P. (2001). A history professor engages students by giving them a role in the action. Chronicle of Higher Education, 48(12), 12‒13.
Google Scholar
 
 
18.
Haas, G., & Parkay, F.W. (1993). Curriculum planning: A new approach (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Google Scholar
 
 
19.
Holland, J., & Ramazanoglu, C. (1995). Accounting for sexuality, living sexual politics: Can feminist research be valid? In J. Holland, M. Blair, and S. Sheldon (Eds.), Debates and Issues in Feminist Research and Pedagogy, (pp. 273‒291). Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
Google Scholar
 
 
20.
Isac, M. M., Dinis da Costa, P., Araújo, L., Soto Calvo, E., & Albergaria-Almeida, P. (2015). Teaching practices in primary and secondary schools in Europe: Insights from large-scale assessments in education. Fermi: European Commission, Joint Research Centre Retrieved from https://crell.jrc.ec.europa.eu....
Google Scholar
 
 
21.
Jansen, J. (2014, January 12). 24% of matrics would have passed if pass mark was 50%. City Press. Retrieved from https://www.news24.com/Archive....
Google Scholar
 
 
22.
Joyce, B., & Weil, M. (Eds.). (2000). Models of teaching. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Google Scholar
 
 
23.
Kaloyirou, C., & Lindsay, G. (2014). Understanding bullying: using role-play with 12-year- old boys in Cyprus. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 29(2), 153-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/088562....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
24.
Khiri, B., & Mohammadi, E. (2016). Identifying educational methods for developing entrepreneurship and employment at Applied Scientific Centre’s of Ilam province. International Journal of Humanities and Cultural Studies, 3(1), 630‒639.
Google Scholar
 
 
25.
Knowles, M. S., Holton, E. F., & Swanson, R. A. (2012). The adult learner (7th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier, Inc.
Google Scholar
 
 
26.
Kriek, J., & Grayson, D. (2009). A holistic professional development model for South African Physical Science teachers. South African Journal of Education, 29, 185‒203.
Google Scholar
 
 
27.
Kumagai, S. N. (2013). Ausubel’s subsumption theory: The role and nature of advance organizers. California State University: Monterey Bay. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/486518....
Google Scholar
 
 
28.
Lee, E., & Luft, J. A. (2008). Experienced secondary science teachers’ representation of pedagogical content knowledge. International Journal of Science Education, 30, 1343‒1363. https://doi.org/10.1080/095006....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
29.
Lehari, J. S. (2017). Address on the occasion of the release of the 2016 results on 05 January 2017. North West: North West Provincial Government.
Google Scholar
 
 
30.
Lehesvuori, S., Ramnarain, U., & Viiri, J. (2017). Challenging transmission modes of teaching in science classrooms: Enhancing learner-centredness through dialogicity. Research in Science Education, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
31.
Lincoln, S. Y., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. London: Sage.
Google Scholar
 
 
32.
Makgato, M., & Mji, A. (2006). Factors associated with high school learners’ poor performance: A spotlight on mathematics and physical science. South African Journal of Education, 26(2), 253‒266.
Google Scholar
 
 
33.
Marshall, J. C., Smart, J. B., & Alston, D. M. (2017) Inquiry-based instruction: A possible solution to improving student learning of both science concepts and scientific practices. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 15, 777–796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
34.
Mavhungu A. P. (2004). Factors influencing the performance in agricultural science in some high schools in the Limpopo Province (Unpublished master’s thesis). University of Pretoria, Pretoria.
Google Scholar
 
 
35.
Mavhungu, M. (2016). Complexities and constraints influencing learner performance in physical science. Journal of Research in Business & Social Science, 5(1), 30‒46.
Google Scholar
 
 
36.
Mayer, R. E. (2003). Learning and instruction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.
Google Scholar
 
 
37.
McGregor, J. (1993). Effectiveness of role-playing and anti-racist teaching in reducing student prejudice. Journal of Educational Research, 86(4), 215‒226. https://doi.org/10.1080/002206....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
38.
Moore, J., & Lemmer, E. (2010). Towards cultural proficiency in South African secondary schools: Ethnodrama as educational tool. Education as Change, 1, 5‒18. https://doi.org/10.1080/168232....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
39.
Muennig, P. A. (2006). Healthier and wealthier: Decreasing health care costs by increasing educational attainment. Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education. Retrieved from http://all4ed.org/wp-content/u....
Google Scholar
 
 
40.
Muller, J. (2014, January 12). 24% of matrics would have passed if pass mark was 50%. City Press. Retrieved from https://www.news24.com/Archive....
Google Scholar
 
 
41.
Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Google Scholar
 
 
42.
Perry, E. (2007). Using role-play to model mass spectrometer. School Science Review, 88(324), 18.
Google Scholar
 
 
43.
Poorman, P. B. (2002). Biography and role-playing: Fostering empathy in abnormal psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 29(1), 32‒36. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
44.
Ramnarain, U., & Fortus, D. (2013). South African physical sciences teachers’ perceptions of new content in a revised curriculum. South African Journal of Education, 33(1), 1‒15. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
45.
Rao, D., & Stupans, I. (2012). Exploring the potential of role play in higher education: Development of a typology and teacher guidelines. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 49(4), 427‒436. https://doi.org/10.1080/147032....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
46.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2012). Research Methods for Business Students (6th ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson Education Limited.
Google Scholar
 
 
47.
Schwandt, T. A. (2001). Dictionary of qualitative inquiry (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar
 
 
48.
Scott, P., Mortimer, E., & Ametller, J. (2011). Pedagogical link‐making: A fundamental aspect of teaching and learning scientific conceptual knowledge. Studies in Science Education, 47(1), 3‒36. https://doi.org/10.1080/030572....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
49.
Seidel, T., & Shavelson, R. J. (2007). Teaching effectiveness research in the past decade: The role of theory and research design in disentangling meta-analysis results. Review of educational research, 77(4), 454‒499. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
50.
Shuell, J. P. (1988). The role of the student in learning from instruction. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 13(3), 276‒295. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-4....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
51.
Signh, K. (2007). Quantitative social research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Google Scholar
 
 
52.
Sogunro, O. A. (2004). Efficacy of role-playing pedagogy in training leaders: Some reflections. Journal of Management Development, 23(4), 355‒371. https://doi.org/10.1108/026217....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
53.
Umalusi. (2014). Report on the quality assurance of examinations and assessments of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) 2010. Retrieved from http://www.umalusi.org.za/list....
Google Scholar
 
 
54.
Westrup, U., & Planander, A. (2013). Role-play as a pedagogical method to prepare students for practice: The students’ voice. Ogre utbildning, 3(3), 199‒210.
Google Scholar
 
 
55.
Wicks, J., & Raborife, M. (2017, January 4). Progressed learners’ could affect matric pass rate. News24. Retrieved from https://www.news24.com/SouthAf....
Google Scholar
 
 
56.
Winfrey, O. (2006, March). Aha! moments. O Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.oprah.com/omagazine....
Google Scholar
 
 
57.
Woolfolk, A. E., Winne, P. H., Perry, N. E., & Shapka, J. (2010). Educational Psychology (4th ed.). Toronto: Pearson Canada.
Google Scholar
 
 
58.
Yin, R. K. (2003). Case study research: Design and methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Google Scholar
 
 
59.
Zenda, R. (2017). Essential teaching methods to enhance learner academic achievement in physical sciences in rural secondary schools: A South African case study. Information and Learning Science, 118(3), 170‒184. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-03....
CrossRef
 
Google Scholar
 
 
Share
Send by email
RELATED ARTICLE
Effects of an inquiry-based science education training program on pre-service teachers. A mixed-methods case study
Indexes
 
Keywords index
Topics index
Authors index
eISSN:1305-8223
ISSN:1305-8215
Journals System - logo
© 2006-2024 Journal hosting platform by Bentus
Scroll to top