Browsing by Author "Simons, Marius"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Analysis of the ways of working of learners in the final grade 12 mathematical literacy examination papers: focussing on questions related to measurement
    (University of Western Cape, 2012) Simons, Marius; Julie, Cyril; Mbekwa, Monde
    Mathematical Literacy has a dual meaning in South Africa. On the one hand it alludes to an understanding of the role of Mathematics in the real world. On the other hand it refers to a subject that is taken by students who generally do not do well in Mathematics and who do not wish to do a pure Mathematics course, This research focuses on the identification and investigation of errors, misconceptions and alternative ways of working in the responses of students in the final grade 12 Mathematical Literacy examination. The aim was to identify the errors, misconceptions and alternative ways of working and to discuss possible reasons for these errors and misconceptions. This aim was governed by the principle that feedback to students and teachers form a vital component in the teaching and learning process. This analysis only focused questions pertaining measurement in Mathematical Literacy. An analytical framework was constructed based on common errors and misconceptions identified by various researchers’ in the field of Mathematics. This analytical framework was used to classify and analyse the errors, misconceptions and alternative ways of working in Mathematical Literacy. The analysis was done using document analysis on a randomly selected sample of Mathematical Literacy scripts taken from across all education districts in the Western Cape. Great care was taken to prevent bias and cross checking was done by peers to ensure that the categories of errors were agreed on. The results of the analysis revealed that the errors identified for Mathematics are common to those of Mathematical Literacy. The findings in this project suggest that the analysis and feedback of errors and misconceptions may help to improve teaching and learning in Mathematical Literacy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An ethnomethodological analysis of students’ ways of working with algebraic fractions in high-stakes examinations: the case of level 3 mathematics students at technical and vocational education and training (tvet) colleges
    (University of the Western Cape, 2023) Mbeki, Nwabisa Vivian; Simons, Marius
    The study investigates the National Certificate Vocational (NCV) Level 3 students’ ways of working with rational algebraic fractions in a high-stakes examination. An ethnomethodological analysis was used to reveal the textures of examinees’ work. Ways of working in this study refer to how examinees deal with algebraic fractions when simplifying them, including even those elements of their work, which are rough work in the sit-down examination. Ethnomethodology is the study of ordinary actions by ordinary members of society. Ordinary action means that members regularly and recurrently do it with such automaticity that it is given little thought. Ethnomethodology is the study of how people use common sense, procedures, and considerations to gain an understanding of everyday situations (Garfinkel, 1967). In the context of mathematics education, ethnomethodology seeks to understand how examinees construe, construct and orient themselves to these norms that are usually seen but unnoticed (Garfinkel 1967). The study is premised on a qualitative research paradigm that focuses on studying situations in their natural settings and applying an interpretive perspective. Data were collected from two colleges using students’ examination scripts for the end-of-year NCV L3 mathematics exams. Guba and Lincoln’s (1985) concepts of trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability were used. The study sought to ensure ethical principles were followed by applying to each college for permission to conduct research and collect data. Permission was granted. Ethical clearance from the University of the Western Cape was obtained before conducting any data collection. The researcher ensured confidentiality and the anonymity of the participants’ scripts. The examination guidelines require that the examination scripts and mark sheets be kept at an institution for verification and cases of appeal. The institution keeps examinees’ examination scripts, which are confidential. The researcher ensured that scripts did not leave the college and ensured the confidentiality of their information by making copies of the scripts and keeping the copies safe. The study poses no harm to the participants or the colleges.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    ‘I can easily switch to the kazakh language, also to the Russian language’: reimagining kazakhstani CLIL implementation as a third space
    (Taylor & Francis Group, 2024) Simons, Marius; Bedeker, Michelle; Ospanbek, Assylzhan
    There is extensive CLIL research on stakeholders’ practices, integration of content and language, and pedagogies. However, limited studies report on teachers’ pre-existing knowledge before CLIL implementation and how it influences their classroom pedagogy. Using a third space frame, this study examined CLIL implementation in Kazakhstan. It included 15 science teachers who teach science through the English medium of instruction (EMI). A hybrid coding strategy was followed to analyze questionnaires, teachers’ science lessons, multimodal teaching-based scenarios, and semi-structured interviews. Our findings revealed that teachers’ CLIL implementation was guided by their (1) hybrid beliefs about scientific knowledge and learning, (2) humanising pedagogy, (3) shift to constructivist science pedagogy, and (4) hybrid linguistic stance. We conclude that a third-space perspective diverts the gaze from CLIL teachers’ challenges to illuminate the entanglement of teachers’ epistemic stance, pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), and linguistic stance as emergent discursive practices when policy borrowings connect global and local epistemologies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating the effects of continuous professional development on ICT integration in the classroom of Foundation Phase Mathematics
    (University of the Western Cape, 2022) Senosi, Chloé; Simons, Marius
    The use of technology is becoming the norm in the 21st century classroom to enhance teaching and learning. This rapid move to incorporate technology in the classroom brought the need for teachers to be upskilled on the use of technology as a pedagogical tool. Through this study the researcher sought to investigate the effects that Continuous Professional Development (CPD) has on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) integration in the classroom, with a specific focus on the teaching and learning of mathematics in the Foundation Phase. The mixed method research design will be underpinned by the conceptual approach of the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition (SAMR) frameworks and supported by a constructivist learning theory approach to the teaching and learning of mathematics.