An Evaluation of Teaching Techniques Used in Transkei, South Africa to Assess Competency in Primary Mathematics

1995 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 747-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Oliver ◽  
Michael J. Glencross
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
Open Type ◽  
Primary Mathematics ◽  
Grade 5 ◽  
Closed Type ◽  
Evaluation Of Teaching

To evaluate the suitability of the senior primary mathematics curriculum in Transkei, South Africa in enabling Standard 3 (Grade 5) and Standard 4 (Grade 6) pupils to achieve competency in mathematics, an overview of teaching techniques was obtained using participant observation and class teaching exercises. Analysis showed that teachers relied largely on closed-type teaching techniques and heavily on textbooks, while direct classroom observation indicated teachers' lack of ability to innovate and make teaching topical and dynamic. The pupils were generally unable to solve open-type questions, a situation attributed here to the teachers' rigid pattern of teaching.

An Analysis of Teachers' Opinions of a Senior Primary Mathematics Syllabus

1994 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1347-1353
Author(s):  
Michael J. Glencross ◽  
John Oliver
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Mathematics Curriculum ◽  
Teaching Approaches ◽  
Primary Mathematics ◽  
Alternative Teaching ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Grade 5

As part of an evaluation of the mathematics curriculum for senior primary schools in Transkei, a prototype 19-item questionnaire designed to assess opinions about the current mathematics syllabus was administered to a sample of 82 Standard 3 (Grade 5) and Standard 4 (Grade 6) teachers. Analysis suggested that teachers believed they were handicapped by an overcrowded syllabus and unable to be innovative but recognized the value of alternative teaching approaches and the importance of providing enrichment activities.

scholarly journals Numerical and Experimental Study of the Impeller of a Liquid Pump of a Truck Cooling System and the Development of a New Open-Type Impeller

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-142
Author(s):  
Rishat Salakhov ◽  
Andrey Ermakov ◽  
Elvira Gabdulkhakova
Keyword(s):  
Cooling System ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pump Efficiency ◽  
Numerical Computations ◽  
Open Type ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Closed Type ◽  
Ansys Cfx ◽  
Wheel Model ◽  
Liquid Pump

Typically, closed-type impellers are more efficient than open-type impellers, but in the manufacture of closed-type impellers, cost of wheels is higher. This paper describes the development of cost-effective and simple impeller wheel for a fluid pump in the truck cooling system. To perform this task, the numerical computations of a standard impeller wheel were carried out, its characteristics were also obtained from a test bench, the standard impeller wheel model was verified. The open-type impeller wheel was developed according to the current dimensions of standard impeller wheel and then analyzed with the numerical computations by the software ANSYS CFX (Academic license) computational fluid dynamics. The developed open-type impeller wheel works very effectively in spite of performance degradation by 5% in comparison to the closed-type impeller wheel. When working as a part of engine, the pump efficiency is 0.552-0.579. The maximum value of the pump efficiency is 0.579, it can be achieved at the highest speed of the pump (4,548 rpm and 655 l/min).

Performance of Adsorptive Heat Storage Devices for Heat Supply

2021 ◽  
pp. 124-173
Keyword(s):  
Silica Gel ◽  
Heat Supply ◽  
Heat Storage ◽  
Sodium Sulphate ◽  
Storage Device ◽  
Efficiency Coefficient ◽  
Composite Adsorbent ◽  
Open Type ◽  
Storage Devices ◽  
Closed Type

The chapter is focused on modelling of performance of adsorptive heat storage devices and estimation of performance of heat storage devices. Two groups of models of adsorptive heat storage units suggested previous researchers are analyzed. The first one is focused on predicting the heat energy storage density, it being based on Dubinin-Polanyi theory. The second one is devoted to analyzing the kinetic of adsorption processes and performance of the adsorber or adsorptive-desorptive reactor filled with traditional adsorbent or salt which forms crystalline hydrates. The key drawback of both groups of models concerns with considering only one stage of exploitation of adsorptive heat storage device in spite of its operating in two-stage mode, that is, alternating discharge (adsorption) and charge (regeneration). It inhibits estimation of efficiency of adsorptive heat storage device basing on full operating cycle and its involving in heat supply system. Two algorithms for estimation of operating parameters are proposed by authors for closed-type and open-type heat storage devices. The algorithm for calculation of operating parameters of closed type adsorptive heat storage device is proposed: calculation of the mass transfer coefficient, adsorption, useful heat, that is, heat of adsorption, determination of the heat input, it being calculated as heat inputs for heating the adsorbent, device housing, water in the tank, evaporation of water in the tank, heating of the adsorbed water and desorption. Then efficiency factor is calculated. The operating characteristics of a closed-type heat energy storage device were studied when the composite adsorbent ‘silica gel – sodium sulphate' used. The effect of the humid airflow velocity on the efficiency factor is taken into account by introducing a coefficient equal to the value of the adsorption. An increase in the efficiency coefficient was stated when the velocity and relative humidity of the airflow. It is shown that the humid air flow temperature practically does not affect its value. Having been used the suggested algorithm, the optimal operating characteristics of an adsorptive heat storage device of a closed type based on a composite adsorbent ‘silica gel – sodium sulphate' for a private house heating system are revealed to be humid air velocities of 0.6 – 0.8 m/s and relative humidity 40 – 60%. When these operational data applied, the efficiency coefficient is shown to reach the maximum values (about 55%). Algorithm of calculation of operating parameter of open-type heat storage device includes computation of mass transfer coefficient, adsorption, useful heat (heat of adsorption), heat input for heating the adsorbent, device casing, water in the humidifier, evaporation of water, heating the adsorbed water, desorption, and calculating efficiency coefficient. Performance of open-type heat storage device based on the composite adsorbent ‘silica gel – sodium sulphate' is estimated. The optimal operating conditions of the heat accumulating device which allow operating with maximal magnitudes of efficiency coefficients 53 – 57% are stated to be humid airflow speed of 0.6 – 0.8 m/s and relative humidity of 40 – 60%. Correlation between efficiency factors obtained by experiments and calculated with suggested algorithm is confirmed. The possibility of reducing the power consumption when heat storage devices applied in 2,4 – 90 times versus decentralized heating systems on basis of solid fuel boiler, gas boiler and electric boiler is stated when open-type sorptive heat storage device used. Results of the study can be used to develop adsorptive storage devices in decentralized heat supply and ventilation systems and adsorption units for utilization of low-temperature waste heat.

Growing Women Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industries in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 237-261
Author(s):  
Ndwakhulu Stephen Tshishonga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Creative Industries ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Women Entrepreneurship ◽  
Women Business Owners ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
New Ideas

This chapter interrogates the potential of women entrepreneurship as an economic strategy to address unemployment and job creation. The chapter focusses on creative industry to demonstrate that creativity and innovations can activate entrepreneurship among women in South Africa. It is through entrepreneurship that entrepreneurs transform their innovative and creative ideas into business enterprises and job creation. Although female entrepreneurship for economic development is recognised internationally, it lags behind those of men especially in the number of women business owners and the size of businesses including access to economic resources. The chapter argues that entrepreneurs are central in boosting the economy and the optimal use of their skills, innovative new ideas that sustain entrepreneurial creative projects. The chapter makes use of a visual profile, participant observation, case studies, and face-to-face interviews with women involved in creative industries such as bead making, pottery, traditional dress-making, and traditional dance.

scholarly journals “Oh This Learning, What a Thing It Is!”—Putting Sustainability First in Teaching Techniques and in Content

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Gusc ◽  
Coen Heijes
Keyword(s):  
Management Accounting ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Teaching Approach ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Teaching Techniques ◽  
University Level ◽  
The University ◽  
Masters Students ◽  
Academic Year

Although sustainability has become a strategic topic at many universities, working towards a learning approach in which sustainability is the fundament underlying and permeating the entire course is hardly straightforward. This paper is a case study on the development, the teaching, and the evaluation of one specific course that aims to achieve this. Based on (participant) observation, documents, and discussion with students and other stakeholders, we describe and analyze the results of the transformation of the course ‘advanced management accounting techniques’ for Masters students at the University of Groningen, in the academic year 2017–2018. We show how the course was transformed in a way to increase both a general, a business, and an accounting awareness of the importance of sustainability, while also applying a new teaching approach, namely lemniscate learning, to support this. Our course was the first in the faculty to make this transformation, and although the majority of the students were enthusiastic, the faculty staff was cautiously positive. In presenting our findings, we aim at supporting educators and other stakeholders at universities, by supplying a case study on the transformation of our course, and by scrutinizing the problems that we encountered, the feedback, both positive and negative, that we received, and the challenges that still face us, both on a course and a university level. Thus, we hope to be a source of inspiration and advice for others and to further advance our understanding of the dilemmas, practicalities, and challenges in working towards sustainability in teaching.

scholarly journals Examining oral reading fluency among Grade 5 rural English Second Language (ESL) learners in South Africa? An analysis of NEEDU 2013

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Draper ◽  
Nic Spaull
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Reading Fluency ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Oral Reading Fluency ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
Grade 5 ◽  
English Second Language

The ability to read for meaning and pleasure is arguably the most important skill children learn in primary school. One integral component of learning to read is Oral Reading Fluency (ORF), defined as the ability to read text quickly, accurately, and with meaningful expression. Although widely acknowledged in the literature as important, to date there have been no large-scale studies on ORF in English in South Africa, despite this being the language of learning and teaching for 80% of ESL students from Grade 4 onwards. We analyze data provided by the National Education and Evaluation Development Unit (NEEDU) of South Africa, which tested 4667 Grade 5 English Second Language (ESL) students from 214 schools across rural areas in South Africa in 2013. This included ORF and comprehension measures for a subset of 1772 students. We find that 41% of the sample were non-readers in English (<40 Words Correct Per Minute, WCPM) and only 6% achieved comprehension scores above 60%. By calibrating comprehension levels and WCPM rates we develop tentative benchmarks and argue that a range of 90-100 WCPM in English is acceptable for Grade 5 ESL students in South Africa. In addition we outline policy priorities for remedying the reading crisis in the country.

scholarly journals “Don’t They Know How Important It Is?”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genevieve Hart
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Study Finding ◽  
Literacy Education ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Educational Role

The paper comes out of a month-long case study of information literacy education in two public libraries in a small South African town in the rural province of Mpumalanga, undertaken in October 2004. The participant observation study is the second phase of a twophase mixed methods study, which explores the capacity of public libraries in South Africa for information literacy education – in the context of the dire shortage of school libraries. The focus in the second phase is on the connections between public libraries and schools. However, the relations between the two libraries and their staff members are found to impact on these relations - with the study finding that historical context impacts significantly on library programming. The paper concentrates, however, on just two threads of enquiry: the views of teachers and principals in the seven schools of the town on the educational role of libraries as revealed in interviews; and pupils’ use of the two public libraries in seeking information for their school assignments. The study reveals a lack of cognizance of the high level demands of information-seeking in libraries among the teachers. They tend to see the library as a warehouse from which things are “fetched”. The study finds a paradox – a gulf certainly exists between the public libraries and schools but the gulf comes from shared limited conceptions of the educational role of public libraries and of information literacy. The intense gaze of the participant observation contributes a nuanced understanding of the challenges for information literacy education in South Africa.

scholarly journals Impact of the Integrated Food and Nutrition Programme in Kungwini, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reineth Prinsloo ◽  
V. Pillay
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Nutrition Programme

This article discusses the impact of the Integrated Food and Nutrition Programme (IFNP) in light of collaborative partnerships for poverty reduction in a developing municipal area in South Africa. The programme aimed to develop home, community and school food gardens to meet the daily nutritional needs of poor households and the process was then to be broadened into marketing surplus garden produce, providing employment and income-generating opportunities. The programme thus aimed to address more than just basic food and nutrition. The purpose of the research was to obtain data through participant observation, focus group discussions and extended household interviews. Drawing on the qualitative interviews conducted with the beneficiaries of the IFNP, the article describes the manner in which poverty can continue to entrench the social exclusion of the poor (despite a specific policy intervention to improve their circumstances) when appropriate stakeholder collaboration is not fully developed and harnessed. The research recommendations include improving weak institutional environments, which may hinder effective service delivery, identifying appropriate skills development for the poor, ensuring community involvement in policy processes, maintaining efficient communication in collaborative partnerships, and maintaining personnel training on policy development and in project management skills.

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