The evaluation of an instructional framework using the Van Hiele levels for learning and teaching geometry: a study in five rural senior secondary schools

The Constitution (1996) of the Republic of South Africa forms the basis for social transformation in our new society. The Constitution (Act 108 of 1996) and the amendments that followed provided a basis for curriculum transformation and development in South Africa. The Department of Education introduced the present curriculum known as the National Curriculum Statement, which is modern and internationally benchmarked, in grade 10 in 2006. It required the learners to do seven subjects in grades 10 to 12 of which mathematics or mathematical literacy was prescribed as compulsory subjects. To attain social transformation, the South African Government attached a great deal of importance to the learning and teaching of mathematics and sciences in the South African schools. This study was undertaken in an effort to improve the understanding of geometry and, consequently, the performance and achievement of senior secondary school learners in geometry. The study was inspired by the van Hiele theory. The study made use of the different levels of the van Hiele theory for the development of an instructional framework for geometry in senior secondary schools. The research was conducted in a previously disadvantaged area in South Africa. Given the setting of this study and the wider application of it, the use of ‘hands-on’ and practical approach to use manipulatives and worksheets to improve the geometric understanding was tried and tested in this study. The assumption was that such experiences would make the learning of geometry more relevant and enjoyable for learners from limited financial and underprivileged circumstances. A quasi-experimental design was chosen. A total of 359 learners from five purposively selected schools in Mthatha district in the Eastern Cape Province participated in this study. Qualitative data through interviews were gathered. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Version 19 and Microsoft Excel. Findings indicated that there was a notable improvement in the performance of learners who were taught by the application of the van Hiele theory. The results revealed that most of the learners were not ready for the application of deductive principles of geometry in terms of formal proof in senior secondary school geometry. Based on the results, some recommendations are made to enhance the teaching and learning of geometry in senior secondary schools

Fostering students’ mathematical reasoning through a cooperative learning model

This study sought to ascertain whether the student teams-achievement division (STAD) model of cooperative learning is effective in fostering students’ mathematical reasoning. Using the cluster random sampling technique, 301 eleventh-grade students between the ages of 14 and 20 were chosen from six public secondary schools within one district in Zambia. Students were given tasks on quadratic equations and functions both before and after the intervention. A robust analysis of the covariance test revealed that students’ mathematical reasoning abilities were significantly higher for the group that received instruction using the STAD approach than for the group that was taught using conventional methods of instruction at each of the five design points where regression slopes were comparable. A Chi-square test of independence further revealed that the STAD learning approach was associated with a greater proportion of students who demonstrated an appropriate degree of mathematical reasoning ability for each of the three indicators (conjecturing, justifying, and mathematizing). These results demonstrate that enhancing students’ mathematical reasoning abilities through the integration of classroom activities that engage students intellectually, physically, and socially is beneficial

Creation of Innovative Teaching Spaces with Gamma Tutor: A Techno-Blended Model for Rural Mathematics Teaching

Innovative techno-blended teaching methodologies are needed for 21st-century classrooms. This paper reports on the introduction of a techno-blended device for mathematics teaching in South African senior secondary classrooms. The research sample included 12 third-year mathematics education student teachers from a rural university. A qualitative case study design was employed. Participants were purposively selected. Data collection methods included non-participatory observation and in-depth individual interviews. The TPACK model and the Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching Framework guided the analysis of the data. The study found that the mathematics student teachers successfully implemented GammaTutor in their classrooms, thus demonstrating their proficiency and aptitude in utilising technology in the learning environment. The GammaTutor device also aided in teaching and learning mathematics by simplifying mathematical ideas for learners. Furthermore, it enabled the development of learner discourse as a crucial component for developing learners' problem-solving skills. Since the mathematics student teachers engaged the learners with a variety of mathematical exercises using the GammaTutor technology, the integration of GammaTutor in the mathematics classroom exhibited learner-centred provisioning. The study proposes a teaching model for creating innovative teaching spaces in rural schools in South Africa

Academic student satisfaction and perceived performance in the e-learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence across ten countries

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically shaped higher education and seen the distinct rise of e-learning as a compulsory element of the modern educational landscape. Accordingly, this study highlights the factors which have influenced how students perceive their academic performance during this emergency changeover to e-learning. The empirical analysis is performed on a sample of 10,092 higher education students from 10 countries across 4 continents during the pandemic’s first wave through an online survey. A structural equation model revealed the quality of e-learning was mainly derived from service quality, the teacher’s active role in the process of online education, and the overall system quality, while the students’ digital competencies and online interactions with their colleagues and teachers were considered to be slightly less important factors. The impact of e-learning quality on the students’ performance was strongly mediated by their satisfaction with elearning. In general, the model gave quite consistent results across countries, gender, study fields, and levels of study. The findings provide a basis for policy recommendations to support decision-makers incorporate e-learning issues in the current and any new similar circumstances.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio