Exploring Exemplary Physics Teachers' Instructional Practices In
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Exploring exemplary physics teachers’ instructional practices in supporting learner access to school physics content Student Name: Rorisang Agnes Rammiki Student Number: 576390 Supervisor: Prof. Samuel Ouma Oyoo Thesis submitted to the School of Education, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2015 i Abstract This study explored exemplary physics teachers’ instructional practices which place learners at the centre of activities in terms of their abilities and competencies. It was carried out at two senior secondary schools in Botswana at a period when enrolment of learners had been increased. The increase in learner enrolment brought in new groups of learners whose performance in science subject was generally low as evidenced by national examination results. The low national examination results indicated a need for making school science content more accessible for these learners which is a direct responsibility of teachers (Mullis, Martin, & Foy, 2005; Shulman, 1987). Teachers’ instructional practices had been characterised by excessive use of chalkboard and teacher-talk which is considered less effective in making school science content accessible for learners of wide ability range (Botswana, 1993; Prophet, 1990b). Science education research on instructional practices put emphasis on active participation of learners as a way of improving learner access to school science content (Tiberghein, 2000). Learner participation in instructional practices draws largely from Vygotsky’s social constructivist perspective (Vygotsky, 2012) which assumes that knowledge must first appear at the social level between people before it can be constructed at an individual level (Minick, 2005). Ideas presented at a social level must be in a form that can be understood by learners in order to construct them as their own (Driver & Oldham, 1986). The teacher plays an important role in making the subject content accessible for learners especially when they take into account learners’ characteristics (Shulman, 1987). The study used qualitative design to explore exemplary teachers’ instructional practices in order to understand how they support learners in making sense of school physics content (Gay & Airasian, 2000). A case study approach was used because of limited information on exemplary instructional practices of physics teachers in Botswana (Merriam, 1998). Purposive sampling was used to select two teachers who were identified by the researcher for their exceptional instructional skills in engaging learners (Merriam, 2009; Patton, 2002). The intention for employing purposive sampling was that the teachers’ exceptional practices would provide information on instructional activities that could serve as exemplars for physics teachers’ instructional support for learners (Kuhn, 1970). Lesson observation was used to collect data on at least seven lessons for each teacher; interviews with teachers and their respective learners were also used to substantiate inferences because of their potential ii for providing information-rich data. Video and audio recorders were used to capture data because it was necessary to capture activities as close to their occurrence in natural settings as possible; also because these could be replayed to develop deep understandings of the interactions for making and validating inferences. Inductive analysis was used to explore instances of teacher’s instructional support for learners from transcripts. The findings included teachers’ engagement of learners in new physics concepts which were structured on learners’ knowledge from prior instruction and from events in their lives. The teachers created environments which were sensitive to learners’ needs and competencies for accessing new physics concepts and skills. They used discussion and written work to provide opportunity for learners to demonstrate their understanding and to give feedback. The teachers’ feedback included performance expectations set by Botswana Examination Council as a standard for learners’ understanding of concepts and skills. The findings provide a potential basis for instructional practices in school physics in Botswana. These findings have implications for developing teacher’s instructional practices in school physics and for initial teacher education. iii Acknowledgments My heartfelt gratitude goes to my supervisor, Prof. Samuel Ouma Oyoo, who passionately guided the development and originality of this piece of work to its completion. I thank Teacher A and Teacher B and their learners for allowing their teaching and learning to be studied and the heads of School A and School B for providing permission to conduct the study in their schools. I thank my family for being there for me in times of weakness and need: My parents Mary- Grace and Patrick Mokefane for their financial and social support and prayers throughout my study; my sister Selloane Mokefane for her love and care. I am grateful for the support I received from my friends: Kim Ramatlapana who was ever ready to attend to my social and academic needs; Shadrack Moalosi who encouraged me to stay focused from the beginning to the completion of this project. I am grateful to all who supported me in various other ways but whose names I have not mentioned. iv Declaration I, Rorisang Agnes Rammiki, declare that this thesis is my original and independent work, and it has never been submitted to any other institution or faculty for degree purposes. It is being submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Signed --------------------------------------- Date ------------------------------------------ Protocol Number: 2011ECE151C v Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ iv Declaration............................................................................................................................................. v Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................. vi Table of Pictures .................................................................................................................................. xi List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................... xiii List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................... xv Dedication ........................................................................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Rationale ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.2 Research Objectives ................................................................................................................ 4 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Conceptual and Theoretical Framework ................................................................................. 5 1.5 Methodology ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Data Collection Methods ................................................................................................ 6 1.5.2 Data capturing techniques ............................................................................................... 7 1.5.3 Data analysis ................................................................................................................... 7 1.5.4 Case selection .................................................................................................................. 7 1.6 Significance of the study ......................................................................................................... 8 1.7 Chapter Summary and Structure of the Report ....................................................................... 9 CHAPTER 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 11 Teachers’ Instructional Practice: Botswana Context ...................................................................... 11 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 11 vi 2.1 Goals of school education ..................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Access to education at