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VACATION SCHOOL CHALLENGES EDUCATORS TO 'GO DEEPER'
Three hundred Mathematics and Science teachers from Empangeni and Ladysmith
recently attended a vacation school at the University of Natal's new Edgewood
Campus in Pinetown. It was the first phase of a unique, three-year education
development project funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York that brings
together several major players in teacher education in KwaZulu Natal.
The Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME)
is responsible for managing and implementing the project under the auspices of
the Natal University Development Foundation and the Department of Education,
through the participation of its regional subject advisors, completes this
powerful partnership. During the week-long vacation school the teachers were
exposed to an innovative teaching approach, which asks teachers to reflect
critically on their classroom practice. "We are trying to create
opportunities for teachers to look closely at their own practice and to pay
attention to what children are thinking and doing," said Carrol Hall, a co-ordinator
with the project.
This strategy aims to stimulate science and mathematics teachers to improve
their own teaching abilities. Margaret Keogh, a consultant for the project,
shares Hall's enthusiasm, adding, "[the project] is about opening up access
to science based on resources teachers actually have in their schools, to be
able to teach it in a way that is based, not just on facts, but in a way that is
relevant to the country's needs in terms of science and technology".
Linda De Waal, a KwaZulu Natal examiner and facilitator at the vacation
school, commented on the effectiveness of the reflective approach being put
forward by the project. "We cannot become better teachers if we cannot
recognise where we've gone wrong," she said. Professor Kath Hart, former
director of the Shell Centre for Mathematical Education at Nottingham
University, England, put in a surprise visit during the week and was encouraged
with the approach being used, adding, "one cannot be a good teacher without
reflecting on one's practice".
CASME has been a major provider of professional development programmes in
science and mathematics education since its inception in 1985. However, this
project sees the organisation refocus on the kind of grassroots development for
which it received national acclaim at the Presidential Education Awards in the
1990s. David Brookes, director of CASME and overall co-ordinator of the project,
said that holding a vacation school of this magnitude presented an opportunity
for teachers to build a network and share ideas.
The school also coincided with the launch of the Jula! newsletter. Published
by CASME, Jula!, is the isiZulu word meaning 'going deeper'. It is hoped the
newsletter will keep alive the professional teacher networks established during
the vacation school as well as showcase best-practice in classrooms and provide
a forum for teachers. Other activities planned include a vacation school in
July, district workshops, assessments and the distribution of in-service teacher
training materials.
Return to Education
Issued by Henré Benson
CASME, University of Natal
Edgewood Campus, Pinetown
Tel: (031) 2603403
Fax: (031) 7003962
Email: benson@nu.ac.za
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