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25/07/2016

On 21 and 22 July 2016, 50 lead teachers from Foundation and Intermediate Phase and Multi-grade teaching in Lejweleputswa took part in the fifth and final stage of a learning trajectory focused on strengthening their content and pedagogical knowledge for teaching maths.  During the last training, participants ventured out of the field of numbers and operations, which formed the bulk of the learning trajectory, and moved into space and shape, data handling and probability.  The workshop was facilitated by the Maths Connect Team from Wits University under the leadership of Prof. Hamsa Venkat.

Familiar concepts from the course were applied to these topics: the importance to introduce new content with concrete objects from learners’ daily life and the need to use precise language and to introduce new mathematical vocabulary explicitly.  Examples are terms such as volume, vertices, edges and surface area.  The foundation phase teachers explored how spaces and shapes can be introduced in the early grades.  Intermediate phase teachers worked on how to teach the concepts of perimeter and area for various shapes.  On data handling, participants collected each other’s birthday months and made a tally table in order to answer questions such as in which term they had the most party outfits to buy.  Probability can be introduced by letting learners think about discussing probabilities in daily life and (in intermediate phase) using playing cards.

At the end of the workshop participants completed the post-test. Comparing the results of the pre-test and post-test will inform the facilitators, VVOB and the Department of Education about the effectiveness of the trajectory as well as areas where teachers still face challenges.  In her closing remarks, Ms Lekolomi Seutloali, DCES for Mathematics in Intermediate Phase in Free State, stressed the learning value of such tests for the system, rather than for individuals.  She also urged participants to teach for learner understanding rather than for coverage only.

For about half of the teachers, the trajectory does not yet end here.  From August onwards, they will engage in a mentoring trajectory with their subject advisors and the Maths Connect Primary team.  Each of the participating teachers will teach and observe one lesson within the trajectory, allowing them to practice what they have learned in the trajectory and receive feedback on it. 

Pictures of the workshop are available on here