Improving teaching Methods in Mathematics and Science Action Plan Mpumalanga – South Africa David

CONTENT Background Problem Tree Objective Tree Content Learned Operational Plan Conclusion References

BACKROUND A research was conducted in South Africa and revealed that learners in the intermediate and Foundation Phases have challenges in Mathematics especially with regard to counting. A project called Foundations for Learning is put in place to address these challenges. Most learners perceive Mathematics as a difficult subject and hence they do not like it. They also don’t see a link between what they learn and their daily experiences, and that some of the teaching methods do not challenge their thinking and creativity. The New teaching methods I have learned here in Japan will assist a great deal in improving learners performance in Mathematics.

Problem Tree Poor Performance in Mathematics Learners don’t like Mathematics Learners don’t learn For/by themselves Teachers lack Open Ended & Hands on Approach Lesson Study is not Practiced regularly. Learners thinking Not challenged Learners’ daily Experience not Linked with Content

Objective Tree Improve poor performance Make learners like Mathematics Make Learners learn For/by themselves Know Open Ended & Hands on Approach Make Teachers Know Lesson Study Challenge learners’ thinking Contextualize the Content

Content learned Japanese learn for/by themselves Education System & Practice in Japan Open ended Approach, Origami,and Hands on approach. Japanese’ Curriculum and Challenges in Mathematics and Science. Pre-service and In-service Teacher Training Lesson Study.

Tentative plan DATE ACTIVITY 15 March 2010Submit a report to Region and Head Office curriculum management 17 March 2010Workshop curriculum advisors on lessons learnt in Japan April 2010 ongoing Workshop educators on Lesson Study, Open ended and Hands on Approach May 2010 On going Implement Open ended and Hands on approach in 2 selected schools.

glue here Cut here What is the result? Professor Tsubota Lecture

Project Outline Project title: Improving Teaching Methods in Mathematics at Primary School. Period: March 2010 – December 2012 Project Site: Ehlanzeni Region Target group: Dinaledi Feeder School Math Educators Overall Goal: To improve learners Performance in Mathematics

Plan of Operations ActivityYear 2010 Respon -sible Person Budget MonthJFMAMJJASO 1.Work shop educators on - Open ended, andHands on approach DAVID 2. To implement the - Open ended,and Hands on in 2 selected school. DAVID 3. To work shop educators on Lesson Study DAVID 4. To workshop educators on origami DAVID 5. Workshop educators' on how to make learners learn by/for themselves DAVID

Conclusion It is very possible to implement lesson study in Mpumalanga because it has been introduced already. So I will support the existing program. Our Curriculum is using a learner centered approach, of which Open ended and Hands on approaches are also learner centered. So these approaches compliment each other, and that simply means that they does not clash with the NCS.

References PROFESSOR ISODA MASAMI, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA, MATHEMATIC EDUCATION PROFESSOR TSUBOTA KOZO, ATTACHED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OF UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA PROFESSOR KAZUO HAGA, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA Abraham Arcavi, Ph.D., Associate Professor Incumbent of the Lester B. Pearson Professorial Chair DR. HIROKI YAHARA, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA, MATHEMATIC EDUCATION SEIYAMA SENSEI LESSON STUDY Maeno Elementary School Sakura Junior High School Otsuka Attached Junior High School –PROFESSOR OONEKA, MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT Attached Elementary School –PROFESSOR HITOSHI SHIRAIWA, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, –PROFESSOR KAZUO TSUYUKI, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT –PROFESSOR YOSHIKAZU YAMAMOTO, MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT, –PROFESSOR NATSUSAKA MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT