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Purpose: This paper aims to determine the impact of mentorship on the development of self-directedness among beginner teachers in their initial years of teaching. Design/methodology/approach: The researcher adopted a positivist paradigm to explore the situation of concern. Quantitative research was conducted, involving the collection and analysis of numerical data. Two closed-ended structured questionnaires were utilised, derived from the 40-item self-directed learning readiness scale (SDLRS) developed by Fisher and King, and a pre-determined questionnaire by Glazerman focused on the first-year teaching experience, induction and mentoring of beginner teachers. Findings: Beginner teachers merely relying on the knowledge obtained from their studies is insufficient to achieve a satisfactory level of self-directedness when starting a teaching career. Most beginner teachers faced significant challenges in their early years of teaching due to the absence of mentoring support. In addition, most indicated that they resume their teaching duties and rely on their district for general support, guidance and orientation. Finally, the results have shown that mentoring positively impacts beginner teachers' self-directedness. Research limitations/implications: The first limitation was that this study was narrowed to one South Africa University part-time B.Ed honours students working as beginner teachers in different provinces at primary and secondary schools. As a result, the findings of this research might be interpreted by some critics as one-sided and not representative of the views of most beginner teachers in South Africa who are working. The second limitation of this study is the sample size. In this study, 222 responses were received. As a result, the findings of this research might be considered not representative of the target sample size. Practical implications: The presence and effective implementation of mentoring programmes in schools can positively impact beginner teachers' professional development and retention during their first years of teaching. Social implications: We contend that our research holds significance for international readership as it aims to garner attention towards potential research endeavours in diverse settings concerning mentorship programs for beginner teachers, specifically promoting self-directed learning. Our research offers opportunities to compare our findings with studies conducted in more comprehensive, comparative contexts and foster research possibilities in broader, contrasting contexts. Originality/value: Based on the findings of this research, the availability and effective use of mentoring programmes would significantly affect beginner teachers' self-directedness, improve their retention rate and alleviate their teaching challenges. This study was the first research on the perceptions of the influence of mentoring on the self-directedness of beginner teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary thinking in scholarship observes that the framework of rural school teaching and leadership calls for customized attention owing to the contextual challenges that rural schools are faced with. This paper aimed to examine the use of school-based leadership to develop primary school teachers, in a selected rural context. Supported by the interpretive qualitative paradigm, data was generated through a focus group interview with seven teachers and an individual face-to-face interview with the school principal from one selected rural primary school. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings revealed that although the school principal used open and effective leadership strategies to develop teachers to improve teaching and learning conditions, teachers still needed structured professional development programmes to enhance their teaching and improve learner outcomes. In light of the findings, this paper recommends a combination of leadership strategies from the school principal that will enhance teaching and learning while providing structured professional development. The paper advocates for the dual use of school-based leadership by the school principal to improve teaching and learning and teacher professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School teachers must be prepared for ongoing, unpredictable and rapid changes in the world, therefore, they need specialised and general knowledge to be able to think independently and imaginatively. The purpose with this article was thus to report on the effectiveness of a self-directed professional development (SDPD) intervention that guided teachers to enhance their curriculum as praxis, especially for 21st-century education. Self-directed learning (SDL) and the capability approach were used to support teachers, through SDPD, to become the teachers they would want to be or could be in the 21st century, in terms of enhancing their curriculum as praxis. Qualitative research was conducted in South-Africa with Grade 9 teachers. Pre- and post-SDPD interviews were conducted, and the SDPD-intervention continued for 3 to 5 months. The results from our research show that the SDPD-intervention effectively supported the participating teachers to enhance their curriculum as praxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of the Gauteng provincial legislature, South Africa, introduced the "Classroom of the Future" programme in previously disadvantaged schools, allowing an integration of information and communication technology into classrooms. In this article we focus on the sustainability of ICT in these schools. We regard sustainability as meeting one's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The sample constituted 18 participants from 6 disadvantaged schools in the Classroom of the Future initiative. Semi-structured face-to-face and telephonic interviews were employed for data collection. Our results show that ineffective teacher professional development for ICT, and inconsistent and timeous service delivery from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) technicians/teacher trainers were a major deterrent to effective ICT implementation. Additionally, the phasing-in approach to the rollout of ICT was a serious challenge to ICT sustainability in schools. We recommend improved teacher professional development initiatives pertaining to ICT to be instituted in schools where heads of departmenti take responsibility for empowering post-level one (PL 1) teachers on ICT to improve classroom learning. We also advocate for new improved service delivery from GDE technicians/teacher trainers, who are held accountable for fulfilling their mandates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally, the focus on parents in their variety of forms and how to enable their resourcefulness continues to invite debate in early childhood development (ECD). In South Africa, the change in the function shift in ministries, the development of curriculum and teacher education policies for ECD has necessitated a key focus on parents as knowledge holders with agency. This article aims to rethink the constraining model of parental involvement to enable greater parent agency in ECD. A qualitative case study utilising purposeful sampling of eleven parent participants in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District of the North West Province was undertaken to accomplish this. The sociological perspective of parent agency and the continuum from parental involvement to parental engagement theory, as posited by Goodall and Montgomery (2014), is used to make sense of parents' positionalities. The findings show that the centres were strongly positioned as the agents who cast parents as helpers in the activities of the centre as well as providers and consumers of information. This made the parental involvement conceptualisation dominant. The lack of focus on parent agency has created a need for urgent intervention to support parents as primary caregivers and to enhance the theme of "no parent left behind". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the emotional resilience of teachers in inclusive classrooms at a selected rural school in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative case study research design was adopted for this study. A sample size of six participants including both male and female were selected using purposive and convenience sampling techniques, the participants were drawn from a rural school in Gauteng East District in the Gauteng Province. The participants that were selected for this study possessed teaching experience ranging from 5 to 33 years. Data was collected through a semi-structured in-depth interview and analysed using thematic content analysis. It is expected that the findings from this study will contribute to the body of current knowledge on emotional resilience of teachers in inclusive classrooms and also influence leaners learning and development in inclusive classrooms. In addition, the findings from this study could assist the Department of Basic education to develop a curriculum that prepares pre-service teachers for the long-lasting and enduring cumulative risk in inclusive classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional development of academics in higher education in South Africa has been offered in an uncoordinated and unsustainable manner. Ever since the new dispensation, concerted efforts have been implemented to address this problem. As part of the solution, universities through their academic development units, have introduced various pedagogical training workshops to equip academics with teaching skills. This study investigates perceptions of academics pertaining to this training. A multi-method cross-sectional research design was adopted to understand lecturers' perspectives regarding professional development. A total of 45 participants were purposefully selected to participate in the study from the academics who attended the pedagogical training. A questionnaire (closed and open-ended) was used to collect data. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while thematic analysis was applied to analyse qualitative data. Results of the study revealed that the training was well-received and academic staff members felt motivated and confident to implement various instructional strategies acquired from the training. Participants expressed a need and willingness to learn and develop new instructional techniques and acquired a positive outlook on teaching and learning following the professional development training. The study recommends redesigning the pedagogical training to include ongoing support activities and customisation in addition to the generic version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuing Professional Teacher Development (CPTD) refers to the ongoing learning and development of teachers throughout their careers. It involves a range of activities, programs, and initiatives designed to help teachers improve their knowledge, skills, and effectiveness in the classroom. CPTD programs can take many different forms, such as workshops, seminars, mentoring programs, online courses, and peer networks. This desktop review paper examines the role of CPTD on teachers' and learners' achievement. The paper reviews among others the following; the nature and concept of CPTD, the importance of CPTD, South African teacher education policy framework and CPTD, the educational achievement and CPTD, school effectiveness and CPTD, learner and teacher learning and CPTD. The paper uses social learning theory as a theory that underpins the paper and makes some plausible recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using social constructivism as a theoretical framework, we examined the perceptions and experiences encountered by South African teachers of their professional development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Translating teacher experiences into explicit learning contexts for learners remains an ongoing pedagogical challenge. For teachers to be effective, they must be prepared for changes and adapt swiftly to changing conditions. The need for pedagogical mobility to adopt a perspective of introspective teaching practice that engages learners in meaningful learning environments was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers were compelled to change their pedagogical approach; they were obliged to become digitally literate and apply advanced technology that would enable learners to access a wide range of activities and resources. Using a generic qualitative research design within an interpretivist paradigm, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six teachers and analysed using Tesch's method of coding. We applied a generic qualitative methodology within an interpretivist paradigm to explore teachers' perceptions and experiences. Six teachers, purposefully selected from various schools, participated in this research. Our findings revealed that lack of guidance and support from educational authorities and school management teams negatively infringed on teachers' practice and professional development. However, teachers collaborated with peers and community members, engaged in knowledge-sharing, and adopted a trial-and-error approach to finding solutions. CPD programmes focusing on classroom management and pedagogical skills are highly recommended to foster the development of more proficient teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South African mathematics teachers in the Senior Phase (Grades 8 and 9) were introduced to the pedagogical tool, meaning equivalence reusable learning objects (MERLO), as a formative assessment (FA) strategy to promote and support teachers’ professional growth in using FA practices in the classroom. The cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) and meta-didactical transposition (MDT) were used to frame the evolution process of teachers’ praxeologies. In this study we used qualitative participatory action research that encompassed 3 phases: pre-MERLO phase, MERLO workshop and post-MERLO phase. The study was conducted in the northeast of Pretoria in the Tshwane district in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Twelve Senior Phase mathematics teachers were purposively sampled in 6 public schools before the workshop training. During the workshop training, only 5 teachers participated due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The data collection techniques included pre- and post-interviews, workshop training sessions, classroom observations, field notes, teachers’ reflective journals, teachers’ lesson plans, learners’ workbooks and learners’ worksheets, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that the teachers acquired adequate knowledge and skills to effectively structure and integrate the lesson plan of teachers’ didactical praxeologies as FA activities into their mathematics classrooms. The findings also reveal that the learners showed more interest and motivation, were actively involved, developed a deeper understanding of mathematics content, and showed increased autonomy in learning. Future research could involve implementing MERLO in all South African provinces and introducing MERLO to other emerging countries. However, the findings of this study are based on a limited sample of teachers and schools, and the recommendation is that, for future studies, more teachers should be involved in the MERLO professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education institutions globally, are increasingly driven to integrate innovative technologies in teaching spaces. While many studies have been conducted on e-learning, blended learning and m-learning, only a few studies have concentrated on the STEM preservice teachers' e-readiness for using online multimodal teaching methods in developing economic contexts. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interplay of experiences, attitudes and technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) self-efficacy as they influence STEM preservice teachers' e-readiness for implementing online multimodal teaching. This paper employed a descriptive online survey method and a stratified random sampling technique to collect data from 204 final-year STEM preservice teachers on a teacher training programme in South Africa. Statistical tools of confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, bivariate and correlation analysis were employed on the collected data. The results revealed that STEM preservice teachers have positive attitudes towards multimodal online learning. However, STEM preservice teachers do not feel confident in using multimodal online resources in their teaching. In addition, this paper found that experiences of online multimodal teaching impacted on preservice teachers' attitudes and resultantly, STEM preservice teachers' TPACK self-efficacy. The results and discussions inform the design for improvement in online multimodal teaching methods e-readiness and usage by preservice teachers. Recommendations include resource support, alignment of teacher training curricula and development of practicum practices for overall improvement of preservice teachers' experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the role of the mentor lecturer in the development of the Professional Teacher Identity (PTI) of 838 fourth-year pre-service teachers while doing Work Integrated Learning at a South African University. The students reflected in group workshops on the role of the mentoring they received in their PTI development. In this qualitative, descriptive case study, a document analysis was conducted on transcriptions of the posters that the groups created. The results showed that the mentor lecturers ranked sixth out of nine as influencers of the students' PTI development. The students felt misunderstood and unsupported. There are three possible interpretations of this finding: the role of the mentor lecturer is an unnecessary and unwanted feature of the teacher training programme, the mentor lecturer is not meeting the needs of the student, or the millennial generation into which this sample fits is not open to critical self-reflection and critique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Many universities offer faculty development to support teachers in developing and improving clinical education in the health professions. Although research shows outcomes on individual levels after faculty development, little is known about its contribution to change within the organisation. To advance current faculty development and ensure that it can support wider educational change in healthcare organisations, a better understanding of educational change practices in these settings is needed. This study therefore explores the experiences of working with educational change in clinical workplaces from the perspective of clinical educators that have undergone faculty development training. The study adopts perspectives on change as influenced by context to include the impact from clinical workplaces on individuals' change work. Methods: A collective case study design with a multi‐institutional approach was applied and individual interviews with 14 clinical educators from two universities, one in Sweden and one in South Africa, were conducted. Data were analysed separately before a cross‐case analysis was performed, synthesising the findings from both sites. Findings: Participants shared experiences of having limited opportunities to work with educational change beyond their own individual teaching practices within their clinical workplaces. Also, participants appeared to refrain from leading change and rather pursued change on their own or relied on indirect approaches to change. They described several workplace aspects influencing their work, including the organisation and management of teaching, the resources and incentives for teaching and the attitudes and beliefs about teaching within the clinical community. Conclusions: The study shows that clinical educators are part of communities and contexts that shape their approaches to educational change and influence which changes are feasible and which ones are not. It thus adds to the understanding of change as contextual and dynamic and contributes with implications for how to advance faculty development to better support change in practice. Elmberger et al. find that faculty development has limited impact beyond the individual participants, with educators from different settings having similar difficulties enabling change in their clinical workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores data from a group of British pre-service teachers (PST) following a teaching programme in South Africa. Their reflections are analysed in relation to assertions that such intercultural programmes do little to change hegemonic beliefs about the 'other'. Analysis of questionnaire and interview data suggests that whilst these assertions have some validity, the issues are complex and nuanced. Findings indicate apparent shifts from object-based to relational views of the 'other', though these shifts were not always complete or fully developed. Sitting with uncertainty and discomfort prompted PSTs' critical reflections demonstrating the interactive and dialogic nature of intercultural understanding and provided the pre-requisites for personal and professional development. We conclude that when appropriately orientated, teaching placements in the global South can encourage critical, relational pedagogies, intercultural understanding and a dialectical relationship with difference which can translate into positive shifts in PST beliefs and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to explore and discover the best moments of being a new nurse academic at nursing education institutions. Aim: The purpose of this study was to define, discover and learn about the experiences of being a new nurse academic. Design: A qualitative design with inspiration from Appreciative Inquiry (AI) was used. Method: Purposive and snowball sampling was used. Data collection was done using semi‐structured individual interviews. Data were analysed using Giorgi's method. The COREQ guidance was used for reporting of this study. Results: Four themes were identified. (1) The emphasis was their transition from clinical setting into the world of academics, which was challenging, overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. (2) Participants were fulfilled and influenced to achieve more. (3) Participants expressed what they wished for. (4) Participants shared recommendations for job security, employment and retainment of new nurse academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attitudes and perceptions of participants in accredited academic development programmes in South Africa is not well documented in the literature. Consequently, there has been a lack of awareness, within the domain of the higher education discipline, of the personal journey and insights of such participants as pertain to their development and experience of these programmes. Whilst some investigations have been undertaken on the attitudes of participants in general academic development initiatives, limited research has been undertaken with respect to those of participants in accredited programmes. The participant-authors in this self-reflection study are both academics, one of whom has commercial and academic experience, whilst the other has academic experience spanning over twenty years. It emerged from the study that the participants experienced a shift in attitude as they progressed through the programme, enabling them to overcome their initial reluctance. The study found that the catalysts for this change in attitude were the accredited nature of the programme, the acceptance of academic development as a process of change, the satisfaction of relationships built amongst academic peers, and the development of writing skills. These findings suggest that, notwithstanding initial hesitation and reluctance, other academics may similarly elicit value from an accredited academic development programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two key categories of moves that drive interaction in science classrooms; initiating moves and rejoinders. Closed-ended initiating questions have always been associated with low student engagement and open-ended initiating questions with prolonged interaction in science classroom. In this paper, we report on a qualitative case study conducted in South Africa with three physical sciences teachers. The purpose of the study was to understand the nature of initiating and rejoinder moves and their effect in the science classrooms. We draw on a hybridised framework combining Analysing Teacher Moves (ATM) with teacher discursive moves. We present data that contradicts the claim that closed-ended initiating questions always lead to minimised interaction and that only open-ended initiating questions lead to prolonged interaction depending on the nature of rejoinders. We discuss the value of understanding this intricacy of teacher move patterns and its implications for teacher education and professional development of science teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting social justice has been at the centre of higher education in South Africa since democracy. However, social justice for all remains an issue despite redress policies. This conceptual paper focuses on exploring plausible means for ensuring social justice in higher education. Teacher professional development and resilience are highlighted and discussed in this paper as frameworks that can help in promoting social justice especially in times of disruptions. The paper argues that there is need to rethink teacher professional development and resilience now and, in the future, given how the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the usual ways of operating within education sectors and higher education in particular. Remote teaching and learning was introduced to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is mostly done online and is underpinned by a specific set of pedagogical principles and assessment practices, most of which are alien to staff and students in the majority of universities in South Africa. This widened the gap between and among students and universities, with universities finding that their staff need to be equipped to promote student success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of self-directedness is a missing link in South African science classrooms, and as a result, science teachers are often not self-directed in employing innovative teaching and learning strategies such as blended problem-based learning (BPBL) that might enhance self-directed learning. The literature is replete with studies showing that science teachers in the United States, Indonesia, and South Africa, to name a few, lack the necessary technological skills to utilize simulations in the teaching and learning of physical sciences. This intervention-based explanatory mixed methods study was conducted in one of the nine education provinces of South Africa. Quantitative data were generated using a self-directed learning instrument (SDLI), the Physics Education Technology interactive simulations questionnaire, and a PBL questionnaire. Forty participants were sampled using both cluster and systematic random sampling techniques. Qualitative data were generated through a BPBL scenario, a reflective portfolio, and semi-structured interviews with two purposively selected participants. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and parametric statistics. The reflective portfolio was analyzed using performance standards scoring rubric adopted from Smith et al. (2001). The BPBL Scenario Evaluation Schedule and interviews were analyzed using Saldaña's (2013) code-to-theory analytical model. It was concluded that there was a significant difference in participants' perceptions of PBL, self-directedness, and interactive simulations after attending a teacher professional development intervention (TPDI) and implementing BPBL. The findings show that the utilization of interactive simulations and PBL in physical sciences classrooms was unknown to teachers - suggesting that teachers were not self-directed in implementing BPBL. This study presents a model for designing BPBL activities and an evaluation schedule for assessing those activities for self-directedness in educational practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between teaching experience of geography teachers and their involvement in self-directed professional development (SDPD) activities to enhance their geography knowledge, skills and attitudes, understanding and development in the geography curriculum areas, as well as teaching and learning practices. A non-experimental survey design was employed in the study. Grade 10 to 12 geography teachers (n = 130) from the Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala Platinum districts in the North West province in South Africa with different amounts of teaching experience in geography education who attended the scheduled geography meeting with their respective subject advisors, completed a questionnaire on SDPD activities in geography education, developed by the researcher. The analysis of the results did not establish any relationship between geography teachers' teaching experience and their involvement in SDPD activities. In this study the practical significance was calculated to indicate whether the difference between the geography teachers with different teaching experiences and their involvement in SDPD activities is large enough to have an effect in practice. Medium to small practically significant differences between early-, mid- and late-career geography teachers' involvement in reading articles and books, watching videos, consulting role-players and experimentation were reported. Interestingly, medium practically significant differences were reported between mid-career and late-career geography teachers in conducting self-directed research in geomorphology, development geography and geographical information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education (EE) is an integrated component of the South African Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) document. Pro-EE civil society organisations are actively involved in the implementation of EE policies in schools. The roles played by civil society organisations contribute to the trajectory of practical environmental programmes. This study adopted an interpretive paradigm, a qualitative approach, and a phenomenological design anchored on Bronfenbrenner's philosophical view of human development. One Pro-EE civil society organisation and two respondents were purposefully sampled. Semi-structured interviews and documents were tools employed to collect qualitative data and results were analysed thematically. The study revealed that Pro-EE civil society organisations play a pivotal role which includes; equipping learners to live sustainably, teachers' professional development, and policy formulation. The study recommended that the South School Act be amended to make EE policy mandatory. The department of basic education (DBE) should provide sufficient resources to Pro-EE civil society organisations to expand Eco-Schools project-based initiatives in schools regardless of the geographical location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study deals with the implementation of cognitively challenging tasks for students in science education following professional development interventions for teachers based on the theory of change. These tasks require non-routine behaviors and encourage students to work beyond instructions and accept a high level of responsibility. This study explores how the content of professional development, the duration of professional development, and the extent of the teaching experience of science teachers are associated with the implementation of cognitively challenging science tasks in science education. A secondary data analysis of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 data from three countries (Singapore, Lithuania, and South Africa) was conducted. Ordinal logistic regression (OLR) was used to predict an ordinal dependent variable (the implementation of cognitively challenging science tasks) according to the independent variables (the content of professional development, the duration of professional development, and the extent of the teaching experience of science teachers). The results of the OLR confirmed that the implementation of cognitively challenging tasks is associated with professional development content (improving students' critical thinking or inquiry skills and science content) and the extent of the teaching experience of science teachers from the selected countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Department of Basic Education in South Africa is worried about massive learners' poor academic performance in public secondary schools. In various secondary schools in Vhembe District, the quality of learners' academic performance has retrogressed and deteriorated, despite several intervention strategies to improve the performance. The study aims to determine how teachers' approaches can influence intervention strategies to enhance learners' performance in Grade 12 by providing support, care, guidance and professional development programmes within the schools and through the government initiative programmes. This study focused on the teachers' approaches to improving intervention strategies to enhance the academic performance of Grade 12 learners in Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa. A sample of 16 teachers and 15 heads of the department was purposively selected in this interpretive qualitative study. The participants were engaged in two semistructured focus group interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the interview data. Findings revealed that extra lessons, peer teaching, collaborative teaching and learning, outsourcing of expert subject teachers, quality quarterly assessment and monitoring of informal and formal tasks were implemented as teachers' approaches to enhance quality of learners' performance. While the participants decried that several schools in the Vhembe District are dysfunctional and need interventions to improve output. The study recommends further support for teacher professional development to enhance teaching and learning for better quality results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this qualitative study, the researchers explored the ways in which 21st-century skills (specifically communication and critical thinking) are enhanced by Grade 10 beginner Physical Sciences teachers while teaching Particulate Nature of Matter (PNM) through the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL). The study was conducted in one of the four educational districts of the North West province, South Africa. The district was selected due to its geographical proximity and accessibility to the researchers. Two participants were purposively selected from two rural government secondary schools. Research instruments for the study comprised an open-ended questionnaire and a reflective portfolio. The data were analyzed manually using Saldaña's model and Smith et al.'s assessment rubric. The findings show that PBL enhances communication and critical thinking skills. It is recommended that a teacher professional development (TPD) training program be presented for beginner Physical Sciences teachers which targets the formulation of PBL problems, the promotion of 21st-century skills (communication and critical thinking), and the implementation of PBL in other topics in Chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical Education (PE) provides Foundation Phase learners aged six to nine the opportunity to develop their cognitive, social, emotional and physical domains. However, if these benefits are not realised for learners in low-resource schools, contextually-based and needs-driven continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) courses may be warranted. The aim of this study was to interpret Foundation Phase teachers’ experiences of teaching PE in low-resource schools, to inform the design of CPTD in this area. A qualitative research design situated within the interpretive paradigm was employed. Twenty-four (24) Foundation Phase teachers working in nine Quintile Three schools in Gqeberha participated in semi-structured interviews. The data was thematically analysed. Three broad themes were identified, namely personal barriers, systemic barriers and positive responses to existing challenges. There was a significant overlap between the themes, which highlights the complexity of teachers’ experiences and perceptions of PE. The findings support a transformative and collaborative approach to CPTD to assist Foundation Phase teachers with teaching PE in the context of disadvantaged low-resource schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South Africa, access to education is regarded as a right enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution yet issues of inequality, poor access and exclusion remain as intense as they have always been for students with disabilities. When universities closed due to Covid-19, all students suffered in one way or the other but those with disabilities suffered the most as their support is not mainstreamed. This highlighted the need to create a seamless system of student support if we are to leave no student behind. To do this, the paper proposes the adoption of the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework that supports inclusive teaching and learning. Adopting UDL is critical in ensuring curriculum access and in addressing fragmented student support. Supporting students with disabilities should be everyone's responsibility and the sooner we adopt the principles of UDL, the better the learning outcomes for all students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown that despite the teaching profession being labelled an unattractive career, student teachers' enrolment in South Africa continues to rise annually. This study seeks to investigate why student teachers enrol for teaching in South Africa today. 222 first year student teachers enrolled for education in a South African university participated in the study, which looked at the perceptions and expectations of student teachers in South Africa. A 91-item questionnaire was used to collect data, and the results indicate that these student teachers have more positive perceptions and expectations on the teaching profession than expected. The study recommends improvements in the education and training environment in South Africa in the form of introducing tax relief measures for teachers; intensified capacity building, and skilling of educators; re-imagining educators' professional identity through improved professional virtue; improving safety and security in schooling environments; lessening what the author regard as pure administrative functions of teachers which add to the teaching workload; and having in place effective and sustainable infrastructure development programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Chaeli Campaign is a Cape Town based non-profit organisation offering programmes largely for children and youth with disabilities in diverse under-resourced communities in South Africa. Their therapy team established a Health Professions Council of South Africa accredited interdisciplinary journal club in January 2012, with the aim to improve the team's service to the community. Objectives: Our first objective was to make our practice more evidence-based through reading systematically and critically in our field. Our second objective was to write up and share some of our practices to contribute to the generation of practice-based evidence. Method: First-person action research was applied. The core group of participants over time comprised two occupational therapists, one physiotherapist, two speech therapists, two teachers and four community development workers. Nine iterative cycles of planning, action, review and revised planning have been implemented on an annual basis in this non-formal, long-term action research project. Results: For over nine and a half years we have pre-read, discussed and completed evaluation questionnaires on 54 peer-reviewed journal articles, conducted 12 conference presentations and published three articles in accredited journals. Participants reported a broadened understanding of issues around disability, more reflective, contextually and culturally appropriate practice and improved interdisciplinary teamwork. Conclusion: The Chaeli Campaign journal club has built the capacity of therapists, teachers and community development workers to find, read, evaluate and use research evidence to improve their practice. It has also given participants the opportunity to ethically research, present and write up their grass roots interventions, thus contributing to locally applicable practise-based evidence. It is hoped that the sharing of our experience will assist and encourage other teams to start interdisciplinary journal clubs as a step towards facilitating two-way knowledge translation from evidence to practice and from practice to evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Teaching learners with specific learning difficulties requires competent teachers who can provide learning support. Competencies such as identifying learning difficulties, assessing learners, designing interventions such as curriculum differentiation and facilitating referral systems are crucial. However, Senior Phase teachers in South Africa seem to be challenged when it comes to providing learning support. Consequently, learners do not meet the desired learning outcomes. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore Senior Phase teachers' competencies in supporting learners with specific learning difficulties in four mainstream schools. Methods: A qualitative research approach and phenomenological research design were used. Eighteen teachers who were members of the school-based support teams, including learning support educators, were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through individual and focus group interviews, the analysis of support forms and field notes. A thematic data analysis was used to generate findings. Results: The thematic data analysis revealed discrepancies relating to participants' competencies in identifying language difficulties, short-term memory problems and contextual barriers. Also, participants differed in collaborating with peers, social workers, and the district-based support teams. Furthermore, some participants were able to design intervention programmes and facilitate internal and external referral processes. Conclusion: The study concludes that teachers have different competencies in providing learning support. Therefore, the Department of Basic Education should provide a clear practical learning support strategy in the Senior Phase mainstream schools as well as continuous professional development for teachers couple with monitoring. Contribution: It is envisioned that the study will contribute to understanding teachers' competences in providing learning support for learners with specific learning difficulties in the senior phase. The study advocates for collaborative continuous professional teacher development focusing on interventions programmes to support learners with specific learning difficulties in the mainstream schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many developed countries have made rapid strides in addressing issues related to dyslexia but in the developing countries like South Africa, it has not received adequate attention. Objectives: The study therefore sought to evaluate awareness and knowledge of dyslexia among primary school teachers working in the government sector. Methods: A phenomenological design was used and the study followed a mixed methods approach. The sample included 30 purposively selected primary school teachers. A questionnaire that consisted of true and false questions, closed-ended questions and open-ended questions was used to collect data. SPSS Version 22 and Excel Data Analyser 4 were used to analyse the quantitative data whereas the qualitative data was analysed thematically. Results: The results indicated that the primary school teachers had a basic awareness and knowledge of dyslexia. Many of them were found to be using limited strategies in order to teach learners with dyslexia in their classrooms. Conclusion: Based on the findings, recommendations such as early diagnoses through testing, parental involvement, conducive learning environment and teachers' professional development regarding dyslexia were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present the findings of an investigation on how primary school teachers at 3 independent primary schools in Johannesburg experienced continuous professional teacher development (CPTD). There is a wealth of literature available on planning, organising and implementing effective CPTD. Such literature also highlights the importance of applying adult learning principles in CPTD contexts in order to promote teachers' learning and development and in turn contributing to a positive effect on learning in the classroom. Exploring the value and usefulness of adult learning principles in CPTD can enhance primary school teachers' learning opportunities to update their knowledge and skills. Effective CPTD is important in South Africa as there is an urgent need to improve literacy and numeracy levels across primary education levels. Using qualitative data, we explore teachers' perspectives on how they learn and develop effectively, and what hinders their own learning and CPTD. Data collection methods included interviews, open-ended questionnaires, observations and document analysis. Fifteen primary school teachers, 3 primary school principals and 4 adult/teacher trainers participated in this investigation. A major finding of this research suggests that adult learning principles such as community of practice (CoP) are often omitted from CPTD practices. Thus, a disparity exists between literature on effective CPTD practice as compared to the everyday CPTD experiences of teachers. With this article we aim to contribute to current literature about teachers' experiences of CPTD and propose suggestions for planning, organising and implementing CPTD that also incorporates adult learning principles and would be valuable and useful to teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Findings from a recent study highlight beginner teacher's perceptions about the nature of support they had received to enhance their competencies (Esau, 2017). Against this backdrop, with this article we aim at problematising support for beginner teachers in relation to the National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development in South Africa of 2006. This teacher education policy stipulates principles that require of a novice teacher to assume specific roles and responsibilities which they find difficult to fulfil. The findings reveal that compliance with this policy is inhibited by the fact that teachers feel ill-prepared and unsupported on entering the teaching profession. Investigating the nature of support of beginner teachers, therefore, provides an opportunity to re-imagine both teacher education and context. In this article we highlight the risk evaluations of beginner teachers using Amartye Sen's Capability Approach (CA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Years of research on teacher quality indicate that the quality and effectiveness of teachers have a significant influence on learner achievements. The quality of teachers and their teaching practice is widely debated where quality may depend on the teacher having acquired sound and relevant knowledge and skills to ensure effective teaching. The continuous professional development of teachers is a key element in ensuring the required quality in teaching to enhance learners' achievements. Utilising Wenger's construct of a Community of Practice (CoP) as theoretical framework, with the investigation reported on here, we aimed to understand how natural sciences teachers, from a specific rural school district in the Western Cape province, South Africa, experienced a CoP as a continuing professional teacher development (CPTD) strategy. This investigation was informed by a naturalistic case study method where open-ended questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observations were utilised for data generation during CoP sessions. Thematic data-analysis revealed themes (words/phrases) for interpretation and discussion. Preliminary findings highlighted some emerging characteristics that influenced the effective operation of a CoP and suggested that participants acknowledged the importance of a CoP, indicating that their natural sciences knowledge and skills had notably increased. We argue that emerging CoP characteristics can assist in the advancement of motivation, effectiveness and professional development of natural sciences teachers in rural areas, affording quality teachers and teaching practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult education is one of the platforms of skills development for the mostly disadvantaged people of South Africa who did not get formal education owing to past segregation and apartheid laws. Recently this sector has implemented inclusive education and is in the process of transforming and changing to achieve inclusion. This interpretative-qualitative case study within participatory action research explored the role of participatory action research as a change strategy to develop inclusive teaching practices and enhance adult student learning in an adult education context. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observations, documentary analysis, focus group interviews and group interpretative meetings in all four phases, i.e. planning, observation, action and reflection. After the group data analysis with co-researchers during group interpretative meetings and the researcher's analysis using an interpretative-thematic inductive qualitative data analysis framework, the study found that participatory action research is viable as an educational change strategy, as it enhances collaboration among adult education teachers and improves their ability to be reflective and critical in their practice, which is fundamental in the development of inclusive teaching practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to explore an approach to beginner teacher induction in a Johannesburg, South Africa education district's induction programme. It focuses on how the idea of beginner teacher induction is conceptualised by examining the district induction programme's teaching form and foci. Data were collected through interviews with four district officials coordinating and facilitating the district's teacher induction programme. While it is apparent that beginner teacher induction is being prioritised due to the pressing need for South African teacher professional development initiatives to work more towards developing and strengthening a repertoire of sound instructional practices. Findings indicate that current teacher induction practices offered by the selected district are somewhat misaligned with this imperative. The teaching form and foci of the districts' induction programme reveals serious contestation as pressure to perform is exerted rather than supporting teachers early in their careers. The activities therein are evidently more focused on familiarising beginner teachers with legal frameworks that govern and regulate their duties as members of the public service. Although the district induction programme has an overarching aim of developing beginner teachers' pedagogical practices, upon implementation, the emphasis is on accountability and pressure at the expense of developmental support and capacity building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burgeoning research in the field indicates the importance of teachers' personal epistemology as a foundation for their professional practices. Personal epistemologies refer to descriptions of the beliefs that teachers hold about the nature and sources of knowledge. Although this understanding is in place, most studies have focused on examining personal epistemologies drawn from practitioners in school contexts. Accordingly, there is limited research describing university academics' personal epistemologies. To address this knowledge gap, in this conceptual paper I discuss my personal epistemology on the theoretical perspectives that underpin my instructional practices in English language teaching. Specifically, the paper focuses on the theoretical perspectives that shape the curriculum, as well as the pedagogical choices that are made in facilitating learning for student teachers in English as a Second Language (ESL) programmes in initial teacher education. Based on the discussion, I affirm the importance of personal epistemologies in framing professional development for university academics. This personal epistemology account may help instructors structure their own epistemic reflection practices as a strategy for enhancing their teaching practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the findings of a qualitative study that explored the causes of ethical turpitude in the four schools in Gauteng Province of South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were held with each school principal, eight heads of department and sixteen teachers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the generated data. The findings suggest that most participants had pedestrian knowledge of ethical leadership and failed to demonstrate an appreciation of their agency role in promoting an ethical culture both in leadership and teaching despite the prescripts of the SACE Code of Professional Ethics and other laws governing their profession. Despite these negative findings, a minority of participants indicated how they promoted an ethical culture, integrity and honesty in their interactions with their learners. Amidst all the ethical challenges at the school level, the findings further suggest that there was minimal support by the Provincial Department of Education, SACE and teacher unions to equip the school management teams and teachers on ethical leadership and teaching. While numerous ethical turpitudes were unearthed, this study posits that the school management teams have agency and direct responsibility to address ethical challenges in their schools. While outside role-players have a supportive role to play, school management teams cannot give up and solely blame them for internal ethical turpitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practitioner inquiry has become part of the research tradition in many teacher professional development programmes across the world and allows teachers to conduct research into their own practices by engaging in systematic inquiry into their personal classroom practices. In this paper, we explore the inquiry reflections of two teachers that engaged in inquiries of their practice with a specific focus on their teaching of measurement. Both these teachers had completed practitioner inquiries as part of two different programmes of study, one in South Africa and the other in New Zealand. The purpose of this study was to identify factors which supported teacher learning. The findings showed that learning opportunities were created by their motivation and willingness to engage in critical reflections, while professional support from colleagues and mentors enhanced teachers' learning experiences. Furthermore, despite the different contexts, each inquiry expands our understanding of locally generated knowledge in terms of local knowledge of context as well as local knowledge of learners and content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Reflective practice has become an integral component of the new Bachelor of Science (BSc) radiography programme in South Africa (SA). As a result, lecturers on the programme are required to facilitate reflective learning, and are assumed to be skilled in this. However, relevant literature indicates that health professions educators may not necessarily possess the requisite competence or experience in facilitating reflective learning. Moreover, there is a paucity in the literature on lecturers' perceptions and understanding of reflective practice in the context of undergraduate radiography curricula, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective. To gain insight into BSc radiography lecturers' perceptions and understanding of reflective practice at a selected university of technology in SA. Methods. This was a qualitative exploratory study in which individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with lecturers teaching on the new BSc Radiography programme. The purposively selected sample consisted of 11 participants. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results. Analysis of the data revealed three themes, namely diverse understandings of reflective practice among lecturers, factors influencing optimal facilitation of reflective learning and strategies to improve reflective practice. Conclusion. The findings of this study indicated that lecturers felt unprepared to facilitate reflective practice in the new BSc radiography curriculum. The need for faculty development initiatives, such as an introduction to reflective tools and educational strategies to support lecturers in facilitating reflective practice, was highlighted. Furthermore, it was found that if objectives were clearly outlined and facilitator guides available, a desired reflective practice could be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Practical work is critical to understanding science concepts. A case study was carried out to understand teachers' perceptions regarding practical work in Mankweng Circuit, South Africa. Four Grade 11 Physical Science teachers from different high schools were purposively selected. Data were collected through interviews, classroom observations, and teachers' portfolios. Results show that teachers' had different perceptions, enactment and motives regarding practical work. Teachers used demonstrations, narratives, and structured investigations to teach practical work, which deprived learners' science process skills. All teachers recorded one practical work in a term to fulfill the national Curriculum Policy Statement (CAPS) requirements. The study contributes to the literature on teachers' perceptions regarding practical work and gives insight into the implementation of practical work in the classrooms. The study recommends developing teachers' professional development programs that focus on how to design and implement quality practical work lessons, and to assess process skills during practical work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated grade 4 learners' understandings about the Nature of Scientific Inquiry (NOSI) in primary schools within the South African context. A qualitative methodology was employed using a framework of five knowledge aspects about the NOSI in assessing learners' understandings about the ways scientists investigate the natural world. Four different school types and 152 grade 4 learners from South African primary schools participated in the study. Data were collected using the open-ended Views About Scientific Inquiry-Elementary (VASI-E) questionnaire.Findings from data analysis indicated that, over 70% of grade 4 learners held naïve understandings about all five aspects of the NOSI investigated in the study. The findings also revealed some observed differences in NOSI understandings across the different school types. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that, there is a need for primary school learners to acquire baseline knowledge about the NOSI by engaging in learning tasks that scaffold their understandings on how scientific knowledge is generated. Also, that the NOSI should be explicitly addressed by involving learners in inquiry activities on questioning, data collection, observation, and interpretation. These findings have direct implications for primary school teachers and teacher educators for enacting science as inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the implementation of the European Higher Education Area, university teachers have had to develop and apply new teaching methods in their educational practice that enable students to learn from a more didactic approach. The main objective of this paper is to analyse the effects of the implementation of teaching innovation projects on academic performance in a sample of 1,546 students from three universities and four different degree programmes. To this end, we studied the performance of an experimental group that carried out a practical activity in which they had to relate the victory of the Spanish national soccer team in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with how the main functions of a company's management are executed. The experimental group was compared to a control group that studied the same topic in a traditional master class. The results show that the academic performance of the experimental group was superior to that of the control group. Therefore, it is concluded that the development and implementation of teacher innovation projects carried out in the classroom improve the academic performance of university students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss a perennial question in the field of music teacher education: is school music education better served with generalist or specialist teachers? To answer this question, we discuss the educational policy reforms implemented in two African countries, Uganda and South Africa, and in Spain as well. We also discuss how teacher education is implemented in these countries–in the case of Spain, in the lights of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)–in what refers music teacher education and its professional development. From this policy analysis at curriculum and teacher education levels, we raise implications for teacher preparation and subsequent professional development of music generalist and specialist teachers. In our conclusion, we deduce that students may be well served with either generalist or specialist music teachers as long as they are prepared to move content forward, to meet contemporary global student needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orientation: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the world of work. An understanding is needed of this impact and the positioning of roles of professional psychologists in response to adjusting to the new normal. Research purpose: This study investigated the challenges faced by Industrial Organisational (IO) Psychologists in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study aimed at ascertaining the professional roles that emanate from such challenges. Motivation of the study: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, calls exist within the literature for nuanced disciplinary studies that explore the impact of the pandemic. One such discipline is that of Industrial Psychology (IP), a discipline deemed important not only for the development of individuals but also for organisations. Research approach, design and method: A qualitative research approach utilising semistructured interviews was conducted with 25 IO Psychologists. Thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the collected data using the suggestions by Braun and Clarke. Main findings: Two main findings emerged from the study informed by the thematic analysis conducted. Firstly, the IO Psychologists expressed challenges of a direct nature affecting their practice and individual well-being. Secondly, the participating IO Psychologists suggested resultant professional roles that emerged from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These included (1) prioritisation of personal physical and mental health, (2) more technological skills and acumen needed to adjust to the challenges posed by the pandemic, (3) promotion of continued professional learning and (4) the necessity for support networks amongst practitioners. Practical/managerial implications: Implications are drawn for the practitioners and individuals working within the IO Psychology context. These extend at assisting the practitioners within the presented challenges. Contribution/value-add: Through the findings, suggestions to inform IO Psychology as a practice are made. Furthermore, roles in assisting IO Psychologists to adjust to the new normal are suggested. The study becomes one of the first within these disciplines to charter suggestions for this important practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of qualified teachers in critical subjects and the ever changing curricula in South Africa have led to increased use of out-of-field teachers, a topic that has seldom been researched. The use of out-of-field teachers threatens the quality of education in a system that is already ranked amongst the lowest in global rankings. The absence of policies on the support of out-of-field teachers and under-theorization of this field asks the questions of how school principals support out-of-field teachers and what informs the type of support, as well as the approach to that support. The findings come from a qualitative case study that employed semi-structured interviews with six principals. The findings of this study are presented and discussed under four themes that emerged during data analysis. These are: out-of-field teachers' support needs; sharing leadership to support out-of-field teachers; supporting out-of-field teachers through professional development; and supporting out-of-field teachers through mentoring. This study identified resources as the main factor that dictates the nature of support and the way it is provided. Despite that support is provided, it is concluded that this support is not developed around the teachers' needs, but rather, influenced by principals' decisions and perceptions of the deficits of out-of-field teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science and mathematics teacher professional development in South Africa does not adequately address teachers' pedagogical content knowledge or ability to integrate indigenous knowledge into the curriculum. This situation is partly due to traditional teacher professional development programmes that utilise top-down and expert-driven approaches without consulting teachers. This "onesize- fits-all" model is rarely relevant to teachers' classroom realities, especially in rural areas. The research question that guided this research was: How could the professional development intervention be contextualised to better meet the educational needs of a rural environment? In this paper, we explore the design principles for teacher professional development interventions that could address the needs of teachers and the context, acknowledging that teachers in rural areas face different challenges compared to teachers in urban areas. We use the Hantam region of the Northern Cape Province as a case study to explore the affordances of partnerships with local indigenous knowledge holders and cultural institutions (museums) in the professional development of teachers. Data were generated from semi-structured interviews with Hantam school and community participants using a qualitative approach. Two major themes that emerged from this qualitative research was that (a) the involvement of indigenous knowledge holders and museums as "third partners" in the value chain between universities and schools, could greatly assist to better contextualise the "western" science curriculum, and (b) the incorporation of indigenous knowledge in the STEM curriculum could assist in building the self-esteem of learners. We argue that contextualising science and mathematics teacher professional development for the rural environment has affordances for improving not only teacher competencies, but also learners' views on the relevance of science and mathematics in everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teachers are expected to be self-directed and to instil in their learners the ability to self-regulate their own learning processes. There are however personal and contextual factors that promote or inhibit teachers' abilities to develop self-regulated learning skills. This study was conducted in two South African secondary township schools and in two Namibian rural secondary schools. Twenty-eight, conveniently and purposively selected teachers participated. This interpretive basic qualitative study was intended to provide food for thought about the perceptions of South African and Namibian teachers regarding the development of self-regulated learning skills, differences in their perceptions as well as consistencies and inconsistencies between their perceptions and their actual teaching practices. Data were collected via observations and semistructured interviews. The results indicate a need for interventions to train practising teachers to be activators and facilitators of selfregulated learning (SRL) skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is based on case studies of seven district teacher development centres (DTDCs) in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The paper describes the perceptions of selected teachers regarding professional learning and development experiences at these centres. The purpose of the study was to determine the role centres play in supporting teachers' learning and development as stipulated in the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Development (ISPFTED) policy in South Africa. The study employed a qualitative research approach in which semi-structured interviews, observation, document analysis and field notes were used to generate data from six centre managers, two librarians, two ICT specialists and 46 teachers at the centres. Findings from the study indicated that the DTDCs create an ideal opportunity for teachers' professional learning with the presence of computer, science laboratories and libraries. However, the study noted that teachers seldom used these resources. Teachers used the centres mainly for professional development activities such as workshops and meetings. Our study concludes that at present, the centres are not supporting the full vision of the policy, and the potential of DTDCs to enhance teacher learning and development remains largely untapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesson study (LS) is a form of professional development, with a strong foundation in mathematics education, based on teachers collaborating to design lessons. This collaboration, however, can be challenging for isolated teachers. In 2017, a course was presented at the university to train 52 teachers from all over South Africa as well as Botswana in the use of technology in teaching. These teachers represented all subject fields, including mathematics. The purpose of this course was to develop teachers' knowledge and skills in the use and integration of mobile technology in their teaching. The course was presented in a blended mode. Participants attended a 3-day face-to-face session, followed by 2-months online. The blended learning course had teachers working in subject specific groups in a LS format to plan, present and perfect lessons that can be taught using the technology available to them. In this study we investigate how LS can be adapted into a blended format to support isolated teachers who cannot meet face-to-face on a regular basis. We identified eleven aspects playing an important role in this process, namely technology; group; learning management system; online facilitation; technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK); (mobile) learning strategies; a lesson planning form; backward design; time; photos, videos and reports; and reflection questions. The eleven aspects that emerged, lead to the development of a framework consisting of three dimensions of LS namely Collaboration, Instructional Development and the Iterative Improvement Process, supported by the identified aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]