The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Professor Salome Schulze

Assistant Professor, Department of Further Teacher Education,University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks: New Ways of Learning for Teacher Education?

Abstract

During the apartheid period education in South Africa stressed rote learning of rigidly prescribed content within fixed time-frames. In a democratic dispensation, a participative, flexible, outcomes-based approach has been endorsed. At the Faculty of Education, University of South Africa, (Unisa), a distance education institution, a shift to this new approach has been made. Thus theories such as constructivism, learner autonomy and transactional distance between lecturers and students have been considered in the writing of new study material. Consequently research was undertaken to survey BEd students' (practicing teachers) attitudes about studying at Unisa and for the BEd degree; their study approaches; their views of diverse aspects of their study guides and how the aforementioned may influence their achievements.

Findings indicate that it may not be easy to teach old dogs new tricks. This challenges lecturers to convince students of more innovative and meaningful methods of learning.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment Requirements
OHP

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
South Africa