Education

Delegation from Kogakkan University share insight into new team-teaching style

A delegation from Kogakkan University on the island of Mie, Japan, visited the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) from 20 to 24 February 2023 to demonstrate their new team-teaching style – Lesson Study Approach (LSA).

This teaching style, developed by Kogakkan University, is aimed at preservice teachers as part of their work-integrated learning, and incorporates the advantages of both cooperative and individualised teaching.

Submitted on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 14:06

NWU Debating Union hosts annual first-year debate tournament

The North-West University (NWU) Debating Union on the Mahikeng Campus is dedicated to maintaining the existing skills of public speaking, debating, and critical thinking, and cultivating and maturing these skills in those who would like to learn.

This is according to Kgopotso Sekgobela, chairperson of the union.

The union has consistently received positive reviews of the annual first-year debate tournaments they host to introduce first-year students to university debating.

Submitted on Fri, 03/03/2023 - 09:31

Zimbabwe collaboration could bring formal early childhood education skills to grannies and moms

For children up to seven years old to reach their full potential, early childhood education is essential. Across Africa, many caregivers are grannies and mothers without formal qualifications. Filling this gap is one of several areas for fruitful collaboration between researchers from the North-West University (NWU) and their counterparts in countries such as Zimbabwe.

Dr Marinda Neethling and Dr Susan Greyling of the Faculty of Education visited Zimbabwe in December to collaborate and foster friendships in the field.

Submitted on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:56

Building healthy attitudes towards STEM education

Students’ low performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, particularly among women, who are underrepresented in the scientific community, have been a major concern in many countries. This is exacerbated when one views the 2020 UNESCO report, which shows that women account for only 28% of engineering graduates, 40% of computer science graduates and 33% of researchers around the world.

Submitted on Thu, 03/02/2023 - 11:30

Dutch education and science attaché in South Africa visits Optentia

On 27 January 2023 the Netherlands' education and science attaché in South Africa paid a visit to the Optentia research unit of the North-West University (NWU).

Berto Bosscha met with senior management to share information on the newly created position of education and research attaché at the Netherlands Embassy in South Africa.

According to Prof Ian Rothmann, director of Optentia, Berto also took the opportunity to learn more about education and research at the NWU.

Submitted on Fri, 02/17/2023 - 10:21

New book uncovers age inclusive ICT use for service delivery

by the Optentia research unit

A book was recently published under the editorial leadership of researchers from Optentia Research Unit on the Vanderbijlpark Campus. The team lead by Profs. Vera Roos and Jaco Hoffman from the sub-programme Ageing and Generational Dynamics in Africa (AGenDA), included researchers and students from all the North-West University’s campuses.

Submitted on Thu, 12/15/2022 - 13:36

Parents differ from learners and teachers in their views on corporal punishment in schools

It is clear that something needs to be done about discipline in schools, but reintroducing corporal punishment, even on a limited scale, is probably not the answer.

This is one of the findings of a study by Dr Noorullah Shaikhnag, senior lecturer and deputy director at the School of Psycho-Social Education of the North-West University (NWU).

The study revealed strong differences among learners, teachers, parents and school governing bodies on the topic of corporal punishment.

Submitted on Thu, 12/08/2022 - 10:22

Prof Shan Simmonds on rethinking human rights with and within the curriculum

When South Africa was declared a democratic state in 1994, Prof Shan Simmonds was only 11 years old. Although she could recognise things changing around her, she could not understand the deeper discourses that infused these changes.

In her experience, a handful of black learners entered what had, up until that point, been a whites-only farm community school. The so-called handful soon grew in numbers and, contrary to what one might imagine, especially considering that the teaching staff remained unchanged, Prof Simmonds experienced no sense of racial divide or discrimination.

Submitted on Fri, 11/04/2022 - 15:27