A rural teacher’s transformational journey implementing digital technology

ABSTRACT

Teacher learning is a non-linear process that takes place in the context of their practice. As teachers have different roles, moments of learning are created when a deficiency on the part of the teacher or the context is experienced as inhibiting effective teaching and learning. This paper presents the processes of learning when a teacher is confronted by a challenge that affects him and the learners. In rural schools in South Africa, there is a lack of teaching and learning materials, and the impact of such on learning outcomes has been adverse. However, one teacher overcame this situation by using computer simulations. As a result of using this digital teaching and learning tool, an Aha! moment was recognised. The study revealed that computer simulations are curriculum materials that can be used as an interactive source of content and a medium to engage learners and communicate the content. CS presents an opportunity for learners to author their own descriptions of phenomena- an epistemic practice that supports English language learners. Through reflexivity, the teacher adopted a subjectivist view which questions the independent existence of reality and the researcher’s role in researching it. The insights gained in this study have implications for the practice of teachers in rural areas. Moments of learning are created in the context of the practice of teachers. Teachers need to embrace Aha! moments as opportunities for learning and developing the contextual knowledge of teaching to address local concerns.

KEYWORDS:

• Reflection
• rural
• teaching
• learning
• technology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. South African’s government schools are divided into five quintiles based on the socio-economic status of the area where they are situated. Schools in quintiles 1–3 (low quintile) provide free access to primary and secondary education. Schools in quintiles 1–2 are usually located in urban areas, and parents have to pay school fees.

2. A pacesetter is document that set and pace how the content is to be taught and the time/period to cover that content.

Additional information

Funding

This work was self-supported.

Notes on contributors

Maxwell Tsoka

Maxwell Tsoka (D.Ed.) is a science teacher and educational researcher with research interests in science education, rural education, and the use of digital technology in rural schools. He was a high school science teacher for twenty years before moving to the University where he teaches science methodology courses in the Department of Curriculum and Professional Studies at the University of Venda