University of Johannesburg UJ Science and Technology Education Department
About us – The Mathematics Education Unit at the University of Johannesburg is a vibrant and dynamic place to study. We are engaged and dynamic in advancing the quality of teaching and learning of mathematics in South Africa. We are at the cutting edge of teaching, research and community service that promotes freedom, democracy, equality and human dignity. Our environment is supportive and student-focused and our courses are challenging. We believe when all students have an equal chance to obtain quality mathematics education, learning drives economic growth, fuels innovation and creates jobs. We are committed, through effective collaborations, to:
- the preparation of caring, accountable and critical-reflective mathematics educational practitioners who are able to support and nurture learning and development in diverse educational contexts
- the systematic pursuit and advancement of dynamic education knowledge of local relevance and international standing
- community engagement that anticipates and is responsive to the needs of communities as partners in learning
The Mathematics Education Unit at UJ shapes the future of secondary school Mathematics teachers and expand the knowledge economy via authentic teaching, learning and research. Jerome Bruner (2000) distinguishes learning about, which comprises most of the learning in educational institutions, from learning to be. The Unit has a deliberate emphasis on learning to be. This involves exposure to the day-to-day practices within the knowledge domain of Mathematics Education focusing on the principles, dispositions, attributes, competencies, activities, skills, procedures and values of knowledgeable, reflective and caring Mathematics educators. The Mathematics Education Unit is involved in community projects, such as Numeric, a non-profit company bringing Khan Academy to previously disadvantaged communities.
Programmes – The Mathematics Education Unit offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes fulfilling a key role in the Initial Teacher Education (pre-service) and the continuous professional development of in-service teachers.
In the professional undergraduate programmes on the Auckland Park campus, teachers qualify for posts in the senior (SP) and further education and training phase (FET) of schooling. In addition to the class work, the undergraduate programme is extended by a practicum component where students spend time in secondary schools.
The post-graduate programmes (PG Dip in Education with specialisation in FET Mathematics, BEd Hons in STEM Education with specialisation in Mathematics, and Masters and PhD in Mathematics Education) are characterised by studies that prepare students to conduct research whilst engaging with contentious issues and current trends and debates, practice and research approaches in Mathematics Education. Teaching and supervision are currently offered in the following research niches by our unit members:
Dr Erica D Spangenberg: Social- psychological imperatives in the teaching and learning of mathematics (e.g. affective constructs (mathematics anxiety, motivation, self-efficacy, beliefs about the nature of mathematics), values in mathematics, curriculum-ideologies, mind sets, thinking styles, etc.), assessment, Ethno-Mathematics, pedagogical content knowledge and visualisation.
Dr Viren Ramdhany: Pre-service teachers’ education and professional development. Understanding teacher pedagogical practices from a sociological perspective. Tracing what pre-service teachers learn from teacher education with the intention of helping inform teacher education and teacher support.
Prof. Mdu Ndlovu: Prof Ndlovu is currently the Vice Dean, Research and Post-graduate Studies but remains an integral member of the Mathematics Education Unit. Interests include technology integration into the teaching and learning of mathematics, blended learning, problem-based learning, teacher professional learning, bridging the gap between school and university, university-school partnerships for social justice.
The Learning Technologies Unit has over the years engaged teachers in the use of learning technologies in a variety of educational settings. Our general focus on learning technologies in a variety of unique contexts opens the door for students to explore postgraduate studies in a number of fields that incorporate the innovative use of these technologies.
The current Online Master Degree in ICTs in Education is a flagship program at UJ. The purpose of the MEd (Information and Communication Technology) is to strengthen and deepen the specialist advanced theoretical knowledge and practical skills of experienced practitioners in ICT use in Education. Another purpose is to prepare practitioners with an NQF-8 level educational or human resources development qualification to take leadership positions as teacher specialists or subject heads at the micro (e.g. school), meso (e.g. provincial) or macro (national) levels. The development of “thought leaders” is a theme that can be found throughout the entire course. This qualification develops specialized competence and evidence-based practices in the dynamic and ever-changing discipline of ICT in Education. The program aims at theoretical engagement and intellectual independence, and hands-on skills development. Teachers will develop sufficient academic understanding in current developments in the teaching of ICT Innovation in Education. They will further gain eco-systemic insight into the developments in the discipline. Finally, the purpose of the qualification is to capacitate students to conduct ethical independent research in ICT in Education under the supervision of qualified staff members.
The Unit also plays an important role in the current BEd Honours in STEM Education with Prof Lautenbach presenting the module Research Methodology for STEM Researchers in the first year of the program.
University of Johannesburg Science and Technology Department Contact
University of Johannesburg Science Department Contact – See Details Below:
University of Johannesburg
PO Box 524
Auckland Park
2006
South Africa
Ms Bianca de Jager
Tel: +27 11 559 2666
Fax: +27 11 559 2292
bdejager@uj.ac.za
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