Encouraging thinking using locally constructed learning materials :a case study of one intermediate phase classroom.

by Borman, Natalie

The study investigates the use of ‘Stories for Thinking’ learning materials in one Intermediate Phase classroom in the Western Cape. A convenience sample of forty learners and one teacher were drawn from a local Primary school in a working class community in a Metropolitan Region of the Western Cape. A qualitative case study approach was used to gather information and to help address the research question. Data were collected by means of a focus group interview with the learners, two interviews with the educator and eight structured observation visits by the researcher. The data were presented for analysis in the form of three classroom vignettes representing the initial, middle and final phases of the study. These were linked to a thematic analysis of field note records, interview data and a summary of the observation checklist for each phase. iv