UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Mathematics Education

The Division of Mathematics Education offers courses across the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Levels.

Bachelor of Education degrees

In the Bachelor of Education (BEd) we work with large cohorts of BEd students training to be secondary mathematics teachers. Students wishing to join this programme must obtain at least 60% in Mathematics or 80% in Mathematical Literacy at Grade 12 level. We offer a range of mathematical courses alongside courses focused on developing the skills to teach mathematics.

We also teach a mathematical literacy course to all first year BEd students. This course provides students with the opportunity to experience mathematics as a useful tool as well as a language that gives structure to and describes the world around them.

In 2011 we will be introducing new courses that focus on developing primary mathematics specialists and secondary mathematical literacy teachers. We are also developing new methodology courses for senior primary teachers.

In 2006 the staff working on the BEd programme received the Vice Chancellor's Team Teaching Award in recognition of the innovative work done in the mathematical preparation of future teachers.

A postgraduate PGCE route into mathematics teaching is also available. Entry into taking Mathematics as a major (qualifying to teach Mathematics to Matric level) requires a pass at Maths 2 level within students' UG degrees; entry to taking Mathematics as a sub-major (qualifying to teach Mathematics to Grade 9 level) requires a pass at Maths 1 level within students' UG degrees.

Our BEd and PGCE mathematics graduates are sought after by local schools and we are proud of the impact that many are making in their schools.

The Division also contributes to upgrading ACE courses in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy for practising teachers.

B Sc Honours programme in Mathematics Education

This programme (offered in 1 year full time or two year part time modes) focuses on developing depth and breadth of content knowledge for teaching and provides an introduction to the postgraduate academic reading and writing field through introduction to key areas of literature in mathematics education. The programme consists of Mathematics and Mathematics Education modules as well asa small scale research project.B Sc courses can also be selected as specialisation areas within the B Ed Honours programme.

Entry to the B Sc Honours programme in Mathematics Education requires an undergraduate degree with at least a first year BSc or equivalent (B Ed with a secondary maths specialism, or a 2 2 Diploma ACE focused on secondary maths), as well as a 60% pass in Mathematics at that level.

M Sc Mathematics Education (by coursework or dissertation)

This programme aims to provide participants with a firm grounding in both the key areas of academic literature relating to mathematics education nationally and internationally, and producing academic writing in the field. The coursework option consists of a series of taught courses focused on a combination of:

Teaching and learning in mathematics education
Issues relating to the teaching and learning of algebra
Language and the learning of mathematics
Issues in curriculum in mathematics education

These courses are followed by a Research Design course that supports students in designing, conducting and writing up their research projects in the field. An M Sc by dissertation involves a significantly more substantive research project without the support of the taught courses. It is thus suitable for students with significant prior experience of academic reading and writing and awareness of key literature in the field of mathematics education.

As in the Honours programme, M Ed students can pick up particular B Sc courses as part of their area of specialisation. Entry to the M Sc Mathematics Education requires an Honours level qualification in Mathematics/ Mathematics Education with a 60% course average and 65% on a research project in the field.

PhD in Mathematics Education

We offer full and part-time options on the PhD, with students attached to supervisors with expertise in the areas of focus within doctoral studies. Students are linked to the research thrusts within Marang in Mathematics education:

Mathematical Knowledge for teaching (Prof Jill Adler and Surgeon Xolo)
QUANTUM project & the FRF MECHI Chair (Prof Jill Adler)
Mathematical Literacy (Dr Percy Sepeng)
Technology and the teaching and learning of mathematics (Prof Margot Berger)
Primary mathematics teaching and learning and FRF/NRF Primary Mathematics Research and Development Chair project (Prof Hamsa Venkatakrishnan).

Competitive full time doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships are available for suitably qualified and experienced researchers in the field of mathematics education. More information on the entry requirements for our postgraduate courses is available from the Marang web page.

Head of Division: Prof Margot Berger

Members of Staff:

Adler, Jill

Atebe, Humphrey

Berger, Margot

Bowie, Lynn

Buckus, Sumaiyah (Postgraduate Administrator)

Chiman, Jayna (Undergraduate Administrator)

Du Plessis, Jacques

Essien, Anthony

Lampen, Erna

Makonye, Judah