Curriculum adviser EMILIA POTENZA answers questions from teachers about outcomes-based education (OBE) and Curriculum 2005.
Q: Kindly furnish me with information about the new timetable for Grade 7. How much time should be allocated to each Learning Area? Is it compulsory to work on an eight day cycle?
T. Masinga, Gingindlovu
A: I am glad to have this opportunity of dealing with the timetable again. I provided one example of a timetable for Grade 7 in the November 1999 edition of this column. Unfortunately, a mistake was made and a line of text was left out of the timetable. The Teacher apologises for this inaccuracy and hopes that it hasn’t created confusion. The example of the timetable included below is the correct version.
It is not compulsory to work on an eight day cycle. This timetable works on a five day cycle.
This timetable takes into account the notional time allocated to each Learning Area. It assumes that, for effective OBE teaching to take place, double and triple periods need to be allocated to each Learning Area. Each period is 30 minutes long. Of course, this shows what one class in Grade 7 would be doing. Timetables for the other classes would be variations on this theme.
Flexitime is designed to encourage opportunities for learning to take place outside of normal classroom interaction. Learners can go out into the schoolyard to do an activity or go on an excursion. A guest speaker might be invited or you might show a video to all the classes in a grade. Flexitime also provides an opportunity to do projects that may integrate a number of Learning Areas, or to do remedial and enrichment work with individual learners or groups of learners. Where no special activity has been planned, this time could be allocated to Language, Literacy and Communication (LLC) or Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences (MLMMS).
Period Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
1 Tech NS A&C A&C HSS
2 Tech NS A&C A&C HSS
3 Tech NS LLC A&C HSS
4 MLMMS HSS LLC MLMMS LLC
5 MLMMS HSS LLC MLMMS LLC
BREAK
6 EMS LO Tech LLC NS
7 EMS LO Tech LLC NS
8 EMS LO Tech LLC NS
BREAK
9 LLC MLMMS Flexitime EMS LO
10 LLC MLMMS Flexitime EMS LO
Learning Areas
Tech — Technology
NS — Natural Sciences
A&C — Arts and Culture
HSS — Human and Social Sciences
MLMMS — Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics, Mathematical Sciences
LLC — Language, Literacy and Communication
EMS — Economic and Management Science
LO — Life Orientation
Q: I am a Grade 7 teacher specialising in science, history and Afrikaans. I want to know what will happen in OBE because I have learnt that there are no subjects to be taught but Learning Areas. Which Learning Areas will I teach because science is with maths and I hate maths?
Thembelihle Victoria Buthelezi, Ulundi
A: You are correct in thinking that the old subjects will be replaced by the new Learning Areas. This should already be happening in Grade 7 this year. The subjects that you are currently teaching — science, history and Afrikaans — now fall into three different Learning Areas. Science is part of a Learning Area called Natural Sciences which includes physical science, chemistry, the earth sciences (previously physical geography) and biology. History now belongs in the Human and Social Sciences Learning Area, together with geography and civic education. And Afrikaans could be one of the languages offered by your school as part of the Language, Literacy and Communication Learning Area.
Your school needs to have a language plan that would include deciding which of the official languages will be offered as primary and additional languages. You will be relieved to know that science and maths are not combined into one Learning Area at any stage of schooling, so you should never have to teach maths.
Since I regularly get requests for information about institutions that offer diplomas or degrees in OBE and Curriculum 2005, I am including some information about a course offered in the Western Cape.
Paarl College offers a part-time course that provides OBE training for teachers. It includes course material as well as support throughout the year. Anyone in the Western Cape interested in finding out more about this course can contact Cathy Robertson at (021) 872 3323 or e-mail: [email protected]. This course is offered as a service to the community, so costs are kept down and affordable.
Are you one of the many teachers at sea about understanding and implementing OBE and Curriculum 2005? Send in your questions to our curriculum adviser, Emilia Potenza, c/o The Teacher, P.O. Box 91667, Auckland Park, 2006 or e-mail her at [email protected]
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, January 2000.
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