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03 October 2018 | Story UFS | Photo Stephen Collett
Using ethnomathematics to enhance understanding maths
An ethnomathematical approach helps to create a connection between mathematics in the classroom and the real world, said Prof Mogege Mosimege during his inaugural lecture.
The integration of ethnomathematical approaches and studies in the teaching and learning of mathematics is almost certainly bound to change how learners view and understand mathematics. It is the opinion of Prof Mogege Mosimege of the School of Natural Sciences and Technology Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of The Free State (UFS), where Prof Mosimege delivered his inaugural lecture.

His research interests include sociocultural contexts in mathematics education (ethnomathematics), mathematical modelling; indigenous knowledge systems and mathematics teacher education.

Classroom maths must connect real world 

He says an ethnomathematical approach does not only serve as a sound basis for a deeper conceptual understanding, but it also helps to create a connection between mathematics in the classroom and the real world.

Prof Mosimege says the foundation phase of the South African school mathematics curriculum indicates, amongst others, that there must be a critical awareness of how mathematical relationships are used in social, environmental, cultural and economic relations, and that there must be a deep conceptual understanding in order to make sense of mathematics.

"I want to argue the current curriculum does not give enough space for that," he says. "The minute you say deep conceptual understanding you must do things differently and not just teach formulae, but also teach why things work the way they do."

Prof Mosimege says the classroom activities teachers engage in must be able to push learners to that deep understanding phase.

He says even at the Further Education and Training Phase real-life problems should be incorporated into all mathematical sections whenever appropriate.

Teachers need to make maths real

"Contextual problems should include issues relating to health, social, economic, cultural, scientific, political and environmental issues whenever possible."

 If done this way teachers will make mathematics to become real. "It will perhaps not be as abstract as it is perceived, and will help our learners and students to understand why it is important to relate what they do to real life."

Prof Mosimege says his future work would be to look past the phase of focusing strictly on procedural aspects of mathematics and look further at an ethnomathematics bridge to mathematical modelling, which is his next area of research. He says the definitions of ethnomathematics suggest that mathematical concepts and processes would be more comfortable and better understood by the learner when they are related to sociocultural contexts as well as real-life situations.

"How can we use ethnomathematics to do problem-solving?" he asks. 

News Archive

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS
2006-03-24

During the recent visit of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) to the University of the Free State (UFS) were from the left Mr Egon Wortmann (Director: ASAQS), Prof Basie Verster (representative of the Free State on the ASAQS and head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS), Mr  Greyling Venter (Chairperson:  Free State branch of the ASAQS), Prof DG Brümmer(Vice-President:  ASAQS) and Mr  Patrick Waterson (President:  ASAQS).
Photo supplied

 

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS

 “The South African building industry is experiencing an unprecedented high level of economic growth and prosperity.  This is causing a definite shortage of registered quantity surveyors,” said Mr Egon Wortmann, Director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors(ASAQS) during the association’s recent visit to the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS).

 “This shortage is especially noticeable in local and national governments where unqualified and inexperienced staff, consultants and/or facilitators are now appointed,” said Mr Wortmann. 

 In doing so, the authorities that have adopted this approach are according to Mr Wortmann actually acting illegally and are not in compliance with the legal and statutory requirements of South Africa.  “These unprofessional practices are unproductive, it leads to frustration and is strongly condemned by the ASAQS,” he said.

 “The service delivery of these unqualified and unregistered service providers is often sub standard and does not comply to the legal requirements of the profession.  It may also result in the tarnishing of the image and high professional standards set by the quantity surveying profession,” said Mr Wortmann.

 “Universities offering programmes in quantity-surveying and construction management are also negatively affected by the high levels of activity in the building environment.  Suitable lecturing staff are leaving the academic institutions as they are attracted to better opportunities being offered in the building industry. The ability of the tertiary institutions to attract young academics, to train them and to keep them in the longer term, is therefore almost impossible”, said Prof Basie Verster, head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS and representative of the Free State on the ASAQS.

 According to Prof Verster the UFS supplies more than its quota of qualified quantity surveyors to the South African building industry.  “Although more than 460 students are registered in construction related programmes at the UFS, we are as the ASAQS’s concerned about the shortage of students that can enter the construction industry.  In our case, we  are experiencing a shortage in black female students,” he said.

 “Of the 460 postgraduate students, 38% are black of which 20% are female students.  Graduates do also not necessarily stay in the country.  As the UFS’s programmes are accredited overseas, a lot of our students leave the country for working opportunities elsewhere,” said Prof Verster.

 Mr Patrick Waterson, President of the ASAQS, appealed to quantity surveyors to, when they are approached, consider academic careers or to make themselves available to lecture on a part time basis.  “I also appeal to quantity-surveying practices, construction companies and developers to consider taking part in training activities,” he said.

 The ASAQS has over the years developed a proud tradition within the quantity-surveying profession. Consequently membership of this organisation is a sought after goal for many members within the building environment. International agreements with various countries are also in place whereby it is mutually agreed that local as well as overseas qualifications are mutually acceptable on a reciprocal basis. 

 A more recent addition to the list of agreements is the reciprocity agreement entered into with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which makes it possible for South African based quantity surveyors to practice in over 120 countries worldwide.

 Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za 
23 March 2006

 

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