University of Fort Hare

Advanced Certificate in Foundation Phase Teaching

Education, Training and Development - Schooling

Purpose and Rationale

Purpose and Rationale of the Qualification

Purpose:

The purpose of the qualification is to enable educators who wish to specialize in Foundation Phase teaching to gain knowledge which will enable them to teach in this particular phase. The main target groups for this program are:

  • Teachers who want to specialize in a new teaching subject not studied in a prior professional teaching qualification.
  • Teachers with a prior general professional teaching qualification who, by teaching in the Foundation phase, gained background knowledge and now would like to strengthen their knowledge and skills by completing a formal qualification.
  • Teachers who hold a National Professional Diploma in Education who wish to upgrade their qualification.

The qualification aims to help teachers develop their disciplinary and pedagogical skills in teaching the Foundation Phase. This will be achieved through specialized learning and the application of specialized knowledge and skills to teaching and learning in the Foundation Phase classroom. Additionally, the qualification is designed to deepen the learner's subject matter knowledge, general principles, and methodology in Foundation Phase teaching.

Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to:

  1. Construct a suitable situation/environment for learning and facilitate learning within diverse education contexts.
  2. Design activities to stimulate active participation in acquiring listening, reading, and writing skills.
  3. Apply principles, concepts, theories, and practices of effective teaching and learning inclusivity and addressing barriers to learning in the classroom.
  4. Identify teaching strategies, assessment approaches, and the application of ICT skills to Foundation Phase Teaching.
  5. Transform and monitor own subject competence into learning experiences, reflect on professional practice, and act with integrity by maintaining the highest level of work ethics.

Rationale:

It is envisioned that the qualification will address the Department of Education (DoE)'s needs by providing qualified specialist teachers to schools in the Province. It provides an opportunity for the development of content knowledge, currently lacking among foundation phase teachers in the Eastern Cape. The target audience for this qualification is qualified teachers currently teaching foundation phase with a generic qualification.

Outcomes

  1. Construct a suitable situation/environment for learning and facilitate learning within diverse education contexts.
  2. Design suitable activities to stimulate active participation in acquiring listening, reading and writing skills.
  3. Apply principles, concepts, theories and practices of effective teaching and learning of inclusivity and addressing barriers to learning in the classroom.
  4. Identify teaching strategies, assessment approaches and the application of ICT skills to Foundation Phase Teaching.
  5. Transform and monitor own subject competence into learning experiences, reflect on professional practice and act with integrity by maintaining the highest level of work ethics.

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

  • Interpret and design learning programmes and materials for Foundation Phase teaching.
  • Create and deliver new lesson plans based on the needs of own learners.
  • Make adaptations to lessons considering learning styles and needs of own learners.
  • Effectively communicate knowledge of learners and how they learn.
  • Mediate learning in the Foundation Phase teaching.

Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

  • Demonstrate understanding of how children learn, with emphasis on numeracy, literacy, and life skills.
  • Utilize various strategies to promote active learning, including questioning techniques, activity-based teaching, and group work.
  • Use specific outcomes for learning areas in the Foundation Phase to plan learning programmes.
  • Assess progress of learners using a variety of assessment strategies.

Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

  • Identify and manage barriers to learning in Foundation Phase teaching and learning.
  • Apply an inclusive approach to identification and screening of learning problems.
  • Propose and implement plans that could bring about equality in the classroom.

Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

  • Design, plan, and apply Information Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge and skills in FP teaching.
  • Demonstrate competence in the use of hardware and software in ICT.
  • Teach scripted lessons and apply standardised assessment methods in the classroom.
  • Manage Foundation Phase classrooms effectively and assess learners effectively.

Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

  • Display a positive work ethic in the classroom.
  • Demonstrate classroom professionalism through attitudes, skills, and knowledge of Fair Play.
  • Demonstrate sound subject knowledge and how to teach it.

Integrated Assessment:

  • Formative Assessment: Various types of formative assessment will be applied based on the nature of each module, including assignments and classroom practice.
  • Summative Assessment: Examinations will assess theoretical knowledge of some modules, while structured observation will evaluate classroom and assessment practices.

Qualification Details

Type
Advanced Certificate
NQF Level
06
Min. Credits
120
SAQA Source
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University of Fort Hare
Description
The University of Fort Hare is a public university located in Alice, Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1916 and is one of the oldest universities in the country. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and management. It is known for its commitment to providing quality education and promoting social justice and equality. The University of Fort Hare has a diverse student body and is recognized for its contributions to research and community engagement.

This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.