Humanities Academics Contribute to Book on Conceptual Integration and Educational Analysis

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Five Humanities academics - Dr Carol Bertram, Dr Nadaraj Govender, Ms Fiona Jackson, Professor Suriamurthee Maistry and Professor Wayne Hugo - recently contributed to the book Conceptual Integration and Educational Analysis, also edited by Hugo and published by Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Press.

The book provides a clear model that explains how conceptual integration works as well as numerous practical examples that enable the reader to grasp the process theoretically and apply it in practice. This is regarded as a must-read book for educators in South Africa and abroad.

According to Hugo, the book has both South African and international interest. ‘At an international level there is much interest in conceptual blending and a book that takes this conceptual tool and applies it to pedagogy will generate some interest among academics. Pedagogics is of specific interest to the European market and so it should have some takers. Conceptual integration is popular in the USA so there is a chance for this market as well.

‘Within South Africa there is currently huge interest in what teachers are doing and how they are doing it (mostly negative) and this book will provide a way out of the blame game with a suggested route forward. I have already presented seminars and lectures on this work as well as papers at conferences, all of which have been very enthusiastically received. Students at honours and masters level will find the book worthwhile as well,’ he explained.

Said Govender: ‘The process of writing the book was invigorating from the conception to the stage of publishing. It was also a new learning experience for me working in a dynamic group in regular workshops and discussions.

‘The chapter I wrote showed how Conceptual Blending is applied to physics and how solving simple problems are actually complex and intricate problems of the mind - a fascinating journey in unravelling the way we think. I would like to thank the team and Professor Wayne Hugo for all the encouragement and dedication that went into this book.’

The chapters contributed by the academics were:

•   Using conceptual integration for educational analysis: A step-by-step guide - Wayne Hugo

•   Where conceptual integration comes from and why it is useful for educational analysis - Wayne Hugo

•   Analogy but no disanalogy: The case of urban slums - Carol Bertram

•   An analysis of economic modelling used in school economics textbooks - Suriamurthee Maistry

•   Understanding teacher and learning movement between real-world and classroom genres via conceptual integration - Fiona Jackson

•   Conceptual integration in vector-kinematics - Nadaraj Govender

•   Conclusion: Conceptual Integration as a descriptive and prescriptive tool of analysis - Wayne Hugo

The book is available at Exclusive Books.

Melissa Mungroo