Doctorate for UKZN Staff Member

BY: .

UKZN staff member Dr Lebala Kolobe went from humble beginnings to great heights in obtaining her PhD in Science Education from UKZN.

Kolobe’s passion for research was triggered when she started working with in-service teachers who used instructional approaches which amazed her. She noticed some students mastered certain parts of the course material because they used fundamentals taught in high school.

Kolobe identified four schools that constantly performed well in the Free State and she researched chemistry tuition there.

The process began by observing teaching methods and analysing the literature used. She also interviewed teachers and asked them to keep reflective journals.

Making use of the instructional contexts framework, Kolobe set out to evaluate the teaching methods.

She believes her research findings highlighted ‘the teachers’ perspective on effective teaching methods and their reasons for teaching in a particular way’. Their methodology can now be implemented at other schools, she said.

Kolobe says developing and making sense of the conceptual framework and then using it to guide her analysis brought out commonalities she had not expected.

She had this advice for other students: ‘We need to understand that we are each on our own individual journey and we do not have to compare ourselves or compete against anyone. Once that is realised it is possible to enjoy the ride.’

Words by: Ziphezinhle Silindile Biyela

Photograph by Rajesh Jantilal