Teachers' use of learning materials to develop thinking in a classroom

Abstract

The main aim of this inquiry was to look at the teachers' views about the use of learning materials to develop thinking of grade three learners. The aim was on on the empowerment of grade three teachers to effectively and efficiently design and use learning materials to develop thinking of learners. In empowering teachers with the skills in the use of learning materials, insight into the selection, design, the use and the general approach of teachers in the development of thinking was explicitly outlined. The contribution of this study is the identification of frustrations and problems experienced in this regard. The findings provide teachers with a clear exposition of their role and functions in the selection, design and the general approach teachers should use in developing thinking in their learners. It becomes evident that the materials and the approach they use in teaching encourage knowledge acquisition and the understanding of the content so that this could be used during the times of testing and examinations. The teachers also raised problems related to the lack of the skills in the use of learning materials interchangeably with the delivery of the subject matter. The investigation, as a result, clarified some of the typical problems about the use of learning materials to develop thinking of learners as it is experienced by the research sample.