The integration of indigenous graphics knowledge and skills to enhance Grade 9 learners’ understanding of graphic designs in Technology Education
Princess Blose · Unisa Institutional Repository (University of South Africa) · 2019
This single descriptive case study explored the integration of indigenous graphics knowledge and skills into the Technology curriculum of a school in the Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province with a Grade 9 Technology teacher and the learners.The integration of indigenous knowledge and skills can help promote Grade 9 learners' understanding of graphic design, which forms part of the content taught in Technology Education.The graphics knowledge and skills existent in the indigenous contexts from which most of learners come can make the learning of graphic design relevant and more understandable to learners.Hence, there was a need to research this issue.One Grade 9 Technology teacher was purposively selected for an interview and observed while teaching the class.Seven learners from this teacher's class were also selected to be interviewed.The data analysed in the present study were obtained from the teacher and seven learners.The constructivist theory of learning framed this study.The findings revealed that, although the teacher had some understanding of technology, (i) she battled with the concept of indigenous knowledge; (ii) she was unaware that indigenous knowledge is even mentioned in the subject's Curriculum, Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS); and, (iii) her limited understanding of the concept of indigenous knowledge meant that she did not to know how she could integrate indigenous knowledge into the teaching of graphic design.She also did not capitalise on indigenous knowledge as a resource in a resource-hungry teaching environment that she faced.While she acknowledged the importance of the learners' culture, she did not take full advantage thereof in her teaching.Her adoption of demonstration as her predominant teaching approach provided an opportunity for integrating indigenous knowledge and skills but, again, she did not capitalise on that opportunity fully.This study can help transform the teaching of Technology by ensuring the integration of indigenous knowledge into the teaching of graphic design, a muchneeded approach to education in the (South) African context.