Investigating Pedagogical Paradigm Shift in the 21st Century Teaching and Learning in South African Secondary Schools

Munyaradzi Sikhakhane (), Samantha Govender () and Mncedisi Christian Maphalala ()

International Journal of Education and Practice, 2020, vol. 8, issue 4, 705-719

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine if any pedagogical paradigm shift has taken place in enhancing authentic teaching and learning in secondary schools. It explored the pedagogical practices currently employed in secondary schools. The theory underpinning the study was the 21st century pedagogy for teaching and learning. A qualitative research design was adopted and data was generated from three secondary schools, consisting of 30 learners through focus group discussion and six teachers using semi-structured interviews. This sample was purposively selected by virtue of having and using digital computer technologies. An observation of 6 lessons was conducted and data was analyzed using an inductive thematic framework. By adopting an interpretivist paradigm, this data was collected using participant observation, as the main data-collection instrument for this study, triangulated with semi-structured teacher-and learner-focus group and interviews. The findings revealed that ‘old’ teacher-centered pedagogies continued unabated as the common instructional style and promoted learner-passiveness. It compromised on active learner-academic performance and making a meaningful significant intellectual achievement. This resulted in production of ‘mediocre’ human capital ill-prepared to face the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) challenges. This article recommends further research in areas pertaining to pedagogical shifts in line with digitalization of the world economy and education.

Keywords: 21st century pedagogy; Blended learning (BL); Deep learning (DL); Fourth industrial revolution; (4IR); Interpretivism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://archive.conscientiabeam.com/index.php/61/article/view/679/991 (application/pdf)
https://archive.conscientiabeam.com/index.php/61/article/view/679/4107 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pkp:ijoeap:v:8:y:2020:i:4:p:705-719:id:679

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Education and Practice from Conscientia Beam
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dim Michael ().