Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Matric revision at Bush

Khanyisa Tabata
18 August 2009

Bush Radio together with the Western Cape Education Department will be broadcasting programmes that will focus on examination and examination techniques.

The aim for the revision programmes is to help grade 12 learners to prepare for their end of the year final examination.

Listeners can listen to Bush Radio where there will be a subject specialist in studio, to answer any questions that learners or listeners may have.

The revision programmes will be broadcasted from the 18th of August until the end of October from 15h30 to 16h30.

Subjects to be covered during the revision period are Afrikaans Home Language, Afrikaans Additional Language, English Home Language, English First Additional Language, Xhosa Home Language, Mathematics, Mathematics Literacy, History, Physical Science, Economics, Business Economics, Geography, and Agricultural Science.

The programmes will be broadcasted on Tuesday and Thursday.

Listeners can participate in the programmes by calling 021 448 6266 or they can send a sms to 32158 or even an email: matric09@pgwc.gov.za

3 comments:

Jill Stevens said...

Dear Khanyisa, I was most gratified to come across your website. I was deeply concerned about the forecast results for the Grade 12 maths this year. I was trying to find a contact to pass on the very positive experience I had with assisting a student last year to secure a pass in Mathemeatics after he had failed dismally in the June exams. I bought a copy of "Classroom Mathematics" by Laridon et al. It is, I understand the official Grade 12 Learner's Book - green cover first published by Heineman in 2007. The student Sanele Dladla, brought the June and September papers to me. I was able to get copies of the mark schedule and we went over the papers together, It soon became clear to me that I was far too rusty - after 27 years since last opening a maths book - to be much more than a technique and study advisor. This worked exceptionally well and Sanele passed at the end of the year having brought his average up to 40% despite having had results as low as 11%, 17% and 25% for course work and the results of the June and September exams. I spoke to Sanele two days ago to ask if he would be willing to share his experience and he said he would. I haven't a clue how one gets what he did across to as many reasonably bright students who have little or no support from home or overcrowded classes, but this opportunity to reply to your posting is a first step.

Our modus operandi was to use the book as a tutor. I used it to revise - and being as rusty as I was, I had several hurdles to mount.
1. I had no idea what some of the terminology was referring to - e.g. First Principes.
2. The syllabus had changed enormously since 1982 and I would say on the whole was at first year university level with differentiated calculus and analytical geometry playing a major role.
3. There was a choice of sections - e.g. Sanele's class did not work on Geometry Theorems or the more advanced areas of Matriculation Trigonometry.

See mt next comment for continuaton.as the full text was too long for acceptance.

Jill Stevens said...

Continued from my previous comment.
As time was short, (We only met in time to prepare for the September exams). Sanele had to do a LOT of revision between our weekly lessons. We looked at his weeknesses and strengths and concentrated on the area where he believed he could improve. He had to master ALL the formulae and the meaning of the technical terms. He had to make quite sure he understood the questions. He had to revise using the worked examples in the book to the point that he understood each step outlined by the author. When stuck, he had to go through the previous examples to find out where he had missed a formula, or an axiom etc. Once understood he then had to do as many examples as possible based on the worked examples. This gave him a lot of confidence.
As this was the first year of the outcomes based matriculation exam, there were no previous papers to work on, other than the June and September. However, baring in mind that there was only ONE grade, it was clear that examination technique was to play a major role.
Step 1. He had to read the instructions very carefully, spend at least 5 minutes on ensuring he undestood his choices and the requirements.
Step 2. he had to assess how much time he could spend on a section of a question according to the mark allocation. If stuck - leave the question but allow enough space to go back to it once all questons selected had been attempted.
Step 3. Be aware that the first questions in a section are easier than the last questions in the section. Do not panic when unable to understand the latter questions as they are there to test the really bright students aiming for A's and B's. Concentrate on the areas you understand.
Step 4. Show ALL your workingl. You may pick up marks for showing that you understood the principles behind the question. Marks are usually allocated for the various steps.
Step 5. Return to the questions which you found difficult and look at them again with 'fresh' eyes. The penny may drop and you may well find that you do know how to solve the problems after all.
This was a crash course in D.I.Y. revision and it worked.
I also told him that on the day of the exam he should NOT discuss maths with anyone. He should just let everything he had learnt rest quietly in his mind, until he was ready to study the questions.
Jill Iggulden Stevens. Durban.

Jill Stevens said...

Please note my gmail is all lower case - no caps as shown in response to my comments
jill.iggulden.stevens@gmail.com

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