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An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators
Dissertation (MEd (Life Sciences Education))--University of Pretoria, 2021
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2022
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| _version_ | 1867613504234586112 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Abrie, A.L. (Mia) |
| author_browse | Abrie, A.L. (Mia) |
| author_facet | Abrie, A.L. (Mia) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Dissertation (MEd (Life Sciences Education))--University of Pretoria, 2021 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83934 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:11.932Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/83934 An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators Abrie, A.L. (Mia) coetzer.bennie@gmail.com Coetzer, Benjamin Alexander UCTD Plant blindness Plant appreciation Life Sciences education Educator perceptions Educator confidence Plant mentor Mobile learning Intervention Experiential learning Positive feedback loop Education theses SDG-04 Education theses SDG-15 Dissertation (MEd (Life Sciences Education))--University of Pretoria, 2021 There is currently a strong consensus about the prevalence of plant blindness in educators as multiple studies have observed its effects both globally and in the South African context. During this study, a group of Life Sciences educators from the Gauteng province took part in an intervention which informed them about plant blindness and why it should matter to them, and then proceeded to give them a strategy to facilitate meaningful interactions with plants as part of their daily teaching. The proposed strategy involved the use of a mobile plant identification application called Pl@ntNet which allows educators to easily identify plants with their mobile devices and instantly gives them access to information, which could potentially increase their confidence in teaching about these plants. This was presented through an informative and practical workshop which included a treasure hunt for various plants. The influence of this intervention was assessed by collecting data through a preliminary online questionnaire, interviews with each participant, weekly diaries kept by the participants and a final reflection about their experiences. All interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed and interpreted by means of content analysis and thematic analysis through emergent coding. This study found that an educator-focused intervention could interrupt the positive feedback loop of negative perceptions which exists between educators and learners when botany is taught in classrooms, and kickstart a new positive feedback loop characterised by positive perceptions toward plants. This is a result of educators’ increased confidence and positive perception regarding botany teaching. bs2026 Science, Mathematics and Technology Education MEd Restricted SDG-04: Quality education SDG-15: Life on land 2022-02-15T10:08:53Z 2022-02-15T10:08:53Z 2022-04 2021 Dissertation * S2021 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83934 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Plant blindness Plant appreciation Life Sciences education Educator perceptions Educator confidence Plant mentor Mobile learning Intervention Experiential learning Positive feedback loop Education theses SDG-04 Education theses SDG-15 An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title | An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title_full | An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title_fullStr | An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title_full_unstemmed | An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title_short | An intervention to combat plant blindness in Life Sciences educators |
| title_sort | intervention to combat plant blindness in life sciences educators |
| topic | UCTD Plant blindness Plant appreciation Life Sciences education Educator perceptions Educator confidence Plant mentor Mobile learning Intervention Experiential learning Positive feedback loop Education theses SDG-04 Education theses SDG-15 |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/83934 |