Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi

Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

TMS3713 Portfolio 2023Portfolio

Task 1
In not more than 500 words, explain how you think Geography lessons can be made
appealing so that learners enjoy them more. You must provide at least four (4) well-
explained points to earn full marks. (40)

In the modern age of machines and the World Wide Web, I have witnessed that bringing
technology into the geography classroom can cause your lesson to be most appealing to the
millennial learner. This may work or any subject, however it is most vital in a geography lesson
since the very nature of the study of geography today involves the use of high-tech systems such
as Global information systems and Interactive Map tools 1. Unfortunately, I did not have the
means to use such technologies however during a starter for my grade 10 lesson on Population
density and distribution, I asked two learners to google search the “ Worldometer” site using my
laptop that was projected on the whiteboard. The site provided them with various population
statistics. The rapidly changing figures on the site caused excitement as I explained that the site
was live like a reality television showing the changing death and birth rates.

Speaking of which, Reality television is the one of the most popular types of entertainment today
and therefore the use of real-life situations are appealing to learners since they can identify with
reality and work from a known to unknown new content. One such successful example is when
I used the facts on the earthquake that occurred in Johannesburg on the 11 June to create a
case study when I taught a grade 10 lesson on earthquakes. The learners were thrilled and fully
interactive in the discussion as most of them had experience the tremor.

Getting learners to interact not only heightens the attention but is a great way for them to share
and learn from each other. As there is much theoretical content in Geography, I used an
interactive quiz game in which learners were divided into two groups. Each group had to draw
up five questions on the week’s earthquake content to ask the other. Not only was it interactive
but it called learners to go through their notes. In addition, the opposing team was allowed to
look up the answers in their books.

The use of the quiz show is a great use of groupwork. This can make a lesson more appealing
in that learners not only learners from each other but do not feel isolated instead supported by
their peers and more driven. This game gave students the opportunity collaborate with their peer
and explore geographical data and information thereby arriving at common conclusions and
make judgments as a group2.

The thought of figures and geographical data might be demotivating for sum learners and
making your classroom aesthetically appealing with the use of visuals, posters, maps and a large
Atlas will prove successful after all, geography is about location, place, human-environment
interaction, movement, and region. We cannot merely explain these situations but show them to
the geography learner. [489 WORDS]

1
AJ Milson, “ Technology in the geography classroom”, https://ngl.cengage.com/assets/downloads/gi_pro0000000024/t20-
t21_am_milson.pdf [Accessed 24/09/2023]
2
Unknown author, “ Support for Collaborative learning” https://geography.org.uk/ite/classroom-practice-in-geography-
2/collaborative-
learning/#:~:text=Small%20group%20work%2C%20if%20well,in%20more%20effective%20problem%2Dsolving.
[Accessed 24/09/2023]
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

Portfolio Task 2
a) Approach a high school with a diversified learner population. Ask the school
representative for information regarding the gender, race, religion, and home
language of learners. Present this information in four (4) separate graphs (any type
of graph). (40)
 Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

b) Indicate the challenges presented by the diversified learner population. (10)

Individual learners have their own learning preference. If this preference is not giving attention,
this will disadvantage the learner. The understanding of learners whose home language is not the
medium of instruction will be compromised despite them understanding the concept taught.

Each learner has their own level of existing prior knowledge based on academic and personal
experience. Teachers are challenged to bring them all to the required baseline of knowledge
before teaching a lesson.

The classroom is culturally diverse presenting teacher with the challenge of being sensitive to the
diversified cultures ensure that the lesson is not offensive and even show appreciation for and
tolerance of all cultures.

Individual needs such as those that generally work slow or longer to understand the concept and
teachers are challenged to find means to support them. In contrast there will always be those fast
 Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

learners who will finish beforehand a pose a challenge to teacher to keep them engaged for
longer.

Limited resources will always be a challenge in majority of the classrooms and

teacher need to think out of the box to aid their lessons for those learners who need extra support
in understanding a concept.

On that note many learners may have financial difficulty and be disadvantage when it comes to
tasks that they will have get their own resources. This puts pressure on the teacher to provide.

Every child is an individual with their own learning preference meaning some learners learn best
through visual aids, some prefer hands-on activities whilst other learn best through discussions
or multimedia. This poses a challenge to teacher to try and cater for as many learning
preferences in a lesson to accommodate every student.

The format of an assessment also needs to be considerate of as many learning styles as

possible.

Attending to individual needs of diverse learners can pose a big challenge in a large classroom
such as a role of 40 to 45 students.

c) Most importantly, you must now explain how you can overcome each of these
challenges (regarding classroom management, teaching, assessment and learner
behaviour) in the Geography classroom. (10)
Teacher may consult other learners that speak the same language as the child whose faces
language barrier. I would be wise for the teacher to learn simple basic words, especially
question words to simplify communication with the learner. Since Geography is all about
places and locations, the geography teacher must collect a wealth of visuals such as
posters, Charts, maps, and videos that transcend language barriers and instil learner
acceptance.
Acceptance and appreciation of cultural diversity is easy to overcome in a geography class
since places are attached to particular cultures. Teacher may use a crossword puzzle on
Ndebele Art from rural KwaZulu-Natal when teaching on rural settlements as an enrichment
and bring differentiation into their classroom,
The challenge of differentiated prior knowledge maybe overcome during an introduction
video followed by a class discussion for example A video on grade 7 content of Tectonic
plates during a grade 10 lesson on earthquakes to bring every learner to the same baseline.

Differentiation of activities can remedy the challenge of slow or advanced learners.

Teachers may use a matching table to attach solutions for urban settlement issues as an
intervention activity or write a diary page for a miner as an enrichment activity for a grade 12
lesson on Mining: Factors that affect platinum mining.

No matter how much implements differentiated activities, large classrooms may put a
damper on efforts to accommodate every child but placing learners in groups bridges the
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

gap for me as academically strong and confident learners support the others in the event of
me not being able to give individual attention. Group activities such analysing data from a
case study and arriving at a group understanding is very successful.
Limited resources is always a problem in a geography classroom in which graphics and
visuals are extremely important in teaching geographical concepts. I found networking with
teacher from other schools and on cluster groups very helpful. Many teachers shared and
gave me visuals and a speaker for my laptop.
I found that strategically placing learners in groups solved the case of those learners who
were financially challenged as they worked in groups and shared the cost of research and
printing as well as transport to local libraries.

d) Explain how the diversified learner population would influence classroom

management, teaching, assessment and learner behaviour. (10)
Teacher are challenged with the task of creating an environment in which the diversity of
students, however different they may be, will be valued and respected. A diverse classroom
calls for the teacher to be versatile and creative and implement inclusive teaching by using
different instructional strategies and multiple assessment methods so that all the learning
styles and preferences could be met. By considering all of the differences when planning, the
will implement Authentic teaching3 The teacher should have lesson plans that promote mutual
respect and instil a sense of empathy amongst the students.

The use of groupwork and working in pairs will influence learners to understand each other
as they work together. I feel that successful classroom management could be achieved via
individualized support. Even amongst large groups, Group leaders can be put in charge and
give feedback to the teacher who can implement personalized learning plans and
differentiated activities and assessments. Learners behaviour will ultimately be influence by
stronger members of the groups. Therefore it is important to strategically place top achieves
in each group to support all members. Placing students from different cultures and.
backgrounds should also be considered. This will encourage collaborations between students
of different backgrounds and. influence the learner behaviour towards a sense of unity. I feel
that a diversified learners population is very important in a geography class as the very nature
of the subject is a diversified world.

e) Indicate and explain in full the benefits that can be gained by having such a
diversified learner population. It is important to focus on how a diversified learner
population can be utilised to your benefit in the Geography classroom. (20).
One of the roles of a teacher is to mentor students and enable them to be profitable members
of society which is made up of diversified individuals. The advantage of having a diverse
learner population is that it helps the teacher provide insight into the society that their
learners will someday join. Having a diverse classroom can be likened to bring reality into the
class. It will influence learners respecting and appreciating the diversity of all of their
classmates. Having a diversified classroom can influence learners to be engaged for longer
as they have the teachers lesson delivery as well as the perspectives and experiences of
their various classmates to draw from. In the effort to embrace diversity, teachers are able to
create a dynamic and. rich learning classroom environment that will be beneficial to every
learner. One of those benefits include, enhance learner problem solving skills. The exposure

3
Study guide for TMS3713, Pg 29
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

to diverse classmates poses learners with something different thereby influencing them to
think creatively whilst viewing the topic from a different angle and ultimately producing unique
solutions. As opposed to a traditional book learning or direct instruction method where
learners sometimes cannot connect book knowledge to application, this experience of
interacting with diverse classmates prepares them for the real world. In doing so it also is
preparation for a career after school at which they will easily interact with people from all
walks of diversity and flexible to adapt to different environments and a successful future.
Coming from a South Africa whose past was once crippled by the injustices of Apartheid, the
future is all we can look forward to as we join the rest of the world in liberty. The learner
diverse geography class in its own way proves that we have overcome our sordid past in that
it displays social justice and equality for all students as they receive and education on the
same platforms with learners that are vastly different from themselves. By doing so it benefits
us with the assurance that all learners are able to access a quality education.

f) You must now indicate how you would create a climate in which learners are free
to express their own worldview and can relate their own experiences and
background which would be valued and recognised in your diversified Geography
classroom. (10)
As in every classroom environment, the geography teacher should set the bar of inclusivity
by promoting respect and appreciation of diversity with the classroom rules. It should be
written in large font and pasted up on the information wall so that the expectations are clear.
In this way learners will know that respect for the diversity of their peers is a must and that
bully or disrespect of any kind will not be tolerated and that the geography class not only
teaches about the world we live in but that people from all walks of life in the world deserve
to be respected. Once students know the boundaries of the class, they will feel safe and
known that this is the platform at which everyone is valued.

Teachers should model diversity tolerant behaviour by encouraging learners to talk openly.
The teacher should make a point of how important it is to understand and value people who
are different from themselves. Teacher should expose learners to diversified resources that
promote diverse cultures, societies and points of view with the aim of getting learners to
recognise a different world view. One way of appealing to students empathy is by making it
real to them. This can be achieved by use of narratives in case studies about Geography.
When there is a lifelike story behind the case study it becomes more than just a page of
facts invoking learners emotions and thought example the use of a case study story about a
struggling Black family on the outskirts of KwaZulu Natal when teaching a lesson on the
disadvantages in informal settlements. In this way, Learners can make a connection
between their reality and the geographical concepts being taught.
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

Portfolio Task 3
Draw your ideal Geography classroom with all the furniture, resources, media and
equipment that you would like to have (you must have at least 10 of these); and explain
how you would use each of the resources you have included in your drawing. (30).
My Ideal Geography Class

At the very front of the ideal geography class is a large whiteboard which is versatile
and. can be used for displaying notes that learners are meant to record in their books,
to project slides from the overhead projector which is connected to the teacher laptop
workstation. I addition the laptop workstation can be used during a lesson for a
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

random learners to search geographical sites such as “ Worldometer” . Soft copies

and Lesson plans are stored on this laptop. For a more hard copy approach, learners
have the advantage of referring to a large 3D globe to locate places of events or
geographical phenomena related to a lesson. Displayed next to the globe is a Theme
corner which has all the charts, displays, posters bearing large fonts with the topic of
the week to help learners put information that they have learnt into perspective and
create a basely e for the duration of a lesson. The entire classroom wall space is
adorned with large A3 posters and charts for all the CAPS topics to be covered in the
year however the majority and most relevant of the charts are found on a large
informative chart space at the rear of the classroom. Learners can get a good study of
them when the reference the large information shelf in front of it that bears magazines,
reference books, newspapers and handouts. All this is brightly lit up be the sunlight
streaming through the large windows on either side of the classroom that will ensure
learners can identify certain terrains or the opposite of terrains being referred to in the
lesson such a slopes, hills, plains or an urban or rural setting outside of the classroom.
These can all be discussed in their groups as seen by the desks and chair
arrangement. The teachers table is in the midst of the learners desks to allow for
maximum interactions between teacher and learners as well. This group arrangement
allows for maximum benefit during group and pair work. The efforts of their group and.
individual work will be displayed in the 3D corner which houses projects, Research
presentation charts and. the learners models such as a volcano or solar system. At
the back of the whiteboard is the teacher walk – in cupboard where common tasks
scripts, Equipment when not in use such as speakers and textbooks. Speaking of
equipment in use, a Smart Television at the front of the class will be used to stream
videos and television programmes off the school Wi-Fi. These broadcasts will be on
the lesson content. A hard copy map shelf is at the back of the classroom and
provides learners with topographic maps to aid the map skills lessons. And. lastly the
large map of all, no class is complete without a large metre 2D world map at the back
of the class for both the learners and teacher to refer to during a lesson.

Portfolio Task 4

Make a collage of 10 pictures that would depict the characteristics of an ideal Geography teacher.
Each picture must be accompanied by an explanation of why you think it shows an ideal Geography
teacher. (30)
[ON NEXT PAGE]
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

1. A passionate geographer:
The ideal geography must be passionate about their subject, should one not
have sufficient aids or resources, a teacher can merely inspire students by
demonstrating their love of the subject.
2. A knowledgeable geography teacher: The teacher should be
knowledgeable and well versed in their subject allowing them to not only
provide the most accurate information but to accommodate the easy flow of
their lesson.
3. An effective communicator: All the knowledge and passionate is of no
good if it cannot be communicated efficiently therefore the geography
teacher must be a successful communicator and implement diverse teaching
styles in order for the learning to take place.
4. Implement interactive teaching: Once proper communication channels are
established, the geography teacher will become able to rear interactive
learners by engaging in hands on interactive, ands on activities such as
discussions and learning games.
5. Pursue ongoing professional development: It does not stop here; the
perfect geography teacher will strive to continuous upgrade themselves.
They should aim to attend workshops, upgrade teaching qualifications or
teaching methods to stay abreast of the changing world.
6. Advocate Global awareness: Speaking of a changing world, the ideal
geography teacher will deliver content that raises Global awareness in
keeping with the changes.
7. The Technology Fundi: To keep up with the times and engage learners,
the teacher should ensure that they are technology wise and implement it in
their lessons by means of GIS, interactive tools and videos of real life
examples, podcasts and the like.
8. Inspire global awareness: The technology will expose learners to new
concepts and perspectives and thereby cause them to be critical thinkers
concerning geographical issues.
Student #: 34092048 TMS3713 Carmen Mohangi
Unique#: 599761 Assessment 5 - Portfolio Unisa 2023

9. Build a positive leaning environment: The ideal teacher will now build a
positive learning environment on the minds of their critical thinking learners.
10. Flexible teacher: If the geography teacher is able to achieve all of the
above then they will be seen as the flexible teacher who can adapt
themselves and their teaching strategies to meet the needs of their diverse
learners

I (full names): CARMEN MOHANGI

Student number:34092048 Module: TMS3713

Declare that:
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the University’s policy in this regard.
2. I declare that this assignment is my own, original work. Where I used someone else’s work,
whether a printed source, the internet, or any other source, I give the proper acknowledgement and
include a complete reference list.
3. I did not use another current or previous student’s work, submitting it as my own.
4. I did not allow and will not allow anyone to copy my work with the intention of submitting it as
his or her own work.

Signature: Date: 29/09/2023

[200]
Reference:
1. Study Guide for TMS3713, 2023, pg. 32-33