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Dr. Fru Akuma

Lecturer in physical sciences education, University of Pretoria

CV

I am a professional physicist registered with the South African Institute of Physics for 5+ years.… (more)

I am a professional physicist registered with the South African Institute of Physics for 5+ years. Since 2020, I am a lecturer in the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education University of Pretoria, South Africa. In my methodology modules for pre-service physical science teachers, I discuss scientific literacy, inquiry-based science education, and scientific values, for example. These topics relate to the place of science in society. Also, my PhD thesis completed in 2017, focused on evidence-based teacher professional development linked to inquiry-based practical work in resource-constrained South African classrooms. Previously, he carried out development and training linked to low-cost science education equipment and materials for 10+ years, served as an in-service science teacher trainer for 10+ years, in addition to teaching secondary physics for 15+ years. His publications include 7 peer-reviewed journal articles.

My research currently focuses on practical work and inquiry classroom and teacher education contexts in a South Africa and internationally. Specific areas of interest include:

- Improvisation of science education equipment and materials

- Teaching practices relating to inquiry-based science education

- Teaching challenges linked to Inquiry-Based Practical Work (IBPW)

- Learning challenges associated with IBPW

- Evidence-based teacher professional development in IBPW