Teacher Learning in a Community of Practice: A Case Study of ...

understandings and conceptions ofthe EMS learning area, then, teachers in this study, in
the early stages ofthe TEMS programme, were firmly located at the 'negative' end ofthe
understanding continuum (see Table 6.3 below).
In thefinal interview that took place approximately ten months later, teachers'
understandings ofthe EMS learning area had shifted significantly, as can be seen in the
transcripts below. Teachers had progressed along the 'understandings continuum' from
having very weak understandings ofthe learning area towards increasingly developed
understandings.
Extract from Beth's final interview:
MM: Tell me; are you familiar with the outcomes in EMS? Do you know what the
first learning outcome means. I'll read it to you. Learning outcome one says
that the learner will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of
the economic cycle within the context of the economic problem.
Beth: Ja, definitely. Before I didn't know what the economic problem was but now
I know. I know about the scarcity problem and the economic cycle. You see,
I've done it with my children.
MM: Do you use the document? (RNeS policy document for EMS).
Beth: Yes, I use the document. You know that you can't do without the document. ­
the document, the new one I find it much easier. Even with the children,
they just respond so well. Ja, by just having the documents in class
everyday.
Beth went on to explain how what she had learnt in the workshops also assisted her in her
personal life. She mentioned the concepts of 'needs' and 'wants', and talked ofthe need
to 'prioritise' (make choices) given that one's income was limited. The next extract (from
Beth's final interview) reflects this:
Beth: ... as far as budgeting is concerned also you are teaching them, the learners,
about needs and wants, and then it also teaches them to prioritise things,
and to say okay, I need this thing and this must come first, this is how we
prioritise things and also it applies to myself that I need to learn about
budgeting because sometimes we find that we are workers and when it
comes to budgeting, we fail to budget, or you may find that we have not
enough money, and in that way I found it very useful to me and also to my
learners as well.
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