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

John noted that in planning the curriculum, his school was careful to look at the needs of
the school and the needs ofthe community. His school had conducted a needs survey to
establish the needs ofthe school and the community. The main focus was on the needs of
the learners. He said that it was crucial to keep the children occupied at all times
especially in a schoo11ike his where there was a problem with discipline. According to
him, no matter what subject was being planned for, the main priority was to keep the
pupils occupied. This meant looking at how 'they could use their hands', possibly
working in groups. They had to learn not to disturb other classes or 'get out ofhand'. The
focus was 'on keeping them occupied profitably'. He mentioned that there had to be
many activities that had to be planned to achieve this.
MM: What kinds of issues do you talk about in your school meetings?
John: You see we look at the needs of the children, we did conduct needs surveys and we
looked at the needs of the community and we do talk about issues that relate to the
subject as well. But basically we look at the learner himself.
MM: ...and
John: Ja, you see if you don't keep them occupied especially in our school. We've got a
discipline problem. So no matter what subject it is we must, in a meeting talk about
keeping them occupied and how can they use their hands, how they can work in
groups and not disturb and not get out of hand and the focus is on keeping them
occupied profitably.
There must be a lot of activities.
In the final interview, John no longer made reference to the need to 'keep pupils
occupied'. As extracts ofthe interview indicate, John was much more knowledgeable
about EMS and EMS teaching. In his final interview, John showed a distinct
understanding ofwhat the economic problem was about. He revealed that as a result of
working with other teachers, and engaging with the workshop material, he had developed
a better understanding of the learning outcomes.
MM: In terms of the outcomes are you more familiar with the outcomes for EMS? In
particular, Learning Outcome One?
John: Ja, you see meeting with other people and working with others and working with
material that is not in the textbooks as such, you become more familiar with the
outcomes. You know you have a better understanding, you learn the scope and depth
that you have to get into and generally most of us who attended we are fami liar with
the outcomes now. We've learned how to apply it in a classroom. In the material we
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