HED2601/ASSESSMENT 1/0/2023

ASSESSMENT 1/0/2023

History in Education in Foundation Phase

HED2601: QUIZ

Year module

Department of Early Childhood Education

This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

BARCODE
Dear Student

The purpose of HED2601 is to provide you with an understanding of how Early Childhood
Education (ECE) (which includes the foundation phase) has evolved in South Africa, with a
view to increasing your knowledge of where we have come from and where we are going
with the country’s ECE sector. The module is fully online, which means all activities and
assessments will be completed online.

This document contains Assessment 1, which comprises multiple-choice questions

(MCQs), also called a quiz. These questions are designed to help you work through the
entire study guide. You will find most of the answers in your study guide and other
recommended references as indicated in the TUT101, and it is possible to obtain full marks.
Some questions require application, and in such instances, you will not find the answers in
the study guide. MCQs make a vital contribution to students’ teaching and learning
experience in that they assess both simple knowledge and complex concepts, as well as
detailed and specific information related to the module. Another benefit is that these
questions can be answered quickly and can assess your mastery of many topics in a short
time. However, MCQs are not about guessing!

At the end of this document is a declaration form, which you must sign and upload on
Moodle as part of your quiz submission.

ASSESSMENT 1 – QUIZ

Note that the Moodle shuffling function will be TURNED ON for this assessment. This
means the order of questions will be randomised and will not be the same for every student.
Furthermore, forty questions will be loaded on Moodle, but the quiz will consist of thirty
questions. Hence, on Moodle, you might come across ten additional questions (or fewer)
that have been deliberately left out in this document. This is done in order to shuffle and
randomise the questions and as a quality assurance measure. Therefore, do not email
the lecturer thinking that the quiz on Moodle is different from the one in the study
material because that is not the case.

DUE DATE: Go to the module site and open the Assessment 1 shell to view the due
date.

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Select the correct answer for each of the questions below.

1. Read the excerpt and answer the question that follows.

Excerpt
During apartheid, impoverished families were forced to seek work wherever they could find
it; the family unit began to disintegrate along with indigenous cultural traditions.
Furthermore, fathers were absent because they were also trying to contribute to the family
economy by searching for work in distant economic hubs.

The condition of work or employment described in the passage is known as:

A. Forced migrant labour

B. Unproductive labour
C. Contract labour
D. Indentured labour

2. The De Lange Commission made the apartheid government recognise

the importance of preschool education. And this resulted in a full
three-year preschool programme being rolled out to _______

A. children of all races.

B. black children only.
C. white children only.
D. all families that wanted to enrol their children.

3. Since 1994, there have been several curriculum reforms in South Africa. Study
the table below and choose the correct combination of ‘curriculum’ and ‘year
of introduction’.

Curriculum Year of introduction

1. Revised National Curriculum Statement (RNCS) A. 2012

2. Curriculum 2005 (C2005) B. 2002

3. National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement C. 1998

(CAPS)

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A. 1A; 2B; 3C
B. 1C; 2B; 3A
C. 1B; 3C; 2A
D. None of the options is correct.

4. Before the Industrial Revolution, the care and education of young

children were mainly the responsibility of _______

A. the State.
B. religious organisations.
C. families and communities.
D. private individuals running centre-based programmes.

5. One of the following does NOT represent a feature of quality early

childhood education (ECE).

A. Age of the child

B. Teacher qualifications
C. Approaches to learning
D. Teacher-learner ratio (class size)

6. Research evidence shows that children growing up in poverty have

reduced executive functioning skills. In this context, the term
“executive functions” refers to one of the following.

A. Language and mathematical skills

B. Bodily-kinaesthetic skills
C. Skills of reasoning and comprehension
D. Planning and self-regulatory skills

7. Below are two statements, one labelled as a Statement (S) and the
other labelled as an Explanation (E)

Statement (S): In child-directed play, a child decides what and how he or

she wants to play.
Explanation (E): The teacher has no role in child-directed play.

A. S is incorrect but E is correct

B. Both S and E are correct
C. Both S and E are incorrect
D. S is correct but E is incorrect

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8. Below are two statements, one labelled as a Statement (S) and the
other labelled as an Explanation (E)

Statement (S): During teacher-guided play, the teacher sets up a game or

activity and is the leader in the game.

Explanation (E): In this instance, the children take instruction from the
teacher who has determined the goal of the activity.

A. S is incorrect but E is correct

B. Both S and E are correct
C. Both S and E are incorrect
D. S is correct but E is incorrect

9. The differences between a teacher-centred approach and a child-

centred approach include the following:

i. A teacher-centred approach sees the child as a passive receiver of

knowledge, while a child-centred approach sees the child as a co-
constructor of knowledge.

ii. A teacher-centred approach sees the child as having agency, while a child-
centred approach sees the child as dependent on the teacher and without
agency.

iii. A teacher-centred approach sees the teacher as the embodiment of

knowledge, while a child-centred approach sees the teacher as a co-
constructor of knowledge.

A. All of the options are correct

B. Only i is correct
A. Only ii is correct
B. Only iii and ii are correct

10. The discovery of gold and diamonds in the 1800s resulted in many
changes in the social and economic lives of the people of South
Africa. Below are some of those changes, EXCEPT one.

A. Massive urbanisation
B. Industrialisation
C. Migrant labour increased exponentially
D. Improved quality of life for the general population

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11. The impact of apartheid on formal education was _______

i. the introduction of a new education system that benefitted all children

irrespective of their backgrounds.

ii. the promotion of quality education for all children in South Africa.

iii. the separation of education facilities and services along racial lines.

A. Only i and ii are correct

B. Only iii is correct
C. Only i and iii are correct
D. Only iv is correct

12. Below are two statements, one labelled as a Statement (S) and the
other labelled as an Explanation (E).

Statement (S): During the apartheid era, there was a gross lack of interest
in early childhood development (ECD) and child care.

Explanation (E): the apartheid government considered the early care and
education of young children to be the role of the parent.

A. S is correct but E is incorrect

B. S is incorrect but E is correct
C. Both S and E are correct but E is not a correct explanation of S
D. Both S and E are correct and E is a correct explanation of S

13. The Industrial Revolution greatly impacted people’s economic and

social lives worldwide. Which of the following statements is
INCORRECT about the impact of the Industrial Revolution?

A. The Industrial Revolution created a demand for labour.

B. The Industrial Revolution resulted in the breaking up and separation of
families due to employment demands.
C. The Industrial Revolution resulted in child labour practices.
D. The Industrial Revolution resulted in an increased mortality rate.

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14. The Khoikhoi kept their young children close and raised them by
modelling traditional habits and practices. How did the Khoikhoi
children start working for the family economy from an early age?

i. By working as artisans
ii. By helping to herd cattle
iii. By gathering food
iv. By assisting in barter trade

A. i and iv
B. ii and iv
C. ii and iii
D. All of the options are correct.

15. The term “educare” encompasses the following:

i. A safe place for learning, nurturing environments, stimulation and holistic

development.
ii. A safe place for learning more about traditional cultures and customs.
iii. A good place to acquire essential skills children need for optimum
development.
iv. The processes of caring for young children while also providing education.

A. iv, i and iiii

B. i Only
C. i and iv
D. None of the options is correct.

16. The following are examples of parental ethno-theories regarding

parents’ ideas of what constitutes good development and education
for their children, EXCEPT one.

A. Adults generally have views on what the child is, how and why the child
develops, how to evaluate the child’s development, and what the final stage
of this development is.
B. Parents not only want their children to excel in academic work, but they also
want their children to be respectful and cooperate with adults and their
peers.
C. Parents’ level of education influences their involvement in their children’s
schooling.
D. African parents generally allow older children to take care of younger
siblings, demonstrating that parents see children as nurturing and
responsible.

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17. Maria Montessori believed in learning through the senses to develop
self-actualisation. The implication of this belief is that _______

A. children should be allowed to use real tools such as sharp knives,

hammers, nails, and glass jugs to pour juice.
B. children should be given objects that stimulate touch, smell, hearing, and
sight.
C. children should learn in an inviting environment that has child-sized
furniture.
D. most of the learning should take place inside the classroom.

18. The main focus of Piaget’s stages of development is _______

A. the influence of the child’s home background on later development.

B. the children’s stages of socio-emotional development.
C. the children’s stages of physical development.
D. the children’s stages of cognitive development.

19. In discussing how children organise information, Piaget refers to the

processes of equilibrium and disequilibrium. In light of this statement,
what is your understanding of equilibrium and disequilibrium?

i. Equilibrium refers to the child’s initial understanding of a concept.

ii. Disequilibrium refers to the child’s initial understanding of a concept.
iii. Disequilibrium refers to the child’s revised understanding of a concept in
light of new information.
iv. Equilibrium refers to the child’s revised understanding of a concept in light
of new information.

A. Only iv is correct
B. i and iii are correct
C. ii and iv are correct
D. iii and iv are correct

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20. Study the diagram below and identify the theorist who introduced the
concept that is depicted.

A. Maria Montessori
B. Jean Piaget
C. Jerome Bruner
D. Lev Vygotsky

21. Read the excerpt below and answer the question that follows.

Excerpt
The history of ECE has tended to prioritise Western perspectives while ignoring African
perspectives. However, Africa is a vast continent full of rich indigenous knowledge systems
(IKS). The IKS constitutes a form of education that includes context-specific cultural
practices, skills, attitudes and values regarding ECE embedded in diverse, contextually
based philosophies and practices (Awopegba, Oduolowu & Nsamenan, 2013).

Which transformation processes does this excerpt promote?

i. Africanisation
ii. Institutionalisation
iii. Globalisation
iv. Decolonisation

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A. i and iv are correct
B. Only iv is correct
C. iii and iv are correct
D. i and iii are correct

22. ECD in South Africa encompasses policies and services for children
of which age group?

A. Birth to nine years

B. Five to nine years
C. Birth to six years
D. Three to seven years

23. A key characteristic of a child-centred approach is _______

A. when children are no longer seen as passive but rather capable of

constructing their own knowledge.
B. when children demonstrate a growing ability to follow instructions and meet
the objectives of a given activity.
C. when children are motivated to learn because they are beginning to grasp
the value of education.
D. when the curriculum content is centred on the culture and values of the
community.

24. Below are two statements, one labelled as a Statement (S) and the
other labelled as an Explanation (E)

Statement (S): Africa lacks a written historical record of role players in ECE
who have contributed specific philosophies on how children learn, grow and
develop.

Explanation (E): Africans have always relied on the bible and other religious
texts to guide them on how to raise and educate young children.

A. S is correct but E is incorrect

B. S is incorrect but E is correct
C. Both S and E are correct but E is not a correct explanation of S
D. Both S and E are correct and E is a correct explanation of S

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25. The history of ECE is full of research evidence on the benefits of ECE,
which include _______

A. laying the foundation for future growth and learning.

B. allowing women to participate in the job market because their children are in a safe
environment that provides educational stimulation.
C. reducing school dropouts.
D. All of the options are correct.

26. Across the world, the definition of ECD is expressed differently;

however, the basic meaning of ECD is generally very similar. Which of
the following statements DOES NOT properly define ECD.

A. A child’s physical, cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional development

from the prenatal stage up to the age of eight years.
B. A framework that targets all children, including the vulnerable and
marginalised, from conception to eight years of age. All these children have
the same needs: nutrition, health, nurture, protection, stimulation, and
education.
C. The provision of support for every young child to realise his/her right to
survival, protection, care and optimal development.
D. Educational, health and social services provided to those classified as
children by the South African Schools Act of 1996.

27. Letseka (2013) described Africanisation as a renewed focus on Africa

with a view to salvaging what was stripped away as a result of our
history. Which history is Letseka referring to?

i. The history of colonisation

ii. The history of apartheid
iii. The history of humanity

A. Only ii is correct
B. Only iii is correct
C. Both i and ii are correct
D. Both ii and iii are correct

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28. Letseka (2013) describes Africanisation as a renewed focus on Africa
with a view to salvaging what was stripped away as a result of our
history. Choose the most appropriate interpretation of Letseka’s
statement.

i. There is a need to disregard Western perspectives and, in their place,

introduce African perspectives in the education system.
ii. There is a need to retain what is helpful from Western perspectives while
infusing African indigenous knowledge into the curriculum.
iii. Africanisation is about restoring the knowledge, skills, values and dignity
that African people lost after being conquered and colonised.

A. Both iii and ii are correct

B. Both ii and i are correct
C. Both i and iii are correct
D. Only ii is correct

29. Read the excerpt below and answer the question that follows.

Excerpt

A growing body of research has found that children learn best by tapping into their
natural ability to learn through play. The general view is that a play-based
approach to learning optimises academic performance and developmental
outcomes. It has further been suggested that play-based learning provides
children with skills that can set them up for success in the 21st century. However,
learners are becoming more and more sedentary as they spend increasing
amounts of time interacting with technology.

The message of this excerpt is that _______

A. technological devices increase children’s exposure to learning material.

B. excessive use of technological devices may lead to an inactive lifestyle among
children.
C. technological devices place children at a disadvantage and should be avoided.
D. some theorists value play more than technological devices.

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30. Research the meaning of ‘ethnomathematics’, then read the case study below
and answer the question that follows.

Case Study
While browsing the internet searching for teaching ideas that are culturally
sustaining, Ms Ndlovu came across an article about ethnomathematics. She did
not know what ethnomathematics was, and after reading the first article she
decided to search for more articles. She was quite intrigued by what she learned.
She later decided to incorporate ethnomathematics in her Grade 2 class.

Which curricular objective is Ms Ndlovu trying to achieve by incorporating

ethnomathematics in her Grade 2 class?

A. Curriculum transformation
B. Curriculum differentiation
C. Curriculum change
D. Curriculum implementation

TOTAL: [30]

Your lecturer

DR MZOLI MNCANCA
Email: mncanms@unisa.ac.za

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STUDENT’S DECLARATION FORM

This declaration form is COMPULSORY, and MUST be signed by the student for the
module History of Education in Foundation Phase (HED2601). Complete the student
declaration form on academic honesty (against plagiarism) and submit it together
with your quiz on Moodle.
The purpose of this declaration form is to ensure the authenticity (truth and legitimacy) of
this assessment and to confirm that actual learning took place. You must complete and sign
this declaration form. Should this form not be signed, and/or in the case of plagiarism, it
could result in the withdrawal of your assessment.

DECLARATION BY STUDENT

I, …………………………………………………………..….…….(full names of the student)

Student number: ……………..………… Module code: …………….………………

Declare that…
1. I understand what plagiarism entails and am aware of the University’s policy in this
regard.
2. I declare that this assessment is my own, original work. Where I used someone
else’s work, whether a printed source, the internet, or any other source, I provided
the proper acknowledgement and included 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.

Student’s signature …………………….……………… Date: ………………..………….….

©
UNISA 2022

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