1 Notes on contributors
Yougan Aungamuthu has taught Mathematics in the Science Foundation Programme of the Centre for Science Access at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) since 2004. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Applied Mathematics and Statistics majors) and a Master’s in Education (Higher Education). Prior to joining UKZN, he taught at various primary and secondary schools in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. His research interests include curriculum development, assessment strategies, innovative pedagogies, and experimentation with qualitative and quantitative research designs. Yougan is currently part of a team working on the KwaZulu-Natal version of the Grade 6 primary school mathematics project. The project seeks to analyse statistically the mathematical performance of teachers and students on a grade six mathematics test and to determine factors that affect teacher and student performance. Gregory H. Bass is currently the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Durban University of Technology. He has recently completed a 13 month term as its Dean. His academic teaching career began in 1989 at the then Technikon Natal (later to become the Durban University of Technology). Initially employed as a lecturer, he became head of the Department of Dental Sciences in 1996, a position he held until being appointed, on contract, as Deputy Dean of the faculty in 2008. As a first year lecturer in the years leading to democratic change in South Africa, he was quick to recognise the need for extended curriculum programmes and was instrumental in offering the first extended curriculum at Technikon Natal in 1991. This programme recognised the need to offer credit bearing subjects whilst addressing foundational academic and psychosocial support. His interest and research in extended curriculum programmes resulted in the obtaining of a Master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2008. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and an undergraduate qualification in dental technology. Rene Benecke has been in an academic role at the University of Johannesburg for the past 15 years. Her Master’s degree in Public Relations Management and years in industry as a public relations practitioner, communication manager and fundraiser have given her the relevant knowledge and experience needed to lecture public relations and communication. She is also responsible for the work integrated learning module of the diploma. Her research focuses on experiential learning in public relations with a specific interest in finding answers to improve students’ learning experiences and success as the retention of first year students and their positive learning experiences act as the foundation for the rest of their studies as well as their future careers.
The Journal of Independent Teaching and Learning - Volume 6 / 2011