Bhekumusa Herbert Khuzwayo
Department of Mathematics and Science Education, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa
Research: A Study of Mathematics Teachers' Constraints in Changing Practices: Some Lessons From Participating Countries in the Learner's Perspective Study
Host Institution: University of Georgia
January 2005-May 2005

It's about learning to learn. "We can learn from each other," says South African professor Herbert Khuzwayo.

Khuzwayo came to the U.S. in January 2005 to study different methods of mathematical education. "My goal was two-fold," he said. "Firstly, I wanted to find time to work on this research project and the Fulbright Visiting Scholar award was the ideal opportunity to do that."

Khuzwayo's research project focuses on how educators are struggling with challenges of new curricula and pedagogies. With the Fulbright grant, Khuzwayo met many colleagues who could help him in the research and publication of his Learner's Perspective Study (LPS) and how it is changing the teaching of mathematics. The input from his colleagues at his host institution, University of Georgia, helped him compare how teachers grapple with changing curricula in mathematics.

"It is very interesting to learn about the different methods people have to do things," said Khuzwayo. "The interesting thing is to see similarity in the things we teach. In terms of the problems that we have in mathematical understanding, it is similar. And the things that South Africa emphasizes are similar to the things the United States pays a lot of attention to. America is grappling with the same problem, so we can learn from each other in that way."

"I just have this feeling that, in my field, we can learn a great deal from the U.S.," Khuzwayo said. He believes the larger community of researchers in mathematics education in the U.S. allows more discussion of the problems facing mathematics educators and more exchange of experiences between the researchers. "We have a lot to learn about the problems around the teaching and learning of mathematics, what educators have experienced and how they have attempted to solve those problems," he said.

Khuzwayo said he never thought of applying for a Fulbright grant because he did not think the program would be interested in someone from the University of Zululand-a historically disadvantaged institution. That changed, however, when a speaker from Fulbright addressed the faculty and professionals.

"Here is somebody who came to our university and said, 'You know, you need to give it a try,'" he said. "She told us that there are opportunities and then she encouraged us to go for it. So I said to myself, let me try and give it a go and things worked out for me."

While at the University of Georgia, the other professors welcomed Khuzwayo and invited him to visit and contribute to their classes. "I have met some very interesting people who have tried to involve me with what they are doing," he said.

Khuzwayo said he also had the opportunity to meet many people not affiliated with the university. He met some local Athens students and had dinner with a few people from the Lutheran Church that he attended. Many of the people whom Khzwayo met were very curious to know about life in South Africa. "Some years ago, South Africa was very much in the news so people would be very keen to know how we are doing and what democracy means for us."

Khuzwayo said he enjoyed meeting everyone and would love the opportunity to visit other U.S. campuses. "I was able to learn from my experience of being here," he said. "I always knew that participating in Fulbright would do a great deal in terms of assisting me to develop professionally, so it was a really big blast to get this opportunity."

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