The results of this work have shown that the use of PBL, Group learning and technological learning have helped
to significantly improve the retention and knowledge of teachers learning Physics. This then translates to better and
more knowledgeable teachers educating the learners in our public schooling system. This will greatly improve the
quality of learners who exit the high school system. This study has been limited to adult learners being taught via
distance education but it is in no way restricted to this. The methods employed will be of benefit to all educational
scenarios.
We showed that the results of the teachers increased significantly when they were allowed to work in groups as
prescribed by the PBL method. Further the use of technology helped reduce the anxiety of teachers as they had
resources on hand to attempt their prescribed work. Further the communication between the researcher and the
teachers helped improve the results since the teachers were able to query problems and resolve them once they arose
rather than waiting for the contact session by which time the problem may have been forgotten altogether.
The social problems of funding, food security and health related aspects have not been discussed in this work.
Their impact on the teacher performance may be significant however the researcher is not equipped to deal with the
psychological ramification of these. It is not possible to delve into these problems without offering some counselling
or emotional assistance.
These results do open the way for further research into the PBL method of instruction and its context with adult
learners. It definitely in this study help improve the self-directed learning of the cohorts and thus improved results
and throughput. Ultimately increased throughput is important however the tangibles of this throughput are qualified
teachers who can make a marked difference in improving standards of school education.
Technological learning and mobile learning in developing countries such as South Africa are becoming more and
more necessary especially in the increase of distance educational offerings. Meeting the need to improve education
in the country will only be possible if the current cohorts of teachers are helped to improve their qualifications.
Given the full-time nature of the employment, distance education makes educational sense.