RONÉL KOCH
Passionate about people
RONÉL KOCH
Dr Ronél Koch is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of the Western Cape, where she has been based since 2013. Her research focuses on adolescent female sexuality, sexuality education, sexual decision-making, sexual consent, and Life Orientation. Since earning her PhD in 2022, she has published in DHET-accredited journals, contributed to book chapters, and presented her work at local and international conferences.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND
Dr Ronél Koch completed her schooling in Heidelberg, Western Cape, before going on to study Educational Psychology (BEdPsych) at Stellenbosch University from 2002 to 2005, graduating cum laude with an honours-level degree.
Following graduation, she spent two years teaching at various schools in London, England (2006–2007), before returning to South Africa. In 2008 she was appointed on a contract basis at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), where she taught various modules across first- to fourth-year and PGCE levels.
From 2009 to 2011 she served as a Life Orientation and English teacher at Durbanville High School, after which she resigned to pursue postgraduate studies. She registered for a Masters degree in Psychology at North-West University (NWU), graduating cum laude in 2013. Her thesis, that explored adolescent girls' sexual decision-making, laid the foundation for the research trajectory she continues to pursue today.
Following her Masters graduation in 2013, she was reappointed at UWC on a contract basis, taking responsibility for the teaching, design, and development of various modules in the Department of Educational Psychology. Her commitment to excellence in the classroom was recognised in 2018 when she received the DVC Academic Achievers Award as Excellent Emerging Lecturer in Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Education. She was permanently appointed in 2017 and obtained her PhD in Psychology of Education from the University of the Free State in 2022. Since her permanent appointment, she has published in peer-reviewed DHET-accredited journals, contributed to book chapters, and presented her research at national and international conferences. Her scholarly interests encompass adolescent female sexuality, comprehensive sexuality education, sexual decision-making, sexual consent, and Life Orientation pedagogy.
THE AIM OF MY TEACHING PORTFOLIO IS THREEFOLD
Creating an e-portfolio involves engaging in reflective practices that help to support and synthesise formal and informal learning, professional development, graduate attributes and lifelong learning (Pallitt, Strydom & Ivala, 2015).
1. Firstly I will highlight what I achieved in my practice as lecturer thus far.
2. Secondly, I will reflect on my teaching practices and illustrate how I use these reflections to move forward.
3. Thirdly, I will show how I aim to establish a context that encourages good learning.
I will regularly update this portfolio to show an awareness of WHO the students at UWC are, WHAT their learning needs are, HOW I provide them with opportunities to prepare them to be able to effectively respond to the demands of the 21st century and whether or not I succeed in doing so and if not, how I can improve my practice.
I changed my thinking and it changed my life.
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