Dr. Pamela Zinn’s academic journey is a testament to lifelong learning and dedication.
At 76, she earned her PhD in the Faculty of Education from Nelson Mandela University on December 11, 2024.
Zinn’s doctoral thesis, titled “Achievement in Mathematics through self-directed learning facilitation: an impact evaluation of an offline technological approach,” focused on addressing South Africa’s mathematics education challenges.
She evaluated the Techno-Blended Model (TBM) developed by the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University.
This model employs offline computer hardware and software to facilitate self-directed learning, providing equal access to digital technology for economically disadvantaged learners.
Zinn’s research demonstrated that the TBM effectively enhances learners’ motivation, mathematics performance, and career aspirations, particularly in science-related fields.
Her findings suggest that implementing such innovative strategies nationwide could significantly improve mathematics education in South Africa.
Zinn’s commitment to education began unexpectedly when she married Sydney Zinn, a minister in the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Due to frequent relocations and a shortage of mathematics and science teachers, she began teaching these subjects.
At 36, Zinn pursued formal teacher training, eventually earning a Master’s degree in Computer-based Education from the University of Johannesburg.
Her passion for integrating technology into education led her to pursue a PhD focusing on computer-based learning models.
Beyond her recent achievements, Zinn is an Assistant Professor of Classics at Texas Tech University.
She specializes in Latin literature, Hellenistic philosophy, and Greco-Roman intellectual history, with a particular emphasis on Lucretius and his work “De rerum natura.”
Zinn’s scholarship explores the Roman contribution to Hellenistic philosophy, animals in antiquity, and ancient theories about the mind and senses.
She is currently working on a monograph titled Lucretius On Animals, forthcoming with Cambridge University Press.
Zinn’s dedication to education and research has been recognized through various awards and honors, including a Loeb Classical Library Foundation Fellowship and support from the American Council of Learned Societies.
Her journey underscores the importance of lifelong learning and the impact of innovative educational models in addressing systemic challenges.
