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Wynchank, Sinclair, and Jill Fortuin. "Telepsychiatry in South Africa – present and future." South African Journal of Psychiatry 16, no. 1 (March 1, 2010): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v16i1.231.
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The recent progress in telepsychiatry results from advancing technology and videoconferencing as an effective alternative to classic face-to-face psychiatric interaction, in terms of both results and cost-effectiveness. The wide range of applications of telepsychiatry is outlined – in particular, emergency, forensic, prison and adolescent psychiatry. Attitudes of patients and the providers of psychiatric services are discussed, and a short account is given of the place of tele-education in psychiatric teaching. The advantages of telepsychiatry are outlined and its limitations. Lastly, the limited experience and relevance of telepsychiatry in South Africa (and hence for other developing countries) are presented. The conclusion is that telepsychiatry is well established, its successes documented, and that it should be applied in planning future public health services in South Africa.
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Friedman, Sharon. "Provisioning Western Cape Schools in South Africa with Effective Dance Educators: Posing the Challenges." Congress on Research in Dance Conference Proceedings 41, S1 (2009): 6–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s2049125500000844.
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This paper problematises the training of dance teachers in post-apartheid South Africa. The provisioning of the state primary and secondary schools that offer dance studies as part of the Learning Area, Arts and Culture, with effective teachers is crucial to the delivery of satisfactory dance education in South Africa, where the Revised National Curriculum Statement is specifically intended to meet the diverse demands of the post-apartheid arts environment. The paper proposes that the training of dance educators is further complicated due to the tensions created by the gaps between post-apartheid education philosophy and the realities of teaching, particularly in state schools in the Western Cape.
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Olawale Olaniran, Sunday, and Mncedisi Christian Maphalala. "Rethinking Technological Learning Spaces for Effective Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Institutions: A Perspective from South Africa." International Journal of Education and Practice 8, no. 4 (2020): 695–704. http://dx.doi.org/10.18488/journal.61.2020.84.695.704.
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Dorasamy, Nirmala, and Soma Pillay. "Advocating Service Learning for Developing Citizenship in University Students in South Africa." Industry and Higher Education 24, no. 4 (August 2010): 287–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000010792609736.
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An effective and efficient public sector is largely dependent on employees who accept the responsibility for providing high-quality public services. It can be argued that public management students, as future employees in the public sector, need to be educated for responsible citizenship. Higher education institutions in South Africa are expected to promote social and economic development, and service learning can serve as a catalyst for developing responsible citizenship among public management students. This article investigates how service learning, as an experiential form of learning which has its roots in community service, meets community needs, enhances teaching and learning and contributes towards responsible citizenship. The extent to which service learning in public management as a discipline has been adopted by universities of technology in South Africa is also explored. It is argued that while public management students are expected to engage in experiential learning in the public sector, community-based learning should be included as a compulsory component of experiential learning. The authors suggest that service learning can make a significant contribution to socially responsible citizenship, an important value underpinning any public servant.
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Netshakhuma, Nkholedzeni Sidney. "Analysis of South African universities and communities archives." Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication 68, no. 8/9 (November 24, 2019): 635–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/gkmc-02-2019-0015.
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Purpose The purpose of this study to investigate the relationships between South Africa (SA) universities and universities surrounding communities (USC) for preserving community histories and serve the universities’ mandate to support their local communities and support universities’ teaching and scholarship. Design/methodology/approach The study used a multiple case study approach through interviews. The population of the study comprised representatives from selected universities and their USC. Findings The findings revealed a lack of effective relationships between universities and USC to preserve communities’ histories. Hence, the communities’ archives are tools for teaching and scholarship. Relations between universities and USC are to be built on trust. Accountability and transparency are to be considered by both parties. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to selected SA universities, namely, University of Venda, Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Pretoria and SA and USC. The findings are applicable to all SA universities and USC. Practical implications The relationship between universities and USC has a practical impact on the National archives of South Africa (NARSSA) to collect communities archives because it is in conflict with the mandate of NARSSA. The National Archives’ Act 43 of 1996 obliged NARSSA to collect and preserve communities’ archives on behalf of societies. Social implications Lack of universities and USC can lead to the loss of communities histories or archives. Originality/value This paper appears to be the first to research the relationship between SA universities and USC.
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Maboe, Motlhabane Jacobus. "Comparison of Students Using Electronic Learning Website of the University of South Africa." International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments 10, no. 1 (January 2020): 24–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijvple.2020010102.
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It is almost impossible to perform academic activities, such as accessing study material or contacting lecturers and other teaching and learning processes, at an open distance learning institution without the use of computers and the internet. This article investigates and reports on the time taken by students with and without disabilities to complete certain tasks using the University of South Africa's learning management systems (LMS). The findings of the study indicate that the time taken by students with disabilities to finish tasks is much longer compared to the students without disabilities. The study established that well-developed e-learning platforms guarantee efficient and effective use by both students with and without disabilities. The study suggests that it is significant for all LMS stakeholders to be involved in the development of e-learning websites. This is to ensure that accessibility and usability of these websites are adhered to during the development of e-learning websites.
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Banda, Felix, and Dennis Banda. "Demystifying research methods: everyday experiences as socio-cultural co(n)texts for effective research methods in teaching and learning in institutions of higher learning in Africa." Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South 1, no. 1 (September 11, 2017): 60. http://dx.doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v1i1.13.
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The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how everyday knowledge can be incorporated into the classroom practices of institutions of higher learning to inform inclusive outcomes for linguistically and culturally diverse students. Using a metaphor of a marketer’s everyday interrogation of market conditions, a postgraduate guide to proposal writing and the funds of knowledge socio-cultural framework, we illustrate how forms of everyday and school knowledge can be used concurrently in the construction of socially responsive dialogic pedagogy. We argue for scholarship of teaching and learning (SOTL) in the South in which knowledge and theory generation is not a preserve of English only, but more so, of the complex interactions between English and the multiplicity of languages that students bring to the classroom. We conclude that SOTL in the South needs to be founded on the transfiguration of everyday knowledge and formal academic knowledge to facilitate the production of new and more powerful knowledge in multicultural postcolonial society. This would allow for inclusive pedagogy that caters for diversity in classrooms, and activity-based teaching and learning, networking students’ experiential, community/home and formal academic knowledge in the construction of new and powerful knowledge.
How to cite this article:
BANDA, Felix; BANDA, Dennis. Demystifying research methods: everyday experiences as socio-cultural co(n)texts for effective research methods in teaching and learning in institutions of higher learning in Africa. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 1, p. 60-77, sep. 2017. Available at: <http://sotl-south-journal.net/?journal=sotls&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=13>. Date accessed: 12 sep. 2017.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Bissoon, Sharmila, and Rajeshree Moodley. "Perceptions of dental therapy students regarding the teaching and training with dental amalgam, in a dental school in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa." South African Dental Journal 76, no. 5 (June 30, 2021): 258–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/10.17159/2519-0105/2021/v76no5a4.
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Dental amalgam has been used as a restorative material in dentistry for the past 150 years. This material has been used to restore posterior teeth throughout the world and is also used in South Africa. Dental amalgam has been the material of choice for patients presenting with large tooth decay areas, including the loss of cuspal areas. The reason for this is that dental amalgam was always considered strong and durable. Compared to alternate dental materials, this material could also withstand the significant forces associated with chewing and biting. Dental amalgam is also considered more cost-effective than alternate dental materials such as conventional glass ionomers, resin-modified glass ionomers, resin composite and ceramic restorations, making it more feasible and material of choice in lower economic countries, including South Africa.
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Gruenwald, Norbert, Anthony Staak, Stephen Bosman, Ruben Ndihokubwayo, Jeļena Zaščerinska, and Andreas Ahrens. "Incorporation of Practice Based Approach into Engineering Education at Master Level: Analysis of Needs of Teaching staff at Cape Peninsula University of Technology within PEESA III Project." Balkan Region Conference on Engineering and Business Education 1, no. 1 (October 1, 2019): 180–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/cplbu-2020-0021.
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AbstractCompany’s work, growth and development are facilitated by the synergy between employee education and working. However, fresh employees who recently graduated from higher education institutions are often mismatched to their jobs due to their imbalances between skills offered or, in other words, education, and skills needed or, in other words, practice in the world of work. For bridging the gap between graduates’ skills and company’s needs, technical universities traditionally devote much time to students’ practical training. The aim of the present paper is to analyse scientific literature on practice based approach underpinning empirical study of needs of teaching staff within PEESA III Project for incorporation of practice based approach into engineering education at master level in South Africa. The data was collected through focus group interview at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in May 2019. The findings of the present research are that university teachers’ experience in practice based approach at universities in South Africa has to be enriched. The following research question has been formulated: How to organize a teacher professional development within teacher training for effective incorporation of practice based approach into engineering education at master level in South Africa? Directions of further research are formulated.
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Molise, Habasisa Vincent. "Pathways to Mitigate Challenges of Learner Academic Performance in a Grade 10 Economics Class in South Africa." Research in Social Sciences and Technology 6, no. 1 (May 24, 2021): 83–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2021.5.
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This paper aims to explore the pathways to mitigate challenges of learner academic (LAP) performance in a Grade 10 economics class in South Africa. The challenge of poor LAP has ushered a myriad of predicaments in schools globally. These predicaments include lack of teacher inclusion in decision making, inability to work cooperatively together, and lack of professional development opportunities geared towards LAP. The study was qualitative, with 15 participants chosen through purposeful sampling from one rural school in the Thabo-Mofutsanyane education district. This paper is couched in critical emancipatory research with emphasis on the emancipation of the teachers regarding pathways they can self-develop to mitigate the challenges of LAP. The focus group discussions were used to gather information regarding pathways to mitigate the challenges of LAP in schools. The study revealed that teachers possess a very equivocal and varying experience regarding the pathways to use to mitigate the challenges of LAP. The findings suggest that for successful implementation of pathways to mitigate the challenges of LAP, schools need to invest in training teachers for team-teaching and avail the necessary resources (both human and physical) to ensure effective quality teaching and learning exist in the school. The article recommends that schools should develop policy frameworks, together with relevant stakeholders, to guide novice teachers on the strategies they can use to mitigate the challenges of LAP in their classes.
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Claudian, Aloysius, and Ailwei Solomon. "Incorporating a Cooperative Teaching and Learning Approach in Life Orientation Lesson Planning." International Journal of Educational Methodology 7, no. 3 (August 15, 2021): 373–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.12973/ijem.7.3.373.
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<p style="text-align: justify;">In the field of education, globally, teachers are recognised as important contributors in shaping learners’ interaction in a cooperative learning environment through effective lesson planning. There is a plethora of research conducted internally on lesson planning, as a critical instructional competency for good teaching and as a purposeful activity that precedes the delivery of instruction. This study aimed to explore Life Orientation teachers’ lesson planning incorporating a cooperative teaching and learning approach in secondary schools in De Aar, South Africa. The researchers adopted a mixed-methods phenomenological research design. Seven Grade 10 Life Orientation teachers were purposely selected to collect semi-structured interviews data, non-participatory observation, and document analysis. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and supported with the literature review and the theory underpinning this study. This paper suggests an enactment between teachers’ subject and pedagogical content knowledge and instructional material. Lastly, it is also evident that many teachers lack knowledge, insufficient instructional resources, and an understanding of effective lesson planning to implement a cooperative teaching approach.</p>
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Ngwakwe, Collins C. "A review of causes of school dropouts in BRICS countries: A South African case." Corporate Ownership and Control 12, no. 1 (2014): 911–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.22495/cocv12i1c9p13.
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This paper presents a review of causes of school dropout in BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This review is apposite considering that previous literatures have not closely dwelt on such a comparative stance, but given that this group of countries have some economic interest in common, that also translates to social development, it is thus pertinent to review similarities in their school dropout factors. Insight from the literature indicates that school dropout in BRICS countries is an amalgam of closely related factors that culminate to learners dropping out of school. These factors include inter alia, poverty, disability, family configuration, orphan-hood, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, lack of effective teaching method, poor academic performance, and child labour. The paper goes beyond the review and evaluates the relationship between school dropout, government education expenditure and poverty in South Africa. The result indicates that a combination of poverty and low government expenditure on education may aggravate school dropout. This thus suggests that government education expenditure should be formulated to effectively accommodate the rural poor communities
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Propst, Lisa, and Christopher C. Robinson. "Pandemic Fiction Meets Political Science: A Simulation for Teaching Restorative Justice." PS: Political Science & Politics 54, no. 2 (January 19, 2021): 340–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1049096520001626.
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ABSTRACTWe team teach an interdisciplinary political science and literature course titled “Violence and Reconciliation,” with case studies on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in South Africa and on debates about whether to develop a TRC in Northern Ireland. The course culminates in a two-week simulation in which students role play the experiences, strategies, and needs of victims, perpetrators, legal teams, government officials, and NGOs in the aftermath of a horrific event that has torn a society apart. We assessed the simulation through pre- and post-simulation writing exercises as well as observations of insights revealed by students during negotiations. We believe the simulation is an effective tool for helping students move from a scholarly engagement with the processes of restorative justice to employing them in response to hatred and violence. This article describes the simulation for use or adaptation in other courses.
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Matarirano, Obert, Onke Gqokonqana, and Abor Yeboah. "Students’ Responses to Multi-Modal Emergency Remote Learning During COVID-19 in a South African Higher Institution." Research in Social Sciences and Technology 6, no. 2 (September 15, 2021): 199–218. http://dx.doi.org/10.46303/ressat.2021.19.
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COVID-19 pandemic forced several higher education institutions (HEI) to operate remotely. Emergency remote teaching, using synchronous and asynchronous instruction, was adopted by several HEIs. The experiences of students with remote teaching and learning in certain situations are not fully understood, thus need to be explored. This study explored the experiences of students with the emergency remote teaching and learning practices adopted at a selected HEI in South Africa. A cross-sectional and self-administered survey was used to gather data from 243 conveniently sampled returning students within the Department of Accounting and Finance. Descriptive statistics were used to make sense of the collected data. The study found that students preferred a face-to-face approach to learning to remote learning. The respondents underscored insufficient data, unstable network connection, unconducive home environments and loneliness as deterrents to effective remote learning. Despite these negative experiences, students appreciated the flexibility and convenience of recorded video lectures and acknowledged the compassion and support of lecturers during remote learning. An understanding of the experiences of students during remote learning provides a basis for future teaching plans, which would improve students' learning experiences. In its current format and students living in their home environments, remote learning greatly diminishes the chances of success for most students. Lecturers need to be compassionate and considerate of student’s struggles in their plans for remote teaching and learning as well as online learning.
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Msila, Vuyisile. "Digitalization and Decolonizing Education: A Qualitative Study of University of South Africa (UNISA) Leadership." International Journal of Information and Education Technology 11, no. 11 (2021): 553–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.18178/ijiet.2021.11.11.1564.
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The COVID-19 pandemic that shook the world in 2020 forced all educational institutions to search for new ways of teaching and learning. Furthermore, education institutions such as the University of South Africa (UNISA), like all other universities, found themselves with a huge task of promoting digitalization. As a traditional distance education institution, UNISA had to refine digitalization in a time of decolonization in the Global South. This case study examined the role of educational managers in sustaining effective digitalization. Eight UNISA managers were selected and interviewed to understand how they perceived the role of digital leaders. Furthermore, the study sought to understand why it is critical that managers should be in the forefront of digitalization. The study found that at present in Africa it is critical for digitalization to be combined with decolonization. Additionally, when digitalization and decolonization are implemented simultaneously, they become vehicles for social justice and democracy. This then means that education can be a tool for liberation and achievement where the digital divide is minimized. When implemented well, education institutions become institutions with access for success. The conclusions show that a set strategy based on a new vision for a university will harness digital leadership. The participants also mentioned strategic documents at the university; on the one hand are the Five Pillars of Change whilst on the other are the Eight Dimensions of Transformation. Furthermore, the participants claimed that their institution was on the road to success whilst building UNISA as an institution “Towards the African University that builds futures.”
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Ayaya, Gladys, Tsediso Michael Makoelle, and Martyn van der Merwe. "Participatory Action Research: A Tool for Enhancing Inclusive Teaching Practices Among Teachers in South African Full-Service Schools." SAGE Open 10, no. 4 (October 2020): 215824402096357. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2158244020963576.
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Previous studies conducted on the implementation of inclusive education in South African full-service schools showed that teachers lacked knowledge and expertise in inclusive teaching practices. Furthermore, in some international studies, it is recommended that, to enhance inclusive teaching, it was necessary to involve the teaching communities concerned, using their in-depth understanding of the problem at hand, to come up with emancipatory solutions that could assist in the design of effective teaching strategies to enhance inclusive teaching. Therefore, this study investigated the role of participatory action research (PAR) in enhancing teachers’ inclusive teaching practices in full-service schools. This qualitative PAR study was conducted for 6 months by a research team comprising 12 teachers in a full-service school in the Johannesburg East District of South Africa. Data were collected through PAR stages of planning, observation, action, and reflection. To analyze data, during PAR, group interpretative meetings were held with coresearchers and, after PAR process, an inductive qualitative thematic content data analysis was done by the researcher. Among the findings from the study was that teachers’ understandings of inclusive education were varied. Their conceptions about what it meant to be an inclusive teacher in a full-service school context were also vague. However, the study has found that through PAR participation teachers were able to share and develop own understandings of these concepts. Furthermore, the study identified a need for teachers in a full-service school to be reflective, critical, and innovative about their teaching practices to cater for diverse learner needs in the classroom, which are skills necessary for enhancing inclusive teaching and learning. The study has confirmed PAR as a viable change strategy of teaching toward inclusion.
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Van Wyk, Mari, Sarique Du Preez, Janine Christian, Audrey Legodi, Minky Seromo, and Lourens Erasmus. "The Effective Use of Blended Learning Tools that Promote Success among Low Performing South African Undergraduate Students." Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice 39, no. 1 (February 21, 2018): 67–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/2010.
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A major problem in higher education in South Africa is the low success rate and high dropout rate of undergraduate students. The high dropout rate could be the result of socio-economic factors, academic shortcomings or merely the fact that the current way of teaching does not meet the needs of the 21st century student. In this literature review paper, the aim was twofold. First, existing literature was reviewed to identify research conducted on blended learning tools that can promote student success and the relationship between the research conducted and practical applications of these blended learning tools were indicated. Second, five key success factors were selected and the role of blended learning, as well as its tools, were discussed in relation to the key success factors. The result and contribution is a list of proposed blended learning tools, with suggestions on its use, to address the factors that influence students’ success by enhancing the learning process. It is recommended that further research be conducted to determine by means of a pilot approach, the extent to which the use of these blended learning tools is successful in enhancing student success.
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Ejidike, Ikechukwu Peter, and Akeem Adewale Oyelana. "Factors Influencing Effective Teaching of Chemistry: A Case Study of Some Selected High Schools in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa." International Journal of Educational Sciences 8, no. 3 (March 2015): 605–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09751122.2015.11890282.
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Sibanda, Senzeni, and Awelani M. Rambuda. "The Implementation of Formal Assessments in Intermediate Phase Mathematics at Primary Schools in South Africa." International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research 20, no. 8 (August 30, 2021): 300–320. http://dx.doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.20.8.18.
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The purpose of this research was to explore the implementation of formal assessments in intermediate phase mathematics at primary schools. The research was elicited by reports that assessment methods and procedures for tackling learners’ needs had been observed to be insufficient in South African schools. The study is grounded in Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and Vygotsky’s social constructivism. The researchers conducted document analysis of teachers’ portfolios which were purposefully selected. Nine teachers– three from each of Grades 4 to 6 were sampled. The portfolios were analysed to establish whether the implementation of the formal assessments was aligned with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement requirements. A checklist was used to determine teachers’ implementation of formal assessment. Measures of central tendency were used to analyse data. The results revealed that teachers were not developing the abilities of learners in handling complex mathematical procedures as per the requirements of the policy. This implies that learners lacked the ability to break down mathematical problems into different factors or constituent parts. Learners were given a test instead of a project or investigation. Hence teachers were not promoting cooperative learning which is advocated by the policy. Therefore, teachers should be assisted by knowledgeable colleagues and subject advisors in their adoption and use of assessment. There must be a close examination of the classroom observation tools that are currently being utilised. Classroom observation assists teachers to improve their assessment strategies. The Department of Basic Education should supply tablets to primary schools to promote social constructive interaction amongst teachers and learners to enhance effective teaching and learning.
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Nzembe, Alois. "Lecturers′ Perceptions of Leadership Traits which Promote Motivation in a South African Technical and Vocational, Education and Training (TVET) College." Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 6, no. 2 (July 26, 2017): 49–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ajis-2017-0006.
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Abstract Educator morale has been a focus of educational leaders and managers throughout the world, because without educator motivation and morale the learning and teaching in our schools would be grossly compromised. It is against this background that this research was carried out to find out lecturers’ perceptions of leadership traits which promote motivation in a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college in South Africa. The research questions which guided this research were as follows: What are lecturers′ perceptions of leadership traits which promote motivation in an educational and training institution in South Africa? How can educational leaders and management in South Africa integrate their experiences and practices with what educators believe are the main drivers of high lecturer morale? A qualitative study was used to generate data that would be useful in answering the research questions. The nature of this qualitative study required in-depth interviews with participants where qualitative data was generated and interpreted. The researcher saw it fit to use in-depth interviews because this method of data generation would enable the researcher to capture the perspectives, views and opinions of participants about leadership traits which facilitate motivation in the South African TVET College in particular and the South African education system in general. The views of the participants showed that leadership traits such as accountability, responsibility, empathy, decisiveness, assertiveness, charisma, pro-activeness, motivation and communication are the life-blood, foundation and bed-rock of effective leadership and management in the TVET College.
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Van Wyk, C., and A. M. Pelser. "Leaderships Role In Effective Implementation Of School Discipline Policies." International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER) 13, no. 4 (June 30, 2014): 833. http://dx.doi.org/10.19030/iber.v13i4.8691.
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Discipline is an important aspect of the life of any school. Learning and teaching can only take place effectively in a disciplined environment. In South Africa, discipline policies might not have been effectively implemented due to inadequate sources, lack of commitment and training of school leaders. A qualitative research design was utilized for the investigation on which this article is based. The research consisted of two phases. First, group interviews were conducted with 27 B Ed Honours students; thereafter, individual interviews were conducted with a total of six students selected by purposive sampling. The results seem to suggest that the broader school community should be taken on board to ensure effective discipline policy implementation. The correct legal sources should furthermore be employed in the process of developing school policies. School leaders need thorough training for the development and implementation of discipline policies. Several measures are suggested for the effective introduction of disciplinary policies, among others, that school leadership should play a (more) active role; specifically the principals of schools should be willing to share their knowledge on the implementation of school disciplinary policies with other members of the school leadership.
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Ngubane-Mokiwa, Sindile A., and Simon Bheki Khoza. "Using Community of Inquiry (CoI) to Facilitate the Design of a Holistic E-Learning Experience for Students with Visual Impairments." Education Sciences 11, no. 4 (March 29, 2021): 152. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci11040152.
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools provide an ideal mechanism by which students can interact closely with their lecturers in an open distance learning (ODL) context. This is especially true for students with disabilities who require access through alternative formats. This paper demonstrates teaching and learning practices in an ODL institution in South Africa, with a focus on the indispensable role of lecturers and tutors in an online learning setting. The paper employs the Community of Inquiry, which sees the effective online learning environment through three elements: cognitive, social, and teaching presence. The findings shed light on the use of vision-based approaches in course design; limited implementation of open-access policies, and the academic faculty’s lack of knowledge on how to facilitate inclusive learning. The paper concludes by presenting a proposed student-centred framework that seeks to facilitate inclusive teaching and learning towards positive and inclusive learning experiences for students. The proposed framework could be beneficial during pandemic situations.
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Saville, Adrian David, Philip Powell, Tashmia Ismail-Saville, and Morris Mthombeni. "Quali health: creating access to quality healthcare for South Africa’s excluded majority." Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies 10, no. 3 (August 4, 2020): 1–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/eemcs-10-2019-0253.
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Learning outcomes For discussion of social entrepreneurship in middle-income economies, emerging markets generally and Africa, specifically, Quali Health presents interesting questions about entrepreneurial funding, scaling and the interplay between social entrepreneurial activities and the informal sector. Case overview/synopsis South Africa’s primary health outcomes do not correspond to the country’s spending on public health, with South Africa ranking among the worst globally in the incidence of tuberculosis, HIV prevalence, infant mortality and life expectancy. In part, this poor outcome can be explained by high inequality in access to healthcare, which reflects South Africa’s grossly skewed income and wealth distributions, with the bulk of the country’s population reliant upon an underfunded, inefficient and poorly managed public health system. This substandard service for the working poor in South Africa’s townships with high population densities offered a profitable entrepreneurial opportunity to provide affordable and effective primary care with vast gains in quality and outcomes improved dignity for patients. After receiving her MBA, physician and entrepreneur Dr Nthabiseng Legoete self-funded the launch of Quali Health in 2017. The business model set out to disrupt healthcare delivery for South Africa’s poorest citizens. Drawing patients from the working poor in Diepsloot, Quali Health’s inaugural site was cash flow positive within five months when the facility hit only 30% of installed service capacity. With quick success, Dr Legoete faced the strategic question of how fast to scale and finance the expansion. She also considered a new micro-insurance product for her clientele. Complexity academic level For discussion of social entrepreneurship in middle-income economies, emerging markets generally and Africa, specifically, Quali Health presents interesting questions about entrepreneurial funding, scaling and the interplay between social entrepreneurial activities and the informal sector. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS: 3 Entrepreneurship.
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Salako, E. T., and O. A. Ojeyibi. "Teaching Social Studies from multicultural perspective: a practical approach to re-fashion African Studies for transformation." Contemporary Journal of African Studies 6, no. 1 (May 31, 2019): 96–113. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/contjas.v6i1.6.
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Currently, global education and global citizenship for social transformation addresses the issues of cordial and harmonious existence of our time. Africa is a multilingual and multicultural continent with about 3.000 ethnic groups and 2000 languages spoken; therefore, introduction of multicultural approach in teaching will ensure effective socialization and transformative education in Africa. The roots to challenge bias, prejudice and creating classroom environment that reflects the learner’s culture for national unity lies in multicultural education. Multicultural education is a system of instruction which attempts to foster cultural pluralism and acknowledges the difference between race and culture in order to promote societal change and orderliness. This work examined a multicultural educational strategy which could be used in helping students from diverse racial, cultural, ethnic and language groups to experience academic success. Multicultural Concepts Knowledge Test (r=0.82), Multicultural Concept Attitude Scale (r= 0.86) were administered on 251 junior secondary school students from five secondary schools in the south-west region of Nigeria using the simple random technique. Two null hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance. Treatment had significant main effect on students’ posttest knowledge scores in multicultural concepts (F (2,340) = 5.835; p<.05). and attitude to multicultural concepts (F (2,340) = 34.055; P<.05). The MCA shows that the cooperative learning group had higher adjusted posttest knowledge score (x =10.14; Dev. =.83) In summary, findings of this study revealed that the cooperative multicultural learning strategy is effective for teaching multicultural classrooms. Therefore, this calls for improved approaches towards teaching by educators in order to bring us closer to the goal of multicultural education
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Ivković, Sanja Kutnjak, Maria Haberfeld, Wook Kang, Robert Peacock, and Adri Sauerman. "A multi-country comparative study of the perceived police disciplinary environments." Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management 39, no. 2 (May 16, 2016): 338–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/pijpsm-10-2015-0126.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test an aspect of the theory of police integrity by exploring the perceived disciplinary threat made by police agencies in Croatia, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA. Design/methodology/approach – A police integrity survey was used to assess perceptions of the expected discipline meted out by police agencies in four countries. Samples of police officers from Croatia, South Africa, South Korea, and the USA evaluated 11 hypothetical scenarios describing various forms of police misconduct. Findings – Bi-variate analyses reveal considerable divergence of perceptions of disciplinary consequences across the four countries. The majority of the respondents in each country expected some discipline for every scenario, but dismissal was expected for very few scenarios. Multivariate models of perceptions of expected discipline show that the country effect remains strong in the majority of the scenarios even in the presence of numerous controls. Research limitations/implications – To accommodate the diversity of legal rules, answers providing disciplinary options were not identical across countries. Some of the samples are representative, while others are convenience samples. Practical implications – The results show that, controlling for societal integrity, organizational variables play a critical role in shaping the respondents’ perceptions of expected discipline. Teaching police officers official rules might be an effective tool toward attaining more accurate perceptions of expected discipline. Originality/value – Police integrity research is dominated by single-country studies; this paper provides an in-depth exploration of perceptions of expected discipline across four countries.
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Triegaardt, Dr Paul, and Jean-Pierre Hugo. "THE SUPPORTIVE ROLE OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT ON THE WORK SATISFACTION OF MALE TEACHERS IN A SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOL DISTRICT." JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 15 (April 19, 2020): 136–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.24297/jssr.v15i.8604.
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The paper focused on a specific research group (male teachers); firstly because of the shortage of male teachers in South African schools, and secondly, because male teachers are more dissatisfied in their overall work environment than female teachers. This study aimed to investigate, from an educational management perspective, the factors that influence job satisfaction amongst male teachers in schools in a sampled school district in Mpumalanga province. Throughout the study, it became apparent that male teachers are more likely to leave the South African education system than their female counterparts. A quantitative research approach was used to investigate factors affecting job satisfaction amongst male teachers distributing Likert-scale questionnaires amongst male teachers in selected schools in the district. The results of the study provide an outline of the crises that teachers in South Africa schools are facing, while the statistics and information portrayed in this study help to paint a picture of their work environment. A shortage of teachers, increasing learner enrolment and work overload are enough to create a highly stressful profession. Aspects identified as factors that affect job satisfaction amongst male teachers are the professional development of teachers, capacity building of teachers through collaboration and teamwork, effective support systems to teachers by management, workload of teachers, effective leadership of the principal, effective management of learner behaviour, positive work experiences by teachers, emotional distress of teachers and positive feelings towards teaching as a profession.
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Songca, Rushiella N., Clever Ndebele, and Munienge Mbodila. "Mitigating the Implications of Covid‐19 on the Academic Project at Walter Sisulu University in South Africa: A Proposed Framework for Emergency Remote Teaching and Learning." Journal for Students Affairs in Africa 9, no. 1 (May 31, 2021): 41–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.24085/jsaa.v9i1.1427.
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Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in South Africa, like other universities worldwide, is faced with the challenges associated with the outbreak of the Covid‑19 pandemic. The challenge has changed our day-to-day lives, including the way we interact and conduct business. In the midst of this, WSU has had to change the way learning and teaching occurs. Traditional face-to-face tuition had to be adapted by moving to the online mode of teaching and learning to both minimise the time lost in the academic project and protect staff and students from the devastating effects of the virus. This article reflects the actions taken by the University and describes its pilot-project approach to online learning and those processes it has put in place to ensure its effective implementation. While it is accepted that switching to an online mode of teaching and learning can facilitate flexibility in space and time, the reality is that the majority of students at WSU – mainly due to their geographical and socio-economic environments – experience daily challenges ranging from poor network coverage, lack of internet connectivity, lack of electricity and other socio-economic impediments that make online learning stressful or beyond their reach. In this article, we present a model that could be used by higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to Covid‑19 in the short term. The proposed model is underpinned by a framework that caters for students who are readily able to access online learning, students with intermittent access to online facilities and finally, students who cannot access online education. First, we provide a brief description of online learning, highlighting the challenges presented to teaching and learning by this approach. We argue that our context and education policies present additional problems that militate against the adoption of online strategies by most HEIs. In the final instance, we present a framework that is better suited to our context and can be used during and after the lockdown. Data were collected using online questionnaires with both structured and openended questions from both lecturers and students to determine their experiences with the testing project. Lastly, we draw conclusions based on the findings of the study.
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Rodrigues, Sherwin, Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Zeenar Salim, Sahreen Chauhan, and Naghma Rizvi. "Implementing a Teaching and Learning Enhancement Workshop at Aga Khan University: reflections on the implementation and outcomes of an Instructional Skills Workshop in the context of Pakistan." Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South 3, no. 1 (April 29, 2019): 100. http://dx.doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v3i1.78.
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The Teaching and Learning Enhancement Workshop (TLEW) is an indigenous name for the Canadian-based Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW). TLEW is a teaching development workshop aimed at enhancing faculty members’ stances towards student-centred teaching and reflective practice at the higher education level. This short paper discusses the initiation, implementation and institutionalisation of the TLEW at Aga Khan University (AKU) across entities in Asia and Africa. In total, 77 faculty members drawn from different entities of AKU participated in the workshop in 2016-2017. Empirical evidence collected from TLEW graduates through a survey and interviews suggests that the intense episode of planning, teaching and receiving peer feedback during TLEW helped participants in sensitising them to effective planning for teaching in order to engage and enrich students’ learning. Furthermore, the repertoire of pedagogical strategies has permeated graduates’ classrooms. Nevertheless, for sustainability a mechanism needs to be in place for providing faculty with institutional support and recognition for their contribution in teaching and learning. A need is advocated for TLEW to evolve as a mandatory component for all teaching staff at the university to help serve as a fundamental base for initiating and sustaining change through ongoing professional development opportunities and establishing a community of practice.
How to cite this reflective piece:
RODRIGUES, Sherwin; BHUTTA, Sadia Muzaffar; SALIM, Zeenar; CHAUHAN, Sahreen; RIZVI, Naghma. Implementing a Teaching and Learning Enhancement Workshop at Aga Khan University: reflections on the implementation and outcomes of an Instructional Skills Workshop in the context of Pakistan. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. v. 3, n. 1, p. 100-110, Apr. 2019. Available at: https://sotl-south-journal.net/?journal=sotls&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=78&path%5B%5D=42
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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Gamede, Bongani T., Oluwatoyin Ayodele Ajani, and Olufemi Sunday Afolabi. "Exploring the Adoption and Usage of Learning Management System as Alternative for Curriculum Delivery in South African Higher Education Institutions during Covid-19 Lockdown." International Journal of Higher Education 11, no. 1 (July 19, 2021): 71. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v11n1p71.
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This study adopted a discursive approach to review the use of the Learning Management System (LMS) popularly known as 'Moodle’ in most South African universities. Moodle as fondly called is one of the online tools that can be effectively used to deliver learning activities as well as online learning assessments to implement curriculum delivery without borders or disruptions during the COVID-19 lockdown across the globe. The author highlights various extant studies on the usage and adoption of LMS into teaching and learning for effective implementation in higher institutions of learning. LMS is a global online tool that has been in use for decades in various higher institutions of learning across the developed countries. It has proved to be an efficient learning platform that has impacted significantly the education sector in these developed countries, as learning experiences are provided to diverse students at their comfort zones. With the break of the COVID-19 pandemic that affects the global world, teaching and learning in most parts of the developed countries continue to be facilitated through various online approaches that include LMS in the developed countries. Unfortunately, the pandemic lockdown in many developing countries like South Africa grossly impacted the delivery of curriculum and educational activities in various learning institutions for several months. The continuous presence of COVID-19 led the South African Department of Higher Education and Training to review approaches to curriculum delivery to salvage academic activities. Thus, declared online learning as an alternative to face-to-face curriculum delivery in higher institutions. The adoption of LMS results as the best approach to engage students in full teaching and learning activities.
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Buys, Melanie, Pierre du Plessis, and Raj Mestry. "The resourcefulness of school governing bodies in fundraising: Implications for the provision of quality education." South African Journal of Education 40, no. 4 (November 30, 2020): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.15700/saje.v40n4a2042.
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With the promulgation of the South African Schools Act of 1996, public education in South Africa was decentralised and communities were made responsible for school governance. This placed the responsibility on school governing bodies (SGBs) to take all measures within their means to supplement state funding for the acquisition of adequate human and physical resources. In this article we explore various fundraising initiatives that will increase the coffers of public schools. Funds provided by donors and sponsors should allow SGBs the discretionary powers to appropriate funds that will promote effective teaching and learning in schools. The perceptions and experiences of principals and SGBs on the management of funds were investigated by means of a qualitative multiple case study. Findings reveal that SGBs have to take an entrepreneurial stance towards supplementing funds provided by the state. In addition, there are serious challenges surrounding school fees such as bad debt and fee exemptions, and this necessitates SGBs to find other sources of revenue. Thus, based on best business practice, SGBs should be given autonomy and take accountability for the management of private funding within the legal framework of the South African Schools Act.
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Omariba, Alice, Samson Rosana Ondigi, and Henry Okello Ayot. "Challenges Facing Teachers in Integrating Educational Technology into Kiswahili Teaching. A Case of Selected Secondary Schools in Kisii County, Kenya." International Journal for Innovation Education and Research 4, no. 12 (December 31, 2016): 23–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol4.iss12.42.
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has brought about profound changes in this 21st century era.ICT has changed the way people communicate and do business. In education, the role of ICT and whether or not it positively influences the learners’ attitudes to work and particularly in language (Kiswahili) has been a matter of much debate. Globally, Kiswahili is taught as a language in universities such as Harvard, Yale, Germany, Osaka-Japan, China, South Korea, South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria just to mention a few. Further, the African Union meetings recognize Kiswahili as one of the languages of communication. The use of ICT creates an environment which moves away from the traditional teacher-centered approaches that have been devoid of learner enjoyment and explorativeness which are important characteristics of effective and meaningful learning. ICT allows learners to create, collect, store, use knowledge and information; and it enables learners to connect with people and resources all over the world (Alberta Learning, 2000). The emphasis of teaching Kiswahili language in Kenya is becoming commonplace. The professional development of teachers on the use of ICT enables them develop and update themselves on the ever changing trends and techniques of integrating Educational Technology (ICT-based ) in teaching. The Ministry of Education in Kenya as in many countries in the world realized and accepted the importance of ICT in teaching. It was with this regard that New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) a pilot project was started with an aim of trying to find out the possibility of realizing the dream of integrating ICT in teaching in secondary schools. However, like any new project, there is a possibility of certain challenges such as students’ attitudes and how to impart knowledge and skills which may first need to be addressed in order to guarantee full implementation and success of the project in Kenyan secondary schools. The presenters of this paper did a study of selected secondary schools in Kisii County Kenya. The purpose of the study was to investigate the professional preparedness of the Kiswahili teachers in integrating educational technology into the teaching of the language and establish challenges teachers face while trying to integrate technology into Kiswahili instructional process. The findings have important implications for the future integration of educational technology in the teaching of Kiswahili in Kenya. Will this dream come true? The presenters will share their findings and experience.
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Zenda, Rekai. "Essential teaching methods to enhance learner academic achievement in physical sciences in rural secondary schools." Information and Learning Science 118, no. 3/4 (March 13, 2017): 170–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ils-03-2017-0014.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore teaching methods that can allow learners to be creative and proactive. The learners should be able to solve problems, make decisions, think critically, communicate ideas effectively and work efficiently. Teaching and learning are evolving and developing in many countries, with a focus concerning what is actually learned through effective teaching methods. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research was carried out, identifying effective teaching methods and exploring their roles in teaching and learning in physical sciences in selected rural secondary schools. Face-to-face interviews with physical sciences teachers, school principals and curriculum advisers were used to collect data. Findings A range of teaching methods that may be integrated into teaching and learning activities is identified. The teaching methods ensure that topics are discussed and explored through interaction and sharing of perspective, views and values through which new learning can emerge. Viewed from this perspective, there is a need to create a stimulating, enriching, challenging and focused environment for physical sciences learners through the use of multiple teaching methodologies. Research limitations/implications The improvement of science learner’s academic achievement requires also the teachers to develop new skills and ways of teaching the subject. Improving learner academic achievement in physical sciences requires an approach to improve the skills of teachers as well, which focuses on the effective use of teaching methods such as experiments. This means attempting to change the attitude of teachers to regard the processes of teaching and learning as central to their role. In addition, the achievement of learners in science could possibly solve the problem of shortages of engineers, skilled artisans, technicians, doctors and technologists for sustainable development. It is important to create conducive conditions for learning and teaching in physical sciences, and continue to progressively and within available resources, realise that collaboration, problem-solving and hands-on activities are effective teaching methods to improve learner academic achievement. Practical implications The learners should be able to solve problems, make decisions, think critically, communicate ideas effectively and work efficiently. The study is limited to the teaching methods used in physical sciences. Hands-on activities are essential in science teaching and learning. Social implications The use of collaborations, peer teachings and hands-on activities allows learners emphasise the creation of a classroom where students are engaged in essentially open-ended, student-centred and hands-on experiments. Originality/value The paper is original work, in which face-to-face interviews were carried out. Qualitative research was carried out. The paper could assist educators in the teaching of physical sciences in secondary schools using the identified methods. The results were obtained from physical sciences educators, school principals and curriculum advisors in South Africa. Poor academic achievement in rural areas is a concern, and therefore, the paper provides effective methods which can be used by educators in the teaching of physical sciences in rural areas.
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Awuzie, Bankole, and Fidelis Emuze. "Promoting sustainable development implementation in higher education." International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 18, no. 7 (November 6, 2017): 1176–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijshe-09-2016-0167.
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Purpose This study aims to review the zeal exhibited by universities in South Africa towards aligning institutional mandates of teaching, learning, research and community engagement to the sustainable development (SD) agenda. The implementation of the SD agenda across higher education institutions (HEIs) continues to draw attention from the wider society. This is because HEIs are increasingly being looked up to for leadership in this regard. However, although several studies are quick to identify various factors which have driven the adoption of sustainable practices in HEIs, the paucity of studies seeking to identify the drivers for SD implementation remains glaring. This is particularly so in developing countries like South Africa. Design/methodology/approach To confirm the exploratory data from desktop study on public university engagement with sustainability in South Africa, a single case study was conducted in the Central University of Technology (CUT). The single case study design adopted semi-structured interviews and document reviews as data collection techniques. Purposive snowballing sampling technique was strictly adhered to in the selection of interviewees. Interviewees were selected on the basis of their roles in the implementation of the CUT’s sustainability agenda. Findings Data emanating from these interviews were analysed thematically using qualitative content analysis. Although a plethora of drivers were identified, there appeared to be a consensus between most of the interviewees that the quest for cost reduction remained the most significant driver for the viable implementation of the sustainability agenda at CUT. Research limitations/implications It is expected that findings from this study would provide a platform for the development of effective implementation strategies in South African HEIs. Also, the findings contribute to filing the extant gap observed concerning implementation and drivers for engendering SD implementation in HEIs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Practical implications By highlighting the drivers for SD implementation, this study contributes to the development of a more receptive social ontology among various stakeholders in an HEI towards the agenda, particularly within the SSA context where there is low level of awareness and buy-in by these stakeholders. Originality/value This study makes an original contribution to the research base of SD in HEIs and implementation.
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Lasebikan, N., N. Iloanusi, T. Onyeka, C. Ilo, K. Nwankwo, V. Okwor, N. Chigbo, et al. "Tailoring Therapies: Improving the Outcome of Breast Cancer in a Comprehensive Cancer Center in West Africa—The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Experience." Journal of Global Oncology 4, Supplement 2 (October 1, 2018): 163s. http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/jgo.18.73100.
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Background and context: Early detection and improved treatments are associated with a reduction in breast cancer mortality and morbidity. UNTH is a leading comprehensive cancer center in Nigeria with referrals from the entire southeast and south south regions. Our goal is to offer high quality comprehensive cancer care services across the cancer care continuum from public health awareness campaigns and provision of screening services all the way to palliative care and survivorship. This is the first attempt by any institution in the country to standardize and harmonize available treatment options for breast cancer. Aim: To optimize, standardize and harmonize treatment options and management strategies for breast cancer using a multidisciplinary approach by developing guidelines adapted to our peculiar infrastructure and health system. Strategy/Tactics: The practice guideline was specifically developed for UNTH using a multidisciplinary approach and taking into consideration circumstances peculiar to UNTH, including the following: UNTH's specific patient population; UNTH's services and structure; and UNTH's clinical information. Program/Policy process: The process used recognized methods that are robust, objective, scientifically valid, consistent and adaptable to UNTH and engaged all identified multisectoral and multidisciplinary stakeholders involved in the care of patients with breast cancer. Outcomes: We reviewed substantial evidence on documented and proven strategies for community screening and prevention, less expensive and only marginally less effective diagnostic tools, locoregional and systemic therapies for the management of breast cancer. The team also recommended all patients receive psycho-oncology support through a dedicated team and through the breast cancer support group. It was agreed that palliative care be incorporated within the first 8 weeks of commencing treatment in line with the current ASCO guidelines and receive consultation from the exercise immunology unit. What was learned: Institutionalized care offers better management strategies and standardized treatment in line with best global practices of care for patients with breast cancer across the cancer care continuum which will ultimately translate to better treatment outcomes.
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Bangani, Siviwe, Dina Mokgadi Mashiyane, Mathew Moyo, Boitumelo Masilo, and Glenda Makate. "Students’ perceptions of librarians as teachers of information literacy at a large African university." Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication 69, no. 6/7 (January 8, 2020): 399–415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/gkmc-09-2019-0111.
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Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the students’ perceptions of librarians as teachers of information literacy at the North-West University in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study used a survey research method in which online questionnaires were used to gather data from students who would have attended information literacy classes. Findings Students found librarians to be effective teachers of information literacy, and they found the subject to be very useful. However, some of the surveyed students felt that a lot of the subject was presented in a short period, which could easily result in exhaustion and information overload. The use of local or vernacular languages was also indicated as an area requiring the librarians’ attention for the teachers to be more effective. Practical implications The results of this study support the assessment of librarians as teachers by students to assist them (librarians) to refine their teaching methods and to make the conduct of information literacy worthwhile for the students. Social implications The outcomes of this study may be used to advocate for more information literacy (IL) contact time with the students by librarians when negotiating with faculty. Further, these results may be used to showcase the value placed by students to IL. Originality/value This study is a welcome addition to the scant literature on the quality of teaching delivered by the librarians and the assessment mechanisms used to provide feedback on students’ learning of IL. This study is a first of its kind comparing the perceptions of librarians’ teaching abilities by postgraduate and undergraduate students.
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Van Vuuren, Nelius Jansen. "The Role Perceptions of Newly Appointed Senior School Leaders in the Western Cape, South Africa and Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates: A Comparative Case Study." International Journal of Human Resource Studies 8, no. 3 (June 18, 2018): 118. http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/ijhrs.v8i3.13293.
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The role of the senior school leader, in school leadership teams, has been intensely deliberated over the years. Professional learning and leadership approaches and experiences for newly appointed senior school leaders have been extensively linked to the role perceptions of new school leaders. The importance of appropriate recommendations for policy and practice highlight the need for complex developmental support ingenuities to support their perceived development needs. Extensive teaching experience may be the only requirement for being appointed as a senior school leader, as also suggested by the Western Cape Education system (WCED). A developing system such as the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) system, highly qualified individuals make up for a lack of experience. Both these perceptions support the notion that no further professional development is required for newly appointed school leaders, the problem addressed in this paper. This article report and compare the main findings of the perceived roles and responsibilities of newly appointed senior school leaders in the Western Cape, South Africa, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The perceived roles and responsibilities of newly appointed school leaders, suggest a unique and specialist development approach to support effective leadership. The outcomes of this study further suggest a need for contextualised, individualised training and support in their individualised roles and responsibilities. The paper, therefore, employs a mixed-method approach to gather data to understand the perceived roles and responsibilities of newly appointed senior school leaders in the Western Cape, South Africa and Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Green, Lena. "Becoming a Thinking Teacher." Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology 5, no. 3 (January 2006): 310–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/194589506787382468.
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One consequence of the transformation to democracy in South Africa was the development of a new school curriculum based on constructivist principles. The curriculum specifies a number of Critical Outcomes that have much in common with the goals of cognitive education but says little about how these are to be achieved in practice. This creates a particularly difficult situation for many teachers who, through no fault of their own, have not had opportunities to develop as thinkers themselves. The paper describes the introduction of a particular approach to “teaching thinking” (Philosophy for Children) to various groups of teachers, and reports on perceived benefits to teachers in terms of analytic thinking skills, creativity, confidence, and classroom understanding. It is argued that these benefits, however conferred, are a necessary precondition for the effective classroom implementation of any cognitive education intervention and that the proponents of cognitive education have possibly underestimated the time it takes for teachers to internalize and implement cognitive approaches.
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Kanyangale, MacDonald, and Reason Sibanda. "Recipe of Poor Performance: Case of a Misaligned Organisational Architecture of a TVET Campus." Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 10, no. 1 (January 17, 2021): 83. http://dx.doi.org/10.36941/ajis-2021-0008.
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The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the nature of the organisational architecture of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) campus according to the perspectives of students in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Twenty-two students in a TVET campus were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed to collect data. Thematic analysis was used to deduce relevant themes. The results reveal that the organisational architecture of the TVET campus had a twin strategy of active learning and assessment-led teaching that was cardinal, but inadequate for the learning needs of students, and misaligned by unsupportive systems, distant and disconnected style of management to respond to student's problems, shortage of good lecturers and lack of critical resources. Predominantly, students who had already failed in their course were active in cultivating dropout behaviour and culture among peers. The absence of workplace learning by students was a significant gap in the organisational architecture. Critical changes in management style, systems, staff, resources, student peer relations, and reinforcement of workplace learning are imperative if the organisational architecture of the TVET campus is to be re-aligned and effective as a pathway to work for the South African youths.
Received: 19 August 2020 / Accepted: 25 October 2020 / Published: 17 January 2021
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Malinga, Cynthia B., and Loyiso C. Jita. "Step children of the science department? The neglect of the Grade 8 and 9 natural sciences teachers in South African secondary schools." Educational Management Administration & Leadership 48, no. 2 (July 24, 2018): 231–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1741143218788576.
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To date, little research has been conducted on subject leadership by primary and/or junior secondary school heads of department (HODs). Unlike their senior secondary school counterparts, South African science HODs have the more complex task of leading in the multidisciplinary context of natural sciences (NS 1 ). Such leadership comes in addition to the complications of role ambiguity, limited time and authority that are inherent in the HOD position. Using interviews and 360° multi-rater by four teachers and subject meeting observations, data were transcribed and categorised into themes that describe the instructional leadership practices of three NS HODs in South Africa. This paper is part of a more comprehensive PhD study. It suggests that providing leadership for NS teaching is more complex in practice than has been reported to date. In the context of increasing focus on accountability and national testing, the unintended consequence has been the neglect of the junior secondary NS teachers by the HODs. Furthermore, the data suggest that the HODs tend to limit their attention to areas of their own specialisation. The paper concludes with a conceptual framework that provides guidance for improving instructional leadership by the HODs in such multidisciplinary contexts, especially for the junior secondary school levels. It also recommends the restructuring of the conglomerate departments to make them more effective.
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Bester, Suzanne, and Michè Conway. "Foundation phase teachers’ points of view on the viability of Response to Intervention in their school context." South African Journal of Education 41, no. 1 (February 28, 2021): 1–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.15700/saje.v41n1a2058.
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Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, the qualitative case study reported on here provided insight into the points of view of 9 foundation phase teachers on whether they believed that Response to Intervention (RtI) could be a viable approach to implement within their own school context. A semi-structured, focus group interview was conducted to explore the participants’ views regarding the viability of RtI for their school. Through exploring these teachers’ views, we aimed at initiating further research into whether RtI could potentially be a viable approach to assessment and intervention within a South African context. The findings suggest that the participants envisioned numerous challenges in the implementation of RtI within their school context. These challenges related to a lack of resources and challenges associated with the curriculum. The participants envisioned such challenges as potentially preventing the effective implementation of RtI and, therefore, decreasing its viability in their school context. The participants believed that if certain challenges, such as a lack of time and a lack of qualified teaching staff could be addressed and overcome, then an RtI approach could become viable in their school context. They believed that an effective RtI implementation could yield benefits associated with improved overall service delivery to learners and their parents. Furthermore, the participants believed that RtI could potentially result in a reduced need for financial resources to pay for referrals to learner support specialists, which they perceived as a challenge in their learner support interventions. The insights obtained from this study may be useful in guiding further research endeavours into the perceived viability of RtI in other school contexts in South Africa.
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Matarirano, Obert, Nobert Rangarirai Jere, Hlanganani Siqondile Sibanda, and Manoj Panicker. "Antecedents of Blackboard Adoption by Lecturers at a South African Higher Education Institution – Extending GETAMEL." International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) 16, no. 01 (January 12, 2021): 60. http://dx.doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i01.16821.
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Learning Management Systems (LMS) have become central to the teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions (HEI). The aim of this paper was to test the constructs of the General Extended Technology Acceptance Model for e-Learning (GETAMEL) and some selected constructs from the other Technology Acceptance Models (TAM) on adoption and use of Black-board LMS by lecturers at a selected university in South Africa. A cross sec-tional electronic survey was carried out to obtain data from 101 lecturers, who were conveniently sampled to express their perceptions on BLMS. Structural equation modelling, utilising SmartPLS3, was used to analyse the collected data. The results confirmed that behavioural intention (BI) influ-enced actual use whilst BI in turn was influenced by perceived usefulness (PU) and subjective norm (SN). Attitude was influenced by PU but had no significant effect on BI. The external factors that influenced perceived ease of use (PEOU) included perceived enjoyment (ENJOY), system self-efficacy (SE), and system anxiety (ANX) whilst PU was influenced by job relevance (JR) and PEOU. University management at the HEI under study should con-sider the determinants of SE, ENJOY and ANX if they need effective utilisation of Blackboard by the lecturers. The study findings imply that a LMS that is adopted and used is one that is considered useful, otherwise users will be reluctant to use it. The findings can assist HEIs in preparing their lecturers before implementation of any e-learning systems, such as training and technical support, thus, enhancing LMS adoption and utilisation. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on antecedents of LMS adoption and use. In addition, it establishes the applicability of GETAMEL in a South African university context.
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Human, Piet. "Learning via problem solving in mathematics education." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 28, no. 4 (September 7, 2009): 303–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v28i4.68.
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Three forms of mathematics education at school level are distinguished: direct expository teaching with an emphasis on procedures, with the expectation that learners will at some later stage make logical and functional sense of what they have learnt and practised (the prevalent form), mathematically rigorous teaching in terms of fundamental mathematical concepts, as in the so-called “modern mathematics” programmes of the sixties, teaching and learning in the context of engaging with meaningful problems and focused both on learning to become good problem solvers (teaching for problem solving) andutilising problems as vehicles for the development of mathematical knowledge andproficiency by learners (problem-centred learning), in conjunction with substantialteacher-led social interaction and mathematical discourse in classrooms.Direct expository teaching of mathematical procedures dominated in school systems after World War II, and was augmented by the “modern mathematics” movement in the period 1960-1970. The latter was experienced as a major failure, and was soon abandoned. Persistent poor outcomes of direct expository procedural teaching of mathematics for the majority of learners, as are still being experienced in South Africa, triggered a world-wide movement promoting teaching mathematics for and via problem solving in the seventies and eighties of the previous century. This movement took the form of a variety of curriculum experiments in which problem solving was the dominant classroom activity, mainly in the USA, Netherlands, France and South Africa. While initially focusing on basic arithmetic (computation with whole numbers) and elementary calculus, the problem-solving movement started to address other mathematical topics (for example, elementary statistics, algebra, differential equations) around the turn of the century. The movement also spread rapidly to other countries, including Japan, Singapore and Australia. Parallel with the problem-solving movement, over the last twenty years, mathematics educators around the world started increasingly to appreciate the role of social interaction and mathematical discourse in classrooms, and to take into consideration the infl uence of the social, socio-mathematical and mathematical norms established in classrooms. This shift away from an emphasis on individualised instruction towards classroom practices characterised by rich and focused social interaction orchestrated by the teacher, became the second element, next to problem-solving, of what is now known as the “reform agenda”. Learning and teaching by means of problem-solving in a socially-interactive classroom, with a strong demand for conceptual understanding, is radically different from traditional expository teaching. However, contrary to commonly-held misunderstandings, it requires substantial teacher involvement. It also requires teachers to assume a much higher level of responsibility for the extent and quality of learning than that which teachers tended to assume traditionally. Over the last 10 years, teaching for and via problem solving has become entrenched in the national mathematics curriculum statements of many countries, and programs have been launched to induce and support teachers to implement it. Actual implementation of the “reform agenda” in classrooms is, however, still limited. The limited implementation is ascribed to a number of factors, including the failure of assessment practices to accommodate problem solving and higher levels of understanding that may be facilitated by teaching via problem solving, lack of clarity about what teaching for and via problem solving may actually mean in practice, and limited mathematical expertise of teachers. Some leading mathematics educators (for example, Schoenfeld, Stigler and Hiebert) believe that the reform agenda specifi es classroom practices that are fundamentally foreign to culturally embedded pedagogical traditions, and hence that adoption of the reform agenda will of necessity be slow and will require more substantial professional development and support programs than those currently provided to teachers in most countries.Notwithstanding the challenges posed by implementation, the movement towards infusing mathematics education with a pronounced emphasis on problem solving both as an outcome and as a vehicle for learning seems to be unabated. Substantial work on the development of more effective means for professional development and support of teachers is currently being done.
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Lubbe, Ilse. "Educating professionals." Meditari Accountancy Research 22, no. 1 (July 14, 2014): 107–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/medar-02-2014-0031.
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Purpose – The purpose of this study is to describe the multiplicity of the role of the Accounting academic as a knowledge agent: in terms of the discovery of new knowledge and its recontextualisation into pedagogy, as well as effective teaching and learning in the field of Accounting. Design/methodology/approach – Through a literature review and the collection of qualitative data (using purposive sampling), this study describes the Accounting academic’s role as a knowledge agent, as viewed by Accounting academics and professional accountants, with the aim of providing insight into the tensions that exist in the education of professionals. Findings – The data collected in this study indicate that Accounting academics find themselves torn between their different roles: those of researcher and teacher. Accounting academics do not feel valued in their role as teachers, as at the university, more emphasis is placed and promotion is based on research, yet the Accounting profession places more value on their teaching and scholarship role. Practical implications – There is an urgent need in professional Accounting education (trapped within a multiple principal paradigm) for some fundamental re-thinking of the focal point of research, and the knowledge agency of academe, particularly within a developing economy, such as South Africa. Originality/value – The value of this paper is in its identification and description of the tensions experienced in the education of professional accountants. The university and profession are urged to value, acknowledge and reward the multiple roles of Accounting academics.
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Keevy, Zondre, and Juliet Perumal. "Promoting transformational leadership practices of retail managers." Journal of Management Development 33, no. 10 (October 7, 2014): 919–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jmd-05-2012-0057.
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Purpose – The pursuit of knowledge should be the objective of managers in the workplace, both for the purpose of empowerment and to achieve financial objectives. It is important that retail managers have a need to solidify their transformational leadership knowledge, which ultimately could increase their capacity to excel. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – A structured management development programme (MDP), consisting of a comprehensive spectrum of retail management and leadership theory and practices, was designed to develop transformational leadership by using transformational teaching and learning strategies. The sample for this study consisted of seven retail managers from a group of 20 managers, employed by Retek, the largest independent retail pharmacy group in South Africa. A focus group interview identified the dominant themes and produced a landscape to understand the retail managers’ environment, their preferred teaching methodology and benefits experienced from attending the MDP. Findings – By transforming themselves, these managers have become more empathetic leaders, armed with self-awareness and a deeper awareness of team issues. The MDP created in a shift in their attitude towards attending training programmes and subsequently, has created a more accommodating philosophy towards workplace learning. The study added to the understanding of how transformational teaching and learning lead to more effective transformational leadership and the integration of theory into practice by retail managers. The conclusion was that by embracing and practising a transformational teaching and learning ideology, the managers would be better equipped with managerial and transformational leadership abilities. Originality/value – This research provided a landscape for future management development training in terms of selection of managers to attend, relevant curriculum, teaching and learning methodology as well as benefits of this type of professional development. This initiative was the first project in which such a programme has been designed, developed and instructed in this particular organisation and encompassed a unique experience in terms of training, professional development and the change in the willingness to engage in training and acknowledgement of the value of learning.
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Wessels, Dirk. "The possibilities of a modelling perspective for school mathematics." Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie 28, no. 4 (September 7, 2009): 319–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v28i4.69.
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The findings of the international TIMSS investigations of a few years ago into the position and application of problem solving strategies in school mathematics in about 50 countries caused serious concern globally. During each survey South Africa was found to be among the poorest performers of the participating countries. The main problem was that the majority of school learners in South Africa do not have the ability to solve mathematical problems; in fact, it would appear that they lack the total spectrum of mathematical problem solving competencies. The present school system does not develop their mathematical abilities or competencies. While Outcomes-based education, which became very popular in the Western world, has the ability to improve participants’ affective values of mathematics, it proved to be inadequate in improving the quality of their mathematical performances. Mathematics teachers are unsuccessful in teaching in a manner that will make a difference with respect to the way learners do, learn or perform in mathematics. The pedagogical and mathematics content knowledge of the teachers are lacking in conceptual depth, clarity and connectedness (integration). The language proficiency of the learners is poor, which means that they do not understand what they should do with a problem and how to interpret, present and verify their findings. Learners still do not know how to handle mathematics and how to utilise mathematics in order to solve problems. They seriously lack the ability to approach problems in a meaningful and constructive way. Real-life and open-ended problems are being perceived as huge obstacles to most learners. Teachers are not trained and educated to assist their learners in bridging this gap. The teaching methodology that will make a difference in the classroom falls in the broad category of problem solving. The day-to-day teaching method should be the problem-centred teaching and learning approach. This rather complex teaching methodology requires in-depth thinking about the role of the teacher, the role of the learner, the nature of the classroom culture, the nature of the negotiation of meaning between the teacher and individuals or groups, the nature of selected problems and material, as well as the kind of integrative assessment used in the mathematics classroom. Modelling is closely related to the problem-centred teaching approach, but it also smoothly relates to bigger and longer mathematical tasks. This article gives a theoretical exposition of the scope and depth of mathematical modelling. It is possible to introduce modelling at every school phase in our educational sytem. Modelling in school mathematics seems to make the learning of mathematics more effective. The mastering of problem solving and modelling strategies has definitely changed the orientation, the competencies and performances of learners at each school level. It would appear from research that learners like the application side of mathematics and that they want to see it in action. Genuine real life problems should be selected, which is why a modelling perspective is so important for the teaching and mastering of mathematics. Modelling should be integrated into the present curriculum because learners will then get full access to involvement in the classroom, to mathematisation, to doing problems, to criticising arguments, to finding proofs, to recognising concepts and to obtaining the ability to abstract these from the realistic situation. Modelling should be given a full opportunity in mathematics teacher education so that our learners can get the full benefit of it. This will put the mathematical performances of learners in our country on a more solid base, which will make our learners more competitive at all levels in the future.
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Harris, Felicity, and CM Moll. "Impact of Quality Management Practices on the Extended Curriculum Programme at a University of Technology." International Journal for Innovation Education and Research 3, no. 2 (February 28, 2015): 143–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol3.iss2.320.
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Academic Development Programmes such as Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECP’S) at higher education institutions in South Africa were implemented and funded in 2004 by the Department of Higher Education and Training as an initiative to address low throughput rate and low graduation output. The objective of this study was to look at whether ECP’s were effective in improving throughput rates and graduation output and whether there were quality management practices in place to gauge the effectiveness of ECP’s. The ECP in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at a university of technology was used as a sample. Academic histories of the ECP and Mainstream students of the 2007 cohort were analyzed to draw comparisons graduation output of the two programmes. A questionnaire to graduates of the 2007 ECP cohort who were now in the workplace was administered and interviews were conducted with lecturers teaching on the ECP. It was found that the ECP was successful in improving graduation output and that graduates were well placed in industry. It was also found that although quality management practices were in place in the programme, it was not formalized and the results were not properly recorded.
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AL-GAILANI, SALIM. "‘Drawing aside the curtain’: natural childbirth on screen in 1950s Britain." British Journal for the History of Science 50, no. 3 (September 2017): 473–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0007087417000607.
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AbstractThis article recovers the importance of film, and its relations to other media, in communicating the philosophies and methods of ‘natural childbirth’ in the post-war period. It focuses on an educational film made in South Africa around 1950 by controversial British physician Grantly Dick-Read, who had achieved international fame with bestselling books arguing that relaxation and education, not drugs, were the keys to freeing women from pain in childbirth. But he soon came to regard the ‘vivid’ medium of film as a more effective means of disseminating the ‘truth of [his] mission’ to audiences who might never have read his books. I reconstruct the history of a film that played a vital role in teaching Dick-Read's method to both the medical profession and the first generation of Western women to express their dissatisfaction with highly drugged, hospitalized maternity care. The article explains why advocates of natural childbirth such as Dick-Read became convinced of the value of film as a tool for recruiting supporters and discrediting rivals. Along the way, it offers insight into the British medical film industry and the challenges associated with producing, distributing and screening a depiction of birth considered unusually graphic for the time.
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Clayton, Hadley S., and Mark G. Smith. "ENHANCING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN FIRST YEAR CHEMISTRY THROUGH WEB -BASED LEARNING IN AN OPEN DISTANCE UNIVERSITY CONTEXT." Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice 38, no. 1 (November 10, 2016): 74–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/1048.
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This paper reports the results of a study to assess the impact of MasteringChemistry® on student performance in chemistry. The proprietary MasteringChemistry® is a web-based tutoring application and assessment system currently used in first year chemistry modules at the University of South Africa (Unisa). This web-based programme provides supplementary work, giving students practice with instructor-assigned problems. The system is able to coach students with feedback specific to their needs and with simpler problems upon request. The application also provides the individual student with immediate and specific feedback on incorrect or partially incorrect answers. There is great potential for web-based learning in an open distance-learning environment. In particular, in subjects such as chemistry where problem-solving strategies are intrinsic to the learning process, the internet could be an effective medium for teaching and learning. The rationale for this study was to explore new teaching strategies to increase the pass rate in chemistry. A profile of the student demographic, with data gathered from registration records, is presented. Data collection on student assessment occurred through the instructor diagnostic tools in the MasteringChemistry® application or with the assistance of the Unisa Examination Administration. Here we present preliminary results that indicate that most students who regularly accessed the material achieved better examination results than those who did not. This pilot study has led to improved and innovative formative assessment practices by the academic staff in the Chemistry Department at Unisa. It further formed an interesting and challenging learning experience for staff investigating web-based approaches directed at improvement of their assessment activities.
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Steyn, Gertruida Maria, and Gunam Dolan Singh. "Managing bullying in South African secondary schools: a case study." International Journal of Educational Management 32, no. 6 (August 13, 2018): 1029–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ijem-09-2017-0248.
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Purpose The high prevalence of bullying in South African schools in recent times is a cause for serious concern. Bullying is traumatic and has a painful, corrosive and damaging impact on children, families and society. Hence, curbing the problem before it spirals out of control in secondary schools requires immediate urgent attention from all stakeholders of the school. The purpose of this paper is to report on part of the investigation done for a doctoral thesis (Singh, 2016), which looked at the factors contributing to bullying perpetration in secondary schools and on the basis of the findings, recommend a model that may be used to curb bullying in secondary schools. A qualitative research design was used to investigate the problem through an interview process with participants from secondary schools, as well as a circuit manager from the Uthungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal. The findings confirmed that the problem of bullying emanated at the level of the family, the school and the community. The paper concludes with the provision of a model to manage and curb bullying in these secondary schools. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach, in particular a case study design, was selected to give a clear understanding of participants’ views and experiences (Johnson and Christensen, 2011; Mason, 2013). The design involved a social constructivist paradigm, which was primarily concerned with meaning and understanding people’s “lived experiences” and “inner-worlds” in the context of the conditions and circumstances of their lives, which in this particular instance was bullying in secondary schools, occurring within a social context, which was the school (Johnson and Christensen, 2011). Purposeful sampling was used to identify five secondary schools in the Uthungulu district of KwaZulu-Natal where the problem of bullying was most prevalent principals at circuit and district-level meetings complained about the high incidence of bullying perpetration in their schools. Findings This paper highlights the findings in respect of the factors contributing to bullying perpetration in schools and presents a management model to curb bullying in secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Factors contributing to bullying: the findings from the empirical investigation avowed that the three key factors contributing significantly to bullying behaviour are located at the level of the family, the school and the community. First, influence at family level: “60–70 per cent of our learners come from broken homes”. An overwhelming majority of participants in all five secondary schools attributed the escalation of bullying in schools directly to the influence at the family level. Broken homes, poor upbringing, the absence of positive role models and the influence of media violence on learners have had a negative impact on the culture of discipline, teaching and learning in the classroom and the general ethos of schools. Second, influence at school level: “the foremost problem here is peer pressure”. An overwhelming number of participants identified several factors at the school level that contributed to bullying in secondary schools. Learner 3 (School A) highlighted the problem of peer pressure and the need to belong to a group as a critical factor in advancing bullying in schools. Third, influence at community level: “they come from that violent environment”. Participants explained that the absence of after-school programmes and a lack of facilities, particularly in rural communities, misdirected youngsters into engaging in other destructive vices such as forming gangs and indulging in drugs and alcohol, to keep themselves occupied. Originality/value Various studies have been conducted in South Africa to understand the phenomenon of bullying and violence in South African schools. While the current body of research highlights the problem of bullying in schools and provides some guidelines on what measures may be adopted to address the problem, the suggested methods are not effective enough, resulting in the problem continuing unabated. This study therefore suggests a model to manage and curb bullying in secondary schools in South Africa.
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Schaab, Gertrud, Serena Coetzee, Christian Stern, and Victoria Rautenbach. "Geomatics & Participation Summer School 2016 – Developing mobile mapping apps to encourage citizen participation in nature conservation." Proceedings of the ICA 1 (September 26, 2018): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/ica-proc-1-132-2018.
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<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Geospatial tools in a Web 2.0 environment can encourage citizens to engage with and influence their environment through online participation. In the field of geomatics, today’s students have to develop competencies in current technologies and learn how to adapt to continuously and rapidly changing technologies and applications. At the same time, we live in a globalized world where we increasingly deal with people from different backgrounds or have to commute to unknown places and environments for work. In this paper, we report about the experiences of students and lecturer participants from Germany and South Africa in a summer school on geomatics and participation, held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in July 2016. The starting point was to learn about nature conservation in Germany, particularly about the Rhine floodplains close to Rastatt. Mobile mapping apps were developed for this area with the aim of supporting conservation efforts. Confronting the participants with a new geographic area, a software development environment unknown to them and group work with participants from both universities has led to interesting insights beyond getting to know the partner university. From an evaluation of the summer school by participants, it was evident that the summer school succeeded in raising interest for participation in the student exchange programme and that participants expect clear guidance on the objectives of different activities. The balance between socializing and work provides a unique atmosphere for effective teaching and working, making a summer school such an enjoyable experience for students and lecturers.</p>