Academic literature on the topic 'Environmental education – South Africa – Information resources'

Many organizations engage in and also endeavor to report their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to placate the key stakeholders in society. This study is a cross-country analysis of CSR themes communicated by the eight top telecommunications companies in Africa using websites as a disclosure medium. The study evaluates CSR reportage in community involvement, ethical involvement, product and customer, human resource and environmental engagement in South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya. The work concludes that the telecommunications companies in Africa sampled in the study are committed to and report their CSR activities. However, significant differences do exist in how the various companies reported on their CSR. The South African firms clearly lead in reporting CSR in most of the constructs investigated. However, the sampled firms all reported their contributions to education and community engagement. The work makes significant contributions to CSR reportage, especially in the area of cross-country analysis of CSR themes.

A community intervention trial was undertaken in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa to evaluate the effectiveness of a high school drama-in-education programme. Seven pairs of secondary schools were randomized to receive either written information about HIV/AIDS or the drama programme. Questionnaire surveys of knowledge, attitude and behaviour were compared before and 6 months after the interventions. One thousand and eighty students participated in the first survey and 699 in the second. Improvements in knowledge ( P=0.0002) and attitudes ( P<0.00001) about HIV/AIDS were demonstrated in pupils at schools receiving the drama programme when compared to pupils receiving written information alone. These changes were independent of age, gender, school or previous sexual experience. In schools receiving the drama programme, sexually active pupils reported an increase in condom use ( P<0.01). It is important to provide resources to sustain such programmes and to obtain stronger evidence of effect on behaviour by measuring changes in HIV incidence.

PurposeThis study explores how menstruation is perceived, experienced and navigated by school-going adolescent girls living in low-to-middle income settings in South Africa. Existing research from developing countries suggest that the onset of menstruation has implications for school attendance and academic performance. There is evidence that menstrual cycle–related symptoms (primarily physical) lead to difficulties in, or interference with, and disengagement from school, social relations, and physical activities (van Iersel et al., 2016; Steiner et al., 2011; Kiesner and Pastore, 2010; Taras, 2005). The onset of menstruation can be shame-inducing and has been associated with anxiety and confusion. Few studies have been conducted on menstruation in countries with a history of sectarian violence and characterised by substantial socio-economic disparities and high levels of gender-based violence. Understanding the experiences of girls in these contexts is important in generating contextually-grounded knowledge and appropriate interventions.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used to collect data from 48 adolescent girls aged 13–16 year-old. A total of six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire among a purposive sampling method. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Written parental consent was obtained for participants under 18 years old.FindingsThe findings illustrated complex psychological experiences in response to menarche and menstruation. Experiences of shame in relation to menstruation were aggravated by unsupportive responses from school teachers. Challenges such as scarcity of sanitary products were experienced as creating a barrier for girls' school attendance.Research limitations/implicationsExisting research from developing countries suggests that the onset of menstruation has implications for school attendance and academic performance. The research data includes the views of adolescent learners and their negative reactions and positive experiences towards menstruation within the school environment.Practical implicationsGiven the comparative paucity of research emerging from developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, this paper addresses an important gap in the literature by providing contextually-nuanced information about the menstrual experiences of adolescent girls. The study can further provide information for efforts made by the Department of Education and Department of Health regarding the impact of menstruation on adolescent girls' school attendance.Social implicationsThis study provides important insights regarding the experiences of South African school girls in relation to menstruation. Although dominant feelings of shame, confusion and disgust may surround menstruation, the study also highlighted potential positive experiences associated with menstruation. Teachers and school administrators need to be oriented towards the needs of adolescent girls if issues regarding poor school attendance are to be addressed.Originality/valueTo reduce absenteeism in schools and ensure learners are provided with improved allocation of sanitary products in schools, there is a need for the advocacy regarding sexuality education and resources to promote the psychological health of adolescent girls.

BackgroundTuberculosis infection prevention and control (TB-IPC) measures are consistently reported to be poorly implemented globally. TB-IPC guidelines provide limited recognition of the complexities of implementing TB-IPC within routine health systems, particularly those facing substantive resource constraints. This scoping review maps documented system influences on TB-IPC implementation in health facilities of low/middle-income countries (LMICs).MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of empirical research published before July 2018 and included studies reporting TB-IPC implementation at health facility level in LMICs. Bibliometric data and narratives describing health system influences on TB-IPC implementation were extracted following established methodological frameworks for conducting scoping reviews. A best-fit framework synthesis was applied in which extracted data were deductively coded against an existing health policy and systems research framework, distinguishing between social and political context, policy decisions, and system hardware (eg, information systems, human resources, service infrastructure) and software (ideas and interests, relationships and power, values and norms).ResultsOf 1156 unique search results, we retained 77 studies; two-thirds were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than half located in South Africa. Notable sociopolitical and policy influences impacting on TB-IPC implementation include stigma against TB and the availability of facility-specific TB-IPC policies, respectively. Hardware influences on TB-IPC implementation referred to availability, knowledge and educational development of staff, timeliness of service delivery, availability of equipment, such as respirators and masks, space for patient separation, funding, and TB-IPC information, education and communication materials and tools. Commonly reported health system software influences were workplace values and established practices, staff agency, TB risk perceptions and fears as well as staff attitudes towards TB-IPC.ConclusionTB-IPC is critically dependent on health system factors. This review identified the health system factors and health system research gaps that can be considered in a whole system approach to strengthen TB-IPC practices at facility levels in LMICs.

South Africa’s exceptionally rich and diverse flora faces challenges in terms of utilisation, management and conservation; these actions are underpinned by taxonomic research. The principal purpose of this review is to determine whether South Africa has the human capacity and resources to conduct taxonomic research that is required to support end-users of plant taxonomic information, and to identify shortages of capacity or resources that might prove to be an obstacle for plant taxonomic research. From an analysis of the existing gaps in taxonomic information, current research trends, and resources, it is apparent that there is a critical shortage of human capacity in South Africa to conduct plant taxonomic research for the benefit of biodiversity and society. Training institutions need to ensure the supply of suitably trained graduates including concentrating on those who meet Employment Equity targets. The need for more taxonomists is clearly justified, but may not be a priority in a country that already has such shortages of capacity in education and social services. Aside from lobbying for more jobs to be created, there is an urgent need to utilise available resources (human and other) effectively, and to implement a strategy for taxonomic research to ensure that priority activities are conducted.

In South Africa the ultimate goal in water quality management is to keep the water resources suitable for all “beneficial uses”. Beneficial uses provides a basis for the derivation of water quality guidelines, which, for South Africa, are defined in Water quality guidelines for the South African coastal zone (DWAF, 1991). The CSIR has developed a practical approach to marine water quality management, taking into account international trends and local experience, which can be applied to any coastal development with potential influence on water quality. The management plan is divided into three logical components, i.e. • site-specific statutory requirements and environmental objectives; • system design with specific reference to influences on water quality; and • monitoring programmes. Within this management approach water quality issues are addressed in a holistic manner, through focused procedures and clear identification of information requirements. This paper describes the procedures and information requirements within each component of the water quality management plan, with specific reference to marine disposal systems. Ideally, the management plan should be implemented from the feasibility and conceptual design phase of a development and the timing of the different procedures within the development process are therefore also highlighted. However, the logical lay-out of procedures allows for easy initiation (even to existing disposal system) at any stage of development.

South Africa is facing severe water supply and water quality problems as a result of its limited water resources and other complicating factors. Adequately educated and trained water practitioners are needed to address these problems to ensure economic prosperity and a reasonable standard of living for all South Africans. Training and education needs are analysed in this paper and available programmes and initiatives to deliver the water practitioners needed are discussed. The main areas where training and education is needed include education at community level to educate local water committee members and community support personnel; training of technical staff to operate and maintain water treatment and supply schemes; and education of high-level scientists and engineers to develop new technologies, to improve performance, design and management of processes, plant and projects.

As part of the campaign to protect the Republic of South Africa's limited water resources, legislation has been drawn up stipulating the number and calibre of operators to be employed on a water care works. The registration and classification of both works and their operators will provide essential information for the refining and expansion of present training provisions. Four new courses in water and wastewater treatment have been approved for inclusion in the National Technical Certificate system. A preliminary training strategy is outlined and some anticipated improvements and modifications to be made in the years ahead are given.

The benefits of the application of ICT tools in the education of high school learners have been well-established in various studies. As developments in technology have increased the reach of electronic information resources and enhanced learners’ access to educational information, it is imperative that these tools be available and accessible without any hindrances whatsoever to high school learners. This study was set out to evaluate the state of ICT infrastructure available to high school learners for the advancement of access to educational information while accentuating the efforts by the South African government to promote computer access in schools. This study underscores the importance of ICT tools for high school learners in ensuring quality educational outcome. A triangulated design was adopted to collect both qualitative and quantitative data on the condition of ICT-enabled access to educational information from Grade 12 learners and teachers in the Fort Beaufort Education District, Eastern Cape South Africa. Results show that learners’ access to educational information is constrained by inadequate provision of ICT infrastructure, restricted access to ICT tools, regulations for use of personal ICT tools and absence of information literacy for high school learners. The study, therefore, recommends the improved and dedicated provision of ICT resources, ICT-enabled educational information literacy program and flexibility of rules regarding the use of personal ICT tools at school.

A university curriculum re-design process provides a promising opportunity for the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Library to become an active academic partner as it modifies its contribution to enhance teaching, learning and research in the twenty-first century information environment. This article provides a conceptual framework for the library to engage in the General Education Module (GEM) for first-year undergraduate students. The GEM at DUT emanated from a curriculum renewal strategy to enhance student-centred learning across all six faculties of the university. The GEM is underpinned by a humanistic educational university strategy. Constructivist theory underpins the compulsory credit-bearing information literacy (IL) programme in the GEM at DUT. The article shows how an academic library can become a cohesive instructional partner in contributing to academic success. The library, in addition to its traditional role as the gatekeeper of learning resources and information provision, offers an integrated credit bearing IL programme in the GEM. This also constitutes a paradigm shift for instructional design at DUT.

This narrative study reviews the development of Share-Net, an informal resource materials network, located within the developing environmental education activities of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. Historical shaping factors within the Society are discussed and changing views on conservation, environmental education and research are described. Rather than the research process being a utilitarian and outside endeavour for clarifying and monitoring, the research orientation of this study is one of grounded activity within and integrally part of processes of change. Within a developing story of resource materials and workshops, themes are traced and emergent tensions are critically reviewed. Teacher workshops from 1981 until 1995 are analysed and developing orientations are described. Within this review changes are evident from an orientation of 'us' informing 'them' to joint, collaborative endeavours within the development and use of resource materials. The study reviews and illuminates the Share-Net project around questions of project orientation and management and this is done through the narration of case studies. Principles and patterns emerging within these are examined to guide future resource development projects. Popularist notions of networking and structural functionalist notions of social change are also examined. Grand, modernist strategies designed to cause change in others are questioned and the role of small-scale nodes of resource material activity cooperating within an open network are clarified as useful alternatives. Local resourcing centres such as these have proved useful in supporting teachers in the development, use and adaptation of resource materials. The study also examines income and expenditure of the Share-Net project since 1988 to review economic sustainability. A case is made for sustaining the project conceptually and financially through the sales of products and services rather than through external donor sources. Finally the study raises questions and challenges within the project and proposes guiding frameworks for future review, in action, as the story continues.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Institutions for tertiary education are now more than ever realising the advantages of supplying the growing population with more effective and flexible learning environments through the integration of technology based media. Educational institutions are faced with the challenge of embracing technological changes within the educational domain in order to maintain their competitive position within a global arena. The University of Stellenbosch, as many other tertiary educational institutions, are challenged to view them as being part of an integrated knowledge society responsible for the reproduction of knowledge as a national and global commodity. The recent acceptance of an explicit strategy concerning educational processes and the creation of an Electronic Campus ensured that the University of Stellenbosch would maintain their strategic position through the development and improvement of the quality of the central education, research and community service functions within the university. The purpose of the research conducted within the boundaries of the University of Stellenbosch were to enhance and improve the quality of the learning and information sharing processes between various role players through the exploration of available communication media and the examination of relevant concepts. The specific objectives of the study comprise the following: ■ Objective One: Through the use of alternative subjective and objective test methods, including observation and the use of a questionnaire to conduct an empirical study to evaluate the usability of the various asynchronous computer based communication media, with specific focus on course management systems, and video streaming; ■ Objective Two: Make recommendations based on the findings of the study to potential users of the alternative media and applications in terms of the limitations and benefits; ■ Objective Three: To use the findings, together with an examination of the user needs and applicable concepts, to make recommendations to assist in future decisions regarding the value of the integration of these media into the creation of a high value interactive virtual learning environment; ■ Objective Four: Given the findings, to make recommendations for future research. Empirical tests were conducted in order to examine the usability of WebCT and Microsoft Producer as it was anticipated that the degree to which the communication media adds value and enhances the education and information sharing process will be influenced by the usability of the specified media and the role players' perceived need for the specific media. Empirical test were descriptive in nature and included survey research methods and usability laboratory tests In summary, the data obtained shows that the sample population holds favourable attitudes with regard to the usability of both Microsoft Producer and WebCT. WebCT and Microsoft Producer holds the potential for enhancing and improving the quality of the learning and information sharing processes between role-players within the University of Stellenbosch by providing a useful, reliable, easy to use, consistent, compatible, learnable and likeable system. The integration of WebCT and Microsoft Producer in the context of the University of Stellenbosch will enable role-players to complete their educational and research activities with accuracy in a timely competent and economical fashion.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Instellings vir tersiere opvoeding is nou meer as ooit bewus van die onmiskenbare voordele verbonde aan die beskikbaarstelling van meer effektiewe en buigsame leer omgewings aan ‘n groeiende studente getalle deur die integrasie van tegnologie gebasseerde media. Opvoedkundige instellings word toenemend uitgedaag om die geleenthede wat die tegnologiese veranderinge in die opvoedings domein vergesel aan te gryp. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch word, soos vele ander tersiere instellings, uitgedaag om hulself te beskou as deel van ‘n geintegreerde kennis gemeenskap, verantwoordelik vir die reproduksie van kennis as ‘n nasionale en globale kommoditeit. Die onlangse aanvaarding van 'n eksplisiete strategie aangaande opvoedkundige prosesse en die ontwikkeling van ‘n elektroniese kampus het verseker dat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch sy strategiese posisie behou deur die ontwikkeling en verbetering van die kwaliteit van die sentrale opvoedings, navorsings, en gemeenskapsdiens funksies binne die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die doel van die navorsing wat binne die grense van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch uitgevoer is was om die kwaliteit van die opvoedings- en informasiedelings prosesse tussen verskeie rolspelers te verbeter deur die verkenning van beskikbare kommunikasie media en relevante konsepte. Die spesifieke doelwitte van die studie kan as volg uiteengesit word: ■ Doelwit Een: Om deur die gebruik van alternatiewe subjektiewe en objektiewe toets metodes, insluitende observasie en die gebruik van ‘n vraelys, ‘n empiriese studie uit te voer met die oog op die evaluasie van die bruikbaarheid van verskeie asinkrone rekenaar gebasseerde kommunikasie media, met spesifieke fokus op kursusbestuurstelsels en videostroomingstelsels; ■ Doelwit Twee: Om aanbevelings te maak gebasseer op die bevindinge van die studie aan potensiele gebruikers rakende die alternatiewe media en hul gebruike in terme van tekortkominge en voordele; ■ Doelwit Drie: Om die bevindinge te gebruik in samewerking met 'n evaluasie van die gebruikers se behoeftes en toepaslike konsepte, ten einde aanbevelings te maak wat toekomstige besluitneming sal dryf aangaande die waarde van die integrasie van die bogenoemde media in die ontwikkeling van ‘n hoe waarde interaktiewe skynwerklike leer omgewing; ■ Doelwit Vier: Gegewe die bevindinge om aanbevelings te maak vir toekomstige navorsing. Empiriese toetse is toegepas ten einde die bruikbaarheid van WebCT en Microsoft Producer te bepaal, aangesien daar verwag is dat die graad waartoe die kommunikasie media waarde sal toevoeg tot die opvoedkundige en informasie delings proses, beinvloed sal word deur die bruikbaarheid van die gespesifiseerde media asook die rolspelers se behoefte vir die spesifieke media. Die empiriese toetse kan as beskrywend geklasifiseer word en behels die gebruik van opnames en bruikbaarheids laboratorium toetse. Die data toon aan dat die rolspelers se houding teenoor die bruikbaarheid van Microsoft Producer en WebCT uiters positief is. WebCT en Microsoft Producer die het die potensiaal om die kwaliteit van opvoeding en informasie deling tussen rolspelers binne die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te kan verbeter deur die beskikbaarstelling van ‘n bruikbare, betroubare, gebruikers vriendelike, konsekwente, verenigbare, leerbare en aangename stelsel. Die integrasie van WebCT en Microsoft Producer in die konteks van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch sal rol-spelers instaat stel om hul navorsings en opleidings aktiwiteite met akkuraatheid en bevoegdheid te voltooi.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the information age evolves, society is undergoing changes based on developments in technology that have tremendous implications for the educational systems. Institutions of tertiary education are increasingly facing the pressures of globalisation. Associated with this is the knowledge society that demands experience with technology, different skills and a different learning experience (US, 2001). Furthermore, new information and communication technologies have demonstrated the potential to transform the way that knowledge is packaged, delivered, accessed and acquired, thereby altering higher educations' core production and delivery processes. Institutions of tertiary education that want to remain competitive, both locally and internationally, should, therefore, act proactively to facilitate the successful and innovative integration of relevant technologies into currently established practice and procedures. The University of Stellenbosch (US) recognises the importance of staying abreast with these global and local changes. The Virtual Information Space (VIS) project for optimal information sharing is a research initiative that developed as a direct response to the need for an inquiry into the functionality of alternative synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication media (CMC), to be provided as part of the technological infrastructure of the US for enhanced information sharing and communication. The VIS project provides the framework within which this study was conducted. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory study through the use of empirical research and prototyping, by quantification of the usability of synchronous CMC media, for application in the South-African on and off-campus tertiary education environment (focused at post graduate level), in order to enhance information sharing between inter alia, information service suppliers, lecturers, students and researchers at the US. It was anticipated, however, that the degree to which the synchronous CMC media add value to the learning and information sharing processes within the VIS, will be influenced by the usability of the software applications within which the media are embedded, the perceived need of the role-players for the media, as well as the feasibility and viability of the systems when employed within the technological infrastructure of the US. These elements were, therefore, empirically investigated by conducting several usability experiments in a setting which simulated a usability laboratory, in order to acquire the necessary subjective and objective data, related to the identified goals and objectives that encapsulate the aim of this study. In order to demonstrate the value of the VIS environment, a theoretical perspective is provided by means of a literature review of the fundamental concepts of communities of practice and flexible learning. It is proposed that the use of the synchronous CMC media (embedded within the software applications) will assist in the creation of a VIS that supports the more advanced educational paradigm of constructivism by linking users into collaborative conversational networks, thus forming learning communities (better known as communities of practice) in cyberspace. The purpose of these communities is to create a means through which ideas and materials can be shared and exchanged, aiding individuals in building their own conceptual networks of interrelated ideas, strategies and theories and therefore construct and share knowledge. Information was obtained concerning participants' characteristics, preferences, needs and evaluation of the usability of the two software applications, NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger, when utilised within the technological infrastructure of the US for the purpose of increased information sharing and communication. Performance measurement data (related to selected usability criteria) was obtained during the experimental phase, as well as information about the feasibility and viability of the systems when utilised within the technological parameters of the US. The analysis of the information consisted of descriptive statistics as the research aimed to illustrate the attitudes concerning usability, the perceived needs for the software applications, as well as the feasibility and viability of the systems. The results revealed that both NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger were perceived by the participants as usable, achieving a positive rating on almost all of the dimensions of usability it was tested on. In the case on NetMeeting, technological limitations imposed on the system (such as bandwidth and network traffic) severely limited the effectiveness of the system as a whole and require further investigation to ensure successful implementation. Technological limitations in the case of Yahoo Messenger mainly centered on the unstable server environment that the system functions within. Hence, further research is therefore needed to ensure successful implementation and utilisation of NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger within the technological parameters faced by the US.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Soos wat die informasie-era ontplooi, is die samelewing besig om ingrypend te verander. Die dramatiese impak van die tegnologiese revolusie op die hoër onderwyssektor dwarsoor die wêreld hou dus aansienlike implikasies in vir tersiêre onderwysinstellings. Hierdie instellings is toenemend onderhewig aan die druk van globalisering en die kennis-samelewing wat al hoe meer vereistes stel in terme van ondervinding met tegnologie, verskillende vaardighede wat vereis word en 'n veranderende leer ervaring. Nuwe informasie- en kommunikasietegnologieë beskik oor die potensiaal om die maniere waarop informasie herwin, verwerk en gestoor word, te transformeer. Dit impliseer noodwendig 'n wysiging in die kern informasie produksie en -aflewerings prosesse van tersiêre onderwysinstellings. Sulke instellings word dus genoop om daadwerklik en pro-aktief op te tree ten opsigte van die suksesvolle en innoverende integrasie van relevante tegnologieë by bestaande prosedures, ten einde internasionale en nasionale mededingendheid te verseker. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US) erken the belangrikheid daarvan om op hoogte te bly met verandering. Die Virtuele Informasie Spasie (VIS) projek vir optimale informasiedeling is 'n navorsingsinisiatief wat ontwikkel het vanuit 'n behoefte vir 'n ondersoek na die funksionaliteit van die verskillende sinkrone en asinkrone rekenaargebasseerde kommunikasie media, wat as deel van die tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US voorsien sal word - ten einde verbeterde informasiedeling en kommunikasie teweeg te bring. Die VIS projek het 'n raamwerk verskaf waarbinne hierdie studie uitgevoer is. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n verkennende studie uit te voer, deur die gebruik van empiriese navorsing en prototipering, vir die kwantifisering van die bruikbaarheid van sinkrone rekenaar-gebasseerde kommunikasie media. Die spesifieke toepassingsarea is die Suid-Afrikaanse tersiêre onderwysomgewing (spesifiek gefokus op nagraadse vlak) met die doelom informasiedeling tussen informasiediensverskaffers, dosente, studente en navorsers te verbeter. Daar word egter verwag dat die graad waartoe die sinkrone media waarde toevoeg tot leer- en informasiedelings prosesse binne die VIS, beïnvloed sal word deur die bruikbaarheid van die sagteware waarbinne die media gesetel is, die waargenome behoeftes van die rolspelers vir die media, sowel as die uitvoerbaarheid en lewensvatbaarheid van die sisteme wanneer dit aangewend word binne die huidige tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US. Hierdie elemente was dus empiries ondersoek deur die uitvoering van verskeie bruikbaarheidseksperimente in 'n omgewing wat 'n tradisionele bruikbaarheids laboratorium simuleer, ten einde the nodige subjektiewe en objektiewe data te ontgin wat gemik is op die doelwitte en mikpunte wat die strewe van hierdie studie omsluit. 'n Teoretiese perspektief word voorsien deur 'n literatuur-oorsig, ten einde die waarde van die VIS omgewing te konseptualiseer. Konsepte wat veral aandag geniet hou verband met die ontwikkeling van elektoniese gemeenskappe en buigsame leer omgewings. Die aanname word gemaak dat die gebruik van sinkrone rekenaargebasseerde kommunikasie media (soos gesetel in die sagteware pakkette, NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger) die ontwikkeling van 'n effektiewe VIS sal fasiliteer wat 'n nuwe onderrigparadigma ondersteun. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie paradigma is dat kennis nie net weergegee moet word nie, maar dat dit gekonstrueer kan word soos wat die partye betrokke raak in relevante gespreksnetwerke binne die virtuele informasie spasie. So word elektroniese gemeenskappe dus geskep waarbinne individue idees en materiaal met mekaar kan deel en uitruil, terwyl kennis effektief geskep en gedeel word. Informasie is ingewin aangaande die deelnemers se kenmerke, voorkeure, afkeure, behoeftes en persepsies oor die bruikbaarheid van die sagtware pakkette, NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger, wanneer dit aangewend word binne die tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US, ten einde verhoogde informasiedeling en kommunikasie te bewerkstellig. Prestasiemetingsdata (gekoppel aan sekere bruikbaarheidskriteria) was ook verkry tydens die eksperimentele fase, sowel as informasie oor die uitvoerbaarheid en lewensvatbaarheid van die onderskeie sisteme wanneer dit aangewend word binne die huidige tegnologiese parameters van die US. Die analise van die data het beskrywende statistieke behels aangesien die navorsing ten doel gehad het om die ingesteldhede betreffende die bruikbaarheid en behoefte aan die sagteware pakkette, sowel as sekere tegniese aspekte rakende die stelsels, uit te lig. Die resultate het getoon dat die respondente beide NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger as bruikbaar waargeneem het, aangesien 'n positiewe beoordeling op bykans al die dimensies van bruikbaarheid bereik was. In die geval van NetMeeting het sekere tegnologiese beperkinge van die sisteem, soos beperkte bandwyte, egter die effektiwiteit van die sisteem beduidend beinvloed. Tegnologiese beperkinge in die geval van Yahoo Messenger was hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die onstabiele omgewing waarbinne die bediener funksioneer. Verdere navorsing is dus nodig om suksesvolle implementering en aanwending van NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger te laat realiseer, gegewe die tegnologiese parameters van die US.

At the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), the End User Computing course (EUC) acts as a service course for many departments. This implies that many students are forced by their curricula to register for this course. The ever-increasing numbers in EUC place a considerable load on existing human and physical resources. In lecture groups of 120 –160, students rarely get the attention they need, and the pace at which the content is delivered (too slow or too fast) may also inhibit the learning process. During an initial investigation into E-learning at UPE in 1999, a prototype virtual classroom was developed. There were, however, a number of problems with this prototype. Firstly, it was implemented using a number of different technologies, which made it difficult to extend and maintain. Secondly, it only addressed some aspects of an E-learning environment, which proved insufficient for the EUC course. In the existing EUC course at UPE, the students are already exposed to some E-learning concepts, as a section of their skills training component is handled by using multimedia software in a simulated environment. The objective of this project was to extend the E-learning component further to determine the advantages and disadvantages of using E-learning to support information technology (IT) education in a contact-university environment. This project included a literature search and survey of existing E-learning environments at other universities. This research was used to develop a draft framework for an E-learning environment. The framework was used to select a tool to create an E-learning environment at UPE. An experiment was designed using this E-learning environment to support two IT courses at different year levels. The results of the experiment were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods to determine the impact of using E-learning to support IT education at UPE. The results of this research show that E-learning can be used to support IT education at UPE. More success, however, was achieved at postgraduate level than at first-year level. Making use of Elearning increased student satisfaction and promoted active learning, while providing benefits like convenience, communication, flexibility and scaffolding. We conclude, therefore, that E-learning can provide a flexible approach to IT education in a university environment in the future.

This study examines the possibilities within the conservancy movement for the facilitation of environmental education. By means of a case study approach, a conservancy in the Northern Cape and the conservancy movement within the Free State provinces are compared with a view to elucidating factors militating against and promoting the success of environmental education programmes. The current lack of research in isolated rural areas is discussed. Re-orientation of perspectives regarding the value of conservancy-based environmental education within governmental, academic and local circles is recommended.

The study focused on the development of an environmental education (EE) strategy framework in the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) of South Africa. Evidence shows that the roles of conservation and biodiversity education could potentially be merged towards producing a practical strategy, beneficial to the organisation and its individual staff members. Questionnaires, interviews and the individual perceptions of staff members, as well as the analysis of relevant documents, suggested that the potential for the practice of EE towards the development of an EE strategy within the organisation is substantial. EWT staff members can contribute towards a change in the way that South Africans think about conservation and nature. Environmental ethics need to be promoted and understood by all. Within the EWT, environmental education activities are in place and diverse, yet they lack any form of monitoring and evaluation. The Trust is already practicing a form of EE but the potential to do more and the opportunities for expansion are unlimited.

The level of access to educational information is pertinent to the attainment of quality education by learners. Librarians play a key role in facilitating access to such information. Access to educational information equips the possessor with the power of knowledge to assert their rights under any right regime, and a right to education cannot be fully exercised without corresponding access to educational information. Set in the Fort Beaufort Education District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, this study evaluates the level of access to educational information as an enabler of quality education. Research revealed that despite the acclaimed educational improvement in South Africa, the quality of education in many black constituencies and provinces remains low. Therefore, the objectives of this study include inter alia an investigation of the educational information needs of high school learners in the Fort Beaufort Education District, the educational information available and accessible to them, how the learners access information, the services and technologies accessible to the learners, challenges confronting their access and means of improving learners’ access to educational information in the district and by extension in South Africa.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has become commonplace entities in all aspects of life. Over the past twenty years, the use of ICTs has drastically changed the procedures of almost all forms of endeavour within business and governance. Additionally, throughout the world there is an awareness of the fundamental role of new ICTs in the field of education. Education is a socially oriented activity, and quality education has traditionally been associated with strong teachers having high degrees of personal contact with learners. The use of ICT in education lends itself to learner-centred learning settings. With the world moving rapidly into digital media and information, the role of ICT in education and the influence of ICT in schools cannot be overemphasised as its utility is changing the way learners learn, teachers teach, and how it supports staff work. Whilst ICT is fully integrated into many schools in the urban areas of South Africa, regrettably the same cannot be said about rural high schools. This has created a digital division between rural and urban high schools. Most of these rural high schools still do not have access to these technological tools and educators have not been given the professional training for them to integrate ICT in their lessons. This study explores the effectiveness of integrating ICT into teaching of Environmental Education in selected rural high schools. The quantitative study adopted survey research design with sample randomly selected for the study. From the findings, it can be concluded that integrating ICT in education cannot be comprehended by exploring the pedagogical orientations at play in the teaching and learning situation. It becomes the basis that teachers use ICTs to achieve the determined goals.

The level of access to educational information is pertinent to the attainment of quality education by learners. Librarians play a key role in facilitating access to such information. Access to educational information equips the possessor with the power of knowledge to assert their rights under any right regime, and a right to education cannot be fully exercised without corresponding access to educational information. Set in the Fort Beaufort Education District of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, this study evaluates the level of access to educational information as an enabler of quality education. Research revealed that despite the acclaimed educational improvement in South Africa, the quality of education in many black constituencies and provinces remains low. Therefore, the objectives of this study include inter alia an investigation of the educational information needs of high school learners in the Fort Beaufort Education District, the educational information available and accessible to them, how the learners access information, the services and technologies accessible to the learners, challenges confronting their access and means of improving learners’ access to educational information in the district and by extension in South Africa.

This study explores the potential role of an environmental education approach towards the conservation of the Swartkops Estuary and Swartkops Nature Reserve. More specifically it examines the opinions, feelings and perceptions of a sample of twenty seven people, who have a vested interest, in the possible conservation of the area. These stakeholders were comprised of people representing all the various groups and communities that use either or both the estuary and reserve. Opinions were examined by means of a qualitative data analysis from semi-structured interviews. The conservation opinions of respondents were obtained on both general topics and more detailed areas. Due to the small sample and exploratory nature of the project, these results should be viewed as tentative. Proposals are made for increasing the impact of Environmental Education programmes in this and similar environments, and recommendations are put forward to help facilitate related studies in the future.

Internet, wireless, mobile, multi-media (voice, video, 3D), broadband, and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) are rapidly consolidating global communication networks and international trade with implications for people in developing countries. Extensive literature suggests that use of ICTs have a great impact on society for improving their economic means and life styles. However, various studies conducted in different regions of the world indicate that the advantages of ICTs have not reached all sections of society, particularly rural communities, and women. Women face many obstacles before they can harness the benefits of ICTs (Accascina, 2001; Alloo, 1998; The Commonwealth of Learning, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). Information and technology development, adoption, and access are far from adequate in developing countries. Large scale illiteracy and disabling environments, including uncompetitive markets, restrict opportunities to harness ICTs. For example; in India only 0.6% of the population uses the Internet and the penetration rate of the personal computer is only 1.2% (Hafkin & Taggart, 2001; Nath, 2001; World Bank Report, 2002). Information chasms follow socioeconomic divisions, particularly income and education disparities, separating well-connected elites from the less privileged who remain detached from information access and use. Most women within developing countries are on the lowest side of the divide, further removed from the information age as compared to the men whose poverty they share (Accascina, 2001; Nath, 2001; Tandon, 1998, The Commonwealth of Learning, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). If access and use of these technologies is directly linked to social and economic development, then it is imperative that women in developing countries be taken into consideration while developing ICT diffusion strategies. ICTs can be an important tool in meeting women’s basic needs and can provide the access to resources to involve women as equal partners in socio-economic development (Cole et al., 1994). Addressing gender issues in the ICTs sector has shown significant results where women have been made a part of ICT use and access. For example, women have benefited greatly from South Korea’s push to make higher education available online. In corporate South Korea, more than 35% of high-level IT positions are now held by women. In Africa, 70% of agricultural produce is handled by women (World Bank Report, 2002). By using farm radios, women farmers can obtain information in local languages on markets, agricultural inputs, food preservation, and storage without traveling far, or being dependent on a middleman. ICTs use and access by women can offer significant opportunities for them in developing countries, including poor women living in rural areas. However, their ability to take advantage of these opportunities is contingent upon conducive policies, an enabling environment to extend communications infrastructure to where women live, and increasing educational levels. It is now, particularly appropriate to ensure the inclusion of gender concerns in national IT policy, as most developing countries are either in the process of or about to start elaborating these policies (Accascina, 2001; Marcelle, 2000; Ponniah & Reardon, 1999; The Commonwealth of Learning, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001). Women face considerably higher barriers in terms of literacy, access to education and information, productive and financial resources, and time. Many of the obstacles women face in accessing and using technology are entrenched in behavioral, cultural, and religious practices. Unless explicit measures are taken to address these divides, there is a risk that ICT will increase gender disparities and that the impact of ICTs will not be maximized. Integrating gender considerations into ICT strategies and policies will enable policy-makers and implementers to address these differences, which in turn will lead to remove gender inequalities for ICTs use and access (The Commonwealth of Learning, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001).

Gender equality and information and communication technology are important in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in policy, planning, and practice. The 2000 Millennium Declaration of the United Nations (UN) formed an international agreement among member states to work toward the reduction of poverty and its effects by 2015 through eight Millennium Development Goals: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and the empowerment of women 4. Reduce child and maternal mortality 5. Improve maternal health care 6. Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria, and other major diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop global partnership for development Progress toward gender equality and the empowerment of women is one goal that is important to achieving the others. Poverty, hunger, illiteracy, environmental threats, HIV and AIDS, and other health threats disproportionately affect the lives of women and their dependent children. Gender-sensitive ICT applications to education, health care, and local economies have helped communities progress toward the MDGs. ICT applications facilitate rural health-care workers’ access to medical expertise through phones and the Internet. Teachers expand learning resources through the Internet and satellite services, providing a greater knowledge base for learners. Small entrepreneurs with ICT access and training move their local business into world markets. ICT diffusion into world communication systems has been pervasive. Even some of the poorest economies in Africa show the fastest cell-phone growth, though Internet access and landline numbers are still low (International Telecommunications Union [ITU], 2003b). ICT access or a lack of it impacts participation, voice, and decision making in local, regional, and international communities. ICTs impact the systems that move or inhibit MDG progress. UN secretary general Kofi Annan explained the role of the MDGs in global affairs: Millennium Development Goals are too important to fail. For the international political system, they are the fulcrum on which development policy is based. For the billion-plus people living in extreme poverty, they represent the means to a productive life. For everyone on Earth, they are a linchpin to the quest for a more secure and peaceful world. (UN, 2005, p. 28) Annan also stressed the critical need for partnerships to facilitate technology training to enable information exchange and analysis (UN, 2005). ICT facilitates sharing lessons of success and failure, and progress evaluation of work in all the MDG target areas. Targets and indicators measuring progress were selected for all the MDGs. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are critical to the achievement of each other goal. Inadequate access to the basic human needs of clean water, food, education, health services, and environmental sustainability and the support of global partnership impacts great numbers of women. Therefore, the targets and indicators for Goal 3 address females in education, employment, and political participation. Progress toward the Goal 3 target to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015, will be measured by the following indicators. • Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary, and tertiary education • Ratio of literate females to males who are 15- to 24-year-olds • Share of women in wage employment in the nonagricultural sector • Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (World Bank, 2003) Education is positively related to improved maternal and infant health, economic empowerment, and political participation (United Nations Development Program [UNDP], 2004; World Bank, 2003). Education systems in developing countries are beginning to offer or seek ways to provide ICT training as a basic skill and knowledge base. Proactive policy for gender equality in ICT access has not always accompanied the unprecedented ICT growth trend. Many civil-society representatives to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) argue for ICT access to be considered a basic human right (Girard & Ó Soichrú, 2004; UN, 1948). ICT capability is considered a basic skill for education curriculum at tertiary, secondary, and even primary levels in developed regions. In developing regions, ICT access and capability are more limited but are still tightly woven into economic communication systems. ICTs minimize time and geography barriers. Two thirds of the world’s poor and illiterate are women (World Bank, 2003). Infant and maternal health are in chronic crisis for poor women. Where poverty is highest, HIV and AIDS are the largest and fastest growing health threat. Ninety-five percent of people living with HIV and AIDS are in developing countries, partly because of poor dissemination of information and medical treatment. Women are more vulnerable to infection than men. Culturally reinforced sexual practices have led to higher rates of HIV infection for women. Gender equality and the empowerment of women, starting with education, can help fight the spread of HIV, AIDS, and other major diseases. ICT can enhance health education through schools (World Bank). Some ICT developers, practitioners, and distributors have identified ways to incorporate gender inclusiveness into their policies and practice for problem-solving ICT applications toward each MDG target area. Yet ICT research, development, education, training, applications, and businesses remain male-dominated fields, with only the lesser skilled and salaried ICT labor force approaching gender equality. Successful integration of gender equality and ICT development policy has contributed to MDG progress through several projects in the developing regions. Notable examples are the South-African-based SchoolNet Africa and Bangladesh-based Grameen Bank Village Pay Phone. Both projects benefit from international public-private partnerships. These and similar models suggest the value and importance of linking gender equality and empowerment with global partnership for development, particularly in ICT. This article reports on developing efforts to coordinate the achievement of the MDGs with policy, plans, and practice for gender equality beyond the universal educational target, and with the expansion of ICT access and participation for women and men. The article examines the background and trends of MDG 3, to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, with particular consideration of MDG 8, to develop global partnership for development, in ICT access and participation.

Industry 4.0 centers on the connection of physical and cyber networks to allow actionable insights and real-time information flow such that the well-being of the creatures, workplace, and the environment is guaranteed. Plastic pollution has been a major menace in South Africa and the proposed ban has not been implemented by the government. With the current measures of reducing the pollution, it was evident that the use of fourth industrial revolution has not been effective. Thus, it was recommended that government should enforce labelling of very single-use plastic and an associated fine should be attached to every single-use plastic found polluting the environment. It should be made mandatory for all management accountants to include cost for plastic pollution as one of the operating costs of each organisation. Also, it is recommended that robots can be erected around the cities, towns and workplace picking plastic waste. This will show the seriousness of the government to combat the single use plastic pollution and automatically curb the littering of the environment with plastics.

Rural development and poverty alleviation are a priority for development in South Africa. Information and knowledge are key strategic resources for social and economic development, as they empower rural communities with the ability to expand their choices through knowing what works best in their communities. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) act as tools which enable existing rural development activities. The Siyakhula living lab (SLL) aims to develop and field-test a distributed, multifunctional community communication platform, using localization through innovation, to deploy in marginalized communities in South Africa. The project exists as research collaboration between the Telkom Centres of Excellence at the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University. Its current pilot operates in the Mbashe municipal area, which is a deep rural area located along the wild coast of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The Dwesa-Cweba Nature Reserve acts as a chief asset in the community, which contributes to tourism development. However, the community is currently not actively involved in tourism development; but potential exists in local arts, crafts, and authentic heritage tourism. Therefore, the SLL aspires to empower the community with appropriate communication technology skills to actively support tourism development and other complementary development activities, such as, education. The lessons learned and applied in the project’s current pilot stage identify techniques and approaches that aim to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of the ICT project in a rural context. These approaches and techniques are viewed and described from social-cultural, institutional, economic, and technological perspectives.

Cloud Computing is one of the most important trends and newest area in the field of information technology in which resources (e.g. CPU and storage) can be leased and released by customers through the Internet in an on-demand basis. The adoption of Cloud Computing in Higher Learning Institution is a real opportunity. Although Cloud computing has gained popularity in the world especially in education and industry, but its impact in colleges is still unexplored. This exploratory qualitative research seeks to identify the factors affecting the adoption of Cloud Computing in South Africa, focusing on Matjhabeng TVET colleges. 35 IT stakeholders from two TVET colleges was interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilised to analase data. After data was analysed, the findings revealed that data security, lack of internet access and lack of infrastructure resources are key factors that affects Cloud computing adoption in Matjhabeng TVET colleges. This paper contributes to the literature on Cloud Computing adoption in Higher Learning Institutions in South Africa.