Thesis submitted in compliance with the requirements for the Doctor's Degree in Technology: Language Practice, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the current learning methods that are typically used by special populations (an elderly subject group), and to explore their general level of effectiveness. The primary research questions explore how this subject group is currently learning to use the Internet and for what purposes, along with what the typical barriers are that this group experiences when seeking to use the Internet, together with factors that motivate them to participate in learning programs. This study has special relevance for elderly adults along with computer instructors who specifically train the elderly to learn to use the Internet. The findings may also be of interest to others who interact with other special populations, directly or indirectly, including web designers, healthcare professionals, librarians, and others. The project was prompted by the author‘s experience teaching and observing elderly adults learning to use the Internet, and his desire to develop a more effective teaching strategy for them. The thesis explores the basic principles of adult learning, including components from self-directed learning, the theory of multiple intelligences, ethnographic research and other theories and approaches that have the potential of contributing to teaching this subject group, including the use of language in describing their learning successes and failures. Data analysis consisted of observing over 200 older adults learning to use the Internet over a two-year period. The evaluation of participants was based on empirical (defined in the glossary) and subjective analysis of levels of participation, progress and other factors. To supplement the large-scale results with rich data, the author of this study also performed detailed interviews with 14 elderly Internet users along with five teachers of the elderly. Additional material was gathered from academic journal articles, online databases and other related sources. The author tested and applied several research methods to achieve the most effective outcome. This iii included participant observation from ethnographic research, along with empirical and basic quantitative research. The author also uses autoethnography in his research approach, an emerging qualitative research method that allows the researcher to write in a highly personalized style, drawing on his or her experience, as kind of a autobiographical personal narrative. The intent of auto-ethnography is to acknowledge the link between the personal and the cultural and to make room for non-traditional forms of inquiry and expression. In embracing personal thoughts, feelings, stories, and observations as a way of understanding the social context they are studying, these researchers are also shedding light on their total interaction with that setting by making their every emotion and thought visible to the reader. Auto-ethnography also gives researchers an opportunity to do primary research and draw data from their observations. An identifiable pattern that is reviewed in more detail in the Results section emerged from these different findings. The primary outcome that emerged is that there are many approaches to learning, and these methods need to be examined, tested and selectively adapted for each individual to achieve the maximum benefit. The widespread demand for Internet training has resulted in fragmented and inconsistent training schemes that are generally focused on classroom-based instruction. The author encourages a systematic self-testing by the subject group member (and their teachers) to explore currently available training methods and combine the elements that they find most effective towards a personalized approach to learning based on individual interests, aptitudes, and the availability of the local training resources. The percentage of the elderly using the Internet is rising rapidly, and the current training options are limited in some areas in the United States. Based on the author‘s empirical observations, the self-directed approach to learning appears to show the most promise for this elderly subject group, in the sense that they generate their own best learning schematics, while their instructor guides and facilitates the process. iv This thesis has made a primary contribution to the research in several ways. First of all, the author made a synthesis that has not been made previously. He combined the concept of self-directed learning with several methods of learning improvement, such as the use of assistive technology for the disabled, memory skill-building, and the application of symbols and metaphors to increase the ability of this subject group to comprehend the learning materials. This is arguably the best approach for adapting to this rapidly evolving subject group population. Additionally, he applied the concept of kaizen, a Japanese term from their manufacturing sector that represents continuous, ongoing improvement, to teach to members of this group the concept of self-monitoring and improvement. Additionally, the research was cross-disciplinary and used different methodologies, including ethnography, empirical and basic quantitative research. Several additional contributions and innovations are described later in the thesis.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology and especially Internet has advanced rapidly during the last ten years. Universities have been in the forefront with access to Internet, but are only now beginning to wake up to the opportunities that exist within the technological arena. Unfortunately Universities have been slow to accept the possibilities of the World Wide Web and its uses within the classroom. Student demographics are changing and their requirements are changing. The Students of today are no longer studying full time and in their early twenties. They are older, are working part-time and need to arrange their study-time to accommodate their work schedules. Universities have to adapt some of their courses or lose out to the competition, which has become global due to technological advances. Web based learning is a perfect answer to the problems working students face, but the mindset of lecturers and even students need to be changed to accept this new form of learning. Many universities have already started distance-learning projects, which are perfect for certain parts of the world and certain students, generally in the Western world. The best ways to start changing perceptions is by combining webbased learning and traditional classroom education and then gradually move on to a full online virtual classroom scenario. In this project a software package called WebeT was used to move a People Management MBA course, which was previously only presented via a traditional classroom into the realm of a virtual classroom. This was achieved by giving the students online access to all information they would traditionally get physically, such as course information. The move of classroom information onto WebCT resulted in file downloads, questionnaires and other information becoming available online. As a direct result the traditional classroom contact for the People Management course was shortened from twelve sessions to seven sessions. The course is close to becoming a complete online course. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tegnologiese ontwikkeling en veral die gebruik van die Internet het gedurende die afgelope tien jaar baie gevorder. Universiteite het reeds 'n geruime tyd toegang tot die Internet, maar begin nou eers besef watter voordele hierdie tegnologiese era vir hulle inhou. Ongelukkig was Universiteite stadig om die potensiaal van die 'World Wide Web" binne die tradisionele klaskamer te ontgin. Die demografiese profiel van studente het in die laaste paar jaar baie verander. Die hedendaagse student is nie meer 'n voltydse student in sy vroeë twintigs nie. Studente is nou ouer, werk deeltyds en hul studietyd moet kan aanpas by hul werkskedules. Universiteite sal of hul kursusse hierby moet aanpas, of studente aan die kompetisie verloor, wat weens die tegnologie nou globaal is. Web gebaseerde onderrig is die perfekte antwoord vir die probleme wat werkende studente ervaar. Die persepsie van die lektor en ook die student moet egter verander om hierdie nuwe vorm van onderrig te aanvaar. Universiteite het alreeds met afstand onderrig begin, wat baie goed werk in sekere lande en met sekere studente. Die doeltreffendste manier om persepsies te verander, is.deur web gebaseerde onderrig en tradisionele klaskamer onderrig te begin kombineer. Hierna kan daar stelselmatig beweeg word na 'n volle virtuele klaskamer scenario. In hierdie projek is 'n sagteware program WebCT gebruik om 'n MBA-kursus in Mensebestuur, wat tradisioneel 'n klaskamer gebaseerde kursus is, te omskep in 'n virtuele klaskamer kursus. Dit is bewerkstellig deur die kursus informasie, wat tradisioneel in fisiese notas aan die studente oorgedra is, direk aanlyn beskikbaar te stel. Die gebruik van WebCT het tot gevolg gehad dat studente nou informasie kon aflaai en vraestelle beantwoord op die Internet. Die tradisionele klaskamer sessies van die Mensebestuurkursus is hierdeur verkort van twaalf sessies na sewe sessies. Hierdie verandering het veroorsaak dat hierdie kursus bykans geheel en al in 'n virtuele klaskamer kursus omskep is.

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education

The purpose of the research project was to teach the management of perpetual and periodic inventory systems to university students in the field of food systems management through the use of a microcomputer software program developed for this purpose. The objective of the study was to determine the classroom simulation's effectiveness in enhancing students' understanding of inventory systems management. The population sample consisted of 68 students enrolled in a senior level food systems management course at Oregon State University. Simple random sampling was used to divide the population sample into two groups: an experimental group and a control group. All the participants completed a pretest to measure existing knowledge of inventory management concepts. This was followed by two fifty-minute classroom educational modules on the management of perpetual and periodic inventory systems in foodservice facilities. The members of the experimental group participated in using the microcomputer simulation program of food item inventory systems after the classroom modules. All the participants of the experimental and control groups completed a posttest approximately three weeks after the pretest. The difference in pretest mean scores between the experimental and control groups was not significant (P [less than or equal to] .05) as determined by the student's t-test. This indicated the two groups were similar to each other in previous knowledge of inventory management. The difference in posttest adjusted mean scores between the experimental and control groups was significant (P [less than or equal to] .05) as determined by analysis of covariance. Therefore, the microcomputer simulation was effective in enhancing students' understanding of the management of the perpetual and periodic inventory systems. / Graduation date: 1986

The use of computer application software could be increased. The goal of this research was to uncover a design for a module which instructs the potential user how to use software. This type of module, called an instructional module, would, when incorporated on software such as decision support tools, increase the willingness of novices to use the software more frequently. Four instructional modules designs, which were the result of combining two states of two variables of instructional module design, were examined. The four designs are (1) an automated programmed learning module; (2) an automated help facility; (3) a manual programmed learning module and; (4) a manual help facility. A financial decision support tool was developed, and each of the four instructional modules designs was placed separately on the decision support tool. This created, in effect, four different tools. Subjects in the experiment were business school students with no formal experience using a decision support tool. Each subject was exposed to two of the four instructional module designs during a training session which lasted one hour. One month after the training session, the subjects were reassembled for a second session. During this session, the subjects selected one of the two tools, with its instructional module, which they had been exposed to previously. The subjects were to use the selected tool to solve problems which would likely require them to access the instructional module. In addition to these behavioral selection data, attitudinal data concerning the instructional module designs were also collected throughout both sessions of the experiment. Based on their selection and their attitudinal responses, the subjects indicated that the tool with the automated programmed learning module was the module of choice. The research methodology successfully provided input for instructional module design for computer application software such as decision support tools.

No description available.

Computer Aided Teaching System (CATSY) is an interactive graphics system, utilizing current microcomputer technology, along with a graphics tablet and a large screen projection system to enhance lecture presentations. Included in this thesis are descriptions of the supporting graphics software (POLY-ReGIS) and the computer peripherals used in the development of CATSY.The development of interactive graphics is stressed in this thesis. Applications of these graphics to CATSY are presented and an introduction to the data structures used in this system is also given. This thesis is intended to support and complement the masters thesis presented by Mr. John Raab, which deals primarily with the system implementation, data structures and the text editor used in CATSY.

The purpose of this study was to explore the practices of formal and informal teacher technologists in two school settings: an elite private, high school academy and an urban poor, middle school academy. This investigation included clarifying the role of the formal and informal teacher technologist and investigating the need for both formal and informal teacher technologists. This study also explored the technological differences between the public academy middle school and the private academy high school. Two formal and eight informal teacher technologists were interviewed face-to-face three times, each using the transcendental phenomenology research design. Each teacher technologist was also observed at least once in classroom and teacher training sessions. The results of this study revealed (1) the role of the teacher technologist was a fast technology problem solver; and (2) although students and teachers used technology, the schools lagged in adequate technology and/or teacher training; (3) the teacher technologists used the Internet to build and evaluate curriculum; (4) most students used tool software centered around project-based activities; (5) teacher technologists trained other teachers to be collaborative risk-takers in using technology; (6) teacher technologists shared what they learn with students and other teachers; and (7) students could be student-learners or student-teachers and teachers could be teacher-learners. Four conclusions were reached: technology and constructivist teaching are compatible; technology is a tool; new approaches to professional development are needed; and hardware and software should be standardized for maximum use. Additionally, both schools in this study were evolving the role of the formal teacher technologist. It was recommended that (1) the schools employ at least one fulltime formal teacher technologist whose main role is to assist teachers in technology classroom incorporation, (2) the schools form teams of informal teacher technologists, (3) and the public middle school academy purchase one laptop for each student to use anytime, anywhere.

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the Master of Technology Degree: Education, Durban University of Technology, 2007. / The use of web based learning in primary schools has been neglected. The aim of the study is the design of a hybrid web based learning model for primary school mathematics especially in the teaching and learning of perimeter and areas. It is indicated in a study in I calculus teaching and learning at a higher institution by Naidoo (1998) that students have fundamental problems in understanding pre-concepts such as perimeter and areas which are taught in primary schools and that the Piagetian pre-formal and formal stages have not been developed. ti Primary school learners' first encounters with mathematics in a traditional learning environment often create lifelong 'math phobia' (Papert, 1980). The situation in a country I emerging from an oppressive education system designed to educationally disempower the I majority of the population is much worse. The typical scenario in a previously disadvantaged South African primary school is a classroom filled beyond capacity with the educator struggling to establish an effective learning environment. Thus the educator I resorts to rote learning, drill and practice and 'chalk and talk' methods of teaching. The I individual needs and levels of learners are disregarded and blanket assessment methods I are employed (Naidoo and Naidoo, 2006b). Collaborative learning is minimal or nonexistent. These traditional teaching strategies often disregard cultural and social factors, and pre-knowledge frames of learners. Furthermore there is a dire shortage of qualified mathematics educators in the South African schooling system. Therefore there is an urgent need for alternative teaching and learning strategies to address the teaching of mathematics in primary schools. The introduction of networked computer laboratories to / M

M.Ed. / The computer technology can be used as a complementary tool for teaching as well as a learning tool. Whilst not having the same level of computer use as the developed countries, South Africa is increasingly becoming a society of technology users; therefore, one prime goal of education would be to develop a basic knowledge of the structure and operating principle behind the use of computers in teaching and learning. This study was conducted at a selected public secondary school in Johannesburg West District, Gauteng Province. It focuses on the design and implementation of Data Handling lesson through computer-based spreadsheets for Grade 10 learners. The design type of this study is qualitative design experiment method with a small component of quantitative approach. This method is regarded as an educational intervention developed as a way of carrying out formative research to test and refine educational designs on the principles derived from earlier research. The method addressed the curricular content (Data Handling) in the classroom as well as PowerPoint, Microsoft Word and Spreadsheets software design. The design framework is derived from design principles generated from instructional system design theory and constructivist perspective. Design principles are used as a framework for the analysis of the learners’ and teacher’s experiences of a Data Handling lesson through computer-based spreadsheets. Data was collected through observation, interviews and assessment activities Findings suggested that the use of computer-based spreadsheets in teaching and learning had contributed positive effect towards the learning of Data Handling. Both teacher and her learners identified the positive experiences of fun and interest in using computer-based spreadsheets in teaching and learning.