Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

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Blended families are fast becoming the pattern for marriage in a century where divorce is prevalent. This study focussed on the fact that couples are not being adequately prepared through premarital counselling for the problem areas found within the blended family. The basis theoretical perspective revealed that problems that are typical today within the blended family were shown to be present from the moment that man deviated from God's plan for the ideal marriage, and that many examples of this are found in the Bible. The meta theoretical perspective showed that there are very specific problems associated with couples who consider marriage for a second time. The research indicated that the conflict manifested itself w i t h four major areas: Parental conflict; discipline of children; maternal negativity; and the crisis of identity found within stepchildren. The empirical section of this study revealed that the premarital counselling used by couples facing a blended marriage did not adequately prepare them and that of all the couples surveyed, whether they had done premarital counselling or not, all had struggled within the same areas in their marriages. It was found that there were large gaps within the premarital counselling given and that these gaps correlated with the four main conflict issues mentioned earlier. Furthermore, the study showed that the church is not regarded as being the institution that can help blended families in their conflict issues. Remarital counselling guidelines have been proposed in the form of an acronym 'WISER FAMILIES'. These guidelines address particularly the conflict areas that the research identified, which were not addressed by conventional premarital counselling. Guidelines were also proposed for churches, to assist them in dealing with the problems experienced by blended families, and suggests practical ways to meet their needs, using the implementation of support and focus groups. / Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007

This study intends to explore how social media or social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook can facilitate communication channels or create dialogue spaces in a language class. Social media is a form of participatory media, which broadly refers to the “collection of communication channels or mediums (primarily online and mobile) through which social networks originate and are sustained” (Flew 2008:109). Although the term social media is often used as a collective term for SNSs or as the core trademark of Web 2.0, Flew (2008:17) also distinguishes social media by calling it a “communications infrastructure” that allows for “participation, interactivity, collaborative learning and social networking”. Flew (2008) identifies various online sites including the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and the online user-generated video site YouTube as well as various personalised web space sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Friendster and Bebo as participatory media. The study’s data collection was situated at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and investigated how social media can be used to facilitate dialogue between a tutor and BKI1120 Communication in English B students in a Higher Education (HE) context using qualitative methodology. This study compared the use of existing and more traditional or conventional classroom communication practices with those of SNSs as a communication channel, while focusing on social media application as a communication tool to create dialogue spaces that support teaching and learning practices. The research also attempted to identify alternative applications of social media for teaching and learning practices to inform researchers in the fields of HE and media. In the first data-collection phase, BKI1120 Communication in English B Public Management students were selected as the sample for the study. Seventeen students participated in the BKI1120 Facebook page created for the purpose of this study. In the second data-collection phase, a taped focus-group interview was conducted with eight BKI1120 Communication in English B students. The interview transcript was then analysed qualitatively for themes. The research findings showed that social media or SNSs such as Facebook can facilitate communication channels or create dialogue spaces in a language class, if it is managed effectively.

The purpose of this study is to examine and describe student and instructor experiences and perceptions of course design, and identify the critical issues regarding the use of a blended learning environment. A design based research (DBR) framework with qualitative approaches was carried out by collecting data from an undergraduate course offered to sophomores. The primary approach was phenomenology using the lens of heuristic inquiry. Interviews, questionnaires, documents, observation notes, instructor diary, and weekly reflection reports were the main data sources. Data were collected in three periods: preliminary study, pilot study, and actual implementation. The results of instructor experiences revealed that instructor considerations for the analysis period centered on needs and context. The design and development considerations centered v on pedagogical approach, course materials and documents, course organization, interaction, and instructor-student roles. The enablers (benefits and opportunities) of the implementation period included arousing student interest and participation potentially more, having flexibility, saving time, tracking student progress more easily, and increased interaction, collaboration, and communication opportunities. The barriers (challenges and limitations) were increased workload, difficulties related to the course and time management, overlaps, and creating harmony among F2F and online environments. The students mentioned interaction and communication opportunities, increased motivation, opportunity to voice opinions, and reinforcement of learning as enablers of the blended learning environment. The barriers were increased workload, cultural and technical barriers and dependability of environments. The critical issues were found to be context, pedagogical framework, instructor competency, and technical issues. It can be concluded that use of blended learning environments can be regarded as a paramount initiative for the higher education institutions by maximizing the enablers of both environments but also has its unique barriers to consider. The results also implied that it is the decisions on the instructional design approaches for creating balance in the course activities that is critical to blended learning environment designs.

Thesis (Ph.D. Education (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The introduction of technologies in our lifetime necessitates transformation in our lifestyles. This expectation is not an exception to the education system. The curriculum and the ways of teaching and learning are affected the most by new technologies. It is therefore imperative that schools, educational officials and teachers change in tandem with these new technologies. The transitioning to technologies, therefore, tends to make it obligatory for schools, principals, deputy principals, heads of departments and teachers to be competent in these new innovations and the accompanying digital strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate the implementation of blended learning as one of the technological platforms in Sekhukhune District schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study was guided by blending Connected Learning Theory (CLT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Connectivism Theory (CT) frameworks. The theories assisted in the formulation of research questions which led to the study findings. The research questions of the study included How do teachers perceive the usefulness of blended learning approaches in teaching and learning? How do teachers connect information using technology resources in blended learning? “To what extent do teachers display the necessary skills for successful implementation of blended learning?” What are teachers’ recommendations for the introduction and improvement of blended learning in rural schools? and What are the elements to be considered for the designing of blended learning model? The study used mixed methods research (MMR) to achieve the aim of the study. Convergent parallel design was used to collect, analyse and interpret data. The study was guided by a pragmatic paradigm where 10 schools were purposively sampled for the QUAN strand while 4 schools were purposively sampled for the QUAL strand. The participants of the study comprised x principals, deputy principals and teachers. For the QUAN strand 10 principals, 9 deputy principals, 35 heads of departments and 123 teachers participated while for the AQUAL strand 4 principals, 4 head of departments and 4 teachers took part in the investigation. The total sample for the QUAN was 177 participants and 12 participants for the QUAL strand. A questionnaire was used to collect data in the QUAN strand while for the QUAL strand interviews and document study were used. Data gathered through questionnaires was analysed through the IBM SPSS version 28. Thematic, content and narrative analyses were used to assess data collected from the interviews and document study. The results of the two strands were merged to obtain the final results of the study. The study established that teachers embraced the introduction and implementation of blended learning in schools. However, challenges such as lack of e-technological supply and internet connection; inadequacies in the use of classroom technologies; lack of e-tech policies; lack of teachers’ digital training; insufficient teachers′ technological competencies; and inadequate teacher support in technologies impede the effective implementation of blended learning in Sekhukhune-Limpopo schools. The study therefore recommends that the Limpopo Department of Education (LDE) should prioritise the supply of e-tech in Sekhukhune-Limpopo through fiscal policies. The study further recommends that the Department of Basic Education, through the provincial education departments and districts, train and develop officials and teachers in digital technologies for the successful implementation of blended technologies in teaching and learning. The study also suggested a proposed Blended Learning Model (BLM) which might assist in the implementation of blended learning in schools. Keywords: blended learning, blended learning model, E-Tech, EEducation policy, teachers’ digital framework

Saudi Higher Education has started to move with the international trend towards blending face-to-face with online instruction when developing new educational processes. As a contribution to the innovations in Saudi Higher Education, this study explores the perceptions of Saudi female lecturers and undergraduate students towards blended learning from their experience as participants in blended courses. The advantage of blended learning was recognized by the Ministry of Saudi Higher Education as a solution to the challenge of providing college education to the rapidly growing student population. As the move to a blended learning model represents a radical shift in the Saudi educational system, this study shows how Saudi students and lecturers reacted to this change and how it affected the quality of their learning and teaching experience. The objective of the study is to identify Saudi female undergraduate students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of the advantages, challenges and future of blended learning. Consequently, the key factors that influence the lecturers’ and students’ views are discussed, and recommendations for future research, strategy and practice are provided. Qualitative methods were used to obtain rich descriptive data to facilitate the exploration of the phenomena. Based on interpretative philosophy, the data was analysed in the form of explanation and interpretation of the participants’ perceptions of blended learning. The study concludes that blended learning has the potential to offer a successful learning experience in Saudi Arabia. As there are always challenges of adaptation when a new approach is employed, this research provides insight into how the challenges of implementing blended learning in Saudi Higher Education could be addressed. A theoretical blended learning framework is introduced to provide the factors that influence the implementation of blended learning. One of the major conclusions is that a blended learning environment offers Saudi females the flexibility to continue their higher education while maintaining their own cultural values and traditions.

Self-discovery is an important process to the personal and social development of children and adults. Today's educators need to acknowledge and encourage the process of self-discovery in children in order for them to enjoy an enriched life of meaning and fulfillment. The implications of my story, that of a co-parent in a loving and nurturing blended family, are robust to educators and families. I challenge educators working with co-parented children to see the benefits of co-parenting and how not all blended families result in troubled, imbalanced, or resentful children and parents, as much of the current literature suggests. I urge educators to promote the process of self-discovery in children of blended families using an interdisciplinary approach. I embolden parents to listen to the stories their children have to tell and incorporate their experiences into the meaning making experience of raising a family and to remember that they are their children's primary educators. Written within a Scholarly Personal Narrative methodology, my thesis proposes that, through the process of self-discovery, children, parents, educators and advocates can work together to create meaningful experiences within their own lives. I will write a realistic, but kind and compassionate story with a variety of characters that are relatable to anyone who is in or knows someone who is in a blended family. Blended families are becoming increasingly common which highlights how the culture in this particular micro-society is changing as a result of individual and family needs. This thesis will shed light on this natural occurrence in a clear and accessible way that speaks to children and parents in blended families, educators working with these individuals as well as bystanders, friends, family and advocates of families of all types.