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The role of information communication technology in farmers' participation in community-based projects in Mankweng service centre, Limpopo Province, South AfricaRamavhale, Patience Manku January 2020 (has links)
Thesis (M.Sc. (Agricultural Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Information Communication
Technology tools in facilitating development within Community-Based Farming
Projects (CBFPs) served by Mankweng Service Centre (MSC). The objectives of
the study were to identify various ICT tools through which farmers get agricultural
information, to determine the types of ICT-based agricultural information
preferred by farmers in Mankweng, to examine the factors influencing use of ICTs
by farmers in Mankweng and also to identify the challenges encountered by
Mankweng farmers in their use of ICT. The study was cross-sectional in design
and included 102 farmers from the Community-Based Farming Projects in
Mankweng Service Centre as participants. Participants were selected using
multi-stage sampling of combined cluster and systematic random sampling.
Quantitative data was collected from participants using a structured questionnaire
under the supervision of the researcher. Descriptive and inferential methods of
analysis were employed. Data was summarised using frequency distribution of
variables followed by measures of central tendency, measures of variance, and
relationship of variables. Summary of findings was presented in the form of
tables, figures and frequencies. Univariate regression model was used to analyse
factors influencing use of ICT amongst farmers.
The findings of the study show that majority (64%) of the farmers were women
and (36%) of the farmers were men. Majority of the farmers (56%) were less than
50 years of age with 79% of the farmers having no tertiary education. The results
of this study also revealed that the demographics of the participants were not the
critical determinant factors in ICT usage (p>0.2) amongst farmers. The level of
education farmers acquired was rather a very important predictor of the utilization
of the ICT tools available to the farmers. The study revealed cell phones to be
the most commonly used ICT device followed by Radio and TV. The study
revealed that the affordability of ICT devices is the main challenge which
ultimately limits access.
Based on these findings, the study recommends that the Limpopo Department of
Agriculture (LDoA) should make a provision of informal education sessions for
farmers on the use of ICT devices, and ICT infrastructure and smart phones. In
addition, the study recommends advocacy for more agricultural programmes
through affordable platforms like TV and community radio stations media.
Keywords: ICT tools, Education, CBFPs, MSC, LDA, Farmers
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The Gender Gap In Technical Communication: How Women Challenge The Predominant Objectivist ParadigmBower, Nathan 01 January 2012 (has links)
Women are currently underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how this underrepresentation translates to a gender gap in the field of technical communication and how this gap causes women to challenge the predominant objectivist paradigm in the field. Through an investigation of peer-reviewed journal articles, periodicals, critical theory, and articles published in online magazines such as Slate, I identify the gendered nature of modern technology and discuss to what extent a shift in the predominant paradigm has occurred in the professional arena. In looking at several theoretical approaches and contemporary examples, I conclude that a significant paradigm shift has not in fact occurred due to an underlying, culturally promoted sexism. Additionally, I conclude that neither new approaches in the technical communication classroom, nor attempts to increasingly include women in the technological fields will result in a significant paradigm change by themselves. I also point to a need for further meaningful research in how sexism influences the professional world as well as a more thorough conversation regarding a fundamental shift in workplace relations between the genders.
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Cloning in the news : an analysis of how the science and ethics of cloning are reported in three daily newspapers of Cape TownVan der Linden, Cornelis Albert 04 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Cloning is a topic that has long fascinated people. It has imbedded
itself into popular culture, but studies show that the general public has, at best, only a
vague understanding of what cloning entails. Alternatively, their perception has been
skewed by that very same popular culture. However, cloning is a complex scientific
subject that has considerable ethical implications. It is the kind of topic that people in
a deliberate democracy should know about. The media play an important role in the
education of the public with regards to science and technology. However, the media
have the potential to do more than provide the basic facts. In fact, the media can play
an important role in influencing the actions and opinions of the public. It is therefore a
responsibility of the media to provide accurate information on scientific
developments, such as cloning.
Objective: An analysis of three daily newspapers in the Western Cape was carried
out to determine how cloning is reported. The broad topics addressed were whether
the coverage focused on the ethical or scientific aspects of cloning, if the subject was
reported in a positive or negative tone, and whether the science of cloning was
adequately explained.
Methodology: A quantitative content analysis was completed of a sample of 69
articles. These articles were all those relating to cloning that appeared in three daily
newspapers (Cape Argus, Cape Times and Die Burger) over a period of one year
from 10 November 2002 to 10 November 2003.
Findings: Of all the articles analysed 34% focused on the scientific aspects, 21%
focused on the ethical aspects, 6% focused on both ethics and science, while 39%
focused on neither. Fifty two percent of articles dealing specifically with animal
cloning focused on the science, while only 4% focused on the ethics. However, in
articles dealing specifically with human cloning, more (30%) emphasised ethical
aspects than scientific aspects (20%). With regards to tone of coverage, 32% of all
the articles analysed were positive, 28% negative, and 40% neutral. Sixty percent of
articles dealing specifically with animal cloning featured a positive tone, while only
13% of articles exclusively about human cloning had a positive tone. This 13% was
comprised of articles on therapeutic rather than reproductive cloning. In terms of
explaining the science associated with cloning, only 30% of articles provided an explicit explanation. Potential threats to the accuracy of explaining science were
found to exist.
Conclusions: While the overall findings were somewhat indistinct it seemed that
when the media of the Western Cape reported on the cloning of animals it was done
with a positive tone and emphasised the scientific aspects. Reporting on human
cloning tended to feature a negative tone and emphasised the ethical aspects. The
large number of ‘neutral’ results for both the ‘tone’ and 'science or ethics’ variables
could indicate that the media were wishing to remain neutral. However, the large
number of neutral articles relating to the ‘science or ethics’ variable could have a
negative impact on public understanding. The small number of articles explaining
cloning and an emphasis on ‘breakthrough’ news stories could also have a negative
impact on public understanding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Kloning is ‘n onderwerp wat die mensdom lank interesseer. Maar selfs
al vorm kloning ‘n deel van ons populere kultuur, wys navorsing dat die groot publiek
maar vaagweg verstaan wat die onderwerp behels. Dit is ook moontlik dat hul
persepsie negatief bemvloed is deur dieselfde populere kultuur. Maar kloning is ‘n
komplekse wetenskaplike onderwerp met aansienlike etiese gevolgtrekkings. Dit is ‘n
onderwerp waarvan mense in ‘n demokratiese samelewing moet weet. Die media
speel ‘n belangrike rol in die groot publiek se opleiding in wetenskap. Maar die media
het die potensiaal om meer te doen as net die basiese feite deur te gee. Die media
het die potensiaal om die gedrag en menings van die publiek te beTnvloed. Daarom is
dit die verantwoordelikheid van die media om akkurate inligting oor wetenskaplike
ontwikkelings, soos kloning, te voorsien.
Dolewit: Drie daaglikse koerante in die Weskaap is geanaliseer om te bepaal hoe
kloning gedek word. Daar is bepaal of die artikels op die etiese of wetenskaplike
aspekte van kloning fokus, of die onderwerp in ‘n positiewe of negatiewe toon gedek
is, en of die wetenskaplike aspekte doeltreffend verduidelik is.
Metode: ‘n Kwantitatiewe inhoudsanalise van 69 artikels is voltooi. Die
geanaliseerde artikels is al die oor kloning wat in drie daaglikse koerante (Cape
Argus, Cape Times en Die Burger) tussen 10 November 2002 en 10 November 2003
verskyn het.
Bevindinge: Van die artikels het 34% net op die wetenskaplike aspekte van kloning
gefokus, 21% net op die etiese aspekte, en 6% op beide etiek en wetenskap. Geen
van die twee aspekte is in 39% van artikels beklemtoon nie. Van die artikels wat
spesifiek oor dierkloning geskryf is, het 52% op die wetenskaplike aspekte gefokus.
Net 4% het op die etiese aspekte gefokus. In die geval van artikels oor die kloning
van mense, het meer (30%) die etiese aspekte as die wetenskaplike aspekte (20%)
beklemtoon. Met betrekking tot die toon, was 32% van al die artikels positief, 28%
negatief, en 40% neutraal. In die geval van artikels uitsluitlik oor dierkloning het 60%
‘n positiewe toon gedui, terwyl net 13% van artikels oor menslike kloning in ‘n
positiewe toon geskryf was. Die 13% het bestaan uit artikels oor terapeutiese
kloning. Geen artikels oor reproduktiewe kloning was met ‘n positiewe toon geskryf
nie. Net 30% van artikels het ‘n uitdruklike verduideliking van die geassosieerde
wetenskap gegee. Daar is moontlike bedreigings tot die akkuraatheid van
wetenskaplike verduidelikings gevind.
Gevolgtrekkings: Die algemene bevindinge is ietwat onduidelik maar dit blyk dat die
daaglikse koerante van die Weskaap ‘n positiewe toon in hul dekking van dierkloning
gebruik het. Die wetenskaplike aspekte van dierkloning was in die artikels
beklemtoon. Berigte oor menskloning was in ‘n negatiewe toon geskryf en het die
etiese aspekte daarvan beklemtoon. Die groot hoeveelheid ‘neutraal’ resultate vir die
‘toon’ en ‘wetenskap of etiek’ veranderlikes dui moontlik dat die media probeer het
om neutraal te bly in hul dekking. Die groot hoeveelheid ‘neutraal’ artikels vir die
‘wetenskap of etiek’ veranderlike kan dalk ‘n negatiewe invloed op publieke begrip
van kloning he. Die klein hoeveelheid artikels wat kloning verduidelik, en ‘n klem op
‘deurbraak’ nuusstories kan ook dalk ‘n negatiewe invloed op publieke begrip he.
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Ethics in Technical Communication: Historical Context for the Human Radiation ExperimentsAudrain, Susan Connor 08 1900 (has links)
To illustrate the intersection of ethical language and ethical frameworks within technical communication, this dissertation analyzes the history and documentation of the human radiation experiments of the 1940s through the 1970s. Research propositions included clarifying the link between medical documentation and technical communication by reviewing the literature that links the two disciplines from the ancient period to the present; establishing an appropriate historiography for the human radiation experiments by providing a context of the military, political, medical, and rhetorical milieu of the 1940s to the 1970s; closely examining and analyzing actual human radiation experiment documentation, including proposals, letters, memos, and consent forms, looking for established rhetorical constructions that indicate a document adheres to or diverts from specific ethical frameworks; and suggesting the importance of the human radiation documents for studying ethics in technical communication. Close rhetorical analysis of the documents included with this project reveals consistent patterns of metadiscourse, passive and nominal writing styles, and other rhetorical constructions, including negative language, redundancies, hedges, and intensifiers, that could lead a reader to misunderstand the writer's original ethical purpose. Ultimately this project finds that technical communicators cannot classify language itself as ethical or unethical; the language is simply the framework with which the experimenters construct their arguments and communicate their work. Technical communicators can, however, consider the ethical nature of behavior according to specific ethical frameworks and determine whether language contributes to the behavior.
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Curriculum for an online course in technical communications using the I-CARE delivery systemGuillen, Linda Diane 01 January 1999 (has links)
No description available.
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Academic competence for technical reading in English as a foreign languageChen, Mei-Fen 01 January 2003 (has links)
This project offers a strategy-based curriculum designed to increase academic competence in technical reading for Taiwanese students of English as a foreign language. Strategies include acquiring specialized vocabulary words, enhancing background knowledge, and increasing metacognitive awareness.
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Report on a MTSC Internship at Golder Associates IncKrugh, Lisa S. 19 November 2009 (has links)
No description available.
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Performance assessment of technical reports as a channel of information for development : a Lesotho case study.Moshoeshoe-Chadzingwa, Matseliso M. January 2002 (has links)
The study aims to assess performance of Technical Reports as a channel of information for development in the Lesotho context. It concurrently evaluates how a specialized information unit of the Institute of Southern African Studies (lSAS) has performed in its obligation to devise adequate mechanisms for managing the report literature and meeting the development-related needs of users. In order to achieve that aim, the study contextualized development as a process, state, and condition and highlighted some development indicators for Lesotho. Agriculture and
gender were selected as sectors of development. Global conferences, as one of the many development strategies that generate technical reports heavily, were used as a benchmark. In the performance and impact assessment methodologies, case study techniques were applied with ISAS
as a site and one unit ofanalysis. Technical Reports (TRs) on Lesotho were studied. Triangulation approaches were applied in sourcing data. The academics, information workers, government officials, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and aid agencies based in Lesotho were
surveyed. Research questions that guided the study centred on the productivity, distribution of technical reports, their management by intermediaries, use, non-use and the effects thereon. Seven types ofTechnical Reports feature in the development process, namely Academic, Project, Conference, Survey, Enquiry, Official and Special Committee Reports. Technical Reports are produced at varying levels depending on needs and approaches to development by producers or commissioning bodies. Academic Reports are authored mostly by the academics. The
Government, Aid agencies and NGOs produce widely through external consultants/experts, who utilize centres such as ISAS where commissioning bodies do not have information services. TRs productivity is high and diverse in Lesotho, but capacity to manage the output is seemingly low,
and hence under-utilization results; ISAS's out-dated mission, lack of, or limited resources and dejure national support in the form of acts and statutes affect the Institute's Technical Reports' services. Production is gender biased, thus making for imbalance in reporting on development.
Agriculture as a sector is heavily researched and reported about, but the benefits to the populace are either few or non-existent. Restricted materials are estimated at 30%, but most ofthe TRs are unaccounted for. Hoarding and poor records or information management leave a vacuum that
leads to a duplication of previous studies and production.
The study confirmed that technical reports are required by all the surveyed groups. Technical Reports are not ofa transient nature even though they reach a peak oftopicality and use at certain periods. Where the channel conveys factual data timeously, there are developmental benefits.
Low or non-use is common where there are no specialized information services especially within the civil service. Such negative factors cause delays and infrequent currency, inadequate reporting and erroneous budgetary allocations, for example. Seeminglythere is no clarity on what restricted, secret and limited materials mean. Major recommendations were made. One concerned an integrated approach to managing the channel. This would involve preparing a Manual for the production of Technical Reports which would clarify how to prepare them; for instance, the
caliber of personneVexperts who should author reports, the conditions to be observed, the timeliness production, reliability of data used, and centres that would be acknowledged to then qualify for commensurate financial and other support. The other proposes that the envisaged National Research Council be given the powers to enforce the guidelines ofthe manual and related functions. The last recommends assigning to the documentalistsfor classified Technical Reports, the role of managing classified items. Consideration should also be given to important issues raised in the study, being the role of Information, Communication and Technologies (lCTs),
sectors of development to be attended to, training and networking in technical report\s. Further studies are also recommended mainly for the causes and effects of the closures of information services that managed technical reports' in southern Africa; longitudinal studies on the impact of
non-use oftechnical reports in major sectors ofdevelopment like Agriculture; comparative studies on the impact of specialized centres in the developed and developing countries. Further action is urged under the aegis ofbodies like the Standing Conference ofEastem, Central and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL), Standing Conference of National and University Librarians. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.
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