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Bibliography: pages 222-229. / The number of pupils with learning disabilities is on the increase and effective ways of attempting to remediate such pupils are always being sought. Current technology has presented remedial teachers with a potentially dynamic aid in the form of the microcomputer. Many of the attributes of computer-aided learning closely parallel the principles of remedial teaching and to this end it was attempted to establish the role of the microcomputer in remedial education. An in-depth study of the literature was undertaken. In the practical sphere, a survey was conducted to obtain the views of practicing remedial teachers as well as to establish the extent of applications in schools. Learning disabled pupils were observed interacting with microcomputers. The study revealed that the prognosis for embracing microcomputers in remedial education is encouraging. Applications exist for diagnosis and prescription of specific deficits as well as for prescribing the microcomputer in the sphere of general educational development of learning disabled pupils. Further applications for administrative and management purposes have reached-an advanced stage of development. With the development of appropriate software and proper "teacher education" the microcomputer has the potential to become a dynamic educational aid for the learning disabled; especially because of its motivational and user-friendly nature.

Computer based training of individuals is becoming more common. Computer based systems increasingly are filled with devices and appliances that enhance the user’s interaction with the computer. These new devices and appliances present new modalities of interaction with the user. This opens new possibilities for computer based training. However, not much is known about mapping these modalities to the user for enhanced learning. This thesis presents an artificial learning model for on-line training of individuals. The model supplied is a multi-modal system in that it links multiple input and output modalities to a user profile. The model contains a non-linear mapping between the user profile and the modalities. The non-linear mapping has been achieved through the use of an Artificial Neural Network. The learning model has been extended to include time dependencies of the suggested modalities via a feedback mechanism within the Artificial Neural Network. The presented results indicate the complexity in choosing the most appropriate mapping for an individual. Results are presented showing the robustness of the learning model. By taking cognisance of the user profile and context (e.g. the user is bored or tired) appropriate modalities are suggested which facilitate learning.

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Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 'Housing' has been addressed as a basic human right. In South Africa this right has become a challenge, which cannot be met by the government alone. It also requires a vast contribution from the broader non-State (private) sector. This includes large companies who need to provide housing assistance to their employees. The aim of this research was to develop an educational computer programme which can be used by companies in their employee housing assistance programmes. The objectives of the research included establishing the extent to which companies provide employee housing assistance; the viability of an educational computer programme; the requirements of companies; criteria and content of a computer programme; and the development and testing of a pilot demonstration module of an educational computer programme for employee housing assistance. Exploratory research was carried out on a sample of 112 companies by means of both postal and telephonic questionnaires. The results of these surveys indicated that 41 of these companies have already established employee housing assistance, providing general information on housing and housing related issues. Most of these companies, however, are only offering financial assistance to their employees without the necessary education and training which should accompany it. A programme which provides these aspects benefits both the company and the employees and should be implemented by many more institutions throughout the country. The main findings of this research, indicated the viability of an educational computer programme and the surveyed companies were positive about using it as part of their employee housing assistance. Throughout the world, computers have proved to offer high-quality interaction and unique learning opportunities to users of varying levels of understanding. They have also demonstrated that they are convenient to use and assist in promoting effective management of time and finances. On the basis of the responses to the survey, essential elements of an educational computer programme for the use of companies in employee housing assistance were identified. A pilot demonstration module was developed using a holistic and didactically sound approach. The development of this educational computer programme, will allow lower income employees to receive beneficial housing assistance at their own pace and level of comprehension and education through an enjoyable and contemporary medium. The results of the initial (but limited) testing of the pilot demonstration module, suggested that there is justification for the further development of the programme and for research to be carried out to examine its effect in the private sector. This research sheds light on the present trends in the provision of employee housing assistance in the private sector and the positive contribution which companies can provide to the housing crisis in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'Behuising' word as 'n basiese reg van die mens beskou. In Suid-Afrika het hierdie reg 'n uitdaging geword wat nie deur die regering alleen aanvaar kan word nie. Dit verg ook 'n groot bydrae van die breër gemeenskap, veral die privaatsektor, en dit sluit groot maatskappye wat behuisingshulp aan hulle werknemers behoort te verskaf, in. Die hoofdoel van hierdie navorsingsprojek was om 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram te ontwikkel wat deur maatskappye as deel van 'n behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aan hulle werknemers gebied kan word. Die doelwitte van die navorsing was onder meer om die mate waartoe maatskappye reeds behuisingsondersteuningsprogramme vir hulle werknemers aanbied, te bepaal. Verder is die lewensvatbaarheid van 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram bepaal, asook die maatskappye se behoefte aan so 'n program. Daar is ook vasgestel wat maatskappye se menings oor die kriteria vir en inhoud van 'n opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram, wat as deel van hulle behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aan werknemers gebied kan word, is. Verkennende navorsing is onderneem met 'n steekproef van 112 maatskappye deur middel van telefoniese- en posvraelyste. Die resultate van hierdie vraelyste het aangedui dat 41 van die maatskappye reeds 'n behuisingsondersteuningsprogram aanbied wat algemene inligting oor behuising en behuisingsverwante aangeleenthede aan die werknemers verskaf. Die meeste van dié maatskappye, wat behuisingsondersteuningsprogramme aanbied, bied egter alleenlik finansiële hulp aan hulle werknemers, sonder die nodige meegaande opvoeding en opleiding. "n Program wat beide finansiële en opvoedkundige hulp aanbied kan maatskappye en werknemers tot voordeel strek en behoort landswyd deur baie meer inrigtings geïmplementeer te word. Die hoofbevindinge van die navorsing het getoon dat die opvoedkundige rekenaarprogram lewensvatbaar is, en die deelnemende maatskappye het bereidwilligheid getoon om so "n program as deel van hulle werknemers se behuisingsondersteuningsprogram in te sluit. Die ontwikkeling van die rekenaarprogram sal dit moontlik maak vir werknemers om op verskillende vlakke van begrip en opvoedingspeil, voordelige behuisingsondersteuning teen hulle eie tempo en deur middel van "n genotvolle en kontemporêre medium te kan ontvang. Dit is wêreldwyd bewys dat rekenaars hoë kwaliteit interaksie en unieke leergeleenthede op alle begripssvlakke kan bied. Daar is ook bewys gelewer dat rekenaars nie net gerieflik is nie, maar ook effektief met die bestuur van tyd en finansies is. Op grond van die vraelys resultate, is noodsaaklike elemente van 'n rekenaargebaseerde behuisingsondersteuningsprogram vir werknemers geïdentifiseer, en "n proefmodule ontwikkel wat gebruik maak van "n holistiese en didakties gesonde benadering. Die uitslae van die eerste (maar beperkte) toetsing van die proefmodule dui daarop dat daar regverdiging is vir die verdere ontwikkeling van die program asook vir navorsing om te bepaal wat die effek van so "n program op die privaatsektor sou wees. Hierdie navorsing het lig gewerp op huidige neigings in die verskaffing van behuisingsondersteuning aan werknemers in die privaatsektor, asook op die positiewe bydrae wat deur maatskappye gelewer kan word tot die oplossing van die behuisingkrisis in Suid-Afrika.