This study is an evaluation of the remedial and diagnostic components of a microcomputer program on speed. The program is based on a conceptual change model developed within the field of cognitive science research. The influence of research in cognitive science on the current research in science education is discussed as well as recent research in the field of kinematics in the context of science education. The literature relevant to the study is reviewed, and the design of the study and the evaluation procedures are described. The results of the investigation are presented and analysed and finally conclusions from these findings are presented.

Hierdie dissertasie is ‘n beperkte studie wat die gebruik van die rekenaar in skooladministrasie en -bestuur ondersoek. Mikrorekenaars het oor die afgelope paar jaar algemeen beskikbaar geraak en, die gebruik daarvan in skole vir akademiese sowel as vir administratiewe doeleindes het spontaan ontwikkel. Ervaring in lande soos Engeland, Skotland, Kanada en die VSA het egter sekere sleutel-aspekte in sodanige ontwikkeling aangetoon wat die optimum benutting van die mikrorekenaar in administrasie en bestuur kan bevorder. Daar is daarom, deur middel van onderhoude in Skotland en Engeland, gepaard met ‘n omvattende lektuurstudie van die situasie in hierdie lande asook in die VSA en Kanada, vier van hierdie sleutelaspekte gefindentifiseer. ‘n Empiriese studie in sekondere skole van die Natalse Onderwysdepartement het getoon dat daar nog groot onsekerheid en gebrek aan ervaring ten opsigte van rekenarisering in hierdie skole heers. Verder was dit duidelik dat hierdie skole gevaar loop om die foute wat in baie ander lande begaan is, te herhaal. Die dissertasie word afgesluit deur gevolgtrekkings en aanbevelings wat moontlik daartoe kan lei dat die slaggate wat aangetoon is, vermy kan word en die voordele van ‘n goed beplande, effektiewe rekenaargesteunde administrasie en bestuurstelsel geniet kan word. This dissertation is a restricted study in which the use of the computer in school administration and management is investigated. Micro-computers have become available over the past few years and their use in schools for academic and professional as well as administrative purposes has developed spontaneously. Experience in countries such as England, Scotland, Canada and the USA has shown certain key aspects in this development in which the optimum use of the micro-computer can be improved. Through interviews in Scotland and England associated with a comprehensive literature survey of the situation in these countries and in the USA and Canada, four of these key aspects have been identified. An empirical study conducted in secondary schools of the Natal Education Department shows that considerable uncertainty and lack of experience in respect of computerisation in the school still prevails. Furthermore, it is certain that these schools are in danger of repeating the errors which have arisin in other countries. The study concludes with the drawing of conclusions and the making of recommendations which could possibly lead to the avoidance of these pitfalls and result in the enjoyment of the advantages of a well-planned, effective computer-assisted administration and management system. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Natal, 1986.

This research study determines designated primary school educator's use of computer technology for accomplishing teaching related tasks such as using the computer to create instructional material / administrative record keeping / to access information via CD-ROM and the Internet for best practice teaching, model lesson plans and e-mail communication. In addition, the research also investigates factors influenicing designated primary schools' ability to become ICT ready and the purposes for which primary school educators use computer technology.

This research study determines designated primary school educator's use of computer technology for accomplishing teaching related tasks such as using the computer to create instructional material / administrative record keeping / to access information via CD-ROM and the Internet for best practice teaching, model lesson plans and e-mail communication. In addition, the research also investigates factors influenicing designated primary schools' ability to become ICT ready and the purposes for which primary school educators use computer technology.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) as a constituent part of the public service was established to deliver a specific category of services to the public. These services have to conform to requirements that are prescribed by various legislative provisions to promote effective and efficient delivery of public services. The implications of these provisions that are pursued by the study firstly, refer to the emphasis of government on the enhancement of public service delivery, with due consideration given to cost effectiveness and efficiency. Secondly, it refers to government's realisation of the important impact of education, development and training (EDT) on the competency of public service officials with an emphasis on the utilisation of information technology to enhance the effectiveness of EDT. Consequently, the study explores the viability of the utilisation of information technology as a measure to assist EDT interventions within the SAPS of the Eastern Cape Province to equip members of the institution to better fulfil their functions and duties. In this respect the study commenced to ascertain the levels of computer literacy of role-players, access to the appropriate facilities and what the general attitude in the organisation would be towards the utilisation of such an intervention. It was found that the computer literacy levels of role-players may be perceived as a problematic issue in this regard. However, access to suitable facilities was found to be more than sufficient for this intention. Furthermore, role-players agreed that information technology could be optimally applied in the EC SAPS for the mentioned use, thereby portraying an optimistic attitude towards the use thereof to harmonise EDT in the SAPS. The aim of the study has been to develop a model that will incorporate the use of information technology, given the strengths and weaknesses of the SAPS to enhance EDT and learning in the organization.

Computing / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

The support and promotion of public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges is fundamental in addressing South Africa’s intermediate-level and artisanal skills as shortages in these areas contribute to considerable unemployment in South Africa. These institutions have been earmarked by the South African government for extensive growth. Therefore, efficient and effective management and accurate decision-making within these institutions are essential. The evaluation of the management information systems (MISs) within these institutions, which provide data and information to inform institutional short-term and long-term management decision-making and day-to-day operations, should take place on a regular basis to so enhance the reliability and accuracy of the data and information. The problem is that no evidence of a methodology (artefact) for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa could be found in the literature. Therefore, the rationale for this study is to develop a methodology for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa. Hence the main research question for the study was formulated as: What are the components that constitute a methodology for the evaluation of a MIS at a public TVET College in South Africa? The study was conducted according to a design science paradigm. Design science is underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical paradigm which considers thought as a tool for prediction, problem solving and action. The Design Science Research Process (DSRP) model informed the research process utilised to develop the artefact for this problem centred initiated study. The iterated activities of the DSRP model which include: design, demonstrate, evaluate and and communicate, contributed to the refinement of the methodology (artefact). The artefact mainly underwent experimental evaluation to demonstrate its applicability. The methodology (artefact) was empirically evaluated at three cluster-random selected public TVET Colleges after all colleges, with similar MIS maturity levels, were clustered into groups.The study contributed to the extant knowledge base of: theory building, on different levels. The main theoretical contribution is the final evaluated methodology (DSR artefact) which enables IT practitioners and MIS managers at public TVET Colleges in South Africa to evaluate their MISs on a regular basis. The methodology (artefact) presents a theory for design and action which satisfies the conditions of importance, parsimony and novelty on a micro-level. The study furthermore contributed to the extant literature on the theory of MIS success evaluation by contributing to theory on the measurement of MIS success constructs and measuring of the relationships between the constructs. Another theoretical contribution is the innovative evidence-based method by which the public TVET Colleges were clustered. The clustering method was used to ensure a more rigorous sample selection technique than purposive or convenient sample selection of cases and is generalisable to other knowledge domain contexts. The research study furthermore produced results of interest to both technology-focused and management-focused audiences. For technology-focused audiences the processes by which the artefact was constructed and evaluated are described, thus establishing repeatability of the study and building the knowledge base for further research extensions by future design science researchers. The rigour of the artefact design process was complemented by a thorough presentation of the experimental design of the artefact’s field test in three public TVET College environments which provides sufficient detail for management audiences to determine if sufficient organisational resources exist for utilisation of the artefact. / Information Science / Ph. D. (Information Systems)

The support and promotion of public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges is fundamental in addressing South Africa’s intermediate-level and artisanal skills as shortages in these areas contribute to considerable unemployment in South Africa. These institutions have been earmarked by the South African government for extensive growth. Therefore, efficient and effective management and accurate decision-making within these institutions are essential. The evaluation of the management information systems (MISs) within these institutions, which provide data and information to inform institutional short-term and long-term management decision-making and day-to-day operations, should take place on a regular basis to so enhance the reliability and accuracy of the data and information. The problem is that no evidence of a methodology (artefact) for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa could be found in the literature. Therefore, the rationale for this study is to develop a methodology for the evaluation of MISs at public TVET Colleges in South Africa. Hence the main research question for the study was formulated as: What are the components that constitute a methodology for the evaluation of a MIS at a public TVET College in South Africa? The study was conducted according to a design science paradigm. Design science is underpinned by a pragmatic philosophical paradigm which considers thought as a tool for prediction, problem solving and action. The Design Science Research Process (DSRP) model informed the research process utilised to develop the artefact for this problem centred initiated study. The iterated activities of the DSRP model which include: design, demonstrate, evaluate and communicate, contributed to the refinement of the methodology (artefact). The artefact mainly underwent experimental evaluation to demonstrate its applicability. The methodology (artefact) was empirically evaluated at three cluster-random selected public TVET Colleges after all colleges, with similar MIS maturity levels, were clustered into groups. The study contributed to the extant knowledge base of: theory building, on different levels. The main theoretical contribution is the final evaluated methodology (DSR artefact) which enables IT practitioners and MIS managers at public TVET Colleges in South Africa to evaluate their MISs on a regular basis. The methodology (artefact) presents a theory for design and action which satisfies the conditions of importance, parsimony and novelty on a micro-level. The study furthermore contributed to the extant literature on the theory of MIS success evaluation by contributing to theory on the measurement of MIS success constructs and measuring of the relationships between the constructs. Another theoretical contribution is the innovative evidence-based method by which the public TVET Colleges were clustered. The clustering method was used to ensure a more rigorous sample selection technique than purposive or convenient sample selection of cases and is generalisable to other knowledge domain contexts. The research study furthermore produced results of interest to both technology-focused and management-focused audiences. For technology-focused audiences the processes by which the artefact was constructed and evaluated are described, thus establishing repeatability of the study and building the knowledge base for further research extensions by future design science researchers. The rigour of the artefact design process was complemented by a thorough presentation of the experimental design of the artefact’s field test in three public TVET College environments which provides sufficient detail for management audiences to determine if sufficient organisational resources exist for utilisation of the artefact. / Information Science / Ph. D. (Information Systems)

Computing / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

The Digital Doorway (DD) project provides computing infrastructure in impoverished communities in South Africa. DD terminals offer opportunities for unassisted- and peerassisted learning of basic computer skills, and varying computing activities ranging from entertainment, to independent research. This study addresses software application usage, and how it relates to user demographics (age and gender) and location, in order to better understand both the user base, and the nature and extent of DD interactions. A mixed-methods approach is employed, involving log-files, interviews, questionnaires, and naturalistic observation; to build up a holistic picture of application usage and user behaviour at selected sites. Important issues with respect to ICT for Education and Development in the DD context, are addressed. Analysis of the data indicates notable trends, and relationships between age, gender, location, and application usage. User behaviour and environmental effects on usage are discussed, and recommendations provided for future DDs and similar initiatives. / Computing / M. Tech. (Information Technology)