D.Ed. (Media Science) / The education system in South Africa is at the moment in a state of flux and various strategies are being investigated to address and redress inequities in the system. Many persons would see the computer as playing a significant role in this process. The problem, however, is not whether but how to use the computer effectively and appropriately in the classroom. Should the computer merely be used as a recordkeeping facility, a tool to assist the teacher or as an instrument for assisting learners to develop their full potential as human beings (Schostak, 1988:147; HSRC, 1983a:38; HSRC, 1983b:163). Computer-assisted learning environments have variously been described as the best of learning environments and the worst of learning environments. No doubt, opinions as to the value of such environments can be found at every point along the continuum that joins these two contradictory viewpoints (Doulton, 1984; Hart, 1984; Roach, 1984; Merrill, Tolman, Christensen, Hammons, Vincent & Reynolds, 1986:279). It is the purpose of this study to systematically examine the literature regarding one of these computer-assisted learning environments and to describe its underlying theoretical assumptions in order to assess its significance for education and to provide guidelines for the development and evaluation of software that can be used in the learning environment...

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

From flickering films to microlearning in 4K, the field known as Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) today has a long history, marked by constant evolution since the 1920s. The field has been thrust into the spotlight by the COVID-19 pandemic. This bibliometric analysis examines research articles from the Educational Technology Research and Development (ETRandD) journal spanning 1957 to 2023. The study addresses the challenges posed by the influx of new IDT professionals from diverse backgrounds, as well as the opportunity presented by the occasion of the centennial celebration of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), the key professional organization in the field. Data for this study was primarily obtained from the Web of Science, supplemented by SCOPUS and Dimensions. The analysis utilized Biblioshiny to evaluate the journal's performance and impact, identifying influential works and authors. Additionally, VOSviewer was employed to map the scientific landscape, tracing the evolution of research themes and the collaborative networks among authors, institutions, and countries. While the analysis navigates through the limitations inherent in focusing on a single journal, majorly employing a specific dataset, and adhering to an English-only corpus, it successfully illuminates the core tendencies and transformative shifts within IDT. The findings emphasize the field's enduring commitment to leveraging technological advancements within a theoretically grounded framework to enhance learning outcomes. As the field continues to evolve in response to new entrants from diverse backgrounds, emerging technologies and shifting learners' contexts, this study provides a useful reference point for future research. / Doctor of Philosophy / The field of Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) has evolved dramatically from its early days in the 1920s, using simple film-based instruction, to today's sophisticated 4K microlearning environments. The field has been thrust into the limelight by the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a bibliometric analysis of articles published in the Educational Technology Research and Development journal from 1957 to 2023. The research addresses the challenge of the entry of professionals from varied backgrounds into the IDT field and celebrates a century of contributions by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), a leading organization in this discipline. Using databases like the Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Dimensions, and tools such as Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, the study maps the development of IDT research themes, identifies key works, and authors, and explores the collaborative networks that span authors, institutions, and countries. Despite focusing on a single journal and an English-only dataset, the analysis reveals significant trends and shifts in IDT. It underscores the field's commitment to integrating new technologies within a solid theoretical framework to improve educational outcomes. This study not only reflects on the past but also sets the stage for future research as IDT continues to adapt to the needs of diverse learners and emerging technologies.

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Text in English / In a quest to identify best practices in teaching courses in English for Specific Purposes (ESP), this study investigated effective teaching of an online English module in an Open Distance Learning (ODL) environment. Although ODL is attractive to both students and lecturers, there are significant problems regarding how learning, teaching, interaction and assessment should be conducted in this context. The problems are exacerbated by the limited knowledge of using the online systems and constraints linked to time spent on tasks. The study adopted the qualitative research approach, using a case study design and data collected from three research instruments, namely online questionnaires, an online observation schedule and a content analysis schedule. The research population in the current study comprised students, lecturers, and e-tutors based at one ODL university. In order to engender best practices of effective teaching in an ODL environment, the Community of Inquiry (Col) framework and Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) theory were applied to the research findings of the current study. The findings indicate that effective teaching of an online English module in an ODL context could take place when content is effectively structured; assessment reflects course content; there is teamwork and collaboration amongst lecturers; students effectively interact with the material, lecturers/e-tutors, and with each other. The findings of this study add to the volume of research on best practices for effective online ESP teaching in ODL higher learning institutions. / English Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (English)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The emergence of information exchange and act of offering features through external interfaces is a vast but immensely valuable challenge, and essential elements of learning environments cannot be excluded. Nowadays, there are a lot of different service providers working in the learning systems market and each of them has their own advantages. On that premise, in today's world even large learning management systems are trying to cooperate with each other in order to be best. For instance, Instructure is a substantial company and can easily employ a dedicated team tasked with the development of a video conferencing functionality, but it chooses to use an open source alternative instead: The BigBlueButton. Unfortunately, different learning system manufacturers are using different technologies for various reasons, making integration that much harder. Standards in learning environments have come to resolve problems regarding exchanging information, providing and consuming functionalities externally and simultaneously minimizing the amount of effort needed to integrate systems. In addition to defining and simplifying these standards, careful consideration is essential when designing new, comprehensive and useful systems, as well as adding interoperability to existing systems, all which subsequently took part in this research. In this research I have reviewed most of the standards and protocols for integration in learning environments and proposed a revised approach for app stores in learning environments. Finally, as a case study, a learning tool has been developed to avail essential functionalities of a social educational learning management system integrated with other learning management systems. This tool supports the dominant and most popular standards for interoperability and can be added to learning management systems within seconds.