This research project forms part of a comprehensive coordinated project to determine whether it is feasible to introduce e-Education in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) public schools by 2013, as envisaged in the Department of Education's 2003 White Paper on e-Education. This project mainly focuses on human problems that need to be solved among learners in urban schools of KZN for e-Education to be introduced successfully. The following problems are under investigation: 1. Before e-Education can be introduced in public schools in KZN by 2013 it must be empirically established whether learners are ready to learn effectively in an electronically managed educational environment. 2. Before the South African education and training authorities can establish clear standardized e-learning evaluation criteria it must first be established whether such criteria exist abroad, and if they do, how they are to be applied in die emerging South African e-education context. 3. Before e-Education can be introduced in public schools in KZN it must be determined what e-Education facilities are available in public schools in KZN, to serve as base line for what facilities need to be provided to schools by the educational authorities in order for e-education to succeed. This research used a quantitative research method to ascertain what the attitudes of learners in the Umlazi District of the Ethekwini Region in KZN, are towards e-Education. The research instrument that was used was a questionnaire to collect data. 800 questionnaires were disseminated and retrieved personally by the researcher at six approved schools. The survey was conducted among learners in Grade 9 andl 1 from a random selection of urban schools in theUmlazi District by the researcher, fellow researchers and the supervisor. The researcher used all 800 responses to set up the data base. The statistical program SPSS 13 was used to process and analyze the data that was collected. The following major findings emanate from this study: 1. No significant prior empirical research has been done about the state of ereadiness of learners in KwaZulu-Natal public schools. 2. The vast majority of learners are very positive about studying in an e-education environment. 3. Very few learners have been exposed to any form of e-education. 4. According to a case study reported, neither teachers nor learners were able to make effective use of sophisticated and expensive active boards that were donated by the British Department of Trade and Industry. / Thesis (M.Admin.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007.

The work introduces the reader the concept of e-learning and provides a structured view of the issue. Explanations of basic terms, forms, methods of implementation or inclusion e-learning in the education system forms makes the basis for understanding the importance of e-learning. The work is explained the issue of standardization, including a summary of the most used standards and the principle of their operation. Issue of e-learning implementation konstitute the fundamental part this work, and it is demonstrated by the example of a model society. There are recognized problem parts in the e-learning implementation, a comparison of possible solutions including design courses, which could be implemented. Component part of this work is the questionnaire survey among employees, potential students, to determine their perceptions of e-learning and in particular their requirements and expectations. For the sake of completeness are recognized developments and trends to e-learning step, and which have promising potential.

Aus der Ausgangssituation. "In den letzten Jahren wurden dem eLearning-Markt überproportionale Wachstumsraten durch die verschiedenen Marktanalysen vorhergesagt. Die ersten Prognosen sind nicht eingetreten. Trotz der allgemeinen Vorsicht werden auch in aktuelleren Marktanalysen höhere Ausgaben für eLearning in den Unternehmen prognostiziert (vgl. z. B. DETECON 02, S. 6, WANG u. a. 02, S. 230 und BENTLAGE u. a. 02, S. 131f.). Je nach Studie ist mit einem weltweiten eLearning-Marktvolumen von ca. 20 bis 40 Mrd. Dollar für 2004 zu rechnen (GRAUMANN u. a. 03, S. 422). Weiterhin kann bei der Betrachtung der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse zu eLearning, sowohl aus methodischdidaktischer als auch aus technologischer Sicht, von positiven Rahmenbedingungen ausgegangen werden."

As ferramentas mais comuns da internet, tais como correio eletrônico, chat, fórum estão sendo rapidamente incorporadas nas atividades diárias das escolas, nos cursos presenciais. De modo especial isso acontece também nas instituições que fazem uso de sistemas de gerenciamento de cursos, que oferece um ambiente de aprendizagem colaborativa, de modo a provocar uma maior interação entre os alunos e uma aprendizagem com mais qualidade. O objetivo desta dissertação foi identificar quão as tecnologias de comunicação de um ambiente de aprendizagem colaborativa estão sendo utilizadas e agregando valor a formação dos alunos. Dados foram coletados de 102 alunos de disciplinas semi-presenciais do primeiro semestre de 2004, que responderam perguntas versando sobre o domínio sobre a tecnologia, a importância dada as ferramentas de colaboração na condução da disciplina, a identificação de algumas características dessas tecnologias em sua formação discente. Também foi elaborado um estudo de caso a partir de entrevistas com professores de uma Instituição de ensino superior. As ferramentas mais utilizadas foram o correio eletrônico e o fórum. O chat foi considerado uma ferramenta pouco utilizada, embora tenha sido considerada importante para o \"sentimento de grupo\". A videoconferência, considerada inviável pelo seu alto custo de operacionalização, foi raramente utilizada, muito embora suas características para simular a sala de aula tenham sido evidenciadas. Recomendações foram dadas em relação a treinamentos de instrutores e de futuras pesquisas considerando a visão dos professores. / The most common tools of internet, such as electronic mail, chat and forum, are being rapidly incorporated in daily school activities. In a especial way, it also happens in institutions that make use of management courses systems, which offer a collaborative learning environment, in order to provoke a better integration between the students and a more qualified apprenticeship. The objective of this paper was to identify what communication technologies in a collaborative learning environment have being utilized and the value aggregated to the students background. Some data were collected from 102 students of school subjects in the first semester in the year of 2004. These students answered questions concerning the domain of technology, the importance given to the tools that collaborates on teaching the subject, the identification of technologies features for their background. It was also elaborated a study starting from interviews with professors of an upper teaching institution (college). The most utilized tools were the e-mail and forum. The chat wasn\'t considered a very utilized tool, although it has been considered important for the \"group sense\". The videoconference, considered impracticable by its high functional cost, was rarely utilized, although its characteristics to simulate the classroom have been highlighted. Some recommendations were made in relation to the training of instructors and of the future researches considering the professors point of view.

As ferramentas mais comuns da internet, tais como correio eletrônico, chat, fórum estão sendo rapidamente incorporadas nas atividades diárias das escolas, nos cursos presenciais. De modo especial isso acontece também nas instituições que fazem uso de sistemas de gerenciamento de cursos, que oferece um ambiente de aprendizagem colaborativa, de modo a provocar uma maior interação entre os alunos e uma aprendizagem com mais qualidade. O objetivo desta dissertação foi identificar quão as tecnologias de comunicação de um ambiente de aprendizagem colaborativa estão sendo utilizadas e agregando valor a formação dos alunos. Dados foram coletados de 102 alunos de disciplinas semi-presenciais do primeiro semestre de 2004, que responderam perguntas versando sobre o domínio sobre a tecnologia, a importância dada as ferramentas de colaboração na condução da disciplina, a identificação de algumas características dessas tecnologias em sua formação discente. Também foi elaborado um estudo de caso a partir de entrevistas com professores de uma Instituição de ensino superior. As ferramentas mais utilizadas foram o correio eletrônico e o fórum. O chat foi considerado uma ferramenta pouco utilizada, embora tenha sido considerada importante para o \"sentimento de grupo\". A videoconferência, considerada inviável pelo seu alto custo de operacionalização, foi raramente utilizada, muito embora suas características para simular a sala de aula tenham sido evidenciadas. Recomendações foram dadas em relação a treinamentos de instrutores e de futuras pesquisas considerando a visão dos professores. / The most common tools of internet, such as electronic mail, chat and forum, are being rapidly incorporated in daily school activities. In a especial way, it also happens in institutions that make use of management courses systems, which offer a collaborative learning environment, in order to provoke a better integration between the students and a more qualified apprenticeship. The objective of this paper was to identify what communication technologies in a collaborative learning environment have being utilized and the value aggregated to the students background. Some data were collected from 102 students of school subjects in the first semester in the year of 2004. These students answered questions concerning the domain of technology, the importance given to the tools that collaborates on teaching the subject, the identification of technologies features for their background. It was also elaborated a study starting from interviews with professors of an upper teaching institution (college). The most utilized tools were the e-mail and forum. The chat wasn\'t considered a very utilized tool, although it has been considered important for the \"group sense\". The videoconference, considered impracticable by its high functional cost, was rarely utilized, although its characteristics to simulate the classroom have been highlighted. Some recommendations were made in relation to the training of instructors and of the future researches considering the professors point of view.

Aus der Ausgangssituation. "In den letzten Jahren wurden dem eLearning-Markt überproportionale Wachstumsraten durch die verschiedenen Marktanalysen vorhergesagt. Die ersten Prognosen sind nicht eingetreten. Trotz der allgemeinen Vorsicht werden auch in aktuelleren Marktanalysen höhere Ausgaben für eLearning in den Unternehmen prognostiziert (vgl. z. B. DETECON 02, S. 6, WANG u. a. 02, S. 230 und BENTLAGE u. a. 02, S. 131f.). Je nach Studie ist mit einem weltweiten eLearning-Marktvolumen von ca. 20 bis 40 Mrd. Dollar für 2004 zu rechnen (GRAUMANN u. a. 03, S. 422). Weiterhin kann bei der Betrachtung der wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse zu eLearning, sowohl aus methodischdidaktischer als auch aus technologischer Sicht, von positiven Rahmenbedingungen ausgegangen werden."

This diploma thesis is about design and implementation of an e-learning system to help the students in daily course of Circuits Theory. This system works with different requirements based on special rights for appropriate user-groups. Implementation of the system requires support the specific mathematical formulas, creation of study materials and functions for testing knowledges in Circuits Theory and in Safety work on electrical devices. The system is implemented using XHTML and PHP, the design using cascade style sheets CSS. The educational material is created in XML, MathML and XSL languages and tests are saved in a database. The database is designed using the UML language and implemented in MySQL database system. This system is a part of diploma thesis.

This study investigates the use of telecentres for educational purposes in telecommunications under-serviced regions of South Africa. The problem addressed by this research has both equity and efficiency aspects. In particular, the thesis examines the impact of telecentres on the formal and non-formal education outcomes of recipient communities - four telecentres, two in townships and two in rural areas. The urban telecentres are Siyabonga in Orange Farm near Johannesburg and Mamelodi Communication and Information Services (MACIS), in Mamelodi township, near Pretoria in Gauteng Province. The rural telecentres are Tombo near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province and Hoxani near Bushbuckridge on the Mpumalanga-Limpopo Province border. The main aim of the research is to conduct a quantitative survey of the telecentre users’ use of telecentres in the above mentioned locations. On the basis of this, the thesis seeks to come to some conclusions about the use and effectiveness of the South African telecentre program. The quantitative analysis of users is supported by a qualitative report and analysis of data gathered through personal interviews of telecentre operators and employees. The thesis reports on the outputs of the centres, limitations in their function, inhibitors to their economic performance, and recommendations for improving their operations. Some of the findings are that telecentres established through public-private partnership (PPP) funding are more effective and successful, computer literacy is a major resource offered, Hoxani telecentre offers outcomes-based education management skills training for local teachers, while Tombo, MACIS and Siyabonga telecentres offer additional business and electronic courses. The thesis also reviews the South African telecentre program against the background of similar programs in selected Asian and Latin American countries, Australia, Canada, and Europe and against the background of an analysis of South African post-apartheid telecommunications sector reforms (1996 to 2007). Insights into the unique nature of challenges facing geographically located telecentres as well as a new model for understanding telecentre operations in South Africa are offered. / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil.(Communication Science)

This study investigates the use of telecentres for educational purposes in telecommunications under-serviced regions of South Africa. The problem addressed by this research has both equity and efficiency aspects. In particular, the thesis examines the impact of telecentres on the formal and non-formal education outcomes of recipient communities - four telecentres, two in townships and two in rural areas. The urban telecentres are Siyabonga in Orange Farm near Johannesburg and Mamelodi Communication and Information Services (MACIS), in Mamelodi township, near Pretoria in Gauteng Province. The rural telecentres are Tombo near Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape Province and Hoxani near Bushbuckridge on the Mpumalanga-Limpopo Province border. The main aim of the research is to conduct a quantitative survey of the telecentre users’ use of telecentres in the above mentioned locations. On the basis of this, the thesis seeks to come to some conclusions about the use and effectiveness of the South African telecentre program. The quantitative analysis of users is supported by a qualitative report and analysis of data gathered through personal interviews of telecentre operators and employees. The thesis reports on the outputs of the centres, limitations in their function, inhibitors to their economic performance, and recommendations for improving their operations. Some of the findings are that telecentres established through public-private partnership (PPP) funding are more effective and successful, computer literacy is a major resource offered, Hoxani telecentre offers outcomes-based education management skills training for local teachers, while Tombo, MACIS and Siyabonga telecentres offer additional business and electronic courses. The thesis also reviews the South African telecentre program against the background of similar programs in selected Asian and Latin American countries, Australia, Canada, and Europe and against the background of an analysis of South African post-apartheid telecommunications sector reforms (1996 to 2007). Insights into the unique nature of challenges facing geographically located telecentres as well as a new model for understanding telecentre operations in South Africa are offered. / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil.(Communication Science)