The main purpose of this research is to establish whether ICT models as implemented in distance education do help to render desirable results (increment in throughput, meeting clientele expectations, and reduction in learner drop-outs). If it is not the case, what could be done to overcome the established hindrance? The researcher employed programme evaluation (PE) which integrates both the positivistic and phenomenological aspects of research. The samples were drawn from the population group through probability and non-probability techniques. Different research strategies within PE such as discovery, inspection and auditing were at first employed to gauge the physical presence of what is being achieved by Unisa through use of myUnisa & DVC; followed by the use of the surveys (personal interviews, administered questionnaires, focus group interviews). The ultimate outcomes of the said research activities are audiovisual recordings, statistically analysed transcripts and questionnaire data. The researcher employed the following key questions in grappling with issues in this area; their findings are also given: i. Does the application of ICTs facilitate and enhance flexible learning at Unisa? With reference to flexible delivery as it relates to aspect of teaching and learning in Engineering, it has been established that minimal use is made of ICTs. Are the technologies correctly applied for teaching and learning? Based on the evidence of research findings it has been established that technology application is mainly used for administrative support rather than for teaching and learning. iii. Do the instructional design and technological applications meet the needs of their users? As matters stand, the study suggests that users' expectations through rating their perceptions and attitudes (academics, tutors, instructional designers, multimedia developers and learners), are far from being met (as all the critical parts of the models are not yet in place regarding the Engineering and other departments). According to the main finding, while there is some evidence of efforts aimed at proper implementation, underutilisation of the ICTs appears to be the main problem, as established at Unisa and elsewhere. The research is concluded through a number of recommendations based on the established findings. / Educational Studies / (D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies))

This study was devoted to researching the effectiveness of e-learning, in terms of the reported experiences of the Language Services section employees in Parliament RSA. At present, the internet is seen as a successful and influential educational tool in both academic and corporate institutions. Academically, it has been adopted for e-learning methods of teaching and learning. It is perceived as a cost-effective method of providing lifelong education. It is important to know about the pros and cons of e-learning in adult education and compare them with the experiences of the people who are and have been engaged in adult education. To create an adult education skills development framework that can be used successfully in e-learning, it is important to get information about and from the people concerned regarding their learning experiences. To understand more about the influence of e-learning, this study administered a questionnaire to the employees of the Language Services Section of Parliament who participated in the pilot learning programmes offered by Parliament. The questionnaire was designed to gather structured responses from the participants in the inquiry. The results were studied and applied to draw recommendations for what can be improved in the programme to promote and endorse continuing learning experiences as is the aim of the in-house programme offered by Parliament. The study also has relevance in terms of a discussion of issues that arise in the literature on adult education, which were located as part of the study. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

Denna studie har sin grund i ett uppdrag från Trafikverket med avsikt att förbättra kompetensutvecklingen inom organisationen. Idag bygger grundutbildningen för operativa tjänster på traditionella teorier kring lärande. Utgångspunkten för vår studie är att det krävs mer forskning kring hur organisationer kan arbeta med att integrera ett flexibelt lärande vid kompetensutveckling. Syftet med denna studie är således att beskriva hur en statlig myndighet kan arbeta för att integrera ett flexibelt lärande i grundutbildningen för operativ tjänst. I studiens teoridel presenteras teorier kring flexibelt lärande, lärmiljöer, kompetensutveckling, olika utbildningsmetoder som exempelvis e-learning och flipped classroom, effekter av utbildning, hur vuxna lär samt teorier kring lärstilar. Metoden utgår från kvalitativ metod i form av en fallstudie. Semistrukturerade intervjuer har genomförts med sex respondenter från Trafikledningscentralen i Gävle, varav fyra tågklarerare och två instruktörer. Resultatet tyder på att respondenterna generellt sett är nöjda med dagens grundutbildning för operativ tjänst men att dagens utformning saknar utrymme för flexibelt lärande. Det har även framkommit faktorer som ansågs främja lärandet, exempelvis gruppens betydelse för lärandet samt vikten av praktik. Slutsatser som tagits baserat på resultatanalysen är att Trafikverket bör se över vissa områden vid utvecklingen av grundutbildningen för operativ tjänst samt vid implementerandet av ett flexibelt lärande. Trafikverket bör skapa förutsättningar för den tysta kunskapen att förmedlas i virtuella lärmiljöer, de bör identifiera styrkor och svagheter med dagens IT-baserade utbildningsformer och ta hänsyn till resultatet vid en vidareutveckling av grundutbildningen. Vidare bör Trafikverket öka användandet av simulatorer som en del i att uppnå ett flexibelt lärande och slutligen bör de ta tillvara på de faktorer som medarbetarna uppskattar med utbildning och implementera dessa i IT-baserade utbildningar för att uppnå effektiv e-learning. / This study is based on an assignment from Trafikverket with the intention of improving the competence development within the organization. Basic education for operational services builds currently based on traditional theories of learning. The starting point for our study is that more research is required on how organizations can work to integrate flexible learning in skills development. The aim of this study is to describe how a government agency can work to integrate flexible learning in basic education for operational service. The theoretical part presents theories about flexible learning, learning environments, skills development, various education methods such as e-learning and flipped classroom, effects of education, how adults learn and theories about learning styles. The method is based on a qualitative method in the form of a case study. Semi-structured interviews have been conducted with six respondents from the Traffic Management Center in Gävle, including four trainers and two instructors. The result indicates that respondents generally are satisfied with the basic education for operational service, but the design lacks scope for flexible learning. We have identified factors that were considered to promote learning, such as the importance of the group and the internship. The conclusions taken based on analysis of the result are that Trafikverket should review some areas in the development of basic education for operational service and in the implementation of flexible learning. Trafikverket should create conditions for the tacit knowledge to be communicated in virtual learning environments, they should identify strengths and weaknesses with today's IT-based forms of education and consider the results of further development of basic education. Furthermore, Trafikverket should increase the use of simulators as part of achieving flexible learning and finally they should take advantage of the factors that employees appreciate in the education and implement them in IT-based education to achieve effective e-learning.

<p>Open and flexible learning can offer the prospective student a smorgasbord of possible learning activities. This study will investigate if this form of education really suits all students through an examination of relevant factors such as learning process expectations, attendance motives, study approaches (Biggs SPQ), communication initiative, expectation-based study and, finally, background variables such as socioeconomic status. Are there any variables that correlate positive to academic performance? If so, what are these variables and which are most important? This case study is an analysis of academic success involving 174 students in a business administration course in higher education.</p><p>Open and flexible learning is an approach in which distance education and campus mode converge. The emphasis shift is to the individual student’s needs and preferences, which enables students to choose there own learning paths and thus stimulates active and independent learning. The goal is to enable more effective management of learning by the learner. Open and flexible learning is often mentioned as a way to access higher education for non-traditional students. There is a large body of research, with a wide variety of theoretical frameworks and models, that try to explain, describe or predict students’ success. The research points to the fact that there is no one simple explanation or solution to help students towards degree completion or fulfilment of their goals.</p><p>A statistical correlation analysis is conducted in this study and a binary logistic regression is used to construct three models of the most important variables. The first model is based on data about the students that is known before a course starts. The second model includes variables that could be collected at the course start. The third model includes variables that could be collected when the students have attended the course. The result shows that the most important variable for academic success in the course is an achievement-oriented approach to learning. The second most important variable is expectation of the learning process as an individual activity. Other variables such as socioeconomic status and other background variables have less impact. The possibility to predict the academic success is 81 % and the third model explains 46-64 % of the variance of the academic outcome. The conclusion in this study is that the non-traditional students in the Business Administration course receives equal to, if not better results as the other students.</p>

Open and flexible learning can offer the prospective student a smorgasbord of possible learning activities. This study will investigate if this form of education really suits all students through an examination of relevant factors such as learning process expectations, attendance motives, study approaches (Biggs SPQ), communication initiative, expectation-based study and, finally, background variables such as socioeconomic status. Are there any variables that correlate positive to academic performance? If so, what are these variables and which are most important? This case study is an analysis of academic success involving 174 students in a business administration course in higher education. Open and flexible learning is an approach in which distance education and campus mode converge. The emphasis shift is to the individual student’s needs and preferences, which enables students to choose there own learning paths and thus stimulates active and independent learning. The goal is to enable more effective management of learning by the learner. Open and flexible learning is often mentioned as a way to access higher education for non-traditional students. There is a large body of research, with a wide variety of theoretical frameworks and models, that try to explain, describe or predict students’ success. The research points to the fact that there is no one simple explanation or solution to help students towards degree completion or fulfilment of their goals. A statistical correlation analysis is conducted in this study and a binary logistic regression is used to construct three models of the most important variables. The first model is based on data about the students that is known before a course starts. The second model includes variables that could be collected at the course start. The third model includes variables that could be collected when the students have attended the course. The result shows that the most important variable for academic success in the course is an achievement-oriented approach to learning. The second most important variable is expectation of the learning process as an individual activity. Other variables such as socioeconomic status and other background variables have less impact. The possibility to predict the academic success is 81 % and the third model explains 46-64 % of the variance of the academic outcome. The conclusion in this study is that the non-traditional students in the Business Administration course receives equal to, if not better results as the other students.

The main purpose of this research is to establish whether ICT models as implemented in distance education do help to render desirable results (increment in throughput, meeting clientele expectations, and reduction in learner drop-outs). If it is not the case, what could be done to overcome the established hindrance? The researcher employed programme evaluation (PE) which integrates both the positivistic and phenomenological aspects of research. The samples were drawn from the population group through probability and non-probability techniques. Different research strategies within PE such as discovery, inspection and auditing were at first employed to gauge the physical presence of what is being achieved by Unisa through use of myUnisa & DVC; followed by the use of the surveys (personal interviews, administered questionnaires, focus group interviews). The ultimate outcomes of the said research activities are audiovisual recordings, statistically analysed transcripts and questionnaire data. The researcher employed the following key questions in grappling with issues in this area; their findings are also given: i. Does the application of ICTs facilitate and enhance flexible learning at Unisa? With reference to flexible delivery as it relates to aspect of teaching and learning in Engineering, it has been established that minimal use is made of ICTs. Are the technologies correctly applied for teaching and learning? Based on the evidence of research findings it has been established that technology application is mainly used for administrative support rather than for teaching and learning. iii. Do the instructional design and technological applications meet the needs of their users? As matters stand, the study suggests that users' expectations through rating their perceptions and attitudes (academics, tutors, instructional designers, multimedia developers and learners), are far from being met (as all the critical parts of the models are not yet in place regarding the Engineering and other departments). According to the main finding, while there is some evidence of efforts aimed at proper implementation, underutilisation of the ICTs appears to be the main problem, as established at Unisa and elsewhere. The research is concluded through a number of recommendations based on the established findings. / Educational Studies / (D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies))

Examensarbetet syftar till att bidra med kunskap om hur flexibla lärmiljöer beskrivs och förstås i forskningspublikationer inom det internationella forskningsfältet Lärmiljöer. Med avstamp i rumslig teori undersöks vilka resultat som tidigare forskning presenterar i relation till flexibla lärmiljöer. Vidare undersöks vilka eventuella rumsliga dimensioner som tillskrivs dem samt hur begreppet flexibilitet beskrivs, förstås och appliceras på flexibla lärmiljöer.   För att söka svar på studiens frågeställningar genomfördes en kvalitativ kunskapsöversikt genom insamling av data via databassökning. Studieobjektet utgörs av tidigare genomförda forskningsstudier från åren mellan 1989-2021. Utvalda vetenskapliga artiklar granskades, kartlades, rapporterades, analyserades och syntetiserades i framträdande teman.  Huvudresultatet visar bland annat att flexibla lärmiljöer blir ett allt vanligare inslag i och med en ökad orientering mot elevcentrerad och individbaserad undervisning. En sådan undervisning kräver att lärmiljöerna baseras på individens behov och möjliggör variationsrika metoder varför många skolor genomgår en övergång från traditionella klassrum till flexibla lärmiljöer. Ytterligare resultat pekar på att en sådan övergång är förenad med många utmaningar på grund av att utformningen av den fysiska miljön med ökad flexibilitet och de öppnare ytorna inte alltid är i samspel med organisering och pedagogisk praxis. En övergripande slutsats utifrån studien är att flexibiliteten leder till ökade valmöjligheter för lärarna vad gäller ändamålsenlig utformning av lärmiljön och att kunskap om rumslig teori och begreppet flexibilitet kan öka lärares rumsliga medvetenhet och kompetens så att den ökade flexibiliteten i högre grad kan uppfattas som möjligheter snarare än hinder.

This study was devoted to researching the effectiveness of e-learning, in terms of the reported experiences of the Language Services section employees in Parliament RSA. At present, the internet is seen as a successful and influential educational tool in both academic and corporate institutions. Academically, it has been adopted for e-learning methods of teaching and learning. It is perceived as a cost-effective method of providing lifelong education. It is important to know about the pros and cons of e-learning in adult education and compare them with the experiences of the people who are and have been engaged in adult education. To create an adult education skills development framework that can be used successfully in e-learning, it is important to get information about and from the people concerned regarding their learning experiences. To understand more about the influence of e-learning, this study administered a questionnaire to the employees of the Language Services Section of Parliament who participated in the pilot learning programmes offered by Parliament. The questionnaire was designed to gather structured responses from the participants in the inquiry. The results were studied and applied to draw recommendations for what can be improved in the programme to promote and endorse continuing learning experiences as is the aim of the in-house programme offered by Parliament. The study also has relevance in terms of a discussion of issues that arise in the literature on adult education, which were located as part of the study. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

This thesis offers an assessment design for collaborative learning, utilisation of blended learning support through current communication technologies and highlights the crucial role of the tutor. The thesis designed and tested a theoretical framework which encompassed an active learning environment and resulted in the development of the shamrock conceptual framework. To test the theoretical framework, clarify the role of the tutor and the impact on the learner experience two studies were undertaken using pedagogical models that combined the concepts of learner-centric, sociocultural and dialogic perspectives on collaborative learning and technology in meeting the needs of learners in the 21st Century. In the first study, the role of the tutor was found to be crucial in setting, implementing and guiding learners using the assessment design as part of a social constructivist pedagogical practice. The pedagogical approach adopted was to blend face-to-face and Wiki learning experiences and was found to promote learner ownership, engagement and the fostering of a learning community. The second study validated the first and provided additional asynchronous technology experiences in addition to the Wiki blend in the assessment design. Study 2 examined the role of the tutor and the learner whilst using current technologies comprising podcasts and video and a Wiki in the collaborative experience. Findings showed that the Wiki supported community and collaborative aspects of a sociocultural practice whilst learners were engaged in authentic learning activities and led to a well supported learning environment. The importance of technology design and use to accommodate collaborative and community aspects was found to be an essential component. It was found that technology is not simply an add-on but rather needs to be planned and considered purposefully by both tutors and learners when used in a blend to supplement learning on campus as part of an assessment design in higher education. This study has shown that, for this to happen, academics need to be provided with the appropriate support, knowledge and skills required in developing a blended learning experience using a Wiki supplemented by class contact on campus as part of an assessment design.