Masters of Commerce / Information and Communication Technology is a mixed set of technological tools and resources used to create and manage information. It involves technologies such as radio, television, video, DVD, telephone (both fixed line and mobile phones), satellite systems, computer (network hardware and software) as well as the tools and services associated with these technologies. ICT is increasingly seen as a major enabler of efficiencies and a catalyst for innovations. With adequate skills to effectively use ICT, it can also prove to be a foundation upon which sustainable socio-economic developments can be built. The problem in South Africa, however, is that of a severe shortage of technical skills in the ICT sector. The paradox is that despite the efforts at national, provincial and organisational levels to redress the shortage of skills, the problem persists. The aim of this study thus, was to understand the magnitude of skills shortages in under-developed areas of the Eastern Cape, so as to inform corrective measures. The Actor Network Theory (ANT) was used mainly as an analytical framework to analyse the problem of e-Skills shortages in South Africa. ANT helped in framing the context of the problem. It offered useful lenses of viewing the e-Skills development phenomenon as a network of stakeholders (actors), subjects (actants), processes and a determinant of information flows within the e-Skills development network. The study was mostly descriptive (and partly explanatory), seeking to clarify the status quo, the causes, and ultimately, to explore appropriate solutions. The interpretive approach was followed to conduct qualitative research. In this instance, a purposive sampling method was used to draw participants mainly from un/employed grade 12 (grade 12) graduates of 26 participants, consisting of 18 to 35 years of age. Participants were also drawn from high-level management in the training and development organisations and local employers of ICT graduates of Centane and Butterworth villages in the Eastern Cape. Content analysis technique was used to analyse and interpret data. Findings do reflect a severe lack of basic ICT skills, with causal factors varying from a lack of awareness about ICT careers, to a lack of access to ICT tools, with the majority of the affected grade 12 graduates neither being employed nor doing any tertiary studies. It is therefore recommended for the government to revisit the e-Skills policy and its implementation structures in rural areas. The Department of Education (DoE) in the Eastern Cape should also create educational networks that will provide remote schools with low cost, but high performance Internet access. A re-look into the general quality of education in rural areas is also urgent.

Background: Aspects of digital competence associated with occupation, participation, well-being, and health are core concerns of occupational therapy. Nevertheless, there is limited information collected about stroke survivors’ digital competences. Consequences of digitalization are lacking clarity in the field of occupational therapy.  Aim/Objective: The purpose of the study is to (1) explore the literature and identify digital competences for older adults to participate in eHealth and, in relation to that, (2) describe stroke survivors’ digital competences in eHealth. Material and Methods: Scoping review aimed to examine the extent, range, and nature of the literature on digital competences of stroke survivors’ in eHealth and identify research gaps. MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched. Results: 13 studies met the inclusion criteria from 599 identified. Three themes emerged: ‘Information and data literacy’, ‘Communication and Collaboration’, and ‘Problem solving’. Conclusions: Methodological gaps in the study revealed that before doing an intervention study in telerehabilitation, there is a need for occupational therapists to consider stroke survivors’ needs of education about technology and eHealth in order to ensure successful participation. Significance: Further studies in the field can encourage occupational therapy with its unique focus on occupation contribute to the changes digitalisation brought into peoples’ everyday live.

SUMMARY: This thesis presents the possibilities and benefits of the use of anchoring vignettes method in educational science, in connection with information and communication technologies (ICT). It is the first ever use of the anchoring vignettes method in this field. In its theoretical part, the thesis introduces the works of other authors in which research was done with the use of self- assessment questions. It also shows the research using the anchoring vignettes method, and research in which this methodology was used in educational science. The practical part presents the results of the author's own survey, which shows the diversity of self-assessment of ICT knowledge and skills of Year 1 and 2 students at secondary schools. The thesis proves distinctive subjectivity in students' self-assessment, different usage of the scale by respondents and the purposefullness of using the anchoring vignettes method in this field. First and foremost, it shows an entirely different self-assessment of students of different study programmes, genders etc. before and after the correction using the anchoring vignettes method.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-11T15:31:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 alcinetesantoscastro.pdf: 2352922 bytes, checksum: 51a52531c5b2629864611351bc9fabfc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-04-18T12:48:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 alcinetesantoscastro.pdf: 2352922 bytes, checksum: 51a52531c5b2629864611351bc9fabfc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-18T12:48:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 alcinetesantoscastro.pdf: 2352922 bytes, checksum: 51a52531c5b2629864611351bc9fabfc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-01 / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo identificar os fatores impactam na predisposição dos docentes para utilizar o Diário Digital. O Diário Digital é uma ferramenta do Sistema de Gestão Educacional do Amazonas (Sigeam), da Secretaria de Educação e Qualidade do Estado do Amazonas (Seduc/AM), criado para substituir o antigo diário em papel utilizado pela maioria das escolas do país. O processo de implantação foi construído através de um projeto piloto em duas unidades escolares, com uma expansão gradativa até que, em 2013, julgando que o projeto estivesse consolidado, a Seduc/AM implantou essa ferramenta nas 226 escolas estaduais de Manaus. Após a implantação, vários problemas apareceram tais como: internet lenta e sem sinal prejudica o uso da ferramenta, clareza de como funciona a plataforma, computadores insuficientes nas escolas, perda de dados, não permissão direta para fazer avaliação com alunos que vieram de outra escola e não trouxeram notas, conteúdo programático não compatível com a grade curricular, falta de legislação específica, falta de capacitação para os usuários, dentre outras. Para cumprir o objetivo da dissertação, foi realizada uma revisão teórica e um estudo empírico. Na parte empírica, foram aplicados dois grupos focais em escolas com perfis diferentes e a aplicação de um survey com 207 docentes da rede estadual de Manaus. Com base no referencial teórico e nos resultados da pesquisa, é apresentado a Seduc/AM, um Plano de Ação Educacional (PAE), em que foram sugeridas propostas de melhorias para o uso do Diário Digital como: contratação de internet banda larga nas escolas, ampliação da quantidade de computadores na sala dos professores, criação de legislação específica, capacitação para os professores utilizarem as TICs nas escolas, inserção de links na Interface gráfica do Diário digital e mudança de autenticação para acesso ao diário digital através de e-mail. / This research paper has the objective to identify the factors that affect the predisposition of teachers for using the Digital Teacher Class Record. The Digital Teacher Class Record is a tool for Educational Management System of the State of Amazonas (Sigeam) and the Amazon's Secretariat of Education (Seduc / AM), created to replace the old daily booklet used by most schools in our country. The implementation process was built as a pilot project in two school units, with a gradual expansion until, in 2013, assuming that the project was consolidated; the Seduc / AM implemented this tool in 226 state public schools in Manaus. After implementation, several problems arose such as slow internet and no signal affect the use of the tool, clarity of how the platform works, insufficient computers in schools, loss of data, no direct permission to perform the evaluation with students who came from another school without results, program content is not compatible with the curriculum, lack of specific legislation, lack of training for users, among others. To comply with the objective of the paper, a theoretical review and an empirical study was conducted. In the empirical part, they were applied two focus groups in schools with different profiles and the application of a survey of 207 teachers of Manaus state school. Based on the theoretical framework and the results of the research, it is presented to Seduc / AM, an Educational Action Plan (PAE), where improvement proposals will be suggested to use the Digital Teacher Class Record such as: contracting broadband internet in schools, Increasing the number of computers in the teachers' room, creating specific legislation, training teachers to use ICTs in schools, inserting links in the Digital Diary Graphical Interface and changing authentication for access to the digital diary through e-mail.

The aim of this thesis was to ascertain the self-assessment of university students with various specializations, in their knowledge of information and communication technology (ICT). The theoretical part concerns with self-assessment as concept and methods pertaining to its verification. It also contains a detailed description of the anchoring vignettes method with its application in specific areas. Also discussed is the Overclaiming Technique. An evaluation has been conducted in the empirical part, which elaborates on self-assessment of ICT terms of various groups of students. Anchoring vignettes method is used in order to amend said self-assessment. Aforementioned part of the thesis also contains the use of overclaiming technique in practise, which is demonstrated on a specifically devised questionnaire. In this questionnaire, the students were asked to evaluate their level of understanding both existing and non-existing terms from the ICT area. The results have shown that there are significant differences between the questioned groups of students. The numbers indicate that students of ICT have a greater tendency to exaggerate the level of their knowledge in the area of information and communication technologies. Much more so than students who specialize in different subject.

This study produced a theoretically grounded model of professional development suited for supporting teachers in Hong Kong to embed Information and Communication Technologies into the Primary School Curriculum. The model was developed and tested over two years through an intervention based on participatory action research involving school staff and the researcher as a critical friend. The model was tested through the analysis of extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of teacher behaviours and curricular documents. Teachers' beliefs and practices were found to change significantly during the first year of the project and were further refined during the second year. Leadership, collegial support, physical infrastructure, teacher self-efficacy, and technical knowledge were identified as the most important factors underpinning the successful implementation of the program. The model addresses these factors and has considerable potential to impact on educational practice involving ICT in the Hong Kong context.

There is a shortage of information systems (IS) professionals in South Africa. This IS skills shortage is growing, as attempts to reduce the scarcity of IS skills through (i) ICT-enabled education-focussed development and (ii) IS education initiatives are not increasing IS skills levels in South Africa fast enough to keep up with global growth trends in IS skills. The South African demand for tertiary-level IS skills continues to outgrow the supply. This study aims to explain the nature of this skills shortage, and to address this shortage by finding ways to increase the quantity and quality of students enrolling for and graduating in IS [and IS-related] graduate courses at tertiary education institutions in South Africa. This study, in three sequential parts, finds (i) ways to improve the impact and sustainability of existing ICT-enabled education-focussed development projects, (ii) reasons and solutions for the lack of tertiary level IS students (and graduates) from a human capacity-building perspective, and (iii) meaningful results from two case study projects engaged in by the researcher that suggest short transition and reskilling courses as a workable solution to the mentioned skills shortage. The findings from these three parts lead to practical considerations for South African IS departments, informed by a graduate development framework, that will guide IS departments towards optimising the quality and quantity of tertiary-level IS students in South Africa. The resulting framework, the IS Graduate Development Framework, includes a sensitivity towards increasing the employability and entrepreneurial potential of IS students. The results from using the framework as measuring tool include several new insights regarding the kind of IS development project [or course] that best facilitates the development of more high-quality, industry-ready IS graduates, and lead to practical improvements in existing IS courses at a local university. These improvements include the development of a mobile application, as part of one of the case study projects, to facilitate higher levels of industry involvement, sufficient information delivery, changing popular perceptions of IS, and long-term relationships with students that can be used to motivate student career choice. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lk2013 / Informatics / unrestricted

Magister Commercii - MCom / The humble Pong arcade game at the corner store ignited a fundamental culture shift in the 1970s and it is increasingly gaining momentum. A generation of gamers is already permeating organisations. The socio-cultural phenomenon of digital gaming has become pervasive. The intersection point of the three trends, Ubiquitous Computing, Ubiquitous Gaming and Social Networking, is the focus point of this study. It is at this intersection point that both social online gaming and cutting-edge leadership competencies co-exist and have the potential to flourish when implemented with caution and circumspection. Leadership is frequently touted as an almost mystical holy grail in modern business. Leadership :pevelopment is therefore often recognised as a critical pivot for business success. If business leaders can successfully utilise game-based learning to maximise their return on investment in Leadership Development initiatives, this may not only increase business metrics, but also enable business leaders to leave a lasting legacy by sculpting new generations of leaders who are ready and able to face the future. Social Online Simulation Gaming (SOSG) as a learning design and learning technology can prove particularly valuable as a leadership and skills development tool within the "digimodem" world. Current literature, however, does not provide a clearly focused framework for the implementation of ICT supported game-based Leadership Development technologies within the information economy. Current literature fails to integrate and take into account aspects critical to the successful utilisation of SOSG, such as the principles of "Flow Design", the often "Puppet Master" role and the interrelatedness, even interdependence, of the required utilisation competencies There is currently not a clear and specific framework for evaluating the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) competencies, knowledge, skills and attitudes required to successfully use Socia1 ·bnline Simulation Games software within the context of Organisational Leaden;hip Development. This study aimed to create and refine a framework for evaluating the ICT competencies required to successfully implement SOSG as Leadership Development tool.

The United Nations has stated nine targets in the process to reach their sustainable development goal number five: to achieve gender equality in 2030. One of them is to enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology (ICT), to promote the empowerment of women. One important tool to enabling ICT for women is through education. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of an ICT skill training for female university students and recent graduates in Tanzania. A field study was carried out in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where a case study was conducted at Help to Help’s IT boot camp, a 6-day long ICT training for 82 female university students and recent graduates. The data were collected with mixed methods, mainly through a two-part survey which was complemented with interviews, a pre- and post- skill test, observations, and a workshop during the training. The data have been analysed with a thematical and a statistical analysis using the method paired t-test. By participating in the training, the women gain the expected ICT skills, and those skills are relevant for a future employment. The IT boot camp contributes to increasing the women’s confidence and interest in using ICT. Their general confidence is increased as well, however there is still a gap between their practical knowledge and their dreams to start and run their own business by self-employment. Furthermore, the IT boot camp contributes to awareness of gender equality. For many of the participants this is the beginning of a long process towards awareness and addressing gender issues in their everyday life. The analysis indicates there could be some improvement in the training to increase the probability of a future employmentfor the women. The training goes in line with and is a contributing factor to the United Nations sustainable development goals in 2030, particularly goal number five: to achieve gender equality. / Förenata nationerna har fastställt nio strategier i processen för att nå det globala hållbarhetsmålet nummer fem: att uppnå jämställdhet år 2030. En av strategierna är att öka användningen av teknologi, i synnerhet informations- och kommunikationsteknik (IKT), för att främja stärkandet av kvinnor. För att möjliggöra och öka IKT-användningen är utbildning ett viktigt verktyg. Syftet med denna studie är att utvärdera resultatet av en IKT-utbildning för kvinnliga universitetsstudenter och nyutexaminerade i Tanzania.  En fältstudie urfördes i Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, fär en fallstudie på Help to Helps IT boot camp, en 6 dagar lång IKT-utbildning för 82 kvinnliga universitetsstudenter och nyutexaminerade, genomfördes. Data samlades in med blandade metoder, främst genom en tvådelad enkätundersökning som kompletterades med intervjuer, ett för- och efterfärdighetstest, observationer samt en workshop under utbildningen. Data analyserades med en tematisk och en statistisk analys med hjölp av ett paired t-test. Genom att delta i utbildningen tillgodoser sig kvinnorna de förväntade IKT-färdigheterna, vilka är relevanta för en framtida anställning. IKT-utbildningen bidrar till att öka kvinnors självförtroende och intresse att använda IKT samtidigt som deras generella självförtroende ökar. Det finns dock ett gap mellan kvinnornas självförtroende att starta och driva eget företag och deras praktiska kunskaper att göra det. Vidare bidrar IKT-utbildningen till en ökad medvetenhet om jämställdhet. För många av deltagarna är detta början på en lång process att förstå och identifiera jämställdhet i deras vardag. Analysen indikerar att det finns utrymme till att förbättra utbildningen för att öka sannolikheten för en framtida anställning för kvinnorna. Utbildningen går i linje med och är en bidragande faktor till Förenta nationernas globala mål för hållbar utveckling år 2030, framför allt mål nummer fem: att uppnå jämställdhet.

This dissertation deals with the use of the Anchoring Vignette Method in educational research carried out to establish the level of information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge and skills, with the focus on Czech upper-secondary school students. The theoretical part describes curricular documents that define the ICT knowledge and skills. In the Czech Republic that means mainly the Framework Educational Programmes. Attention is also paid to the international document DigComp. The Anchoring Vignette Method with the focus on nonparametric approach of this method is described in detail too. The author also provides an overview of available Czech and foreign bibliography on ICT knowledge and skills research - including the International Computer and Information Literacy (ICILS, 2013 and 2018) - and on the use of the Anchoring Vignette Method in educational research. The empirical part includes the description of the steps taken in formulating anchoring vignettes, this being an integral part of the Anchoring Vignette Method, in accordance with the curricular documents of the Czech Republic, and the steps taken while formulating anchoring vignettes on the basis of the international document DigComp. The verification of the fulfilment of the Anchoring Vignette Method assumptions (vignette...