Information and communication technology (ICT) is considered a vital enabler in the quest to reduce the disparities between the developed and developing world. Developments in mobile technology have dramatically changed the ICT landscape. Mobile cellular technologies have flourished and proliferated more rapidly than any previous technology hitherto and is thus considered, at this time, the most pervasive technology in the world. However, the introduction of mobile ICT in rural formal education is faced with many challenges and ways in which to maximise its usage is still being explored. This research explores mobile digital literacy skills required by a rural educator to successfully integrate mobile technology into the classroom. This exploration used the ICT for rural education development (ICT4RED) project as its case study and added dimensions to the project through the development of a framework for mobile digital literacy skills. ICT4RED was an appropriate case for the exploration as it met the following criteria: educators were using mobile technologies in the classroom, educators had been part of the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) course offered by the ICT4RED project and educators were based in a rural resource-constrained area in South Africa. Questionnaires were used to gain insight into which skills educators rated as most important, and least important, as based on their teaching experience using mobile technologies in the classroom. The work is grounded on an interpretivist research philosophy and followed an inductive reasoning approach. Additionally, the research employed a qualitative method of analysis with a single case study, comprising of two units, facilitating a perspective of the phenomenon. Framework development was enabled through a literature review which assisted in theorising the mobile digital literacy skills. An expert review, followed by a questionnaire driven survey for educators, was conducted. The qualitative analysis revealed that most of the mobile digital literacy skills from literature were important and should be employed. The majority of educators and experts felt that the skills could not be categorised as, due to the lack of resources, most are considered very important. The lack of stable internet connection/s were also considered a major (if not the major) hindrance to successful mobile integration in rural areas. The main research question answered by this study is: How can a framework for educators’ mobile digital literacy skills support educators using mobile technology in formal rural education? The findings of this research should be significant to developers of mobile technology training programmes, as well as educators trying to successfully integrate mobile technology into their classrooms. The framework will enable both trainers and educators to prioritise skills and channel resources into the acquisition of those skills which have been identified as important by this research work. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

The integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the curriculum has become the major issue worldwide. The education system does not only pursue the integration of ICT into the curriculum because of its popularity in the market system, but because of the role it is perceived to play in the changing curriculum (encourages active construction of knowledge). According to White Paper 7 e-Education policy (2004:17) every South African learner should be able to use ICTs confidently and creatively to develop the skills and knowledge they need to achieve personal goals and to be full participants in the global community by 2013. The central role played by teachers in teaching and learning requires them to have a holistic understanding of ICT integration. Furthermore they should be able to analyse when ICT integration is appropriate according to what is expected from the learner in the teaching and learning process. Drawing on the evidence from a survey of nine secondary schools in the Grahamstown Circuit of the Eastern Cape, this study examines how teachers from three different types of secondary schools: Former Department of Education (FDET) schools, Former House of Representatives (FHOR) schools and Former Model C (FMC) schools perceive the integration of ICTs in the curriculum. The salient ideas of how teachers perceive the integration of ICTs into the curriculum emerge from what they view as benefits of using ICT and what they view as challenges of integrating ICT into the curriculum. Contrary to expectations, the degree of ICT integration within the curriculum did not correspond directly with the availability of sufficient hardware, software or Internet connectivity at the participating schools.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are becoming more pervasive in South African schools and are increasingly considered valuable tools in education, promoting the development of higher cognitive processes and allowing teachers and learners access to a plethora of information. This study investigates models of Internet connectivity for secondary schools in the Grahamstown Circuit. The various networking technologies currently available to South African schools, or likely to become available to South African schools in the future, are described along with the telecommunications legislation which governs their use in South Africa. Furthermore, current ICT in education projects taking place in South Africa are described together with current ICT in education policy in South Africa. This information forms the backdrop of a detailed schools survey that was conducted at all the 13 secondary schools in the Grahamstown Circuit and enriched with experimental work in the provision of metropolitan network links to selected schools, mostly via Wi-Fi. The result of the investigation is the proposal of a Grahamstown Circuit Metropolitan Education Network.

This study reports on the use of action research methodology to generate a critical reflective collaborative setting. The aim was to infuse the institution with the results of this study in order to stimulate debate on the issues regarding change in practice and systems. The suitability of Internet communication technologies, more specifically the online learning community, is evaluated as a delivery mode that would address today’s learning needs. This required the collaborative construction of knowledge in a community setting with the teacher enabling communication and interaction, and facilitating and stimulating the sharing and testing of ideas and constructs. But such a learning scenario was found to be significantly challenging to the current print-based learning experience. It implied a challenge to teaching and support staff as well as the questioning of the efficiency and legitimacy of current instructional design staff and procedures used. The teaching responsibilities and commitment in the online community was outlined as against current print-based teaching practice. The current development and production culture, which restricts innovation and change in practice and systems significantly, came under pressure. The success of the online learning community in the Unisa context was nevertheless significant and it has the potential to serve as an opportunity to re-examine print-based production and delivery and to devise strategies and solutions to increase the quality significantly. / Faculty of Education / D. Ed.

Despite the increasing importance of digitization in all facets of teaching and learning, digital moderation (eModeration) has received little attention in research and practice. No evidence-based requirements on the secondary school environment could be found for the development of a digital moderation system. This finding provided the rationale for an investigation into the requirements for an efficient eModeration system for IT and CAT assessments at grade 12 level in South Africa. A critical literature review was employed to explore eModeration and the requirements for a digital moderation system. This study is novel in exploring the applicability of post-adoption technology acceptance models to a pre-adoption system. The inquiry was guided by the overarching research question of: What are the requirements for an efficient eModeration system for IT and CAT SBA assessments at grade 12 level in SA? This dissertation concludes that there is currently no dedicated eModeration system in use in the secondary school environment. This study draws on the eModeration literature, the technology adoption literature and empirical research in the private secondary school environment of IT and CAT assessments at grade 12 level in South Africa to provide an evidence-based contribution to the requirements for an efficient eModeration system. The findings serve as a theoretical basis for future research into eModeration systems and can make a practical contribution to future practices and policies within schools and assessment bodies. / School of Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning in higher education. The use of technology in higher education, particularly in the ODL environment, has brought some changes on how we teach and assess students. The traditional assessment practices needed to be reviewed and reconfigured to meet the requirements of the 21st century assessment practices. The purpose of this doctoral study was to design a framework to guide the assessment of an E-portfolio as an alternative assessment approach in an ODL context. The integrated theoretical framework of the learning theories (behaviourism, cognitive and constructivist) and the ODL theories (connectivist, online collaborative and self-directed) underpinned the study. This integrated framework explored lecturer and student experiences in the use of Eportfolio, as an alternative assessment to enhance self-directed learning. In striving to get in-depth insight into this study, the pragmatism paradigm, which calls for the mixed methods research design, was employed for the collection and analysis of data. The sample was drawn from a cohort of six participants and fifty-six respondents in the three colleges of the university. This sequential exploratory mixed methods design employed semi-structured interviews, document analysis for qualitative data collection while a Likert scale of an online questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The findings of this research indicated that the E-portfolio can be of greater use as an alternative assessment approach and was able to empower students with higher order thinking skills, critical thinking skills and self-directed learning equipping them with the 21st century skills. Several challenges were experienced during the implementation of the E-portfolio, which included lack of digital literacies and technical assistance, nonsynchronisation of the learning management system for hosting E-portfolio (myUnisa), UNISA’s policies which do not include E-portfolio assessment processes and procedures. In conclusion, the literature study, the findings of the empirical research and the recommendation of this study formed the basis for designing the framework to guide the assessment of an E-portfolio as an alternative assessment strategy for an ODL context. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / Ph. D. (Curriculum Studies)

The improvement of throughput rates is a crucial factor at higher education institutions; hence, university departments focus on improving pass rates per module. This study investigated how lecturers in the School of Computing (SoC) at the University of South Africa, use technology for improving throughput rates in an Open Distance Learning (ODL) context. The study sought answers to the main research question on how lecturers in the SoC use technology for improving throughput rates in an ODL institution. A mixed research methods approach was used, where quantitative data was extracted from the university systems and integrated with the qualitative data collected from interviews. Thirteen lecturers for the thirty modules under investigation were interviewed. A thematic analysis was used on the qualitative data, and quantitative data was analysed using rankings and correlation coefficients, leading to the interpretation that the use of myUnisa technology assisted to improve throughput on the modules. / Mathematics Education / M. Sc. (Computing Education)

Abstracts in English, Sotho and Afrikaans / The impact of Information and Communication Technologies on all spheres of life, whether it is for educational, corporate, government or social purposes is undeniable. From an educational point of view, the South African Department of Basic Education acknowledged the impact that ICT has on teaching and learning in the classroom by introducing ICT in the education system. However, ICT integration in South African schools is still in its infancy especially in most rural schools. The phenomenological, qualitative research study employed a case study as its research design, employing the connectivism theory as the theoretical framework. The theory that underpinned this study was the connectivism theory. The research was performed with a sample of six purposively selected teacher-participants. Semi-structured interviews and non-participant observation were the methods of data collection. The aim of conducting the semi-structured interviews was to determine the teachers’ perception on the integration of ICT as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. The non-participant observation assisted in corroborating the data collected from the interviews. The research data collected were studied, analysed, explained and validated. The findings indicated that the integration of ICT is still at its infancy and though the teachers viewed ICT as a valuable tool to enhance teaching and learning, they emphasised the enormous work that needs to be done by the Department of Basic Education in ensuring the full integration of ICT in the schools. Findings of the study highlighted the challenges that teacher’s experience that hindered the proper integration of ICT in schools. The study recommends that the Department of Basic Education provides adequate ICT tools in all the public schools, ensures that the teachers receive proper ICT training, continuous support and the regular update and maintenance of ICT tools as well as the regulation of ICT policy as a guide to teaching and learning in the schools. / Seabe sa Ditheknolotši tša Tshedimošo le Dikgokagano go makala ka moka a bophelo, se ka be se le go thuto, go khamphani, go mmušo goba mabakeng a leago se ka se ganetšwe. Go ya ka maikutlo a tša thuto Kgoro ya Thuto ya Motheo ya Afrika Borwa e amogetše seabe seo Theknolotši ya Tshedimošo le Dikgokagano (ICT) e nago le sona go go ruta le go ithuta ka phapošing ya thuto ka go tsebagatša ya ICT ka lenaneong la thuto. Le ge go le bjale, kopanyo ya ICT ka dikolong tša Afrika Borwa e sa le mathomong kudukudu ka dikolong tše ntši tša magaeng. Dinyakišišo tše tša maitemogelo le tša boleng di šomišitše dinyakišišo tša seemo bjalo ka tlhamo ya tšona ya go dira dinyakišišo, ka go šomiša teori ya thuto ya kgokagano ka inthanete bjalo ka tlhako ya teori. Teori yeo e thekgilego dinyakišišo tše e bile teori ya thuto ya kgokagano ka inthanete. Teori ye e phethagaditšwe ka sampole ya barutiši ba tshela bao ba kgethilwego go kgatha tema ka maikemišetšo. Dipotšišo tša dipoledišano tšeo di bego di nyaka gore baarabi ba fahlele ka mabaka le temogo ka bao ba sa kgathego tema di ile tša šomišwa bjalo ka mekgwa ya go kgoboketša tshedimošo. Maikemišetšo a go diriša dipotšišo tša dipoledišano tšeo di bego di nyaka gore baarabi ba fahlele ka mabaka ebile go tseba maikutlo a barutiši mabapi le kopanyo ya ICT bjalo ka setlabelo sa go thuša go ruta le go ithuta. Temogo ka bao ba sa kgathego tema go thušitše go kopanya tshedimošo yeo e kgobokeditšwego ka dipoledišanong. Tshedimošo ya dinyakišišo yeo e kgobokeditšwego e ile ya lekodišišwa, ya sekasekwa, ya hlalošwa le go tiišeletšwa. Dikutollo di laeditše gore kopanyo ya ICT ka dikolong e sa thoma gomme le ge e le gore barutiši ba bona ICT bjalo ka setlabelo se bohlokwa sa go thuša go ruta le go ithuta, ba gateletše taba ya mošomo o montši wo o swanetšego go dirwa ke Kgoro ya Thuto ya Motheo go netefatša gore go ba le kopanyo ka botlalo ya ICT ka dikolong. Dikutollo tša dinyakišišo di laeditše dithohlo tšeo baithuti ba itemogelago tšona tšeo di šitišitšego kopanyo ya maleba ya ICT ka dikolong. Dinyakišišo di šišinya gore Kgoro ya Thuto ya Motheo e fane ka ditlabelo tša maleba tša ICT ka dikolong tša mmušo ka moka, e netefatše gore barutiši ba hwetša tlhahlo ya maleba ya ICT le thekgo ye e tšwelago pele, le gore ditlabelo tša ICT di fele di mpshafatšwa kgafetšakgafetša le go hlokomelwa. Godimo ga fao, gore melawana ya ICT bjalo ka tlhahlo ya go ruta le go ithuta ka dikolong e laolwe. / Ons kan nie die invloed van Inligtings- en Kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) op alle terreine van die lewe – of dit vir opvoedkundige, korporatiewe, regerings- of sosiale gebruik is – ontken nie. Uit 'n opvoedkundige oogpunt, het die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Basiese Onderwys die invloed van IKT op onderrig en leer in die klaskamer erken deur IKT in die onderwysstelsel bekend te stel. IKT-integrasie in Suid-Afrikaanse skole is steeds in sy beginfase, veral in landelike skole. Hierdie fenomenologiese, kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie het 'n gevallestudie as navorsingsontwerp en die konnektivisme teorie as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik. Die teorie wat die studie onderskryf het, was die konnektivisme teorie. Die navorsing is met 'n steekproefneming van ses doelbewus gekose onderwyserdeelnemers uitgevoer. Semigestruktureerde onderhoude en niedeelnemerwaarneming is gebruik om data te versamel. Die doel van die semigestruktureerde onderhoude was om die onderwysers se persepsies te bepaal oor die integrasie van IKT as hulpmiddel om onderrig en leer te bevorder. Die niedeelnemerwaarneming het gehelp om die data uit die onderhoude te bevestig. Die navorsingsdata wat versamel is, is bestudeer, ontleed, verduidelik en geldig verklaar. Die bevindings het aangedui dat die integrasie van IKT nog in sy beginfase is en alhoewel die onderwysers IKT as 'n waardevolle hulpmiddel beskou om onderrig en leer te bevorder, het hulle die groot hoeveelheid werk wat die Departement van Basiese Onderwys nog moet doen om volledige integrasie van IKT in skole te verseker, beklemtoon. Die studie se bevinding het die onderwysers se uitdagings wat die behoorlike integrasie van IKT in skole verhinder, uitgelig. Die studie beveel aan dat die Departement van Basiese Onderwys genoegsame IKT-hulpmiddels in alle openbare skole voorsien, verseker dat die onderwyser behoorlike IKT-opleiding en deurlopende ondersteuning ontvang, en dat IKT-hulpmiddels gereeld opgradeer en onderhou word. Verder, dat die IKT-beleid as 'n riglyn vir onderrig en leer in skole gereguleer moet word. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The research in this dissertation of limited scope aimed to identify theories of education for effective teaching and learning when using Web2.0 technology in distance education. The rationale for such a study is based on the premise that, globally, the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is bringing about a rapid technological growth and innovative information communication technology (ICT) tools which are utilised in distance education. The increase in connections across the globe has also seen an increase in online learning as the barriers of time and space have been bridged. These advances in technology have a direct impact on the education system which needs to experience a similar exponential development in the guiding theories for universities offering distance learning using Web2.0 technology. Qualitative research methods were used to conduct an integrative literature review of the most utilised pedagogical theories over time. The pedagogical principles were applied to the requirements for effective online teaching and learning to develop a guideline to determine which pedagogical principles and combinations are therefore applicable to 21st century distance education. The finding is that no one pedagogical theory researched in this study can be isolated to be applied to online learning, but rather that a combination – in varying degrees – will support an effective online teaching and learning environment. A document analysis was conducted to understand the current guidelines provided for e-learning in selected South African universities. This analysis indicated that there is much room for development to separate the traditional classroom policies from the online learning policies at higher education institutions. Summaries of applications and tools for effective online learning were presented, along with recommendations for developments within the field and for further research. / Die navorsing in hierdie verhandeling van beperkte omvang, is uitgevoer om opvoedkundeteorieë vir doeltreffende onderrig en leer wanneer Web2.0-tegnologie in afstandsonderrig gebruik word, te identifiseer. Die beweegrede vir sodanige studie is gebaseer op die uitgangspunt dat die aanbreek van die Vierde Nywerheidsomwenteling wêreldwyd aanleiding gee tot snelle tegnologievooruitgang en innoverende hulpmiddele vir inligtings- en kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) wat in afstandsonderrig gebruik word. Die toename in verbindings oor die wêreld heen het ook ʼn toename in aanlynleer meegebring, aangesien hindernisse ten opsigte van tyd en ruimte oorbrug is. Hierdie vooruitgang in tegnologie het ʼn direkte impak op die opvoedingstelsel, wat soortgelyke eksponensiële ontwikkeling in die rigtinggewende teorieë vir universiteite wat afstandsleer deur middel van Web2.0-tegnologie aanbied, moet ervaar. Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik om ʼn geïntegreerde literatuuroorsig uit te voer van die pedagogiese teorieë wat oor tyd die meeste gebruik is. Die pedagogiese beginsels is toegepas op die vereistes vir doeltreffende aanlynonderrig en -leer om ʼn riglyn te ontwikkel ten einde te bepaal watter pedagogiese beginsels en kombinasies dus betrekking het op afstandsonderrig in die 21ste eeu. Die bevinding is dat geen pedagogiese teorie wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is, uitgesonder kan word vir toepassing op aanlynleer nie, maar eerder dat ʼn kombinasie – in wisselende mate – ʼn doeltreffende omgewing vir aanlynonderrig en -leer sal ondersteun. ʼn Dokumentontleding is gedoen om insig te verkry rakende die huidige riglyne vir e-leer wat by uitgesoekte Suid-Afrikaanse universiteite gegee word. Die ontleding het getoon dat daar baie ruimte vir ontwikkeling is om die tradisionele klaskamerbeleide te skei van die aanlynleerbeleide by hoëronderwysinstellings. Opsommings van aansoeke en hulpmiddele vir doeltreffende aanlynleer is voorgehou, sowel as aanbevelings vir ontwikkelings op die studieterrein en vir verdere navorsing. / Kolu phando lungenamhlaba ubanzi kakhulu kujoliswe ekufumaniseni iingcingane zemfundo zokufundisa nokufunda kwabo bafunda bekude besetyenzisa isixhobo sobuchwepheshe beintanethi esibizwa ngokuba yiWeb2.0. Intsusa yolu phando iphuma kuluvo lokuba iNguqukazi Yorhwebo Yesine, i-4IR idala ukukhula okungummangaliso kwimisebenzi yezobuchwepheshe kunye nokuqanjwa kwezixhobo zobuchwepheshe bonxibelelwano lolwazi ezisetyenziswa ngabafundi abafunda bekude. Likhulile inani labantu abaqhagamshelanayo kwihlabathi liphela kwaye oku kunyuse inani labafundi abafunda bekude besebenzisa i-intanethi, ngenxa yokuba iphelisiwe imida yexesha kunye nendawo yokufundela. Ezi ndlela zintsha ziqanjwayo kwezobuchwepheshe zinefuthe elithe ngqo kwinkqubo yezemfundo, nedinga ukukhuliswa kweengcingane zokufundisa kwiiyunivesithi ezifundisa abafundi abafunda bekude, besebenzisa ubuchwepheshe beWeb2.0. Kuye kwasetyenziswa indlela yophando ngokuzathuza (qualitative) ekuphengululeni uncwadi olungezona ngcingane zokufundisa zisetyenziswe kakhulu ngexesha elithile. Kusetyenziswe iinqobo zokufundisa eziyimfuneko ekufundeni nasekufundiseni ngeintanethi okusebenzayo, ukwenzela ukufumanisa ukuba zeziphi ezona zifanelekileyo kwimfundo yabakude kule nkulungwane yama-21. Kufunyaniswe ukuba akukho ngcingane yokufundisa inokusebenza yodwa ekufundiseni ngeintanethi, koko kunokusetyenziswa umxube – ngokushiyana kwemigangatho yawo – ukuze kuxhaswe imiba yokufundisa abafundi abahleli emakhaya bejongene neekhompyutha zabo. Kwenziwe uhlalutyo lwemibhalo ekhoyo ukuze kuqondisiswe ukuba zeziphi izikhokelo ezikhoyo zemfundo esebenzisa izixhobo zobuchwepheshe kwiiYunivevisithi ezichongiweyo zaseMzantsi Afrika. Olu hlalutyo lubonakalise ukuba usemninzi umhlaba ekufanele ukuba unyathelwe ukuze kwahlukaniswe imigaqo nkqubo yesiqhelo yokufundela egumbini lokufundela naleyo yokufunda ngeintanethi kumaziko emfundo ephakamileyo. Kuziswe ngaphambili izishwankathelo zeendlela zokusebenza kunye nezixhobo zokufunda okusebenzayo kubafundi abafunda bekude, kwacetyiswa kwakhona iindlela zokuphuhlisa neminye imiba ekusafanele ukuba kuphandwe ngayo. / Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL) / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning)

The aim of this study was to investigate and describe the perceived digital literacy competencies of Unisa Open Distance Learning students in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The association between the socio-demographic variables of the students and their perceived digital literacy competencies was statistically tested. The study examined whether there is a statistically significant relationship between the independent variables: attitudes towards digital technology for academic purposes, usage of the Learner Management System and attendance at regional digital literacy workshops, and the dependent variable, perceived digital literacy competencies. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional survey design was adopted using a census sampling method. The study concluded that the majority of students have high self-perceived digital literacy competencies. Statistically significant positive relationships were found between attitude towards digital technology for educational purposes, usage of the Learner Management System and attendance at regional digital literacy workshops and perceived digital literacy competencies. / Educational Management and Leadership / M. Ed. (Education Management)