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Organizational learning in the public sector : a study with reference to the Eastern Cape Department of Human SettlementsMajila, Victoria Thozama 03 1900 (has links)
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Chapter one provides a general introduction to the entire study. It covers the background;
rationale; research questions; aims; objectives; and the theoretical grounding of the study.
Chapter two provides a review of relevant literature on systems thinking, in particular the role
of learning in living systems. This chapter also explores definitions of both learning
organization and organizational learning, covering the topics of individual, team and
organizational learning, types of organizational learning including single-loop, double-loop
and deutero-learning. Enablers of and barriers to organizational learning are examined.
Characteristics of a learning organization are discussed.
Chapter three reports on a literature review on the applicability of lessons learned systems, as
a knowledge sharing tool in the public sector. Attention is given to the advantages and
disadvantages and there is a focus on how this can be implemented in the Eastern Cape
department of Human settlements. The chapter also reviews available literature on
frameworks of organizational learning.
In Chapter four analyses are presented of empirical research in the Eastern Cape Department
of Human Settlements to determine whether there are practices in place that support
organisational learning, or might encourage the department to become a learning
organization. The chapter interprets responses and provides findings.
In chapter five a framework that could facilitate organisational learning in the Department is
suggested. The chapter highlights academic implications as well as implications of the study
for practitioners of organizational learning; and draws conclusions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoofstuk 1 bied ‘n algemene inleiding tot die studie. Dit handel oor die agtergrond, rasionaal,
navorsingsvrae, doelstelling en die teoretiese begronding van die navorsing.
Hoofstuk 2 bied ‘n oorsig van relevante literatuur oor sisteemdenke, en in besonder van leer
in lewende sisteme.Die volgende temas word behandel: lerende organisasie, organisatoriese
leer, individuele, span- en organisasie-leer, enkelslag-, dubbelslag- en deuteroleer. Drywers
van en beperkinge op organisatoriese leer word bespreek.
Hoofstruk 3 behandel literatuur oor ‘lessons learnt systems’ en hoe toepaslik dit in die
openbare sektor kan wees. Daar word spesifiek gefokus op die Departement Menslike
Vestigings in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie.
Hoofsturk 4 bied die analise aan van ‘n ondersoek in bogenoemde departement om te bepaal
in watter mate praktyke bestaan wat as organisatoriese leer gereken kan word, of as sodanig
uitgebou kan word.
Hoofstuk 5 stel ‘n raamwerk voor vir organisatoriese leer in die departement.
Gevolgtrekkings vir die praktisyns van organisatoriese leer, sowel as die akademie daarvan,
word gemaak.
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The impact of organisational learning on service excellence in the Department of Science and TechnologyTomotomo, Patricia Seja 05 1900 (has links)
The study focuses on organisational learning in the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Attention is paid to the meaning of the concept organisational learning, prerequisites for and factors of organisational learning for service excellence, organisational learning as an important phenomenon in a knowledge based organisation such as the DST. To determine the impact of organisational learning on service excellence in the DST, the study adopted a formalised, communicative,
experimental and cross-sectional form of research design. The research methodology adopted in the study is that of qualitative research method in order to find substantial evidence. The study also employs a quantitative research method to complement the qualitative method. Both non-probability and probability sampling methods were employed in the study. The sample included 55 respondents from five programmes of the DST across all levels of the organisational structure. The results indicated that the DST leadership does support service excellence, thus highlighting the importance of communication in organisational learning. / Public Administration / M. P. A. (Public Administration)
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Learners' and educators' perceptions of the Massage Therapy Institute's combined practicum and community service programmeKruger, Erika 05 September 2012 (has links)
M.Phil. / Therapeutic massage therapy (TMT) as a profession has undergone major transformations on two levels simultaneously in the past five years. The first is the statutory recognition of TMT as a health profession regulated by the Department of Health and the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) that has propelled the therapy from the services sector into the country's primary health care system. The second is the transformation of the South African education structures requiring TMT to be formalised and accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority's (SAQA) and the accommodation of the qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1997. These impetuses have led to a shift in the profession's approach to how it defines itself and how it trains future therapists. The focus of this study is the Massage Therapy Institute's Community Service Programme (MTI CSP), the focal point of the institution's second year programme. The CSP entails the combining of practical sessions and community service in order to expose learners to a wide variety of conditions to encourage theory-practice integration. It also fosters a social awareness through exposure to patients from varied cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in a clinical setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of learners and educators regarding the efficacy of the programme to integrate theory and practice and to prepare TMT therapists for a health profession in the primary health care domain. From the analysis it was apparent that despite a number of shortcomings, learners and educators agreed that the CSP encouraged theory practice integration and personal development. They were also able to hone their professional skills. All participants indicated however, that learners failed to effectively transfer the knowledge and skills gained during the combined practical and community service sessions to written learning tasks that formed part of and tasks outside the programme. This was confirmed by text analysis of treatment and case study reports. The implications for teaching and learning are discussed in the context of language learning and learning through language in order to move beyond the what and the how to the why. It was also clear from the research that participation in the programme led to perspective transformation in the majority of learners' perception of TMT as a health profession located in the PHCS. The analysis showed that the reasons for the exception to this trend, is related more to macro policies rather than the efficacy of the CSP. Finally, a number of recommendations are made to improve the transferability of the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained in the CSP to other learning tasks and beyond that to learners' personal and public lives. The recommendations emphasise metacognitive skills and critical reflection to equip learner-therapists to become fully participating members of a responsible and relevant health profession.
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Learning opportunities offered to office management and technology students during work integrated learning and the implications for the curriculumMkhize, Thobekile Octavia 05 1900 (has links)
Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Management Sciences in Administration and Information Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2017. / The secretarial/administrative profession is faced with the challenge of rapid advancement in office technology, organisational restructuring and changes in the global economy. This challenge does not only affect employees who are already working as secretaries/administrative staff in the workplace, it also affects institutions of higher education and students who are studying towards an administrative profession. This requires both the institutions of higher education and industry to better prepare students to meet the requirements of the workplace. Given this background, this study examines the current status of the Office Management and Technology curriculum to discover whether it meets the demands of the workplace. The study also investigates learning opportunities offered to Office Management & Technology (OMT) students during Work-integrated Learning (WIL) and the implications for the curriculum, with the aim of improving both classroom learning and workplace learning, and to suggest improvements in the OMT curriculum in Universities of Technology (UoTs). This study investigates and provides information on the skills, attributes and competencies OMT graduates are required to possess in the 21st century world of work. It therefore provides the departments of office technology in UoT’s with an in-depth study of the strengths and weaknesses of their current curriculum so that improvement can be implemented wherever necessary. This study is a case study that involves Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) and Durban University of Technology (DUT). The method used was very largely a quantitative method because it was based purely on questionnaires, however, there was a small qualitative element which grew up on the open ended questions. The qualitative questions were used to provide participants with an opportunity to express their own opinions and to clarify the quantitative data within the questionnaire. The study utilised two sets of questionnaires which were distributed to two different groups within the targeted population – to industry supervisors who supervise OMT students at DUT and MUT, and to third year OMT students from MUT who underwent work integrated learning in 2015. The study shows that the current OMT curriculum is reasonably well in line with core industry needs. However, there was evidence that improvement is needed in both classroom learning and in workplace learning. The study also revealed new skills and attributes that need to be incorporated in OMT curriculum in order to be more responsive and relevant in the 21st century world of work. The study recommends that the Office Management and Technology curriculum should be reviewed regularly and that both university and industry should play a significant role in better preparing students to meet the requirements of the workplace. / M
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Problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres at Sabie Circuit in Mpumalanga Province South AfricaMokoena, Vinolia Thokozile January 2015 (has links)
Thesis (M.A. Education (Adult Education)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / This mini-dissertation describes the research carried out in the three Public Adult Learning Centres (PALCs) which are the cases of this study, namely: Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi. The aim of the study was to investigate problems which affect the management of these three PALC‟s. It was also the aim of the study to get insight into the educational background of practitioners who manage these three PALC‟s.
In order to achieve the aims outlined above, I formulated the following main research questions:
What are the problems affecting the management of Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi Public Adult Learning Centres in the Sabie circuit?
From this research question, the following sub-questions were asked:
What are the educational backgrounds of practitioners who manage these centres?
What policies are in place that govern Public Adult Learning Centre?
What are the strategies to implement the policies of these centres?
What kinds of problems are experienced during the implementation of these strategies?
What are the possibilities of addressing problems which affect the management of these three PALC‟s
This study seeks answers to the above –mentioned research question. Hence it addresses problems that not only need considerable development and further inquiry for advancing the academic debate, but are also relevant for practitioners who are working in the PALC‟s and are facing these challenges.
To try and answer the main question outlined above, I decided to undertake a multiple case study to investigate problems affecting the management of the three above-mentioned PALC‟s, which are the cases of the study.
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It was the objectives of this study to identify problems affecting the management of the three above-mentioned PALC‟s and to get insight into the existing qualifications of the centre managers and practitioners in these PALCs and also on how they were trained and being supported. These objectives could possibly help in recommending ways of improving the management of these PALC‟s.
Chapter 2 outlines the theoretical framework of the study. Based on the readings of the relevant literature, preliminary discussions with centre managers, practitioners and adult learners in the PALC‟s, it appeared that there are management problems that make it difficult for the PALC‟s to be efficiently and effectively run and for quality teaching and learning to take place. Hence there has been a discussion about problems affecting the management of the above-mentioned three PALC‟s. Problems such as, shortage of resources, lack of infrastructure, lack of government support, unqualified and under-qualified educators and poor communication channels were discussed in detail in this chapter. This chapter concludes by definitions of concepts such as: Management and Public Adult Learning Centres.
In chapter 3, I describe the design of the study. The main focus of the chapter was to discuss the tracks of data collection. The first track dealt with the reviewing of documents while the second track dealt with fieldwork in which interviews were conducted. An explanation and discussions of the instruments that were used to collect data from different role players in various phases of data collection is also given. I concluded the chapter by explaining how the data that has been collected from various phases was analysed using qualitative data analysis methods.
Chapter 4 presents the empirical results of the study. It investigates and identifies problems which affect the management of the three centres which are the cases of this study. In this chapter I present an overview of Kobeng, Dientjie and Kadishi PALC‟s in the Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province. A description of the programmes offered and visions and missions of each of the three PALC‟s is given. This chapter further discusses issues around staffing and learners in each centre. I have also outlined in detail the views of the interviewees in relation to the problems affecting the management of these three PALC‟s as the basis of the study. The chapter concludes by discussing the findings of observations based on each PALC of the study.
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Chapter 5 is a cross-case analysis of the PALC‟s. The intention was to compare and contrast cases based on the problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres at Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province of the study, while trying to get ways of improving management of the centres. I have been careful in preserving each individual case‟s uniqueness with the need to understand generic practices at work across cases.
The final chapter (six) presents the final conclusion and recommendations of this study. This chapter integrates the information from previous chapters in discussing problems affecting the management of PALC‟s in the Sabie circuit in Mpumalanga Province. It also provides suggestions which might contribute towards improving the way PALC‟s are managed in Sabie circuit. The chapter concludes by mentioning problems that need to be further researched, as the ABET field seems to be under-researched, particularly the area of problems affecting the management of Public Adult Learning Centres.
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It's all in the mind : an integrative approach to teaching and learningGovender, Kistensamy Marimuthoo. January 2004 (has links)
A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree
Master in Communication Science at the University of Zululand, 2004. / In this dissertation the researcher uses cognitive science and communication science to develop an integrative motivational learning framework for teaching intermediate phase learners to solve problems in the subject domains of mathematical literacy, language literacy, natural science, economic and management sciences, social sciences, technology, arts and culture and life orientation within the South African Outcomes-based Education curriculum.
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Alternative assessment for effective open distance educationOliver, Erna 09 1900 (has links)
The knowledge-driven, network society is founded upon technology. Educators need to implement technology effectively into the three main pillars of education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. This would assist students to become independent, confident and motivated life-long, self-directed learners that can use technology effectively in an educational environment. It would also ensure that graduates are able to become change agents, transferring their knowledge, skills and values to others in their communities. Alternative assessment methods that are technology driven could enable both educators and students to become more effective in a network society. This study advocates the use of alternative assessment methods by using technology driven assessment tools for possible replacement of traditional, paper based and "one size fits all" assessment methods within the subject field of Theology. Document analysis was used in a broad sense to evaluate technology-based multimedia documents. Ten documents were identified and evaluated as possible alternatives for traditional assessment methods. Inter-rater reliability ensured that the investigation provided constant estimates and results. The SECTIONS model used for this evaluation provided opportunities to include criteria important for higher education, the use of technology and subject relevant information to ensure that the evaluation was done with a specific purpose and scope in mind; to find technology-based tools that can substitute traditional assessment tools in order to enhance effective education to students. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning)
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An instructional framework for implementing genius hour in the classroomTownsend, Kenneth 06 1900 (has links)
The creation of an instructional genius hour framework for classroom implementation is an objective of this study. Currently, genius hour educators use a wide variety of frameworks. Some genius hour educators do not follow a set framework, yet others continually modify their genius hour frameworks. This study draws attention to the need to create an instructional framework for classroom implementation.
This study was conducted through semi-structured interviews with five of the most respected genius hour educators. For the purposes of this study, each individual educator was treated as a separate case study. During the semi-structured interviews, genius hour educators shared their personal experience with implementing genius hour, their personal philosophies and ideas related to genius hour, their recommendations regarding genius hour implementation, and their recommendations regarding genius hour frameworks for classroom implementation.
Moreover, this study also conducted two observations of genius hour classrooms in action. These classroom observations offered data related to genius hour educational philosophy and the need for a genius hour framework.
This study recommends that educators use an instructional framework when implementing genius hour. A framework will have a positive effect on the performance of genius hour because of the added structure and clarity it provides for students and educators. It is recommended that educators choose a framework, and modify it in order to best serve the academic needs of their particular genius hour programme.
This study moves beyond the genius hour framework by identifying major themes that genius hour educators should consider when implementing genius hour in the classrooms. Alongside the importance of the framework model, the common themes of front-loading, learning from failure, developing passion, and mentoring emerged from the interviews and observations. In essence, this study developed a framework model, game time, based around the importance of incorporating the aforementioned themes. The findings within this study offer an understanding of the importance of using a genius hour framework for classroom implementation. This study envisions that educators can
use the research gathered in order to create an optimal genius hour framework for classroom implementation. This offers a framework for classroom implementation, which should be individualized in order to best suit the classroom specific needs. / Hierdie studie het die skepping van ʼn genie-uur-onderrigraamwerk vir klaskamer-implementering ten doel. Tans gebruik genie-uuropvoeders ’n wye verskeidenheid raamwerke. Sommige genie-uuropvoeders volg nie ’n vasgestelde raamwerk nie, terwyl andere voortdurend hul genie-uurraamwerke verander. Hierdie studie vestig aandag op die behoefte om ʼn onderrigraamwerk vir klaskamerimplementering te skep.
Hierdie studie is uitgevoer deur middel van halfgestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf van die mees gerespekteerde genie-uuropvoeders. Vir die doeleindes van hierdie studie is elke individuele opvoeder as ’n afsonderlike gevallestudie behandel. Gedurende die halfgestruktureerde onderhoude het genie-uuropvoeders hul persoonlike ervarings van die inwerkingstelling van genie-uur, hul persoonlike filosofieë en idees oor genie-uur, hul aanbevelings vir genie-uurimplementering, en hul aanbevelings vir genie-uurraamwerke vir klaskamerimplementering gedeel.
Verder het hierdie stude ook twee waarnemings van genie-uurklaskamers-in-aksie uitgevoer. Hierdie klaskamerwaarnemings het data in verband met genie-uuronderwysfilosofie en die behoefte aan ’n genie-uurraamwerk opgelewer. Hierdie studie beveel aan dat opvoeders ʼn onderrigraamwerk gebruik wanneer hulle genie-uur in werking stel. ’n Raamwerk sal ’n positiewe uitwerking op die uitvoering van genie-uur hê as gevolg van die bykomende struktuur en duidelikheid wat dit aan studente en opvoeders bied. Daar word aanbeveel dat opvoeders ’n raamwerk kies en dit aanpas ten einde die beste in die akademiese behoeftes van hul betrokke genie-uurprogram te voorsien.
Hierdie studie beweeg verder as die genie-uurraamwerk deur belangrike temas te identifiseer wat genie-uuropvoeders kan oorweeg wanneer hulle genie-uur in die klaskamers in werking stel. Afgesien van die belangrikheid van die raamwerkmodel het die algemene temas van voorkantlading, leer uit mislukking, ontwikkeling van passie en leidinggewing uit die onderhoude en waarnemings na vore gekom.
Hierdie studie het wesenlik ’n raamwerkmodel ontwikkel, genaamd speeltyd, wat gebaseer is op die belangrikheid daarvan om die voorgenoemde temas te inkorporeer.
Die bevindings van hierdie studie bied ʼn begrip van die belangrikheid daarvan om ’n genie-uurraamwerk vir klaskamerimplementering te gebruik. Hierdie studie stel in die vooruitsig dat opvoeders die navorsing sal gebruik wat ingesamel is om ʼn optimale genie-uurraamwerk vir klaskamerimplementering te skep. Dit bied ’n raamwerk vir klaskamerimplementering, wat geïndividualiseer behoort te word om die beste in die spesifieke behoeftes van elke klaskamer te voorsien. / Ukwakhiwa kohlaka lokufundisa ngendlela ye-genius hour oluzosetshenziswa ekilasini yiyona njongo yalolu cwaningo. Njengamanje, othisha abalandela indlela yegenius hour basebenzisa izinhlobonhlobo zezinhlaka. Abanye othisha abalandela indlela yegenius hour abasebenzisi izinhlaka ezibekiwe, kodwa abanye bayaqhubeka nokulungisa izinhlaka zabo zegenius hour. Lolu cwaningo luveza isidingo sokwakhiwa kohlaka lokufundisa oluzosetshenziswa ekilasini.
Lolu cwaningo lwaluqhutshwa ngokuxoxisana okuhleliwe nothisha abahlanu abahlonishwa kakhulu begenius hour. Ngokwenjongo yalolu cwaningo, uthisha ngamunye wayethathwa njengowahlukile kwabanye abasetshenziswe ocwaningweni. Ngenkathi kuqhubeka izingxoxo ezihleliwe, othisha begenius hour baxoxa ngabahlangabezana nakho uma beqalisa ukusebenzisa igenius hour, imigomo abayilandelayo kanye namasu ahambisana negenius hour, izincomo zabo mayelana negenius hour kanye nezincomo zabo ngezinhlaka zegenius hour ezizosetshenziswa ekilasini.
Phezu kwalokho, lolu cwaningo luphinde lwabuka kusetshenziswa igenius hour kabili emakilasini ngenkathi eqhubeka. Lokhu kubhekwa kwamakilasi kwaveza imininingwane
eqondene nemigomo yezemfundo yegenius hour kanye nesidingo sohlaka lwegenius hour. Lolu cwaningo luncoma ukuba othisha basebenzise uhlaka lokufundisa uma beqala ukusebenzisa igenius hour. Uhlaka luzoba nomphumela omuhle ekusebenzeni kwegenius hour, ngenxa yokwakheka okwengeziwe kanye nokucacisa, ihlinzekela abafundi nothisha. Kunconywa ukuba othisha bakhethe uhlaka, balulungise kahle ukuze luhambisane nezidingo zezemfundo zohlelo lwabo oluthile lwegenius hour.
Lolu cwaningo luhamba ludlulele ngale kohlaka lwegenius hour ngokuhlonza izingqikithi okufanele othisha begenius hour bacabange ngazo uma beqala ukusebenzisa igenius hour emakilasini. Ngaphandle kokubaluleka kwesimo sohlaka, izingqikithi ezejwayelekile zokufundisa ngokuhlahla indlela, ukufunda ngokwehluleka kuqala, ukukhula kothando kanye nokwalusa kwavela ezingxoxweni nasekubukeni.
Empeleni. lolu cwaningo selwakhe isimo sohlaka, isikhathi semidlalo, okuncike ekubalulekeni kokuhlanganisa lezi zingqikithi ezibaliwe.
Okutholakele kulolu cwaningo kunikeza ukuqonda kokubaluleka kokusebenzisa uhlaka lwegenius hour ekilasini. Lolu cwaningo lubona ukuthi othisha bangasebenzisa imininingwane etholakale ocwaningweni ukwakha uhlaka lwegenius hour olusebenza kahle oluzosetshenziswa ekilasini. Lokhu kuhlinzeka uhlaka oluzosetshenziswa ekilasini, okumele lwenziwe lusebenzele umuntu ngamunye ukuze luhambisane kahle nezidingo zekilasi ngalinye. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum and Instructional Studies)
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Alternative assessment for effective open distance educationOliver, Erna 09 1900 (has links)
The knowledge-driven, network society is founded upon technology. Educators need to implement technology effectively into the three main pillars of education, namely teaching, learning and assessment. This would assist students to become independent, confident and motivated life-long, self-directed learners that can use technology effectively in an educational environment. It would also ensure that graduates are able to become change agents, transferring their knowledge, skills and values to others in their communities. Alternative assessment methods that are technology driven could enable both educators and students to become more effective in a network society. This study advocates the use of alternative assessment methods by using technology driven assessment tools for possible replacement of traditional, paper based and "one size fits all" assessment methods within the subject field of Theology. Document analysis was used in a broad sense to evaluate technology-based multimedia documents. Ten documents were identified and evaluated as possible alternatives for traditional assessment methods. Inter-rater reliability ensured that the investigation provided constant estimates and results. The SECTIONS model used for this evaluation provided opportunities to include criteria important for higher education, the use of technology and subject relevant information to ensure that the evaluation was done with a specific purpose and scope in mind; to find technology-based tools that can substitute traditional assessment tools in order to enhance effective education to students. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Open and Distance Learning)
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The positionality of the euphenism of service learning at selected higher education institutions in South AfricaMatobako, Thabang Sello Patrick January 2006 (has links)
Thesis (Ph. D.) - Central University of Technology, Free State, 2007 / This academic study was conducted as a critical scientific enquiry on the positionality of service learning at selected South African higher education institutions. The study critically and scientifically reflects on the positionality of the concept of service learning as practised at higher education institutions. It elucidates the different levels of conceptualisation and operationalisation of service learning by universities in relation to their catchment areas. In so doing, the study probes the positionality of power relations between higher education institutions and their catchment areas and/or local communities in the practice of service leaning.
Given the traditional and historical domineering and ‘ivory tower’ positioning and conduct of higher education institutions in relation to their catchment areas, the study explores the fundamental nature and spirit of power relations in the operationalisation of service learning. It probes whether the relationship between service learning policy development and societal development initiatives is still shaped and influenced by historical legacies of the apartheid logic, such as academic domineering and institutional hegemony. The study also investigates whether these feature in the pursuit of service learning, curriculum development and transformative efforts as practised by selected universities.
In order to draw parallels with studies of a similar nature, the study interrogates related literature. This enabled reflection on progressive conceptualisations of service learning, as opposed to retrogressive and/or technicist and, perhaps hegemonic and categorising concepts of service learning. In so doing, the study moves from the premise that, despite high levels of interest in civic matters within and among institutions of higher learning in South Africa, service learning as a vehicle for social transformation and progressive teaching and learning, seems to be largely neglected, under-theorised and, at times, disguised as a tool for the reproduction of inequalities.
As a means of collecting data for the purpose of analysis and interpretation, the study uses a purely qualitative methodology. A Textually Oriented Discourse Analysis (TODA) was selected as a first choice and preferred methodology for the study of this nature because of its propensity to thematise issues of power relations. Furthermore, qualitative methodology is predisposed to recognising the subjectivity of the researcher in being intimately involved in the research process.
This subjectivity, as encouraged by qualitative methodology, has guided everything in this research study, beginning with the choice of the topic, proceeding to developing objectives for the study, to the selection of the methodology itself and ultimately to the interpretation of data. Through this methodology, the researcher was encouraged to reflect on the values and objectives of the study and how these could be used to problematise issues of power relations.
Although the study presents some quantitative data from other sources, there were a number of research problems that, for one reason or the other, did not lend themselves to a quantitative/ positivistic approach. Claims and pronouncements of quantitative researchers about the principles of objectivity, quantification and absolutism are not appropriate for thematising about issues of power relations, especially in instances of hegemony, domination, exclusivity, ideological inclination, discursion, justice and emancipatory praxis.
To contextualise and narrow the focus area for research purposes, two South African higher education institutions (the universities of the Free State and of the Witwatersrand) were selected for the study. The choice of the two institutions was influenced by their history of involvement in service learning and curriculum repositioning processes. They have also been consistently portrayed by the South African academic world as strong campaigners in the operationalisation of first-rate service learning models, in the Free State and Gauteng provinces respectively (refer to chapter three for a detailed justification for such a choice).
The findings of this study indicate that the selected universities have responded to calls to reposition themselves in the area of synchronising their academic offerings with the reconstruction and development imperatives of the country. The research established that the two institutions have produced strategic service learning policy documents as a means of responding more appropriately to the needs of communities. The implementation of such documents was intended to enable the two institutions to develop service learning policy positions, thus making an institutional commitment to operationalising service learning.
The study has, however, determined that there are gaps and inconsistencies in terms of policy commitments and the operationalisation of service learning by the two institutions. In line with the themes developed in this study, it was established that the two institutions have limited the extent of their commitment to paper (policy documentation) and heartfelt pronouncements. The study furthermore reveals that despite the paper and heartfelt commitments of the two institutions on the concept of service learning, they are still restfully positioned as expert-oriented entities. By their nature and continuous domineering roles, they remain sites for the transmission of an effective dominant and domineering culture which limits the possibilities of their unleashing an emancipatory praxis that is so critical in the context of a transforming South Africa.
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