This thesis is a narrative account of how I have transformed my learning and teaching strategies for Grade 9 learners, generating my own living theory of teaching within a social context with the aim of enabling my learners to construct their own knowledge. My value-embedded practice is reflected in the values I attach to equality, inclusivity, social justice and basic human rights. These embodied values are also a reflection of my commitment to my Christian values which encompass my entire existence and have become the living standards by which I judge the quality of my research. My classroom-based action research methodology is a living transformational process which heralds a change for a more just practice and the inclusion and recognition of the individual. My findings about my learners’ and my own learning offer new conceptualisations about the capacity of my learners to learn in their own unique ways and according to their own potential. I am claiming that the significance of my research is grounded in my ability to demonstrate how I can unleash the untapped potential of learners failing to attain the desired outcomes. I show them how to learn confidently and successfully within a social context using prior knowledge, scaffolding and motivation as teaching and learning tools. This has potential inspiration for new forms of practice and theory in aiming to improve learners’ potential. A significant feature of my account is how my Christian values have been translated into my critical epistemological standards of judgement, and the development of a living theory of practice that enables me to account for educational influences in my learners’ and my own learning.

M.A. (Public Management and Governance) / The Preamble of the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act 84 of 1996) states that it is the goal of the South African government to provide all learners with a high quality education. However, despite this goal, academics, scholars and social commentators concur that the public education system in South Africa is in crisis. Nevertheless, there is agreement that there has been an improvement in the numbers of learners enrolled at schools and the pass rates in public education, but not in the quality of education. In support of this statement, commentators refer to international surveys that show that the majority of learners are underachieving in key learning areas such as reading, mathematics and science. Many of the commentators ascribe the situation to the underperformance of educators. Research conducted by Van der Berg et al. (2011) suggests that a possible solution to the problem would be to help educators to improve their teaching outputs and outcomes in the classroom. This, in turn, implies that a tool such as a laptop loaded with the relevant and appropriate software and the additional required technology would assist educators in improving their teaching outputs and outcomes. Ms N Pandor, the former Minister of Education, announced the Teacher Laptop Initiative (TLI) in 2009. In his response to the State of the Nation’s address in June 2009 President Zuma endorsed this initiative and stated that the objective of the TLI is to provide every educator with both a laptop and access to the Internet and that the initiative should be seen as an incentive to help educators to improve the quality of education in schools. However, evidence shows that educators have not received the subsidies to procure the laptops as promised by government. The study sets out to investigate the implementation of the TLI and, thus, the aim of the research was to conduct a formative evaluation of the implementation of the TLI. The research was conducted within a qualitative research paradigm and the data were collected using both the TLI policy document and the findings resulting from the purposive, face-to-face interviews that were conducted with key stakeholders. This data were analysed through the application of the content analysis method.

M.Cur. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This qualitative study examines the use of Visual Technology for the Autonomous Learning of mathematics (VITALmaths) video clips in three Grade 9 classrooms in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, two of which are in well-resourced ex-Model C schools and one in a semi-rural township school. The rapid development of mobile technology, especially in Africa, has opened up previously unexplored avenues in economy, communication and education (Aker & Mbiti, 2010), with a number of mobile learning initiatives being launched in South Africa (Botha & Ford, 2007; Vosloo & Botha, 2009). The VITALmaths project was developed collaboratively between the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland and Rhodes University in South Africa (Linneweber-Lammerskitten, Schäfer and Samson, 2010). As the main platform for dissemination of the video clips is the cell phone, the study looked at the various aspects involved in the use of cell phones by learners in the classroom, as well as the incorporation of the clips into the teaching of three teachers. Consideration was given to whether or not the clips assisted the teachers in teaching, as well as whether or not they encouraged further exploration. The study was divided into six stages during which data was collected and analysed using an interpretive approach throughout. Data collection methods included semistructured interviews, questionnaires, observation, journals and reflective essays. The study revealed the participating teachers, having incorporated the clips into several lessons, found that these had a meaningful effect on their teaching practice, as well as on the engagement of the learners in the lessons. The majority of the learners involved in the study had access to cell phones, either their own or borrowed, and were able to download the video clips onto their phones from the website (www.ru.ac.za/vitalmaths). A number of learners found that the clips helped them find examples of specific mathematical concepts outside of the classroom, thus leading to further enquiry and exploration, while several learners downloaded and viewed additional clips. Overall findings showed that the VITALmaths video clips could be incorporated into teaching with relative ease.

M.Ed. (Computer-Based Education) / Lifelong learning is the process by which individuals consciously acquire formal, non-formal or informal education throughout their life spans for personal development or career advancement (European Commission, 2001:9). It is an important element in facing the challenges of globalisation, competitiveness and employment and is being increasingly recognised by countries such as the United States and those comprising the European Union as a means of helping people to acquire the knowledge, competencies, skills and confidence they need in order to participate fully in society (Kessels& Katus, 2003). Lifelong learning has become such an important process that governmental ministers for lifelong learning have been appointed, such as in Wales (Henry, 2000:24). Many adult learners have difficulty attending lectures due to factors such as distance from the educational institution, work commitments and the set time constraints of lectures. Increasingly, such students cannot afford the time entailed in taking traditional instruction (Quinn, 2001). Formal lifelong learning for these particular learners requires the flexibility of learning at the discretion of the learner in any location, such as at work or in their own homes, and at anytime - it must be time and space independent.

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology: Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The use of mobile devices such as cell phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants and tablet computers is becoming prevalent in today’s world; and it is facilitating access to a vast amount of data, services and applications for the improvement of people’s lives. Advances in electronics and manufacturing technologies usually lead to the rapid release of newer and sleeker models with new features and capabilities. These newer models therefore render older models obsolete, and this pushes people to frequently replace their devices. The drawback of such frequent replacements is that a large number of devices are disposed and they end up as e-waste. The fact that e-waste constitutes a major hazard to human health and to the environment is the motivation behind this study whose aim is to examine the factors affecting the perceptions of teachers on the durability of cell phones in the e-learning context. This research aims was achieved through the content analysis of existing literature and through a survey of 67 secondary school teachers from the iLembe and UMgungundlovu district municipalities in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The attribution theory was selected as the theoretical framework for this study, and it led to the identification of four independent variables (Demographics, Intention, Knowledge, and Actual use) and of one dependent variable (Perceived Durability). The results of this study indicate that teaching experience and school location are the only two demographics that affect other variables from this research: School location affects cell phone durability, and teaching experience affects cell phone usage intentions. These results also indicate that all the variables of this research are linked except for the relationship between knowledge and perceived durability. One of the recommendations of this study is the proposal of a three year cycle for cell phone renewals in schools mobile learning projects in order to manage e-waste through e-recycling, and this recommendation is based on the finding of this research that teachers believe that cell phones generally lasts between two to three years. The main contribution of this study is to have examined the durability of mobile phones in the e-learning context and this is something new compared to all the studies reviewed by this research.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The lack of theory-practice integration has a long-standing history in nursing education due to many factors and causes. It is continuously indicated in research studies that there is no easy or perfect solution. The causes for this theory-practice gap seem to be in the theoretical and/or clinical environment. In literature teaching methods are identified as one of the most important causes of the theory-practice gap. In view of the informal feedback received from nurse educators and nursing managers it was necessary to investigate the lack of theory-practice integration. The aim of the study was thus to explore in which respects current teaching methods utilised by nurse educators at a higher education institution comply or do not comply with teaching methods suggested in literature as essential for theory-practice integration. An exploratory descriptive research design was used to investigate the nature of the teaching methods utilised by nurse educators facilitating theoretical learning. Questionnaires were sent to nurse educators and student nurses registered for the Diploma in General Nursing Science programme. The questionnaire that mainly consisted of closed questions was used to collect and analyse the data. The data were generated at four learning sites of a higher education institution. The validity of the results was verified by an observer in the field for which a structured checklist was used. Results indicated that a wide spectrum of teaching methods were utilised by the nurse educators and that the student nurses had limited internet access at the learning centres. Eight (8) teaching methods, complying with teaching methods identified by literature as essential to enhance theorypractice integration, were used. However, it was evident that formal lectures were overused. It raises concerns as this method does not comply with teaching methods essential to enhance theory-practice integration. In fact, it limits the students’ ability to develop critical thinking and is seen as one of the possible causes of the theory-practice gap. Feedback relating to the teaching aids used showed that the data projector with PowerPoint slides, whiteboard and textbooks were the three teaching aids used most frequently. According to literature, the overuse of textbooks is generally viewed as the starting point of the theory-practice gap. The results of this study imply that an increased awareness and training of nurse educators regarding their teaching methods may increase their teaching and facilitation skills. It seems to be the nurse educator’s responsibility to ensure that teaching methods are used that are essential to enhance theory-practice integration and it is the responsibility of management at any higher educational institution to ensure that the necessary educational and information technology resources are available. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to determine whether nurse educators do indeed apply the teaching methods effectively to narrow the theory-practice gap. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebrek aan teorie-praktyk integrasie in verpleegkunde het ‘n lang gekiedenis in verpleegonderwys as gevolg van verskeie faktore en oorsake. Navorsing toon deurgaans dat daar nie ‘n maklike of perfekte oplossing vir hierdie probleem is nie. Die oorsake vir die teorie-praktyk gaping kan teoretiese en/of klinies van aard wees. Onderrigmetodes word deur navorsing as een van die belangrikste oorsake vir die teorie-praktyk gaping aangedui. Die informele terugvoer van dosente en verpleegdiensbestuurders het getoon dat teorie- en praktyk integrasie nie voldoende is nie. Dit was dus noodsaaklik om die onderrigmetodes van dosente in verpleegkunde te ondersoek. Die doel van die studie was om te bepaal tot watter mate die huidige onderrigmetodes van die dosente wat verbonde is aan ‘n hoër onderrig instelling voldoen of nie voldoen nie aan onderrigmetodes wat in literatuur aangedui word as essensieël vir die bevordering van teorie-praktyk integrasie. In hierdie studie is beskrywende en ondersoekende navorsingsmetodes gebruik om die onderrigmetodes van die dosente in verpleegkunde te ondersoek. Vraelyste is uitgestuur na dosente en student-verpleegkundiges wat besig is met die Diploma in Algemene Verpleegkunde. Die vraelys, wat hoofsaaklik geslote vrae bevat het, is gebruik om die nodige data te versamel en te analiseer. Die data is by vier van die hoër onderrig instellings se leersentrums versamel. Die geldigheid van die resultate is geverifieër deur ‘n waarnermer in die veld wat ‘n gestruktureerde kontrolelys vir hierdie doel gebruik het. Die resultate het getoon dat ‘n wye spektrum van onderrigmetodes deur die dosente in verpleegkunde gebruik is en dat die student verpleegkundiges beperkte internet toegang by die leersentrums het. Van die literatuur geïdentifiseerde onderrigmetodes wat as essensieël vir die bevordering van teorie-praktyk integrasie is, het die dosente agt (8) metodes gebruik. Dit was duidelik dat formele lesings grootliks oorbenut is. Dit is kommerwekkend aangesien die lesingmetode nie voldoen aan die onderrigmetodes wat essensieël is vir die bevordering van teorie-praktyk integrasie nie. Inteendeel, die metode beperk studente se vermoë om kritiese denke te ontwikkel en word beskou as een van die moontlike oorsake vir die teorie-praktyk gaping. Die resultate het verder getoon dat die meeste onderrighulpmiddels wat gebruik is, is die data-projektor met PowerPoint skyfies, die witbord en handboeke. Die oorbenutting van handboeke word algemeen in literatuur beskou as die beginpunt van die teorie-praktyk gaping. Die studieresultate impliseer dat ‘n toenemende bewusmaking en opleiding van die dosente in verpleegkunde ten opsigte van hul onderrigmetodes moontlik onderrig- en fasiliteringsvaardighede kan bevorder. Dit blyk dat dit individuele dosente se verantwoordelikheid is om te verseker dat die essensiële onderrigmetodes vir die bevordering van teorie-praktyk integrasie gebruik word en dit is die bestuur van enige hoër onderrig instelling se verantwoordelikheid om te verseker dat die nodige opvoedkundige- en informasietegnologie beskikbaar is. Dit word aanbeveel dat verdere studies gedoen word om vas te stel of dosente in verpleegkunde onderrigmetodes effektief aanwend ten einde die teorie-praktyk gaping te verklein.

Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Orthpedagogics)