The introduction of e-learning in teaching and learning has necessitated the training of staff members in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This study focuses on the challenges that staff members, who are the facilitators of learning, experience when undergoing training in ICT. The research design employed a qualitative methodology which involved focus groups from a public university. Data was collected from the participants through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the challenges that staff members experienced during ICT training are related to a lack of computer competence, lack of time, an information overload, the non-involvement of staff in the planning of their training, facilitation limitations, lack of technical support and institutional challenges that involve infrastructure. The study further revealed that the principles of adult learning play a reciprocal role in the staff’s professional developmental challenges. In view of these findings, this study offers recommendations for improving the ICT training of staff members. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

A large number of students are struggling with Information System and other computer related subjects. This has a negative impact on students’ academic performance at large. In fact, a number of students from various institutions of higher learning are facing serious Information System challenges. Information System student on NATED curriculum at Majuba TVET College are facing serious challenges on their studies. This has been indicated by their performance on Information System. This article intends to draw an attention of education stakeholders, College management and lecturers to this matter. A number of reasons leading to students poor performance in this field has been mentioned. Various studies have been conducted but yet the lack of Information System skills still persists. The main question that guided this study was: What are the stakeholders’ perceptions of the challenges encountered Information System students? In order to explore and to get some findings for this case qualitative study, semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders were conducted. Sample of lecturers, student’s focus groups and college management members was conducted. Data collected from various participants were transcribed verbatim. A combination of literature and data collected produced some findings on the matter. In an attempt to answer the main question, recommendations were made. / Educational Leadership and Management / M. Ed. (Education Management)

The introduction of e-learning in teaching and learning has necessitated the training of staff members in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This study focuses on the challenges that staff members, who are the facilitators of learning, experience when undergoing training in ICT. The research design employed a qualitative methodology which involved focus groups from a public university. Data was collected from the participants through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the challenges that staff members experienced during ICT training are related to a lack of computer competence, lack of time, an information overload, the non-involvement of staff in the planning of their training, facilitation limitations, lack of technical support and institutional challenges that involve infrastructure. The study further revealed that the principles of adult learning play a reciprocal role in the staff’s professional developmental challenges. In view of these findings, this study offers recommendations for improving the ICT training of staff members. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Adult Education)

Abstract in English, Swati and Ndebele / This single descriptive case study explored the integration of indigenous graphics knowledge and skills into the Technology curriculum of a school in the Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province with a Grade 9 Technology teacher and the learners. The integration of indigenous knowledge and skills can help promote Grade 9 learners’ understanding of graphic design, which forms part of the content taught in Technology Education. The graphics knowledge and skills existent in the indigenous contexts from which most of learners come can make the learning of graphic design relevant and more understandable to learners. Hence, there was a need to research this issue. One Grade 9 Technology teacher was purposively selected for an interview and observed while teaching the class. Seven learners from this teacher’s class were also selected to be interviewed. The data analysed in the present study were obtained from the teacher and seven learners. The constructivist theory of learning framed this study. The findings revealed that, although the teacher had some understanding of technology, (i) she battled with the concept of indigenous knowledge; (ii) she was unaware that indigenous knowledge is even mentioned in the subject’s Curriculum, Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS); and, (iii) her limited understanding of the concept of indigenous knowledge meant that she did not to know how she could integrate indigenous knowledge into the teaching of graphic design. She also did not capitalise on indigenous knowledge as a resource in a resource-hungry teaching environment that she faced. While she acknowledged the importance of the learners’ culture, she did not take full advantage thereof in her teaching. Her adoption of demonstration as her predominant teaching approach provided an opportunity for integrating indigenous knowledge and skills but, again, she did not capitalise on that opportunity fully. This study can help transform the teaching of Technology by ensuring the integration of indigenous knowledge into the teaching of graphic design, a much-needed approach to education in the (South) African context. / Lesifundvo sinye, lesichazako sihlola kufakwa kwelwati lwebuchwepheshe nemakhono eluhlelwenitifundvo Lwebuchwepheshe esikolweni seSigodzi saseNhlanzeni eSifundzeni saseMpumalanga. Kuloku, thishela nemfundzi wesifundvo sebuchwepheshe welibanga 9 babe nencenye kulesifundvo lesifuna kubona kutsi kufakwa kwelwati lwendzabuko nemakhono kungatfutfukisa kuvisisa kwemfundzi likhono lekuhlanganisa titfombe nemfanekiso, lokuyincenye yengcikitsi lefundziswa eSifundvweni seBuchwepheshe Technology teacher and learners participated in a study seeking to determine how the integration of indigenous knowledge and skills can help to promote learners’ understanding of graphic design, which forms part of the content taught in Technology Education. Lwati lwebuchwepheshe nemakhono losekuvele kukhona encenyeni yendzabuko leyo linyenti lebafundzi lebeta, baphindza bayisebentisa lokwenta kufundza ngemakhona etitfombe nemifanekiso kwekubili kufaneleke kuphindze kuvisiseke kakhulu. Ngenca yalesizatfu, thishela munye wesifundvo seBuchwepheshe weLibanga 9 wakhetfwa ngenhloso kute ahlolwe ngemibuto, aphindze acashelwe lapho afundzisa. Bafundzi labaSikhombisa kuleliklasi lalothishela bakhetfwa kute bahlolwe ngemibuto, lokwatsi emva kwaloko ledatha yahlatiywa. Ngekusebentisa ithiyori yemcambititayela yekufundza kute kwetiwe luhlaka lwalesifundvo, lokutfoliwe kuveta kutsi, nakuba thishela anekuvisisa lokutsite ngebuchwepheshe, (i) unebumatima ngemcondvo welwati lwendzabuko; (ii) bekangati nekutsi lwati lwendzabuko kukhulunywa ngalo esifundvweni seCurriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS); nekutsi (iii) lwati lwakhe lolulinganiselwe ngemcodvo welwati lwendzabuko kusho kutsi akakwati kukufaka lapho afundzisa likhono lekuhlanganisa titfombe nemifanekiso. Amange asebentise lwati lwendzabuko kutsi lumsite njengemtfombo wesimondzawo sekulambela kufundzisa lebekabukene naso. Nakuba akuvuma kubaluleka kwemasiko ebafundzi bakhe, amange akusebentise kutsi kumsite ekufundziseni kwakhe. Kusebentisa kufanekisa njengendlela legcame kakhulu ekufundziseni kwakhe kumnike litfuba lekufaka lwati lwendzabuko nemakhono, kodvwa, futsi, amange akusebentise kute kumsite. Lokutfolwe kulesifundvo kungasita ekushintjeni kufundzisa sifundvo seBuchwepheshe, ngekuciniseka kutsi kufakwa lwati lwendzabuko ekufundziseni emakhono ekuhlanganisa titfombe nemifanekiso – lokuyintfo ledzingeka kakhulu emfundvweni nemcodvo we (Ningizimu) ne-Afrika. / Leli rhubhululo elilodwa elihlathululako elisasibonelo beliphenya ngokuhlanganiswa kwelwazi kanye namakghonofundwa wendabuko asagrafu kukharikhyulamu yeThekinoloji yesikolo esisesiPhandeni seHlanzeni esiFundeni seMpumalanga. Ukufika lapha. utitjhere wakwaGreyidi 9 kanye nabafundi bazibandakanye kurhubhululo elifuna ukuthola ukobana ukuhlanganiswa kwelwazi namakghonofundwa kungasiza bunjani ekuthuthukiseni ilwazi labafundi malungana nokudizayinwa kwamagrafiki (graphic design), okuyinto eyingcenye yommongo ofundiswa eFundweni yeThekonoloji. Ilwazi kanye namakghonofundwa wegrafiki sele akhona ngaphakathi kobujamo bendabuko, kukulapho abafundi abanengi beza khona, kanti bangasebenza ukobana benze ukufundwa kwedizayini yegrafiki ukobana kukhambisane neendingo zabafundi begodu kuzwisiseke. Yeke-ke ngalesi sizathu, utitjhere munye wakwa Greyidi 9 weThekinoloji wakhethwa ngehloso ukobana abuzwe ngehlolombono, ngemva kwalokho idatha yoke yahlathululwa. Ngokulandela ithiyori i-constructivist theory yokufunda ngokwesakhiwo serhubhululo leli, okutholakeleko kwaveza ukobana, nanyana utitjhere bekanelwazi lethekinoloji, y, (i) bekakalukana nokuzwisisa amagama amalungana nelwazi lendabuko; (ii) bekangakatjheji ukobana ilwazi lendabuko khelavezwa kuSitatimende soMthethomgomo seKharikhyulamu yezokuHlola (Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)) yesifundo; begodu (iii) ukuzwisisa kwakhe kancani igama lelwazi lendabuko bekutjho ukobana bekangazi ukobana ilwazi leli bekangalihlanganisa bunjani nokufundisa ukudizayinwa kwegrafiki. Njengombana wabuka ukuqakatheka kwesikopilo labafundi, akhange asebenzise ngokuzeleko ithuba eliveleko lokha nakafundisako. Ukulandela kwakhe indlela yokufundisa ngokukhombisa njengendlela ejayelekileko yokufundisa kulethe ithuba lokuhlanganisa ilwazi kanye namakghonofundwa wendabuko, kanti, begodu, akhange abambelele kilokho. Okutholakeleko kileli rhubhululo kungasiza ukutjhugulula ukufundiswa kweThekinoloji, ngokuqinisekisa ukuhlanganiswa kwelwazi lendabuko ngokudizayinwa kwegrafiki – okuyindlela edingeka khulu efundweni ngaphasi kobujamo beSewula Afrika. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The Information Technology (IT) as subject taught in South African secondary schools is considered to be a very perplexing subject. The IT as a subject has four learning outcomes which are E-Communication (weight 10%), Social and Ethical Issues (weight 10%), Hardware and Systems Software (weight 20%) and Programming and Software Development (weight 60%). The Programming and Software Development enjoys the highest weight as outcome of IT and it is believed to be the main cause of the difficulty of IT. The number of Grade 9 learners willing to offer IT as a subject in Grade 10 is decreasing and the number of learners pursuing IT until Grade 12 is declining in every school in South Africa annually. The aim of this research is to investigate methods that enhance teaching and learning Information Technology at a selected high school focusing on Grade12 learners. Although this work investigated many teaching and learning methods, it has come to be known that the hybrid system or method is the best to adopt and apply in teaching and learning of IT in high schools especially in the relevant target high school. Thirty (30) participants were sampled. Three (3) data collection instruments, which were questionnaires, interviews and observations were used. Results that were obtained from the use of these data collection instruments were recorded and analysed. Results from these instruments were compared and conclusions drawn. A major finding was that the hybrid system that combines both teacher-centered and learner-centered teaching approaches was able to enhance the teaching and learning of IT. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

The promotion of Afrocentric education is a current issue in Africa. This study aimed to establish the role of indigenous knowledge (IK) in the development of Senior Phase learners' design skills in Technology Education (TE). The study was guided by the constructivist theory, which is based on the assumption that prior learning can play a role in learning. When learning new things in a TE class, learners can benefit from their daily experiences in deriving meaning. Three schools from the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province participated in this study. The purposive sampling technique was used to select Technology teachers, heads of departments, TE specialists, learners and parents from these schools to participate in the study. Data were collected by way of individual and focus group interviews, participant observations and the analysis of documents and artifacts. The findings revealed that IK can increase learners' understanding and acquisition of design skills. However, this study revealed that the integration of IK can be hampered by factors such as the teachers' inability to use indigenous artifacts, the use of unvaried assessment methods, and a negative attitude towards culturally relevant pedagogy and IK. This study ultimately contributed an indigenous knowledge-based design process (IKBDP). Unlike the current conventional approach, an IKBDP has the potential to transform the teaching of Technology, thereby giving recognition to IK and accommodating learners from indigenous backgrounds. / Ku yisa emahlweni dyondzo yo vona swilo hi tihlo ra Xiafrika, i mhaka leyi nga le mahlweni eAfrika. Ndzavisiso lowu wu na xikongomelo xa ku vona ndzima ya vutivi bya ndhavuko ku nga indigenoous knowledge (IK) eka nhluvuko wa vadyondzi va xiyimo xa le henhla hi swikili swa dizayini ya dyondzo ya theknoloji ku nga Technology Education (TE). Ndzavisiso wu leteriwe hi constructivist theory, leyi yi seketeriweke hi mianakanyo kumbe vonelo ra leswo dyondzo leyi vanhu va taka na yona ya khale (prior learning) yi nga tlanga ndzima eku dyondzeni. Loko ku dyondziwa leswintshwa eka klasi ya TE, vadyondzi va nga vuyeriwa hi ku landza ntokoto wa vona wa masiku eku kumeni tinhlamuselo. Swikolo swinharhu eka distriki ya Vhembe eka Xifundzhankulu xa Limpopo swi ve na xiavo eka ndzavisiso lowu. Xikongomelo xa thekniki ya ku endla sampuli xi tirhisiwe ku langa mathicara ya Technology, tinhloko ta tindzhawulo, vatokoti va TE, vadyondzi na vatswari eka swikolo leswi va ve na xiavo eka ndzavisiso. Ku hlengeletiwe data eka munhu hi wun'we wun'we na le ka mintlawa ya xikongomelo lexi hi ku endla mimburisano ya ti-interview, ku xiyaxiya leswi swi endliwaka hi vateki va xiavo na nxopanxopo wa tidokumente na swilo leswi swi endliweke hi mavoko (artifacts). Vuyelo bya ndzavisiso byi kombe leswo IK yi nga pfuneta ku twisisa ka vadyondzi na ku kuma swikili swa dizayini. Kambe, ndzavisiso lowu wu kombise leswo ku katsiwa ka IK swi nga kavanyetiwa hi swilo swo fana na ku tsandzeka ka mathicara ku tirhisa swiendliwa swa mavoko swa ndhavuko, ku tirhisiwa ka tindlela to ka ti nga cinciwi ta nkambelo, na mianakanyo leyi nga ri ku leyinene mayelana na ndlela ya madyondziselo na IK. Ndzavisiso lowu ekuheteleleni wu pfunete fambiselo ra leswi vuriwaka indigenous knowledge-based design process (IKBDP). Hi ku hambana na fambiselo ra ntolovelo, IKBDP yi na ntamo wo cinca madyondziselo ya TE, no pfuneta ku amukela IK no angarhela vadyondzi lava va humaku eka fambiselo ra vutivi bya ndhavuko. / Tsweletso ya thuto ya Seaforika ke ntlha e e tsweletseng ga jaana mo Aforika. Maikaelelo a thutopatlisiso e ne e le go lebelela seabe sa kitso ya tshimologo (IK) mo tlhabololong ya bokgoni jwa thadiso jwa barutwana ba Legato le Legolwane mo Thutong ya Thekenoloji (TE). Thutopatlisiso e kaetswe ke tiori e e elang tlhoko ka moo batho ba ikagelang bokao ka gona (constructivist theory), e e ikaegileng ka mogopolo wa gore thuto e e ntseng e le gona e ka nna le seabe mo go ithuteng. Fa barutwana ba ithuta dilo tse dintšhwa mo phaposiborutelong ya TE, ba ka ungwelwa go tswa mo maitemogelong a bona go bona bokao. Dikolo di le tharo go tswa kwa kgaolong ya Vhembe kwa Porofenseng ya Limpopo di nnile le seabe mo thutopatlisisong eno. Go dirisitswe thekeniki ya go tlhopha sampole go ya ka maitlhomo a thutopatlisiso go tlhopha barutabana ba Thekenoloji, ditlhogo tsa mafapha, baitseanape ba TE, barutwana le batsadi go tswa kwa dikolong tseno go nna le seabe mo thutopatlisisong. Data e kokoantswe ka tsela ya go dirisa dipotsolotso tsa batho bongwe ka bongwe le ditlhopha tse di tlhophilweng, go ela bannileseabe tlhoko le tshekatsheko ya dikwalo le dilwana tsa tiro ya diatla. Diphitlhelelo di senotse gore IK e ka oketsa go tlhaloganya ga barutwana le go iponela bokgoni jwa go thadisa. Le fa go le jalo, thutopatlisiso eno e senotse gore go akarediwa ga IK go ka sitisiwa ke dintlha di tshwana le fa barutabana ba sa kgone go dirisa dilwana tsa tiro ya diatla tsa tshimologo, tiriso ya mekgwa ya tlhatlhobo e e sa farologanang, le megopolo e e sa siamang e e lebisiwang kwa katisong e e maleba mo setsong le IK. Kwa bokhutlong, thutopatlisiso eno e tshwaetse ka thulaganyo ya thadiso e e ikaegileng ka kitso ya tshimologo (IKBDP). Go farologana le mokgwa wa tlwaelo, IKBDP e na le kgonagalo ya go ka fetola go rutwa ga TE, mme ka go rialo e lemoga IK le go akaretsa barutwana ba ba nang le lemorago la tsa tshimologo. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)