D.Ed. / The aim of this study is to give an exposition of problems experienced by students studying through teletuition and to offer ways in which problems could be minimized or alleviated. From this exposition two sub-aims derive: to determine students' needs (with regard to various aspects of the teletuition experience); to develop a strategy for facilitating students' achievement in teletuition.

This study sought to determine whether there was a difference in subject matter knowledge as measured by a pretest and posttest, a difference in final course grade as a numeric score, and a difference in attitudes toward computers between students in a competency-based ("hands-on") computer applications course taught in an electronically-expanded classroom compared to students taught in a traditional classroom setting. In addition, students taught in the electronically-expanded classroom completed a questionnaire assessing attitudes toward the presentation method. Another purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of applying distance education techniques to teach what was, in essence, an on-campus course. The vehicle for this investigation was an electronically-expanded classroom. The electronically-expanded classroom utilized distance education technology (video, audio, and computer networking) to connect two classrooms in the one building. Students in these two classrooms were the treatment group. Students taking the course in a traditional setting functioned as the comparison group. A total of 109 participants completed the study. Results of the study revealed no significant difference in scores on the subject matter posttest, the final course grade as a numeric score, and attitudes towards computers posttest between students taught the course in an electronically-expanded classroom and students taught the course in the traditional classroom. Results of the survey to measure satisfaction with the presentation method revealed that students in the receive room were slightly more satisfied than students in the send room with the presentation method, but the difference was not significant. The survey indicated that participants in the study were sensitive to technical problems, especially audio-related difficulties. While participants noted some dissatisfaction with audio quality, it had no apparent effect on learning outcomes and attitudes for this study. The study concluded that students taking a course in an electronically-expanded classroom have learning outcomes and attitudes toward computers comparable to those students taking the course in a traditional classroom.

The purposes of this study were to (a) determine graduate students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the delivery system and their level of comfort with the delivery system, (b) determine graduate students' perceptions of the effectiveness of the delivery system and their level of comfort with the teacher, (c) determine graduate students' level of comfort with the delivery system and their level of comfort with the teacher, (d) determine differences in graduate students' ratings of the effectiveness of the delivery system before a distance education session and after a distance education session, and (e) determine differences in graduate students' level of comfort with the teacher before a distance education session and after a distance education session.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Northern Arizona University, 1997. / "May 1997." eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-137) and abstract.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Northern Arizona University, 1997. / "May 1997." eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 134-137) and abstract.

M.Ed. / The subject English is compulsory in the researcher's students' field of study. The researcher offers the subject English for the National Teacher's Diploma Technical and the National Higher Diploma : Post-School Education. The students come from many different cultural backgrounds and for many of them English is a second or third language. The researcher has observed that there are social affects with which students have to contend, and has detected a definite need amongst students for more certainty pertaining to communication in distance education. The researcher has also perceived definite distinguishing features amongst cultural groups in her subject field English. A definite need arose to examine problems experienced by students studying through teletuition, such as trying to interact with a distant institution, problems concerning the study of English as second or third language and social effects experienced by students in distance education. After having done theoretical research, the researcher included an empirical questionnaire survey in which she attempted to gain biographical and other background information. Respondents were asked questions which concentrated on methods by which they had learned English, whether they experience an intrusion of their home language on English language performance and whether culture impinges on the acquisition of English. The research also attempted to determine whether students experience demotivation, fear of failure and situational problems, amongst others. In the light of the literature study, the questionnaire survey and interviews, the findings summarily were that students * have a need for more contact with their lecturers * revealed a need for emotional support from relatives and lecturers * are demotivated by the negative tone of comments on assignments * experience situational problems * experience fear of failure * experience an intrusion of their home language on English language performance * experience a cultural intrusion in the study of English * experience too many cross - cul,tural contrasts which have an effect on the understanding of English. If the educator in a distance education institution is aware of the students' needs and problems, it would result in a greater understanding of this didactic responsibility in helping students realize their full potential.

The R. Jan LeCroy Center for Educational Telecommunications of the Dallas County Community College District is a leading producer of telecourses for credit at the college level. In addition, the center is becoming involved with other kinds of electronic communication for educational purposes, including the Community College Satellite Network (CCSN), the State of Texas Academic Resources Link (STARLINK), and Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS). This study chronicles the DCCCD's progress in electronic distance learning from the time of its first telecourse in 1972 to the present time. This study also describes the center's purposes, the reasons for its growth, the problems that have been encountered, the people who provided its leadership, and the telecourses that have been offered and produced by the DCCCD.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the information age evolves, society is undergoing changes based on developments in technology that have tremendous implications for the educational systems. Institutions of tertiary education are increasingly facing the pressures of globalisation. Associated with this is the knowledge society that demands experience with technology, different skills and a different learning experience (US, 2001). Furthermore, new information and communication technologies have demonstrated the potential to transform the way that knowledge is packaged, delivered, accessed and acquired, thereby altering higher educations' core production and delivery processes. Institutions of tertiary education that want to remain competitive, both locally and internationally, should, therefore, act proactively to facilitate the successful and innovative integration of relevant technologies into currently established practice and procedures. The University of Stellenbosch (US) recognises the importance of staying abreast with these global and local changes. The Virtual Information Space (VIS) project for optimal information sharing is a research initiative that developed as a direct response to the need for an inquiry into the functionality of alternative synchronous and asynchronous computer-mediated communication media (CMC), to be provided as part of the technological infrastructure of the US for enhanced information sharing and communication. The VIS project provides the framework within which this study was conducted. The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory study through the use of empirical research and prototyping, by quantification of the usability of synchronous CMC media, for application in the South-African on and off-campus tertiary education environment (focused at post graduate level), in order to enhance information sharing between inter alia, information service suppliers, lecturers, students and researchers at the US. It was anticipated, however, that the degree to which the synchronous CMC media add value to the learning and information sharing processes within the VIS, will be influenced by the usability of the software applications within which the media are embedded, the perceived need of the role-players for the media, as well as the feasibility and viability of the systems when employed within the technological infrastructure of the US. These elements were, therefore, empirically investigated by conducting several usability experiments in a setting which simulated a usability laboratory, in order to acquire the necessary subjective and objective data, related to the identified goals and objectives that encapsulate the aim of this study. In order to demonstrate the value of the VIS environment, a theoretical perspective is provided by means of a literature review of the fundamental concepts of communities of practice and flexible learning. It is proposed that the use of the synchronous CMC media (embedded within the software applications) will assist in the creation of a VIS that supports the more advanced educational paradigm of constructivism by linking users into collaborative conversational networks, thus forming learning communities (better known as communities of practice) in cyberspace. The purpose of these communities is to create a means through which ideas and materials can be shared and exchanged, aiding individuals in building their own conceptual networks of interrelated ideas, strategies and theories and therefore construct and share knowledge. Information was obtained concerning participants' characteristics, preferences, needs and evaluation of the usability of the two software applications, NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger, when utilised within the technological infrastructure of the US for the purpose of increased information sharing and communication. Performance measurement data (related to selected usability criteria) was obtained during the experimental phase, as well as information about the feasibility and viability of the systems when utilised within the technological parameters of the US. The analysis of the information consisted of descriptive statistics as the research aimed to illustrate the attitudes concerning usability, the perceived needs for the software applications, as well as the feasibility and viability of the systems. The results revealed that both NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger were perceived by the participants as usable, achieving a positive rating on almost all of the dimensions of usability it was tested on. In the case on NetMeeting, technological limitations imposed on the system (such as bandwidth and network traffic) severely limited the effectiveness of the system as a whole and require further investigation to ensure successful implementation. Technological limitations in the case of Yahoo Messenger mainly centered on the unstable server environment that the system functions within. Hence, further research is therefore needed to ensure successful implementation and utilisation of NetMeeting and Yahoo Messenger within the technological parameters faced by the US. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Soos wat die informasie-era ontplooi, is die samelewing besig om ingrypend te verander. Die dramatiese impak van die tegnologiese revolusie op die hoër onderwyssektor dwarsoor die wêreld hou dus aansienlike implikasies in vir tersiêre onderwysinstellings. Hierdie instellings is toenemend onderhewig aan die druk van globalisering en die kennis-samelewing wat al hoe meer vereistes stel in terme van ondervinding met tegnologie, verskillende vaardighede wat vereis word en 'n veranderende leer ervaring. Nuwe informasie- en kommunikasietegnologieë beskik oor die potensiaal om die maniere waarop informasie herwin, verwerk en gestoor word, te transformeer. Dit impliseer noodwendig 'n wysiging in die kern informasie produksie en -aflewerings prosesse van tersiêre onderwysinstellings. Sulke instellings word dus genoop om daadwerklik en pro-aktief op te tree ten opsigte van die suksesvolle en innoverende integrasie van relevante tegnologieë by bestaande prosedures, ten einde internasionale en nasionale mededingendheid te verseker. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (US) erken the belangrikheid daarvan om op hoogte te bly met verandering. Die Virtuele Informasie Spasie (VIS) projek vir optimale informasiedeling is 'n navorsingsinisiatief wat ontwikkel het vanuit 'n behoefte vir 'n ondersoek na die funksionaliteit van die verskillende sinkrone en asinkrone rekenaargebasseerde kommunikasie media, wat as deel van die tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US voorsien sal word - ten einde verbeterde informasiedeling en kommunikasie teweeg te bring. Die VIS projek het 'n raamwerk verskaf waarbinne hierdie studie uitgevoer is. Die doel van hierdie navorsing was om 'n verkennende studie uit te voer, deur die gebruik van empiriese navorsing en prototipering, vir die kwantifisering van die bruikbaarheid van sinkrone rekenaar-gebasseerde kommunikasie media. Die spesifieke toepassingsarea is die Suid-Afrikaanse tersiêre onderwysomgewing (spesifiek gefokus op nagraadse vlak) met die doelom informasiedeling tussen informasiediensverskaffers, dosente, studente en navorsers te verbeter. Daar word egter verwag dat die graad waartoe die sinkrone media waarde toevoeg tot leer- en informasiedelings prosesse binne die VIS, beïnvloed sal word deur die bruikbaarheid van die sagteware waarbinne die media gesetel is, die waargenome behoeftes van die rolspelers vir die media, sowel as die uitvoerbaarheid en lewensvatbaarheid van die sisteme wanneer dit aangewend word binne die huidige tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US. Hierdie elemente was dus empiries ondersoek deur die uitvoering van verskeie bruikbaarheidseksperimente in 'n omgewing wat 'n tradisionele bruikbaarheids laboratorium simuleer, ten einde the nodige subjektiewe en objektiewe data te ontgin wat gemik is op die doelwitte en mikpunte wat die strewe van hierdie studie omsluit. 'n Teoretiese perspektief word voorsien deur 'n literatuur-oorsig, ten einde die waarde van die VIS omgewing te konseptualiseer. Konsepte wat veral aandag geniet hou verband met die ontwikkeling van elektoniese gemeenskappe en buigsame leer omgewings. Die aanname word gemaak dat die gebruik van sinkrone rekenaargebasseerde kommunikasie media (soos gesetel in die sagteware pakkette, NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger) die ontwikkeling van 'n effektiewe VIS sal fasiliteer wat 'n nuwe onderrigparadigma ondersteun. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie paradigma is dat kennis nie net weergegee moet word nie, maar dat dit gekonstrueer kan word soos wat die partye betrokke raak in relevante gespreksnetwerke binne die virtuele informasie spasie. So word elektroniese gemeenskappe dus geskep waarbinne individue idees en materiaal met mekaar kan deel en uitruil, terwyl kennis effektief geskep en gedeel word. Informasie is ingewin aangaande die deelnemers se kenmerke, voorkeure, afkeure, behoeftes en persepsies oor die bruikbaarheid van die sagtware pakkette, NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger, wanneer dit aangewend word binne die tegnologiese infrastruktuur van die US, ten einde verhoogde informasiedeling en kommunikasie te bewerkstellig. Prestasiemetingsdata (gekoppel aan sekere bruikbaarheidskriteria) was ook verkry tydens die eksperimentele fase, sowel as informasie oor die uitvoerbaarheid en lewensvatbaarheid van die onderskeie sisteme wanneer dit aangewend word binne die huidige tegnologiese parameters van die US. Die analise van die data het beskrywende statistieke behels aangesien die navorsing ten doel gehad het om die ingesteldhede betreffende die bruikbaarheid en behoefte aan die sagteware pakkette, sowel as sekere tegniese aspekte rakende die stelsels, uit te lig. Die resultate het getoon dat die respondente beide NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger as bruikbaar waargeneem het, aangesien 'n positiewe beoordeling op bykans al die dimensies van bruikbaarheid bereik was. In die geval van NetMeeting het sekere tegnologiese beperkinge van die sisteem, soos beperkte bandwyte, egter die effektiwiteit van die sisteem beduidend beinvloed. Tegnologiese beperkinge in die geval van Yahoo Messenger was hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die onstabiele omgewing waarbinne die bediener funksioneer. Verdere navorsing is dus nodig om suksesvolle implementering en aanwending van NetMeeting en Yahoo Messenger te laat realiseer, gegewe die tegnologiese parameters van die US.

Recent accessibility drives and price wars between the major South African (SA) cell phone companies suggest that the landscape for the adoption of mobile learning (m-learning) at the Higher Education Institution (HEI) level may be changing. As such, there is a need to gauge the current mobile readiness of students for m-learning. Mobile technology readiness refers to the extent to which students have access to mobile devices (not only handsets), and can afford data bundles that meet or exceed the requirements of a base set of currently available m-learning applications (Naicker and Van der Merwe 2012). Mobile operational readiness refers to students’ awareness of, attitude towards, support and training that is required for m-learning. This study conducted an assessment of the technology and operational readiness of students at a SA HEI. An in-depth literature survey was undertaken to delineate technology and operational readiness of students for m-learning. For technology readiness, an investigation was conducted on m- learning applications that are currently available and the technology requirements of these mobile applications. This was undertaken to determine the extent that the current student mobile handset profile match these requirements. The literature review also included a search for mobile opeeratratiioonnaall ffaactorctorss ssuuchch aass ssttuuddeennttss’’ aawwaarenerenessss ooff aanndd aattttiittuuddee ttoowwaarrddss mm--lleaearrnininngg as well as m-learning support and training that students require. The philosophical underpinning of this study was based on Activity Theory. The strategy of inquiry employed was a case study approach. Data was collected from students at the Durban University of Technology, a resident based SA HEI. A mixed methods data collection strategy was employed. The researcher used a field survey questionnaire as the primary research instrument to assess mobile technology and operational readiness. Focus group interviews were used as a secondary data gathering tool to triangulate and strengthen the results. The results were presented using descriptive and inferential statistics and were analyzed using the lens of activity theory. In terms of technology readiness, despite a high level of ownership and reasonable compliance with application requirements, data costs remain prohibitive. In assessing operational readiness, despite a positive attitude, the majority of the students require awareness, ongoing support and training. Several recommendations based on the findings are offered. For example, one of the findings showed that mobile connectivity affordability was low amongst students and it is recommended that the HEI work around exorbitant connectivity costs by combining m-learning technologies to form meaningful m-learning approaches at a minimum v cost. Another finding showed low awareness of m-learning at the HEI. A recommendation advanced to combat this finding is for the HEI to encourage and support dialogue among key stakeholders. This study concludes that any m-learning endeavour to implement m-learning at this HEI is bound to fail as only a small percentage of students are aware of m-learning and can afford data bundles to implement m-learning in its true sense. As an implication of this study to other HEI’s, the researcher suggests that regular mobile readiness surveys be conducted. / Science and Technology Education / M. A. (Information Systems)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Institutions for tertiary education are now more than ever realising the advantages of supplying the growing population with more effective and flexible learning environments through the integration of technology based media. Educational institutions are faced with the challenge of embracing technological changes within the educational domain in order to maintain their competitive position within a global arena. The University of Stellenbosch, as many other tertiary educational institutions, are challenged to view them as being part of an integrated knowledge society responsible for the reproduction of knowledge as a national and global commodity. The recent acceptance of an explicit strategy concerning educational processes and the creation of an Electronic Campus ensured that the University of Stellenbosch would maintain their strategic position through the development and improvement of the quality of the central education, research and community service functions within the university. The purpose of the research conducted within the boundaries of the University of Stellenbosch were to enhance and improve the quality of the learning and information sharing processes between various role players through the exploration of available communication media and the examination of relevant concepts. The specific objectives of the study comprise the following: ■ Objective One: Through the use of alternative subjective and objective test methods, including observation and the use of a questionnaire to conduct an empirical study to evaluate the usability of the various asynchronous computer based communication media, with specific focus on course management systems, and video streaming; ■ Objective Two: Make recommendations based on the findings of the study to potential users of the alternative media and applications in terms of the limitations and benefits; ■ Objective Three: To use the findings, together with an examination of the user needs and applicable concepts, to make recommendations to assist in future decisions regarding the value of the integration of these media into the creation of a high value interactive virtual learning environment; ■ Objective Four: Given the findings, to make recommendations for future research. Empirical tests were conducted in order to examine the usability of WebCT and Microsoft Producer as it was anticipated that the degree to which the communication media adds value and enhances the education and information sharing process will be influenced by the usability of the specified media and the role players' perceived need for the specific media. Empirical test were descriptive in nature and included survey research methods and usability laboratory tests In summary, the data obtained shows that the sample population holds favourable attitudes with regard to the usability of both Microsoft Producer and WebCT. WebCT and Microsoft Producer holds the potential for enhancing and improving the quality of the learning and information sharing processes between role-players within the University of Stellenbosch by providing a useful, reliable, easy to use, consistent, compatible, learnable and likeable system. The integration of WebCT and Microsoft Producer in the context of the University of Stellenbosch will enable role-players to complete their educational and research activities with accuracy in a timely competent and economical fashion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Instellings vir tersiere opvoeding is nou meer as ooit bewus van die onmiskenbare voordele verbonde aan die beskikbaarstelling van meer effektiewe en buigsame leer omgewings aan ‘n groeiende studente getalle deur die integrasie van tegnologie gebasseerde media. Opvoedkundige instellings word toenemend uitgedaag om die geleenthede wat die tegnologiese veranderinge in die opvoedings domein vergesel aan te gryp. Die Universiteit van Stellenbosch word, soos vele ander tersiere instellings, uitgedaag om hulself te beskou as deel van ‘n geintegreerde kennis gemeenskap, verantwoordelik vir die reproduksie van kennis as ‘n nasionale en globale kommoditeit. Die onlangse aanvaarding van 'n eksplisiete strategie aangaande opvoedkundige prosesse en die ontwikkeling van ‘n elektroniese kampus het verseker dat die Universiteit van Stellenbosch sy strategiese posisie behou deur die ontwikkeling en verbetering van die kwaliteit van die sentrale opvoedings, navorsings, en gemeenskapsdiens funksies binne die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Die doel van die navorsing wat binne die grense van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch uitgevoer is was om die kwaliteit van die opvoedings- en informasiedelings prosesse tussen verskeie rolspelers te verbeter deur die verkenning van beskikbare kommunikasie media en relevante konsepte. Die spesifieke doelwitte van die studie kan as volg uiteengesit word: ■ Doelwit Een: Om deur die gebruik van alternatiewe subjektiewe en objektiewe toets metodes, insluitende observasie en die gebruik van ‘n vraelys, ‘n empiriese studie uit te voer met die oog op die evaluasie van die bruikbaarheid van verskeie asinkrone rekenaar gebasseerde kommunikasie media, met spesifieke fokus op kursusbestuurstelsels en videostroomingstelsels; ■ Doelwit Twee: Om aanbevelings te maak gebasseer op die bevindinge van die studie aan potensiele gebruikers rakende die alternatiewe media en hul gebruike in terme van tekortkominge en voordele; ■ Doelwit Drie: Om die bevindinge te gebruik in samewerking met 'n evaluasie van die gebruikers se behoeftes en toepaslike konsepte, ten einde aanbevelings te maak wat toekomstige besluitneming sal dryf aangaande die waarde van die integrasie van die bogenoemde media in die ontwikkeling van ‘n hoe waarde interaktiewe skynwerklike leer omgewing; ■ Doelwit Vier: Gegewe die bevindinge om aanbevelings te maak vir toekomstige navorsing. Empiriese toetse is toegepas ten einde die bruikbaarheid van WebCT en Microsoft Producer te bepaal, aangesien daar verwag is dat die graad waartoe die kommunikasie media waarde sal toevoeg tot die opvoedkundige en informasie delings proses, beinvloed sal word deur die bruikbaarheid van die gespesifiseerde media asook die rolspelers se behoefte vir die spesifieke media. Die empiriese toetse kan as beskrywend geklasifiseer word en behels die gebruik van opnames en bruikbaarheids laboratorium toetse. Die data toon aan dat die rolspelers se houding teenoor die bruikbaarheid van Microsoft Producer en WebCT uiters positief is. WebCT en Microsoft Producer die het die potensiaal om die kwaliteit van opvoeding en informasie deling tussen rolspelers binne die Universiteit van Stellenbosch te kan verbeter deur die beskikbaarstelling van ‘n bruikbare, betroubare, gebruikers vriendelike, konsekwente, verenigbare, leerbare en aangename stelsel. Die integrasie van WebCT en Microsoft Producer in die konteks van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch sal rol-spelers instaat stel om hul navorsings en opleidings aktiwiteite met akkuraatheid en bevoegdheid te voltooi.