Compared to other South African universities, the Department of Social Work at the UNISA has the highest intake of social work students but also the lowest throughput. Through post-graduate research, the Department of Social Work became aware of the often impeding influence of the personal, social and learning contexts of social work students on their performance, and identified a need for social work-specific student support. The following central research question was formulated: What would a life coaching programme to support social work students within an ODL context comprise of? To explore and describe the specific support needs of social work students, the qualitative research approach was used and data was gathered from focus groups of social work students and individual interviews with recently graduated and employed social workers who studied at UNISA. Tesch’s steps (in Creswell, 2009:186) were used to analyse the data systematically and data was verified by integrating Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222) with Yin’s (2011:19-20) three objectives for building trustworthiness and credibility. The Intervention Design and Development (IDD) model of Rothman and Thomas (1994) was adapted and selectively employed, concentrating on Phase 1, 2, 3 (only Step 2) and Phase 4 in order to develop a support programme for this specific context. The goals of the support programme were to enhance student success and throughput, facilitate the personal, academic and professional development of students and to empower students to take ownership of their learning process. An online self-coaching support programme was developed and structured around seven actions towards growth, namely, clarifying my strengths, connecting to my context, clarifying my vision, completing my plan, committing to action and growth, confirming my direction and celebrating completion. The programme is divided into eight coaching conversations, two per level, contains many activities, stories and references to resources. It is designed to be compulsory and integrated into the practical work modules. Although activities are to be completed independently by students, support will be provided by e-tutors, workshop facilitators and supervisors. A programme coordinator will be available online as an e-coach to provide ongoing support to social work students. / Social Work / D. Phil. (Social Work)

Undergraduate software engineering learners demonstrate a lack of motivation with face-to-face classroom education. Limited access to the Internet via PCs and laptops, hinders effective communication and collaboration. However, the majority of learners enrolled for studies in tertiary education, have cellphones and are proficient in the use of digital technology. A technology-enhanced m-learning solution is indicated. This research project evaluates the usability and user experience of an m-learning environment, custom-designed for a tertiary educational context and delivered by mobile handheld devices, features a synthesized framework of categories and criteria, and determines the nature and scope of an emergent digital divide. A design-based research model suited to the context of the study is implemented, gathering quantitative and qualitative data from experts and learners by survey questionnaires. Analysis of data highlights usability and UX problems, provides insight into an emergent digital divide and suggests guidelines specific to the design of m-learning implementations. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)

隨著資訊科技的快速演進，圖書館員勢必應持續接受專業繼續教育學習新知識與新技能，提升館員本身的資訊素養，與時並進，方能提供讀者更高品質的資訊服務。本研究之目的在於瞭解圖書館員網路繼續教育課程發展的概況，並針對我國圖書館員進行「圖書資訊選擇與採訪概論」網路繼續教育課程的設計與評鑑，藉此瞭解利用網路教學方式進行圖書館員繼續教育的成效。 本研究首先針對相關文獻進行探討，其次採用問卷調查法、準實驗法、訪談法等三種研究方法進行進研究，獲得能力本位教育課程設計與評鑑的原理，以擬訂的圖書資訊選擇與採訪能力清單作為發展教學目標，設計與發展「圖書資訊選擇與採訪概論」能力本位圖書館員網路繼續教育課程。本研究進行之評鑑包含學習者能力評鑑以及課程評鑑兩部分，採用觀察法、深度訪談法、以及問卷調查法。 本研究於民國94年1月13日至94年3月8日，以能力本位教育原則發展「圖書資訊選擇與採訪概論」網路繼續教育課程共5個單元。本研究進行之評鑑分為學習者的學習評量與課程的評鑑兩部分。學習者學習評量的進行包括各單元學習評量、課程討論之參與以及學習記錄表分析等方法。學習評量分析的結果發現，未達標準者有2位，其主要影響原因為作業缺繳所導致。 本研究利用編製的「圖書資訊選擇與採訪課程意見調查表」獲得學員對本課程能力的看法以及學習者自評的學習成效。本研究之調查實施時間為民國94年3月15日發送問卷，民國94年3月28日截止回收，發出問卷8份，收回問卷8份，有效問卷為8份。 問卷結果分析顯示：(1)學習者對能力的看法多表同意；(2)學習者對於課程整體設計以及各單元內容設計多表同意；(3)比較上課前後問卷調查之結果得知學員對於能力的增進皆表示同意；(4)針對上過課程後是否有助於學習者具備設定之能力也多表同意。 本研究於實驗課程結束後，利用編製的「圖書資訊選擇與採訪概論課程意見訪談單」與兩位參與課程的學員進行課程評鑑。訪談內容包括：能力本位教育、課程及教材、以及網路教學三部分。 訪談結果分析顯示：(1)課程設計能否與工作環境、工作經驗、以及專業能力需求結合，會直接影響學習者的學習成效；(2)課程教材真實情境的畫面、圖片或影片結合，將更有助於學習內容的吸收和理解；(3)網路繼續教育課程參與與否要視課程主題內容是否與其工作業務相關，以及是否屬於實務性的主題內容而論；(4)受訪者表示相較於同步網路教學，即時語音通訊可以表達訊息中所摻雜的情感；(5)相較於傳統教室教學模式，傳統課堂上課仍具有其優勢之處，包括專心程度、熟悉程度以及即時互動性；(6)成績或是學習認證的壓力，會促進學習者想辦法與其他學習者互動熟悉彼此，以便進行合作學習。但要在短時間內培養學員彼此默契是有困難的。 本論文總結提出之結論包括：(1)能力本位教育的理論與應用；(2)網路教學的特質與理論；(3)能力本位圖書館員的網路繼續教育課程設計；以及(4)圖書館員網路繼續教育課程的評鑑。 / This study mainly discusses developing and evaluating a web-based continuing education course for librarians with competency–based education approach. It covers four main goals as follows, firstly, to investigate the characteristics and theories of web-based instruction; secondly, to explore the theories and applications of the competency-based education; thirdly, to design a web-based continuing education course for librarians with competency–based education approach; finally to develop a continuing education competency assessment model which is integrated into above web-based continuing education course. This study was conducted by literature review, quasi-experimental method, questionnaire survey, to obtain the theorem of designing a web-based continuing education course for librarians with competency–based education approach. In order to evaluate the web course and the students’ competency, this study uses the summative evaluation and student’s learning outcomes assessment with fix methods of questionnaire survey and in-depth interviews. After the web-based continuing education course was finished, the questionnaires were distributed to students after they took the web-based course. At of the 8 surveyed questionnaires of 8 students in the web course, 8 responded and 8 validated. The overall findings were highly consistent with the students’ viewpoints to the web-based continuing education course. Besides, most of them agreed this web-based was useful and valuable for their working. More discussion and suggestions were made in the in-depth interviews. Hopefully, the study findings are expected to drive the competency-based education approach in designing and development a formal web-based continuing education course for librarians in Taiwan in the future.

This study presents a quantitative investigation of the influence of various social factors – including finances, secondary school attended, resources available, culture, and family support – on the perceptions of success (in terms of academic performance and skills gained) of adult learners who are using online learning as the primary educational medium. The research was conducted with 100 students of The International Hotel School in South Africa. A quantitative research methodology was followed and a survey questionnaire was used as the data collection method. The data from closed-ended questions was analysed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS), with the data from open-ended questions being used to aid in the interpretation of the information organised quantitatively. Findings suggest that certain social factor constructs namely: finances, secondary school preparation for tertiary education, and internet accessibility, significantly impact the perceptions the students have on being successful in online learning. Some recommendations that spring from the study are to provide more funding to students, better access to more suitable resources and providing students with unlimited access to the internet for longer periods of time. It is also recommended that a follow-up study with a larger and more varied sample (possibly including public sector tertiary education students), and more questionnaire items per social factor is necessary to cast further light on the impact of social factors on adult students’ online learning experiences. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (With specialisation in Adult Education)

This study was motivated by the need to overcome the pedagogical hindrances experienced by introductory object-oriented programming students in order to address the high attrition rate evident among novice programmers in distance education. The initial phase of the research process involved exploring a variety of alternative visual programming environments for novices. Thereafter the selection process detailed several requirements that would define the ideal choice of the most appropriate tool. An educational tool Raptor was selected. Lastly, the core focus of this mixed method research was to evaluate undergraduate UNISA students’ perceptions of the Raptor e-learning tools with respect to the perceived effectiveness in enhancing novices’ learning experience, in an attempt to lower the barriers to object-oriented programming. Students’ perceptions collectively of the Raptor visual tool were positive and despite the fact that the sample size was too small to achieve statistical significance, these quantitative and qualitative results provide the practical basis for implementing Raptor in future. Thus providing learning opportunities suited to learner interests and needs, can lead to an enormous potential to stimulate individuals’ motivation and development in creating a more positive learning experience to overcome barriers in programming and enhance concept understanding to address the diverse needs of students in distance education that could lead to a reduced dropout rate. / Computing / M. Sc. (Computing)

O aumento no uso dos recursos tecnológicos no ambiente escolar, especificamente nas aulas de línguas estrangeiras, revela a importância de uma discussão sobre o tema e a necessidade de uma análise consistente sobre os materiais digitais utilizados com propósito educativo. Considerando a relevância global da língua espanhola e a importância estratégica que seu estudo representa para o Brasil, esta pesquisa objetiva analisar a pertinência pedagógica dos objetos de aprendizagem digitais disponíveis para o ensino e aprendizagem da língua espanhola, fundamentando-se nos documentos oficiais para a educação brasileira. A partir de um estudo bibliográfico e de uma abordagem qualitativa e metodologia exploratória (MINAYO, 2009), (CHIZZOTI, 2010), a pesquisa foi desenvolvida a partir de uma concepção discursiva de língua (BAKHTIN, 2002) e um entendimento sociointeracionista de ensino (VYGOTSKY, 1993). Estudos teóricos sobre tecnologia e sua relação com a educação (PINTO, 2005), (FEENBERG, 2016) precederam a investigação sobre a conceitualização e os entendimentos em relação a objetos de aprendizagem (LEFFA, 2006). Buscou-se em repositórios nacionais gratuitos objetos de aprendizagem de língua espanhola que atendessem ao critério estabelecido pela pesquisa de oferecer interatividade aos usuários. Apenas cinco exemplares correspondiam ao critério e todos foram avaliados segundo suas características de identificação, conteúdo, aspectos didáticos e usabilidade. Os resultados parciais obtidos apontam no sentido de que a área carece de estudos teóricos e de objetos de aprendizagem de qualidade, concernentes com teorias de aquisição de língua estrangeira e métodos de ensino e aprendizagem empregados atualmente e recomendados pelos documentos oficiais que norteiam a educação no país. / El incremento en el uso de los recursos tecnológicos en el ambiente escolar, específicamente en las clases de lenguas extranjeras, revela la importancia de una discusión sobre el tema y la necesidad de un análisis consistente sobre los materiales digitales utilizados con propósito educativo. Considerando la relevancia global de la lengua española y la importancia estratégica que su estudio representa para Brasil, esta investigación objetiva analizar la pertinencia pedagógica de los objetos de aprendizaje digitales disponibles para la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la lengua española, fundamentándose en los documentos oficiales para la educación brasileña. A partir de un estudio bibliográfico y de un abordaje cualitativo y metodología exploratoria (MINAYO, 2009), (CHIZZOTI, 2010), la investigación ha sido desarrollada a partir de una concepción discursiva de lengua (BAKHTIN, 2002) y un entendimiento sociointeracionista de enseñanza (VYGOTSKY, 1993). Estudios teóricos sobre tecnología y su relación con la educación (PINTO, 2005), (FEENBERG, 2016) precedieron la investigación sobre la conceptualización y los entendimientos en relación a objetos de aprendizaje (LEFFA, 2006). Se buscó en repositorios nacionales gratuitos objetos de aprendizaje de lengua española que atendiesen al criterio establecido por la investigación de ofrecer interactividad a los usuarios. Solamente cinco ejemplares correspondieron al criterio y todos han sido evaluados según sus características de identificación, contenido, aspectos didácticos y usabilidad. Los resultados obtenidos apuntan en el sentido de que el área carece de estudios teóricos y de objetos de aprendizaje de calidad, concernientes con teorías de adquisición de lengua extranjera y métodos de enseñanza y aprendizaje empleados actualmente y recomendados por los documentos oficiales que nortean la educación en el país.

O campo educacional, assim como várias outras esferas da sociedade, passa por mudanças influenciadas por ferramentas tecnológicas digitais de informação e comunicação (TDIC) à disposição da geração digital (TAPSCOTT, 2010). A literatura infantil e juvenil também encontrou nas tecnologias digitais campo para o texto literário. Partindo dessas afirmações, este trabalho tem como objetivo observar a navegabilidade e analisar a recepção de estudantes do sétimo ano do ensino fundamental de uma escola pública de Curitiba-PR, pelos ciberpoemas da página Ciberpoesia, de Sérgio Capparelli e Ana Cláudia Gruszynski. O trabalho justifica-se, portanto, pela finalidade de constituir material analítico acerca da navegação e recepção de ciberpoemas, além da criação de aporte teórico que corrobore com outras pesquisas relacionadas à estética de poemas digitais. Para desenvolver este trabalho investigativo, utilizou-se da pesquisa participante de cunho qualitativo em que crianças integraram uma Oficina de Leitura na sala informatizada da escola, onde estão regularmente matriculadas. As análises apresentadas nesta pesquisa estão fundamentadas à luz de um aporte teórico relativo ao hipertexto (NOJOSA, 2012), leitura e ao meio digital (HAYLES, 2009; SANTAELLA, 2013), debatidos no primeiro capítulo. O segundo capítulo apresenta a plataforma Capparelli.com.br e versa sobre as questões relacionadas à cibercultura e a formação do leitor (LEMOS, 2013; LEVY, 2000). O último capítulo reserva-se à apresentação da metodologia que segue os pressupostos da pesquisa participante (DEMO, 1982), a navegação (SANTAELLA, 2004) e recepção dos sujeitos da pesquisa por ciberpoemas (JAUSS, 2002). Chega-se às considerações finais com a compreensão de que a ciberpoesia forma um gênero literário digital intersemiótico e que, apesar de ser constituinte da influência cultural das tecnologias digitais, ainda carece de diferentes suportes técnicos, tecnológicos e de mediação pedagógica para integrar as práticas escolares. / The educational field, as well as several other spheres of society, go through changes influenced by digital tools of information and communication technology (ICT) available to the digital generation (TAPSCOTT, 2010). Children's and youth literature also found in digital technologies field for the literary text. Based on these statements, this paper aims to observe the navigability and analyze the appreciation of seventh-year students of elementary school in a public school by their cyberpoems in Ciberpoesia´s webpage by Sérgio Capparelli and Ana Cláudia Gruszynski. This academic work is therefore justified by the purpose of constituting analytical material regarding the navigation and reception of cyberpoems, as well as the creation of a theoretical contribution that corroborates with other researches related to the aesthetics of digital poems. To develop this investigative research, it was used the qualitative participant research in which children integrated a Reading Workshop in a computerized room of the school, where they are regularly enrolled. The analysis presented in this research are based on a theoretical contribution related to hypertext (NOJOSA, 2012), reading and the digital media (HAYLES, 2009; SANTAELLA, 2013), discussed in the first chapter. The second chapter presents Capparelli.com.br platform and deals with the issues related to cyber culture and the reader’s formation (LEMOS, 2013; LEVY, 2000). The last chapter reserves to the presentation of the methodology that follows the assumptions of the participant research (DEMO, 1982), the navigation (SANTAELLA, 2004) and subject’s appreciation by cyberpoems research (JAUSS, 2002). It comes to the final considerations with the understanding that cyberspace forms an intersemiotic digital literary gender and that, although constituting the digital technologies cultural influence, still lacks from different technical and technological supports, and pedagogical mediation to integrate school practices.

1.\ / Doctorat en philosophie et lettres, Orientation information / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This thesis demonstrates the effectiveness of using computer technology and the Internet to enhance classroom teaching. A variety of computer and internet based projects that complement lessons initiated by the classroom teacher provide real life situations for additional practice, reinforcement, motivation and greater student achievement.

Undergraduate software engineering learners demonstrate a lack of motivation with face-to-face classroom education. Limited access to the Internet via PCs and laptops, hinders effective communication and collaboration. However, the majority of learners enrolled for studies in tertiary education, have cellphones and are proficient in the use of digital technology. A technology-enhanced m-learning solution is indicated. This research project evaluates the usability and user experience of an m-learning environment, custom-designed for a tertiary educational context and delivered by mobile handheld devices, features a synthesized framework of categories and criteria, and determines the nature and scope of an emergent digital divide. A design-based research model suited to the context of the study is implemented, gathering quantitative and qualitative data from experts and learners by survey questionnaires. Analysis of data highlights usability and UX problems, provides insight into an emergent digital divide and suggests guidelines specific to the design of m-learning implementations. / Educational Studies / M. Sc. (Information Systems)