This research investigates mobile learning effectiveness in higher education. Mobile learning is composition of two words Mobile and Learning. In simple words mobile learning is mobility of learners by using mobile technologies in learning environment. Many researches addressed mobile learning but few of them covered mobile learning effectiveness. This study explores mobile learning effectiveness with the help of learning theories and models. Behaviorist, cognitive, humanistic, situational, and mobile learning theories are discussed that elaborate social, psychological, and philosophical aspects of learning.  Detailed evolution of learning is also part of this report that covers the literature of distance learning, electronic learning as well as formal and informal learning. Three effective learning models are taken in consideration: the Garrison’s Community of Inquiry, the Swan’s Interactivity and Online Learning, and the Danaher and his colleagues’ model of mobile learning and teaching evaluation model. Danaher’s model is selected as a conceptual framework of the study that is composed of three elements that are engagement, presence and flexibility. Engagement is the active participation of the learner in learning activities. Presence means being there, physically or mentally, in learning activity or place. Flexibility is how easy and facilitative the system is for teachers and students. These three elements are used to determine mobile learning effectiveness.  Survey method was used as our research approach. Empirical data was collected from Linnaeus University (prev. Växjö University) Sweden, by using two separate questionnaires for students and teachers. Collected data was analyzed with respect to learning theories and the theoretical model. The result reveals the potential of mobile learning as an effective mode of learning in terms of engagement and presence but flexibilty approved to be weaker in mobile learning.

There seems to be a lack of synchronisation between the acquisition of skills, knowledge, values, teaching techniques, and so forth from professional learning interventions and the application thereof in practice by teachers in general and language teachers in particular. Those charged with ensuring that teachers‟ development needs, in terms of Collective Agreement 8 of 2003 (DoE, 2003), receive attention, seem to be complying with that prerequisite without establishing whether such interventions really do address the need for development. This study focuses on the quality assurance of workshops meant to address the professional development needs of language teachers. This was explored in terms of learning theories informing methods used when facilitating professional development workshops for teachers and the assessment of teachers during the workshops, including evaluation of the workshops themselves and the quality assurance of those workshops. The study has found, among others, that the methods used during facilitation are not sourced from a variety of professional learning theories, including different learning styles that accommodate teachers who learn differently from others; a variety of assessment methods is not used to assess language teachers during the workshop sessions and quality assurance of the workshops internally and externally scarcely takes place. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2013 / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

Grammatikundervisningen i engelskämnet i den svenska grundskolans årskurs 4–6 har uppmärksammats som ett område där det finns ett behov av vidare forskning. Denna studie ska därför försöka öka kunskapen kring vilka undervisningsstrategier och lärandeteorier som några engelsklärare tar ställning till i sin undervisning. Fokus ligger på grammatik inom ämnet engelska, men även relationen till det svenska språket uppmärksammas. Studien har utgått från en sociokulturell teori då det är ett utvecklande gemensamt lärande som studiens resultat kommer att presentera. Semistrukturerade intervjuer utgör grunden för den empiriska undersökningen som därmed baseras på en kvalitativ metod. Deltagarna är eller har varit verksamma mellanstadielärare i olika kommuner runt om i Sverige. Resultatet och slutsatsen av den empiriska undersökningen uppvisade att lärarna i studien tar hänsyn till olika undervisningsstrategier för att utforma sin grammatikundervisning i engelska. Bland annat använder de läroböcker, digitala verktyg samt olika repetitionsuppgifter. Det framkom även att flera av lärarna utgick från beprövade erfarenheter vid sina grammatiklektioner och genom lärarnas utsagor framkom det att den sociokulturella teorin låg som grund till undervisningen. Det svenska språket har utifrån intervjuerna visat sig inte ha en betydande roll i det engelska klassrummet förutom vid grammatikgenomgångar i engelska. Slutligen visade resultatet att elevernas kunskaper mäts genom framför allt muntliga och skriftliga uppgifter som inte utgörs av grammatikprov. / Grammar teaching in the English subject in the Swedish primary school years 4-6 has attracted attention as an under-researched area. This study will therefore try to increase knowledge about the teaching strategies and learning theories that some English teachers use in their teaching. The focus is on grammar in English but the relation to the use of the Swedish language has also been noticed. The study is based on sociocultural theory as the results from the study foreground the importance of collaborative learning. Semi-structured interviews form the basis for the empirical study, which means that it is based on a qualitative methodological point of view. The participants are, or have been, active primary school teachers in years 4-6 from different municipalities in Sweden. The results and the conclusion of the empirical study show that the teachers in the study consider different teaching strategies to design their grammar teaching in the English subject. Among other things, they use textbooks, digital tools, and various repetition assignments. It is also apparent that several of the teachers base their grammar lessons on best practice, and through the teachers’ statements it can be seen that the sociocultural theory is the foundation for their teaching. Based on the interviews, the Swedish language has not been shown to play a significant role in the English classroom except when going through grammatical issues in English. Lastly, the study shows that students' knowledge is primarily measured through oral and written assignments that are not grammar tests.

A Markov chain is introduced to the major steps of the process of learning a subject matter by a group of students in the classroom, in order to obtain a mathematical representation of the above process. A classroom experiment for learning mathematics is also presented illustrating the applicability of our results in practice.

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A CPD model for the University of Technology lecturers is designed in this study. The focus of the CPD model is on teaching as a predominant feature of the Lecturers‟ functions. Literature review on the nature, historic developments and the mandate of former Technikons in South Africa is conducted. A comparative analysis of University of Technology education systems in five other countries is conducted. Research was then conducted to establish the status of Lecturers‟ CPD in former Technikons. Data obtained from literature and the research project was used to design a CPD model for University of Technology Lecturers. Interviews were subsequently conducted with CPD practitioners in Universities of Technology to obtain opinions on the model. A survey was conducted to obtain Lecturers‟ opinions on the aspects of the model. Data obtained was then used to modify the model. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Educational Management)

(D. Ed. (Didactics))

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of introducing animated computer instructional aid (ACIA) in the learning of fluid mechanics. It was also intended as a means to evaluate the Constructionist Computer-Animated Instructional Model of Learning (CCAIML), which was developed and proposed for learning fluid mechanics. CCAIML includes the use of ACIA as a learning aid. Three theories underpins CCAIML learning model: the Constructionist learning theory, Media-Affects-learning hypothesis and Multiple representation principle. The study participants were the intact classes of first-time fluid mechanics’ students in Mechanical Engineering in four South African universities, who offer Bachelor of Engineering degrees in Mechanical Engineering. The study followed a mixed method approach: involving a static group design and a descriptive survey design. The control groups were the two consecutive, immediately preceding intact groups, who were taught fluid mechanics through the traditional lecturing method. The intervention groups were the non-randomized mechanical engineering students, who were taught by the same lecturer, who taught the control groups the same course material through a traditional approach, but taught the intervention group using the CCAIML learning approach. The findings of the study showed that: - ACIA facilitated the learning of the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention, in CCAIML learning environment; - ACIA aroused the study participants’ interest in the learning of fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention; - The study participants understood the fluid mechanics module taught during the intervention better, in CCAIML learning environment, and were able to demonstrate this in the post intervention examination; - CCAIML learning approach encouraged classroom interaction, group and individual knowledge construction, practical demonstration of understanding of concepts and consequently improved classroom dynamics; - The majority of the study participants achieved higher scores in the fluid module taught during the intervention at the post intervention examination, by using CCAIML learning approach compared to the traditional approach; - No relationship was established between the level of study participants’ interest in the software used to aid learning ACIA and the study participants’ post-intervention achievement; and - Where the language medium of the instructional aid was different to that of the classroom medium of instruction, the learners’ achievement was affected. / Mathematical Sciences / Ph.D. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

This study investigates the use of co-operative learning in the teaching of mapwork to Geography students in tertiary education. Diverse methods of teaching Geography mapwork and also theories of learning that are relevant to the teaching of mapwork are discussed. Co-operative learning, and how it can be employed in the teaching of mapwork is fully explained. The study revealed that co-operative learning method can help students to achieve higher marks in mapwork. It is an instructional method that uses small groups of students working together to meet educational goals. The approach relies on interaction and interdependence and thus is especially suited to higher level conceptual tasks requiring problem-solving and decision-making. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)