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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53274 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Scholtz, Karin |
| Contributors | Cilliers-Hartlief, M., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Department of Industrial Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xxiv, 180 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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