Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is an addition to the growing body of research on the relevance of mobile assisted
learning (MALL) or m-learning. Grounded in a sound theoretical framework and informed by
practice, it identifies the importance of literacy as a liberating skill, as well as the groundbreaking
impact and potential of mobile technologies to enhance literacy levels in developing
countries. The ubiquity of mobile devices worldwide, and specifically in South Africa, coupled
with the educational needs arising from overcrowded classrooms, and a dearth of resources
and textbooks in rural South Africa, led to the conception of this study. The objective was to
ascertain the viability of incorporating web- and mobile technology based instruction to
enhance the English literacy levels of Grade 8 (Senior Phase) students within the South African
rural context. The study showed that there was a significant improvement in the participants’
reading comprehension, visual comprehension and writing skills. The encouraging results of this
study indicate that web-based mobile instruction can indeed improve the literacy levels of
learners from remote and disadvantaged communities. The implications of these findings for
literacy development and emerging literacy development in rural communities are discussed in
the final chapter of this thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie lewer ‘n bydrae tot die groeiende navorsingsliggaam oor die invloed en
moontlikhede van web-en mobiele tegnologiegebaseerde instruksie op die Engelse
geletterdheidsvlak van Graad 8 (Seniorfase) leerders in die Suid-Afrikaanse landelike konteks.
Die teoretiese basis van die studie word aangevul deur die praktiese toepassing daarvan. Die
toenemende beskikbaarheid van mobiele en sellulêre toestelle wêreldwyd en spesifiek in Suid-Afrika, tesame met die opvoedkundige behoeftes wat ontstaan as ‘n uitvloeisel van oorvol klaskamers en die gebrek aan opvoedkundige hulpbronne en veral handboeke in landelike Suid-
Afrika, het aan hierdie studie gestalte gegee. Die belangrikheid van geletterdheid as ‘n
bemagtigingsvaardigheid, en die baanbrekersimpak en potensiaal van mobiele tegnologie om
die geletterdheidsvlak van mense in Afrika en spesifiek Suid-Afrika te verbeter, word bespreek.
Hierdie studie het bewys dat daar ‘n beduidende verbetering in die begriplees-, visuele
begriplees- en skryfvaardighede van die deelnemers teweeggebring is. Die inspirerende uitslae van hierdie studie dui aan dat web-gebaseerde, mobiele instruksie en intervensie beslis die geletterdheidsvlak van leerders kan verbeter wat hulle in afgeleë, landelike of benadeelde gemeenskappe of omstandighede bevind. Die omvang en implikasies wat hierdie bevindinge vir geletterdheidsontwikkeling –en verbetering, asook vir ontluikende geletterdheidsonderrig
inhou, word in die slothoofstuk van hierdie tesis bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80361 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Bezuidenhout, Marianne M. |
| Contributors | Bergman, E. K., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | iv, 226 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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