An exploratory study of the benefits of reading clubs for learners in English First Additional Language classrooms
- Authors: Mbebe, Xolela Desmond
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: English language Study and teaching (Secondary) South Africa , Second language acquisition , Group reading , Reading comprehension , Exploratory research
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/463724 , vital:76435
- Description: The study explored how reading clubs inculcate the love of reading in Komani, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Reports indicate that learners at secondary schools do not understand the vocabulary used in comprehension passages. They need exposure to a variety of texts to promote reading comprehension. This study is situated in the interpretive paradigm. The participants were three educators with 24 learners in the reading clubs. Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Theory was the theoretical framework to explore how reading clubs promote the love of reading. Data was analysed by using an inductive, thematic approach. The findings indicate that the reading clubs instilled the love of reading among the learners, improving their comprehension skills. The other benefits were that reading clubs are a source of pleasure, instil the culture of reading, and develop the learners’ confidence. The implications of the findings of the study are that reading boosted thinking, reading skills, fluency, knowledge, writing, and vocabulary use. Reading clubs were beneficial to both teachers and learners. Teachers improved their practice and could determine, through oral and written reviews, whether reading took place during the silent reading sessions. Involvement in reading clubs had social benefits for learners. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Institute for the Study of Englishes of Africa, 2024
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Mining MeerKAT data for minute to hour timescale transients and variable sources
- Authors: Gcilitshana, Sihle
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: MeerKAT , Astronomy Data processing , Radio astronomy , Pipelining (Electronics) , Active galactic nuclei
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/464886 , vital:76554
- Description: In radio astronomy, minute-to-hour timescale transients and variable sources present an understudied population. We now have an unprecedented view of the transient radio sky due to the advent of new telescopes (such as the MeerKAT) with high instantaneous sensitivity, excellent snapshot imaging capabilities, and a large field of view. We can now probe into this population. This thesis presents the search for minute-to-hour timescale transient and variable sources in two of MeerKAT archival observations: the COSMOS and MACS J2140.2−2339 fields. The fields were observed for eight and five hours at the UHF band, respectively. We employed the PARROT transient and variable search pipeline currently being developed by the RATT group at Rhodes University. The pipeline’s input is a cross-calibrated measurement set, and its outputs are light curves extracted from all the sources in the restored image of the field. Using the light curves from the pipeline, we detected two variable sources in the COSMOS field, scintillating Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs), which are most likely caused by the turbulent plasma in the interstellar medium. Due to persistent ionospheric diffraction, no variable sources were detected in the MACS J2140.2−2339 field, and no transients were detected in either field. The thesis also highlights areas where improvements to the PARROT pipeline can be implemented. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science, Physics and Electronics, 2024
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The number of independent subsets and the energy of caterpillars under degree restriction
- Authors: Xhanti, Sinoxolo
- Date: 2024-10-11
- Subjects: Graph energy , Independent set , Hosoya index , Chemical graph theory , Caterpillar tree , Graph theory
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/466838 , vital:76791 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/466838
- Description: The energy En(G) of a graph G is defined as the sum of the absolute values of its eigenvalues. The Hosoya index Z(G) of a graph G is the number of independent edge subsets of G, including the empty set. And, the Merrifield-Simmons index σ(G) of a graph G is the number of independent vertex subsets of G, including the empty set. The studies of these three graph invariants are motivated by their application in chemistry, combined with pure mathematical interests. In particular, they can be used to predict boiling points of saturated hydrocarbons and estimate the total π-electron energy. For ℓ ≥ 1, let a1, a2, . . . , aℓ be non-negative integers, such that a1 and aℓ are positive. The tree obtained from the path graph of vertices v1, v2, . . . , vℓ, by attaching ai new leaves to vi, for 1 ≤ i ≤ ℓ, is called a (a1, a2, . . . , aℓ)-caterpillar and denoted by C(a1 + 1, a2 + 2, . . . , aℓ−1 + 2, aℓ +1). In this thesis, we characterize extremal caterpillars relative to the energy, the Hosoya index and the Merrifield-Simmons index. We first study caterpillars with the same degree sequence, then compare caterpillars of the same size, same order, and different degree sequence. For any given degree sequence D, we characterize the caterpillar X(D) that maximizes Z and En. In X(D), as we move along the internal path towards the center, the degrees are in a nondecreasing order. Characterization of the caterpillar S(D) that has the minimum Z and En and maximum σ is also provided. In S(D), large and small degrees alternate. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Mathematics, 2024
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Current psychological distress and coping strategies reported by university staff in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Authors: Sekese, Deneo Nande
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Clinical health psychology , Salutogenesis , Distress (Psychology) , Adjustment (Psychology) , COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- Influence , College teachers , Sense of coherence
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425045 , vital:72204
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent disruptions brought about by the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, provide an unfortunate but useful opportunity to explore employee wellness in response to a crisis, within the Higher Education context. COVID-19 lockdowns meant that university students could no longer access conventional learning through physical attendance at lectures. In response, university staff had to contend with a number of changes to their work environment. These included adapting teaching, learning, and assessment methods to an online platform, which led to changes in job roles, expectations, and increased workload for both academic and support staff. The focus of this research was to explore correlations between the current psychological distress that university employees are experiencing and their recalled coping strategies and sense of coherence in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-method approach using a survey design was used. Surveys were completed by 171 university academic and support staff using the SA CORE-10 and BRIEF Cope, as well as qualitative questions. Results demonstrated that higher levels of current psychological distress correlated positively with avoidant coping strategies, particularly in academic staff as opposed to support staff, while more adaptive coping strategies tracked with a sense of coherence. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
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Instrument building as a tool for the revitalisation and revaluing of traditional music transmission: An investigation in Tshandama and Mbahe in Venda, South Africa
- Authors: Makhanza, Joseph
- Date: 2023-03-31
- Subjects: Instrument making , Ecomusicology South Africa Venda , Venda (African people) Music , Group identity South Africa Venda , Musical instruments South Africa Venda , Environmental awareness
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419525 , vital:71651
- Description: This study stems from my experiences as a child who grew up playing herd boys’ musical instruments from Venda, such as the tshipotoliyo (ocarina), and tshitiringo (flute). Importantly it also builds on my time working at the International Library of African Music (ILAM,) where the aforementioned instruments, as well as the dende (musical bow) and tshizambi (Vhavenda and Vatsonga mouth bow), are displayed in transparent glass cubicles with a note, “Do not touch, they are fragile”. This phrase is painfully apt because, as a musician, I have observed a decline in the availability and performance of these musical instruments. The truth is that, other than at ILAM, these instruments are hardly in circulation, let alone being performed. This fact ignited my interest in relearning some of the musical instruments I used to play and make while herding cows in Giyani. In the context of trends such as modernisation, rural–urban migration, and globalisation, I document my experiences as a musical-instrument maker, teacher, and performer in revitalising dende, tshipotoliyo, tshitiringo, and tshizambi through classroom practice, using Rhodes music students, instrument-making workshops, performances, and community collaborations as inspiration. I propose the development of crafting skills as a medium for revitalising and sustaining these musical instruments which serve as important identity markers of the Vhavenda people. , Thesis (MMus) -- Faculty of Humanities, Music and Musicology, 2023
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Exploring integration for the topic of stoichiometry in South African natural sciences and physical sciences school curricula
- Authors: Mgolozeli, Kwanele
- Date: 2022-10-14
- Subjects: Uncatalogued
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/405330 , vital:70162
- Description: Many developing countries, including South Africa, have identified the provision and implementation of strong science curricula as central to their developmental needs. Stoichiometry is a fundamental chemistry topic because the concepts involved form the basis of later topics such as chemical equilibrium, rates of reactions, redox reactions, and acid-base reactions. School students consistently demonstrate lack of understanding of stoichiometry-related concepts and skills such as the particulate nature of matter and related mathematical problem-solving. The poor performance of high school students in central science topics such as stoichiometry is problematic for their further study of chemistry and for the country meeting its need for science graduates. Successive examiner reports pointed to the lack of integration of stoichiometry concepts across the grades being the main problem. However, no study could be found which explores how stoichiometry is integrated in the South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curriculum across the grades. This provided the rationale for the current study. The case study reported in this thesis thus aimed to explore integration of stoichiometry concepts in South African Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences school curricula. It involved document analysis as the method of collecting data. The research adopted the social realist paradigm, with its realist ontology and relativist epistemology. Legitimation Code Theory provided the theoretical framing. Chemistry concepts that are foundational to the understanding of stoichiometry according to literature, were chosen as root concepts for the concept mapping undertaken to identify types of integration. The concept maps revealed four stoichiometry integration themes: integration of stoichiometry concepts with symbols, integration of stoichiometry concepts with explanations, integration with applications in a chemistry context, and integration with an everyday context. These themes provided integration categories. A semantic gravity translation device was then developed for characterising the types of integration in terms of the degree of contextualisation. The results of this study show that stoichiometry integration of weaker semantic gravity is legitimated more strongly over other semantic gravity codes in the Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences curricula across all grade levels. While this has advantages in terms of knowledge-building potential, the consequence is that the integration occurs at very abstract levels that are far removed from learners’ everyday lives. The practical implication for curriculum developers involves increasing the instances of integration of stoichiometry concepts at stronger levels of semantic gravity, for a more even semantic gravity range of integration types. Natural Sciences and Physical Sciences teachers also need to source and include real-life examples for explanations and applications of stoichiometry concepts when teaching, in light of current curriculum documents focusing more on abstract forms of integration. Methodologically, this study contributes to the increased utility of semantic gravity through its exploration of integration in relation to knowledge-building potential of curriculum for hierarchical knowledge structures such as chemistry. , Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2022
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Creative Cities and Regional Development: The Case of Makhanda and the Creative City Project
- Authors: Campbell, Guy John
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be assigned
- Language: English
- Type: thesis , text , Masters , MCOM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174448 , vital:42478
- Description: Thesis (MSc)--Rhodes University, Faculty of Commerce, Economics and Economic History, 2020
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