The role of visual storytelling in enhancing online learning experience design at Nelson Mandela University
- Authors: Waring, Elmien
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Digital storytelling -- South Africa , Information visualization , Visual communication
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/63584 , vital:73505
- Description: As the landscape of higher education undergoes a shift toward a combination of online instructional methods and traditional in-person engagement, a creative approach becomes essential in ensuring student success. The research aims to explore how visual storytelling can enhance the online learning experience at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), thereby improving the effectiveness of teaching and knowledge acquisition. This study delves into the Learning Experience Design (LXD), a blend of instructional design, design thinking, and user experience design, within the teaching community of Nelson Mandela University and the broader South African context. Employing a mixed-method approach, qualitative data from interviews identified themes such as the improvement of LXD, challenges in the design process, and the utilization of visual storytelling. Quantitative analysis revealed that students primarily used the university learning management system (Moodle) for accessing resources, grades, and reviewing tests, with limited engagement in online learning activities. Lecturers expressed concern about Moodle’s functionality, a need for enhanced design support, and the necessity for training in the transition to digital learning. While lecturers recognized the potential of visual storytelling in enhancing engagement and knowledge retention, they emphasized the importance of support for the seamless integration into teaching. Students acknowledged the positive role of visual storytelling in improving their learning experience but highlighted areas of improvement, such as regular updates, increased visual interaction options, and the inclusion of information graphics to explain concepts. A design thinking process informed the development of instructional design interventions, leading to the creation of a prototype Moodle course shell and resources. This initiative aims to empower lecturers to enhance the learning experiences independently with the support of professional LXD services. The research findings suggest that visual storytelling indeed improves LXD, emphasizing the need for established support systems and resources at the university to equip lecturers for successful integration. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, School of Visual and Performing Arts, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
An analysis of the use of visual storytelling by South African brands to promote brand engagement on social networks
- Authors: Gwatiringa, Tsitsi
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Digital storytelling -- South Africa , Branding (Marketing) -- South Africa , Social media -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/7533 , vital:21799
- Description: Stories have the ability to evoke feelings and emotions in humans and have since been used by brands as part of corporate communication, communicating their vision and values. However, the growing technological trends have not only shifted the platforms for communication but also changed the techniques of communication as audiences on social media expect two-way communication instead of the traditionally used one-way communication. This is exacerbated by the power of word-of-mouth on social media as well as the presence of digital natives who are increasingly visual in their nderstanding and are immersed in their lives online. This has given rise to the use of visual storytelling as a corporate communication strategy as brands are using it to connect, transmit and receive messages from their audiences. This study examines the ways in which South African brands are making use of visual storytelling on social media and aims to determine the extent to which the use of visual storytelling promotes brand-audience engagement. The study is based on the philosophical assumptions of the Visual Rhetoric framework, which is concerned with the symbolic processes by which images perform communication. The hermeneutic – interpretive research method design is applied to justify knowledge produced by this study. A content analysis of six social media pages was conducted, looking at the visual content posted as well as interpretation of comments and interactions by fans of the selected brand pages. Overall, South African brands make use of visual storytelling to promote brand-audience engagement but they are not utilising the communication strategy to its fullest extent.
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- Date Issued: 2015