Establishing a transformative institutional culture at a comprehensive South African university: the role of the arts
- Authors: Barry, Michael Peter
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Multicultural education -- South Africa , Education -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Educational change , Cultural pluralism
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: vital:9561 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013069
- Description: Universities in South Africa have emerged from an exceptionally fragmented and divided past and are responding to this by reconceptualising and restructuring their institutional governance structures. This is been done through the introduction of policies and strategies aimed at transforming institutional landscapes and creating environments that are conducive to meeting the demands and pressures of a transformed SA. Previous studies have indicated that there is a need for institutional transformation and change at newly merged universities in SA. However, very little is known about the possible role the arts could play in institutional change and transformation processes and what Badat refers to, when referencing the process of institutional transformation, as “the dissolution of existing social relations and institutions, policies and practices, and their re-creation and consolidation into something substantially new” (2009:456). The goal of this research study is to explore the views, opinions and perceptions of key stakeholders and decision-makers at a comprehensive South African university, in this case, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), in order to gain their insights into the role the arts could play in creating and consolidating a transformative institutional culture at a merged university in SA. The data was obtained from semi-structured interviews with 16 key decision-makers and stakeholders at NMMU. Based on the thematic data analysis, the responses from these key stakeholders indicate that there is wide support for the arts to play a role in the establishment of a transformative institutional culture and it appears that not only should the arts play a role, they should play a central role.
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- Date Issued: 2013
The use of Blackboard as a tool for the teaching and assessment of large classes in mathematics education: a case study of second year level Bachelor of Education students in one university in South Africa
- Authors: Riley, Alanna
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Ed
- Identifier: vital:16182 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1006237 , Blackboards , Blackboard drawing , Mathematics -- Study and teaching , College students , Educational change , Information technology , Teaching -- Aids and devices , College teaching , Assessment , Blended learning
- Description: This study locates the Blackboard Learning Management System as a Technology Enhanced Learning tool within the bounds of the discipline of eLearning and aimed to interrogate the use of Blackboard for the purposes of teaching, learning and assessment in large classes. It is evident from the literature reviewed that changes in both Higher Education in the South Africa with regards to policy and legislation in addition to international shifts towards increased access and participation in a fast paced, ever-evolving knowledge-based economy, providing the context for this work. The theoretical framework for this study is not unidimensional due to the fact that the educational field of eLearning as an area of specialisation draws on a multitude of theories in terms of their utility value for instructional design of courses utilising Information and Communications Technology as a mode of delivery. This study was conducted within the bounds of an interpretivist paradigm as the researcher sought to focus on the use of Blackboard and the experiences of the lecturers and students involved in the implementation thereof. The research design for this study took the form of a case study and a multiple case method was employed. The researcher collected data through personal interviews conducted with participating lecturers, while student data was collected by means of a qualitative survey which was conducted through the Blackboard Learning Management System. The data was analyzed by means of a thematic analysis, consistent with the interpretive paradigm chosen for this study. The findings of this study revealed that Blackboard was utilised effectively in order to facilitate communication, access to course resources and promoted more efficient assessment processes. The implementation was however not without challenges many of which were systemic and focused on the lack of resources available to the students. The implications of using Blackboard for teaching and assessment of large classes include the use of the Learning Management System as part of a multimodal method of course delivery in an effort to reach the multitude of registered students both conceptually as well as electronically. The recommendations arising from this study include consideration on the part of the faculty for a unified approach in the use of Blackboard for communication as well as deployment of resources. Additionally, this study may form the foundation of further studies in this field, with a focus on the active engagement and training of lecturers in order to integrate traditional teaching methods with blended learning opportunities.
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- Date Issued: 2013