Unisa Press Journals (University of South Africa)
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Bridging the Divide: Indigenous Language Integration in Open Educational Resource Accessibility
No full textThe use of information resources is dependent on their accessibility by users. The accessibility of information has attracted the attention of researchers from different parts of the world. However, Open Educational Resources (OERs) accessibility issues have not been adequately addressed in South Africa. This article explores the use of indigenous languages in the development and adaptation of OERs for accessibility at the University of South Africa. A total of 108 OERs were available for selection on UnisaIR. Ten of the 108 OERs were purposefully selected. Exploring and analysing OER development at Unisa took a qualitative and exploratory approach. This article presents the findings of a thematic analysis that was used to identify dominant themes in OER. The findings highlight two main concerns that underpin OER operations at Unisa: 1) translation as a method of OER creation and/or adaptation; and 2) deficiency of OER creation in indigenous languages. Though using indigenous languages in the construction of OERs can help to address the accessibility gap in the supply of teaching and learning resources, this aspect of accessibility as a discourse in the OER space has yet to be explored extensively. It is a matter of concern that many OERs at Unisa are written only in English. To address the gap in accessibility of OERs in the South African context, the following three language-related factors should support the creation of OERs: development in local languages, linguistic pluralism, and translation into indigenous languages
Digital Preservation Readiness of Legal Deposit Materials at the Msunduzi Municipal Library in KwaZulu-Natal
No full textThis paper aims to explore a digital preservation program readiness of legal deposit materials at the Msunduzi Municipal Library in KwaZulu-Natal. It looks at the readiness to undertake the digital preservation programme, whether they meet the requirements for digital preservation programme in order to undertake it, and if the staff members have skills and competencies for digital preservation. It also checked if they have enough storage capacity for digital preservation program. A qualitative research method was adopted and used a case study research design. The semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to obtain in-depth data from each participant, and analysed it using a thematic analysis. The targeted population were all 15 digitization section employees from the Msunduzi Municipal Library and all participated giving 100%.
The findings revealed that the Msunduzi Municipal Library seemed ready to undertake the digital preservation programme. The library was found facing challenges such as a lack of storage server to store and back-up digitally preserved materials, a lack of funds, a lack of in-service training for its staff, faulty and or non-functioning digitization machines, a lack of adequate maintenance of equipment, and a lack of enough equipment in preparation for digital preservation programme. It was discovered that the Msunduzi Municipal Library met the requirements for digital preservation programme in order to undertake it but some few staff members did not think it met the requirements for digital preservation programme, simply because they lacked storage server.
This paper recommends that Msunduzi Municipal Library and other institutions preparing for the digital preservation programmes should hire staff with relevant skills and competencies for digital preservation, and also engage in in-service training of their staff, especially those lacking these skills and competences.
 
Assessment of Prevalence of Information Disorders among Undergraduates of Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria
No full textInformation disorder is becoming a scourge affecting the authenticity and integrity of information among the populace, particularly undergraduates. This study assessed the prevalence of information disorders among undergraduates of Kwara State University, Malete. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The study population consisted of 25,277 Kwara State University undergraduate students in Malete. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents from the population. The questionnaire was the instrument used to collect data. The study\u27s findings revealed that lack of awareness of information disorders and the desire to be respected by colleagues were the major causes of information disorders among students. The prevalent information disorders among students were clickbaits, hoaxes, biases and imposter websites. Fake reviews, rumours, hoaxes, and propaganda were the highest information disorders rampant among students, and some of the strategies to reduce the prevalence of information disorders are identifying the sources of information and those that can be victimised by such information. The study concluded that information disorders are prevalent among the undergraduates of Kwara State University and recommends, among others, that the management of Kwara State University and other stakeholders should orientate undergraduates on information disorders and their challenges
New Media and Self-directed Learning: Enhancing Pedagogical Transformation in an Open Distance Learning Landscape
No full textIn essence, open educational resources (OERs) are transforming the education landscape in many different fields. They are swiftly becoming important elements in support of open educational practices and the open education movement. Modern technological innovations permeate every aspect of life, and higher education is no exception. This study investigated the types and pedagogical value of the new media that academics have adopted to promote self-directed learning at the University of South Africa (Unisa). To realise the aim of the study, the following questions were addressed: Which new media approaches have academics adopted to enhance self-directed learning? What is the pedagogical value of using new media in an open and distance learning environment? The study was informed by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. A qualitative approach was employed, and data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 30 purposively selected Unisa academics from across different schools. Upon analysing the data using open and axial coding, dominant themes from the discussions were identified and discussed in detail. The findings revealed that various new media platforms, such as OERs, blogs, Camtasia Studio, Google Docs, and so forth, are used to promote self-directed learning at Unisa and have proven to be pivotal in opening avenues of communication and collapsing the transactional distance at this ODL institution. New media thus serve as strong catalysts for fostering pedagogical transformation
Learning along the Way: A Case Study on a Pedagogically Innovative Approach to Engage Medical Students in the Creation of Open Educational Resources Using ChatGPT
No full textThe development of open educational resources (OER) plays a key role in addressing the challenge of access to affordable, appropriate, high-quality teaching and learning materials. This is particularly the case in health sciences in South Africa, where there is a strong imperative around local production of contextually appropriate resources that can be openly accessible within institutions and in practice. This case study details the creation and iterative review approaches undertaken by undergraduate medical students in a study module focused on creating chapters for an orthopaedics open textbook through the use of ChatGPT. It also explores the nuances of the lecturer’s process, particularly as relates to assessment, quality, and his ambitions to promote student voice through co-creation. The findings demonstrate that ChatGPT has the potential to be the game changer needed to help build OER production in the Global South, particularly in terms of the speeding up of the process. They also suggest that processes of this kind have a role to play in building students’ critical artificial intelligence (AI) digital literacy skills and in boosting their sense of agency. This work stands to make an important contribution in terms of profiling institutional cases where AI is being used in an innovative, responsible manner in the classroom. It also aims to make a unique Global South contribution to the rapidly emerging global discourse around the use of AI in teaching and learning, and the use of collaborative content development approaches to promote student voice and social justice in higher education.
Perspectives Regarding Methodological Considerations and Challenges of Conducting Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) in Nursing Research
No full textRandomised Control Trials (RCT) serve as the gold standard in research design, offering valuable insights into evaluating the impact of nursing interventions on patient health outcomes. This paper explores the methodological considerations and challenges inherent in designing and conducting RCTs within the nursing context. The inclusion criteria involved a thorough search across reputable databases, including CEINAHL, EBSCO, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library, spanning any period due to the scarcity of relevant material. Articles were selected based on their alignment with key considerations such as randomisation, blinding, sample size calculations, outcome measures, and ethical aspects. Data extraction involved findings related to methodological considerations and challenges faced by nurse researchers in RCT design and implementation. Various challenges arise when applying these considerations due to the nature of nursing interventions and ethical concerns. Proposed solutions include comprehensive informed consent, mixed-methods approaches, and the cluster-randomization process. This paper underscores the role of nurse researchers in overcoming challenges and fostering evidence-based practice. Integrating robust methodological strategies and ethical considerations ensures the validity and reliability of nursing RCTs, contributing to improved patient care
Tuberculosis Treatment Adherence among Tuberculosis Patients: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
No full textTuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in South Africa. Poor TB treatment adherence (TBTA) is associated with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. This cross-sectional study investigated TBTA among TB patients aged 18 years and above. A sample of 110 TB patients participated in the study, of whom 65 (59%) were males and 45 (41%) females, with a mean age of 34.62 ± 9.77. Almost one-third (32%) of the respondents reported forgetting to take their medication. The reasons they gave for non-adherence to TB medication included: (i) simply forgot (21%); (ii) fell asleep/slept through dose time (13%); (iii) had problems taking pills at specified times (12%); (iv) were busy with other things (12%); (v) were away from home (11%); and (vi) drank alcohol (10%). Unlike prior studies, sex and age were not associated with TBTA. However, the following factors were significantly associated with TBTA: (i) the number of people living in a household and sharing the main meal of the day (X2 [2] = 11.42; p = .003; V = 0,32) [increased non-adherence in larger households]; (ii) no one to take care of them or remind them to take their TB medication/take care of self (X2 [1] = 4.90; p = .027; V = 0.21) [increased non-adherence in the group who had someone taking care of them or reminding them to take their TB medication]; and (iii) family support (t [108] = 2.08; p = .040; d = 0.43) [increased non-adherence in the group who reported a higher level of family support]. Counterintuitively, the results showed increased non-adherence among respondents who reported having someone taking care of or reminding them to take their TB medication and those who reported getting support from their family
Two Sides of a Coin: On Whose Side is God?
No full textThe phrase “Two Sides of a Coin” in the title should be understood as meaning that there are different ways of looking at a thing or dealing with a situation and that they could be both positive and negative. South African history and reality is without a doubt divided into two halves, namely black and white. This history gave birth to ideologies and theologies arguing that God belonged to—and was loyal to—a particular race. For most whites, specifically most Afrikaners, God was always with them in their struggle against the British Empire and blacks. Likewise, for blacks, God was also with them in their struggle against white oppression. The phrase “Two Sides of a Coin” expresses these two points of view that are based on the same subjects or sources, namely God, Christ, and Christianity, although they end up with two different conclusions and I must declare that I am a black theologian who subscribes to the view that “God is on the side of the poor.” The sub-heading “On Whose Side is God” explains that the article interrogates the claim that God is “a God of sides.” The conclusion shows that God is not necessarily located on a particular side but is a God who is already standing at a particular position which naturally is the side of the oppressed and the side of righteousness. The article is divided into four sections: the first section concentrates on the Afrikaners’ belief that God is on their side. The second section concentrates on the white (non-Afrikaner) response to this belief. The third section looks at the black critique of nationalism and apartheid theology. The fourth section expresses the view that God is for all but stands on the side of righteousness
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 1924-2024: A Centenary Assessment
No full textBy the early twentieth century African churches were emerging from the work of the three missions with a Reformed identity which were working in Malawi. In a two-stage process of union, the three young churches came together in 1924/26 to form the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP). In anticipation of the centenary celebration in 2024, Zomba Theological University hosted a research conference in April 2023, aiming to take account of the 100-year history. The conference recognised the remarkable growth of the church, which now has millions of members in Malawi and neighbouring countries. It has built up its own distinctive tradition of worship, spirituality, and witness. It offers a wide range of social services and is influential at national level in Malawi. The conference also identified points of stress and tension, especially the recurrent question of how to balance unity and diversity in the life of the church. While it has never completely broken apart, there has been a constant struggle to attain meaningful unity. The centenary may be an opportunity for assessment and action. Creating an instrument to give theological attention to issues facing the CCAP may be one way to discover and deepen its identity and unity
The Church and Forced Migration/Removal: The Elandskloof Case: 2023 CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH HISTORY SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
No full textThe article focuses on the forced removal of the Elandskloof mission station through the implementation of the Group Areas Act. The study delves into the ramifications of the Group Areas Act through the lens of whiteness. The main argument of the study is that the Group Areas Act permanently disintegrated societies. Primarily, attention is drawn to the fact that forced removals started with the Dutch’s permanent settlement with the Khoi’s removal. Additionally, the Group Areas Act and its consequences are discussed. Furthermore, the consequences of the Group Areas Act on the Elandskloof mission station are discussed