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Pelvimetry And Other Selected Contributing Factors Causing Dystocia In Dorper Ewes
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Teacher Role In The Promotion Of Mastery Learning: Perspectives On Strategy And Performance In FET Schools
Get PDFDissertationThe aim of this study was to explore the role that teachers play in the promotion of
mastery learning in secondary schools in the Lejweleputswa District. Many schools in
South Africa focus on the performance of learners thus neglecting to master the
content, which in turn could positively contribute towards both performance and
mastery goals. The study used in-depth interviews and closed-ended questionnaires
to collect the data. Participants included principals and teachers who took part in
interviews and completed questionnaires, respectively. The study revealed that
despite teachers knowing about mastery learning and understanding the
implementation thereof, a barrier remained the costs incurred when promoting mastery
learning. The study also revealed that the more experienced teachers, who have been
part of the education system for a significant time already, appeared to be more skilled
in implementing mastery learning, as opposed to the newly appointed teachers not
familiar with mastery learning. Therefore, teachers explore different methods of
teaching and learning in their quest to find the one most suitable for them. Mastery
learning should, however, be compulsory. Schools can successfully implement
mastery learning if the Department of Education provided financial assistance, and
training and workshops. This would benefit learners and the entire country, as those
that achieve life-long learning become fully equipped to enter South Africa’s workforce
and subsequently contribute to growing the economy
Investigation Of The Viability Of An Integrated Cloud-Based Electronic Medical Record For Health Clinics In Free State, South Africa
Get PDFDissertationThe use of paper-based medical records leads to gaps in patient healthcare. Paper-based records are prone to challenges such as lack of real-time access to patient data, and inability to share and exchange medical data among different health institutions. A solution to address most of the challenges associated with paper-based medical records is to have an information system, such as an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. EMRs have proven to be more complete and quicker to access as opposed to paper records.
Although EMRs may help resolve some of the problems with paper-based medical records, if the EMR systems are not linked or integrated, the problem of real-time accessibility and exchange of patient data remains unresolved. This leads to challenges in monitoring a patient’s health progress and providing continuity of care.
The emerging cloud-computing model, which leverages the Internet to allow the sharing of IT resources as online services, may offer a cost-effective solution of integrating diverse EMR systems. It can serve as an electronic medical record storage centre which simplifies the complexities with EMR exchange methods between different systems and saves the equipment setup expenses for smaller healthcare facilities. In addition, cloud computing may improve healthcare services and benefit medical research.
Despite the benefits offered by cloud computing, the adoption of cloud computing in the healthcare industry is the slowest compared to other industries. Further, adopting cloud computing involves many factors which require rigorous evaluation prior to introducing the new computing model to an organization. Very few empirical studies have focused on exploring factors influencing the adoption of cloud computing, especially in the public health sector.
This study aimed to investigate the viability of an integrated cloud-based EMR system by exploring factors which influence the intent to adopt cloud computing at public healthcare facilities in the Free State province, South Africa. Through a review of literature on existing studies on the adoption of cloud computing and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, TOE factors were identified and adopted to suit the study’s context. The study carried out a quantitative cross-sectional research by collecting data using a questionnaire which was surveyed to a sample of five principal network controllers from all districts of the Free State and 31 public healthcare facilities in the Free State (FS), South Africa. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 19. The study’s hypotheses were tested by conducting a Spearman’s Coefficient Correlation.
Results of the study revealed that most of the public healthcare facilities are using paper-based medical records with some form of IT to record basic patient information. Further, results of the study showed that some of the Health Information Systems (HIS) utilized at these healthcare facilities in the FS include Meditech, PADS, PharmAssist, Tier.net, HPRS, Rx Solutions, RDM, ETR and DHIS. According to this study, investments into IT infrastructure need to be considered by these health facilities as the current internet facilities will not be able to accommodate the use of cloud computing and only some facilities have internet facilities in place. Despite these challenges, these healthcare facilities are willing to adopt a cloud-based EMR system. Lastly, results of the study revealed that the factors associated with the intent to adopt cloud computing included relative advantage, security concern, organization readiness and top management support
Teachers’ Views On The Challenges They Experience When Implementing The Curriculum And Assessment Policy Statement In The Foundation Phase
Get PDFDissertationThe South African education system has been evolving since the democratically elected government came into power in 1994. As a result, a number of curriculum reforms have been introduced within a short space of time. Curriculum change impacts on the work of the teachers who are at the forefront of curriculum innovation and implementation. This study attempts to provide a picture of what is currently occurring in primary schools pertaining to the challenges that Foundation Phase teachers encounter when they implement Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in the classroom. The research aims to provide a view from teacher’s perspectives and understanding of the curriculum and how it impacts on their teaching practice.
The literature review revealed that curriculum change is inevitable because in order to keep up with the needs of a constantly changing society, it also has to change. The question that captivated the researcher regarding curriculum change is how the teachers view this change and their experiences when implementing the new curriculum. The literature reviewed also revealed that, in any curriculum change, teachers as curriculum implementers should be involved in curriculum development processes and should undergo extensive training before the envisaged curriculum can be implemented. Furthermore, teachers should be exposed to continuous professional development so that they can be informed on developments and increase their knowledge and skills, which will result in quality teaching and learning.
The study employed a sequential explanatory mixed method research design. This design afforded the researcher an opportunity to obtain in-depth knowledge and understanding of the challenges Foundation Phase teachers experience when they implement CAPS. The findings of the study reveal that there is a statistically significant relationship between Foundation Phase teachers’ views and their implementation of CAPS. The results also reveal that the implementation of CAPS in the Foundation Phase is a burden; it is difficult and time consuming to implement CAPS in the Foundation Phase; there is lack of the school management teams’ assistance in the implementation of CAPS; there is lack of in-service training; schools’ infrastructure does not provide learners with a safe and healthy learning environment, there is minimal parental involvement at schools; there is lack of teaching and learning support material; there are overcrowded classrooms; progressed learners frustrate effective teaching and lastly, there is lack of teacher initiative.
This research recommends that before a new curriculum is implemented, thorough research must be done along with an analysis to check the viability and implications of the curriculum in the South African context; assistant teachers should be introduced in the South African education system to reduce the administration load of teachers; teachers should receive training in the teaching of learners with learning barriers; there should be a review of CAPS’ content and allocated teaching time; there should be a provision of adequate teaching and learning support material; and members of the school management team must nurture and mentor their staff to enhance a positive school climate
Exploring Workplace Adversity And Resilience Among Teachers In The Lejweleputswa District: The Need For Supprort Programmes For Teachers
Get PDFDespite volumes of research work on workplace adversity and resilience
internationally, much remains unknown about the adversities and resilience
among teachers in South Africa. The aim of this research study is therefore clear
in its title: Exploring workplace adversity and resilience among teachers in the
Lejweleputswa district: the need for support programmes for teachers. It was
envisaged that the findings of this study would make it possible for strengthbased,
resilience-focused interventions to be developed in order to support
teachers and prevent staff turnover. Workplace adversity negatively impacts
teachers’ performance. A generic qualitative study was conducted. This study is
phenomenological and exploratory in nature. The design of the study was a
multiple case study research and qualitative, semi-structured interviews were
conducted. The findings taken from the participants’ narratives were categorised.
The study documented individual and environmental processes that enabled
teachers to function resiliently despite the adversities they face at work. Teachers
attributed their ability to thrive in the midst of workplace adversity ultimately
through the following factors: personal resilience, support from their families and
community, professional assistance, religious practices and beliefs as well as
seminars and workshops. Workplace adversity negatively impacts teachers’
performance. It is therefore essential to give them the necessary support in the
form of structured programmes to assist them in performing well consistently
despite the adversities they face in the workplace
An Assessment Of The Impact Wastewater Pollution Has On The Quality Of Surface Water Bodies In The Vicinity Of Zastron And Matlakeng Township, Free State Province
Get PDFDissertationIntroduction: A breakdown in wastewater infrastructural systems have, in recent times, resulted in extensive pollution of rivers, dams and streams in the vicinity of Zastron and Matlakeng Township. The consequence of extensive pollution of these surface water bodies has resulted in the degradation of the water quality and the health of the ecosystem. Polluted water may become a source for transmitting waterborne diseases, which is a cause for concern, especially when the water is used to irrigate agricultural produce. An assessment of the surface water quality of water bodies in the Zastron and Matlakeng Township provided information about the extent of the deterioration and degradation of the water quality of the surface water bodies.
Methodology: In this study, an assessment of the municipal complaints registers of the Mohokare Local Municipality was conducted to identify suitable sampling sites in the rivers, dams and streams that were directly impacted by untreated sewerage flowing from blocked manholes or sewerage leakages from pipe bursts overflowing in the Matlakeng Township. From this analysis, ten surface water bodies were identified to most likely be affected by wastewater pollution as a result of the infrastructural breakdown in the vicinity. To assess the water quality of the 10 sampling sites, the physical, chemical and microbiological water quality properties of the sampling sites were measured over three sampling rounds. To determine the ecological health status of the macroinvertebrate sampling site habitats, an ecological assessment for the 10 sampling sites was also conducted. A number of indexes were used to determine the water quality status for each of the sampling sites. These included the calculation of a Water Quality Index (WQI), the South African Scoring System (SASS), and the Average Score per Taxa (ASPT).
Results and discussion: The study found that on assessment of community infrastructure related complaints lodged with the municipality were mostly as a result of and poor workmanship with the construction of sewer networks. This resulted in blocked manholes and sewerage leakages that which caused sewerage overflowing from manholes and burst pipes. The infrastructural breakdowns had resulted in the discharge of untreated wastewater into surface water bodies located within close proximity to where most challenges were identified from community complaints. The assessment of the physical, chemical and microbiological water quality had revealed non-compliant Turbidity, Ammonia and Phosphates parameters, while the microbiological water quality had declined extensively after the first sampling round. Turbidity and elevated concentrations of Ammonia and Phosphates, as well as the high counts of faecal coliforms could be attributed to wastewater pollution.
The calculation of the CCME WQI classified all the sampling sites as poor. Sampling site H and site D were the only two sampling sites classified as marginal. The two sites are located furthest from wastewater pollution and thus, the classification. The ecological assessment revealed that all the surface water bodies were classified as critically impaired. Sampling sites classified as critically impaired are sites where only a few pollution tolerant macroinvertebrates survive. Most of the sensitive aquatic organisms have died because of the wastewater pollution from the breakdown in wastewater infrastructural systems.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the surface water bodies in the vicinity of the Zastron and Matlakeng Township was polluted by wastewater that had flown into it from either blocked or overflowing manholes and malfunctioning pump stations. It is recommended that infrastructural needs in the areas identified, as those mostly affected by infrastructural challenges should receive attention by the responsible local authority in order to prevent any further wastewater pollution of the surface water bodies. Such an intervention can result in the improvement and the restoration of the surface water body quality over time
Citation Analysis of Master Dissertations at the Central University of Technology, South Africa
Get PDFPublished ArticleData must be given context to become
information. Information must be given meaning
to become knowledge. Knowledge, in turn, can
only become wisdom if applied correctly. Data
from postgraduate dissertations, including an
analysis of the types of citations used, can give
rise to information that can subsequently
contribute to knowledge and wisdom. This type
of analysis is warranted, as it has been reported
that poor references are a common fault in
dissertations. The purpose of this article is to
analyse 157 Master dissertations from 19
different disciplines that were completed over a
10-year period at one university in order to
identify the types and the trends of the citations
used in order to highlight any major concerns
with regard to credibility. An ex-post facto study
is used where citation analysis is used to obtain
quantitative data. Results reveal that 17063
citations were used in total, where the disciplines
of Electrical Engineering and Information
Technology had the highest number of internetbased
sources, as compared to journal articles
and books. Engineering postgraduate students
also used a fewer number of citations (average
of 60 per dissertation) as compared to students
in Humanities (103 citations per dissertation),
Environmental Sciences (138 citations per
dissertation) and Management (121 citations per
dissertation). The use of Wikipedia was limited
to 79 citations, of which almost 50% was found
in Electrical Engineering. An important
implication of this research is that it may help
postgraduate students to select more credible sources for their citations, formatting them more
correctly so as to easily identify their types. This
in turn may have a bearing on improving the
quality of their dissertations that may ease the
examination process
Automated Library Booktruck For Traditional Libraries
Get PDFPublished ArticleLibraries are an integral part of our society’s knowledge repository and even though technological advances such as the internet, smart devices and an ‘always-connected-society’, provide avenues for fast and almost instantaneous access to knowledge, libraries still provide a physical place for the collection and dissemination of knowledge. The prompt shelving of the physical returned library books is an important task in any traditional library. To help speed up the shelving process, this paper proposed and simulated an automated booktruck that is capable of moving returned library books from the return desk back to the shelves. The simulation models currently available robotic hardware and implemented path finding and localization. The simulation results showed that returned books can be delivered to the shelves four times faster than the by using the current practices
Modelling Organisational Factors Influencing Sustainable Development Implementation Performance in Higher Education Institutions: An Interpretative Structural Modelling (ISM) Approach
Get PDFPublished ArticleGlobally, higher education institutions (HEIs) have continued to record varied sustainable
development (SD) implementation performances. This variance has been attributed to the presence
of certain organisational factors. Whereas previous studies have successfully identified the factors
influencing SD implementation performance in HEIs, few studies have attempted to explore the
relationship between these factors and the influence of such a relationship on the management
of SD implementation in HEIs. This is the objective of this study. Understandably, knowledge
of such relationships will facilitate the development of appropriate frameworks for managing SD
implementation in HEIs. Relying on a case study of a South African University of Technology (SAUoT),
this study elicits data through a focus group discussion session. An interpretative structural modelling
(ISM) focus group protocol indicating extant pair-wise relationships between identified organisational
factor categories was extensively discussed. The emergent data was recorded, transcribed verbatim
and subsequently analysed. The findings suggest that communication was critical to the prevalence
of other factors, hence indicating its centrality to the e ective management of SD implementation
in HEIs. These findings will guide implementing agents in HEIs towards developing appropriate
mechanisms for communicating SD implementation strategies
Effects of Stress-Relieving Heat Treatment on Impact Toughness of Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)-Produced Ti6Al4V (ELI) Parts
Get PDFPublished ArticleThe impact toughness of as-built (AB) and stressed-relieved (SR) direct metal
laser sintering-produced Ti6Al4V (ELI) was investigated using the standard
Charpy impact test over the temperature range of 130 C to 250 C. Stressrelieving
heat treatment was conducted at 650 C for a soaking period of 3 h in
argon gas atmosphere. The results showed improvements in the impact
toughness after stress-relieving heat treatment. Stress relieving also shifted
the established ductile-to-brittle transition temperature to lower temperatures.
Comparative analysis of the impact toughness values for AB and SR
specimens at ambient temperature showed them to be 48% and 22% lower
than recommended values for use in aircraft structures, respectively