Research in Social Sciences and Technology
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The Perception of ChatGPT among Educators: Preliminary Findings
Full text linkChatGPT was first released in November 2022, which has led to varying reactions among educators. Educators are one of the major stakeholders in the education system. As a result of this, educators’ perceptions of ChatGPT are worth investigating to inform future policy decision-making. This study examined the perceptions of ChatGPT among educators using an online survey. Thematic coding was conducted to interpret perceptions about their concerns about ChatGPT and their thoughts on the potential benefits of ChatGPT in education. The results indicated that even though educators did not know much about ChatGPT yet, they were open to receiving training about its applicability within education. Educators mentioned plagiarism/cheating, loss of higher-order thinking skills, overreliance on technology, lack of authenticity, decreasing content comprehension, fears of the unknown, and concern for social-emotional well-being as their concerns. On the other hand, educators were hopeful about developing teaching materials to reduce workload, instant information access, and a higher level of teaching using ChatGPT. The findings of the study suggest some important implications and recommendations for educators and policymakers. 
Students’ Perceptions of the Digital Access Centres at the University of South Africa
Full text linkThis paper sought to investigate the accessibility of Digital Access Centres as a resource for Unisa Students needing to access services away from campus. The Digital Access Centres are available in open-distance e-learning institutions like Unisa in a quest to reach students. Unisa regional computer labs are always fully packed with students queuing to access the computers to access online platforms to write and submit assignments. Students are also expected to use Digital Access Centres to access support services instead of travelling long distances to regional offices or campuses. This study investigated UNISA students’ perceptions and knowledge of Digital Access Centres. A qualitative research methodology was used. Data was generated through semi-structured interviews with thirteen students. The sample was drawn from a population of students who visit computer labs at the Gauteng Regional Service Centre. The data collected revealed that students do not know about Digital Access Centres despite information being available on myUnisa and myChoice brochures. The findings also revealed that few students are accessing Digital Access Centres, and those who visited the centres, indicated that the centres are not fully operational and struggle with connectivity.  
Errors and Misconceptions in Euclidean Geometry Problem Solving Questions: The Case of Grade 12 Learners
Full text linkEuclidean geometry provides an opportunity for learners to learn argumentation and develop inductive and deductive reasoning. Despite the significance of Euclidean geometry for developing these skills, learner performance in mathematics, particularly geometry, remains a concern in many countries. Thus, the current study examined the nature of learners’ errors in Euclidean geometry problem-solving, particularly regarding the theorem for angle at the centre and its applications. Van Heile’s theory of geometric thinking and teacher knowledge of error analysis were used as conceptual frameworks to make sense of the nature of learners’ errors and misconceptions. Using a participatory action research approach, the study was operationalised by five mathematics teachers from four secondary schools in Motheo district in the Free State Province of South Africa and three academics from two local universities. The study analysed 50 sampled midyear examination scripts of Grade 12 learners from four schools. The findings of this study revealed that most learner errors resulted from concepts on Van Heile’s operating Levels 0 and 1, while the questions mainly required Level 3 thinking. The study recommends that teachers determine their learners’ level of geometric thinking and integrate this knowledge in their lesson preparations and material development. 
Can Experience Determine the Adoption of Industrial Revolution 4.0 Skills in 21st Century Mathematics Education?
Full text linkTeachers in secondary schools were studied to determine their readiness to adopt fourth industrial revolution (4IR) technologies to enhance their teaching practices and student learning. Through Industry 4.0, technologies are also becoming available as products for education, transforming the rules and norms of education. Secondary school mathematics teachers in Nigeria must prepare themselves to embrace digital skills so that they will be ready for new teaching and learning processes that are being introduced by these new digital tools. In this study, a cross-sectional quantitative approach was used. The data were collected using a self-developed instrument with a content validity index of 0.96 and a MacDonald Omega reliability index of 0.84. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 211 mathematics teachers in three Lagos State education districts. Analyses of the obtained data were performed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a significance level of 0.05. Results indicate that mathematics teachers are ready to integrate 4IR skills and emerging technologies into their classrooms. In addition, the willingness of participants to adopt relevant 4IR skills across their years of experience was statistically significant. A new path is charted for school administrators, mathematics teachers, and stakeholders in the education sector to assist in policy design toward 4IR, thereby contributing to the existing literature on adopting emerging technologies to teach mathematics education in sub-Saharan Africa
Education for Democracy in the Social Media Century
Full text linkSocial media has provided challenges and opportunities for education for democracy. There have always been structural elements of communication that are hidden and perpetuate inequalities. Social media has accelerated and empowered these hidden structures through algorithms. In this argumentative essay, we examine how critical media literacy can uncover hidden power structures and support education for democracy. Critical media literacy can help students identify exclusionary, inaccurate, missing, and polarizing elements of social media while examining and discussing issues and events. Seen through this lens, social media provides opportunities for education for democracy. Critical media literacy and education for democracy provide opportunities for increasing civic engagement and renewal
Emerging Adults and the Use of Textual Digital Communication: A Reflection on Self-Esteem, Loneliness, Anxiety, and Wellbeing
Full text linkDigital communication is a great facilitator of human connection, positively contributing to life satisfaction and prosocial behavior. However, the existing findings also insist on the drawbacks of the digital communication, as low levels of wellbeing satisfaction, or happiness. Thus, aiming to reconciliate the two sets of assumptions and relying on the reality that textual communication is preferred to voice interaction, the present paper investigates the impact of using messaging apps on the emotional state. More specifically, the study explores if time spent texting, the general affinity towards technology, the perceived ease of use, the perceived usefulness, and the intentional behavior to use messaging applications are correlated with self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and wellbeing. An online opinion survey (N=147) with Romanian emerging adults is conducted between February and May 2022. The results show that a positive attitude towards technology is negatively correlated with the feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Moreover, a positive perception on the ease of use and usefulness of the messaging applications is linked with an increased wellbeing.  
Learning Support Strategies to Overcome the Effects of Promoting Condoned Senior Phase Mathematics Learners to the FET Phase
Full text linkThe study investigated the effects of condonation on the promotion of senior phase mathematics learners into the FET phase in a high school in KwaZulu-Natal. Condoned learners were assisted to progress, despite not meeting the pass requirements. The study suggests learning support strategies teachers could use to improve condoned FET mathematics learners' performance. An exploratory case study investigated the condonation policy and its effects thereof. Interviews were conducted with two mathematics teachers, and open-ended questions were posed. The data analysis entailed collating the data, followed by a thematic data analysis approach. The literature study was done on pertinent theories, prior studies, and pragmatic research. The findings suggest that condoned learners did not master the foundational knowledge and accumulated knowledge gaps. Consequently, learners struggle to achieve good performance in FET mathematics. This may lead to condoned learners failing FET mathematics, dropping mathematics in favour of more uncomplicated mathematical literacy or dropping out of school rather than completing Grade 12. The study recommends that condoned senior phase mathematics learners struggling to perform well in FET mathematics need to undergo an individualised learning support programme. Teachers will then employ various academic teaching and learning support strategies to help improve learners' FET mathematics performance. The success of learning support depends on a collaborative relationship between nurturing teachers and parents and positive discipline in group teaching within supplemental classes
Social Studies and Social Media: Status Among K-12 Tennessee Teachers Before COVID
Full text linkTechnology integration has received a significant amount of money from the budgets of schools in the United States, even prior to COVID-19. Social media as an instructional tool was also receiving growing attention. However, since COVID-19 it seems that there is an even larger shift in the calls to use social media. The purpose of this study was to report K-12 Tennessee social studies teachers’ self-reported social media use just prior to the COVID-19. Moreover, we compared teachers’ use of social media based on geography, grade level and teaching experience. Statistically significant findings were discovered
Framework for Numeracy and Digital Skills Attributes in Higher Education
Full text linkNumeracy and digital skills are among the most crucial skills that any graduate should possess before entering the workforce, regardless of their field of study. Therefore, both skills should not be treated as an “add on” skill but viewed as essential graduate attributes needing to be purposefully incorporated into the curriculum instead of mere chance. By understanding the learners’ numeracy and digital skills abilities, educators can create suitable learning outcomes, activities, and assessments, enabling them to acquire the skills. The objective of this study is to create a framework for testing numeracy (NSI) and digital skills (DSI) using a cross-sectional design and quantitative methodology. The research entails generating a questionnaire, verifying it via a rigorous procedure of expert content validation, and focusing on sufficiency, clarity, coherence, and relevance. A pilot study involving 218 students from various disciplines was conducted to measure the reliability of the framework using Cronbach Alpha. Feedback from experts was then used to enhance the questionnaire, resulting in the finalisation of five components for the Digital Skills Instrument (DSI): information literacy, computer and technology literacy, digital communication and collaboration skills, digital identity and well-being, and digital ethics. Meanwhile, the five components of the Numeracy Skills Instrument (NSI) encompassed operation and calculation, graphical representation, quantitative reasoning and logical thinking, complex number (advanced concept), spatial visualisation and geometric reasoning. The results indicated a strong internal consistency across all components for both tools, with alpha values ranging from 0.847 to 0.958 for DSI and 0.916 to 0.964 for NSI. Corrected item-total correlations also depicted intercorrelation between items for both instruments. To sum up, the findings demonstrate that the DSI and NSI have high reliability and validity. Because both tools are reliable and valid for measuring digital and numeracy skills in the Malaysian context, they can be confidently used for future research
Using Social Media in Schools
Full text linkSocial media is becoming more eminently woven into the sociocultural fabric of global societies in the 21st century. From emerging platforms and ever-evolving multimodal features, to algorithmic changes and privacy concerns, social media is indubitably shaping the frontier of how people communicate, interact, and perceive the world around them. Using social media in schools is, of course, not a new phenomenon. However, given unabating advances in digital technology coupled with shifting user demands, social media is constantly in flux. Thus, staying abreast of social media trends and uses in the field of education is a critical endeavor and merits on-going conversations