1,720,971 research outputs found
Students' perceptions on the adoption of online communication channels within a South African higher learning institution
Full text linkThis study sought to establish students’ perceptions regarding the adoption of online communication channels for virtual learning at the University of Johannesburg. The study also explored the efficacy of online communication channels used for teaching and learning, as virtual learning was thrust upon the education sector owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Online learning still encounters challenges within the South African context. The study used a quantitative method. The target population was 80 students at the University of Johannesburg in the School of Communication. The participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data was gathered using a web-based questionnaire and analysed with descriptive statistics using SPSS and MS Excel. The results show that online communication channels were improving teaching and learning. In addition, the study found that loadshedding was not affecting virtual learning. The study concludes that virtual learning is an effective method for delivering teaching and learning.M.A. (Communication Science)Communication Scienc
The contribution of traditional healers to halting the spread of HIV and AIDS in South Africa: The case of Soshanguve township in the city of Tshwane
No full textThis article gives an overview of the importance of traditional healers in HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment and care in Soshanguve Township, City of Tshwane, Gauteng, South Africa. Answers to the following questions were sought: What are the HIV and AIDS practices of traditional healers? Why do people consult traditional healers in seeking a cure for health problems? What are traditional healers’ perceptions regarding their collaboration with biomedical health care providers? What are the most significant problems faced by traditional healers in their interaction with the South African health system? A qualitative approach was adopted, in which focus group interviews were held with traditional healers. The data was analysed using thematic categorisation. The findings demonstrate that healers considered themselves to play a significant role in helping the community to improve its health and quality of life. Their role would be further reinforced if they were to receive proper training and were to be fully accepted into the health system.Keywords: Traditional healers, HIV and AIDS, traditional medicine
Barriers that impede the effectiveness of precautionary measures of combating the spread of HIV and AIDS : the case of the University of Zululand and Mangosuthu University of Technology
Full text linkPeer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso, Volume 1, Issue 1, Jan 2009, p. 43 - 50This article explores and identifies the barriers that impede the effectiveness of precautionary measures of fighting the
spread of HIV and AIDS in tertiary institutions in KwaZulu Natal, namely, University of Zululand and Mangosuthu
University of Technology. This article is informed by the Satisfaction Theory which emphasises the importance of product
or service marketing as it determines whether a customer will continue using a product or service or not. The theory
indicates that if a customer is satisfied with the service offered by an organisation or a company, then the client may
continue using the company’s product or service. However, if a client is dissatisfied with the service offered, he or she may
decide to discontinue using the particular product or service. The research problem of this study is articulated through the
following research questions: why is the pregnancy rate high in tertiary institutions, whereas condoms are freely available?
Why is the spread of HIV escalating in tertiary institutions, whereas information on HIV and AIDS is available? And why
are precautionary measures to scale down HIV and AIDS less effective? The study targeted only students in two
purposively selected tertiary institutions. The quantitative method and stratified random sampling was used. Data was
analysed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel. The study established that there are
many barriers that impede the effectiveness of precautionary measures of fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS in these
tertiary institutions. The study further established that precautionary measures of fighting the spread of HIV and AIDS
such as condoms are freely available in these tertiary institutions. However, they are not easily accessible as they are only
distributed at the clinics. This article recommends that condoms be distributed all over campus, more especially in
students’ residences because that is where students spend most of their time. In addition, the clinics are not always
opened as compared to students’ residences.HIV; AIDS; University of Zululand; Mangosuthu University of Technolog
Mapping and auditing digital literacy of civil servants in selected South African government departments
Full text linkAs digital technology becomes ubiquitous, workers will increasingly need an appropriate set ofdigital skills to access and process information, using digital systems and tools. Hence, the aimof the study was to map and audit the digital literacy of civil servants in selected South Africangovernment departments in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Through a survey, four government departments,considered to be central to service delivery, were targeted. To obtain a representative sample, asystematic sampling method was applied. Data were analysed using the SPSS statistical analysisprogramme. The results suggested that not enough is being done to equip civil servants with thedigital literacy skills they require to improve service delivery. As technology changes, so does theneed for training in new technologies. Developing digital literacy in the workplace is a definite wayfor businesses and organisations to increase their work productivity and creativity. It is importantto note that digital literacy is an essential requirement for effective and optimal participation in theworld’s economy. The digital era is not going to disappear, and the need for education to respondto the growing digital tide is rapidly increasing. A digitally literate workforce is crucial if governmentis serious about improving work productivity and creativity in the public sector
Web-based technologies as key catalysts in improving work productivity and creativity: the case of the Zululand District Municipality
Full text linkThe article reports on the usage, benefits and challenges posed by Web-based technologies tocivil servants in Zululand District Municipality. Many countries have invested in information andcommunication technologies (ICTs) as a means of pursuing their organisational goals. This articleis informed by the diffusion of innovation theory. Through a survey, key government departmentsin the Zululand District Municipality were sampled employing systematic and purposive samplingtechniques. Questionnaires were administered to 52 civil servants. Fifty responses were received,which translates to an overall response rate of 96%. The findings reveal that while various Webbased technologies are available in all participating government departments in this survey,the numerous challenges identified indicate that utilisation is still a problem. Yet despite thesedrawbacks, the respondents expressed great eagerness to enhance their ICT skills in order to useWeb-based technologies for their own empowerment and also for work productivity. Despite theconstraints and challenges encountered in the application and use of Web-based technologies inthese government departments, a wide range of Web-based technologies have been adopted tofacilitate the exchange of information in the sector
Unpacking four sequential modes of knowledge conversion in managing indigenous knowledge
No full textThis article is based on the study that investigated how indigenous knowledge can bemanaged using Ikujurio Nonaka’s model, known as the knowledge creation theory. Theproblem investigated in this article pertains to the threats that are mostly likely to lead tothe demise of indigenous knowledge (IK) if no proper mechanisms are put in place topreserve it. To achieve the aforementioned aim, the article critically examined four modesof the knowledge creation theory, namely socialisation, externalisation, internalisation andcombination. A literature survey was conducted across a broad spectrum of sourcesincluding conference papers, books, journals and the internet. The findings show that thistheory is extremely useful in managing tacit knowledge such as indigenous knowledge.Hence it has been widely applied in organisations and communities to manage knowledgeby capturing, storing, processing, retrieving and disseminating it. The strength of thistheory is based on recognising, generating, transferring and managing tacit knowledgeacross time and space. It therefore centres on building both tacit and explicit knowledgeand the interchange between them through internalisation and externalisation. Theknowledge creation theory is the best model to capture, create, leverage and retainknowledge.Keywords: Knowledge creation, indigenous knowledge, tacit knowledge, explicitknowledge, knowledge management
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
Digital divide: a phenomenon of unequal adoption of technology by SMMEs in the agribusiness sector in South Africa
No full textThe digital evolution and the adoption of technology have made it possible for information access and management to improve the social and economic impacts of the tourism sector globally. Technology has undoubtedly become the prime driver of modern e-commerce. This article examines the digital divide as a barrier to the adoption of technology by small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the agribusiness sector in the city of Tshwane, South Africa. The study adopted a quantitative approach and data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire. The data were subsequently analysed by using descriptive statistics. The relationships between variables were compared and interpretations were made. The results showed that a digital divide is hampering the adoption of technology by SMMEs in the agribusiness sector. The results further revealed that the high cost of technology/online platforms, limited funds and a lack of technical know-how are some of the obstacles faced by SMMEs in the adoption of information and communication technologies. However, the study also established that if these obstacles could be addressed, the benefits would be substantial. It is concluded that empirical work is required to investigate the extent to which SMMEs in South Africa are adapting to the challenges posed by the digital divide.
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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