Is Moodle or WhatsApp the preferred e-learning platform at a South African university? First-year students’ experiences

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 927-941 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cedric Bheki Mpungose
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
E Learning

scholarly journals Perceptions of First-Year Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds on E-Learning at a South African University of Technology

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serathi Molokwane ◽  
Luther-King Zogli
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
South African ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
First Year ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
School Career ◽  
E Learning

The introduction of innovative e-learning and teaching methods at universities of technologies necessitates the examining of students’ perceptions of these methods in the promotion of student success. In South Africa, the majority of first-year students are not exposed to technology-aided learning methodology during their high school career, especially those from disadvantaged demographics. The purpose of the study is to examine student perceptions regarding their experience of e-learning at a South African university of technology with specific reference to the success of first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Using qualitative research methods through semi-structured interviews, the researchers discovered that first-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are experiencing challenges in terms of access to resources such as computers, laptops and reliable internet connection. Furthermore, inadequate training on the use of online resources and unsatisfactory performance during online assessment were discovered and these are heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic. First-year students from disadvantaged backgrounds are exposed to a variety of barriers that have an adverse impact on their success. The study recommends that higher education institutes provide the necessary resources to facilitate seamless assimilation of first-year students into the new environment.

scholarly journals Implementing Electronic Courses Based on Moodle for Foreign Language Teaching at Russian Technical Universities

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Yurievna Aikina ◽  
Olga Vitalievna Sumtsova ◽  
Dmitriy Igorevich Pavlov
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
First Year ◽  
Information Communication ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
E Learning ◽  
The Russian Federation

The main purpose of this work is to consider the most efficient modern educational technologies applied in teaching foreign languages to students of higher educational institutions in the Russian Federation. Special emphasis is placed on blended learning as a pedagogical approach of high priority. It is necessary to note that information-communication environment plays a great role in the realization of blended learning since the organization of educational process is impossible without it. The authors of the paper give consideration to one of the most relevant educational platform Moodle. An electronic course based on Moodle developed for the first year students of Tomsk Polytechnic University within teaching the discipline “Foreign Language” is reviewed in this work. The authors come to the conclusion that electronic courses designed by means of the e-learning platform Moodle are ideally suitable for the efficient blended learning implementation.

Analsis e-learning status in Palestinian universities, a case study of Palestine Technical University KadoorieTulkarm

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-178
Author(s):  
Heba Almbayed
Keyword(s):  
Learning System ◽  
Simple Random Sample ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Computer Course ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Technical University ◽  
Palestinian Universities ◽  
The University

The study aimed to analyze the reality of e-learning at Palestine Technical University-Khudouri/Tulkarem, and to identify the most important challenges facing students when using the education system, as well as to analyze the extent to which university students interact with the e-learning system, and to show the differences between the average opinions of the study sample on e-learning according to the study variables due to the nature of the study, the descriptive analytical approach was used, in order to reach practical results, and to achieve and analyze the reality of e-learning  a questionnaire consisting of (34) paragraphs was designed, where the study community consisted of (6,559) students, and a simple random sample of (522) students was taken, and the questionnaire was distributed electronically because it was not able to be distributed manually due to the prevailing conditions _ the spread of the Corona pandemic- at the time of the preparation of the study. The results of the study showed that (63.136%) of the researched believe that the reality of e-learning at the university suffers from different problems. The study indicated that (87.97%) among respondents, complaints have increased in the e-learning system after the Corona pandemic and that (81.36%) among the researchers, the infrastructure was one of the most barriers in e-learning. While (63.934%)of the researched that e-learning has a role to play in achieving Interaction among students, as the results of the study showed no differences Statistically significant to the reality of e-learning according to the gender variable, and there are no differences depending on the variable of the scientific qualification except in the field of e-learning reality, there are also no differences Statistics according to the variable of the academic level ,except for the field of Interaction with students. In the light of the results of the study, a series of recommendations were made, the most prominent of which were: 1.Include an e-learning system item in The computer course assigned as a university requirement for first-year students 2. Provide opportunities to train and develop the capabilities of all educational parties to use and apply E-learning.

scholarly journals Assessment of knowledge, attitude and skills towards e-learning in first year medical students

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 4119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monali Hiwarkar ◽  
Onjal Taywade
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Medical Training ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
First Year ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning Modalities ◽  
Conventional Teaching ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Education In India ◽  
E Learning

Background: With digitization the e-learning modalities are being increasingly used by medical students. These often help the first MBBS students to overcome limitations of conventional teaching methods like didactic lectures. However, e-learning is not official part of medical education in India and the awareness about its use among medical students need to be evaluated. Aim and objective of the study was to assess the extent to which MBBS first year students use e-resources for learning as well as to assess knowledge, attitude, skills and habits of first MBBS students towards e-learning.Methods: A questionnaire of twenty five questions on various aspects of e-learning was administered to the first MBBS students at two medical colleges. The data generated from responses was compiled and analyzed on SPSS to get insight on various aspects of e-learning.Results: Out of 236 students surveyed 77.97% were aware about the academic websites related to first MBBS subjects. 90.68 % accepted that e-learning helped in understanding topics, 84.32% recommended conventional teaching to be supplemented with e-learning. However there was no statistically significant difference between responses from two groups i.e. female and male students (p>0.05).Conclusions: The majority of first MBBS students use e-resources for learning various topics in anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The e-resources have made a positive impact on overall learning especially anatomy. e-learning can supplement conventional teaching in the first year of medical training.

Depressive symptoms in first year students at a rural South African University

2020 ◽  
Vol 265 ◽  
pp. 579-582
Author(s):  
Anthony L Pillay ◽  
Jabulani D Thwala ◽  
Indira Pillay
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
South African ◽  
First Year ◽  
Rural South ◽  
First Year Students

scholarly journals Knowledge and practice of condom use among first year students at University of the North, South Africa

Curationis ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Peltzer
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
South African ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
First Year ◽  
Expiry Date ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
The North ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Knowledge And Practice

The aim of the study is to investigate knowledge and sexual practices with reference to correct use of condoms among first year South African University students. The sample consisted of 206 participants, 146 female and 60 male, the mean age was 20.9 years (SD=3.4), with a range from 17 to 34 years. Results indicated that one third (29.2%) of the sample reported never using condoms, 35.4% always, 19.8% regularly and 8.5% irregularly in the past three months. About 90% levels of correct answers for condom use were found for the items of ‘condoms as protection against STD and AIDS’, ‘expiry date of condoms’, and ‘re-using condoms’. More than 15% were not aware that a condom should be put on before any contact with the vagina. The most common mistakes with respect to condom use were ignorance about the correct moment to put on a condom (56%), and when to take off a condom (55%). Male sex and especially increasing recent sexual encounters was associated with correct condom knowledge. The most common reasons for not using a condom were ‘I do not have the AIDS virus’ and ‘I thought I was safe’ seems to indicate a low perceived susceptibility. Findings are discussed in view of condom promotion programmes.

A Comparison of South African and International First-Year Students’ Counselling Needs and Preferred Counselling Sources

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lionel Nicholas ◽  
Maria Damianova ◽  
Mzamo Ntantiso
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
South African ◽  
First Year ◽  
African Students ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Learning Skill ◽  
Counselling Needs ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Personal Career ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

This study investigated the personal, career and learning skill needs of first-year university students, their preferred counselling sources, and compared South African and international students. Respondents completed a structured questionnaire (N = 567) with more than half reporting a moderate to high need for assistance with their concerns. Women had a significantly greater need for assistance with the bulk of listed concerns than men. International students had a significantly greater need for assistance than South African students and were particularly concerned about xenophobia. These results may assist administrators and counsellors to develop strategies to address identified student needs.

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