Learnership in South African Schools as a Community of Practice: An Open Distance Learning Approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-329
Author(s):  
Petro Marais ◽  
Elize du Plessis
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-69
Author(s):  
Michelle Y. Alvarez

The purpose of this study is to determine the demographic profiles of the respondents which are the teachers in Mindanao State University–Sulu according to gender and college, to identify the issues encountered by the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach, to distinguish the concerns of the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach, to investigate the teaching preparations on the adaptation of modular distance learning approach, and to identify the significant difference of issues and concern of the MSU-Sulu Teacher towards modular distance learning approach when they are grouped according gender and college. Frequency and percentage distribution, weighted arithmetic mean and independent t-test and chi-square are the statistical tools used to answer the entire research question. The data gathered was computed using SPSS analyzed and interpreted with the aide of the statistician. Descriptive survey method was used as the research method. This study utilizes 40 teachers from different colleges/department. Convenience sampling was used to It is the recommended number of which it is the 30% from the total population of all the faculty of Mindanao State University-Sulu.; questionnaire is used by the researcher as a research instrument of the study. The findings of the study were: 1) There is no significant difference of issues and concern of the MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach when grouped according gender but in contrary; and 2) There is significant difference on the issues and concern among MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach when grouped according colleges. The issues encountered towards modular distance learning approach were communication failure like that of instructions or confusion of students on the modules, limited teacher guidance, student’s in discourteous approach to teachers, complaints on not understanding the module, and all of which results to misbehavior on students and failure to pass worksheet on time. In addition, the concerns of the MSU-Sulu teacher towards modular distance learning approach were; first, hidden expenses on modules; second, teacher’s lack of media literacy; third, poor internet connection which intercepts communication between teacher and students; fourth, time constraint among teachers due to overload paperwork; fifth, equipment problem and complexity of the discussion as well as measurement of student’s performance; sixth,  managing student’s responses from time to time; seventh, teacher’s unavailability  and lastly, difficulties of studying among slow learners. Moreover, on teaching preparations on the adaptation of modular distance learning approach, the issues were cater and set time for student’s inquiries and be flexible to allow extension in terms of passing worksheets as well as allow parents, relative or even friends to pass worksheets in their behalf to lessen transportation expenses. Teachers must appreciate/ recognize his/her students to boost their confidence and avoid favouritism while being considerate to students who are attention seeker or may have ADHD. Correspondingly, the concerns were. Teachers must encourage handwritten answers to lessen plagiarism, on the absence of teacher, the parents and elders must guide the students in their learning at home. Teacher and parent’s guidance must go hand and hand in today’s learning. Teachers must likewise be flexible in finding solutions on printing shortage. And lastly, alternative teaching strategies like modular learning should be hone to aid lack of media literacy of both teacher and students In view of the findings and analysis, the following are recommended: Teachers must be flexible with the present kind of teaching strategy at all cost and at all aspects, Set guidelines as to establish proper communication among students and teachers, learning materials must be affordable as well as easy to understand content, teachers must develop their media literacy skills and encourage teachers to be available to their students on allotted time and cater all their inquiries with patience at all times. Furthermore, the following are the recommended research agenda: Teacher’s training on media literacy and module development programs to allow teamwork in the making process.


Author(s):  
Hanlie Liebenberg ◽  
Yuraisha Chetty ◽  
Paul Prinsloo

<p>Amidst the different challenges facing higher education, and particularly distance education (DE) and open distance learning (ODL), access to information and communication technology (ICT) and students’ abilities to use ICTs are highly contested issues in the South African higher education landscape. While there are various opinions about the scope and definition of the digital divide, increasing empirical evidence questions the uncritical use of the notion of the digital divide in South African and international higher education discourses.</p><p>In the context of the University of South Africa (Unisa) as a mega ODL institution, students’ access to technology and their functional competence are some of the critical issues to consider as Unisa prepares our graduates for an increasingly digital and networked world.</p><p>This paper discusses a descriptive study that investigated students’ access to technology and their capabilities in using technology, within the broader discourse of the “digital divide.” Results support literature that challenges a simplistic understanding of the notion of the “digital divide” and reveal that the nature of access is varied.</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Henning

In a search for ways to capture foundation phase children’s competence in mathematics, a small research team was put together at a South African university four years ago. At first, working only in a single school where the objective was to model 80 learners’ growth in competence over four years, the team transformed into a very different entity. This article narrates the founding and development of a community of research practice, which eventually included undergraduate- and postgraduate students, researchers from institutions in Germany, Switzerland and South Africa, teachers at local schools close to the university, and an educational research and survey company. Supported by funding from four different sources, the project is fairly close to reaching the goal of delivering a standardised mathematics competence test for 4-8 year-olds, which is a first of its kind for the country where educational measurement seems to be at a crossroads. In the story line of this community of practice, it is evident that progress can be assessed best by the learning that has been taking place in a community with a notable diversity of people and interests, but with the shared goal of investigating children’s mathematical behaviour on a measure that can be trusted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-430
Author(s):  
Jainalyn Annong Aksan

The existence of COVID-19 pandemic brought extraordinary challenges to the stakeholders, teachers, parents, and students. Thus, the researcher believed that there is an effect of teaching-learning process in new normal education to students’ performance most especially using modular type of learning in Mathematics. With this, the study sought to determine the perception of the students regarding modular distance learning approach (MDLA) in Mathematics, identify the challenges of the students, examine the effect of MDLA to academic performance of students in Mathematics, determine the level of academic performance of students, determine the significant difference on perceptions when they grouped according to their gender and age, and determine the relationship of students’ perceptions regarding MDLA to their academic performance in Mathematics. The descriptive research design was utilized in this study. The researcher gathered one hundred seventy eight (178) grade 11 STEM students currently enrolled in MSU-Sulu Senior High School through the use of purposive random sampling. The survey questionnaire was applied in the study. Mean, frequency counts and percentage, t-test for independent samples, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and person product-moment correlation were used to analyze and interpret the data. Based on the result, the study revealed that students’ perceptions agreed on using modular distance learning approach (MDLA). It means the students had positive perceptions regarding MDLA in Mathematics. The study also revealed that students agreed on using modular distance learning approach (MDLA) in Math have little challenges. It had also a positive effect to students’ performance in which students performed very satisfactory in Mathematics which means they had good quality performance. However, the study also revealed that it has no significant difference on their perceptions when they are grouped by gender and age which means the students had the same perceptions. Moreover, the findings revealed that there is no enough evidence to conclude that there is significant relationship of the students’ perceptions to the academic performance of the STEM grade 11 students using the new method of teaching modular distance learning approach (MDLA) amid COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the researcher concluded that the academic performances of STEM students were not affected by their perceptions in MDLA. This means that the quality of performance did not depend on their perceptions. And the researcher also concluded that this approach helped students to improve their math performance. Since it proved that this approach improved the mathematical understanding and helped the students to have good performance then the researcher recommended that MDLA must be continued in face-to-face instruction and highly recommended to use modules. Teachers guided those who need special attention and need to prepare easy type of modules in Mathematics to understand well. Any member of the family can help to guide and serve as para-teachers. Trainings, workshops, and seminars should be provided to the teachers to improve themselves and academic performances of the students.


Author(s):  
Tülay Görü Doğan ◽  
Gülsün Eby

This research is a theory building study regarding the design of distance learning environments from a socio-technical perspective. Within this study, a synthesis of current theories and approaches in addition to established theories in the field of distance education will be conducted, with focus placed on the notion that a flexible learning environment may be designed based on social and technical elements. In this regard, the process of designing the aforementioned learning environment is expressed in a theoretical manner, with the following two theories comprising the basis of the study: (1) the Flexible Learning Approach and (2) the Socio-Technical Theory. A theoretical matrix is established within the study utilizing these theories, while each cell in the theoretical matrix provides a statement that determines a flow chart regarding the design of Flexible Distance Learning Environments.


2016 ◽  
pp. 211-214
Author(s):  
B. Mezzetti ◽  
S. Sabbadini ◽  
I. Pertry ◽  
S. Burssens ◽  
Y. Lakko

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