The Use of Video Tutorials to Enhance Library Instruction at a South African Higher Education Institution

Mousaion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Sekayi Chiware ◽  
Susanne Doris Noll
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Instructional Video ◽  
Library Instruction ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
African Experience ◽  
Video Tutorials ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University ◽  
South African Higher Education

The purpose of this paper is to report on how a team of librarians from the University of Cape Town (UCT) Libraries introduced and implemented a project involving instructional video tutorials. Faced with a growing number of students, a decline in the number of library staff as well as the limited ability of librarians to reach out to students through traditional means of face-to-face library instruction, the librarians started creating video tutorials using Camtasia Studio. Another impetus for developing video tutorials was the introduction of lecture recording at the university and the need for the library to align itself with these developments at the institution. Through a narrative, the paper outlines the video development process. The challenges encountered are presented and a set of guidelines drawn up to ensure efficient and effective production. The number of videos created grew from one in 2012 to 62 by 2018. An examination of video usage analytics indicates that the average view duration of the videos is between 52 per cent and 71 per cent. The guidelines presented in this paper will provide valuable insights for other librarians to develop video tutorials. The paper is a valuable addition to existing literature on the subject and more importantly addresses a unique South African experience.

Recontextualising the teaching of commercial transactions law for an African university

Acta Juridica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 275-296
Author(s):  
A Hutchison
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
First Century ◽  
Student Life ◽  
South African Council ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University ◽  
South African Higher Education

This article reflects on the changing political environment in South African higher education and offers one potential view of the future of contract law teaching in the twenty-first century. Specifically, the author discusses changes made to the final-level LLB course, Commercial Transactions Law, at the University of Cape Town. These changes were inspired by the #MustFall protest movements and also incorporated the requirements of the South African Council on Higher Education’s 2018 report on the LLB degree. In essence, this involved a recontextualisation of the component topics to speak to a broader range of student life experiences, as well as an attempt to incorporate more materials focused on social justice or which are characteristically ‘African’.

scholarly journals Challenges impeding women into leadership roles in a student-led organization at the South African higher education institution

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 508-518
Author(s):  
Nokwanda Jali ◽  
Sachin Suknunan ◽  
Anrusha Bhana
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
South African ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Women In Leadership ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Leadership Positions ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
The University ◽  
South African Higher Education

The study shows that a patriarchal society where women are still in the minority when it comes to leadership positions is still dominating. A few studies are exploring the role of women in leadership in government and industry, and very little focus is paid on higher education institutions and more especially – from a female leadership perspective. Therefore, this paper aims to determine the factors that hindered female students from attaining leadership positions and simultaneously make recommendations to create more leadership opportunities in a nationally recognized student-led organization known as the Student Representative Council at a large public South African higher education institution – the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The target population was 16 female leaders who served in the University’s Student Representative Council from 2019 to 2020 of which 13 had responded. A qualitative approach was followed and interviews were conducted. The study employed inductive qualitative thematic analysis using NVIVO 12. Findings revealed that the Student Representative Council structure at the university was patriarchal with little commitment to gender equality. Males outnumbered women in leadership roles. Portfolios assigned to women were mainly administrative rather than leadership. Females were subjected to stereotypical behavior. The study recommended ways to promote female student leadership whereby policy and constitution change is required to facilitate gender equality and the implementation of quotas. Women should be empowered to enhance their leadership skills via effective leadership development programs specifically designed for females to address the leadership gap between males and females.

scholarly journals The Skills Gap as Observed between IS Graduates and the Systems Development Industry: A South African Experience

10.28945/2571 ◽  
2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsje Scott ◽  
Robert Alger ◽  
Simon Pequeno ◽  
Nicky Sessions
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
South African ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Systems Development ◽  
Importance Rating ◽  
Skills Gap ◽  
The South ◽  
African Experience ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University

This paper discusses the results of an investigation into the skills gap between Information Systems (IS) graduates at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the South African Systems Development Industry. Three objectives were defined for this study. Firstly to measure the alignment between the level of skills possessed by students and the level of skills demanded by development companies. Secondly to identify and compare the most prominent specific skills that industry requires with the skills of students and thirdly to determine whether the students obtained the skills directly through UCT. The study revealed that there was alignment between the importance rating of companies and the skills of students in some areas, but not in others. Although correlation exists between the specific skills and technologies that industry requires and those which students possess, knowledge of certain technologies is lacking from the formal IS curriculum.

scholarly journals Readiness of Students for Multi-Modal Emergency Remote Teaching at A Selected South African Higher Education Institution

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 135
Author(s):  
Obert Matarirano ◽  
Abor Yeboah ◽  
Onke Gqokonqana
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Technology Readiness ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
E Learning ◽  
South African Higher Education

The closures of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant that face to face classes had to be put on hold. However, the growth in information and communication technologies (ICT) made it possible for HEIs to continue with their core activities remotely, primarily using learning management systems (LMSs). The overuse of LMS at the selected HEI resulted in the former’s collapse. The consequence was that management of the institution advised lecturers to use multi-modal emergency remote teaching (ERT) to save the academic year. Lecturers adopted a variety of platforms and approaches, largely depending on their preferences. This study identified the ICT platforms and approaches used by lecturers during remote teaching as well as estimating the readiness of students for emergency remote learning. Readiness was established with the use of the Technology Readiness Index 2.0 (TRI2.0) of the Technology Readiness Model. In addition, the effects of age, gender and level of study on technology readiness were estimated. A self-administered questionnaire was shared with senior students within the accounting department of the selected HEI. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data collected from 243 respondents. The study found that Microsoft teams was the commonly used platform whilst pre-recorded lectures and live classes were the popular approaches used. In terms of technology readiness, the study found that students were not ready as indicated by a low TRI 2.0 of 2.8. Age and study level had a positive effect on technology readiness. To provide the best possible learning experiences to students, lecturers need to understand what worked, what did not and why. The results of this study provide invaluable information and lay a foundation for successful future e-learning projects.

scholarly journals Insights on student leadership using social dream drawing: Six propositions for the transformation role of South African student leaders

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neo T. Pule ◽  
Michelle May
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Student Development ◽  
Student Leadership ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Student Leaders ◽  
Education Legislation ◽  
Higher Education Legislation ◽  
The University ◽  
South African Higher Education

Background: Student leadership is central to the South African transformation agenda in higher education. Even so the understanding of student leadership, especially regarding its purpose and its implementation varies across contexts.Aim: This article aims to present propositions for student leadership practice considering the current diverse and often fragmented understanding of student leadership. Such propositions should aid the formation of a streamlined multi-levelled and systemic co-curriculum for student leadership that equips student leaders for their significant transformation task.Setting: The study was conducted in a South African higher education institution within the associated Student Affairs department. The university where data was collected is referred to as a historically White university.Methods: Social dream drawing was utilised to elicit data that enabled insights into student leadership. The data was analysed by pluralistically fusing discourse analysis with a psychodynamic interpretation.Results: The findings reveal a preoccupation in student leadership with South African historical narratives and the implications thereof for the present, and future, of the country. Additionally, student leaders indicated that there are complex psychological implications that result from their leadership experiences. Six propositions for student leadership are presented.Conclusion: The insights gained from the research study have the potential to contribute positively to higher education legislation and student development practice, particularly regarding the psychological conflicts that student leaders experience, and to the possible ways to resolve these. Because student leaders are key to the transformation agenda in South Africa, these insights can contribute directly towards their suitability in fulfilling this role.

scholarly journals The effects of leadership traits on transformation: A case study of a South African university

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethuel S. Ngcamu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Processes ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
The Body ◽  
Leadership Traits ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
The University ◽  
South African Higher Education

This article investigated the effects of leadership traits on transformation in a merged and incorporated higher education institution in South Africa. Few studies have been conducted on leadership traits in universities, with none linking them to transformation. The study was guided by the traits theory, one of the systematic attempts to study the effect of leadership on transformation. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used, the former through a structured survey questionnaire and the latter through in-depth interviews. The questionnaire generated a high reliability rate of 0.947, indicating a high degree of internal consistency of the results, which reflected nearly 40% of the research participants who felt that the university creates a platform for open debates. However, 30% of them did not feel that independent thinking and freedom of speech are promoted, a finding partly corroborated by the qualitative findings. It was also found that business processes were inflexible, there was no reward for performance, unproductive change interventions were introduced and decision-making centralised, all seen as contrary to the transformation agenda and reflecting poor leadership traits. It is hoped that the study will assist university decision-makers under the current state of turmoil in the South African higher education landscape to exhibit leadership traits that will bring about transformation. The study also fills a void in the scant literature on the effects of leadership traits on transformation in South African universities, thus contributing to the body of knowledge.

The Many Racial Effigies of Sara Baartman

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 275-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kellen Hoxworth
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Racial Oppression ◽  
Black Paint ◽  
African Students ◽  
The Many ◽  
University Of Cape Town ◽  
The University

Six African students enact a somber, silent dance. They stage a series of striking images at the base of South African artist Willie Bester's sculptureSara Baartman, in the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Their faces and bodies smeared with black paint, the students articulate their protest ofSara Baartmanin explicitly racial terms, aligning their critiques of economic, colonial, and racial oppression under the sign of blackness.

scholarly journals Developing a web-based research administration and management system : case study of a South African higher education institution

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Misheck Nyirenda
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Management System ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Requirements Specification ◽  
Research Administration ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Web Based ◽  
African Higher Education ◽  
South African Higher Education

Research has become one of the major activities of higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Increasingly important is research information that emanates from the published research as it has now become one of the major sources of funding especially within the South African higher education landscape. However, many HEIs are facing numerous problems managing research information to sustain and attract more funding. The lack of resources to build or acquire appropriate systems for managing research information has been identified as one of the major challenges in HEIs. However, recent studies show that advancements have been made in some countries to address the challenge. For instance, in South Africa, a proprietary research information management system (RIMS) has been implemented in some HEIs. Nevertheless, some HEIs still face problems regarding the use of RIMS. Studies further show that most proprietary systems do not adequately satisfy requirements as desired by the HEIs. This is mostly because proprietary systems are developed without fully understanding the user requirements of individual HEIs. Moreover, most proprietary systems are developed following ad hoc approaches which neglect the requirements specification stage in the development life cycle. Requirements specification is important as it brings developers and users to a common understanding about the requirements of the system before development. The initial lack of consensus about system requirements results in systems that have technical barriers which make users shun from using them. For instance, such systems do not adapt very well to devices with small screens such as mobile phones, and do not have attractive interfaces to make users want to use them. Proprietary systems are also costly to acquire and maintain. Moreover, HEIs may not be able to immediately implement the new desired features in the system because proprietary systems usually do not allow them access to the source code. This study develops a web-based research administration and management system (RAMS) as a proposed solution to the problems of using a proprietary system to manage research information at a South African higher education institution. The study emphasises the use of formal methods for requirements specification to build an optimal system. Consequently, the Zermelo-Fraenkel Z specification language was used to specify the requirements of the proposed system which was developed in close collaboration with the intended users who also assessed its usability. The system evaluation responses were made on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree. The overall results of the evaluation show that RAMS is usable and suitable for managing research information, nonetheless improvements are recommended.

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