scholarly journals An investigation into the commercialisation of initiation schools: A case of Eastern Cape, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsetselelani D. Mdhluli ◽  
Pfarelo E. Matshidze ◽  
Stewart L. Kugara ◽  
Lucky Vuma ◽  
Joshua Mawere
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practice ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Unemployed People ◽  
Original Intent ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Financial Gain ◽  
Unethical Practices

This study investigated the commercialisation of initiation schools. It is argued that the economic hardships and lack of employment have led to some people resorting to any way of living merely for financial gain. The specific objectives were to determine and assess the regulations that govern the opening and running of initiation schools and to determine the palliatives that can curb commercialisation of initiation schools. The research was based on sociocultural theory and used a qualitative research design. The data collection methods used included secondary sources, focus group discussions and face-to-face interviews. The outcomes were that initiation schools are open to abuse by opportunistic unemployed people and some who are employed who want to add to their meagre wages so as to make a living, thereby crippling and undermining a cultural practice that is highly esteemed. The study recommends effective indigenous knowledge management to curb the unethical practices of commercialisation of initiation schools. Furthermore, strategies should be adopted to document this knowledge and formulate policies that will govern it.Contribution: In line with the journal scope, this article focuses on the African Tradition Religion practice of initiation schools. This subject matter is multi-disciplinary and it covers how the sacred practice has been defiled through commersialisation and deviation from its original intent.

scholarly journals Exploring the influence of the curriculum on student learning in culturally and ethnically diverse classroom contexts: Praxis, paradoxes and perspectives of stakeholders

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-64
Author(s):  
Ganga B. Gurung ◽  
David Moltow ◽  
Peter Brett
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Ethnically Diverse ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Classroom Context ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Diverse Classroom ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Perceptions Of Students

This paper explores the perceptions and lived experiences of Nepalese educators and stakeholders in relation to the school curriculum and its influence upon student learning in a culturally and ethnically diverse classroom context. The study adopted a qualitative research design using face-to-face semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to gather the perceptions of students, teachers, school principals and curriculum experts from three different schools representing distinct and diverse Nepalese settings. The findings identified that there are six main factors that affect curriculum delivery in Nepal: a centralised education system; social, economic and cultural diversity; political instability; curriculum content; the involvement of curriculum development stakeholders; and teachers’ content and pedagogical knowledge and related attributes. These six factors all contribute to a significant influence on student learning.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Teachers and Subject Advisers Regarding Curriculum Development Processes in Fort Beaufort District, Eastern Cape

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Uloma Nkpurunma Obi ◽  
Ignatius Khan Ticha
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Curriculum Development ◽  
Document Analysis ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Perceptions Of Teachers

This study was designed to investigate the perceptions of teachers and subject advisers regarding the curriculum development processes in Fort Beaufort District in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The sample consisted of twenty-two respondents: four principals, twelve teachers and six subject advisers. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. The findings revealed that both teachers and subject advisers were concerned about the quality of teachers and learners as well as delivery of the curriculum. They also expressed concern about the quality of workshops; pointing to how much participation from teachers and subject advisers occurs in these workshops. Their responses create space for the researcher to engage with the question, does their involvement in these workshops help them to understand the curriculum and implement it better? Hence, this study recommends that the quality of teachers, learners and subject advisers should be considered while carrying out curriculum development processes.

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AMONGST WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES: A CASE STUDY OF MWENEZI DISTRICT, ZIMBABWE

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Rugoho ◽  
France Maphosa
Keyword(s):  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Women With Disabilities ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Disabled Women ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
The Impact

This article is based on a study of gender-based violence against women with disabilities. The study sought to examine the factors that make such women vulnerable, to investigate the community’s responses to gender-based violence against women with disabilities, and to determine the impact of gender-based violence on the wellbeing and health of women with disabilities. The study adopted a qualitative research design so as to arrive at an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon under study. The study sample consisted of 48 disabled women living in marital or common law unions, selected using purposive sampling. Of the 48 women in the sample, 16 were visually impaired while the remaining 32 had other physical disabilities. Focus group discussions were used for data collection. The data were analysed using the thematic approach. The finding was that women with disabilities also experience gender-based violence. The study makes recommendations whose thrust is to change community perceptions on disability as the only guarantee towards eradicating gender-based violence against women with disabilities.

scholarly journals Strategies to Enhance Knowledge and Practical Skills of Triage amongst Nurses Working in the Emergency Departments of Rural Hospitals in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4471
Author(s):  
Thabo Arthur. Phukubye ◽  
Masenyani Oupa. Mbombi ◽  
Tebogo Maria. Mothiba
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Emergency Departments ◽  
Rural Hospitals ◽  
Practical Skills ◽  
Emergency Unit ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Interview Method ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Knowledge And Practice

Purpose: Lack of knowledge and practical skills on triage remains a global problem, especially within rural hospitals, and very little is known about enhancing the knowledge and skills of emergency nursing staff in rural hospitals of South Africa. The objective was to describe the perceived strategies for enhancing knowledge and practices of triage among nurses working in the emergency departments (EDs) of rural hospitals in South Africa. Research methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was applied to achieve the research objective. A non-probability sampling method was applied to select 17 professional nurses from rural hospitals. An unstructured face-to-face interview method was used to collect data. Data collected were analyzed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. Results: The study findings highlighted the academic needs of nurses working in the ED of rural hospitals. Two themes emerged from this study; (1) The consistent description of the importance of triage training for emergency unit staff, and (2) The description of measures to enhance triage practices amongst emergency unit staff. Findings indicated that triage knowledge and practice remains a challenge, but with formulated strategies like continuous training by workshops, refresher courses, and offering a training module on triage, evaluation of developed guidelines and benchmarks is often enhanced. Conclusions: The study describes the strategies to enhance the conversion of knowledge and practice of triage amongst nurses working in the ED of rural hospitals. The paper argues that the knowledge and practical skills of nurses working in ED are enhanced through the provision of continuous training as workshops, triage module, evaluating the developed guidelines to implement triage, and benchmarking with other hospitals.

Group Discussion in a Blended Environment in Engineering Education

TEM Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 508-516
Author(s):  
Deepti Mishra ◽  
Gonca Gokce Menekse Dalveren ◽  
Frode S. Volden ◽  
Carly Grace Allen
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Education ◽  
Group Process ◽  
Eye Gaze ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Verbal Cues ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Seating Arrangement ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Group Members

Group work is a necessary element of engineering education and group members need information about one another, group process, shared attention and mutual understanding during group discussions. There are several important elements for establishing and maintaining a group discussion such as participant’s role, seating arrangement, verbal and non-verbal cues, eye gaze, gestures etc. The present study investigates these elements for identifying the behavior of group members in a blend of traditional face-to-face discussion along with computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) setting. The results of this study have shown that, speaking duration is the key factor for identifying the leadership in a group and participants mostly used eye gazes for turn taking. Although this study is a mix of face-to-face and CSCW discussion setting, participants mostly behave like faceto- face group discussion. However, unlike the previous studies involving face-to-face discussion, the relation between seating arrangement and amount of attention is not apparent from the data during this study.

Digital transformation of face-to-face focus group methodology: engaging a globally dispersed audience in management of institutional change (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Mahmoud ◽  
Anna TOKAR ◽  
Melissa ARRIAS ◽  
Christos MYLONAS ◽  
Heini UTUNEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Learning ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Global Workforce ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

UNSTRUCTURED As part of its transformation process to meet the health challenges of the 21st century by creating a motivated and fit-for-purpose global workforce, the World Health Organization (WHO) is developing the first-ever global Learning Strategy for health personnel around the world. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were organized as part of in-depth qualitative research on staff views, visions, and suggestions. Due to the pandemic, a flexible, multi-linguistic, participatory, iterative methodology for digitization of face-to-face FDGs to engage a globally dispersed workforce was implemented.

Identifying key network characteristics for agricultural innovation: A multisectoral case study approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26
Author(s):  
Evelien Lambrecht ◽  
Maarten Crivits ◽  
Ludwig Lauwers ◽  
Xavier Gellynck
Keyword(s):  
Success Factors ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Agricultural Innovation ◽  
Network Characteristics ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Innovation Characteristics ◽  
Depth Interviews

This article identified network characteristics critical for successful agricutural innovations within networks, or a set of interrelated organizations aiming at knowledge exchange for innovations. To explore key success factors, the research questioned how networks cope with innovation characteristics and combined network characteristics with four innovation characteristics in four agricultural sub-sectors. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with farmers and network coordinators and from focus group discussions with farmers active in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. Factors particularly helpful for success in agricultural innovation networks include numerous contacts, integration of knowledge providers in the network structure, face-to-face communication, a self-initiated coalition and surpassing innovation beyond the mere agricultural level, through collaboration with people from outside the sector. The findings are useful for academics, network coordinators and network members, possibly leading to a higher innovation performance via networking.

scholarly journals Using graphic illustrations to uncover how a community of practice can influence the delivery of compassionate healthcare

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trisha Parsons ◽  
Deborah Tregunno ◽  
Mala Joneja ◽  
Nancy Dalgarno ◽  
Leslie Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Cultural Shift ◽  
Professional Educators ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Narrative Design ◽  
Field Notes

Our modern-day frenetic healthcare culture has progressed to a state where healthcare professionals tend to detach themselves from the emotions of their patients/clients, rather than embed compassion into their daily practice. The AMS Phoenix Project: A Call to Caring was implemented with the goal to instil and sustain empathy and compassion in environments where clinicians learn and work. The purpose of this study is to report on how an interprofessional community of practice (CoP) of healthcare educators can contribute to a cultural shift in promoting and delivering compassion in healthcare through health professionals education. Using an imaginative creative autoethnography that adopts a narrative design through graphic illustrations, data were collected from 25 members of the Phoenix@Queen’s CoP during a 1-day retreat. Data collection included a graphic recorder who visually depicted all retreat dialogue, field notes that highlighted emergent themes and artefacts produced during the day. Audio recordings of the discussions were used as secondary sources of data. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged: the call to caring is a long and winding road with many barriers and rewards; CoP members experienced personal growth in and through the community; and the Phoenix@Queen’s CoP matters in terms of professional relationships, leadership and moving forward a shared agenda about practising compassionate healthcare. This study describes the development of a CoP that moves away from traditional committees and discussions to an experiential creation of connections and shared meaning by its members. By using autoethnography, and by demonstrating how graphic illustration can be an innovative and creative method for recording and interpreting group discussions, we have demonstrated the accelerated development of an authentic CoP. With a richer and more authentic community, the shared goals of healthcare professional educators are more likely to be achieved.

scholarly journals The black hole of dealing with a disability diagnosis: Views of South African rural parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vuyelwa V. Duma ◽  
Ntombekhaya Tshabalala ◽  
Gubela Mji
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Children With Disability ◽  
Depth Interview ◽  
The Social ◽  
Rural Parents

Background: Lack of support systems in the management of health and rehabilitation related problems, including the stigma of giving birth to a child with disability, results in some parents ignoring the doctor’s prognosis of lifelong disability.Objectives: The study was conducted in the Eastern Cape province (ECP) of South Africa (SA) on parents’ views in caring for children with disability in an area with minimal health facilities in a rural setting.Method: Data was collected using exploratory descriptive qualitative methods. A Xhosa-speaking researcher facilitated six focus group discussions and conducted one individual in-depth interview with 37 parents or caregivers of children with disability residing at Happy home. Only one father was interviewed. Thematic analysis was used in interpreting data obtained from interviews.Results: The findings revealed themes indicating key concerns of parents, which were as follows: challenges with disability diagnosis, negative attitudes of health professionals, health and rehabilitation related problems, and lack of support from families and community.Conclusion: Caring for children with disability in a rural setting where services are minimal or not available to the poorest people who mostly need such services is not easy. Thus, to respond appropriately to the health and support needs of children with disability, it is crucial to understand the social context and needs of their families and caregivers. Due to size of the study, findings cannot be generalised. Recommendations are made for further studies to explore the vital issues affecting parents of children with disabilities.

scholarly journals Indigenous knowledge of Vietnamese cultivation in the Mekong Delta

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. First
Author(s):  
Ngo Thi-Thu Trang
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Mekong Delta ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Production Model ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Near Future

Being passed from generation to generation, indigenous knowledge is unique and confined to a particular culture or society. This knowledge is generated and transmitted through communities, over time, in an effort to cope with their own agro-ecological and socio-economic environments (Fernandez, 1994). Vietnamese residents in the Mekong Delta during the development of cultivation activities have accumulated a lot of folk experiences, creating a large amount of indigenous knowledge in daily life and farming production. This knowledge has supported the Vietnamese people to adapt themselves to survive for several hundred years. However, throughout the time, under the strong impact of scientific knowledge, indigenous knowledge nowadays is no longer applied as much as before. In the context of increasing climate change, understanding and reevaluating the correct value of this knowledge, besides preserving, also contribute to public policy implications in environmental change adaptation strategies in the near future. With an interdisciplinary approach to geography and anthropology, via long fieldwork methods, face-to-face meetings with farmers and group discussions, 10 in-depth interviews were conducted on issues related to this current production model and production experience. Indigenous knowledge has been and is being applied in flooded areas with representatives being An Giang and Hau Giang provinces. The author has systematized the indigenous knowledge of Vietnamese people on cultivating to better adapt to nature.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document