Late-night simulation: Opinions of fourth- and fifth-year medical students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

This article reports on a study that examined the levels of young children’s wellbeing and involvement in centre-based provision (birth to five years) at child, group and setting level1 in Free State, South Africa. The study was funded by the FlemishDepartment of Education and was executed in collaboration with the Free State Department of Education and the University of Free State. Nineteen settings were included in the study. The average setting was registered for 121 children (with ratio’svarying from 30 to 326 children registered). Foundation Phase students from the 2nd and 3rd year of study at the University of Free State collected data through observation tools designed by the Centre for Experiential Education at Leuven University, Belgium. The core instrument uses the Leuven scales for well-being and involvement. Results of the study indicate that overall scores for well-being and involvement are low, but also that there are huge differences between different groups and settings. Thus, indicating that early childhood education in centre-based provision makes a difference.

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Pedagogy Is a Messy Affair: A Performative Narrative of Being New

Qualitative Inquiry ◽

10.1177/1077800419874830 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 89-98

Author(s):

Marguerite Müller ◽

Frans Kruger ◽

Nthabiseng Lekoala ◽

Nthabiseng Mokoena

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Free State ◽

Performative Writing ◽

Narrative Space ◽

The Real ◽

The World ◽

Human World ◽

The University

This article uses performative writing to explore the pedagogical entanglement of staff, students, and matter at the University of the Free State, South Africa. It is a collaborative narrative in which different voices share the textual stage. Each author contributes to one of the voices to create a performative narrative of how our experiences occur and emerge in this messy, complex, and volatile context. Our story sketches the backgrounds, in-between spaces, and “negative spaces” that pedagogy produces as relational encounters between human and the more-than-human world. We abandon the world of the real and move into a creative collaborative performative narrative space to explore the entanglements that pedagogies produce.

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Teaching research: a programme to develop research capacity in undergraduate medical students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

BMC Medical Education ◽

10.1186/s12909-016-0567-7 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Stephen E. Knight ◽

Jacqueline M. Van Wyk ◽

Saajida Mahomed

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Medical Students ◽

Research Capacity ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Kwazulu Natal ◽

Teaching Research ◽

The University

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Allergic rhinitis in medical students at the University of the Free State

South African Family Practice ◽

10.1080/20786190.2018.1437869 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 60 (4) ◽

pp. 121-125 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

RY Seedat ◽

M Sujee ◽

W Ismail ◽

NY Vallybhai ◽

MI Cassim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Medical Students ◽

Free State ◽

The University

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Non-medical use of methylphenidate among medical students of the University of the Free State

South African Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v23i1.1006 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 5 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roshini Jain ◽

Ch Chiech Chang ◽

Mpho Koto ◽

Alden Geldenhuys ◽

Richard Nichol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Medical Curriculum ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Free State ◽

Specific Information ◽

Undergraduate Medical Students ◽

Questionnaire Response ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Training Programmes ◽

The University

Background: Faced with demanding training programmes, medical students may be more prone to use methylphenidate for non-medical purposes in order to improve concentration, alertness and academic performance.Aim: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of the non-medical use of methylphenidate and knowledge of this drug among undergraduate medical students of the University of the Free State.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed during lectures to all students in the five year groups of the undergraduate medical programme.Results: Of the 643 undergraduate medical students, 541 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 84.1%). Approximately 11.0% of surveyed students were using methylphenidate at the time of the study, of which the majority (67.9%) used it for academic purposes and 70.6% received it from a medical health professional. Less than a third of users had been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Methylphenidate users’ median knowledge was greater than non-users, and methylphenidate knowledge increased from first-year and second-year students to third-year to fifth-year students. Median knowledge scores per year group ranged from 52.0% to 60.0%.Conclusion: Methylphenidate is mainly used for non-medical purposes by medical students. Students generally have a low level of knowledge on methylphenidate. Specific information on methylphenidate should be included in lectures on stress management and study methods during the course of the medical curriculum.

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Investigating health factors as predictor of early drop-out of rst year accounting students at the University of the Free State, South Africa

Afrika Focus ◽

10.21825/af.v29i2.4729 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Christa Beyers ◽

Hanli Joubert

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Academic Success ◽

South African ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Drop Out ◽

Free State ◽

Accounting Students ◽

Health Factors ◽

Group Interviews ◽

The University

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of rst year university students. Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantita- tive non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangu- late the ndings. Results: We present ndings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotion- al health in uence success and non-completion rates among rst year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Conclusion: We argue that early identi cation of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success.

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Investigating health factors as predictor of early drop-out of first year accounting students at the University of the Free State, South Africa

Afrika Focus ◽

10.1163/2031356x-02902002 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 9-20

Author(s):

Christa Beyers ◽

Hanli Joubert

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Academic Success ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Hiv And Aids ◽

Drop Out ◽

Free State ◽

First Year ◽

First Year Students ◽

Health Factors ◽

The University

Introduction: The future of the South African workforce looks bleak given the challenges posed, not only by health factors, including HIV and AIDS, but also the success and throughput rate of first year university students. Methodology: The research in this study was conducted in 2013 using a post-positivist approach and applying an interpretive stance using a mixed method approach, which included a quantitative non-experimental predictive multivariate design as well as focus group interviews to triangulate the findings. Results: We present findings that psychosocial background factors, physical health and emotional health influence success and non-completion rates among first year students at the University of the Free State, South Africa. Conclusion: We argue that early identification of poor psychosocial background, including health factors, can assist in empowering youths helping them to make healthy decisions and deal with stressful situations in a way that will not compromise their academic success.

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Delivering equitable distance library services to off-campus users at the University of the Free State in South Africa

Global Knowledge Memory and Communication ◽

10.1108/gkmc-11-2019-0145 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Lianda Coetzer ◽

Patrick Mapulanga

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Qualitative Data ◽

Academic Library ◽

Theory And Practice ◽

Free State ◽

Library Services ◽

Content Type ◽

Perceived Satisfaction ◽

Online Library ◽

The University

Purpose The purpose of this study is to assess the perceived satisfaction of Advanced Certificate in Teaching students and facilitators regarding online library services offered by the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative approach with open-ended questions that generated some qualitative data. Data has been presented using descriptive statistics in the form of tables, graphs and charts and thematic content analysis for some qualitative data. Findings All learners in this study were adults between 45 and 55 years of age. Of the respondents, 13% lacked online experience, while about 85% had never used online library services and 35% indicated that Google was their primary source of information. The majority of respondents indicated information literacy as a core function of the academic library. High data cost in South Africa came out as one of the major issues affecting distance learners as well as login and password frustrations. The study confirmed computer anxiety, physical discomfort, information overflow and prompt response as some of the perceived challenges and levels of satisfaction respectively of Advanced Certificate in Teaching students and facilitators regarding online library services offered by the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa. Practical implications The study revealed that a distance learning library policy is of the essence because it helps to put in place rules and regulations that guide the delivery of distance library services. Originality/value The offering of online and distance library services is a fairly new concept to the UFS library. This study bridges the gap between theory and practice regarding the perceived satisfaction of distance users on online library services and how to improve the current practice.

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