Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice最新文献

{"title":"Reworking Job Satisfaction in a Contemporary Higher Education Institution","authors":"M. Mmako","doi":"10.25159/0256-8853/4707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/4707","url":null,"abstract":"The academic profession in South Africa faces great uncertainties in terms of its future. Focusing on academics’ job satisfaction and finding effective items that impact on the level of job satisfaction is crucial. The main purpose of this research is to examine the effects of demographics on levels of satisfaction among academics in a contemporary higher education institution in South Africa. A quantitative design using a survey approach was adopted for this study. The Job Descriptive Index inventory (JDI) was used to measure seven dimensions of job satisfaction among academic staff. A two-section questionnaire was administered to a quota sample of 500 academic staff in a university in South Africa. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and one-way analysis (ANOVA). The findings indicated that academic staff were moderately satisfied with their jobs. However, the most significant job satisfaction factors that affected the level of academic job satisfaction were the physical work environment and promotional opportunities. The median group differences existed between responses based on age, gender, designation and years of service of the academic staff. Job satisfaction was also significantly associated with job-related factors such as relationships with colleagues, departmental management support, career opportunities and training, remuneration and the nature of the job. The findings of the current study may be used by managers in higher education institutions to improve the level of job satisfaction among academics in the sector, thus preventing further job dissatisfaction. The study provides evidence that job satisfaction could contribute to the success of the higher education sector. The study will be useful for university management in improving overall job satisfaction as it suggests some strategies for job satisfaction practices. The study also provides updated insights into the effects of demographics on levels of job satisfaction among academics in a contemporary higher education institution in the context of South Africa, thereby addressing a research gap in this subject.","PeriodicalId":364322,"journal":{"name":"Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice","volume":"75 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134505451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Sociocultural Factors on Students’ ICT Information-Seeking Practices: Postgraduate Students’ Perceptions at a Zimbabwean University","authors":"B. Ngwenya, Theuns G. Pelser","doi":"10.25159/0256-8853/4709","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/4709","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to examine the impact of cultural differences on students’ information-seeking, management and evaluation practices in an online information and communication technology (ICT) environment. The study was conducted at a Zimbabwean university on postgraduate students (male and female) (N=156), employing the questionnaire technique as data collection instrument. While there is a dearth of empirical studies on the use of ICT in Zimbabwe, the extant literature in this field shows a significant difference between the success and failure in the use of ICT sources for learning purposes among students in developing and developed countries. This study is premised on the proposition that “information seeking” is socioculturally bounded and the successful use of online information sources is significantly linked to the students’ perceptions of particular ICT platforms and how they are configured to facilitate specific information search outcomes. After the data collection process, the computer analysis software programme, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), was employed to obtain the cross-tabulations and chi-squared statistical tests. The main findings of the study show a statistically significant difference in students’ information-seeking practices. The study identified the importance of students’ cultural contexts in the successful use of ICT and concludes that cultural differences influence online information-seeking practices among students. The study recommends that the impact of cultural differences be considered when students are introduced to the use of ICT as an information-seeking tool and suggests that future studies, both qualitative and quantitative, be pursued to improve students’ information-seeking practices to enhance their success.","PeriodicalId":364322,"journal":{"name":"Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice","volume":"14 6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129250707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Sustainable Implementation of a Master’s Programme in IT for Education in a Developing Context","authors":"Johannes Christoffel Cronje, Emmanuel Arthur-Nyarko, Palmas Anyagre","doi":"10.25159/0256-8853/1757","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/1757","url":null,"abstract":"This article gives an account of the joint implementation by the sponsor, the host institution and the partner institution of a master’s programme in Information and Communication Technology for Education at a leading African university in 2005. The success of the programme was such that it became a flagship programme at the institution. In the context of many failed joint implementations of such programmes, the question that arose and that prompted the writing of this article was, “Why did this programme succeed?” The literature indicates two elements that contribute to successful implementations: the individuals responsible for the course, and the support the institution gives. Interviews with the course coordinator, university administrators, alumni and current students, and an analysis of course documents and students’ research output revealed the nature of the activities of certain individuals and also of the institutional support factors that led to the success of the programme. Based on the study conducted, this article provides some suggestions that other implementers of similar projects may find useful.","PeriodicalId":364322,"journal":{"name":"Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116634628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Master of Education Students' Reflections: Which Curriculum Reasons Are Promoted or Limited by Skype Resources?","authors":"S. Khoza","doi":"10.25159/0256-8853/2405","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/2405","url":null,"abstract":"This article presents an interpretive case study of a group of 10 Master of Education students overseen by one supervisor. The objective of the study was to explore and understand students’ reflections on the curriculum or research reasons that are promoted or limited by Skype resources. A curriculum reason is a concept entailing a cognitive process that helps us to manage our actions in order to address our personal, societal, and professional needs. Purposive sampling was used to select the 10 participants for the study, and electronic reflective activities and one-on-one semi-structured Skype interviews were used for data generation. Inductive and deductive methods were followed, therefore guided analysis was used to generate themes for the study. With reference to the objective of the study, the finding was that the students’ reflections were driven by three curriculum reasons (professional, societal, and personal), and it was concluded that this was the case because the students understood the concepts of these curriculum/research reasons, for instance, research goals, content, resources, assessment, time, environment, activities, community, and supervisor roles. The recommendation is made that students be trained to know and understand the three curriculum/research reasons to enable them to use Skype for the intended reason/s so as to address their personal, societal and professional needs.","PeriodicalId":364322,"journal":{"name":"Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice","volume":"44 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121713099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pedagogical Factors That Affect Technology Integration at Two Universities of Technology in South Africa","authors":"S. Xakaza-Kumalo","doi":"10.25159/0256-8853/2706","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8853/2706","url":null,"abstract":"This paper reports on a case study that was conducted at two South African universities of technology to explore the integration of technology in higher education institutions. Fourteen participants from these two institutions provided their perspectives about the pedagogical considerations that were important educational factors in the integration of technology in higher education institutions. The framework proposed by Tedre, Apiola, and Cronjé was used as a measuring tool to determine pedagogical elements that were essential in the adoption of technology. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the said framework as an analytical tool, and to contribute to its refinement. The central research question concerned the extent to which this framework was useful for a situational analysis at the relevant two South African universities. Although the universities’ educational strategies and policies were found to be analogous, differences were identified in the manner of and approach to the implementation of educational technology. The pedagogical considerations for e-learning uptake in both universities were similar to a certain extent. The findings further showed that most of the educational factors that affected technology integration resonated with pedagogical issues experienced in other developing countries. It was concluded that students could determine the future of learning as they persistently engaged in potentially rhizomatic learning environments. This paper offers recommendations that address dramatic transformation in higher education institutions due to emerging technologies and radical changes that are experienced. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are also highlighted.","PeriodicalId":364322,"journal":{"name":"Progressio: South African Journal for Open and Distance Learning Practice","volume":"6 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117075898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}