Introducing e-learning in a South African Higher Education institution: challenges arising from an intervention and possible responses
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Date
2013
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Blackwell
Abstract
This article draws on research conducted at a tertiary institution in South Africa as part
of the redesigning of an English for Educational Development (EED) course to include an
e-learning online discussion component. The subject material used was based on HIV/
AIDS topics that students had to debate within an online discussion forum. Framed by
the concept of Multiliteracies and the Social Constructivist view of teaching and learning,
this study problematizes students� experiences of the online component in an
attempt to explore the potential benefits of and challenges in using e-learning in teaching
and learning and the extent to which e-learning should be adopted into the EED
curriculum. The benefits derived and challenges faced by the students and the writers
during the implementation of the intervention are presented with the aim of generating
further discussions from researchers on national and international levels. This article
briefly contextualizes the study by providing some background information, theory and
the research process. It then draws on a number of evaluation tools ranging from course
evaluations; classroom discussions and observations; reflective notes; as well as minutes
of meetings to evaluate both students and writers participation and experiences
Description
Keywords
HIV/AIDS, Online discussion, English for Educational Development (EED), Observation, Multiliteracies, Social constructivism
Citation
Bharuthram, S. & Kies, C. (2012). Introducing e-learning in a South African Higher Education institution: challenges arising from an intervention and possible responses. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(3): 410�420