A bargain that dissolves into a poem unwritten: a critique of bargain retail practices and homemaking through critical design
- Authors: Hawley, Ami Jessica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stores, Retail -- Designs and plans -- South Africa , Interior decoration -- South Africa House furnishings -- South Africa -- 20th century Furniture -- South Africa Store decoration Interior architecture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40349 , vital:36146
- Description: Although bargains commonly manifest as loud advertisements and trivial objects, as a moment of exchange they provide a basis to critique economic relations and judgements of taste. This research presents a document study of “bargains” in the context of bargain retail practices and homemaking, illustrated in the case of OK Furniture in South Africa; further situated by Julier’s study of economy and class within design culture, and Bourdieu’s fields of cultural production. The investigation builds to a discussion of the research practice, alluded to in the research project’s title, “A bargain that dissolves into a poem unwritten”. The title is an entry from this practice’s journal that conveys how the everyday experience of a bargain might find a connection to poetry when its exchange is seen as a performance; as a moment or encounter “unwritten”, capable of generating different modes of meaning and sociability. Using critical design strategies, the research practice explores the manifesting discountproduct cultures and retail practices associated with homes as a way to inhabit richer interpersonal relationships and unscripted sociability. This is discussed through four critical design proposals and 26 thought experiments, resulting in Text me when you see this, an online concept store that sells bargains, personal agreements, quality time, conversation and curio: www.textmewhenyouseethis.com. The research explores the limits to a bargain’s economic and emotional exchange by asking What if a bargain represented other forms of sociability, and How else might this mode of exchange look? These questions are used in the critique to model critical design towards both poetic expression and pragmatic embodiment of criticality in the project of reflecting on everyday life and what it might “dissolve into”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Hawley, Ami Jessica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Stores, Retail -- Designs and plans -- South Africa , Interior decoration -- South Africa House furnishings -- South Africa -- 20th century Furniture -- South Africa Store decoration Interior architecture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40349 , vital:36146
- Description: Although bargains commonly manifest as loud advertisements and trivial objects, as a moment of exchange they provide a basis to critique economic relations and judgements of taste. This research presents a document study of “bargains” in the context of bargain retail practices and homemaking, illustrated in the case of OK Furniture in South Africa; further situated by Julier’s study of economy and class within design culture, and Bourdieu’s fields of cultural production. The investigation builds to a discussion of the research practice, alluded to in the research project’s title, “A bargain that dissolves into a poem unwritten”. The title is an entry from this practice’s journal that conveys how the everyday experience of a bargain might find a connection to poetry when its exchange is seen as a performance; as a moment or encounter “unwritten”, capable of generating different modes of meaning and sociability. Using critical design strategies, the research practice explores the manifesting discountproduct cultures and retail practices associated with homes as a way to inhabit richer interpersonal relationships and unscripted sociability. This is discussed through four critical design proposals and 26 thought experiments, resulting in Text me when you see this, an online concept store that sells bargains, personal agreements, quality time, conversation and curio: www.textmewhenyouseethis.com. The research explores the limits to a bargain’s economic and emotional exchange by asking What if a bargain represented other forms of sociability, and How else might this mode of exchange look? These questions are used in the critique to model critical design towards both poetic expression and pragmatic embodiment of criticality in the project of reflecting on everyday life and what it might “dissolve into”.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A blended learning toolkit that accommodates multiple learning styles
- Authors: Mills, Steven Christopher
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Blended learning , Learning strategies Learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30452 , vital:30945
- Description: The purpose of this study was to identify how blended learning can be designed and incorporated to accommodate multiple learning styles within modules in the Department of Computing Sciences. A design theory was created through an analysis of literature and exploration into the backgrounds of students and lecturers within the Department of Computing Sciences. The design theory is: Blended learning can be a useful approach to accommodate multiple learning styles. Guidelines, and by extension a toolkit, facilitate the development of blended learning and provide effective tools to enable lecturers to successfully incorporate blended learning into their modules. Design-Based Research (DBR) was followed in this study, using a mixed-methods and iterative approach to determine the accuracy of the design theory. For the first iteration, the toolkit was implemented in two modules within the Department of Computing Sciences and for the second iteration, four modules. DBR produces a theoretical contribution and a practical artefact. The most important theoretical contributions are the design theory and guidelines for incorporating blended learning that accommodates multiple learning styles. The practical artefacts are the toolkit and tools therein. The toolkit, which was accessed via a website, guides lecturers through the process of incorporating blended learning that accommodates multiple learning styles and provides them with the necessary tools to do so. The design theory was proven in the evaluation that used a questionnaire to understand the lecturers’ experiences regarding the toolkit and the design theory. Therefore, the guidelines for applying blended learning is a useful approach to address multiple learning styles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Mills, Steven Christopher
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Blended learning , Learning strategies Learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCom
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30452 , vital:30945
- Description: The purpose of this study was to identify how blended learning can be designed and incorporated to accommodate multiple learning styles within modules in the Department of Computing Sciences. A design theory was created through an analysis of literature and exploration into the backgrounds of students and lecturers within the Department of Computing Sciences. The design theory is: Blended learning can be a useful approach to accommodate multiple learning styles. Guidelines, and by extension a toolkit, facilitate the development of blended learning and provide effective tools to enable lecturers to successfully incorporate blended learning into their modules. Design-Based Research (DBR) was followed in this study, using a mixed-methods and iterative approach to determine the accuracy of the design theory. For the first iteration, the toolkit was implemented in two modules within the Department of Computing Sciences and for the second iteration, four modules. DBR produces a theoretical contribution and a practical artefact. The most important theoretical contributions are the design theory and guidelines for incorporating blended learning that accommodates multiple learning styles. The practical artefacts are the toolkit and tools therein. The toolkit, which was accessed via a website, guides lecturers through the process of incorporating blended learning that accommodates multiple learning styles and provides them with the necessary tools to do so. The design theory was proven in the evaluation that used a questionnaire to understand the lecturers’ experiences regarding the toolkit and the design theory. Therefore, the guidelines for applying blended learning is a useful approach to address multiple learning styles.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A case study of role conflict experienced by change champions during organisational change
- Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Authors: Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organization change , Organization change -- Management , Role conflict , Organizational behavior -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96848 , vital:31337
- Description: A change champion has been defined as a person from any level of the organisation who is skilled at initiating, facilitating and implementing change, and who can effectively champion organisational changes. From a review of the literature, it was anticipated that change champions may experience role conflict, due to the multiple roles that they needed to fulfil simultaneously. Informed by organisational role theory, this research investigated the change management programme of a specific public entity as a case study, and analysed the nature of the role conflict that change champions experienced during a specific organisational change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four change champions, the change coordinator and the Executive Director Corporate Services. The organisational documents that relate to change management were also consulted with a view to providing background information and an overview of the change management programme. A deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. A coding framework was developed prior to the collection of data, and was used for the identification of theoretical codes and themes in the data. The following codes were developed and explored as types of role conflict: role ambiguity, person role conflict, role strain, role overload and role incompatibility. In terms of the findings, this study confirmed that change champions did experience role conflict during organisational change, mainly due to various expectations that come from different role senders. In the light of these findings, it was recommended that senior managers could reduce the incidents of role conflict by training change champions, introducing an orientation programme for new change champions, consider their personal values when appointing them, and allocating sufficient time for change champions to fulfil this additional role. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by drawing on role theory and applying it to change management, in order to provide insight on the role of change champions during the organisational change, and in particular the role conflict that they experienced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organization change , Organization change -- Management , Role conflict , Organizational behavior -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96848 , vital:31337
- Description: A change champion has been defined as a person from any level of the organisation who is skilled at initiating, facilitating and implementing change, and who can effectively champion organisational changes. From a review of the literature, it was anticipated that change champions may experience role conflict, due to the multiple roles that they needed to fulfil simultaneously. Informed by organisational role theory, this research investigated the change management programme of a specific public entity as a case study, and analysed the nature of the role conflict that change champions experienced during a specific organisational change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four change champions, the change coordinator and the Executive Director Corporate Services. The organisational documents that relate to change management were also consulted with a view to providing background information and an overview of the change management programme. A deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. A coding framework was developed prior to the collection of data, and was used for the identification of theoretical codes and themes in the data. The following codes were developed and explored as types of role conflict: role ambiguity, person role conflict, role strain, role overload and role incompatibility. In terms of the findings, this study confirmed that change champions did experience role conflict during organisational change, mainly due to various expectations that come from different role senders. In the light of these findings, it was recommended that senior managers could reduce the incidents of role conflict by training change champions, introducing an orientation programme for new change champions, consider their personal values when appointing them, and allocating sufficient time for change champions to fulfil this additional role. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by drawing on role theory and applying it to change management, in order to provide insight on the role of change champions during the organisational change, and in particular the role conflict that they experienced.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A case-series evaluation of the impact and processes of a service-learning programme on and for caregivers and their children with neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Authors: Cooke, Nicole
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Developmentally disabled children -- Care , Caregivers -- Training of , Service learning -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96691 , vital:31309
- Description: This thesis presents a series of three case studies from data collected as part of a research project exploring the process and impact of a service-learning programme with caregivers and their children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Following a descriptive case series design, both quantitative and qualitative data are presented to create a comprehensive and rich understanding of each case. In particular, the data tracks change processes in the subjective well-being of the caregiver, the quality of the caregiver-child relationship and the functional development of the child over a twenty-one-week period of receiving public health services and an eight-week period of adding the service-learning programme. The paper also presents qualitative data on the caregivers’ perceptions of and experiences of the public services and the servicelearning programme that the caregivers and their children received. The findings provide important insight into the caregivers’ perceptions of giving and receiving care, with the caregivers’ experiencing significant levels of distress and prominent barriers to accessing healthcare that were seemingly eased with the addition of the service-learning programme. The findings also point to a notable disparity between the quantitative findings and the qualitative interviews with questions being raised about the research being viewed as an intervention in itself.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Cooke, Nicole
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Developmentally disabled children -- Care , Caregivers -- Training of , Service learning -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96691 , vital:31309
- Description: This thesis presents a series of three case studies from data collected as part of a research project exploring the process and impact of a service-learning programme with caregivers and their children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Following a descriptive case series design, both quantitative and qualitative data are presented to create a comprehensive and rich understanding of each case. In particular, the data tracks change processes in the subjective well-being of the caregiver, the quality of the caregiver-child relationship and the functional development of the child over a twenty-one-week period of receiving public health services and an eight-week period of adding the service-learning programme. The paper also presents qualitative data on the caregivers’ perceptions of and experiences of the public services and the servicelearning programme that the caregivers and their children received. The findings provide important insight into the caregivers’ perceptions of giving and receiving care, with the caregivers’ experiencing significant levels of distress and prominent barriers to accessing healthcare that were seemingly eased with the addition of the service-learning programme. The findings also point to a notable disparity between the quantitative findings and the qualitative interviews with questions being raised about the research being viewed as an intervention in itself.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A changed curriculum approach for learners at Enkuselweni child and youth care center
- Authors: Xhanti, Cynthia
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- South Africa , Education -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44312 , vital:37152
- Description: Enkuselweni Child and Youth Care Centre is a public institution that accommodates male youths between the ages of 10-17 years who broke the law and are awaiting court trials. While awaiting trial, the youths are compelled to attend school from grade one to grade seven. Learners are faced by academic development problems such as lack of interest in attending school resulting in high dropout rates. Other problems include unruly behaviour, bullying, prevalence of theft, fights and conflict between learners, lack of cooperation on academic subjects, low concentration span and focus, and non-attendance of classes. This leads to very low pass rates and little impact on the money spent by the institution to promote the academic development of learners. The current school curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), provides for nine subjects in a full academic year starting from January to December. Learners at the Centre are therefore limited as they arrive at any time during the year. The learners spend an average of 3 – 6 months at the Centre, and are therefore unable to complete and cope with the prescribed CAPS curriculum. The main aim of this research study is to investigate an alternative curriculum that will be suitable for learners who are in conflict with the law and who spend less than one year at the Centre and arrive at any time of the year. The research question is “What alternative curriculum approach other than the current nine (9) subjects approach would better enhance the academic development of learners with behavioural problems while at Enkuselweni Child and Youth Care Centre?” The curriculum approach should take into consideration that the learners should be active citizens that can count, read and write (Asmal, 1997). The learners at Enkuselweni are unable to complete a “grade” which leads to despondency and drop out. According to the South African Schools Act (SASA) a grade is an educational programme which a learner may complete in one school year (South African Schools Act, 2011). This research indicates that the social and cultural influences as well as learner aptitude are the major barriers in the development of the Enkuselweni Centre learner’s education. Indeed, the research further showed that alignment of a suitable curriculum will bring a positive influence to learners’ academic interests. Parental involvement is an important aspect in ensuring that the learners succeed academically at Enkuselweni Centre. However, as a result of the lack of parental involvement the care workers act as the official guardians for the learners. The cares workers only address the basic physiological and physical wellbeing but do not assist with the academic needs or homework of the children. The culture of schooling of the learners is not an encouragement for academic achievement. The learners only spend on average 3 – 6 months a year at the Centre, which is shorter than the period prescribed by SASA. The teachers at Enkuselweni Centre are unable to produce positive results as there is no continuity or sense of completion. The basic achievement of reading, writing and counting can be achieved by reducing the nine subjects required by CAPS to three subjects, namely Home Language, First Additional Language (English) and Mathematics as per the table below. These subjects can be complemented by vocational skills such carpentry, brick laying, plumbing, electricity, computer literacy, landscaping and culinary skills. These vocational skills should be accredited with the relevant SETAs for ease of obtaining work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Xhanti, Cynthia
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Curriculum planning -- South Africa , Education -- Curricula -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44312 , vital:37152
- Description: Enkuselweni Child and Youth Care Centre is a public institution that accommodates male youths between the ages of 10-17 years who broke the law and are awaiting court trials. While awaiting trial, the youths are compelled to attend school from grade one to grade seven. Learners are faced by academic development problems such as lack of interest in attending school resulting in high dropout rates. Other problems include unruly behaviour, bullying, prevalence of theft, fights and conflict between learners, lack of cooperation on academic subjects, low concentration span and focus, and non-attendance of classes. This leads to very low pass rates and little impact on the money spent by the institution to promote the academic development of learners. The current school curriculum, Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), provides for nine subjects in a full academic year starting from January to December. Learners at the Centre are therefore limited as they arrive at any time during the year. The learners spend an average of 3 – 6 months at the Centre, and are therefore unable to complete and cope with the prescribed CAPS curriculum. The main aim of this research study is to investigate an alternative curriculum that will be suitable for learners who are in conflict with the law and who spend less than one year at the Centre and arrive at any time of the year. The research question is “What alternative curriculum approach other than the current nine (9) subjects approach would better enhance the academic development of learners with behavioural problems while at Enkuselweni Child and Youth Care Centre?” The curriculum approach should take into consideration that the learners should be active citizens that can count, read and write (Asmal, 1997). The learners at Enkuselweni are unable to complete a “grade” which leads to despondency and drop out. According to the South African Schools Act (SASA) a grade is an educational programme which a learner may complete in one school year (South African Schools Act, 2011). This research indicates that the social and cultural influences as well as learner aptitude are the major barriers in the development of the Enkuselweni Centre learner’s education. Indeed, the research further showed that alignment of a suitable curriculum will bring a positive influence to learners’ academic interests. Parental involvement is an important aspect in ensuring that the learners succeed academically at Enkuselweni Centre. However, as a result of the lack of parental involvement the care workers act as the official guardians for the learners. The cares workers only address the basic physiological and physical wellbeing but do not assist with the academic needs or homework of the children. The culture of schooling of the learners is not an encouragement for academic achievement. The learners only spend on average 3 – 6 months a year at the Centre, which is shorter than the period prescribed by SASA. The teachers at Enkuselweni Centre are unable to produce positive results as there is no continuity or sense of completion. The basic achievement of reading, writing and counting can be achieved by reducing the nine subjects required by CAPS to three subjects, namely Home Language, First Additional Language (English) and Mathematics as per the table below. These subjects can be complemented by vocational skills such carpentry, brick laying, plumbing, electricity, computer literacy, landscaping and culinary skills. These vocational skills should be accredited with the relevant SETAs for ease of obtaining work.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A clip composition case study of communal wool production in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Dreyer, Susanna Maria
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wool industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wool -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sheep industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39480 , vital:35265
- Description: Previous studies conducted on wool production in the communal areas of the Eastern Cape have concluded future research should focus on whether the observed differences in average wool price received between shearing sheds are due to differences in clip preparation (i.e. classing) or differences in the quality of the wool being produced (i.e. genetics).The objective of this study was to establish whether there are indeed geographical differences in the average wool price received by communal wool producers in the Eastern Cape and, if so, whether this difference in earnings is attributable to differences in the quality of wool produced and/or clip preparation. The current research explored eight years of wool production records of communal wool farmers (2009/10 to 2016/17) obtained from BKB, the largest wool broker in South Africa. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, parametric tests (i.e. t-test) and multiple regression analysis. The conclusions drawn from this study are: that there are indeed statistically significant differences in the average wool price received between the different geographic areas of the Eastern Cape communal regions, and that the primary determining factor is wool quality, while clip preparation also plays an important but secondary role. The study identified specific geographic areas where developmental interventions are most critical, with specific emphasis on improving the genetic composition of the wool sheep flocks. Specific strategies are recommended, namely:Removing inferior-quality rams and replacing them with superior-quality rams to prevent any inferior nondescript rams from breeding and producing progeny; Replacing the inferior-quality nondescript ewes in specific areas with superior-quality ewes, and Improving the survival rate of lambs and thereby contributing towards expediting the rate of genetic improvement of the communal wool sheep flocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Dreyer, Susanna Maria
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Wool industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Wool -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sheep industry -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39480 , vital:35265
- Description: Previous studies conducted on wool production in the communal areas of the Eastern Cape have concluded future research should focus on whether the observed differences in average wool price received between shearing sheds are due to differences in clip preparation (i.e. classing) or differences in the quality of the wool being produced (i.e. genetics).The objective of this study was to establish whether there are indeed geographical differences in the average wool price received by communal wool producers in the Eastern Cape and, if so, whether this difference in earnings is attributable to differences in the quality of wool produced and/or clip preparation. The current research explored eight years of wool production records of communal wool farmers (2009/10 to 2016/17) obtained from BKB, the largest wool broker in South Africa. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, parametric tests (i.e. t-test) and multiple regression analysis. The conclusions drawn from this study are: that there are indeed statistically significant differences in the average wool price received between the different geographic areas of the Eastern Cape communal regions, and that the primary determining factor is wool quality, while clip preparation also plays an important but secondary role. The study identified specific geographic areas where developmental interventions are most critical, with specific emphasis on improving the genetic composition of the wool sheep flocks. Specific strategies are recommended, namely:Removing inferior-quality rams and replacing them with superior-quality rams to prevent any inferior nondescript rams from breeding and producing progeny; Replacing the inferior-quality nondescript ewes in specific areas with superior-quality ewes, and Improving the survival rate of lambs and thereby contributing towards expediting the rate of genetic improvement of the communal wool sheep flocks.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A comparative analysis of mobile application development frameworks: A case study of mobile application development for water usage management in Alice and Fort Beaufort communities
- Authors: Manu, Kwabena
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems Cell phones Cloud computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc. (Computer Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14130 , vital:39853
- Description: Mobile phones have become an integral part of standard of living. Users and customers expect sensible and very useful applications in less time. In this competitive market, it is an enormous challenge to develop high performance mobile applications that might meet the expectations of end users. Despite the fact that development of new applications for each mobile operating system in short time is fairly an issue, mobile operating systems vendors are giving their best available resources for creating applications in additional convenient ways. These days, there is a common tendency to look for less complex and quicker solutions that could be used in the process of software development. Developers of a new mobile application have to undertake variety of selections and decisions, including the target platform as well as the development technology to utilize. Mobile application development frameworks contribute in solving this problem. Several frameworks have emerged, which we classify and evaluate their appropriateness. In order to compare existing development frameworks solutions in this research, we compiled a set of criteria to assess mobile application development approaches. In view on these criteria, we evaluated five frameworks that is, PhoneGap, Xamarin, App Inventor, Sencha Touch and DragonRad. For proof of concepts, the chosen framework from the five evaluated mobile development frameworks was used to develop application for water usage management. The research will equip mobile application developers to gain more insight into mobile development frameworks available, therefore helping them to choose the most appropriate framework for their project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Manu, Kwabena
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Mobile communication systems Cell phones Cloud computing
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc. (Computer Science)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/14130 , vital:39853
- Description: Mobile phones have become an integral part of standard of living. Users and customers expect sensible and very useful applications in less time. In this competitive market, it is an enormous challenge to develop high performance mobile applications that might meet the expectations of end users. Despite the fact that development of new applications for each mobile operating system in short time is fairly an issue, mobile operating systems vendors are giving their best available resources for creating applications in additional convenient ways. These days, there is a common tendency to look for less complex and quicker solutions that could be used in the process of software development. Developers of a new mobile application have to undertake variety of selections and decisions, including the target platform as well as the development technology to utilize. Mobile application development frameworks contribute in solving this problem. Several frameworks have emerged, which we classify and evaluate their appropriateness. In order to compare existing development frameworks solutions in this research, we compiled a set of criteria to assess mobile application development approaches. In view on these criteria, we evaluated five frameworks that is, PhoneGap, Xamarin, App Inventor, Sencha Touch and DragonRad. For proof of concepts, the chosen framework from the five evaluated mobile development frameworks was used to develop application for water usage management. The research will equip mobile application developers to gain more insight into mobile development frameworks available, therefore helping them to choose the most appropriate framework for their project.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A comparative study of CERBER, MAKTUB and LOCKY Ransomware using a Hybridised-Malware analysis
- Authors: Schmitt, Veronica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Microsoft Windows (Computer file) , Data protection , Computer crimes -- Prevention , Computer security , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computers -- Access control , Malware (Computer software)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92313 , vital:30702
- Description: There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of Ransomware attacks in the preceding four years to date. This indicates that the battle has not yet been won defending against this class of malware. This research proposes that by identifying the similarities within the operational framework of Ransomware strains, a better overall understanding of their operation and function can be achieved. This, in turn, will aid in a quicker response to future attacks. With the average Ransomware attack taking two hours to be identified, it shows that there is not yet a clear understanding as to why these attacks are so successful. Research into Ransomware is limited by what is currently known on the topic. Due to the limitations of the research the decision was taken to only examined three samples of Ransomware from different families. This was decided due to the complexities and comprehensive nature of the research. The in depth nature of the research and the time constraints associated with it did not allow for proof of concept of this framework to be tested on more than three families, but the exploratory work was promising and should be further explored in future research. The aim of the research is to follow the Hybrid-Malware analysis framework which consists of both static and the dynamic analysis phases, in addition to the digital forensic examination of the infected system. This allows for signature-based findings, along with behavioural and forensic findings all in one. This information allows for a better understanding of how this malware is designed and how it infects and remains persistent on a system. The operating system which has been chosen is the Microsoft Window 7 operating system which is still utilised by a significant proportion of Windows users especially in the corporate environment. The experiment process was designed to enable the researcher the ability to collect information regarding the Ransomware and every aspect of its behaviour and communication on a target system. The results can be compared across the three strains to identify the commonalities. The initial hypothesis was that Ransomware variants are all much like an instant cake box consists of specific building blocks which remain the same with the flavouring of the cake mix being the unique feature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Schmitt, Veronica
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Microsoft Windows (Computer file) , Data protection , Computer crimes -- Prevention , Computer security , Computer networks -- Security measures , Computers -- Access control , Malware (Computer software)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92313 , vital:30702
- Description: There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of Ransomware attacks in the preceding four years to date. This indicates that the battle has not yet been won defending against this class of malware. This research proposes that by identifying the similarities within the operational framework of Ransomware strains, a better overall understanding of their operation and function can be achieved. This, in turn, will aid in a quicker response to future attacks. With the average Ransomware attack taking two hours to be identified, it shows that there is not yet a clear understanding as to why these attacks are so successful. Research into Ransomware is limited by what is currently known on the topic. Due to the limitations of the research the decision was taken to only examined three samples of Ransomware from different families. This was decided due to the complexities and comprehensive nature of the research. The in depth nature of the research and the time constraints associated with it did not allow for proof of concept of this framework to be tested on more than three families, but the exploratory work was promising and should be further explored in future research. The aim of the research is to follow the Hybrid-Malware analysis framework which consists of both static and the dynamic analysis phases, in addition to the digital forensic examination of the infected system. This allows for signature-based findings, along with behavioural and forensic findings all in one. This information allows for a better understanding of how this malware is designed and how it infects and remains persistent on a system. The operating system which has been chosen is the Microsoft Window 7 operating system which is still utilised by a significant proportion of Windows users especially in the corporate environment. The experiment process was designed to enable the researcher the ability to collect information regarding the Ransomware and every aspect of its behaviour and communication on a target system. The results can be compared across the three strains to identify the commonalities. The initial hypothesis was that Ransomware variants are all much like an instant cake box consists of specific building blocks which remain the same with the flavouring of the cake mix being the unique feature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A comparison of different strategies to control pests and diseases in Brassica spp. production in the Western Cape
- Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Van Niekerk, Abraham Johannes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Pesticides , Pests -- Control Agricultural pests , Plant diseases
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44122 , vital:37113
- Description: Brassica spp. are cultivated all over the world, commercial species include: cabbage, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and turnip. In this study the focus was on broccoli (Brassica oleracea) production in the Western Cape province of South Africa and its economically important pests and diseases: sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella), white blister (Albugo candida) and clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and the different methods to control these pests and diseases. The control methods focused on in this study included a commercial chemical control programme, a biological control programme and a holistic approach. Other factors were bio-fumigation and chemical fumigation and different crop rotation practices including rotation crops versus no rotation crops. The experimental design was a strip split plot design, with different pest and disease management strategies as the main plot treatment and fumigation and rotation treatment combinations arranged in strips across the main plot treatments. The main plot design was a randomized complete block with four programmes (Control, Holistic, Chemical and Biological) replicated four times and laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatment design of the strip plot factors was a 2x2 factorial with two fumigations (fumigated chemically and fumigated biologically) and two rotations (crop rotated and monoculture) randomly allocated across main plot treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of 40 plants. Plants were evaluated weekly for the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. Incidences of clubroot and white blister infection of heads of broccoli were recorded 78 days after planting. Baseline soil samples were analysed to establish the soil chemical properties. Post-trial soil samples were also analysed to investigate the effect of the different practices and programmes on the soil chemical properties. Nematodes were extracted pre-trial and post-trial, and the effect of fumigation and crop rotation on plant parasitic nematodes and the nematode population diversity investigated. In the post-trial soil chemical analysis, a significantly higher concentration of Na was recorded for the biological programme when crop rotation was included compared to the no rotation treatment. The concentration of K was also significantly higher in the no rotation compared to the rotation treatment. The nematode results showed very high numbers of bacterial feeders in all the samples. Overall nematode diversity was lacking and showed very few fungal feeders, omnivores and predators. The nematode indices for all of the samples showed that nematodes were highly enriched and unstructured. Of the plant parasitic nematodes, only Heterodera spp. were obtained in the pre-trial analysis, and incidences of these nematodes were lower at the end of the trial. Low numbers of other plant parasitic nematodes viz. Pratylenchus, Paratrichodorus and Tylenchorhynchus were reported for the post-trial analysis of the soil. Because of the low numbers of plant parasitic nematodes, it was not possible to analyse the data statistically. With regard to diamondback moth and the fungal diseases, crop rotation and fumigation did not significantly affect the incidence of white blister and diamondback moth. A significant “days after planting by control programme” interaction was reported for the incidence of white blister on foliage and the incidence of diamondback moth. All three control programmes significantly reduced the incidence of diamondback moth with the chemical programme being significantly more effective than the other two programmes. All three programmes also significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on foliage and the holistic and biological programmes significantly reduced the incidence of white blister on broccoli heads with the holistic programme being significantly more effective than the biological programme. There was no clubroot infection in the trial for any of the treatments. Results of this study showed that it is possible to manage diseases and pests of broccoli using a holistic approach. However, long term trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A content analysis of psychology Masters theses from South African universities
- Authors: Robson, Brian
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113924 , vital:33845
- Description: Expected release date-April 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Robson, Brian
- Date: 2019
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/113924 , vital:33845
- Description: Expected release date-April 2022
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
A corporate social responsibility (CSR) analysis of the transformation of the mobile telephone industry of South Africa
- Authors: Nyamande, Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Cell phone systems -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Mobile communication systems -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93887 , vital:30967
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires companies to fulfil certain responsibilities in society that are outside of the core operational activities of the company. The socio-economic dynamics of the region or country that the company operates from, as well as the pressures those stakeholders tend to apply, have a bearing on the direction that the CSR development takes. Mirvis and Googins (2006) described the CSR developmental path followed by international companies. Before that Carroll (1991) had suggested a developmental pyramid that suggested that philanthropy represented the highest level of CSR development. This pyramid was later revised by Visser (2005) in order to suit the African environment. In South Africa CSR development is mainly driven by legislation through the BEE Act of 2003. This has resulted in the birth of industry charters that guide the development of CSR in different industries. To fulfil the requirements of the charter and score vital B-BBEE points, companies have to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, holistically. One such industry is the telecommunications industry, which formed the basis for this research, with special emphasis on the mobile telecommunications industry. The research set out to explore how the industry charter and company practices compared with the existing literature on CSR. The aim of this research was therefore to analyse the existing CSR practices in the mobile telecommunication industry in South Africa, where the B-BBEE Act plays a pivotal role in influencing practice. Using publically available documents, this research conducted an analysis of the B-BBEE components in the telecommunications charter as the catalyst to development of CSR in the South African mobile telecommunications industry, with the three dominant companies, - MTN, Vodacom and Cell C – being utilised as case studies. Key research findings were that transformation is still low in terms of equitable gender and racial representation at the top management level. The industry charter attempts to address these and other social challenges and economic problems. However, it does not address ecological issues that may emanate from the industry operations. Therefore, a CSR assessment framework that addresses all stakeholders for sustainable economic development is proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Nyamande, Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Cell phone systems -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Mobile communication systems -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93887 , vital:30967
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires companies to fulfil certain responsibilities in society that are outside of the core operational activities of the company. The socio-economic dynamics of the region or country that the company operates from, as well as the pressures those stakeholders tend to apply, have a bearing on the direction that the CSR development takes. Mirvis and Googins (2006) described the CSR developmental path followed by international companies. Before that Carroll (1991) had suggested a developmental pyramid that suggested that philanthropy represented the highest level of CSR development. This pyramid was later revised by Visser (2005) in order to suit the African environment. In South Africa CSR development is mainly driven by legislation through the BEE Act of 2003. This has resulted in the birth of industry charters that guide the development of CSR in different industries. To fulfil the requirements of the charter and score vital B-BBEE points, companies have to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, holistically. One such industry is the telecommunications industry, which formed the basis for this research, with special emphasis on the mobile telecommunications industry. The research set out to explore how the industry charter and company practices compared with the existing literature on CSR. The aim of this research was therefore to analyse the existing CSR practices in the mobile telecommunication industry in South Africa, where the B-BBEE Act plays a pivotal role in influencing practice. Using publically available documents, this research conducted an analysis of the B-BBEE components in the telecommunications charter as the catalyst to development of CSR in the South African mobile telecommunications industry, with the three dominant companies, - MTN, Vodacom and Cell C – being utilised as case studies. Key research findings were that transformation is still low in terms of equitable gender and racial representation at the top management level. The industry charter attempts to address these and other social challenges and economic problems. However, it does not address ecological issues that may emanate from the industry operations. Therefore, a CSR assessment framework that addresses all stakeholders for sustainable economic development is proposed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A correlational analysis investigating relationships between gender role ideology and attitudes towards gender-based violence
- Authors: Krutani, Siposetu
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- South Africa , Sex role -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa , Male domination (Social structure) -- South Africa , Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes , Rape in universities and colleges -- South Africa , Social movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Women college students -- Violence against -- South Africa , Male college students -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Women college students -- Psychology -- South Africa , Male college students -- Psychology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96658 , vital:31305
- Description: This study forms part of a larger project investigating attitudes towards intimate partner violence, dating violence and other forms of gender-based violence with the Rhodes University context. The primary purpose was to establish a baseline descriptive understanding of participants‟ attitudes towards and perceptions of gender-based violence. With the aim to generate results that would somehow inform the larger project, the current study sought to investigate whether a relationship exists between gender-role ideology and attitudes towards gender-based violence amongst a university population which was inclusive of registered students and employees of the university (n = 308). Four samples were categorised: student sample, academic staff sample, administrative support staff sample and operational support staff sample. A once-off, cross sectional survey design was used to obtain the data. The results of the study revealed that the participants in the study uphold largely non-traditional gender-role ideologies, are generally intolerant of dating violence and are rejecting of rape myths. As predicted in the literature, the study revealed that demographics such as gender, religion, age, level of education, number of years spent in the institution, race, and student accommodation have an impact on the relationship between adherence to traditional gender-role ideology and tolerance towards dating violence, as well as on the relationship between adherence to traditional gender-role ideology and rape myth acceptance and the relationship between rape myth acceptance and tolerance towards dating violence. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on gender-based violence in institutions of higher learning and could help improve sexual violence prevention programmes in such contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Krutani, Siposetu
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- South Africa , Sex role -- Psychological aspects -- South Africa , Male domination (Social structure) -- South Africa , Rhodes University -- Students -- Attitudes , Rape in universities and colleges -- South Africa , Social movements -- South Africa -- Makhanda , Women college students -- Violence against -- South Africa , Male college students -- South Africa -- Attitudes , Women college students -- Psychology -- South Africa , Male college students -- Psychology -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96658 , vital:31305
- Description: This study forms part of a larger project investigating attitudes towards intimate partner violence, dating violence and other forms of gender-based violence with the Rhodes University context. The primary purpose was to establish a baseline descriptive understanding of participants‟ attitudes towards and perceptions of gender-based violence. With the aim to generate results that would somehow inform the larger project, the current study sought to investigate whether a relationship exists between gender-role ideology and attitudes towards gender-based violence amongst a university population which was inclusive of registered students and employees of the university (n = 308). Four samples were categorised: student sample, academic staff sample, administrative support staff sample and operational support staff sample. A once-off, cross sectional survey design was used to obtain the data. The results of the study revealed that the participants in the study uphold largely non-traditional gender-role ideologies, are generally intolerant of dating violence and are rejecting of rape myths. As predicted in the literature, the study revealed that demographics such as gender, religion, age, level of education, number of years spent in the institution, race, and student accommodation have an impact on the relationship between adherence to traditional gender-role ideology and tolerance towards dating violence, as well as on the relationship between adherence to traditional gender-role ideology and rape myth acceptance and the relationship between rape myth acceptance and tolerance towards dating violence. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on gender-based violence in institutions of higher learning and could help improve sexual violence prevention programmes in such contexts.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of A2 Fast Track Lowveld sugar cane farms in Zimbabwe in global value chains: interrogating the lives of farmers and farm labourers
- Chingono, Kudakwashe Rejoice
- Authors: Chingono, Kudakwashe Rejoice
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: International trade , Sugar trade -- Zimbabwe , Sugar growing -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects , Agriculture -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93933 , vital:30972
- Description: The sugar cane industry has for many years been a lucrative business with a booming global market. In Zimbabwe, the sugar cane industry is no exception, as it has been regarded as one of the most efficient in the region and even in the world. The sugar cane farms and mills in Zimbabwe are located in Triangle and Chiredzi, in the south-eastern part of the country and they are under the ownership of Tongaat Hullet and the Zimbabwean A2 farmers. The focus of this is on the A2 fast track farms in Hippo Valley, which are now owned by black farmers but as out-growers for Tongaat Hullet. The crucial question addressed in the thesis is whether the A2 sugar cane farmers and their workers, located at the production end of the sugar cane global value chain, are benefitting from their involvement in this value chain. A number of scholars argue that global value chains lead to economic and social upgrading at the production end of the chain, based on thoughts contained in modernisation and trickledown theory. There is an assumption, then, that integration into the global economy leads to economic upgrading which translates into social upgrading. In drawing upon critical global value theorists, bolstered by the Marxist perspective, considers the importance of a more critical view of global value chains in relation to the sugar cane industry in Zimbabwe, with the particular focus on A2 farms. Thus, the main objective of the thesis is to consider the lives and livelihoods of A2 sugar cane farmers and sugar cane workers through a case study, in the context of global value chains and arguments around economic and social upgrading. This is pursued through a case study of six A2 farms, which involved interviewing farmers, supervisors, and both permanent and temporary workers. The thesis concludes that there is no significant evidence of social upgrading amongst the labour force, and that the A2 farmers are in constant tension with Tongaat Hullet in seeking to engage in economic upgrading of their status as commercial farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Chingono, Kudakwashe Rejoice
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: International trade , Sugar trade -- Zimbabwe , Sugar growing -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects , Agriculture -- Zimbabwe -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSci
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93933 , vital:30972
- Description: The sugar cane industry has for many years been a lucrative business with a booming global market. In Zimbabwe, the sugar cane industry is no exception, as it has been regarded as one of the most efficient in the region and even in the world. The sugar cane farms and mills in Zimbabwe are located in Triangle and Chiredzi, in the south-eastern part of the country and they are under the ownership of Tongaat Hullet and the Zimbabwean A2 farmers. The focus of this is on the A2 fast track farms in Hippo Valley, which are now owned by black farmers but as out-growers for Tongaat Hullet. The crucial question addressed in the thesis is whether the A2 sugar cane farmers and their workers, located at the production end of the sugar cane global value chain, are benefitting from their involvement in this value chain. A number of scholars argue that global value chains lead to economic and social upgrading at the production end of the chain, based on thoughts contained in modernisation and trickledown theory. There is an assumption, then, that integration into the global economy leads to economic upgrading which translates into social upgrading. In drawing upon critical global value theorists, bolstered by the Marxist perspective, considers the importance of a more critical view of global value chains in relation to the sugar cane industry in Zimbabwe, with the particular focus on A2 farms. Thus, the main objective of the thesis is to consider the lives and livelihoods of A2 sugar cane farmers and sugar cane workers through a case study, in the context of global value chains and arguments around economic and social upgrading. This is pursued through a case study of six A2 farms, which involved interviewing farmers, supervisors, and both permanent and temporary workers. The thesis concludes that there is no significant evidence of social upgrading amongst the labour force, and that the A2 farmers are in constant tension with Tongaat Hullet in seeking to engage in economic upgrading of their status as commercial farmers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of development NGO programmes in rural areas: a case study of East Cape Agricultural Research Project in South Africa
- Authors: Sanyangore, Agnes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: East Cape Agricultural Research Project , Non-governmental organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96187 , vital:31248
- Description: For a number of decades now, development non-governmental organisations (DNGOs) have been central to the world-wide development system which involves funding from international donors. Overall, DNGOs rely quite fundamentally on their donors for organisational sustainability, such that upward accountability to donors is inevitable. At the same time, as development agents, DNGOs are often celebrated for the deep participatory methodologies used when engaging with the beneficiaries of their programmes, leading to significant downward accountability – as least potentially. Often, for DNGOs, an awkward tension between upward and downward accountability exists. This thesis considers this tension by examining a DNGO in South Africa, namely, the East Cape Agricultural Research Project (ECARP), which focuses on questions around land redistribution. ECARP works with farm labourers and dwellers on commercial farms and small-scale farmers on redistributed farms. In the context of a broader understanding of ECARP’s mission, capacities and programmes, the thesis looks specifically at ECARP’s food security and sovereignty programme amongst small-scale farmers on redistributed farms. By drawing upon Interface theory, the thesis discusses in detail the diverse manner in which ECARP uses participatory methodologies in this particular programme. The thesis concludes that there is a reasonable degree of downward accountability in this programme, but that this does not distract from the fact that ECARP remains within the tension-riddled space marked by dual demands for accountability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Sanyangore, Agnes
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: East Cape Agricultural Research Project , Non-governmental organization -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Rural development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Agricultural development projects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land reform -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Land tenure -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96187 , vital:31248
- Description: For a number of decades now, development non-governmental organisations (DNGOs) have been central to the world-wide development system which involves funding from international donors. Overall, DNGOs rely quite fundamentally on their donors for organisational sustainability, such that upward accountability to donors is inevitable. At the same time, as development agents, DNGOs are often celebrated for the deep participatory methodologies used when engaging with the beneficiaries of their programmes, leading to significant downward accountability – as least potentially. Often, for DNGOs, an awkward tension between upward and downward accountability exists. This thesis considers this tension by examining a DNGO in South Africa, namely, the East Cape Agricultural Research Project (ECARP), which focuses on questions around land redistribution. ECARP works with farm labourers and dwellers on commercial farms and small-scale farmers on redistributed farms. In the context of a broader understanding of ECARP’s mission, capacities and programmes, the thesis looks specifically at ECARP’s food security and sovereignty programme amongst small-scale farmers on redistributed farms. By drawing upon Interface theory, the thesis discusses in detail the diverse manner in which ECARP uses participatory methodologies in this particular programme. The thesis concludes that there is a reasonable degree of downward accountability in this programme, but that this does not distract from the fact that ECARP remains within the tension-riddled space marked by dual demands for accountability.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of selected teachers’ perceptions and experiences of the role that visualisation processes play in their Van Hiele level 1 teaching to migrate their learners to the next Van Hiele level
- Authors: Munichinga, Ben Muyambango
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Hiele, Pierre M. van. Structure and insight , Visualization , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Activity programs -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96735 , vital:31313
- Description: Learning is a process that involves building on prior knowledge, enriching and exchanging existing understanding where learners’ knowledge base is scaffolded in the construction of knowledge. Research on the teaching and learning of geometry in mathematics suggests that physical manipulation experiences, especially of shapes, is an important process in learning at all ages. The focus of the study was the migration of Grade 8 learners from one Van Hiele level to the next as a result of teachers incorporating visualisation processes and Van Hiele phases of instructions in their teaching. The study underpinned by the social constructivist’s theory, therefore aimed at teachers developing visual materials and using Van Hiele’s phases of instruction to teach two dimensional figures in Geometry. The study was carried out in Namibia, Zambezi region in Bukalo circuit. It involved four schools, with 93 learners and three teacher participants. The research is an interpretive case study of a planned intervention programme, which took a four weeks to complete. Participating learners wrote a Van Hiele Geometric test prior and post the intervention programme to determine their geometric level of thought. Participating teachers all received training on visualisation in mathematics and the Van Hiele theory before the intervention. During the intervention, teacher planned and each taught three lessons on two-dimensional figures. Qualitative data was collected from classroom observation, stimulus recall interviews and focus group interviews. Quantitative data came from the pre and post-test of learners. This study found that on average, Grade 8 learners who participated in the study were operating at levels lower than expected of pupils at their stage of schooling. This study also found that, visualisation processes and the Van Hiele phases are effective when used in geometry lessons to migrate learners from lower Van Hiele levels to higher. For teachers in the same circuit, partnership and planning of difficult topics on an agreed regular basis is recommended. When planning lessons teachers are encouraged to take advantage of the Van Hiele phases of instructions. This study thus recommends the incorporation of visualisation strategies of teaching geometry in particular at primary and lower secondary levels. Mathematics teachers are further encouraged to design visual materials such as Geoboards to use for every topic in geometry. Such visual materials should be carefully developed and evaluated to ensure that their use in the classroom is effectively linked to concepts under discussion in a given lesson.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Munichinga, Ben Muyambango
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Hiele, Pierre M. van. Structure and insight , Visualization , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Geometry -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Namibia , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary) -- Activity programs -- Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96735 , vital:31313
- Description: Learning is a process that involves building on prior knowledge, enriching and exchanging existing understanding where learners’ knowledge base is scaffolded in the construction of knowledge. Research on the teaching and learning of geometry in mathematics suggests that physical manipulation experiences, especially of shapes, is an important process in learning at all ages. The focus of the study was the migration of Grade 8 learners from one Van Hiele level to the next as a result of teachers incorporating visualisation processes and Van Hiele phases of instructions in their teaching. The study underpinned by the social constructivist’s theory, therefore aimed at teachers developing visual materials and using Van Hiele’s phases of instruction to teach two dimensional figures in Geometry. The study was carried out in Namibia, Zambezi region in Bukalo circuit. It involved four schools, with 93 learners and three teacher participants. The research is an interpretive case study of a planned intervention programme, which took a four weeks to complete. Participating learners wrote a Van Hiele Geometric test prior and post the intervention programme to determine their geometric level of thought. Participating teachers all received training on visualisation in mathematics and the Van Hiele theory before the intervention. During the intervention, teacher planned and each taught three lessons on two-dimensional figures. Qualitative data was collected from classroom observation, stimulus recall interviews and focus group interviews. Quantitative data came from the pre and post-test of learners. This study found that on average, Grade 8 learners who participated in the study were operating at levels lower than expected of pupils at their stage of schooling. This study also found that, visualisation processes and the Van Hiele phases are effective when used in geometry lessons to migrate learners from lower Van Hiele levels to higher. For teachers in the same circuit, partnership and planning of difficult topics on an agreed regular basis is recommended. When planning lessons teachers are encouraged to take advantage of the Van Hiele phases of instructions. This study thus recommends the incorporation of visualisation strategies of teaching geometry in particular at primary and lower secondary levels. Mathematics teachers are further encouraged to design visual materials such as Geoboards to use for every topic in geometry. Such visual materials should be carefully developed and evaluated to ensure that their use in the classroom is effectively linked to concepts under discussion in a given lesson.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of South African anti-money laundering legislation regarding cryptocurrency
- Authors: Bowden, Susan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Money laundering -- South Africa , Money -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Electronic funds transfers Money -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42107 , vital:36626
- Description: Cryptocurrencies are decentralised virtual currencies, using blockchain technology to process peer-to-peer electronic payments. In 2009, the first successful cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was established. As a result of the Internet, cryptocurrencies had soon made their way into South Africa. As such, cryptocurrencies are currently not included under the definition of a legal tender and therefore remain unregulated by the legal framework. This issue is examined within this research project. The objectives were to understand the concepts of cryptocurrency, the relevance in the financial sector, the associated risks and to establish whether regulatory interference is necessary for the operation of cryptocurrency. The legal and regulatory framework of cryptocurrencies within Canada, the United States of America and the European Union were compared to that of South Africa. The research explained that cryptocurrencies are decentralised convertible currencies which are secured by cryptography. It highlighted the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, some of which are detrimental due to the wide use of cryptocurrencies. One of the risks included using cryptocurrencies to launder money. In order to mitigate these risks, jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States of America and the European Union have begun to regulate cryptocurrencies by establishing a legal framework for its operation. However, no such legal framework existed in South Africa for the regulation of cryptocurrencies. As a result, the South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury released position papers, which warn consumers of the associated risks. Therefore, the conclusion was made that regulatory intervention is necessary in South Africa. Following this, the recommendation was made to integrate cryptocurrencies into relevant existing legislation. It was recommended that regulation is the most effective method of combatting money laundering using cryptocurrencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Bowden, Susan
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Money laundering -- South Africa , Money -- Law and legislation -- South Africa Electronic funds transfers Money -- Technological innovations
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42107 , vital:36626
- Description: Cryptocurrencies are decentralised virtual currencies, using blockchain technology to process peer-to-peer electronic payments. In 2009, the first successful cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was established. As a result of the Internet, cryptocurrencies had soon made their way into South Africa. As such, cryptocurrencies are currently not included under the definition of a legal tender and therefore remain unregulated by the legal framework. This issue is examined within this research project. The objectives were to understand the concepts of cryptocurrency, the relevance in the financial sector, the associated risks and to establish whether regulatory interference is necessary for the operation of cryptocurrency. The legal and regulatory framework of cryptocurrencies within Canada, the United States of America and the European Union were compared to that of South Africa. The research explained that cryptocurrencies are decentralised convertible currencies which are secured by cryptography. It highlighted the risks associated with cryptocurrencies, some of which are detrimental due to the wide use of cryptocurrencies. One of the risks included using cryptocurrencies to launder money. In order to mitigate these risks, jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States of America and the European Union have begun to regulate cryptocurrencies by establishing a legal framework for its operation. However, no such legal framework existed in South Africa for the regulation of cryptocurrencies. As a result, the South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury released position papers, which warn consumers of the associated risks. Therefore, the conclusion was made that regulatory intervention is necessary in South Africa. Following this, the recommendation was made to integrate cryptocurrencies into relevant existing legislation. It was recommended that regulation is the most effective method of combatting money laundering using cryptocurrencies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A critical analysis of the South African government's approach to social cohesion
- Authors: Daniels, Lorna
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social integration , Social participation Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38079 , vital:34315
- Description: The work of scholars and government programme have in the last decade or more paid a considerable amount of attention to the issue of fostering social cohesion under conditions on the increase rate of community- level upheavals and localized conflict. While some studies critique the South African government’s social cohesion strategy of 2012 in the main, others seek to identify its measurements and develop barometers to track its progress.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Daniels, Lorna
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social integration , Social participation Economics -- Sociological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/38079 , vital:34315
- Description: The work of scholars and government programme have in the last decade or more paid a considerable amount of attention to the issue of fostering social cohesion under conditions on the increase rate of community- level upheavals and localized conflict. While some studies critique the South African government’s social cohesion strategy of 2012 in the main, others seek to identify its measurements and develop barometers to track its progress.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2019
A crowdsensing method for water resource monitoring in smart communities
- Authors: Banda, Clara Mloza
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Data collection platforms
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42449 , vital:36658
- Description: Crowdsensing aims to empower a large group of individuals to collect large amounts of data using their mobile devices, with the goal of sharing the collected data. Existing crowdsensing studies do not consider all the activities and methods of the crowdsensing process and the key success factors related to the process. Nor do they investigate the profile and behaviour of potential participants. The aim of this study was to design a crowdsensing method for water resource monitoring in smart communities. This study opted for an exploratory study using the Engaged Scholarship approach, which allows the study of complex real-world problems based on the different perspectives of key stakeholders. The proposed Crowdsensing Method considers the social, technical and programme design components. The study proposes a programme design for the Crowdsensing Methodwhich is crowdsensing ReferenceFrameworkthat includes Crowdsensing Processwith key success factors and guidelines that should be considered in each phase of the process. The method also uses the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to investigate citizens’intention to participate in crowdsensing for water resource monitoring and explores their attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control on these intentions. Understanding the profiles of potential participants can assist with designing crowdsensing systems with appropriate incentive mechanisms to achieve adequate user participation and good service quality. A survey was conducted to validate the theoretical TB model in a real-world context. Regression and correlation analyses demonstrated that the attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control can be used to predict participants’ intention to participate in crowdsensing for water resource monitoring. The survey results assisted with the development of an Incentive Mechanism as part of the Crowdsensing Method. This mechanism incorporates recruitment and incentive policies, as well as guidelines derived from the literature review and extant system analysis. The policies, called the OverSensepolicies, provide guidance for recruitment and rewarding of participants using the popular Stackelberg technique. The policies were evaluated using simulation experiments with a data set provided by the case study, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The results of the simulation experiments illustrated that the OverSenserecruitmentpolicycan reduce the computing resources required for the recruitment of participants and that the recruitment policy performs better than random or naïve recruitment policies. The proposed Crowdsensing Method was evaluated using an ecosystem of success factors for mobile-based interventions identified in the literature and the Crowdsensing Method adhered to a majority (90%) of the success factors. This study also contributes information systems design theory by proposing several sets of guidelines for crowdsensing projects and the development of crowdsensing systems. This study fulfils an identified need to study the applicability of crowdsensing for water resource monitoring and explores how a crowdsensing method can create a smart community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Banda, Clara Mloza
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Data collection platforms
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/42449 , vital:36658
- Description: Crowdsensing aims to empower a large group of individuals to collect large amounts of data using their mobile devices, with the goal of sharing the collected data. Existing crowdsensing studies do not consider all the activities and methods of the crowdsensing process and the key success factors related to the process. Nor do they investigate the profile and behaviour of potential participants. The aim of this study was to design a crowdsensing method for water resource monitoring in smart communities. This study opted for an exploratory study using the Engaged Scholarship approach, which allows the study of complex real-world problems based on the different perspectives of key stakeholders. The proposed Crowdsensing Method considers the social, technical and programme design components. The study proposes a programme design for the Crowdsensing Methodwhich is crowdsensing ReferenceFrameworkthat includes Crowdsensing Processwith key success factors and guidelines that should be considered in each phase of the process. The method also uses the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to investigate citizens’intention to participate in crowdsensing for water resource monitoring and explores their attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control on these intentions. Understanding the profiles of potential participants can assist with designing crowdsensing systems with appropriate incentive mechanisms to achieve adequate user participation and good service quality. A survey was conducted to validate the theoretical TB model in a real-world context. Regression and correlation analyses demonstrated that the attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control can be used to predict participants’ intention to participate in crowdsensing for water resource monitoring. The survey results assisted with the development of an Incentive Mechanism as part of the Crowdsensing Method. This mechanism incorporates recruitment and incentive policies, as well as guidelines derived from the literature review and extant system analysis. The policies, called the OverSensepolicies, provide guidance for recruitment and rewarding of participants using the popular Stackelberg technique. The policies were evaluated using simulation experiments with a data set provided by the case study, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The results of the simulation experiments illustrated that the OverSenserecruitmentpolicycan reduce the computing resources required for the recruitment of participants and that the recruitment policy performs better than random or naïve recruitment policies. The proposed Crowdsensing Method was evaluated using an ecosystem of success factors for mobile-based interventions identified in the literature and the Crowdsensing Method adhered to a majority (90%) of the success factors. This study also contributes information systems design theory by proposing several sets of guidelines for crowdsensing projects and the development of crowdsensing systems. This study fulfils an identified need to study the applicability of crowdsensing for water resource monitoring and explores how a crowdsensing method can create a smart community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A deep learning approach to classifying tyres using sidewall images
- Authors: Gifford, Dean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Image processing -- Digital techniques , Image processing Computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39720 , vital:35351
- Description: End of Life Tyres (ELT's) pose a potential health and environmental risk when dumped in illegal stockpiles. For recycling to be considered feasible, a profitable business opportunity needs to be created. One method of making the recycling process of tyres more profitable is by understanding the compounds found within each tyre. This study aims at classifying these tyres in order to achieve this knowledge. A literature review was done to investigate neural networks, convolutional neural networks as well as existing deep learning architectures for image classification. A deep learning approach was applied in order to classify the logos of tyres as these approaches have proved their success in both image classification and more specifically logo classification. Although tyre classification has been implemented in the past, a deep learning approach has not been applied and the logo has not been the classifying element in any other studies. The main difference of this study compared to previous research surrounding deep learning and logo classification is the properties of the tyre logo. Logos on tyres are very similar in colour as they are purely formed in rubber and very seldom have any colour to them. Additionally, the embossed logos can contain variation among same branded tyres due to small inconsistencies in the moulds. The implementation of this deep learning solution saw multiple convolutional neural networks implemented. Some of these architectures were also implemented using transferred learning. The metrics obtained as outputs from training and testing the architectures were the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. These metrics were compared in conjunction with the confusion matrix produced from testing. To ensure that variance was accounted for in the experiments, the k-fold cross-validation technique was adopted. The results of this study identified that one convolutional neural network model, MobileNet, was particularly well suited for the context of classifying logos on tyre sidewalls. The MobileNet architecture had the highest performance metrics for both training from scratch (96.7% accuracy) and transferred learning (98.8% accuracy). Three other models performed particularly well when trained from scratch, these were a modification of the LeNet architecture, ResNet50 and InceptionV3. The transferred learning results were also impressive with four out of the 5 models achieving an accuracy above 94%. Interestingly, the ResNet50 architecture failed to train when transferred learning was applied. Contrasting to this, the two models VGG16 and VGG19 failed to train when trained from scratch but performed equally as well as the other models when transferred learning was implemented. This indicates that although transferred learning can improve the performance of models, it is highly dependent on the task as well as the model. Overall the results obtained proved that a deep learning approach could be applied in order to classify tyres accurately.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Gifford, Dean
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Image processing -- Digital techniques , Image processing Computer science
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39720 , vital:35351
- Description: End of Life Tyres (ELT's) pose a potential health and environmental risk when dumped in illegal stockpiles. For recycling to be considered feasible, a profitable business opportunity needs to be created. One method of making the recycling process of tyres more profitable is by understanding the compounds found within each tyre. This study aims at classifying these tyres in order to achieve this knowledge. A literature review was done to investigate neural networks, convolutional neural networks as well as existing deep learning architectures for image classification. A deep learning approach was applied in order to classify the logos of tyres as these approaches have proved their success in both image classification and more specifically logo classification. Although tyre classification has been implemented in the past, a deep learning approach has not been applied and the logo has not been the classifying element in any other studies. The main difference of this study compared to previous research surrounding deep learning and logo classification is the properties of the tyre logo. Logos on tyres are very similar in colour as they are purely formed in rubber and very seldom have any colour to them. Additionally, the embossed logos can contain variation among same branded tyres due to small inconsistencies in the moulds. The implementation of this deep learning solution saw multiple convolutional neural networks implemented. Some of these architectures were also implemented using transferred learning. The metrics obtained as outputs from training and testing the architectures were the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. These metrics were compared in conjunction with the confusion matrix produced from testing. To ensure that variance was accounted for in the experiments, the k-fold cross-validation technique was adopted. The results of this study identified that one convolutional neural network model, MobileNet, was particularly well suited for the context of classifying logos on tyre sidewalls. The MobileNet architecture had the highest performance metrics for both training from scratch (96.7% accuracy) and transferred learning (98.8% accuracy). Three other models performed particularly well when trained from scratch, these were a modification of the LeNet architecture, ResNet50 and InceptionV3. The transferred learning results were also impressive with four out of the 5 models achieving an accuracy above 94%. Interestingly, the ResNet50 architecture failed to train when transferred learning was applied. Contrasting to this, the two models VGG16 and VGG19 failed to train when trained from scratch but performed equally as well as the other models when transferred learning was implemented. This indicates that although transferred learning can improve the performance of models, it is highly dependent on the task as well as the model. Overall the results obtained proved that a deep learning approach could be applied in order to classify tyres accurately.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
A design experiment exploring the influence of visual and kinesthetic tools in learning Grade 8 linear algebra in a Namibian secondary school
- Authors: Kalua, Enos
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Algebra -- Study and teaching (Secondary)-- Namibia , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary)-- Namibia , Information visualization , Visual learning -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92683 , vital:30724
- Description: Based on a broad literature review, understanding algebra is a challenge among learners in middle schools around the world. Early researches also indicated that algebra is often taught through inherent symbols and procedures. This does not exclude Namibian learners in secondary schools whom I have worked with for over 10 years. Examination reports (2014, 2016 and 2017) serve as evidence that learners performed poorly (below 45%) in the area of algebra, with these reports indicating that teachers need to strongly emphasise the issue of solving linear equations. Therefore, this study presents a proposed design research in an attempt to help learners develop meaningful understanding of linear algebra at Grade 8 level. Eight learners whose ages ranged from 13 - 14 years from one Namibian secondary school in Oshikoto region, in northern Namibia, were the participants in this study. The learners represented different groups of learning abilities, ranging from low learning abilities to high learning abilities. The designed programme for this intervention consisting of eight lessons was planned for three weeks and the lessons were conducted in the afternoon to avoid any interruption with normal learning hours. The study used four tools for data collection, namely, benchmark tests (pre-test and post-test), observation, focus groups and unstructured interviews. The data collected for this study was inductively analysed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how the specific visual and kinaesthetic teaching tools (diagrams, expansion box and balance method) used may have contributed to learners’ understanding of algebraic concepts and techniques (variables, expressions and equations). The study used diagrams (geometrical plane shapes) for separating terms, an expansion box for expanding brackets and the balance method for solving linear equations. The study revealed the use of diagrams helped the learners in understanding the separation of variable and constant terms when simplifying expressions through addition and/or subtraction. Moreover, the study also revealed that the use of an expansion box was useful for the learners in understanding expansion of brackets in expressions with more than one term. Regarding the use of the balance method, the study showed that learners were already able to solve linear equations by the transfer method, hence, the balance method was not necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Kalua, Enos
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Algebra -- Study and teaching (Secondary)-- Namibia , Mathematics -- Study and teaching (Secondary)-- Namibia , Information visualization , Visual learning -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEd
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92683 , vital:30724
- Description: Based on a broad literature review, understanding algebra is a challenge among learners in middle schools around the world. Early researches also indicated that algebra is often taught through inherent symbols and procedures. This does not exclude Namibian learners in secondary schools whom I have worked with for over 10 years. Examination reports (2014, 2016 and 2017) serve as evidence that learners performed poorly (below 45%) in the area of algebra, with these reports indicating that teachers need to strongly emphasise the issue of solving linear equations. Therefore, this study presents a proposed design research in an attempt to help learners develop meaningful understanding of linear algebra at Grade 8 level. Eight learners whose ages ranged from 13 - 14 years from one Namibian secondary school in Oshikoto region, in northern Namibia, were the participants in this study. The learners represented different groups of learning abilities, ranging from low learning abilities to high learning abilities. The designed programme for this intervention consisting of eight lessons was planned for three weeks and the lessons were conducted in the afternoon to avoid any interruption with normal learning hours. The study used four tools for data collection, namely, benchmark tests (pre-test and post-test), observation, focus groups and unstructured interviews. The data collected for this study was inductively analysed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how the specific visual and kinaesthetic teaching tools (diagrams, expansion box and balance method) used may have contributed to learners’ understanding of algebraic concepts and techniques (variables, expressions and equations). The study used diagrams (geometrical plane shapes) for separating terms, an expansion box for expanding brackets and the balance method for solving linear equations. The study revealed the use of diagrams helped the learners in understanding the separation of variable and constant terms when simplifying expressions through addition and/or subtraction. Moreover, the study also revealed that the use of an expansion box was useful for the learners in understanding expansion of brackets in expressions with more than one term. Regarding the use of the balance method, the study showed that learners were already able to solve linear equations by the transfer method, hence, the balance method was not necessary.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019