| Abstrakt: |
The topic of the study that this paper reports on is an investigation into research questions around e-Learning in schools in a specific district of South Africa (SA). The study is located within a relevant conceptual framework that clarifies issues around Information and Communication Technology (ICT), what it means to be ICT capable, e-Learning and e-schools. The study will draw on the latest, most relevant research results available, in a literature review covering applicable aspects related to especially SA contexts; pertinent perspectives from further afield will, however, also be considered. The literature study will firstly investigate e-schools in terms of implementation progress made with regard to achieving the policy goal of the White Paper on e-Learning in SA. The policy goal, together with strategic objectives to structure the implementation thereof will be presented, before challenges with regard to the implementation of the policy goal will be explored. Main arguments in terms of teacher support through human resource development in using e-Learning at these schools will also be considered. This is followed by a section that describes how the empirical research was undertaken: the general research methodology that was used is described, including consideration of issues related to reliability and validity for quantitative designs, and attention to the importance of dependability and interpretation issues for the qualitative part of the research design. A discussion of the results starts with some demographic details in terms of the characteristics for the sample of 43 participants from the applicable district. The author then specifically provides details on the extent to which sample schools are characterised as institutions that exhibit: e-Learner characteristics with regard to utilising ICTs to enhance social and collaborative e-Learning; the adoption of e-Learning by qualified and competent teachers who use ICTs to enhance their teaching; and qualified and competent managers using ICTs for the planning, management and administration of integrated e-Learning in their educational environments. The value of the results provided in this research study is illustrated in terms of filling gaps identified in literature to make a contribution to academic debate relevant to the themes of this conference. These results could therefore be of use to e-Learning teachers and managers at e-schools across SA, the rest of the continent and even further afield. Finally, a concise summary of the results concludes the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
