scholarly journals Mainstreaming use of Open Educational Resources (OER) in an African context

Open Praxis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony John Mays
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Open Educational Resources ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
African Context ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
The University ◽  
Document Review

The study derives from a multi-year project implemented by OER Africa. The project sought to understand how OER might be used as a catalyst for pedagogical transformation in African universities. Within a non-determinist and interpretivist theoretical framework and an over-arching project methodology of participatory action research, the study made use of an analytical autoethnographic approach to capture and analyse data and to make recommendations. The approach was informed primarily by hermeneutics and systems thinking and involved multiple in-country engagements and the triangulation of information derived from document review, observation and iterative focus group discussions and individual interviews. The key finding of this study is the suggestion that engagement with OER is unlikely to move from being an individual to an institutional focus unless such engagement is aligned with the overall vision, mission and business model of the university.

Disability and Social Exclusion

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina I. Tobias ◽  
Sourav Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Community Activities ◽  
Individual Interviews

This article explores the experiences of social exclusion of individuals with visual impairment (IWVI) as they negotiate their daily lives in their homes and societal settings in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions of Namibia. Employing qualitative research approach, this research tried to better understand the lived experiences of IWVI. Nine IWVI with ages ranging from 30 to 90 years were initially engaged in focus group discussions, followed by semi-structured in-depth individual interviews. The findings of this research indicated that IWVI experience exclusion from education, employment and social and community participation as well as relationships. Based on these findings, we suggest more inclusive policies to address social exclusion of IWVI. At the same time, this group of individuals should be empowered to participate in community activities to promote interaction with people without visual impairments.

scholarly journals Livelihoods Used by Street Children for Survival in Bamako, Mali

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Oumou Diallo ◽  
Guang Xin Wang ◽  
Hamadoun H. Toure
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Street Children ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Bus Station

<p>This study is based on the livelihood used by street children for survival in Bamako, Mali. Two bus stations were selected for this study: Sogoniko bus station and Medina bus station. Most buses leave from these stations to the vicinity of the country. Data was collected through individual interviews (one by one), focus group discussions and interviews. A sample of one hundred and twenty street children aged between 8 and 17 years were selected for this study. Thirty people were also selected to give their opinions on street children. The results indicate that most of street children survive by selling small objects and through begging, 32.5% and 22.50% respectively. Our survey indicates that there are different factors pushing them to the streets, and as a way of survival on the streets, there is need to be organized, hence, they are organize themselves into groups for protection against violence and aggressions.</p>

scholarly journals Poor Information Literacy Skills and Practices as Barriers to Academic Performance: A Mixed Methods Study of the University of Dar es Salaam

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Klomsri ◽  
Matti Tedre
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Knowing How ◽  
The University

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly used in Tanzanian education. Knowing how to operate ICT alone is incomplete without knowing how to use it as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving. In recognition of this challenge, information literacy (IL) has been identified as a key attribute to students as they progress through their learning paths. Based on a mixed methods strategy, using questionnaires and focus group discussions, this study measured the level of IL skills among University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) postgraduate students, to gain insights into the students’ perceptions and experiences with information problems. A total of 102 students from four institutions answered the online questionnaire and 22 students participated in six focus group discussions. The questionnaire scores of the students were poor in the majority of IL categories, suggesting ineffectiveness of the current IL training in imparting IL knowledge and skills. The study ends by discussing recommendations to improve current IL practices at the university.

The University Partnerships for Critical Reflection by Teacher Trainers

2016 ◽  
pp. 1806-1821
Author(s):  
Eda Üstünel ◽  
Kenan Dikilitaş
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
University Partnerships ◽  
The University

This chapter explores educational training-based partnerships between universities in relation to in-service teacher education practices to enhance the quality of the professional development activities currently in practice. With this in mind, the nature and content of the collaboration between different universities located in Turkey are depicted through the analysis of triangulated data sets from written reports, focus group discussions, and the Likert scale questionnaire in order to elaborate on the impact of exchange of information and visitations on the trainers' professional development. The chapter accomplishes the self-reported impact of university-university collaboration on the participating trainers as well as one-day T-PLUS (Trainers' Professional Learning and Unlimited Sharing) meeting during which the trainers exchange ideas about teacher training and professional development tools and procedures in focus group discussions. The results indicate positive stance towards such a collaboration model that emerged as a result of the written reports and the Likert scale questionnaire.

Striving against the ‘Nafs’

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Mulki Mohamed Al-Sharmani
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Ethical Principles ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Islamic Tradition

I analyze how Somalis in Helsinki re-interpret religious norms on marriage in light of: 1) the challenges of socioeconomic hardships and marginalization in Finland; and 2) ethical principles in Islamic tradition that underlie religious rulings such as striving against the selfishness of the ‘nafs’ (self) and seeking spiritual advancement. I examine how norms on spousal roles and rights are contested and reinterpreted. I highlight how young women, in particular, foreground the ‘ethical' in their religious understandings of marriage norms. I explore if Veit Bader’s1 concept of ‘internal religious governance’ can analytically explain these processes. I draw on data from individual interviews and focus group discussions with women and men; and interviews with mosque imams and a clan elder.

scholarly journals “We Want Spanish Songs!”: Resilience in Latinx Students’ Making of Counterspaces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Fourth Graders ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
The Face ◽  
English Hegemony ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Critical Resilience

Abstract: As the Latinx student population in the U.S. continues to grow, LatCrit is a crucial lens to understand students’ experience and resilience in the face of White supremacy and English hegemony. This paper explores Latinx students’ critical resilience in their making counterspaces with their peers of other races. I conduct individual interviews and focus group discussions with 21 fourth graders. Through thematic analysis, I find racism manifests in the Latinx and the other students’ attitudes towards Spanish songs. But in focus group discussions Latinx students create counterspaces with non-Latinx students as they disrupt English dominance and deficit-based narratives about the Latinxs. I call for researchers and educators to recognize Latinx students’ critical resilience and create peer dialogue opportunities that allow diverse students to create racially exclusive and inclusive counterspaces.

scholarly journals The Management of Waqf Universities in Selangor, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-60
Author(s):  
Mohd. Ali Muhamad Don ◽  
Muhamad Rahimi Osman
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Model Theory ◽  
The State ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Management Issues

In Malaysia, waqf management including those in universities, is under the authority of the State Islamic Religious Council as a sole trustee waqf. This is to protect the waqf assets from any interventions by the heirs. Even so, one Malaysian university is said to manage the waqf scheme without the supervision of the Islamic Council which contradict with the provision of the State of Islamic Religious Council (SIRC) as the sole trustee of waqf. Thus, this study explores the management of waqf by several universities in Selangor and relation to SIRC as the sole trustee of waqf. A qualitative research approach was employed to collect data from focus group discussions and interviews with selected participants from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Selangor IRC), selected universities and waqf experts in Malaysia. The findings show that University Kebangsaan Malaysia and University Putra Malaysia waqf funds are managed under the Selangor IRC monitoring while University Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia endowment or waqf fund is managed privately by the university. The impact of this is that several waqf management issues arose. Hence, the authors recommend the Model theory of al-wilayah to be applied in the management of waqf in the universities. Through this model, SIRC and the university can play a more significant role in the management of waqf, thereby promoting the development of waqf in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Cases of Pedagogical Discontentment of Secondary English Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 413-416
Author(s):  
Bryan Jester S. Balmeo
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Affective Response ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Secondary English ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Pedagogical Discontentment ◽  
Very High

This research aimed to analyze secondary English teachers' pedagogical discontent and identify factors relating to this construct. Further, this study established the teachers’ affective response to his evaluation of the effectiveness of his existing teaching practices and goals. This study utilized descriptive research with a qualitative approach using the multiple-case study design. The researcher distributed a pedagogical discontentment checklist to identify the English teachers with ‘high’ or ‘very high’ pedagogical discontentment, wherein eight (8) participants were identified. They belong to the eight (8) secondary schools in one of the districts in the Schools Division of Zambales. The eight (8) participants were subjected to individual interviews and focus group discussions. It was found out that most of the participants were female, middle adult, holding Teacher I position; Seven (7) participants have high pedagogical discontentment whereas only one (1) participant has very high discontentment; Teachers are recommended to undergo training workshops on pedagogy. Conducting regular focus group discussions on improving the weak areas are noted; An investigation on the frustrations, attitudes and beliefs, interventions, classroom practices, and aspirations of the English teachers should be conducted considering their contexts. Professional learning communities are deemed necessary.  

Life across borders : Coping strategies of vulnerable young Zimbabwean female immigrants in Johannesburg, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-79
Author(s):  
R. Chinyakata ◽  
◽  
N.R. Raselekoane
Keyword(s):  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Communal Coping ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Female Immigrants ◽  
African Context ◽  
And Migration

The migration of women is continuing to gain attention on different platforms and scholarly works. Women make up almost half of all the migrants globally. However, they are met with a number of challenges in the destination country as a result of intersectional factors that continue to make them vulnerable. There are limited studies that show how immigrants in the African context, specifically young female immigrants, cope with the challenges that they face. This qualitative study explored the coping strategies used by young Zimbabwean female immigrants in Johannesburg to deal with their vulnerability. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions with young Zimbabwean female immigrants and migration experts. Data were analysed thematically using the Atlas.ti software for qualitative data analysis. The study found that female immigrants use individual and communal coping strategies to deal with vulnerability which did not, however, provide them with permanent solutions to their challenges. The strategies only helped them to stay strong during their time in Johannesburg. The findings of this study emphasise the need to strengthen individual and communal strategies, and advocate for collaboration with other stakeholders to help these immigrants to cope with their vulnerability.

scholarly journals Mentoring and coaching in promoting publications in the Department of Physiotherapy at a local university in South Africa

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Frantz ◽  
A. Rhoda ◽  
M. Rowe ◽  
J. Phillips ◽  
F. Karachi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Support Group ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Writing Group ◽  
The University ◽  
Giving Feedback

A  growing  shift  towards  research  and  evidence  based  practice  in academia  is  associated  with  requirements  to  disseminate  research  results  in  the  form of publication in peer reviewed journals.  Mentoring has been identified as an important component of developing young authors, as it increases confidence and competence, and facilitates professional development. This led to the formation of a support group to stimulate peer-review publication in the physiotherapy department at  the  University  of  the  Western  Cape.  The  Kirkpatrick  Framework  of  Evaluation  was  used  to  evaluate  the  success  of  the  mentoring  process  which  made  use  of  a  participatory  action  research  methodology. The  writing  group  consisted  of  nine  academic members of staff and took place over ten weeks.  The programme included writing, giving feedback, discussion and peer review on a weekly basis.  Focus group discussions were taped and transcribed in order to evaluate the mentoring process  by  identifying  relationships  within  the  data  and  categorising  key  concepts,  which were shaped into a thematic framework.  The findings indicated that participants experienced a variety of emotions throughout the programme, with an overall feeling of personal growth by the end. In addition, participants also reported improved writing, reviewing and communication skills.  Six months following the programme, six participants had submitted at least one article to a peer reviewed journal.  It is clear from this study that some academics still find the task of writing and reviewing articles daunting, and that guidance and support in the form of a writing programme can be useful.

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