Conference Papers - Potchefstroom Campus
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/10933
Papers presented at conferences by staff members from the Potchefstroom campus of the NWU2024-03-19T05:35:02ZMeeting Students’ Expectations of Blended Learning
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/41764
Meeting Students’ Expectations of Blended Learning
Du Toit, Adri; Pool, Jessica
Blended learning as a mode of delivery is widespread in universities. It has gained even
more prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Most educational programs in many countries had to be
adapted abruptly to remote teaching or an online mode, sometimes halfway through the course. This
resulted in parts of the courses that have been presented face-to-face being offered online. This situation
underscores the importance of research into developing and refining blended learning courses and gaining
insight into students’ expectations of blended modes of learning. In the course reported on in this paper,
self-directed learning was a key learning goal. Students, therefore, had to be at the core of the learning
process. Although considerable research has been conducted on the development and structuring of
blended learning courses, research about students’ preconceived and informed expectations of blended
learning is limited. The current study compared students’ expectations at the start of a blended learning
course to their informed expectations at its conclusion using purposely designed qualitative questionnaires
as well as interviews. Comparison and thematic analysis of the data clarified to what extent the
expectations of students was met in this blended learning course. The findings showed that students’
preconceived expectations were mostly positive and frequently matched their informed expectations.
Recommendations are made for the structuring of subsequent blended learning programs in higher
education settings in order to meet students’ positive expectations and to lower their negative expectations
whilst adhering to the goal of developing self-directed learning in students.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZTRADITIONAL APPROACHES AND LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN AFRICA
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/40252
TRADITIONAL APPROACHES AND LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVES ON SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN AFRICA
Saurombe, Hazvineyi; Du Plessis, Yvonne; Saurombe, Talkmore
Environmental sustainability has become a priority agenda globally, with World bodies such as the UN, UNESCO and World Bank encouraging environmental restoration with various incentives for all nations (UNCTAD, 2019; Kiran, 2015). The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development refl ect the linkages between poverty reduction, natural resource management and development, as well as local and global environmental challenges to collectively manage shared global environmental risks and to build resilience across all types of countries to contribute to inclusive and sustainable development, taking into account complex issues such as the interactions between food, water and energy security (OECD, 2015).Environmental sustainability is not a new subject, but rather, as stated by Field Museum, (2019); communities and early civilisations’ understanding of sustainability traces to the distant past and links with the Zhou dynasty in China (1100-171), as well as the Egyptian, Mesopotamian Greeks and Romans (Du Pisani, 2006). It is notable that the most serious problems facing the world today, such as water and food supply crises, extreme volatility in energy and food prices, rising greenhouse gas emissions, severe income disparity, chronic fi scal imbalances and terrorism (World Economic Forum, 2012) either stem from environmental mismanagement or inequality, or both (OECD, 2012). This demands the need for the implementation of the Green Growth Development agenda (African Development Bank, 2012) in which sustainable development projects are supported on the African continent. According to the AfDB (2013: 60),“Africa should seize opportunities for greener, more sustainable growth to become more resilient in the face of climate change. By incorporating green principles in development plans, African countries will extend access to water, energy and transport, boost agricultural productivity and create new jobs and expertise; they will also build sustainable cities and develop their natural resources while reducing waste
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND WORK ENGAGEMENT. TESTING FOR THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST IN THE LEADER
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/40251
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND WORK ENGAGEMENT. TESTING FOR THE MEDIATING ROLE OF TRUST IN THE LEADER
Jackson, L.T.B; Mpolo, B
Despite the growing importance of ethical leadership, many organisations worldwide have witnessed diminishing ethical leadership and trust in management. South Africa is not an exception to unethical practices with private and public sector corruption allegations in the past decade. Unfortunately, pitiable standards of ethics and venality taint the business environment. Therefore, the conversation on business morality, particularly ethical leadership, and the development of a model of trust in organisations is highly legitimate and timely. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the mediating role of trust in leaders in the relationship between ethical leadership and engagement. The study utilizes a cross-sectional design and a convenient sampling frame (n = 132) recruited via social media to reach the objective from the positivistic paradigm and quantitative approach. The fi ndings confi rm the established positive relationship between ethical leadership, trust in the leader and work engagement. In addition, the fi ndings also suggest that the mediating role of trust in the leader could not be confi rmed in the relationship between ethical leadership and engagement and its components. Theoretical and managerial implications. as well as its limitations, are also provided
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZTHE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONTEXTUAL FACTOR AND SERVICE DELIVERY PERCEPTIONS IN A MAJOR CITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/40250
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONTEXTUAL FACTOR AND SERVICE DELIVERY PERCEPTIONS IN A MAJOR CITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Jackson, L.T.B; Ngobeni, A.
South African municipalities have in recent times been piqued with unprecedented service delivery protests, indicative of a failure to provide these amenities as expected. With soaring levels of unemployment and rampant poverty, it follows that poor service delivery adds to growing dissatisfaction in these communities. This study aimed to investigate perceptions of the permanent staff of a major city regarding the role that contextual factors, such as a controlled environment (the presence of leadership capacity and the lack of functional support), control activities, strategic planning, management information systems, performance monitoring, and ethics, play in service delivery. This study employed a cross-sectional design to reach its objectives based on the positive paradigm and quantitative approach. The results suggest that below mid-level ethics and service delivery scores were observed. In addition, ethics and service delivery were positively related to a capable control environment strategic planning, control activities, a solid management information system, and a lack of supporting functions in the control environment. Ethics also proved to be only a statistically signifi cant predictor of service delivery. Recommendations for the organisation, future research and suggested limitations of the study are also discussed.
2021-01-01T00:00:00Z