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Faculty of Arts and Design

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/7

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Start date: 2020Subject: search.filters.subject.Online learning

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    Evolution in online learning : implications for South African higher educational institutions in post COVID-19
    (Bussecon International Academy, 2024) Maome, Itumeleng Judith; Usadolo, Sam Erevbenagie; Mbinda, Bukelwa Bellinda
    The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to online learning, leading to significant changes in higher education institutions in South Africa and across the world. The importance of online learning has increased, and institutions are now challenged with providing a high quality, adaptable, and accessible education in a digital setting. In order to fully embrace online teaching and learning, this demands institutions to make investments in digital infrastructure and reevaluate pedagogical practices. In this literature review paper, we use PRISMA methodology to examine the discipline of online teaching and learning, the strategies used by universities during the epidemic, and the online teaching and learning strategies used in the post pandemic period. We explore how the Covid-19 epidemic has altered the online learning environment in South African higher education institutions in the post pandemic period. The review results established that in order to provide high-quality education to students across the country, South African higher education institutions need to make a flexible and accessible education, rethink pedagogical methodologies, and implement best practices in online learning. We recommend that higher institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders must work together to ensure that online learning remains a viable and successful modality of instruction in the post-Covid-19 era.
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    The ‘blend’ in blended learning : establishing a balance between face-to-face and online learning in a pattern making and garment construction class
    (2020-04-07) Kirby, Luhandra; Cavanagh, Michaella; Pratt, Deirdre Denise
    This study explored the use of blended learning in a fashion design class, working within the constructivist orientation with a mixed methods case study and using a sequential exploratory approach in order to focus on the effectiveness of the blended learning design and how it is experienced by the participants. The case study was based on a group of second year fashion design students from a private design institution in South Africa, for the combined subject, pattern making and garment construction. The purpose of this research was to investigate the ways in which face-to-face learning and online learning could best be blended to facilitate instruction in this particular class. The study focused on establishing what combination of online and face-to-face delivery could be seen to be most effective in achieving the project learning outcomes within the time and resource constraints available for the combined pattern making and garment construction subject. A blended learning curriculum model (Huang, Ma and Zhang, 2008) was used to assist in preparation for the blended learning programme, with online learning delivery being effected by means of Google Classroom, the learning management system recommended by the private design institution. The sequential exploratory approach involved two projects, so that insights gained from the first project could be applied to modify the blended learning design for the second project, if and as required. Quantitative data were used to establish a baseline of students’ prior understanding of blended learning, pattern making and garment construction processes. Qualitative data were collected in the form of interviews, questionnaires and observations, allowing for a descriptive understanding of how students as well as the lecturer (who was the researcher) experienced the blended learning classroom, and how effective that blend was in achieving the desired learning outcomes; opportunities were also offered for reflection. The results revealed that, not only did blended learning delivery need to be applied in a developmental way, with ongoing adjustments to accommodate best teaching/learning practice, but also that different fashion ‘briefs’ (that is, the tasks involved) might require modifications to the blended learning delivery design. This suggests that there is no ideal ‘blend’ in blended learning, but that, like other forms of learning, it is exploratory, tentative and constantly evolving. It is hoped that this study will offer insights into how face-to-face and online learning can be combined to best facilitate the learning process in this particular case, where practical assistance with students’ individual design projects traditionally requires a large amount of the instructional time available. As many vocational university subjects have similar time and resource constraints, particularly in facilitating practical application of theory at a professional standard, it is also hoped that, to some extent, the results will be generalizable to other disciplines.