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CLTD | Newsletter<br />
Centre for Learning and Teaching Development <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011<br />
www.wsu.ac.za/cltd/cltd.php<br />
“Agenda for Excellence in Learning and Teaching”<br />
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 1 of 8<br />
Visit CLTD webpages at www.wsu.ac.za/cltd/cltd.php for more information<br />
on CLTD related activities like reports, previous editions of the newslettter,<br />
programme brochures, units information, programme/unit posters and useful documents.<br />
CLTD runs an E-Learning Week Pages 2-4<br />
WSU and Netherlands Institutions Parnerships Pages 6-7<br />
Professional Excellence Programme in the School of Engineering Page 7<br />
BLACKBOARD NOW CALLED WiSeUp<br />
As announced at the e-Learning Conference 2010, the WSU e-Learning system, Blackboard,<br />
has been renamed WiSeUp. Education Technology and Innovation Unit (ETIU) and the<br />
WSU Information and Communication Technology (ICT) department are busy revamping the<br />
WiSeUp homepage to reflect the new name. Please visit http://wiseup.wsu.ac.za to<br />
access the e-learning system. Should users experience any problem, they are encouraged to<br />
e-mail the e-Learning Team at wiseuphelpdesk@wsu.ac.za or visit WiSeUp frequently asked<br />
questions at http://servicedesk.wsu.ac.za/wiseup.html.<br />
Ms Mpho Mokoena, lecturer at the School of Tourism and Hospitality, came up with the name<br />
and this is what she says about the experience....<br />
I first heard of the re-naming project in one of the<br />
e-learning training workshops and the thought of<br />
coming up with the name for the institution’s<br />
Learning Management System (LMS) would not<br />
leave me. I researched about other institutions’<br />
names and how relevant they were to their vision and<br />
mission and most importantly how appealing the name<br />
was to students. I started playing around with a few<br />
words and none of them impressed me. I prayed for<br />
a name and in an instant I came up with WiSeUp.<br />
(Continuing on page 4...)<br />
Ms Mpho Mokoena
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 2 of 8<br />
CLTD RUNS AN E-LEARNING WEEK (01-05 NOVEMBER 2010)<br />
E-LEARNING CONFERENCE GROWING EACH YEAR<br />
Director CLTD, addressing conference delegates<br />
With the ever-increasing adoption of technology and dependence<br />
on the internet in the different domains of society, the need for<br />
universities to re-align learning and teaching methodologies in<br />
response to these advances in technology is growing. As such, the<br />
WSU Centre for Learning and Teaching Development (CLTD) is<br />
always striving to be one step ahead. The CLTD hosted its 2nd<br />
Annual E-Learning Conference at the Mthatha Health Resource<br />
Centre from 2-3 November 2010. Conference papers were<br />
presented by participants from government, NGOs and other<br />
universities and all talked to the theme of the conference which<br />
was ‘Utilising E-technology to develop capacity and efficiency in<br />
Learning and Teaching’. Stakeholders such as the<br />
University of Groningen (RUG), Netherlands, University of the<br />
Western Cape, Department of Education, Cofimvaba District and<br />
Department of Communication felt that the digital media has<br />
revolutionized the information society and advances in<br />
ICTs have dramatically changed the learning and teaching<br />
process. They also reiterated the need for collaboration and sharing<br />
expertise and resources among institutions of higher<br />
learning and government departments. According to<br />
Dr Louwarnoud Van de Duim from RUG, “E- Learning should be a<br />
central part of the whole educational experience, but it is<br />
important to build bridges between online learning and face-to-<br />
face. Also, the institutions must ensure that they have tools for<br />
e-learning that will focus on content and management of students.”<br />
Highlights of the conference included the renaming of the Blackboard<br />
system to “WiSeUp” as the WSU LMS. The new name was adopted<br />
after an online renaming competition. Ms Mpho Mokoena, a<br />
WSU lecturer, proudly coined the name from the WSU acronym.<br />
A member of the community, commenting on one of the<br />
presentations, said they hope to see the conference grow into a<br />
platform of change where relevant stakeholders would meet to<br />
discuss and implement innovative ideas on e-skilling the large<br />
number of South Africans lacking this expertise rather than<br />
degenerating into just another talkshop. (Article adapted from MCD)<br />
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCE<br />
• Dr L. Van der Duim, University of Groningen,<br />
Netherlands<br />
• Ms J. Stoltenkamp, E-Learning Manager: Support<br />
and Development, ICS Department, University of<br />
Western Cape<br />
• John Roberts, International Computer Driving<br />
License (ICDL), South Africa<br />
• Ms N. Mashiyi, Director: e-Education, Department of<br />
Communications<br />
• Ms T. Khoza, Metadata Specialist, National<br />
Research Foundation<br />
• Mr O. Kasuto, Research Coordinator, E- Learning<br />
Unit, University of Western Cape<br />
• Mr R. Kattukkanal, Deputy Chief Education<br />
Specialist, Tele-collaborative Learning, Cofimvaba<br />
District Office<br />
2010 E-LEARNING ACHIVEMENTS HIGHLIGHTED AT<br />
THE CONFERENCE<br />
• 411 PCs in 10 computer labs across WSU campuses<br />
• All first semester and year courses, including all<br />
students, loaded on WiSeUp<br />
• 2378 students trained on WiSeUp (9.1%)<br />
• 75 student assistants trained on WiSeUp in all<br />
campuses<br />
• All students registered for support courses -<br />
Academic Advising and Writing and Reading Centre<br />
(WRC)<br />
• 218 (26%) academic staff trained on the basic<br />
e-learning level, and 34 were trained at intermediate<br />
level.<br />
2010 CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS<br />
• Conference Theme, Utilising E-technology to<br />
develop capacity and efficiency in Learning and<br />
Teaching, was timely and relevant<br />
• WSU needs enablers for e-Learning<br />
implementation: Governance model (Policies and<br />
Action Plans-while allowing innovation by<br />
academics); Creation of the infrastructure; and<br />
Resources<br />
• WSU needs to work more on curriculum<br />
implications: quality e-skilling (students and staff)<br />
• Needs to improve on change management: attitudes<br />
(soft issues), introduce innovation in an incremental<br />
and scaffolding way.<br />
(Continuing on page 3...)<br />
2
In celebrating the E-Learning Week, CLTD hosted a third<br />
Grassroot Event on 01 November 2010 at the Health Resources<br />
Centre in Mthatha. The Event seeks to promote awareness<br />
among the University community and external stakeholders<br />
about the value and effectiveness of integrating e-learning in<br />
both learning and teaching. During this occasion, staff from<br />
various Departments across faculties showcased how they<br />
were integrating e-learning in their courses, especially on how<br />
they had used WiSeUp for learning, teaching and academic<br />
development.<br />
and ways in which e-learning could be integrated into their courses. The mission of the external stakeholders was to<br />
witness how WSU is integrating technology in both learning and teaching, and to seek ways of collaborating with WSU in<br />
building capacity among Eastern Cape communities in e-skills.<br />
The quality of presentations at this event was highly commendable. Lecturers showcased how they had made use of a variety<br />
of tools in WiSeUp, such as:<br />
• Content tools for loading content onto the courses;<br />
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 3 of 8<br />
CLTD RUNS AN E-LEARNING WEEK (01-05 NOVEMBER 2010)<br />
Lecturers who presented during the event came from the<br />
following academic departments: Mechanical<br />
Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry and Chemical Technology,<br />
Computer Science and Information Technology, and School of<br />
Law. Of the eight presenters, two were from the hosting unit, CLTD.<br />
The composition of the audience was equally impressive,<br />
with members from academic departments, three e-Learning<br />
Specialists from the University of Groningen, six e-Learning<br />
Assistants who are based at the Mthatha Campus, two<br />
representatives from the Provincial Department of Health<br />
(the Training Coordinator and e-Learning Manager),<br />
and one Training Officer from the Further Education and<br />
Training Sector. The Grassroot Event was a platform for<br />
exposing departments to the different tools they could use<br />
CLTD HOLDS 3rd GRASSROOT EVENT<br />
• Assessment tools for student assessment, such as Safe Assign to check plagiarism in submitted work. Other lecturers<br />
shared with the audience that they had used online tests and assignment submissions and grading;<br />
• Collaborative tools, more especially the discussion forums and;<br />
Ms L Bester, Department of Mathematics, partcipating at the Grassroot<br />
• Management tools such as the Performance Dashboard, Early Warning System, the Grade Centre and My Grades.<br />
...(Continuing from page 5)<br />
RPL ASSESSOR CLINIC<br />
Event.<br />
2010 CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS (from page 2)<br />
• Should accelerate on partnerships: have clear<br />
pre-determined objectives and outcomes within a<br />
homogenous approach (pre- and extra-WSU)<br />
• Improve on monitoring and evaluation - adopt<br />
outcomes and impact based mode<br />
The focal unit standard was “Conduct Outcomes Based Assessments”. CLTD paid for all costs. All attendees submitted their portfolios on<br />
the last day and got their certificates. We congratulate all these academics for their achievement.<br />
1st AND 2nd WSU E-LEARNING CONFERENCE PAPERS<br />
For papers presented at these conferences, go to<br />
www.wsu.ac.za/academic/academic.php?id=papers<br />
3
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 4 of 8<br />
CLTD RUNS AN E-LEARNING WEEK (01-05 NOVEMBER 2010)<br />
CLTDS HOLDS A LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP<br />
As part of WSU e-Learning Week, CLTD hosted a<br />
Leadership Management and Development Workshop in<br />
Buffalo City from <strong>04</strong> – 05 November 2010. The objective of<br />
the workshop was to assist the participants to understand<br />
potential factors that place students at risk and theories to<br />
consider when deciding whether or not students are at risk.<br />
The trainers were Dr Louwarnoud van der Duim (RUG),<br />
Olaf Romijin (RUG), Stefan Riezebos (RUG), CLTD, HEMIS<br />
and ICT staff from WSU. The workshop targeted HODs and<br />
Directors of schools from FSET; WSU Registration office and<br />
Quality Management Directorate.<br />
Participants were exposed to the tracking tools on<br />
WiSeUp. They also had an opportunity to study the system of<br />
tracking students’ progress used at the RUG with<br />
the goal of adapting it to WSU. The RUG system<br />
detects a student’s risk of dropping out or poor<br />
performance at early stages. Early detection of<br />
students at risk will help departments to develop a<br />
system of intervention. During the workshop participants<br />
interacted with the results of the throughput study conducted<br />
in Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology (FSET).<br />
Participants were also introduced to WiSeUp’s Early Warning<br />
Sytem, a tool that automatically monitors and tracks students<br />
by flagging those below average. Mr Ncube from Mechanical<br />
Engineering, Ibika and Mr Ngarivume from the Department<br />
of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, NMD were tasked<br />
to work with the tracking and monitoring team to pilot how<br />
the whole WSU community of academics could successfully<br />
utilize the WiseUp tracking tool.<br />
PARTICIPANTS’ REFLECTIONS ON THE WORKSHOP<br />
Ms Rose Masha, Deputy Director, Extended Studies<br />
Academy, CLTD, WSU<br />
For me, the workshop cleared a lot of the fuzziness that<br />
existed around the issue on tracking and monitoring<br />
students, specifically because I was never involved in<br />
the process from its inception. I can safely say, from<br />
discussion with the others, this sentiment is shared by the<br />
other participants. Another important point is the planned<br />
collaboration with the academics and the tracking and<br />
monitoring team. This will ensure that the team is aware<br />
timeously what is happening in the student’s academic<br />
development, and that intervention occurs as soon as problems<br />
are picked up through the early warning system. What needs<br />
to happen though is for both the academics and the team to<br />
construct a viable plan that will ensure that the system does<br />
carry through. Lastly, ICT promised to set up a separate email<br />
box for the tracking and monitoring team to use in this process.<br />
Ms Noluthando Mayaphi, Tracking and Monitoring Specialist,<br />
Extended Studies Academy, CLTD, WSU<br />
This workshop helped me realize that tracking and<br />
monitoring, though often overlooked, is a crucial<br />
strategy in improving throughput and retention in the<br />
university. It is critical for me to have a firm grasp on the<br />
monitoring and tracking system at WSU and to understand<br />
systems at other institutions including our Nuffic Project<br />
Partners. During the workshop I came to appreciate the value<br />
of skills such as teamwork, collaboration, reporting and<br />
communication.<br />
Ms Ayanda Nongogo, HEMIS Officer, Bureau for Institutional Research and Planning, WSU<br />
Extended Studies Academy, CLTD<br />
The workshop succeeded in creating awareness regarding throughput studies and monitoring. It established many good<br />
working relations and interactions amongst WSU support service departments namely, Bureau for Institutional Research and<br />
Planning (BIRP) and CLTD.The visitors from RUG gave much relevant guidance and advice on how WSU could benchmark<br />
its tracking model against that of the RUG and decide the model that is best for the institutuon. I hope that ICT will rise to the<br />
challenge and give the necessary support in acquiring required software resources. This workshop was an excellent way to<br />
develop leadership and management at the operational level.<br />
(...Continuing from page 1) According to the dictionary, wise up means become informed or make<br />
somebody aware or informed and what better way of doing so than using the WSU LMS. The name has a good rhythm<br />
to it. It is short and vibrant, making it acceptable to the student population. The name itself is a motivator. Who would<br />
not want to WiSeUp. We all want to be informed and inform others, so let us all log on to our WSU LMS and WiSeUp.<br />
4
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 5 of 8<br />
WSU IS REPRESENTED AT THE 16th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTED<br />
LEARNING AND TEACHING, BERLIN<br />
Subsequent to the successful e-Learning Conference of November 2010, the Director Centre for Learning and<br />
Teaching Development, Mr Valindawo Dwayi, attended the 16th International Conference on Technology Supported<br />
Learning and Teaching, in Berlin, Germany. This conference, codenamed Online Educa Berlin (OEB) involved a record<br />
number of 2197 learning and training professionals from 109 countries. The 2010 theme, Learning from the Extremes,<br />
was well presented by Mr Charles Leadbeater from the United Kingdom, who presented a key note address on, What<br />
Learning Strategies May Need to Be (Re-) Developed to Make a Relevant Change in Our Approaches Towards a<br />
Sustainable Knowledge Society (get the entire article on www.wsu.ac.za/cltd/documents/documents/charles.pdf). The main<br />
thrust of his presentation was “Your vantage point determines what you can see”. Mr Leadbeater situated his thesis within the<br />
observation that radical transformation comes from the margins, through social entrepreneurs and is hardest to reach.<br />
Mr Dwayi’s reflection:<br />
While our Education Technology and Innovation Unit is on the right track regarding our strategy to advance technological<br />
education by means of integrating ICTs with learning and teaching, the following also constitute the main pointers towards<br />
innovative systems at WSU:<br />
• The WSU community to improve on IT skills so as to position herself on the right path for knowledge economy. Only the<br />
IT savvy practitioners will be able to “see new terrains” in the fast changing world of the 21st century.<br />
• Given the current WSU student profiles, we all need to have empathy in interacting with our students. Opening the doors<br />
of learning to all must not just be about improved enrolments in higher education; it should be about debating and<br />
agreeing on what should be epistemological access; how do we make explicit the rules of engagement for the ordinary<br />
WSU learner who is not well prepared for higher education. In so doing, we may have to bracket the fact that we are<br />
specialists in our fields but adopt the view that deals with meta-learning for students at risk.<br />
• Higher education management must embrace transformative practices in order to utilize vast amounts of knowledge as<br />
a strategic advantage. Gone is the time of trying to maintain the status quo or adopting the incremental and evolutionary<br />
approaches to change.<br />
This article also pays tribute to the Office of Deputy Vice Chancellor, Planning QualityAssurance and Development, who<br />
granted a privileged advantage for WSU participation.<br />
RPL ASSESSOR CLINIC<br />
THE CENTRE’S INITIATIVES FOR INCULCATING SCHOLARSHIP OF LEARNING<br />
AND TEACHING (SoLT), THE INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE<br />
Twenty-five academic staff members from various schools attended<br />
an RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) Assessor Coaching Clinic<br />
which was conducted from 28 July - 30 August 2010 in East London.<br />
The coaching clinic was conducted by Competitive Edge Training &<br />
Consulting, an ETDP SETA accredited service provider.<br />
(Continuing on page 3...)<br />
The Director CLTD made a presentation at the WSU<br />
International Research Conference on 18 August 2010,<br />
entitled The Centre’s Initiatives for Inculcating<br />
Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT), The Institutional<br />
Development Perspective. His paper shared the<br />
developmental opportunities of mainstreaming excellence<br />
in learning and teaching by foregrounding scholarship of<br />
learning and teaching at a newly merged, developmental<br />
and aspiring university. The paper focused on the following:-<br />
• Scholarship Areas<br />
• WSU, the context for the emergence of SoLT<br />
• Theoretical framing of the Centre’s Initiatives<br />
• Contestations, opportunities and complexities<br />
Get the entire presentation and its summary at www.wsu.<br />
ac.za/cltd/documents/documents/solt.pdf<br />
5
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 6 of 8<br />
WSU AND NETHERLANDS INSTITUTIONS PARTNERSHIPS<br />
CLTD STAFF SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES OF STUDYING IN NETHERLANDS<br />
Two CLTD staff members, Miss Sinazo Matyila and Mr Ntembeko Mkunyana,were selected to study for Masters degrees in<br />
the Netherlands under the WSU Nuffic Project. The two are studying towards a Master’s degree in Computing Science at<br />
Rijks Universiteit, Groningen. They share with us their experience...<br />
Greetings from the Netherlands by Sinazo Matyila and Ntembeko Mkunyana<br />
Upon our arrival in Groningen, Netherlands on 30th August<br />
2010, a lot of things about this place struck us. Firstly, we<br />
noticed a peaceful environment where people respect and<br />
help one another. People here are humble and down to earth<br />
with a very simple life-style that makes everything simple for<br />
everyone. The simple lifestyle manifests itself in the simple mode<br />
of transport used by people across all social classes: the bicycle.<br />
In the student houses where we are staying, there are<br />
students from all over the world e.g. USA, China, Canada, Spain,<br />
France, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe etc. We are<br />
being exposed to many cultures. There is an ESN Groningen<br />
programme designed for international students. The programme<br />
takes international students on tours within the Netherlands<br />
and outside countries at very affordable rates. This is good for<br />
networking. Sinazo and I have already networked with a lot of people within a short space of time.<br />
Academically, the system of education here is totally different from what we have in South Africa. We are trying our best<br />
to adapt to the system even though sometimes we experience a few challenges. So far, we are managing to grasp every<br />
concept taught in class. We have already done 3 courses i.e. Advanced Web Technologies, Software Maintenance and<br />
Evolution, and Software Architecture; and we are now waiting for the final results after a very hectic period of doing<br />
projects, assignments, and presentations in each of the courses mentioned above.<br />
The most challenging part is to find our home food. We cannot find maize meal or samp! We miss iMingqusho, iMiphokoqo<br />
or Uphuthu and other traditional meals that we have back at home. The staple food here is bread and cheese. We are still<br />
doing great and we will get used to all these things in no time.<br />
We are proud to say when we come back in 2012, we will for sure bring back our degrees and make our mark at WSU by<br />
conquering most of the challenges that affect learners as well as our departments. We will make CLTD, WSU, Eastern<br />
Cape, and South Africa proud.<br />
A word of appreciation to CLTD, in particular to our Director for his vision which gave birth to the Nuffic project which has<br />
taken us to great heights: not only physically but also academically and socially.<br />
ONELE REFLECTS ON THE NETHERLANDS MISSION......from p7<br />
exposure to management and administration systems and procedures of Rijks University in Groningen (RUG).<br />
Some things that I learnt include project administration, Data management systems and project events<br />
coordination. As a result of my visit and interaction with RUG, I am in the process of developing a Procedure Manual<br />
for all administration staff within the Finance and Administration Unit. I also had the opportunity to learn more about<br />
the importance of Performance Management Review as a means of measuring individual competencies and skills<br />
and identifying the KPAs that an individual struggles with, identifying training needs and sending staff for training.<br />
6
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 7 of 8<br />
WSU AND NETHERLANDS INSTITUTIONS PARTNERSHIPS<br />
WSU SEPTEMBER 2010 MISSION TO THE NETHERLANDS<br />
A WSU delegation comprising of Mr. Ferdie Gerber, Project coordinator, FSET, Mr. V. Dwayi, Project Director, CLTD and Ms<br />
O.Kewana, Project Administrator, CLTD, visited three Universities in the Netherlands in September 2010 as part of the Nuffic<br />
Project. The goal of the Nuffic Project (NPT) is to strengthen the capacity of staff and management at the CLTD and FSET and<br />
to develop and offer responsive academic programs through the use of ICT in education at WSU, with piloting having started<br />
in CLTD and FSET since 2008. The September 2010 Mission focused on three crucial areas namely: project management<br />
and administration, project planning 2011 and project termination 2011. Activities on planning included the project activity on<br />
leadership and management development and a visit to the Centre for Excellence in University Teaching at the University of<br />
Utrecht. Various committees of the Project met between the 13-16 September 2010 at RUG and Erasmus to look into different<br />
aspects of the NUFFIC project. Interesting resolutions emanating from these meetings include the following:<br />
• Fast-tracking and consolidation of project outputs and reviews of project for sustainability<br />
• Optimization of RUG participation at WSU e-learning week of 1-5 November 2010 and reviewing of various Mission<br />
reports<br />
• Cleaning up of raw data by the Throughput Study management team, including analysis and confirmation by 5 October<br />
2010<br />
• Consolidation of previous RUG interventions and support to WSU and the current professional development programmes<br />
as led by CPDU leading to professionalization of teaching in Higher Education<br />
• RISBO Consultants recommended a planning approach to be adopted for Curriculum review<br />
• A leadership development programme linked to VC’s Excellence Awards was put in place at University of Utrecht, Centre<br />
for Excellence in University teaching. Faculties and support units are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the goal<br />
and objectives of the WSU NUFFIC Project 2011 so as to identify opportunities for improving learning and teaching at<br />
WSU.<br />
ONELE REFLECTS ON THE NETHERLANDS MISSION<br />
On 10-19 September 2010, I accompanied Mr. V. Dwayi, and Mr F. Gerber, (Director FSET) on a Nuffic Mission to the<br />
Netherlands. The mission focused on leadership and management development. Specific activities included the ..p6<br />
A PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME IN THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING<br />
The Continuous Professional Development Unit (CPDU) is now offering a new credit-bearing teaching development<br />
programme. Aptly named the Professional Excellence Programme (PEP), this course targets newly-appointed WSU academic<br />
staff and those without a teaching qualification. The programme is aimed at inducting the targeted staff to the higher<br />
education sector as well as developing their teaching and assessment skills. The PEP is pitched at NQF Level 5 and three<br />
modules are offered in 2011,<br />
• Learning and Teaching in Higher Education<br />
• Assessment of Student Learning<br />
• Curriculum Development<br />
Each module carries 20 credits. The CPDU staff and Nuffic project partners from the Netherlands piloted the Learning and<br />
Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE) module at the School of Engineering from the 17th-18th November 2010. The workshop was<br />
attended by lecturers from Civil and Electrical Engineering who are based in East London. A similar workshop will be conducted<br />
for Ibika staff members in the School of Engineering. The main objective of the LTHE modules is to assist lecturers to understand<br />
better the Higher Education context and in particular the WSU context, promote the use of learner-centred teaching strategies,<br />
and encourage lecturers to apply insights gained from learning theories, including constructive alignment in their own teaching.<br />
Key topics dealt with at the workshop included: contextual factors affecting teaching and learning in Higher Education;<br />
challenges faced by WSU learners and lecturers; the nature of learning; deep and surface approaches to learning;<br />
interactive teaching strategies; constructive alignment; and qualities of a good lecturer. These topics addressed some of the<br />
7
CLTD Newsletter - <strong>Issue</strong> <strong>04</strong> - April 2011 - Page 8 of 8<br />
from p7...Facilitators used groupwork activities to encourage active engagement, and participants were also required to present<br />
on their deliberations. Constructive feedback on the presentations was provided by other participants and the presenters.<br />
The remaining modules will be offered to the same group of academics between March and June 2011.<br />
Lecturers who have completed the three modules referred to above will be awarded credits towards the<br />
Post-Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) that will be offered by the Faculty of Education from 2012. As<br />
part of the assessment requirements for the PEP, participants will compile and submit a Portfolio of Evidence (POE).<br />
Lecturers indicated in their evaluations of the workshop that the workshop inspired them to try out various<br />
instructional methods, enhanced their understanding of interactive lecturing and cooperative learning, highlighted the<br />
importance of planning and improved their general classroom management skills. They further suggested that the CLTD should<br />
market its services aggressively to ensure that Departments utilize the academic support services that it offers to the fullest.<br />
ACADEMIC LITERACY DEBATE COMPETITION<br />
The Academic Literacy Unit under the umbrella of the Extended<br />
Studies Academy (ESA) hosted the Inter-campus Debate Competition for<br />
Extended program Students on the 17th November 2010 at Chiselhurst.<br />
This was the first time that an event of this nature was held, and the<br />
Academic Literacy team hopes that it will not be the last. The<br />
essence of the debate is to fulfil some of the outcomes that underpin<br />
Academic Literacy curriculum. The debate programme has provided<br />
substantial academic benefits for students resulting from training in rhetoric,<br />
persuasion, organized communication and argument. In debate, the<br />
preparation and delivery of argumentation provides students with the<br />
opportunity to think critically, develop academic research skills, improved<br />
communication abilities, problem-solving, and increased self<br />
confidence. All campuses and delivery sites were involved, namely:<br />
Ibika, Zamukulungisa, Masibulele and Buffalo City. In the first sessions,<br />
Zamukulungisa debated against Masibulele on the topic – “Protest<br />
actions on university campuses, either by students or staff are<br />
unproductive and should only be allowed after working hours” and Ibika<br />
and Buffalo City campuses debated on the topic –“The service delivery<br />
protests sweeping across the country are very unproductive to social<br />
and economic development”. The second session was for the finalists,<br />
that is, Zamukulungisa versus Potsdam. They debated on the topic –<br />
“Following the success of hosting the Fifa 2010 World Cup, South<br />
Africa must consider bidding for the 2020 Olympics.” This was an<br />
impromptu topic. Students demonstrated their ability to express their<br />
views effectively and to respond cogently to arguments with which they<br />
disagree. On the whole Zamukulungisa was the winning team and<br />
received certificates.<br />
CLTD runs a series of workshops and trainings related to learning and teaching development including use of ICT in<br />
learning and teaching, learner support, etc, CONSULT CLTD FOR MORE INFORMATION.<br />
NMD/Zamukulungisa Sites:<br />
Ms. N. Gqwabaza | <strong>04</strong>7 502 2208 | ngqwabaza@wsu.ac.za<br />
Butterworth/Queenstown Sites:<br />
Ms. Y. Gomba | <strong>04</strong>7 401 6319 | ygomba@wsu.ac.za<br />
CLTD OFFICES<br />
HEAD OFFICE<br />
7 Kings Road, Southernwood, East London:<br />
Ms. Z. Mpateni | zmpateni@wsu.ac.za<br />
Potsdam Site:<br />
Ms. N. Solilo | <strong>04</strong>3 708 5369 | nsolilo@wsu.ac.zaa<br />
Design, Layout& Publishing: Fezile Mlungu <strong>04</strong>7 502 2999 | fmlungu@wsu.ac.za | Editor: Mrs. R. Ncube,<br />
Ms K. Ngodwana | Pictures Fezile Mlungu, MCD, Onele Kewana, Lungile Mdanyana<br />
STUDENT CAREER EXPO<br />
The Career Development Unit (CDU) in<br />
partnership with Centre for Community and<br />
International Partnerships (CCIP), Work<br />
Integrated Learning (WIL), Marketing,<br />
Communications and Development (MCD) and<br />
Student Affairs conducted a Career Expo on<br />
15 - 16 August 2010. The expo was held at<br />
Ibika site on 15 August 2010 and at Potsdam<br />
campus on 16 August 2010. Queenstown<br />
Campus joined other Buffalo city sites that also<br />
attended the career expo at Potsdam where Career<br />
Advisers from the CLTD empowering<br />
final year students with soft skills. The NMD<br />
campus cancelled the expo due to student unrests.<br />
Representatives from the following employing<br />
organisations attended the Expo at Ibika:<br />
Standard Bank, Tupperware, Department<br />
of Roads & Public Works and Emalahleni<br />
Municipality. A total of 281 students attended the<br />
career expo at Ibika campus. At Potsdam, 10<br />
employers attended, namely: Standard Bank,<br />
Tupperware, Rakoma & Associates, Sizwe &<br />
Ntsaluba, Johnson & Johnson, Finvest, Crazy<br />
Store, Buhlebakhe, Floorworx and First Pro and a<br />
total of 289 students attended the career expo.<br />
CCIP through the WIL invited the employers.<br />
MCD booked the venues and marketed the event<br />
through the media. The following people were<br />
responsible for organizing the event: Ms N<br />
Ceza (CDU, (Acting Deputy director), Ms<br />
K Madikizela,(Career Advisor CLTD), Mr P<br />
Mgolombane (Director Student affairs), Ms N<br />
Dwesini (WIL Coordinator CCIP), and Ms P Mazwana<br />
(Marketing officer MCD).