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Thursday, 21 July 2005: 5:15 PM-6:00 PM
Yerba Buena Salon 11 (San Francisco Marriott)
K-14: e-Learning on Ecotourism - Integrating Mobile Technologies
Detailed Description:The purpose of this presentation is to share research on the integration of WebCT (LMS), e-testing and mobile technologies (PDAs) in Ecotourism. The presenter gives hands-on, practical experiences, examples, and lessons learned from the perspectives of both the educator and learners on how an e-learning environment, e-testing, and PDAs were used to increase the pass rate and enhance the teaching and learning experiences. The presenter supports the arguments and results with quantitative and qualitative data.
Presentation Format:Showcase
Topic:Enabling learning: Effective instructional practices and flexible design models
Target Audience:Course Designers, Faculty and Other Instructors, Institutional Research and Assessment Staff, K-12 Educational Staff
Appropriate Audience Level:Beginning or new users of WebCT, Experienced WebCT users
Abstract Text:The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is the biggest residential University in South Africa. Students represent all cultures inclusive of the eleven official languages of the country. One of the major problems at TUT is low pass rate. Learners in Ecotourism go on field trips as part of their learning experiences and submit a complete project immediately afterwards. Learners must therefore have access to resources and be able to take notes during sessions.

The purpose of this research is to determine how e-teaching and e-learning, e-testing and mobile technologies can contribute to successful learning experiences, for both educator and learner. The project includes learners of 5 different subject groups.

The presenter created e-learning coursework on WebCT and present it in an online environment to give learners immediate access to online resources for problem- solving and cooperative learning purposes.

Learners write prior knowledge tests before the lecture starts and serves to attract the attention to important aspects discussed during the lecture. After lecturing the learners write a post test to determine whether learning has taken place during the lecture. The learners do mastery learning between lectures and before learners start the next lecture they write the same test again. These marks can help to identify problem cases and contribute to final marks of learners.

During excursions the learners need prior knowledge that can be tested on PDAs, and use these devices to complete projects in electronic format. The educator loads prior knowledge, references and multimedia programs, e.g. bird sounds, wildlife, trees, etc. for identification. This is followed up with testing in WebCT and uploading of learners' projects in WebCT.

Qualitative as well as quantitative measuring instruments would be used. Data would be interpreted and recommendations would be made as Results of these surveys would be used in further research projects.



Session Leader:EP De Crom
Tshwane University of Technology
Co-Presenter:A. De Jager
Tshwane University of Technology

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