Work Related Learning (WRL) provides a platform for students to link theory and practice. Univers... more Work Related Learning (WRL) provides a platform for students to link theory and practice. Universities in Zimbabwe have WRL as part of their curricula and whilst some universities refer this programme to as "student attachment", others have adopted the term WRL. The period of student placement at work places may differ among universities. There has however, been a general move from short term periods to longer periods of attachment. When effectively carried out, WRL can benefit students, academic staff / institutions as well as the employer. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to effective learning of students on WRL. A case study was conducted with students on WRL in Gweru urban area. A questionnaire was administered to 50 students who were at 15 different workplaces during the period May-June 2014. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with a total of eight co-ordinators of the WRL programmesat the Midlands State University in Gweru and supervisors at...
Journal of Educational Policy and Entrepreneurial Research, 2015
The study set to explore problems associated with the undergraduate research supervision process.... more The study set to explore problems associated with the undergraduate research supervision process. The study utilized the qualitative case study design. Three universities namely; Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University and Zimbabwe Open University- Midlands region were included in the study. Data was collected from 15 university lecturers who supervise undergraduate research projects and 45 students undertaking undergraduate research projects. Participants were purposefully selected on the basis that they would provide rich data on the supervision of research projects. Focus group discussions and questionnaires were the data tools used to solicit data from the participants. The study revealed that the supervisors’ inadequate research skills and expertise, students’ research in-competencies, non-supportive relationships of supervisors with students, and negative feedback from supervisors hamper students’ research progress. The study recommends strengthening research supe...
While Teaching Practice (TP) students are expected to carry out teaching duties as guided by thei... more While Teaching Practice (TP) students are expected to carry out teaching duties as guided by their training institutions and instructions from the school managers, there is need that all stakeholders get involved to improve the quality of the practicum. As such, the purpose of TP supervision is meant to achieve the set of objectives of training and building up a teacher to the level of acceptable standard. This study was conducted with the open distance students who were following up a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). The study employed focus group method with participants and a few open ended questionnaires were administered. In the study, it was established that TP supervision was regarded as effective in some ways such as being timeous but not productive in giving students room to air their opinions as discussions were dictatorial and hurriedly done. The study suggests, among other things, a relook by the University on the minimum numbers of s...
Staff induction is designed to give newly appointed employees the support they need in any organi... more Staff induction is designed to give newly appointed employees the support they need in any organisation. If properly designed and provided, induction activities can be instrumental in ensuring that new staff become productive in the shortest possible time. In their new organisation, new staff should be familiarised with the environment and processes, introduced to key persons, and trained in the use and application of new IT systems. Despite the many ways in which staff induction is critical to efficiency in institutions, it was necessary to find out whether universities also provide apposite inductions for new staff. A case study was conducted to investigate the views of newly appointed lecturers on the adequacy of their induction at Midlands State University (MSU) and Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) in the city of Gweru in Zimbabwe. Twenty-two lecturers were conveniently and purposively sampled to participate in this study. The findings of the study indicated that some critical com...
In open and distance learning collaboration in teacher development programmes is called for.Colla... more In open and distance learning collaboration in teacher development programmes is called for.Collaboration if effectively implemented contributes to positive changes in teacher development standards and expanded views of didactic activities. Several stakeholders can contribute to effective teacher development through collaboration.However collaboration levels seem to be very low and ineffective in some ways.A study was conducted to determine conceptions of lecturers at Zimbabwe Open University on the types of collaborative activities existing in teacher development in ODL and their adequacy and to get their views on challenges presenting themselves in the university’s attempt to uphold the collaborative nature of Teacher education related activities.An open questionnaire was used to generate data from lecturers.The study established that collaboration in teacher education was called for on the part of lecturers in many activities among which were programmes’ design, teaching practice...
International journal of research in social sciences, 2016
The study explored challenges associated with conducting action research by Post Graduate Diploma... more The study explored challenges associated with conducting action research by Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) students at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). The study involved participants at ZOU Midlands regional campus. Data were generated from five lectures who supervised action research and 30 students in PGDE Intake 13. An open-ended questionnaire was used to generate data from students while a focus group discussion was held with the lecturers. The study revealed that challenges were programme and lecturer related. Students had very inadequate knowledge on the theory of action research reports. The PGDE programme was regarded as not giving students sound preparation in action report theory and writing. Some supervisors lacked adequate knowledge on the essence of action research. The study recommended adequate action research theory coverage by students, use of a well-defined action research writing format by both supervisors and students and early allocation of students t...
International Open and Distance Learning Journal, 2017
In its 2017 Strategic Plan, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) proposed that every Masters student sh... more In its 2017 Strategic Plan, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) proposed that every Masters student should prepare and submit assignments online. Every student is also encouraged to access learning materials online and to use the MyVista platform. It appeared that the authorities envisioned this idea without having adequate information on the sufficiency, accessibility, and ability to use the ICT materials by the students. It also appeared that use of ICT materials by ZOU students was minimal. A study was then carried out to investigate the challenges faced by ZOU students of the Midlands Regional Campus in accessing and using ICT materials for learning, research and producing assignments. Using convenience sampling, 15students who visited the ICT laboratory during the first semester of 2017 were selected and interviewed. Data wereanalysed usinghermeneutical analysis techniques. Findings were that students had challenges in being involved in collaborative learning with other students and...
Work Related Learning (WRL) provides a platform for students to link theory and practice. Univers... more Work Related Learning (WRL) provides a platform for students to link theory and practice. Universities in Zimbabwe have WRL as part of their curricula and whilst some universities refer this programme to as "student attachment", others have adopted the term WRL. The period of student placement at work places may differ among universities. There has however, been a general move from short term periods to longer periods of attachment. When effectively carried out, WRL can benefit students, academic staff / institutions as well as the employer. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to effective learning of students on WRL. A case study was conducted with students on WRL in Gweru urban area. A questionnaire was administered to 50 students who were at 15 different workplaces during the period May-June 2014. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with a total of eight co-ordinators of the WRL programmesat the Midlands State University in Gweru and supervisors at...
Journal of Educational Policy and Entrepreneurial Research, 2015
The study set to explore problems associated with the undergraduate research supervision process.... more The study set to explore problems associated with the undergraduate research supervision process. The study utilized the qualitative case study design. Three universities namely; Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University and Zimbabwe Open University- Midlands region were included in the study. Data was collected from 15 university lecturers who supervise undergraduate research projects and 45 students undertaking undergraduate research projects. Participants were purposefully selected on the basis that they would provide rich data on the supervision of research projects. Focus group discussions and questionnaires were the data tools used to solicit data from the participants. The study revealed that the supervisors’ inadequate research skills and expertise, students’ research in-competencies, non-supportive relationships of supervisors with students, and negative feedback from supervisors hamper students’ research progress. The study recommends strengthening research supe...
While Teaching Practice (TP) students are expected to carry out teaching duties as guided by thei... more While Teaching Practice (TP) students are expected to carry out teaching duties as guided by their training institutions and instructions from the school managers, there is need that all stakeholders get involved to improve the quality of the practicum. As such, the purpose of TP supervision is meant to achieve the set of objectives of training and building up a teacher to the level of acceptable standard. This study was conducted with the open distance students who were following up a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). The study employed focus group method with participants and a few open ended questionnaires were administered. In the study, it was established that TP supervision was regarded as effective in some ways such as being timeous but not productive in giving students room to air their opinions as discussions were dictatorial and hurriedly done. The study suggests, among other things, a relook by the University on the minimum numbers of s...
Staff induction is designed to give newly appointed employees the support they need in any organi... more Staff induction is designed to give newly appointed employees the support they need in any organisation. If properly designed and provided, induction activities can be instrumental in ensuring that new staff become productive in the shortest possible time. In their new organisation, new staff should be familiarised with the environment and processes, introduced to key persons, and trained in the use and application of new IT systems. Despite the many ways in which staff induction is critical to efficiency in institutions, it was necessary to find out whether universities also provide apposite inductions for new staff. A case study was conducted to investigate the views of newly appointed lecturers on the adequacy of their induction at Midlands State University (MSU) and Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) in the city of Gweru in Zimbabwe. Twenty-two lecturers were conveniently and purposively sampled to participate in this study. The findings of the study indicated that some critical com...
In open and distance learning collaboration in teacher development programmes is called for.Colla... more In open and distance learning collaboration in teacher development programmes is called for.Collaboration if effectively implemented contributes to positive changes in teacher development standards and expanded views of didactic activities. Several stakeholders can contribute to effective teacher development through collaboration.However collaboration levels seem to be very low and ineffective in some ways.A study was conducted to determine conceptions of lecturers at Zimbabwe Open University on the types of collaborative activities existing in teacher development in ODL and their adequacy and to get their views on challenges presenting themselves in the university’s attempt to uphold the collaborative nature of Teacher education related activities.An open questionnaire was used to generate data from lecturers.The study established that collaboration in teacher education was called for on the part of lecturers in many activities among which were programmes’ design, teaching practice...
International journal of research in social sciences, 2016
The study explored challenges associated with conducting action research by Post Graduate Diploma... more The study explored challenges associated with conducting action research by Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) students at Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU). The study involved participants at ZOU Midlands regional campus. Data were generated from five lectures who supervised action research and 30 students in PGDE Intake 13. An open-ended questionnaire was used to generate data from students while a focus group discussion was held with the lecturers. The study revealed that challenges were programme and lecturer related. Students had very inadequate knowledge on the theory of action research reports. The PGDE programme was regarded as not giving students sound preparation in action report theory and writing. Some supervisors lacked adequate knowledge on the essence of action research. The study recommended adequate action research theory coverage by students, use of a well-defined action research writing format by both supervisors and students and early allocation of students t...
International Open and Distance Learning Journal, 2017
In its 2017 Strategic Plan, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) proposed that every Masters student sh... more In its 2017 Strategic Plan, Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU) proposed that every Masters student should prepare and submit assignments online. Every student is also encouraged to access learning materials online and to use the MyVista platform. It appeared that the authorities envisioned this idea without having adequate information on the sufficiency, accessibility, and ability to use the ICT materials by the students. It also appeared that use of ICT materials by ZOU students was minimal. A study was then carried out to investigate the challenges faced by ZOU students of the Midlands Regional Campus in accessing and using ICT materials for learning, research and producing assignments. Using convenience sampling, 15students who visited the ICT laboratory during the first semester of 2017 were selected and interviewed. Data wereanalysed usinghermeneutical analysis techniques. Findings were that students had challenges in being involved in collaborative learning with other students and...
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