Letsela B . Motaung - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Letsela B . Motaung

Research paper thumbnail of Tutor experiences of online tutoring as a basis for the development of a focused tutor-training programme

The Journal of Teaching and Learning, 2021

Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has... more Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has grappled with for many years, and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa, increased access to higher education by members of previously disadvantaged groups has caused severe strain on existing infrastructure and posed new challenges for lecturers in the classroom. E-tutorials do not only address infrastructure challenges related to the shortage of physical learning space in universities but also create a platform where students can engage with learning content outside the classroom. This study seeks to investigate the experiences of tutors engaged in an online tutorial programme at a rural university campus in South Africa. We deploy a qualitative approach to make sense of the experiences of the tutors for purposes of developing a focused online tutorial training programme. Data were gathered from selected participants using structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using the five stages of Salmon's e-moderating framework. The limitations of the study include the limited population sample and the rural context in which the study was conducted. As a result, the findings of the study may not be generalisable to other, non-rural contexts. The findings indicate that tutors need specific training to effectively facilitate learning in an online environment. 1

Research paper thumbnail of Tutor experiences of online tutoring as a basis for the development of a focused tutor-training programme 1

The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning , 2021

Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has... more Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has grappled with for many years, and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa, increased access to higher education by members of previously disadvantaged groups has caused severe strain on existing infrastructure and posed new challenges for lecturers in the classroom. E-tutorials do not only address infrastructure challenges related to the shortage of physical learning space in universities but also create a platform where students can engage with learning content outside the classroom. This study seeks to investigate the experiences of tutors engaged in an online tutorial programme at a rural university campus in South Africa. We deploy a qualitative approach to make sense of the experiences of the tutors for purposes of developing a focused online tutorial training programme. Data were gathered from selected participants using structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using the five stages of Salmon's e-moderating framework. The limitations of the study include the limited population sample and the rural context in which the study was conducted. As a result, the findings of the study may not be generalisable to other, non-rural contexts. The findings indicate that tutors need specific training to effectively facilitate learning in an online environment. 1

Research paper thumbnail of WhatsApp Messenger as a Mediating Tool in Times of COVID-19 for Enhancing Student Engagement in e-Tutorials at a Rural South African University

Journal of Educational and Social Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These predicaments include plummeting economies, access to technological resources, and access to quality teaching and learning in higher education institutions. This paper is couched in critical emancipatory research with emphasis on emancipation of rural students in the new normal that has emerged because of COVID -19 pandemic. Participatory Action Research was used as a research approach to collect data through WhatsApp Messenger where the discussions were centred on two questions which are; what are the experiences of students on the use of WhatsApp by tutors and how can learning using WhatsApp enhance students’ engagement? The findings of this study suggest that students were having difficulties with engaging in online tutorials. These challenges include inadequate access to technological devices, skills and competencies in using technological tools, network connectivity challenges, and l...

Research paper thumbnail of WhatsApp Messenger as a Mediating Tool in Times of COVID-19 for Enhancing Student Engagement in e-Tutorials at a Rural South African University

Journal of Educational and Social Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These predicaments include plummeting economies, access to technological resources, and access to quality teaching and learning in higher education institutions. This paper is couched in critical emancipatory research with emphasis on emancipation of rural students in the new normal that has emerged because of COVID -19 pandemic. Participatory Action Research was used as a research approach to collect data through WhatsApp Messenger where the discussions were centred on two questions which are; what are the experiences of students on the use of WhatsApp by tutors and how can learning using WhatsApp enhance students’ engagement? The findings of this study suggest that students were having difficulties with engaging in online tutorials. These challenges include inadequate access to technological devices, skills and competencies in using technological tools, network connectivity challenges, and l...

Research paper thumbnail of Tutor experiences of online tutoring as a basis for the development of a focused tutor-training programme

The Journal of Teaching and Learning, 2021

Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has... more Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has grappled with for many years, and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa, increased access to higher education by members of previously disadvantaged groups has caused severe strain on existing infrastructure and posed new challenges for lecturers in the classroom. E-tutorials do not only address infrastructure challenges related to the shortage of physical learning space in universities but also create a platform where students can engage with learning content outside the classroom. This study seeks to investigate the experiences of tutors engaged in an online tutorial programme at a rural university campus in South Africa. We deploy a qualitative approach to make sense of the experiences of the tutors for purposes of developing a focused online tutorial training programme. Data were gathered from selected participants using structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using the five stages of Salmon's e-moderating framework. The limitations of the study include the limited population sample and the rural context in which the study was conducted. As a result, the findings of the study may not be generalisable to other, non-rural contexts. The findings indicate that tutors need specific training to effectively facilitate learning in an online environment. 1

Research paper thumbnail of Tutor experiences of online tutoring as a basis for the development of a focused tutor-training programme 1

The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning , 2021

Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has... more Online tutorials (e-tutorials) have the potential to address challenges that higher education has grappled with for many years, and even more so in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Africa, increased access to higher education by members of previously disadvantaged groups has caused severe strain on existing infrastructure and posed new challenges for lecturers in the classroom. E-tutorials do not only address infrastructure challenges related to the shortage of physical learning space in universities but also create a platform where students can engage with learning content outside the classroom. This study seeks to investigate the experiences of tutors engaged in an online tutorial programme at a rural university campus in South Africa. We deploy a qualitative approach to make sense of the experiences of the tutors for purposes of developing a focused online tutorial training programme. Data were gathered from selected participants using structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were analysed using the five stages of Salmon's e-moderating framework. The limitations of the study include the limited population sample and the rural context in which the study was conducted. As a result, the findings of the study may not be generalisable to other, non-rural contexts. The findings indicate that tutors need specific training to effectively facilitate learning in an online environment. 1

Research paper thumbnail of WhatsApp Messenger as a Mediating Tool in Times of COVID-19 for Enhancing Student Engagement in e-Tutorials at a Rural South African University

Journal of Educational and Social Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These predicaments include plummeting economies, access to technological resources, and access to quality teaching and learning in higher education institutions. This paper is couched in critical emancipatory research with emphasis on emancipation of rural students in the new normal that has emerged because of COVID -19 pandemic. Participatory Action Research was used as a research approach to collect data through WhatsApp Messenger where the discussions were centred on two questions which are; what are the experiences of students on the use of WhatsApp by tutors and how can learning using WhatsApp enhance students’ engagement? The findings of this study suggest that students were having difficulties with engaging in online tutorials. These challenges include inadequate access to technological devices, skills and competencies in using technological tools, network connectivity challenges, and l...

Research paper thumbnail of WhatsApp Messenger as a Mediating Tool in Times of COVID-19 for Enhancing Student Engagement in e-Tutorials at a Rural South African University

Journal of Educational and Social Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These ... more The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in myriad of predicaments in societies around the world. These predicaments include plummeting economies, access to technological resources, and access to quality teaching and learning in higher education institutions. This paper is couched in critical emancipatory research with emphasis on emancipation of rural students in the new normal that has emerged because of COVID -19 pandemic. Participatory Action Research was used as a research approach to collect data through WhatsApp Messenger where the discussions were centred on two questions which are; what are the experiences of students on the use of WhatsApp by tutors and how can learning using WhatsApp enhance students’ engagement? The findings of this study suggest that students were having difficulties with engaging in online tutorials. These challenges include inadequate access to technological devices, skills and competencies in using technological tools, network connectivity challenges, and l...