Browsing by Author "Govender, Shanali"

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    Towards improved inclusive approaches to educational technology support: a case of staff with disabilities at a higher education institution
    (2025) Rayned, Donna; Govender, Shanali
    Inclusive practices in higher education have become a key focus, but staff with disabilities often face challenges when trying to access and use the educational technology and support systems available to them. This study examines the experiences of staff with disabilities at a South African university, focusing on how they engage with the institution's educational technology support. Using a qualitative approach, the research involved interviews to understand the effectiveness of the support provided. The study is guided by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, offering a useful perspective on the institution's current support practices. The findings reveal gaps in the support, including inconsistent training and unclear guidance on how to use educational technologies effectively. The analysis points to the need for greater awareness of disability and suggests changes to both policies and practices to make the environment more inclusive and equitable. The study concludes by offering recommendations for improving educational technology support, helping institutions create a more inclusive academic environment.
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    Understanding Education Technology Integration Experiences among Engineering Educators: A Cultural Historical Activity Theory Approach
    (2021) Cawood, Ka Wai; Jawitz, Jeffrey; Govender, Shanali
    Although the University of Cape Town has implemented various education technology projects in the last two decades, the disruptions experienced during the #FeesMustFall movement and the COVID-19 pandemic point to challenges with integrating technology successfully, highlighting the need to better understand technology integration in higher education. Based in the Engineering Faculty, I adopted a Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) perspective to understand the experiences of engineering educators with regards to education technology integration in a department. A qualitative case study with semi-structured interviews was conducted with engineering educators. The data was analysed according to the categories in CHAT. Individual educator analyses were presented as activity systems. These were then synthesised to a departmental level understanding. I found that all educators integrated education technology to varying degrees. These included the university's learning management system, Microsoft PowerPoint, document cameras, and various engineering technologies. Educators integrated education technology to improve the practical demonstration of engineering concepts, prepare students for the workplace, and improve the efficiency of certain tasks. Their integration efforts were mediated mainly by the university's infrastructure and their access to institutional technologies. Nondirective approach by the departmental and faculty leadership provided educators with the freedom to integrate education technology, although, some educators expressed a desire for increased leadership intervention. Technical and pedagogical support services from the university provided resources and support for integration. The technologies integrated by the educators were informed by their preference for teaching resources that visualised theory. Educators were concerned with the impact of lecture recording on attendance, highlighting sustainability issues of this technology. As all participants integrated education technology independently, future studies may benefit from understanding less active users' experiences, the contribution of support services, and the role of departmental leadership.