An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia

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dc.contributor.advisorNg'ambi Dicken_ZA
dc.contributor.authorIthindi, Elina Tangenien_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-05-28T07:00:02Z
dc.date.available2015-05-28T07:00:02Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractMobile phones are hardly used for teaching and learning in the study setting, the Polytechnic of Namibia. Formal learning that is widespread in the study setting does not allow the design of authentic learning tasks. Nevertheless, mobile learning allows the design of authentic learning tasks and enables students to construct knowledge socially in an informal learning environment that facilitates interaction and collaboration. Learning is a boundless social activity that takes place through engagement with others. As learning takes place through interaction, it cannot be confined to the classroom; it should involve transition between formal and informal learning. Learning is hence not confined to didactic methods and does not only take place through transmission of knowledge. New forms of learning are emerging whereby student interaction is enabled by technological tools, unlike formal learning that does not necessitate online tools. Mobile devices might thus be used to mediate convergence of formal and informal learning. This study was aimed to investigate how mobile-mediated social learning converges formal and informal learning, using a socio-constructivist approach. The study was conducted in the Department of Languages at the Polytechnic of Namibia in two phases, the pilot phase that was conducted in 2012, and the main study that was conducted in 2013. The study involved a total of ten students doing Language in Practice. Mobile applications, social media tools inclusive, have potential to change the traditional pattern of learning. They enable social construction of knowledge. As a social media tool, WhatsApp was used in this study as a platform for the participants in the study to exchange ideas and construct knowledge collaboratively.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationIthindi, E. T. (2014). <i>An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12967en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationIthindi, Elina Tangeni. <i>"An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12967en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationIthindi, E. 2014. An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Ithindi, Elina Tangeni AB - Mobile phones are hardly used for teaching and learning in the study setting, the Polytechnic of Namibia. Formal learning that is widespread in the study setting does not allow the design of authentic learning tasks. Nevertheless, mobile learning allows the design of authentic learning tasks and enables students to construct knowledge socially in an informal learning environment that facilitates interaction and collaboration. Learning is a boundless social activity that takes place through engagement with others. As learning takes place through interaction, it cannot be confined to the classroom; it should involve transition between formal and informal learning. Learning is hence not confined to didactic methods and does not only take place through transmission of knowledge. New forms of learning are emerging whereby student interaction is enabled by technological tools, unlike formal learning that does not necessitate online tools. Mobile devices might thus be used to mediate convergence of formal and informal learning. This study was aimed to investigate how mobile-mediated social learning converges formal and informal learning, using a socio-constructivist approach. The study was conducted in the Department of Languages at the Polytechnic of Namibia in two phases, the pilot phase that was conducted in 2012, and the main study that was conducted in 2013. The study involved a total of ten students doing Language in Practice. Mobile applications, social media tools inclusive, have potential to change the traditional pattern of learning. They enable social construction of knowledge. As a social media tool, WhatsApp was used in this study as a platform for the participants in the study to exchange ideas and construct knowledge collaboratively. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia TI - An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12967 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/12967
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationIthindi ET. An investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibia. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,School of Education, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12967en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Educationen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEducationen_ZA
dc.titleAn investigation of mobile-mediated social learning using socio-constructivism: a case study of convergence of informal and formal learning at the Polytechnic of Namibiaen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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