Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties

Reading difficulties are of concern worldwide, as evidenced by a number of studies, including the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), the Centre for Evaluation & Assessment (CEA), and Progress in International Reading Literacy (PIRLS). In South Africa’s, Gauteng Provin...

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Main Author: Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty
Other Authors: Nel, Norma
Language:en
Published: 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13299
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spelling ndltd-netd.ac.za-oai-union.ndltd.org-unisa-oai-umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za-10500-132992016-04-16T04:08:24Z Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty Nel, Norma Information communication technologies Reading Reading difficulties Support mechanism School-based support team Learning support E-learning Barriers to learning 372.40285 Reading (Early childhood) --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies Reading --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies Language arts --South Africa -- Gauteng --Case studies Reading difficulties are of concern worldwide, as evidenced by a number of studies, including the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), the Centre for Evaluation & Assessment (CEA), and Progress in International Reading Literacy (PIRLS). In South Africa’s, Gauteng Province, in which this study was conducted, the Department of Education (DoE) launched campaigns, such as Foundations for Learning (FFL) and Annual National Assessment (ANA) to address this problem. The purpose of this study was to explore, explain and describe the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support learners experiencing reading difficulties in two public primary schools. The study was influenced by Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of human learning that describes it as a social process and the origination of human intelligence in society or culture. It comprised skills, assumptions and practices that the researcher used when moving from paradigm to the empirical world. A qualitative approach was used to gain first-hand holistic understanding of the use of ICTs to support learners experiencing reading difficulties, with data collected using focus group interviews, individual interviews and observations. Participants were 18 members of the School Based Support Team (SBST) and two Learning Support Educators (LSEs) of the two selected primary schools. The use of ICTs as a support mechanism was explored, with a detailed view presented on the use of ICTs by the teachers during teaching and learning activities and how they supported learners experiencing reading difficulties. From the research findings, factors affecting learners experiencing reading difficulties were identified, including lack of resources (specifically ICTS) and lack of guidelines on identifying and providing support to the learners experiencing reading difficulties. Based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations were made and the researcher developed guidelines which could be used by teachers to provide ICTs support for learners with reading difficulties. Educational Studies 2014-04-02T13:02:02Z 2014-04-02T13:02:02Z 2014-04-02 Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13299 en
collection NDLTD
language en
sources NDLTD
topic Information communication technologies
Reading
Reading difficulties
Support mechanism
School-based support team
Learning support
E-learning
Barriers to learning
372.40285
Reading (Early childhood) --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies
Reading --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies
Language arts --South Africa -- Gauteng --Case studies
spellingShingle Information communication technologies
Reading
Reading difficulties
Support mechanism
School-based support team
Learning support
E-learning
Barriers to learning
372.40285
Reading (Early childhood) --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies
Reading --South Africa -- Gauteng -- Computer assisted instruction --Case studies
Language arts --South Africa -- Gauteng --Case studies
Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty
Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
description Reading difficulties are of concern worldwide, as evidenced by a number of studies, including the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), the Centre for Evaluation & Assessment (CEA), and Progress in International Reading Literacy (PIRLS). In South Africa’s, Gauteng Province, in which this study was conducted, the Department of Education (DoE) launched campaigns, such as Foundations for Learning (FFL) and Annual National Assessment (ANA) to address this problem. The purpose of this study was to explore, explain and describe the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support learners experiencing reading difficulties in two public primary schools. The study was influenced by Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory of human learning that describes it as a social process and the origination of human intelligence in society or culture. It comprised skills, assumptions and practices that the researcher used when moving from paradigm to the empirical world. A qualitative approach was used to gain first-hand holistic understanding of the use of ICTs to support learners experiencing reading difficulties, with data collected using focus group interviews, individual interviews and observations. Participants were 18 members of the School Based Support Team (SBST) and two Learning Support Educators (LSEs) of the two selected primary schools. The use of ICTs as a support mechanism was explored, with a detailed view presented on the use of ICTs by the teachers during teaching and learning activities and how they supported learners experiencing reading difficulties. From the research findings, factors affecting learners experiencing reading difficulties were identified, including lack of resources (specifically ICTS) and lack of guidelines on identifying and providing support to the learners experiencing reading difficulties. Based on the findings, conclusions and recommendations were made and the researcher developed guidelines which could be used by teachers to provide ICTs support for learners with reading difficulties. === Educational Studies
author2 Nel, Norma
author_facet Nel, Norma
Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty
author Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty
author_sort Mphahlele, Ramashego Shila Shorty
title Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
title_short Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
title_full Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
title_fullStr Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
title_full_unstemmed Information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
title_sort information communication technologies as a support mechanism for learners experiencing reading difficulties
publishDate 2014
url http://hdl.handle.net/10500/13299
work_keys_str_mv AT mphahleleramashegoshilashorty informationcommunicationtechnologiesasasupportmechanismforlearnersexperiencingreadingdifficulties
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