Izak van Zyl

Cape Peninsula University of Technology | CPUT · Centre for Postgraduate Studies

In this paper, we introduce intersubjective ethics as an approach to ethical practice in community-based research. We argue for the need to think of ethics as an evolving process that is inseparable from the research endeavor, and that dwells on relationships and dialogs among researchers and community members. At the core of our approach is “inter...

WhatsApp groups are considered useful for creating and supporting virtual communities. This mixed method case study explores the patterns that emerged when we used WhatsApp to create a community of learning during the multimodal presentation of a postgraduate course in research proposal writing. Three questions drive the study: (1) What kinds of me...

Literature indicates that low retention rates are evident in online modules and programmes. However, a much higher student retention rate than anticipated was observed in two fully online programmes at two South African universities. To explore this retention phenomena, a non-experimental quantitative study was done. The study uses descriptive stat...

The modern academic gown used by some higher educational institutions (HEIs) in South Africa for graduation ceremonies is not suitable for mobility challenged graduates. This article presents the challenges experienced by mobility-impaired graduates wearing a modern academic gown and their practical needs for an ideal academic gown. The study inclu...

Big Data communication researchers have highlighted the need for qualitative analysis of online science conversations to better understand their meaning. However, a scholarly gap exists in exploring how qualitative methods can be applied to small data regarding micro-bloggers' communications about science articles. While social media attention assi...

There is a lack of acceptance, adoption and sustained use of mobile phones for agricultural purposes by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, but the reasons for this have not been critically explored. In this study, the authors used a naturalistic methodology to help uncover the nuances of adoption dynamics among smallholder farmers in Gokwe South Dist...

Like many sectors, the South African fast-food market was adversely affected by the country’s first COVID-19 “lockdown,” with franchises forced to close or only partially operate between March and June of 2020. Fast-food establishments are significant contributors to South Africa’s food and beverages sector, and their closure during the stringent l...

As a contemporary and boundary spanning approach, design thinking is gaining traction in higher education, but it has not yet been established in academic staff development. The aim of this study is to reflect on a recent staff development intervention on blended learning course design, aimed at promoting a ‘design thinking mindset’ among universit...

In response to Covid-19, the South African Higher Education Sector was forced to switch to remote learning and teaching practices. In this chapter, affordable digital communication tools are explored, including Additive Manufacturing, the Technology Pedagogy and Content Knowledge Model and the Community of Inquiry Model, to enhance distance learnin...

This study investigated the affordances (hindrances and opportunities) of developing a comprehensive Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) curricular product in the South African higher education sector. The methodology consisted of an initial literature review illustrating the use of DfAM in higher education and the existence of formal DfAM cur...

Editorial for the Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa

Unemployment is high among youths living in marginalised communities in South Africa. One of the reasons is that many young people are either un- or low-skilled to gain employment in a digital economy requiring high-skilled individuals. The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) also exacerbates the future of work for these youths if they remain unskil...

This research is an inquiry into the (under)utilisation of mobile phones by smallholder farmers in their agricultural activities in Zimbabwe. Through a naturalistic enquiry, the research established that agricultural extension officers are vital in the adoption and use of mobile phones for agricultural purposes. Those extension officers who were no...

The pandemic brought many changes to educational innovation due to the immediate shift to online learning resulting in a lack of learning design. This resulted in questioning how useful the existing tools and methods are for online pedagogies (1). Limited blended learning experiences were observed with little concern for engagement, participation a...

The uptake of design thinking in higher education is on the rise. Yet, it has not been strongly established in academic staff development. This chapter reflects on a blended learning course design intervention, aimed at promoting a ‘design thinking mindset’ among university lecturers. By analysing empirical data gathered through participant interac...

Gamification is broadly defined as the use of game-related features and practices (e.g., points, rewards, and competition) in environments that are not related to entertainment. In Information Systems learning, gamification can be considered to improve students’ interpersonal skills and to develop their digital literacy. This study highlights that...

The onset of COVID-19 has led to the introduction of far-reaching digital interventions in the interest of public health. Among these, digital contact tracing has been proposed as a viable means of targeted control in countries across the globe, including on the African continent. This, in turn, creates significant ethical challenges for vulnerable...

Over the last four years, the Centre for Innovative Educational Technology (CIET), responsible for supporting academic staff in adopting blended learning, has integrated elements of design thinking in its staff development initiatives. Given the divergent perspectives as to what constitutes blended learning within the higher education context, this...

The onset of COVID-19 has led to the introduction of far-reaching digital interventions in the interest of public health. Among these, digital contact tracing has been proposed as a viable means of targeted control in countries across the globe, including on the African continent. This, in turn, creates significant ethical challenges for vulnerable...

In March 2017, the San Council of South Africa, together with the South African San Institute (SASI), launched the San Code of Research Ethics. The main impetus for this was a genomic research project that was published in Nature in 2010 by Schuster et al. [p.943] While the authors obtained formal ethical approval and claimed to have video recorded...

There has been a clarion call for the decolonization of South African universities. Decolonization focuses on the dismantlement of Western epistemological traditions and practices entrenched in the university culture and knowledge domains. In this paper, we explore decolonization as a site of struggle in national institutions of higher learning, no...

As a contemporary and boundary spanning approach, design thinking is gaining traction in higher education, but it has not yet been established in academic staff development. The aim of this study is to reflect on a recent staff development intervention on blended learning course design, aimed at promoting a 'design thinking mindset' among universit...

The article argues that a transdisciplinary approach can advance the field of Information Systems (IS). By taking a transdisciplinary approach, researchers reach beyond the bounds of their disciplinary ontology and epistemology in order to address complex phenomena. Such a high level of synthesis is not possible with interdisciplinary and multidisc...

Gamification can heighten student motivation and make learning more engaging. Several literature reviews focus on the effects of gamification; however, no work to date has been done that exclusively examine qualitative studies in higher education. In this paper, we systematically review existing literature on gamification in Information Systems (IS...

Typography is constantly shifting its form according to technologies and audiences. Understanding the constant motions of typography is critical in designing forms of visual communication. In addition, current digital technologies provide novel opportunities for users to participate and co-create new typographic conventions. Online 'fandoms' consis...

Voluntourism as a form of philanthropic tourism has become an increasingly popular research topic but there is a paucity of literature on the complex interplay between voluntourism and the internet. Specifically, there is sparse evidence on how the internet mediates ideas and representations of voluntourism. Building on prior research in the inform...

Design thinking is entering higher education as traditional thinking models characterised by linear, siloed, and signature pedagogies are proving to be inadequate to respond to the increasingly complex and multifaceted problems students face. In this paper, the authors reflect on a staff development intervention on blended learning course design of...

Design thinking is entering higher education as traditional thinking models characterised by linear, siloed, and signature pedagogies are proving to be inadequate to respond to the increasingly complex and multifaceted problems students face. In this paper, the authors reflect on a staff development intervention on blended learning course design of...

Wikipedia is a major source of information, and is known for its wealth of content, its openness and accessibility. Wikipedia could be a powerful educational tool, especially in countries with little access to educational materials. But is it already so? On the one hand, many educational projects reference Wikipedia for both content learning and in...

Against the backdrop of a complex Higher Education (HE) landscape, particularly in a developing country context where the relevance of current HE structures is questioned through student protests, and decolonisation of education practices is called for, traditional thinking is losing ground. This study focuses on lecturers identified as eLearning c...

This workshop is themed around the ethics of -- potentially disruptive -- design research in collaboration with social communities. Disruption may lead to conflict and 'cultural resistance' on part of communities, despite the noble intentions of research-practitioners and designers. Ethical design is not a novel concept, but it remains fundamental...

With the global diffusion of digital gaming, there is an increasing call to establish to what extent games and their elements could be harnessed for learning and education. Most research in this field has been conducted in more economically advanced and developed regions, and there is a paucity of research in emerging country contexts. It is argued...

This article draws on the results of a long-term, design-based research study with South African primary school teachers to discuss the role of subjectively assigned meanings and symbolisms of technology, as key factors affecting the adoption, appropriation and use of educational technology in urban poor and under-resourced environments. The paper...

This paper discusses how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) supports tourism teaching in South African secondary schools. The researchers conducted an in-depth case study with 24 participants. An analysis reveals that teachers recognise ICT as essential in exposing students to the tourism industry. This is especially the case in under-r...

This paper aims to problematise how we step into situations that are often contested, contingent and contradictory. In this context, how can we sharpen our sensitivity to the role design plays in generating understanding and future-making possibilities? Here, we employ the term disruption as a way to question our own knowledge construction and rese...

Our study is guided by the following research question: “What are the discourses associated with ICTs among collective groups in marginalized communities?” In addressing this question, this study represents an initial step to contribute to theoretical and empirical discussions of discourse in ICT4D (Bladergroen et al. 2012), collective capability (...

In this position paper, I discuss the intellectual politics of research philosophy in the field of Information Systems (IS). I make particular reference to the higher education landscape of South Africa, and attempt to trace personal and scholarly encounters with what I deem to be 'paradigmatic thinking'. The aim of the ensuing discussion is to dee...

This paper is a reflection on the lessons learnt during an information systems development for development (ISD4D) project in underserved community contexts. The level of participation of health intermediaries and community members is considered for the design of an mHealth application to facilitate access to relevant health information. The paper...

This paper responds to the paucity of research on the linkages between voluntourism and digital technology and seeks to understand the online representation of the phenomenon in a developing context. In particular, the researchers investigate the so-called ‘online domain’ of voluntourism in South Africa. The researchers collected a series of web re...

The paper gives a broad overview and evaluation of research that has been done with regard to hermeneutics in Information Systems (IS). The approach is interdisciplinary, combining insights from the humanities with the IS discipline. After introducing the theme of hermeneutics, with a focus on philosophical hermeneutics, the relevance of hermeneuti...

This paper will explore the meanings and roles of information and communication technology (ICT) for communities in underserved areas, and how these discourses affect the use of available technology artefacts. Since a certain degree of "technological determinism" is still rife in the field of information and communication technology for development...

This paper engages with issues of universality and locality in the context of community-based participatory design (PD), and focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with incorporating local views and forms of participation in the design process. The notion of 'designing for participation' is advanced as a quintessential perspective f...

There is a need to provide 'youth at risk' groups in marginalised communities with simple and private access to reproductive health information. Youth at risk are young people in these communities that face various challenges such as multidimensional poverty and unemployment, and refer specifically to those young individuals that have an uncertain...

There is a need to provide 'youth at risk' groups in marginalised communities with simple and private access to relevant reproductive health information. Youth at risk are young people faced with various challenges such as multidimensional poverty, unemployment and those that have an uncertain future. It is important that the youth be aware of all...

Health intermediaries in emerging contexts exhibit a diversity of information needs in conducting their professional duties. There is limited understanding, however, as to the complex needs of these groups. Furthermore, there is still a paucity of research on supporting the information needs of intermediaries via technological means. This paper emp...

This paper presents cross-lingual experiments in automatic detection of medical words that may be difficult to understand by patients. The study relies on Natural Language Processing (NLP) methods, conducted in three steps, across two languages, French and Xhosa: (1) the French data are processed by NLP methods and tools to reproduce the manual cat...

In this paper, we review the concept of transdisciplinarity with emphasis on its value for Information Systems (IS) theory and practice. In keeping with prevailing research on this topic, we study the relation between IS research and concepts originating from theoretical debates around disciplinarity. In particular, we attempt to deepen the underst...

In this paper, we review the concept of transdisciplinarity with emphasis on its value for Information Systems (IS) theory and practice. In keeping with prevailing research on this topic, we study the relation between IS research and concepts originating from theoretical debates around disciplinarity. In particular, we attempt to deepen the underst...

In a context where there has only been limited success with Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in education, this paper explores attitudes towards the use of ICTs in South African pre-service teacher education. In particular, it looks at how cognitive and affective attitudes towards technology determine visions and scenarios of techn...

This paper explores the possibility for a design-based research (DBR) methodology in the broader ICT-for-development (ICT4D) domain. Specifically, the authors reflect on the application of DBR within a local development project, active in Mozambique, titled RE-ACT. Leveraging on DBR, said project studies the social conceptualisations of Community M...

Background and Purpose: Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to strengthen healthcare service provision, communication, information processing, and management. In developing contexts, great improvements were made towards utilising ICT in healthcare. However, the same factors influencing the provision of healthcare servi...

Background and Purpose: This paper is part of wider collaborative research activities aimed at finding information technology-based solutions to socially marginalized communities in the area of health provision. This particular study is empirically scoped around Grabouw, a settlement in the Western Cape in South Africa. It is one of thousands of su...

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Community-based health promoters fulfil an important role as intermediaries in healthcare service provision. These persons function as the link between institutional agendas and grassroots livelihoods. Socially embedded mobile applications may support them to provide better healthcare services. RESEARCH PROBLEM This de...

This paper depicts the utilisation of a service design ap-proach for envisioning health-related ICT solutions in Grabouw, in the Western Cape of South Africa. Grabouw, located in the vast Elgin Valley, is the largest fruit-producing region in the country. As the commercial centre for the district, Grabouw attracts seasonal and informal labour. Toge...

This paper reflects on the dynamics in offering an Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-for-education course for pre-service teachers in South African teacher-training institutions. The study arose from an earlier study which noted the challenge of attempting to offer an ICT course to in-service teachers. The project designed and offered...

This paper presents the role of social media in a particular institution, in terms of corporate (or organisational) learning, in the domain of research and development. The nature of learning in organisational contexts has shifted in the face of resource constraints and post-initial learning demands. The ‘promise’ of social media here involves incr...

This paper will respond to the theme of multidisciplinary areas of research that are considered of high importance for SANORD’s member universities and countries. It will explore the facilitation of existing networks and initiatives, with a specific focus on innovation, in forging partnerships that are useful and appropriate to communities. The amb...

In South Africa, the many concerns around marginalised youth, first voiced in the 1980s, are still prevalent. These include unemployment, poverty, volatile education systems, family and community conflict, and exposure to crime and violence. Unemployment in youth sectors is still a mayor concern despite economic investment, and can be a catalyst fo...

This paper presents a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Primary School Educators' dialogue on the use of ICT in an under-resourced schooling context. Educators play a pivotal role in the education system. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) interventions in schools will be effective only if educators are willing and able to appropriat...

This paper intends to describe some of the primary social and cultural dynamics in South African home-based healthcare, using ethnographic case study material and design methodology. This constitutes a detailed narrative of the "care experience" in a poor community, emphasising the needs of and barriers to educational information, particularly conc...

This paper presents challenges and trends emerging from an on-going project, named MELISSA – Measuring E-Learning Impact in primary Schools in South African disadvantaged areas). MELISSA measures the impact of exposure to ICTs in teacher training and learning. The intention is here to understand and analyse changes in attitudes to and uses of ICTs....

This paper presents challenges and trends emerging from an ongoing project, named MELISSA – Measuring E-Learning Impact in primary Schools in South African disadvantaged areas). MELISSA measures the impact of exposure to ICTs in teacher training and learning. The intention is here to understand and analyse changes in attitudes to and uses of ICTs....

This paper will investigate a critical approach to using technology for educational development in disadvantaged regions in Cape Town, South Africa. The case study employed for this analysis is officially known as MELISSA: Measuring E-Learning Impact in primary Schools in South African disadvantaged Areas. The research programme has thus far monito...

Caregivers providing a care service to under-resourced communities do not have sufficient access to information and training. A mobile application was developed to enable caregivers to become active producers of their own information, which is in turn translated into mobile edutainment content. This facilitates informal, on-demand learning. Said mo...

This paper describes the context of home-based healthcare (HBHC) in a deprived South African community. This is done by means of ethnographic and design methodology, which was utilised to elicit a deeper understanding of the home-care context. The ethnographic aspect extracted relevant social and cultural insights with respect to this environmen...

Considering the pivotal role educators play in the education system, it is expected that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) interventions in schools will be effective only if educators are willing and able to appropriate the intervention to their actual needs, and derive real benefits. One of the barriers to the meaningful integration o...

With the increasing pressure created by HIV/AIDS and chronic illness, home-based healthcare (HBHC) has become a vital counter-service in developing countries. Yet, initial observations in several HBHC setups in the Western Cape of South Africa have indicated that caregivers lacked proper support structures. This was either in the form of patient da...

This paper intends to describe some of the primary social and cultural dynamics in South African home-based healthcare, using ethnographic case study material. This constitutes a detailed narrative of the "care experience" in a poor community, emphasising the needs of and barriers to educational information, particularly concerning caregivers. In l...

This paper will present qualitative data related to the introduction, use, and adoption of ICTs in South African primary schools. Six under-resourced schools in Cape Town partook in this analysis. The majority of respondents exhibited positive and enthusiastic attitudes toward the introduction in ICTs. This was balanced by various negative and neut...

This paper intends to describe some of the primary social and cultural dynamics in South African home-based healthcare, using ethnographic case study material and design methodology. This constitutes a detailed narrative of the "care experience" in a poor community, emphasising the needs of and barriers to educational information, particularly conc...

This paper introduces the construct of Self-Efficacy as a method to measure the impact that ICT-enhanced teacher training has on teachers. Firstly, Self-Efficacy and its related sub-constructs, Computer Self-Efficacy and Teacher Self-Efficacy, are presented. Secondly, three research settings where the construct have been tested are introduced: two...

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis, I examine the case study of the Makuleke in Limpopo province. This community entered the public spotlight when it regained its former homeland in the Kruger National Park. It currently partakes in an extensive programme on ‘responsible tourism’ via commercial expansion. This concession allows (or is supposed to all...