32 nd Conference of the Southern African Association for Counselling and Development (SAACDHE) http://hdl.handle.net/11189/1740 2026-08-16T07:46:07Z 2026-08-16T07:46:07Z Nendauni, Lutendo Matende, Tawanda http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9989 2025-09-01T20:45:19Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Sign language marginalisation in early childhood development education in Zimbabwe: towards linguistic inclusivity Authors: Nendauni, Lutendo; Matende, Tawanda Abstract: This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the marginalisation of sign language in early childhood development education (ECDE) in Zimbabwe and proposing an inclusive approach for Deaf education. Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, researchers focused on two mainstream schools that accommodate Deaf learners and two special schools for the Deaf. Data collection included a literature review, observations, and semi-structured interviews, framed by the Critical Language Policy framework. Findings highlight a shortage of qualified ECDE teachers and the predominance of the direct method and audio-linguicism as key factors marginalising sign language. Additionally, limited parental involvement and a lack of language acquisition support hinder Deaf learners’ development. The study advocates for increasing learning facilities and qualified sign linguists and establishing inclusive teaching and learning policies to improve Deaf education in ECDE settings.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Strydom, Sonja Titus, Simone Waghid, Faiq Gachago, Daniela http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9924 2025-05-28T20:45:20Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Enabling inter-institutional co-design and co-facilitation of a postgraduate diploma module in educational technology: Uncovering sites of struggle, negotiation and accommodation among course facilitators Authors: Strydom, Sonja; Titus, Simone; Waghid, Faiq; Gachago, Daniela Abstract: The development of a curriculum for a diverse group of students is challenging, whether at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. Various social, organisational, political, cultural, and personal factors are at play in the process of designing a curriculum that is learning-centred and responsive to societal needs. The notion of learning-centred curriculum development has been addressed extensively in the literature; however, scant research focuses on the interests of agents, as well as the cultural and structural considerations at play, when designing a postgraduate module for participants from diverse and unequal backgrounds. Analysing written reflections and reflective conversations on the various events, mechanisms, and structures encountered during the process of curriculum development, we shed new light on the covert issues facilitators have had to acknowledge when designing a learning-centred curriculum for participants across vastly diverse higher education contexts in South Africa. Drawing on sociologist Margaret Archer’s research, we seek to provide insight into the interplay between structure, culture, and agency when course facilitators from different institutional backgrounds collaboratively designed and facilitated a postgraduate module in educational technology.

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Periola, Ayodele Abiola http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9632 2024-05-14T20:46:34Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Power usage effectiveness in stratosphere based computing platforms: re‑evaluation and need to re‑establish performance benefits via an Intelligent light server selection architecture Authors: Periola, Ayodele Abiola Abstract: The need to reduce data center operational costs has necessitated siting cloud computing platforms in cold locations such as the stratosphere. The stratosphere has also been found to play an important role in understanding life origins as it hosts life forms. The use of stratosphere based computing platforms however requires the hosting of multiple server payloads (requiring high energy consumption) at a higher altitude. In addition, smaller server payloads lead to smaller sized stratospheric computing platforms (SCPs) which limit interaction with stratospheric organisms. However, these challenges are not considered when designing SCPs. Hence, there is a risk of wrongly evaluating the power usage effectiveness (PUE) associated with SCPs. In addition, there is a risk of installing and deploying large sized SCPs thereby leading to contamination and limiting research potential on studying life forms. The research being presented proposes an intelligent architecture enabling the identification, selection and use of only light weight servers aboard SCPs. The incorporation of the intelligent architecture is observed to enhance the PUE by 43.9%. In addition, the use of the intelligent architecture is noted to enhance the overall PUE by 59.6% for hosting altitudes spanning the low to mid stratosphere regions. In addition, the reduction in server weight by an amount exceeding 92% is noted by simulations to enable the realization of a PUE that is close to the ideal value of unity. Description: The author seems to be from Engineering, and i could not find the Engineering collection, so i deposited it under Energy Technology Unit (ETU). Please verifier

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Ahmed, Rashid Sayed, Yusuf Mohamed Nell, Jonathan Somhlaba, Nceba Z. Karriem, Abdulrazak http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9537 2023-12-05T20:45:37Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Poverty, protests and pandemics: what can we learn from community resilience? Authors: Ahmed, Rashid; Sayed, Yusuf Mohamed; Nell, Jonathan; Somhlaba, Nceba Z.; Karriem, Abdulrazak Abstract: The destruction of property, theft and violence that occurred in South Africa, particularly in KZN and Gauteng in the week of 12 July 2021 had a significant impact on the national psyche. As we try to come to terms with the magnitude of the consequences on the political, economic, psychological and social levels, what are the lessons that we can draw from this adversity? This commentary draws on the notion of community resilience to understand what has happened, and how it may provide markers for the future. The commentary begins with a short overview of the notion of community resilience, followed by a discussion of its utility to explain the events as well as lessons for the future. Resilience research has grown considerably, particularly in the last decade and has shifted from a narrow focus on individual mental health, particularly early in its development, to a more systemic approach. Nonetheless, concerns remain about its usage and it is a highly contested concept that needs to be problematized. Both terms (i.e., community and resilience) remain complex and contested, but the idea that collectives or groups (i.e., communities) have agency to respond to adversity is a useful framework for understanding the recent conflict and violence in South Africa. Description: Article

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z