Latest News Archive
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News Items
2019-05-31 |
The Future Is Here: Download the KovsieApp |
2019-05-31 |
The Future Is Here: Download the KovsieApp |
2019-05-30 |
#AfricaDay Memorial Lecture: African identity rooted in Ubuntu |
2019-05-30 |
#AfricaDay Memorial Lecture: African identity rooted in Ubuntu |
2019-05-30 |
Housing and Residence Affairs promotes quality accommodation for students |
2019-05-30 |
Housing and Residence Affairs promotes quality accommodation for students |
2019-05-29 |
Prof Francis Petersen addresses the National Press Club |
2019-05-29 |
Prof Francis Petersen addresses the National Press Club |
2019-05-29 |
Three Kovsies off to Netball World Cup |
2019-05-29 |
Three Kovsies off to Netball World Cup |
2019-05-29 |
Epistemic justice is crucial for a sustainable democratic future |
2019-05-29 |
Epistemic justice is crucial for a sustainable democratic future |
2019-05-29 |
‘Courts must embrace 4IR’, says Judge President Musi |
2019-05-29 |
‘Courts must embrace 4IR’, says Judge President Musi |
2019-05-28 |
Steady on the stress: Tips for fighting exam anxiety |
2019-05-28 |
Steady on the stress: Tips for fighting exam anxiety |
2019-05-28 |
Students pay it forward with meals this Africa Month |
2019-05-28 |
Students pay it forward with meals this Africa Month |
2019-05-28 |
Kovsie’s Siphila Dlamini leads 15th Southern Africa Scout Youth Forum |
2019-05-28 |
Kovsie’s Siphila Dlamini leads 15th Southern Africa Scout Youth Forum |
2019-05-28 |
Reflecting on the past, present, and future of Africa |
2019-05-28 |
Reflecting on the past, present, and future of Africa |
2019-05-27 |
Communique from the Rector and Vice-Chancellor to the University Community |
2019-05-27 |
Communique from the Rector and Vice-Chancellor to the University Community |
2019-05-24 |
Investigative journalism at the forefront at #GangsterState discussion |
2019-05-24 |
Investigative journalism at the forefront at #GangsterState discussion |
2019-06-03 |
2019 June graduations to honour master’s and doctoral degrees |
2019-06-03 |
2019 June graduations to honour master’s and doctoral degrees |
2019-05-21 |
UFS struts academic excellence at 2019 Open Day |
2019-05-21 |
UFS struts academic excellence at 2019 Open Day |
2019-05-21 |
Graduates told to uphold honourable character |
2019-05-21 |
Graduates told to uphold honourable character |
2019-05-21 |
Digital Storytelling Lab: Where stories and technology meet |
2019-05-21 |
Digital Storytelling Lab: Where stories and technology meet |
2019-05-17 |
Agribusiness Transformation Programme, empowering black emerging farmers |
2019-05-17 |
Agribusiness Transformation Programme, empowering black emerging farmers |
2019-05-14 |
Qwaqwa Campus is ready for graduations |
2019-05-14 |
Qwaqwa Campus is ready for graduations |
2019-05-13 |
Absa supports UFS students through to graduation |
2019-05-13 |
Absa supports UFS students through to graduation |
2019-05-13 |
Global body re-affirms UFS lab’s vaccine testing status |
2019-05-13 |
Global body re-affirms UFS lab’s vaccine testing status |
2019-05-13 |
Your future is here; this is the place to be, future Kovsies are told |
2019-05-13 |
Your future is here; this is the place to be, future Kovsies are told |
2019-05-09 |
More success for netballers in different competition? |
2019-05-09 |
More success for netballers in different competition? |
2019-05-07 |
UFS prioritises student well-being through Social Support Unit |
2019-05-07 |
UFS prioritises student well-being through Social Support Unit |
2019-05-07 |
Crime dialogue elicits commitment to ensure tighter security |
2019-05-07 |
Crime dialogue elicits commitment to ensure tighter security |
2019-05-06 |
Africa Month to unpack pressing topics following elections |
2019-05-06 |
Africa Month to unpack pressing topics following elections |
2019-05-06 |
Kovsie Advice: Exam edition is out |
2019-05-06 |
Kovsie Advice: Exam edition is out |
2019-05-06 |
Mr Nikile Ntsababa appointed as Registrar of the UFS |
2019-05-06 |
Mr Nikile Ntsababa appointed as Registrar of the UFS |
2019-05-06 |
The Youth Vote: Political Patronising Must Fall |
2019-05-06 |
The Youth Vote: Political Patronising Must Fall |
2019-05-03 |
Wheelchair donation allows David to pursue his athletic dream |
2019-05-03 |
Wheelchair donation allows David to pursue his athletic dream |
2019-05-03 |
Long jumper Lynique dreams big |
2019-05-03 |
Long jumper Lynique dreams big |
2019-05-03 |
Hockey coach excited about team’s chances |
2019-05-03 |
Hockey coach excited about team’s chances |
2019-05-02 |
UFS Debate Society win Jozi Rumble again! |
2019-05-02 |
UFS Debate Society win Jozi Rumble again! |
Project aims to boost science pass rate
2009-01-19
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Attending the launch of the HP grant of about R1 million to the UFS are, from the left: Mr Leon Erasmus, Country Manager for HP Technology Services in South Africa, Prof. Teuns Verschoor, Acting Rector of the UFS, and Mr Cobus van Breda, researcher at the UFS's Centre for Education Development and manager of the project.
Photo: Lacea Loader |
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The University of the Free State (UFS), in partnership with computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP), wants to boost the pass rate of its science students by using mobile technology.
The UFS is one of only 15 universities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and the only university in South Africa to receive a grant from HP to promote mobile technology for teaching in higher education valued at USD$ 100,000 (or about R1 million). Altogether 80 universities from 28 countries applied for the grant.
“Last year HP invited a number of selected universities to submit proposals in which they had to explain how they are going to utilise mobile technologies in the redesign of a course that is presented at the university. The proposal of the Centre for Education Development (CED) at the UFS entitled “Understanding Physics through data logging” was accepted,” says Mr Cobus van Breda, researcher at CED and manager of the project.
According to Mr van Breda, students who do not meet the entrance requirements for the three-year B.Sc. programme have to enroll for the four-year curriculum with the first year actually preparing them for the three-year curriculum.
In order to increase the success rate of these students, the project envisages to enhance their understanding of science principles by utilising the advantages of personal computer (PC) tablet technology and other information and communication technologies (ICT) to support effective teaching and learning methodology.
“By using PC tablet technology in collaboration with data-logging software, a personal response system, the internet and other interactive ICT applications, an environment different from a traditional teaching milieu is created. This will consequently result in a different approach to addressing students’ learning issues,” says Mr van Breda.
The pilot project was launched during the fourth term of 2008 when 130 first-year B.Sc. students (of the four-year curriculum) did the practical component of the physics section of the Concepts in General Science (CGS) module by conducting experiments in a computerised laboratory, using data-logging software amongst other technology applications. “The pilot project delivered good results and students found the interactive application very helpful,” says Mr van Breda.
”The unique feature of the latter is the fact that real-life data can be collected with electronic sensors and instantly presented as computer graphs. It can then be analysed and interpreted immediately, thus more time can be devoted to actual Science principles and phenomena and less time on time-consuming data processing,” says Mr van Breda.
The CGS module can be seen as a prerequisite for further studies in physics at university level and in this regard it is of essence to keep looking for new models of learning and teaching which can result in student success. This year the theoretical and practical component of the physics section of the CGS programme will be done in an integrated manner.
Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
16 January 2009
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