Latest News Archive
Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
News Items
| 2024-09-26 |
Book Project at Mangaung Correctional Centre |
| 2024-09-26 |
Book Project at Mangaung Correctional Centre |
| 2024-09-26 |
UFS worm farming project grows to the next level |
| 2024-09-26 |
UFS worm farming project grows to the next level |
| 2024-09-25 |
Boyden Observatory: A Legacy of Astrophysical Discovery and Community Engagement |
| 2024-09-25 |
Boyden Observatory: A Legacy of Astrophysical Discovery and Community Engagement |
| 2024-09-25 |
Prof Louise Cilliers wins the 2024 UJ Translation Prize |
| 2024-09-25 |
Prof Louise Cilliers wins the 2024 UJ Translation Prize |
| 2024-09-25 |
Celebrating diversity: UFS hosts vibrant Multilingual Mokete |
| 2024-09-25 |
Celebrating diversity: UFS hosts vibrant Multilingual Mokete |
| 2024-09-24 |
UFS members form part of change at the 2024 FISU World Forum |
| 2024-09-24 |
UFS members form part of change at the 2024 FISU World Forum |
| 2024-09-24 |
Louzanne Coetzee back in Bloemfontein! |
| 2024-09-24 |
Louzanne Coetzee back in Bloemfontein! |
| 2024-09-20 |
SA plant extracts and zebrafish larvae could hold key to better epilepsy medication |
| 2024-09-20 |
SA plant extracts and zebrafish larvae could hold key to better epilepsy medication |
| 2024-09-20 |
Vincent Mahapa takes home the Dux Award |
| 2024-09-20 |
Vincent Mahapa takes home the Dux Award |
| 2024-09-19 |
GEADO donates sanitary towels to community development initiative |
| 2024-09-19 |
GEADO donates sanitary towels to community development initiative |
| 2024-09-19 |
#HeritageMonth: University Lotto Sculpture Project: Visible but dead |
| 2024-09-19 |
#HeritageMonth: University Lotto Sculpture Project: Visible but dead |
| 2024-09-19 |
#HeritageMonth: Let's not forget overlooked ‘voices’ in celebrating 30 years of democracy |
| 2024-09-19 |
#HeritageMonth: Let's not forget overlooked ‘voices’ in celebrating 30 years of democracy |
| 2024-09-18 |
Your untold story can contribute to broadening our heritage narrative |
| 2024-09-18 |
Your untold story can contribute to broadening our heritage narrative |
| 2024-09-17 |
Local youth trailblazer honoured for outstanding community service |
| 2024-09-17 |
Local youth trailblazer honoured for outstanding community service |
| 2024-09-17 |
UFS Alumna Miné Kleynhans wins SASOL New Signatures Art Competition |
| 2024-09-17 |
UFS Alumna Miné Kleynhans wins SASOL New Signatures Art Competition |
| 2024-09-16 |
UFS postdoctoral fellow hopes participation at international conferences will create research networks |
| 2024-09-16 |
UFS postdoctoral fellow hopes participation at international conferences will create research networks |
| 2024-09-16 |
#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth: Early diagnosis is crucial, significantly improving survival rates |
| 2024-09-16 |
#ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth: Early diagnosis is crucial, significantly improving survival rates |
| 2024-09-13 |
Notice regarding the nomination and election of two (2) representatives of the Convocation to the University of the Free State (UFS) Council |
| 2024-09-13 |
Notice regarding the nomination and election of two (2) representatives of the Convocation to the University of the Free State (UFS) Council |
| 2024-09-13 |
NRF B3 rating acknowledges Prof Martin Nyaga’s high-quality research |
| 2024-09-13 |
NRF B3 rating acknowledges Prof Martin Nyaga’s high-quality research |
| 2024-09-13 |
Deaf awareness is more than a celebration, it’s a call for action |
| 2024-09-13 |
Deaf awareness is more than a celebration, it’s a call for action |
| 2024-09-12 |
Empowering families for better health: UFS’ innovative approach to maternal and neonatal care |
| 2024-09-12 |
Empowering families for better health: UFS’ innovative approach to maternal and neonatal care |
| 2024-09-12 |
Office for International Affairs attends the 26th annual IEASA Conference |
| 2024-09-12 |
Office for International Affairs attends the 26th annual IEASA Conference |
| 2024-09-11 |
Jagersfontein reclaims its narrative through art and digital storytelling |
| 2024-09-11 |
Jagersfontein reclaims its narrative through art and digital storytelling |
| 2024-09-11 |
Conversing on social justice: a West College initiative |
| 2024-09-11 |
Conversing on social justice: a West College initiative |
| 2024-09-11 |
Vice-Chancellor's Concert 2024: an evening of music, talent, and farewells |
| 2024-09-11 |
Vice-Chancellor's Concert 2024: an evening of music, talent, and farewells |
| 2024-09-11 |
Green Solutions: The Panacea to Global Disease Burden, Prof Anofi Ashafa's inaugural lecture |
| 2024-09-11 |
Green Solutions: The Panacea to Global Disease Burden, Prof Anofi Ashafa's inaugural lecture |
| 2024-09-10 |
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay: More needs to be done |
| 2024-09-10 |
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay: More needs to be done |
| 2024-09-10 |
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay: We simply cannot afford to avoid the conversation anymore |
| 2024-09-10 |
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay: We simply cannot afford to avoid the conversation anymore |
| 2024-09-09 |
UFS sets new benchmark with successful 2024/2025 CSRC elections |
| 2024-09-09 |
UFS sets new benchmark with successful 2024/2025 CSRC elections |
| 2024-09-09 |
Southern African Mountain Conference 2025 returns to UFS |
| 2024-09-09 |
Southern African Mountain Conference 2025 returns to UFS |
| 2024-09-06 |
Louzanne Coetzee wins bronze in record-breaking Paralympic 1 500 m T11 race |
| 2024-09-06 |
Louzanne Coetzee wins bronze in record-breaking Paralympic 1 500 m T11 race |
| 2024-09-05 |
#DeafAwarenessMonth: Advocating for quality education for deaf children |
| 2024-09-05 |
#DeafAwarenessMonth: Advocating for quality education for deaf children |
| 2024-09-04 |
Prof Jeremy Smith at his inaugural lecture: ‘Being Finished is Finished’ |
| 2024-09-04 |
Prof Jeremy Smith at his inaugural lecture: ‘Being Finished is Finished’ |
| 2024-09-03 |
Head of International Scholarships selected for prestigious US International Visitor Leadership Programme |
| 2024-09-03 |
Head of International Scholarships selected for prestigious US International Visitor Leadership Programme |
Project aims to boost science pass rate
2009-01-19
 |
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 |
|
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
|