Communicating by ordering electrons : the development of electronic communication as part of a secondary school Communication Science curriculum in the Language, Literacy and Communication learning area

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Date
2001
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University of Zululand
Abstract
In this thesis I focus on the introduction of Electronic Cornmunication as part of an envisaged Communication Science curriculum in the Language, Literacy and Communication Learning area of the Further Education and Training band. In the course of my thesis I will show that the requisite elements of verbal and written cornmunication are dispersed throughout the Language, Literacy and Communication learning area in the General Education and Training band, and that they can be utilised as basis for formally introducing Communication Science, as a subject in the Language, literacy and Communication learning area in the Further Education and Train¬ing band. I also show that electronic communication will form a crucial area of study in such a Communication Science curriculum. I argue that due to the diversity of cultures in South Africa, cross-cultural cornmunication is required in such a curriculum. I also argue that by the very na¬ture of Outcomes-Based Education it is necessary to have a subject into our school curriculum that will form an interface with conceptual learning and experiential learning, that will contextu-alise language study within the more comprehensive scope of forms of human communication, and that will form an interface between the humanities and science to prevent the humanities from becoming soft options in Further Education and Training band learning programmes. To this effect I focus on the crucial role of Constructivism as integrating theory to account for vari¬ous approaches to motivational learning, the primary form of learning required in Outcomes-Based Education. I examine the principles of curriculum construction in OBE and its associated culture of learn¬ing against the backdrop of the theory of Situated Cognition. This presents a platform to argue the case for Electronic Communication as part of Communication Science in the Further Edu¬cation and Training band curricula in South African schools.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of MA in Communication Science, University of Zululand, 2001.
Keywords
Digital communications--Education., Electronic Cornmunication
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