Ms Judy Reddy
Secretary
031 373 2904
judyr@dut.ac.za

Unit members:
Academic Development Officers
Ms Shubnam Rambharos, Mr Sipho Zulu, Ms Shoba Rathilal
Administrative Assistants
Ms Nompendulo Rwairwai, Ms Nontokozo Ndabezitha, Ms Sibongile Madi

The projects and initiatives of this unit revolve around student development. In order to ensure that a holistic approach to student support is maintained, the unit focuses on identifying academic barriers to learning which could be psycho-social, academic or cultural. The unit assists in designing interventions that can address these barriers. The projects in this unit range from direct student support to the support of tutors and lecturers.

Student Testing

The access project focuses on assisting academic Departments with the development and implementation of entrance requirements and the correct selection and/ or placement of students into academic programmes. Currently the instrument used is the Standardised Assessment Test for Access and Placement (SATAP) that is divided into four tests; Language, Mathematics, Numeracy and Science. The project team is involved in the following activities relating to SATAP:

• the development of these tests (in conjunction with test developers from other higher education institutions nationally);
• the administration of the tests at DUT,
• marking, analysis of results and research on what the results of the tests tell us about student potential, areas requiring intervention.

Departments use these tests together with other discipline-specific selection placement instruments. The chosen test may also only be used as a diagnostic tool to assess the academic competence of students already registered. These results can be used to inform the curriculum design and learning and teaching interventions in the respective academic programmes. Departments are requested to firstly view the test for suitability before deciding on its use. The ultimate decision on the selection of students lies with academic Departments concerned.

The project team is also currently involved with the development and piloting of the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) which is a HESA initiative being managed by the University of Cape Town (UCT). There are two tests available under the NBTs; an Academic Literacy Test that includes quantitative literacy and a Mathematics Test.

Contact: Shoba Rathilal
031 373 2771
shobar@dut.ac.za

Extended Curriculum Programmes

The Department of Education (DoHET) has made available funds for Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECPs) that are aimed at improving throughput and ensuring access and success. ECPs are currently offered in most faculties. The programme is intended primarily for students who meet the requirements for entrance but need some academic support to ensure success. Funding is allocated by the DoHET based on proposals submitted in three year cycles. DoHET have set criteria by which they allocate the funds. Currently there are three models that can be subscribed to.

Extended programme students are ultimately the responsibility of the academic Department in which the student is registered. The placement of students within the programme is done by using complimentary access tools such as entrance tests, interviews or questionnaires, etc. Each programme has an ECP co-ordinator. The central co-ordination of ECP is done in CELT.

Contact: Shubnam Rambharos
031 373 2189
rambhros@dut.ac.za

Prof Ian Scott (University of Cape Town) facilitates a  workshop for ECP Staff (above left) on Implications of student  performance patterns for development in South Africa: Key choices for  Universities of Technologies.

Games Development Workshops

A common problem experienced in tertiary education is that learners tend not to be engaged in the learning process. Traditional educational methods perpetuate this non-engagement and learners in tertiary education find it difficult to take responsibility for their own learning. A method that has been used by several DUT lecturers to engage learners in the learning process and to encourage active engagement is the use of innovative learning and teaching strategies such as educational games. The games attempt to promote literacy in the specific content and to reinforce the subject material presented in lectures but particularly to promote the achievement of the Critical Cross Field Outcomes, especially group work. The games were developed to reinforce concepts; enhance understanding; promote logical thinking and reasoning through independent and peer collaborative learning using a process that involves learner interaction in an enjoyable, relaxed atmosphere.

CELT facilitates Games Development workshops for staff that focus on the theories underpinning the development of these innovative teaching and learning strategies, as well as the technical aspects of developing these strategies.

DUT lecturers also use the development of educational games as an assessment tool. Students are required to develop educational games based on particular concepts but also integrating knowledge from other aspects of their discipline. CELT also facilitates workshops for these students that assist them to conceptualise the games and also provide exemplars of educational games.

Ms Shubnam Rambharos (standing) facilitating a Games Development Workshop with Somatology 3rd year students and some of the board games developed by students (right)

Contact: Shubnam Rambharos
031 373 2189
rambhros@dut.ac.za

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Co-ordination

CELT aims to implement RPL as a first-stop-office for all DUT applications. The RPL provisions, stipulations and conditions as outlined in the senate-approved RPL Policy will be adhered to. The philosophical approach to RPL shall be transformational and developmental within the context of access and redress.

The RPL office in CELT is currently instituting systems and formalising administrative logistics to ensure application forms are explicit and that approval through departments, faculty offices and Senate sub-committees follows a structured template of processes. Finally and most importantly, a series of awareness workshops are rolled out across DUT academic community.

Contact: Sipho Zulu
031 373 2386
zulusgr@dut.ac.za

Tutor Training and Development

The Tutor Training and Development Programme is one of CELT‟s strategies of addressing learning, teaching and assessment issues which have a direct bearing on student progression and success rates.

The Tutor Training and Development Programme will attempt to tackle the issue of student success by training and developing effective tutors and will ensure that:

• students are afforded the opportunity to engage with subject content;
• monitoring the impact on learning, teaching and assessment;
• encouraging ongoing curriculum development and enrichment, taking feedback from tutors and learners into consideration;
• empowering DUT postgraduate students by providing them with opportunities to mentor undergraduate students, especially first-year students.

Contact: Sipho Zulu
031 373 2386
zulusgr@dut.ac.za

SPECIAL PROJECTS (DIRECTOR’S OFFICE)

The First Year Experience at DUT

The project is designed to assist first-year students to deal with various factors of the university environment which may impede their academic success. Through this project and other related initiatives, the university acknowledges its obligation to provide the necessary guidance to students who are entering tertiary education for the first time and who, as a result, need support and empowerment which goes beyond the conventional lecturing, tutorials and practical work that form part of the academic programmes offered by the university. There is a sense in which this project provides ongoing orientation to first year students who need to adapt to the various aspects of the university‟s organisational culture in order to succeed in their studies. The central aims of this project are:
to alert students to the interconnections between their personal and their academic lives and;
to encourage students to take responsibility for their own personal development and intellectual growth.

Contact: Berni Pottier
031 373 2860
pottierb@dut.ac.za

First year ECP students doing their Community Engagement Project