Assessment Criteria
Criteria 1: The impact and significance of the engagement activity
The project in its current form has run since January 2008 as a four year intervention strategy for a cohorts of 5 schools (three
primary and two high schools). Another primary school and two high schools were added at the end of 2011. The project has
been funded by Absa (2008 to 2009) and the Hermann Ohlthaver Trust in 2009 to 2011. Much of the impact of these activities
were realised in 2010 and 2011.
During these two years the impact and significance of the project is signified by:
* The close working relationship developed with the Department of Education (click here)
* Working with a core group of five schools and 40 teachers, plus engaging with schools which were not originally on the
designated list at their request
* Establishing ‘line of site’ internet connection to eight schools (five of the schools were equipped with 20 computers
each via an earlier linked project, and three schools which already had computer facilities in collaboration with the
Radisson Blu Hotel and their general manager director, Mr Clive van Oudtshoorn (click here to view schools AND
* A research study that underpinned and/or emanated from the project resulted in a PhD and MEd study in progress
studies (click here to view MEds and PhDs) and here for the live site (click for live site).
* Three articles in accredited journals and one paper published in conference proceedings
(click here to view accredited papers AND four conference presentations
* The design of one SLP (click here)
* Further initiatives with the Department of Education: Wiki Project (click here for live site AND click here for an image of the
site)
* Being informed informed on 29 May 2012 that I am awarded the NMMU Faculty of Education: Emerging Researcher of the
Year (2012).
The activities of the project contribute to the NMMU vision of being a values-driven university, optimising the potential of our
education communities by contributing to their transformation and development in terms of their needs. The ICT intervention
is a national imperative (Department of Education, 2004). The research studies undertaken support the NMMU’s mission to be
both an engaged university that serves the needs of its diverse communities and which provides academic and support staff
access to research and community engagement projects. The project contributes to understandings of better school ICT usage
and ICT administration, as well as to using ICT for teaching and learning. The supported research components of the project
have led to further initatives such as a WIKI Teacher Project that has been started in Port Elizabeth and East London and that will
be rolled out further towards the end of 2012 in collaboration with the DOE in East London - Dr Drik Greef. This project has also
assisted in developing research capacity of staff and students.
The focus of the project is to align with the vision and mission of the NMMU, i.e. being “a dynamic African university,
recognised for its leadership in generating cutting-edge knowledge for a sustainable future”, as well as its mission “to provide a
vibrant, stimulating and richly diverse environment that enables staff and students to reach their full potential”.
The project specifically aims at contributing to more functional ICT usage in schools.
ACCREDITED JOURNALS
Du Plessis, A., & Webb, P. (2012). Digital immigrant teacher perceptions of an extended Cyberhunt strategy. Australasian
Journal of Educational Technology, 28(2), 341-363.
Du Plessis, A., & Webb, P. (2011). An extended Cyberhunts strategy: Learner centred learning-by-design. Australasian Journal of
Educational Technology, 27(7), 1190-1207.
Du Plessis, A. & Webb, P. (2011). An extended 'learning by design' framework based on learner perceptions. African Journal of
Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(2), 16-29.
PUBLISHED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Du Plessis, A. & Webb, P. (2010). The CRAR3FS2 framework for developing teachers’ ICT skills for Science Education through
Cyberhunts. Socio-cultural and Human Values in Science and Technology Education, IOSTE 15 Symposium, Bled,
Slovenia. 361-371.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Du Plessis, A. & Webb, P. (2011). Internet learning through learners as designers of Extended Cyberhunts: A South African
Developed Strategy. Africa Higher-Ed ICT Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa. 30-31 March 2011.
Du Plessis, A. (2010). Action Research might hold the key to improving teachers’ mathematics practices. AMESA 2010
Mathematics Conference. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. May 2010.
Du Plessis, A. (2009). The WA (Way Ahead framework) & SMART CRAR3FS2 framework for developing teachers. Presentation for
the Department in Education LAIS Conference, East London, South Africa. December 2009.
Du Plessis, A. & Webb, P. (2009). The CRAR3FS2 framework for developing teachers’ ICT skills for e-Education. Walter Sisulu
University E-Learning Conference. East London, South Africa. 3-4 November 2009.
PhD
Du Plessis, A. (2010). The introduction of Cyberhunts as a teaching and learning strategy to guide teachers towards
the integration of computer technology in schools. Unpublished Thesis. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
