The advent of the ubiquitous mobile technology, the ever-changing interactive multimedia resources, and the mobility nature of the adult learners has galvanized the world-wide synergy of working towards the establishment of a global knowledge economy. This paper was informed by review of wide collection of literature that established how the mobile learning considerations in Open and Distance Learning influence access to higher education. The paper explains what; the everpresent nature of mobile learning characteristics, the andragogical factors, the organizational considerations, and the regulatory framework in Open and Distance Learning influence the access to higher education. The paper establishes that higher education institutions must consider improving technological infrastructure and incompatibility of mobile devices with learning management systems, provide modern mobile devices, improve instructors’ andragogical skills on m-learning, deal with instructors and students concerns and provide motivations incentives for m-learning.
The paper explores the potential of virtual reality to aid sports coaching within poverty-stricken communities in South Africa. The use of virtual reality has been tested in education and in the mining industry but not in sports coaching in South Africa. The paper tests the learning experience posed by virtual reality on a sample to review knowledge acquisition and retention of information. The results show that the virtual reality simulation created an immersive environment and enhanced the learning experience and is therefore a viable option to address the transformation of sports coaching in impoverished communities.
Virtualization is an emerging trend that entails turning an object or resource simulated or emulated in software into an identical physically realized object in terms of functions. It uses abstraction to make software look and act like hardware, with significant advantages in flexibility, cost, scalability, overall capabilities, performance and a wide range of applications. Virtualization provides an opportunity for government organizations to share (ICT) resources. These resources include; servers, operating systems, applications and data storage devices. This paper establishes the most relevant issues related to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats regarding adoption of virtualization and presents a framework of the factors involved in adoption of this technology. The aim is to explore the potential of virtualization adoption in transforming and automating the business processes of government organizations in Kenya. Adoption of this technology is key to policy makers, regulators, service providers, and the industry and research institutions.
With the pacing of the next industrial revolution and adoption of industrial internet of things. It’s difficult for emerging markets to keep-up with the pacing evolution of technology due to economic reasons of course. However, edge computing has emerged as a promising technology that also caters for emerging markets enabling them to pace up with the evolution of technology. Edge computing is defined as distributed computing paradigm in which computation is largely or completely performed on distributed edge device nodes known as edge computing nodes as opposed to primarily taking place in a centralized cloud environment. This computing paradigm has been adopted mostly to reduce the workload from cloud computing or to provide computing closer to the user in order to improve performance. This paper presents a review of three edge deployment architectures focusing on their impact on emerging markets. Furthermore, present discussion of use cases in emerging markets and their business case. We then provide a framework promising to cater for edge challenges and finally provide simulation results performed on iFogSim as a framework proof of concept. The simulation result shows edge perfoms better than cloud interms of resource use. Therefore, the proposed framework is recommended and reliable for emerging markets use cases. This work only modelled a precision farming use case.
The growth of the graying population all over the world is showing a great need of incorporating ICT to ensure healthy living. Geriatric persons in philanthropic social homes (PSH) in developing countries are not favored in terms of infrastructure, housing, caregiving as well as privacy since they are in a controlled communal environment. These philanthropic homes, commonly known as ‘Nyumba za Wazee’ in Kenya are slowly gaining reputation as more of the elderly are ostracized because of inheritance or even abandonment. The aim of this paper is to bring fourth the status quo of the geriatric persons living in PSH, the challenges they face, which have tremendous ramifications that leads to strong incentives to usage of low cost technology to alleviate the lives of the elderly towards healthy living in their higher ages. The researchers, through the social department and Board of management of these social homes, carried a research for a period of 3 months in two PSHs, in Nairobi County and Kiambu County. Interviews and storytelling were the two data collection techniques used. The findings from these two PSHs, categorized the challenges as; physical, and psychological challenges. This research argues that low affordable technology solutions will curb these challenges to ensure adequate care and provide decent standards of living for the elderly in PSH.
Due to the changes in the climate, more extreme weather conditions occur. Weather extremes (such as heat, drought, freeze, etc.) are limiting conditions for the cultivation of agricultural crops. Long term monitoring of particular quantities such as temperature, humidity, wind conditions and so on are essential for decision making in agriculture. Since the monitoring is an expensive process, the physical monitoring stations are usually very coarse. The common approach to combine these data with a global model. This paper presents steps which can be done further, using temperature as an example. The paper first presents a workflow, how to create a denser model of temperature distribution from a course one model of temperatures. Next, the paper outlines a method of how to analyze the temperature spatial distribution in time. The aim is to use historical meteorological series (e.g. of temperatures) to help farmers and producers of agriculture’s products with decision making.
Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is a field in educational psychology that as attracted tremendous research studies from various communities including ICTs. Recent studies and meta-analysis have greatly contributed to the domain knowledge that the use SRL strategies boost academic performance for learners. Despite these developments in SRL, our understanding on the tools and instruments to measure SRL in online learning environments is limited as the use of traditional tools developed for face-to-face classroom settings are still used to measure SRL on e-learning systems. Additionally, most of these studies focus on SRL on Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) environments and only analyse SRL strategies with limited attention to the scaffolds or interventions employed to stimulate growth of SRL skills in learners. The modern Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as Moodle allow storage of datasets on student activities. Consequently, it is possible to use Educational Data Mining (EDM) to extract learner patterns which can be used to support SRL and explore how SRL strategies change over time and inform the instructor. In view of this, the research examines the current SRL measurement and promotion tools for e-learning environments and proposes a conceptual model grounded on EDM for implementation as a solution to measuring and promoting SRL strategies for learners within LMS.
European personal data protection standards as set by the Data Protection Directive and recently the General Data Protection Regulation have and are still steadily being adopted by other jurisdictions, including Africa. Under these standards, examination results could well be interpreted to mean personal data, which could also apply in Africa. This paper contends that a similar interpretation of examination results as personal data on African soil could be welcome in terms of promoting general information privacy, but also introduces some rights and obligations which could be too impractical to guarantee. The paper concludes by suggesting that African lawmakers should initiate and engage relevant discussions to come up with appropriate norms which simultaneously protect the privacy of examination results while ensuring that their processing does not drag along a bunch of unfeasible rights and obligations which could only hinder the smooth organisation of public examinations or processing of examination results.
This paper describes the development of a sensor system capable of monitoring parameters of interest in greenhouses and open fields with the aim of improving efficiency in food production. The sensors we deploy measure soil moisture, soil temperature, ambient temperature and relative humidity and transmit these parameters to a server over a Long Range wide area network (LoRaWAN) which exploits the long range low power LoRa protocol. We report the results of a field test conducted in central Kenya and show that our system can accurately measure parameters of interest and provide alerts to farmers.
The teaching profession has one of the highest numbers of workforce grappling with unmanageable workload. Excessive lecturers' workload causes adverse effects to both employer and employee. Lecturers are assigned lectures in multiple independent learning institutions and there is no platform to foster interuniversity communication regarding the shared lecturers' employment state, tenure and lecturing obligations. The Commission for University Education has guidelines set to limit the maximum lecturer workload and yet there is no way to monitor inter institution lecturers' teaching workload. There's the need to employ technology to address this problem. Existing models have no capability to monitor cross-campus lecturers' workload, they rather concentrate on the business aspect of automating scheduling of lectures, tutor recruitment. Triangulation methodology was used to conduct this study while proof of concept methodology was applied to develop the model. Research questions were answered through engaging industry experts in a validation exercise. Feedback received indicated that the model would be an efficient tool in safeguarding lecturers against burnout arising from unmanageable workload. Management, human and technical challenges are anticipated during the adoption phase of the model. Further research should be undertaken to develop models to monitor a lecturer's inter-institution teaching workload using identified alternative quantifiable attributes.
Tanzania is among the African developing countries that has embraced egovernment in recent years. The continual rises of wireless mobile technology bring an attention to enhance e-government systems by extending some of the services to be accessed and delivered via a mobile phone. Due to lack of standard extension procedures each government institutions extends according to developer's technical knowledge. The main objective of this paper is to develop extension procedures for enhancing web based e-government systems with a mobile service. In this study both exploratory and prototyping methods were used. Exploratory method was used during data collection. Prototyping was used during design and development of mgovernment service prototype. Web based e-Government systems in fourteen (14) Government departments, Ministries and Agencies were analyzed to identify a system for enhancement. Wananchi portal, under the Ministry of information, culture art and sports was selected. The selection criteria were the system that has direct interaction with citizens. During design and development of m-service prototype, several extension procedures and their interactions were observed and recorded; six (6) procedures were found relevant. Therefore, this paper proposes a six steps extension procedures from web based e-government to m-government. Clear understanding of the extension process will reduce development time and cost. Extending web based system with mobile services means extra services and hence more revenue to network and service providers. To the government, it means an added/alternative channel to service her citizens, and to the citizens, means readily accessible and responsive Government.
:This paper presents a design artefact, Ontology-driven Open Data Enrichment Framework, as a preliminary deliverable of a research that proposes a semantic framework of Open Data (OD) on National Performance Indicators (NPIs) within the context of the National Integrated Indicator Framework for Botswana. The proposed framework addresses the problem of lower impact of OD resulting from heterogeneities that pertain to data platforms, standards, access modes, models, formats, and definitions. The framework maps a transition from static and disintegrated OD on NPIs to Intelligent Linked Open Data (ILOD) for value optimisation. This ongoing research follows the design science research methodology and the paper presents the output of the first three phases of the methodology. This deliverable will be finalised once the implementation and evaluation phases are complete. The finalised framework will serve as a blueprint in the conversion of desperate and static OD on NPIs to interlinked and intelligent content. It is expected to yield significant academic, social and business benefits. Though the framework is aligned to Botswana, it can be customised to suit the needs of other developing countries.
There is a need for a system that respond to various queries in real-time, to advice and inform expectant mothers during their pregnancy. Several smart services have been deployed, bundled with health information systems, and other digital services. While such solutions better services in the healthcare settings, they may not be available to the masses in the rural. Besides they rarely dispense this information precisely and or accurately. A new digital ecosystem, represented by chatbots seem to offer promising solution by embodying the function of a virtual healthcare expert, who is always available to provide information in the required precision. Powered by AI and machine learning algorithms, chatbots are forecasted to bring forth accuracy, precision and availability of information when used. This paper discusses the need to develop chatbots to be integrated in smart phones; intended to provide support to to-be mothers during their journey in pregnancy.
Central banks around the world have pondered the possibility of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Advantages of such a currency are perceived technological catch-up, and financial inclusion, inter alia. This paper evaluates the implications of digital inequality on CBDC. The paper finds that indeed digital access, a proxy of CBDC, is positively correlated with financial inclusion but is afflicted by digital inequalities with different or contradictory impacts. For example, an increase in digital access benefits financial inclusion, but owing to inequalities, the increase is at a lower level for older people than for young adults. Further, when the income gap worsens, financial inclusion deteriorates at a higher level for the poor than for the rich. The study concludes that CBDC will be vulnerable to the inheritable e-burdens of digital inequalities. The policy implication is that the baffling risk-averse rigidities of older people towards digital access should be addressed in support of CBDC-linked financial inclusion.
Mobile devices have undergone transformation from being used as a channel of communication to tools for teaching and learning. This study ascertained how mobile learning technology can enable quality education in Namibia. It assessed teachers’ perception and the usage pattern of mobile technology in three regions of Namibia (Erongo, Khomas and Otjozondjupa regions). 72 teachers were carefully selected from nine (9) high schools in the 3 regions. Data collected through a questionnaire was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The findings revealed that teachers are already using mobile devices for academic purposes. It also revealed that majority of the teachers use mobile devices for educational purposes and teachers are of the belief that mobile devices can enhance quality education.
In this paper, we employ a multi-pronged analytical approach (qualitative survey and factor analysis) to empirically analyze the usage and effectiveness of a widely used business intelligence tool, namely the Vulindela System (VS) in prominent service-oriented government departments (Provincial Treasury, Health and CoGTA) in the Free State province in South Africa. Using the novel Task Technology Fit theoretical framework proposed by Goodhue (1995) as an evaluation benchmark, we compute two principal component analysis (PCA) models to identify key latent features of the VS technology. We find evidence for both bi-directional and unidirectional links between the operational capacity, usability and functionality of the VS and executed tasks, productivity and decision-making capability of the main users. The empirical result suggest that the strength of VS lies in its ability to perform unstructured tasks, collate information, improve decision making and productivity but the operational capacity and functionality of the system is constrained due to incompatibility to meet user's task profile and inflexibility to execute new task demanded. Based on these findings, the reliability and usability of the VS can be improved by testing the system in different network environment and continuous development of new software, upgrade of operating systems.
Research has shown in the recent past that many Universities globally are building state of the art libraries and at the same time stocking them with e-resources, in order to cater for the ever growing population of users who are pursuing their studies on or off campus. Postgraduate students pursuing their courses off campus are entitled to full use of all library services. In light of this, the study investigated the library e-resources acceptance by postgraduate students who pursue their studies off campus. The study was conducted at Kenyatta University Post Modern Library (PML) and it involved Postgraduate students of the Kenyatta University Digital School. The study used descriptive design and data were collected through questionnaires with both open and closed ended questions were used to collect data from postgraduate students and interview schedule was used to collect data from librarians. The questionnaires were administered electronically through electronic mails.
Crime has been part of our society ever since the concept of laws was first approved. There is an increased concern at governance level due to escalating levels of crime both internationally as well as locally in Kenya. Large amounts of raw data are recorded in the occurrence books of many police stations. This data can be intelligently analyzed and visualized to assist law enforcement agencies in understanding these crimes and taking steps to ensure they remain ahead of the criminal elements. Data mining and visual analysis can be used for advanced crime analysis. In this article, the researcher suggests the use of Associative Rule Mining to come up with a model suitable for crime analysis and prevention using Apriori algorithm to represent mutual implications among criminal occurrences. This model is aimed at providing better understanding of crime patterns and helping law enforcement plan on preventive future crime policy.
South African teachers are under pressure due to rising expectations of their content knowledge and digital skills without guaranteed infrastructural or institutional support in using ICTs. The purpose of this study is to find out to what extent ICTs are being used by teachers in rural South African schools and also what support systems, if any, these teachers have. The theoretical lens is that of social network theory to investigate the network teachers use to acquire ICT knowledge and assistance. The data capturing involved a baseline survey where data were collected from 197 rural school teachers in South Africa. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and social network analysis using Kumu as a tool. Our findings reveal that despite the infrastructural challenges and lack of institutional support, rural teachers use technology for teaching and learning. Furthermore, there is evidence that strong social ties with friends and family, faith groups, department of education and businesses that sell or fix ICTs, provide the essential support network. The research provides novel insights into the social networks that sustain the ICT use of rural teachers in South Africa and makes a theoretical contribution through empirical evidence that confirms the strength (degree) of weak ties in explaining sustainable ICT teacher support in rural schools.
The challenge of inadequate teaching and learning facilities impedes the development of the education system in Tanzania. This instigates the need to combine education and technology for provision of education. This paper assessed the adoption of Virtual and Augmented Reality as a tool to improve interactive learning. The research assessed the awareness and perceived usefulness of virtual and augmented realities in education. The research utilized a quantitative methodology whereby an online survey was used to collect data. Results indicate 69.7% of the respondents were aware of virtual and augmented reality. Moreover, 87.4% of the respondents agreed that virtual and augmented reality can be adopted to improve interactive learning. Interestingly, Science, Engineering, and Medical fields were proposed for adoption. These technologies influence students’ interest and motivation to learn through visualizations and interactivity. However, further research is recommended on cost-effective gadgets for virtual reality technology and suitable content for augmented reality technology.
