Developing a method for a holistic design of mobile learning

Includes bibliographical references.Mobile learning provides unique learning experiences for learners in both formal and informal environments, supporting various pedagogies with the unique characteristics that are afforded by mobile technology. Mobile learning, as a growing topic of interest, brings challenges of design for teachers and course designers alike. Current research on mobile learning has covered various aspects such as personalisation, context sensitivity, ubiquity and pedagogy. While existing theories and findings are valuable to the understanding of mobile learning, they are fragmented and separate, and need to be understood within the broader mobile learning paradigm. This dissertation unifies existing theories into a method for mobile learning design that can be generalised across mobile learning applications. This method develops from a strategy. By seeking objectives, identifying different approaches to learning and understanding the context in which the course will exist; the method helps to guide the content, delivery and structure of the course towards a successful implementation that is evaluated against the initial objectives set out

Renewable energy for base station and local economy : business potential for telecommunications equipment and service vendor in developing countries

The main objective of this work is to define the business potential the telecommunication sector has in rural areas in developing countries. One way to enter the market is through a coalition which empowers the local community; people living in rural areas in developing countries often lack access to telecommunication services and electricity. Radio base station sites in rural environment generally use diesel as a power source and the local community uses, for example, kerosene to provide lighting and fire wood for cooking. The study was conducted based on literature review and interviewing professionals in energy and business areas with experience and deep knowledge about the developing countries. Some renewable energy resources which exist in large amounts in developing countries were presented. As the solar photovoltaic and wind solutions require relatively big investment, the biomass based solutions and picohydro power can be implemented by the local people because of the smaller capital expenses. By utilizing the Jatropha plant oil, a price around 0, 40 € / kWh was resulted. Biogas (generated through the anaerobic digestion) on the other hand got a result of 0.176 € / kWh. The concerns regarding poor salary levels of agricul-tural workers are discussed in chapter five. The study presents a model for a business coalition which has many factors of economic growth embedded in it. Capital, technology, education and entrepreneurship are, for example, factors impacting economic growth and thus decreasing poverty. Also the endogenous factors like skills and education have great effect on the empowerment of the local people. Companies in the telecommunication sector should be patient with the local economic growth of rural communities in developing countries. In addition, both systemic and open innovations are needed in order to create sustainable business. The short term benefit is, on the other hand, available for the local community already earlier in the mode of decreased poverty

The consumption of disposable income among female mall shoppers in Pietermaritzburg.

M. Com. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2014.The growing significance of the female market gives marketers impetus to tap into this promising market. Much can be gleaned from the consumption habits of women. Numerous studies conducted provide statistics of consumer spending amongst women. However, in order to effectively target women in the Pietermaritzburg region, a study of women‟s spending specific to this area will prove most useful. Additionally, because of the dynamic nature of the economic environment, current research on markets proves invaluable. Emergent trends show that consumers are likely to be found in shopping centres. Given the inclination of urban consumers to shop in malls, this research study focuses specifically on female mall shoppers. Consequently, the current study seeks to determine the disposable income and spending habits of female mall shoppers in Pietermaritzburg. Specifically, the main purpose of the study is to determine the amount of disposable income available to female mall shoppers in Pietermaritzburg; which categories of product and service they spend this disposable income on; and to ascertain if there is a difference in this spending among race groups. Data was collected by questionnaire and analysed using chi squared and Kruskal Wallis tests to identify if there are differences in the disposable income and the amount spent on various products and services with respect to race groups of the female shoppers. In sum, the findings suggest that the disposable income available to the female mall shopper in Pietermaritzburg is significantly higher than the national average; and that there is a distinct difference in the median amounts of money spent on different categories of product and in the median monthly household income with respect to race. These findings can be useful to forward thinking marketers, who may use this information to tap into the female market in Pietermaritzburg. Overall, these findings lead to important managerial implications for targeting female mall shoppers in Pietermaritzburg