The role of first-year experience excursion in promoting social integration at university : student teachers’ views

Abstract: The Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg, like many other universities worldwide, has a strong focus on first-year experience programmes to promote student academic and social enculturation. Aim: In this article, we report on students’ views of the role of an education excursion as cohesive device. We were particularly interested in how students establish social relationships with peers, and the values they attribute to these connections over time for their incorporation into university. Setting: The education excursion consists of a specially designed curriculum in the two day programme, off campus, as an extension of the initial first year seminar. Methods: Using methods associated with longitudinal studies, we collected data via a biographical survey and questionnaire for first years, followed by dyadic interviews with a purposive sample of students 30 months later. Qualitative content analysis led to several findings..

The role of an educational field excursion in the development of student teachers’ social relationships with peers

M.Ed. (Education)Abstract: This study explores how an educational excursion, as a small-scale living and learning community promotes social integration in a customised First Year Experience (FYE) programme in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg. Most of the first year student teachers are first generation university learners and they have a need for a well-directed intervention to accelerate their process of enculturation into university life, socially, and in terms of the curriculum. This study focusses on how an educational field excursion influenced first year pre-service teachers’ ability to develop social relationships with peers, and the values they attached to these connections for their integration into university. Additionally, the educational field excursion served as a unique opportunity for first year pre-service student teachers to form new social relationships with peers and to capture if these relationships formed endured over a period of time. This study used multiple methods of data generation, including a biographical survey and questionnaire to capture students’ first impressions of the excursion as a cohesive device, followed by dyadic interviews with a sample of students two and a half years later. Qualitative content analysis led to two main findings. First year student data reveals the many challenges they face and how they see the role of the excursion in helping them traverse their individual racial, cultural, and religious and language differences. The educational excursion seems to serve as a bridge that assisted students in finding points of commonality and overcoming challenges in their transition into university. Secondly, the relaxed social tone of the excursion and the nature of activities aided students’ development and interaction and lead to investment in long lasting relationships. Students still reflect on its value for their social integration more than two years afterwards. The study concludes with recommendations for other First Year Experience Programmes at UJ

Chronic radiation enteritis and malnutrition

Radiation enteritis is defined as the loss of absorptive capacity of the intestine following irradiation, which is most commonly seen after radiotherapy for pelvic and abdominal malignancies. It is divided into acute and chronic forms and usually presents with diarrhea and malabsorption. Malnutrition is a common complication of chronic radiation enteritis (CRE). We reviewed the etiology, prevalence, symptoms, diagnosis and management of CRE and CRE with malnutrition in this article. Functional short bowel syndrome as a cause of malnutrition in CRE is also considered. The diagnostic work-up includes serum markers, endoscopy, cross-sectional imaging and the exclusion of alternative diagnoses such as recurrent malignancy. Management options of CRE include dietary manipulation, anti-motility agents, electrolyte correction, probiotics, parenteral nutrition, surgical resection and small bowel transplantation. Treatment may also be required for coexisting conditions including vitamin B12 deficiency, bile acid malabsorption and depression.</p