Ramezani et al. (2018) assert that measuring the quality of service is necessary when it comes to the planning and the improvement of the quality of the organisational services. Arshad and Ameen (2010:313) state that the role of libraries in the developed world has progressed merely from a storehouse of books and other physical artifacts to local and remotely-held databases. It has been emphasised by Quintal and Phau (2014:90) that it is clear that students are primary stakeholders in global education and their perceptions and behaviour towards the globalised learning environment in either a university's home or offshore campus are important. To start, Background: An academic library is defined as the heart of a university, providing a venue for students, lecturers and researchers to advance their knowledge and conduct their research. These institutions should provide learning opportunities for all who choose to use them. The materials in the library are for anyone to use, which is why university libraries are important. This study investigated the gap between postgraduate students' perception and expectations of the main academic library (Cecil Renaud) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg campus.Objectives: This study's objective was to determine the gap between the existence of users' expectations and perceptions of the quality service.Method: This study employed the quantitative research method, with a survey research design. The study population included postgraduate students in the School of Social Sciences, College of Humanities, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg campus. Results:The services that have a relatively big gap in agreement between expectations and perceptions are: computers that work well, adequate number of computer workstations and an efficient short loan service, and the library helping the user to stay abreast of developments in their field of interest. On the other hand, services that have a small gap are: a library environment that has sufficient lighting; and staff willing to help, who understand the library service need and who are sufficiently knowledgeable. Conclusion:The study found that there was a gap in almost all the services provided by the Cecil Renaud Main library. For example, with the comprehensive collection, there were not adequate print journals and books. In relation to access to information, the major gaps were re-shelving of journals, missing books and journals, and an inefficient short loan and interlibrary loan service.
The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of a study investigating internet usage by Grade 11 learners in seven schools in the Makhuduthamaga Local Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive design was used for this study. The population of the study was 861, and the sample size of 264 high school learners was determined by using the sample table devised by Krejcie and Morgan (1970). The sample was stratified according to the percentages of the population of the learners per school. All 264 learners who agreed to participate in this study did so, and the response rate was therefore 100%. Data were collected through the use of questionnaires and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 19. Most of the respondents indicated that the greatest benefit gained from using the internet was the reliability of information: 34% (139). The accuracy of information was indicated to be the main benefit by 33% (134) of respondents; time saved was selected by 19% (76); and for 14% (55), user-friendliness was the greatest advantage of using the internet. It was also revealed that although the majority of learners expressed confidence in their ability to use the internet, some of them did not possess sufficient skills for optimal online information and knowledge seeking. Moreover, they experienced a number of obstacles to using the internet, including network connection problems, slow internet speed and a lack of suitable power supply.
There is an exponential increase of apprehension in the uptake, affordances and the excessive use of smartphones by multiple categories of users and the impact on the society. The research evaluates excessive use within a user community in a developing country landscape. It is estimated that many young people spend too much time on their phones and the projections suggest even higher numbers with disturbing estimations. The unravelling of contexts surrounding the excessive use of digital devices such as smartphones and the elements that lead to it are mostly unexplored. Consequently, the study illuminated the fundamental mechanisms that influence excessive use of smartphones by learners using perspectives from the Incentive-sensitization Theory (IST) to add scope and breadth. A total of 110 undergraduate students participated in the study. The fundamental results showed that the increase in the volume of activities such as online games, virtual world games and social media was responsible for excessive use. The findings provided an understanding of the relationship between depression-like behaviour and anxiety and shed new light on the influence of excessive use, smartphone stress and depression-related symptoms on students. The study outlined the implications of the results for prevention and regulation.
The study aimed to investigate the library use and user satisfaction of postgraduate students in the School of Social Sciences regarding the service quality at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg Campus’s Cecil Renaud Main (CRM) Library. The study investigated postgraduate students’ usage of and satisfaction with the library as an environment for reading, studying and conducting research. The study’s objectives are to determine the level of satisfaction of postgraduate students with the library. The study also sought to examine postgraduate students’ library use. The study employed a quantitative research method, with a survey research design. Its population comprised the postgraduate students in the School of Social Sciences in the College of Humanities at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg Campus. The overall response of the postgraduate students indicated that they were satisfied with most of the services. The study found that the majority of the students were satisfied with the information skills needed for studies. However, the study found a few honours, master’s and PhD degree students who were dissatisfied. In terms of the library support for reading, research and studying, the study found high levels of satisfaction. Concerning access to information, the study found that the majority of students were satisfied with the access to information, but there were a few dissatisfied students from honours, master’s and PhD levels. The study found that concerning the library facilities, the majority of the students were satisfied with what was provided for them. A few students were dissatisfied, especially honours and master’s degree students. Regarding the overall quality of the services provided by CRM library, the study found that most of the students were satisfied with the overall quality while the few dissatisfied students were from the honours and master’s programmes.
Ntombovuyo (2006) asserts that ICT has the potential to meet and support the educational needs of the learners by offering additional study materials and promoting independent learning amongst them. Education has been acknowledged and recognised as an important factor in the public sector, which is mostly influenced by the advancement of ICT tools (Kozma 2005). The educational sectors and schools would reap enormous benefits of ICTs, such as that the ICTs are able to support and enhance learning. Through the Internet, learners can go the extra mile in searching for information and acquiring new knowledge that will supplement what is found in the textbooks and taught in the classrooms (OECD 2016:68).Consequently, many people perceived the usefulness of the ICTs, as it plays an active role in providing new teaching stimuli and, most critically, provides a viable source of information for Background: The growth in Internet use has dramatically altered the lives of millions of people around the globe, and it plays a fundamental role in meeting the information and communication needs of learners. The usage of the Internet is a crucial tool for educational progression. Learners use the Internet for various purposes such as social, entertainment and educational activities.Objectives: To investigate the perceived usefulness of the extent of Internet use by Grade 11 learners from selected high schools within Makhuduthamaga Municipality in Limpopo province.Method: A quantitative research method was used, with 264 learners participating in the study. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys. A total of 264 questionnaires were send to the participants and all of them were returned, yielding a 100% response rate, and the data were analysed descriptively. Results:The findings indicated that the Internet was used for various activities -78.0% (205) using it for learning purposes, 46.5% for communicating with family and friends, 41.0% to update their knowledge, 18.0% for entertainment and 11.0% for news. The findings shed light on the most effective use of the Internet by high school learners, and this implies that schools and policy-makers need to formulate proper ways in which learners can utilise the Internet for their educational activities. Conclusion:The use of the Internet for teaching and learning purposes demonstrated that it has a strong impact on the quality and accessibility of education and academic performance. This study is significant for high schools and policy-makers in understanding the link between the use of the Internet and its usefulness in learners' education, owing to the fundamental nature of the Internet in the educational environment.
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