The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has invested R10 million to provide iPad Mini devices to 3 000 first-year National Student Financial Aid Scheme students.
With this investment, the university says it aims to ensure students are at the forefront of the technology revolution.
"The university attracted 31% of first year students that come from quintile one and two schools for the 2017 academic year. These schools serve the poorest in our nation. This demonstrates that UJ has become the 'university of choice' for many working-class and first-generation students," says professor Thea de Wet, director of the Centre for Academic Technologies at UJ.
She underlined that technology is an integral part of UJ students' learning process. In 2014, UJ introduced handheld devices to support students' learning, she noted.
According to De Wet, the university ensures infrastructure, learning resources and interactive systems are aligned to a mobile-rich educational environment. This includes campus-wide WiFi connectivity and charging points.
"The introduction of technology in the classrooms provides UJ graduates a competitive-edge and the opportunity to vie for top positions nationally and internationally," she adds.
With the devices, students and staff will be able to access the UJ one-click portal - a platform that gives students access to various institutional resources. The portal allows students to access just-in-time support and electronic resources, e-textbooks and learning material.
Specially designed applications will allow students to, among other things, search for library information and track their studies from enrolment to alumni membership with access to assignments, course guides and administration. They will even have the UJ bus schedule at the tips of their fingers. It will be like holding the university in the palm of their hands, says De Wet.
"UJ is committed to bringing 21st century education to our students. The use of technology to support student learning is the natural progression of accessible education. Handheld devices bring a new and powerful immediacy, collaboration and ease of access to studies," she notes.
"Students are able to respond when lecturers ask them to find information online, take an in-class quiz, or to let lecturers know when they need to make their explanations clearer. It puts students' learning in their own hands and allows them to actively participate in their education."
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