Some observations on ICTs in Higher Education in South Africa

Cell phones and Sakai- increasing access for all?Laura CzerniewiczDirector, Centre for Educational TechnologyUniversity of Cape Town

Designing for access for allThe future is already here - its just unevenly distributed (William Gibson)Access in the broadest sense necessary for social and educational inclusionThe challenge is designing engagement with Sakai for all:Digital nativesAND digital strangers

The changing terrain: cell phonesCell phones as a trend and opportunity being recognised in developed and developing country contextsHorizon Report 2009PEW Internet Report 2009Studies on mobiles/mobile internet in SAStudies on access and use in SA

Horizon Report 2009:MobilesCloud computing (large clusters of networked servers off site, eg gmail and gdocs) Geo-everything (locations of objects saved & sent to web applications)The personal web (easily customised web personal environments)Semantic aware applications (tools that gather context information)Smart objects (objects that know about themselves)Mobiles. Already considered as another component of the network on many campuses, mobiles continue to evolve rapidly. New interfaces, the ability to run third-party applications, and location-awareness have all come to the mobile device in the past year, making it an ever more versatile tool that can be easily adapted to a host of tasks for learning, productivity, and social networking. For many users, broadband mobile devices like the iPhone have already begun to assume many tasks that were once the exclusive province of portable computers.

3PEW: The Mobile DifferenceWireless connectivity has drawn many users more deeply into digital lifeMotivated by Mobility: Five groups in this typology making up 39% of the adult population have seen the frequency of their online use grow as their reliance on mobile devices has increasedStationary media will do: The remaining 61% of the adult population does not feel the pull of mobility or anything else drawing them further into the digital world. Across the five groups that make up this part of the population, several have a lot of technology at hand and have seen their tech assets grow in recent years.

The role of mobile internet access in evolving digital lifestyles is the cornerstone of thesecond typology of information and communication technology (ICT) users developedby the Pew Research Centers Internet & American Life Project.1 The typology placesICT users into 10 groups and, notwithstanding variation across the groups, the groupsfit into two baskets, with the groups collective judgments on mobility being the pivotpoint.1. Motivated by Mobility: Five groups in this typology making up 39% of theadult population have seen the frequency of their online use grow as their relianceon mobile devices has increased. For these groups, growth in frequency of online useis linked not only to increasing broadband adoption, but to positive and improvingattitudes about how mobile access makes them more available to others. Across thegroups, a lot of variation exists regarding what these changes mean to users. Somefind this extra connectivity a platform for self expression. Others are not entirelypositive about ICTs impacts on their lives.2. Stationary media will do: The remaining 61% of the adult population does notfeel the pull of mobility or anything else drawing them further into the digitalworld. Across the five groups that make up this part of the population, several have alot of technology at hand and have seen their tech assets grow in recent years. YetICTs remain on the periphery in their lives, suggesting that some adult Americansreach a plateau in their technology use. Some groups are content with this distantrelationship to technology. For others, even a little modern gadgetry is too much.4South African contextPer 1000SAUKUSAusPersonal computers85600762683Internet Users109473630698Broadband subscribers3.5163166103Bandwidth (bits pp)191306233065903Cost Internet (US$ pm)63271522Mobile subscribers7241088680906ITU/World Bank 2005 The number of Internet users is higher than the availability of personal computers on-campus, community and work facilities are criticalInternet costs are an issue for academics and students alike. South Africa has the most expensive bandwidth in Africa and one of the most expensive in the world.Bandwidth limits to what it is possible and easy to do in teaching and learning environmentUnequal access to bandwidth5CET studies on access and useA research project on access and use started in 2004mixed-method approachtwelve universities in South AfricaComprisingPhase 1 & 2 - two surveys of 10 110 students in total (undertaken in 2004 and 2007)quantitative analysis of 58 question survey qualitative analysis of the questionnaires open-ended questions Phase 3 student interviews (2009) preliminary findingsSurvey of Vula (2008)

The digital divideOn-campus, access is fair and equivalentOff campus, the digital divide is firmly in place

The digital divideOff-campus access is varied and unequalAccess by socio-economic group

2007 survey of South African university studentsHE digital divide worseningIn some ways, the digital divide is becoming exacerbated at the extremes Small (11%) but distinct group of South African students display characteristics of digital natives in that they have: grown up with computers;are independent when solving computer problems and learning new skills, anddraw extensively on their social networks. But a significant group of student (22%) still lack both experience and opportunities, as they have:been using a computer for less than 4 years; and have no direct access to ICTs off campus.2007 survey of South African university studentsSA digital nativesEven gender mixFrom high to average socio economic groupsMostly speak English or Afrikaans speaking (74%)Have excellent off-campus access at home often multiple forms of off-campus access (inlc .portable)Are confident of their own abilities81% rate their ICTs skills as good or excellentHave high social use of ICTsAre usually doing courses in science, engineering or health sciences

The digital strangerMore women than menLargely South African (95%) with 80% speaking an African language as a home language.90% have no access to ICTs off campusThose with off-campus access have very low practical accessLow self confidenceMostly doing business degreesVery low social use of ICTsMostly learn in formal structured ways

Rethinking the digital divideHowever, in other ways, the digital divide is being reconstituted or bridged by cell phonesConsider cell phonesin generalIn Higher Education

Cell phones in South AfricaAre a dominant way of communicatingSouth Africa has the third largest mobile internet using population in the worldSouth Africa ranks 6th in the global Top 10 for mobile internet usageahead of both the US (7th) and the UK (9th)

Vincent Maher data13Cell phones in South AfricaAre cheaper than other optionsMobile internet in South Africa is among the least expensive in the entire world; traditional desktop access is still among the most expensiveA respondent:we pay 5 Rand ($.60) for 30 minutes, while here I can use 1 rand for the whole day without having to leave my stallDonner and Gitau 200914Cell phones and youthAre being prioritised amongst youth of all backgroundsWithin a low-income black South African youth at an urban townshipThe majority (83%) access the Internet via their phone on a typical dayAbout half of all these individuals expenses are spent on cell phonesKreutzer 2009 survey of low income South African youth(Kreutzer 2009)15Cell phone internetMight be the only viable option available Can also be a choice

Learning computers is expensive and needs time. I do not have time and money, so why waste what I have when I can do in this [mobile] what I can do on computer?

I cannot stand computers because of the many upgrades requiring more learning. The mobile phone is the new computer, and it has the advantage that I have it on me all the time. It is even easier to type on itFrom Donner and Gitau 2009 (not students)Cell phones in higher educationCell phones are pervasive amongst studentsOwnership isubiquitous (98.5% in 2007) not socially differentiated

2007 survey of South African university students17Students value of phonesAre valued

I cant live without my cell phone. My whole life revolves around it

My phone is.exciting total independence

I couldnt live withouta cell phone. it has become so close to me

My mobile is my soul

2009 interviews with South African university studentscant live without my cell phone. My whole life revolves around itFile Name: Rhodes Com Sci 57 Part 1

Is there anything that you couldnt live without?R: My cell phoneI: Whys that?R: I dont know, it has become so close to me. Rhodes Com Sci 47

My mobile is my soul (Miguel, high school drop out)From Donner and Gitau 2009Cell phones and LMS usersBeing used for learning72% using their cell phones for academic only or academic and personal use 6.8 percent (287 students) access the LMS on their cell phones/PDAs/mobile devices Of those using cell phones for vula accessMany more students accessing vula by cell phones from off campus than onSlightly fewer females than males access vula by cell phoneBiggest grouping accessing by cell phone from Commerce Faculty

Vula 2008 surveyInsert spreadsheet19Cell phones and LMS usersStudents want better integration They want better access to LMS via their cell phone, They say they would make more use of the LMS if they could access it (at all and/or easier) from their cell phonesBecauseCell phone internet is for convenience I wouldnt have to go to a lab or find a laptop to check my emailI can download things onto my phoneor I can use my phone as a modemThe phone is cheaper the amount of money I use to surf the internet, I can spend the whole night on the internet and spend less than R5, so its cheaper than the computer labs

20Why cell phones and learning?I use my phone, especially for accounting, because he's [the lecturer] very fast. He explains so fast. So I just record sometimes when I feel that I'm tired.. my brain cannot concentrate anymore.. I just record. And then I'll come and listen later.

You can communicate with fellow students and get instant help with projects and assignments. You can access it [the LMS] anywhere (even from your cell phone).

2007 survey of South African university students - qualitative dataWhy cell phones and learning?When it comes to assignments if Im getting stuck, or Im at home and Im getting stuck, I just use my cellphone to go to google

You can use your phone via google. Maybe I don't have time for a computer. Or maybe it's late, and the assignment must be submitted. Then I use my phone

2007 survey of South African university students - qualitative dataCell phone use for studying% of cell phone time spent for academic purposes2007 survey of South African university students23Cell phones bridging the digital divideProvide a bridge for students with poor conditions of accessFor example a small specific cluster of studentsFrom low socio-economic groupsDifficult conditions of access on campusOff campus access is difficult or very difficultPoor practical access (share off campus computer with > 4 people)Used cell phones often and for academic purposes2007 survey of South African university studentsCell phone internet For students from low socio-economic groups, their primary means of internet access is by cell phone

Access to Internet by cell phone (544 students) by socio-economic group (SEG)2007 survey of South African university students25Cell phones and access for allOnly shared device between students with varying levels of accessFor high access students it is one part of a range of tools at their disposal is an expected part of the suitemultiple accessFor low access students it is their primary means of access to the internetit may be an in to computers

Overcoming dichotomiesEitherOrBothMultipleConclusionMobile internet use means old dichotomies no longer applyValue for digital stranger and for digital nativeNeed to research current student use of Sakai via cell phoneExplore & pilot possibilitiesDesign Sakai interfaces for cell phones

Thank you

Laura.Czerniewicz@uct.ac.za