Abstracts Education

Media as resource in an outcomes-based education class

by Jennifer Winnifred Mthimkhulu

This study focused on the use of media as resource in art outcomes-based class (OBE). The research was conducted mainly in black schools. The researcher established that media could be used as an effective educational tool, for the new school curriculum- This study attempted to emphasise the feet that schools should be provided with both print and electronic media. It also tried to emphasise that rural schools should be taken into consideration, by improving the mfrastnicture and supplying them with media equipment and material. Of importance was the discussion of various critical outcomes and how media can make them practical. The study showed that educators need support from education authorities, school management and parents. Former, educators need more workshops where they could be equipped with sew teaching methods. This could motivate and inculcate confidence in educators. In order to have motivated and confident learners, we need dedicated educators. The we need dedicated educators. The researcher looked into various media resources and few steps on bow they can be employed were suggested The researcher looked at the new approach to teaching and learning, which is outcomes-based education. It was established that a learner-centred approach, group work and activity-based learning could be easier with the use of media. However, as has been mentioned above, in order to be successful an educator needs proper training. Since the researcher found that very few schools employed media for the effective implementation of OBE, it was suggested that parents, schools, NGO's, the government, the department of education and the private sector collaborate in order to devise mechanisms of making media available in schools. This collaboration would also help in the provision of infrastructure in schools as the available media will need to be kept in storerooms, strongrooms or locked classrooms and laboratories. It emerged from this study that the future of OBE was bright as educators were given a chance of attending workshops and seminars by their school managements). Of importance, however, is the suggestion mat the government, parents, the VTll NGO's, the private sector and schools should assist in establishing more media centres that may help augment the work that is done by schools alone. The researcher also found that there is a strong feeling that media have to be employed as early as the level of play and pre-primary schools. This is in line with the idea of activity-based learning which emphasises the fact that learning should be as concrete as possible. It also emerged from the study that the use of media can really help make the educator and the learner partners in the teachmg-Iearaing situation. It became abundantly clear that when educators used media on outcomes-based education, and more importantly as facilitators, a culture of learning was enhanced. Undoubtedly, learners learn when learning was enjoyable and they found success in it.