THE University of South Africa (Unisa) needs almost no introduction as the biggest university on the continent, and a pioneer of distance and online education.

What many may not know is that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Unisa did things in a more traditional way when it came to examinations. Like most universities Unisa required that students physically visit a dedicated exam centre to sit down and write exams with pen and paper.

How this changed when the pandemic hit is an interesting look at how technology in education rapidly evolved over the last few years.

As COVID-19 took root in South Africa in 2020, many students began to wonder what would become of their final assessments for the May / June exam period. Unisa finally made the change in April 2020 following governmental changes to lockdown.

“The extension of the national lockdown declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa has meant that Unisa has had to make some far-reaching decisions regarding the May/June 2020 examination period. The May/June 2020 examination period will continue, but no venue-based examinations will be written during this time. The university will, instead, make use of alternative assessment formats for this examination period,” the university announced at the time.

Announcing such a big change to the way exams were taken, just a month before they were set to start, caused quite the problem for the university and its students. Those who preferred not to partake in the new online exams – either because of lack of access to a computer or internet issues – could instead defer to the October / November 2020 exam period with no penalty to their academic record, or additional monetary costs.

Several problems crept up for this maiden voyage, mostly due to technical issues and load problems as servers were strained, but thousands of students successfully completed their papers and continued with their education as planned. After some delay, results from these exams were published too, completing the first attempt at this system by Unisa.

In September 2020 the continuation of online exams were confirmed by Unisa, which stated that all future examinations would be held in this way. This has continued in the intervening years with the Unisa student portal MyUnisa now featuring a MyExams dedicated section for these assessments.

All of this would have been impossible without advances in personal computing and home internet. Should a pandemic like COVID-19 have appeared even a decade ago it’s unlikely that such a successful endeavour could have been carried out by Unisa. With this success the university even sought to move other in person activities online, such as student orientation.

With these changes Unisa has become even more ingrained in the fundamentals of online and distance education.

Ask any past Unisa student, or any university graduate in general, where the real work is done, the likely answer is on a notebook or more recently a Chromebook. This form factor of portable devices with a screen, physical keyboard and trackpad has proven for decades to be the de facto single answer from taking those first notes in class all the way to writing that final exam.

Notebooks and Chromebooks have become even more uniquely suited to the online exam environment with Unisa and many other institutions requiring that a webcam be turned on and running proctoring software. This software uses a device’s camera and sometimes microphone to make sure that the right student is writing the right exam with no outside help.

Even the South African government recognises the need for these devices as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) runs the Digital Learning Device Project to assign a portion of student funding for a notebook intended for school use.

While there’s many options for notebooks and Chromebooks, a great option all students should consider is ASUS. The well-known manufacturer has a keen focus on devices for students with its recent Own Tomorrow campaign shining a focus on everything about university life, from a Varsity survival guide, to where to get your device.

The campaign is also great for those who need a new device for school, but may not know what specific components, like a CPU, GPU, and screen technology entail.

Those who already have a grasp of these concepts can shop the ASUS South Africa store right now with a dedicated student subsection available here.

Hypertext

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

IN my address to the second Presidential Summit on Gender-based Violence and Femicide at the beginning of this month, I said that we are a nation at war with itself.

This is borne out by the crime statistics for the last quarter, which were released last week, just ahead of the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

Between July and September this year, 989 women were murdered, 1,277 were victims of attempted murder and more than 13,000 were victims of serious assault. In just these three months, more than 10,000 rape cases were opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Not even children, our most vulnerable citizens and most deserving of our care and protection, were spared. In the six months to September 2022, over 500 children were killed.

We are in the grip of terrible crimes in which offenders are known to the victims. Women and children are being violated not only by strangers but by people who are known to them – by their fathers, boyfriends and husbands, by colleagues, teachers and even classmates.

However, as a society, we are not powerless to stop these crimes. We can stop gender-based violence.

Over the last few years, there has been a growing mobilisation of all sectors of society to stop the abuse of women and children. There have been some areas of progress.

The latest crime statistics show some of the successes of the criminal justice system in bringing perpetrators to book. In the reporting period, the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units arrested over 4,000 alleged perpetrators of gender-based violence and 410 alleged rapists were traced and arrested.

More than 17,000 trial-ready GBV cases were processed by teams of the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority. The courts are also handing down heavier sentences to perpetrators.

While we should be encouraged that many of the perpetrators are not being allowed to get away with their crimes, our foremost task is to prevent men and boys from becoming abusers in the first place.

Men are the perpetrators of gender-based violence and it is therefore men that need to change. It is men – as husbands and partners, as fathers, colleagues, peers and classmates – who need to consider their own attitudes towards women and girls.

To give meaning to 16 Days of Activism we now need to engage the men of South Africa in a dialogue about their responsibility towards women and toxic masculinity. All of society should be mobilised to organise these men’s dialogues.

The government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector should be encouraged to support such dialogues in every workplace, place of worship, school, college and university, and in every community. Every day various entities devote resources to public engagements, conferences and seminars on various pressing social, economic and political issues of the day. These are forums where this engagement should happen.

Eradicating gender-based violence is no less urgent or important. These crimes affect every aspect of our society, including health and well-being, safety and security, and economic growth and productivity.

In these dialogues, we need to examine our understanding of sexual consent. We must challenge the myth that rape is only considered rape if it involves a stranger, or if the victim responded by screaming for help, fighting back or reporting the matter immediately to the police.

By bringing together men of all races, classes and generations to speak frankly about their understanding of masculinity, we can show how some assumptions and practices that many people consider ‘normal’ are harmful to women and children.

We must change beliefs that men are strong and women are weak, that men have to be in charge, or that men can do as they please with women. Men need to understand that they can and should express their pain and frustrations without inflicting harm on others.

As President, I stand ready to participate in men’s dialogues. I call on Ministers, Premiers, religious, political and community leaders, sports people, artists, celebrities and business people to do the same.

The men of South Africa owe it to the women and children of this country to take up the struggle against gender-based violence.

These men’s dialogues can be platforms for men to challenge each other to become better men, more responsible, more understanding and more caring.

From the desk of the President

With a new outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) reported this year in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – the 14th EVD outbreak in the country – researchers at the University of the Free State (UFS) introduced a new concept that can be used to test whether the spread will have one or several waves. They believe the focus should be to identify the source or the hosts of this virus for it to be a complete eradication.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola in Mbandaka health zone, Equateur Province on April 23, 2022. EVD, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Prof Abdon Atangana, Professor of Applied Mathematics in the Institute for Groundwater Studies (IGS), says existing mathematical models are used to first fit collected data and then predict future events. Predictions help lawmakers to take decisions that will help protect their citizens and their environments. The outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases have exposed the weakness of these models as they failed to predict the number of waves and in several instances; they failed to predict accurately day-to-day new infections, daily deaths and recoveries.

Solving the challenges of the current models

In the case of COVID-19 in South Africa, it is predicted that the country had far more infections than what was recorded, which is due to challenges faced by the medical facilities, poverty, inequality, and other factors. With Ebola in the DRC, data recorded are not far from reality due to the nature of the virus and its symptoms. However, the predictions show although some measures have been put in place in DRC and other places where the Ebola virus spread, they will still face some challenges in the future, as the virus will continue to spread but may have less impact.

“To solve the challenges with the current models, we suggested a new methodology. We suggested that each class should be divided into two subclasses (Detected and undetected) and we also suggested that rates of infection, recovery, death and vaccination classes should be a function of time not constant as suggested previously. These rates are obtained from what we called daily indicator functions. For example, an infection rate should be obtained from recorded data with the addition of an uncertain function that represents non-recorded data (Here more work is still to be done to get a better approximation).

“I introduced a new concept called strength number that can be used to test whether the spread will have one or several waves. The strength number is an accelerative force that helps to provide speed changes, thus if this number is less than zero we have deceleration, meaning there will be a decline in the number of infections. If the number is positive, we have acceleration, meaning we will have an increase in numbers. If the number is zero, the current situation will remain the same,” according to Prof Atangana.

To provide better prediction, he continues, reliable data are first fitted with the suggested mathematical model. This helps them to know if their mathematical model is replicating the dynamic process of the spread. The next step is to predict future events, to do this, we create three sub-daily indicator functions (minimum, actual, and maximum). These will lead to three systems, the first system represents the worst-case scenario, the second is the actual scenario, and the last is a best-case scenario.

Virus will continue to spread but with less impact

Using this method, Prof Atangana, a highly cited mathematician for the years 2019-2021, says they were able to predict that, although some measures have been put in place in DRC and other places where the Ebola virus spreads, they will still face some challenges in the future as the virus will continue to spread but may have less impact.

To properly achieve the conversion from observed facts into mathematical formulations and to address these limitations, he had to ask fundamental questions such as what is the rate of infection, what is the strength of the infection, what are the crossover patterns presented by the spread, how can day-to-day new infected numbers be predicted and what differential operator should be used to model a dynamic process followed by the spread?

This approach was tested for several infectious diseases where we present the case of Ebola in Congo and Covid-19 in South Africa. 

Source: UFS

Effie James, Richland Source columnist

Sports at the scholastic level is supposed to be the purist form of fun. The games provide a local escape and are the catalyst that brings communities together for a common cause. The pride that comes with being a part of high school sports as a player and a fan is something that can last a lifetime.

Often these events provide memories passed down from generation to generation. Stories of great players and great teams can fill hours of conversation at the local barbershops and family gatherings.

In 1984 I went to my first basketball game; it was the Falcons from Malabar High against the (red & white) Tygers of Mansfield Sr. I was never the same. The players were real people that lived right in my community, some of the players had even gone to the same elementary school that I attended (Newman).

Watching Eric “Bubba” Toddie, Ahmed Kent, Don “Magic” Williams and Andre Feagin play at the original Pete Henry Gym or Lamar Marsh, Dave Minard and others playing football at Arlin Field were the best times of my young life. I didn’t know much about anything at that time, but one thing I knew is that I wanted to do what they were doing. I wanted to play with my friends in big games with the entire community cheering us on.

As time has passed and participation in sports has decreased in so many local school districts, I often wonder why many young people just decide against participation, or what has happened to the purity of the games, the fun and energy that came with watching these young athletes compete?

If you want to know the answer to that question, I invite you to open your social media pages or attend the games with the true intention of supporting your favorite team.

So many games have turned into a legion of armchair analysts and critics to the point where just coming to enjoy the contest is difficult because you’re likely to hear an “expert” in the stands spending the entire game complaining about everything from officiating to coaching and even being critical of the players themselves.

If you really want to be appalled, stop by a youth sports game where 7- through 12 year-olds are out there learning the game and just trying to do their best. Then listen to overbearing coaches yelling and screaming at the kids, parents yelling at the referees and coaches challenging every call made by the official, as if he or she has something to gain from the outcome of a 4th grade basketball or baseball game.

I have had the opportunity to attend many athletic contests throughout Richland County and beyond, and although the environment may be different, the demographics of the community can be unique to certain areas.

There are certain constants that exist: First, everyone wants their team to win. Second, most attendees come to cheer. And finally, there are some that can’t resist openly criticizing everything about the game, coaches, and players.

Lately it seems that the negativity has been ramped up to a higher level, mostly thanks to social media and our hand-held cellular megaphones that have the power to build up or tear down almost every aspect of society, including high school sports.

No question, the number of supportive fans and parents still far outweigh the negativity that can persist within youth sports. Truthfully, those are the heroes that make athletics fun for players. Even with that being true, I wonder why such hostility is even a small part of the prep athletic experience?

Having spent most of my adult life as a high school coach, I realize and understand that certain levels of criticism come with the position and that sometimes the passion of fans gets intensified by the competitive nature of sports, but outward personal attacks on coaches and public criticism of players via social media has reached a level that it has began to effect student participation as well as some coaches motivation to start or stay in youth sports.

Let’s consider this for one moment. You have a high school coach who almost always has a “real” job working 40 hours a week or more, possibly in the school. They spend most of their time off work either preparing for practice and games or other aspects that come with getting their players ready for competition.

Nevermind the hours away from their own family and friends.

“Well, that’s what they get paid for” you say?

Any high school coach will tell you that the stipend they receive equates to pennies an hour based on the work that they put in. In the end, these are women and men who are doing it for the love of the game, the care for students and their desire to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Are some coaches better than others? Could players perform better during competition?

Absolutely! But it is important to realize that although the wins and losses will matter, it’s the experiences that the young people hold on to and will take with them for a lifetime.

As a parent of an athlete, one of my most heartbreaking moments was when my daughter, who was just short of 6-foot tall, decided she did not want to play basketball. This was the sport her father had played and coached for years.

I had pictures of her being at practice as a toddler and shooting hoops as a young girl, so I assumed that when she got to high school, she would immediately take to the courts.

Surprisingly, when she was asked by the basketball coaches if she was going to try out, she declined. When I asked her why she didn’t want to play, she told me that being in the stands at games and listening to some of the fans criticism of players (not to mention her father the coach) gave her extreme anxiety about playing and although I tried to persuade her and let her know all the benefits that come with being a part of a team, she did not want any part of it.

That was a heartbreaker for me, but a peek into how adult behaviors during contest can have a direct impact on student participation.

I have coached and been a part of, or around teams that were very close to winning state championships. The one thing that stands out to me about those great runs was the tremendous community support.

Since I have been out of coaching, I have had the opportunity to attend lots of state championship games as media personnel or a general ticket holder. One thing that is clear; state titles are won by communities, not just teams. When you look at the squads that win those esteemed crowns, they usually have a supportive community that has stood with them through the ups and downs of the season.

In short, I would like to make a plea to all attendees, parents and sports enthusiasts that come to watch young people compete in extra-curricular activities. For the best results and to ultimately get the outcome that you would like, please follow these simple rules when at the games or commenting on the state of youth sports players and coaches on your social media platforms:

#1. When the game starts… CHEER LIKE CRAZY!

#2 If the team is losing or playing poorly… CHEER LIKE CRAZY! to give them added motivation and energy.

#3. If the game or contest is close or tied… CHEER LIKE CRAZY! to show them that you are behind them no matter what.

#4. When the game is over, if your team loses; be there to encourage the players and coaches so they feel empowered to do better next time.

#5 Win or lose, when you get home flood your social media pages with positivity, always considering that the players and others are possibly watching…

#6 And most importantly, when they win… CHEER LIKE CRAZY!!

If you follow these easy steps and still find it difficult to properly release your competitive energy in a positive way, I encourage you to go to your local school’s athletic office and put in an application to be directly involved as a coach or volunteer. One thing I know for certain is that there is always room for coaches that care in all sports and in all communities.

After a short time being involved with the ups and downs that come with coaching, mentoring, and directing young lives, it will almost certainly change your perspective and you will find yourself being more tolerant, supportive and less critical.

Be blessed, not stressed.

richlandsource.com