Abstract
M.A. (Media Studies)
One of the problems facing formal education in South
Africa today is that. of coping with the educational
needs of a fast developing country. An important
recommendation of the De Lange Report was that
educational technology should be utilised to alleviate
this problem. Educational television, especially the
use of video, is regarded as one of the most important
technological media which can assist in this matter.
A study was undertaken in the use of educational
television in developing and developed countries in
resolving educational problems. The role of teacher
training in the successful implementation of
educational television was also scrutinised. It was
found that teacher training played a decisive role in
the successful use of this medium. Teachers
inadequately trained in the use of the medium lacked
the knowledge to use it properly in the classroom.
They also showed a resistance to the medium.
At· present educational television in South Africa is
aimed at non-formal educational needs but from 1 April
1986 the SABC will commence the broadcasting of formal
educational programmes. In this study it is thus
recommended that training courses in the use of
educational television should be instituted at all
"teacher training centres in South Africa and that all
educational departments should give attention to the
formal and non-formal training of in-service teachers ..
Guidelines for a training course are suggested in this
study. The contents of such a course would include
components like television literacy, television and cognition, the analysis and evaluation of programmes,
integration with the various subjects, the use and
compilation of· support material and small scale
television production. It is also recommended that the
course should comprise lectures in theory and practical
work sessions. -These practical work sessions would be
regarded as the most important part of the course.