A sustainable model for problem based learning in a South African school
- Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S., Meyer, J.
- Authors: Von Solms, S. , Hurter, W.S. , Meyer, J.
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124089 , uj:20872 , Citation: Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S & Meyer, J. 2016. A sustainable model for problem based learning in a South African school.
- Description: Abstract: South Africa is currently facing an education dilemma with high numbers of youth unemployment and a growing specialized skills shortage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM problem based learning events, hosted by government and the corporate sector, has shown to improve science and technology literacy and to encourage the youth to pursue tertiary education in the field of science. Unfortunately, schools face a range of challenges which restricts them from participating in these learning methods, depriving learners of the advantages offered by problem based learning. This paper presents a model for the sustainable provision of STEM problem based learning opportunities in South African schools. The presented model is based on a two-team mentoring model which makes problem based learning sustainable in a South African school environments. The Shell Eco Marathon is in its third year, and the students that have passed through the program will now be progressing to university. The impact of this program, therefore, will be become evident by the success of the students’ studies in the near future.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Von Solms, S. , Hurter, W.S. , Meyer, J.
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124089 , uj:20872 , Citation: Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S & Meyer, J. 2016. A sustainable model for problem based learning in a South African school.
- Description: Abstract: South Africa is currently facing an education dilemma with high numbers of youth unemployment and a growing specialized skills shortage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). STEM problem based learning events, hosted by government and the corporate sector, has shown to improve science and technology literacy and to encourage the youth to pursue tertiary education in the field of science. Unfortunately, schools face a range of challenges which restricts them from participating in these learning methods, depriving learners of the advantages offered by problem based learning. This paper presents a model for the sustainable provision of STEM problem based learning opportunities in South African schools. The presented model is based on a two-team mentoring model which makes problem based learning sustainable in a South African school environments. The Shell Eco Marathon is in its third year, and the students that have passed through the program will now be progressing to university. The impact of this program, therefore, will be become evident by the success of the students’ studies in the near future.
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Bake bread while the sun shines : solar bakery for off-grid rural community development
- Authors: Meyer, J. , Von Solms, S.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Solar solutions , Rural development , Bakery
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/273545 , uj:29144 , Citation: Meyer, J. & Von Solms, S. 2018. Bake bread while the sun shines : solar bakery for off-grid rural community development.
- Description: Abstract: In South Africa there are still more than 1.5 million households which are unlikely to be connected to the utility grid in the near future. These rural communities are faced with economic development, social and environmental challenges brought about as result of not being connect to the utility grid. Renewable energy offers environmentally favourable and cost effective solutions which are attractive for rural development of communities not connected to the utility grid. Gwakwani is an off-grid rural village situated in northern Limpopo South Africa. As a result of being off-grid, economic and social development of the village was haltered and become near stagnant. In this paper a renewable solar energy solution is utilised in the Gwakwani rural off-grid community for the powering of a small bakery. A solarised container bakery was developed and installed in the community. The bakery operated by four bakers is capable of producing up to 160 loafs of bread per day. The bakery has become the main supplier of bread to the neighbouring communities and is now the largest source of income and employment in Gwakwani, driving economic development. An overview of the technical implementation, bakery operation as well as the social aspects are presented. Social development was facilitated through the training of community members on the operation of the bakery and the economic business development thereof. Results from the social and economic impact of the off-grid solar bakery are presented and discussed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Meyer, J. , Von Solms, S.
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Solar solutions , Rural development , Bakery
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/273545 , uj:29144 , Citation: Meyer, J. & Von Solms, S. 2018. Bake bread while the sun shines : solar bakery for off-grid rural community development.
- Description: Abstract: In South Africa there are still more than 1.5 million households which are unlikely to be connected to the utility grid in the near future. These rural communities are faced with economic development, social and environmental challenges brought about as result of not being connect to the utility grid. Renewable energy offers environmentally favourable and cost effective solutions which are attractive for rural development of communities not connected to the utility grid. Gwakwani is an off-grid rural village situated in northern Limpopo South Africa. As a result of being off-grid, economic and social development of the village was haltered and become near stagnant. In this paper a renewable solar energy solution is utilised in the Gwakwani rural off-grid community for the powering of a small bakery. A solarised container bakery was developed and installed in the community. The bakery operated by four bakers is capable of producing up to 160 loafs of bread per day. The bakery has become the main supplier of bread to the neighbouring communities and is now the largest source of income and employment in Gwakwani, driving economic development. An overview of the technical implementation, bakery operation as well as the social aspects are presented. Social development was facilitated through the training of community members on the operation of the bakery and the economic business development thereof. Results from the social and economic impact of the off-grid solar bakery are presented and discussed.
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Broadening access to problem-based learning : design of the shell eco-marathon car-in-a-box concept
- Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S., Meyer, J.
- Authors: Von Solms, S. , Hurter, W.S. , Meyer, J.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Car-In-A-Box , Design , Problem-based learning
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124144 , uj:20879 , Citation: Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S & Meyer, J. 2016. Broadening access to problem-based learning : design of the shell eco-marathon car-in-a-box concept.
- Description: Abstract: Problem-based learning has proven to develop teamwork, problem solving skills, communication and critical thinking skills amongst learners. Due to these advantages, secondary schools in South Africa engage with problem-based events to promote the participation of learners in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, many schools face lack of time, lack of available funds and lack of the required technical skill set, which limits them from participating in these events. The Car-In-a-Box concept was developed to broaden access to a STEM problem-based learning event, called the Shell Eco-Marathon. The Car-In-A-Box concept addresses the three challenges that would normally prevent a school from entering the Shell Eco-Marathon, disenabling learners to harness the advantages of problem-based learning. The impact of the Car-In-A-Box concept for broadening access to problem-based learning is discussed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Von Solms, S. , Hurter, W.S. , Meyer, J.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Car-In-A-Box , Design , Problem-based learning
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124144 , uj:20879 , Citation: Von Solms, S., Hurter, W.S & Meyer, J. 2016. Broadening access to problem-based learning : design of the shell eco-marathon car-in-a-box concept.
- Description: Abstract: Problem-based learning has proven to develop teamwork, problem solving skills, communication and critical thinking skills amongst learners. Due to these advantages, secondary schools in South Africa engage with problem-based events to promote the participation of learners in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). However, many schools face lack of time, lack of available funds and lack of the required technical skill set, which limits them from participating in these events. The Car-In-a-Box concept was developed to broaden access to a STEM problem-based learning event, called the Shell Eco-Marathon. The Car-In-A-Box concept addresses the three challenges that would normally prevent a school from entering the Shell Eco-Marathon, disenabling learners to harness the advantages of problem-based learning. The impact of the Car-In-A-Box concept for broadening access to problem-based learning is discussed.
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A reverse order life cycle approach to enhance systems engineering education at undergraduate level
- Authors: Meyer, J. , Von Solms, S.
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Engineering education , Industry 4.0 , Reverse Life Cycle
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/404177 , uj:33885 , Citation: Meyer, J. & Von Solms, S. 2019. A reverse order life cycle approach to enhance systems engineering education at undergraduate level.
- Description: Abstract: The advances of Industry 4.0 lead the transition into the era of complex systems, requiring systems solutions for complex problems, increasing the interest in the development of systems engineers. However, traditional systems thinking may lose its effectiveness in this new context, which leads to a challenge in systems engineering education. This research aims to better prepare systems engineers of the future by addressing the disconnect which exist between systems engineering education at undergraduate level, and the real-life complex systems seen in society today though the implementation of a reverse order life cycle approach. By following the reverse order life cycle approach with a familiar electrical appliance, such as the electric kettle, in the classroom, undergraduate systems engineering students were able to gain the necessary insight and understanding regarding the dynamics of complex systems the underlying systems engineering concepts.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Meyer, J. , Von Solms, S.
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Engineering education , Industry 4.0 , Reverse Life Cycle
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/404177 , uj:33885 , Citation: Meyer, J. & Von Solms, S. 2019. A reverse order life cycle approach to enhance systems engineering education at undergraduate level.
- Description: Abstract: The advances of Industry 4.0 lead the transition into the era of complex systems, requiring systems solutions for complex problems, increasing the interest in the development of systems engineers. However, traditional systems thinking may lose its effectiveness in this new context, which leads to a challenge in systems engineering education. This research aims to better prepare systems engineers of the future by addressing the disconnect which exist between systems engineering education at undergraduate level, and the real-life complex systems seen in society today though the implementation of a reverse order life cycle approach. By following the reverse order life cycle approach with a familiar electrical appliance, such as the electric kettle, in the classroom, undergraduate systems engineering students were able to gain the necessary insight and understanding regarding the dynamics of complex systems the underlying systems engineering concepts.
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