Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala
2 Publications in AERD
Author Publications
Export PDFA qualitative descriptive enquiry of nursing students' experiences of utilising a portfolio as an assessment tool in nursing and midwifery education.
By Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala
Background: The use of a portfolio as an assessment tool in nursing and midwifery education it is still a relatively new phenomenon. Institutions of higher education should therefore continuously explore the experiences of nursing students in the use of a portfolio in clinical nursing education. In Namibia little research exists on the perspectives of nursing students on the use of a portfolio as an assessment tool. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore nursing students' experiences with portfolio as an assessment tool in nursing and midwifery education. Method: The study used the qualitative approach, with an explorative, descriptive, and contextual design. Fifteen (15) undergraduate nursing students participated in this study, using a snowball sampling technique. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Data was analysed using thematic analysis for recurring themes. Results: The following four themes emerged: understanding of a portfolio, positive experiences, negative experiences, and effective portfolio utilisation. Conclusion: The results revealed nursing students' positive and negative experiences, with suggestions for improvement. The findings may help identify strengths and weaknesses in portfolio usage for assessment purposes in nursing and midwifery education. This study recommended well-articulated plans and actions from students, clinical instructors, lecturers, faculty management teams, and the nurses in practice facilities, to address the challenges identified. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Challenges experienced by students studying through open and distance learning at a higher education institution in namibia: Implications for strategic planning
By Amalia Ilonga
Online learning remains one of the most powerful enablers and accelerators for realising higher education studies by enhancing teaching by means of innovative technologies and pedagogies. However, the success rate of students studying through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) remains very low. Therefore, institutions of higher learning in Namibia should continuously establish and assess the challenges affecting the students who opt to study via distance mode to devise strategies required to address such challenges. The objective of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by students studying through ODL at Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Namibia and establish the challenges they face. A qualitative, phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research strategy was employed in this study to explore and describe challenges experienced by students’ studying through ODL at HEI’ satellite campus in Namibia. A purposive sampling was utilised in the selection of participants. Data were collected from participants using semi-structured interviews with nine participants. Three themes were identified, namely, the reasons why students chose to study through ODL programme, challenges experienced by students studying through ODL and mechanisms for improvement. The findings of this study call for well-articulated plans and actions to address the challenges faced by students studying in the distance e-learning mode. The study recommended that both Lecturers and ODL programme Administrators should undergo refresher training on distance education annually to ensure that they are aware and can address the challenges faced by their students. © 2020, Sciedu Press. All rights reserved.
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