Symbolic Narratives and the Role of Meaning: Encountering Technology in South African Primary Education

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dc.citation.doihttps://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21654
dc.citation.issue18en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Zyl, Izak
dc.contributor.authorSabiescu, Amalia
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-18T10:11:42Z
dc.date.available2017-01-18T10:11:42Z
dc.date.issued2016-12-15
dc.description.abstractThis article draws on the results of a long-term, design-based research study with South African primary school teachers to discuss the role of subjectively assigned meanings and symbolisms of technology, as key factors affecting the adoption, appropriation and use of educational technology in urban poor and under-resourced environments. The paper examines how teachers’ engagements with technology are framed, conditioned, and embedded in multi-levelled “technology encounters”. These encounters give rise to meaningful representations of technology that ultimately transform both the teaching and learning process, and culminate in the emergence of “symbolic narratives”: complex assemblages of symbolisms, meanings and interpretations that arise through and therefore come to influence further technology engagements. We argue that a closer examination of teachers’ symbolic narratives can shed light on the motivations that underpin the appropriation, integration -- or conversely, rejection -- of educational technology in urban poor and under-resourced environments.en_ZA
dc.description.librarianCA2016en_ZA
dc.description.urlwww.wits.ac.za/linkcentre/ajicen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Zyl, I., & Sabiescu, A. (2016). Symbolic narratives and the role of meaning: Encountering technology in South African primary education. The African Journal of Information and Communication (AJIC), 18, 95-115. https://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21654en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2077-7205 (print version)
dc.identifier.issn2077-7213 (online version)
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/21654
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.23962/10539/21654
dc.journal.titleThe African Journal of Information and Communication (AJIC)en_ZA
dc.journal.volume18en_ZA
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.orcid.idhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8494-6968
dc.orcid.idhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3006-705X
dc.publisherLINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburgen_ZA
dc.subjecteducational informatics, information and communication technology (ICT), technology encounters, symbolic narrative, meaningful representations of technologyen_ZA
dc.titleSymbolic Narratives and the Role of Meaning: Encountering Technology in South African Primary Educationen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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AJIC Issue 18, 2016