1. Empowering the first year university student for success through personal development and the use of technology
Anusha Govender
Dept of Information Technology

2. Challenges in teaching and learning
2. Interventions in the Department of IT (ECP)
3. Personal Development
4. Use of Technology
5. Findings
6. Conclusion

3. 1. Some of the challenges in teaching and learning
Adjusting to university life
Students do not have access to their own device (laptop or tablet)
Learning takes place in compartments/silos

4. Interventions in the Department of IT
Challenges
Solutions
Adjusting to university life
FYSE
Lack of resources (Laptop, Tablet
Department provided a device for each student
Learning takes place in compartments
Make learning meaningful, relevant, integrated tasks

5. 4. Personal Development Habit Description 1. Be Proactive
You are the force for positive action in your life. You have to look at yourself and change actions that aren’t helpful
2. Begin with the end in mind
Decide what your goals are or your destiny will be decided by others
3. Put first things first
You have to do what’s important before doing less important things. Don’t procrastinate
4. Think Win-Win
There doesn’t have to be a loser in a relationship. Aim to win for yourself while allowing others to win for themselves
5. Seek first to understand and then to be understood
You have 2 ears and 1 mouth. Learn to listen to what others say before saying what you want
6. Synergize
You can go further and faster with the help of others than you can go alone
7. Sharpen the saw
Your mind and your body are both you. You have to take care of yourself physically to do your best mentally

6. Overview of Skills Development 1A
Academic literacy, Numeracy
2 Groups (30 students)
5 Hearing-impaired students
Research-based assignment
Reflective journal
Group work

7. 4. Use of Technology
Internet (Google)
Microsoft Word and Excel
BlackBoard
Safe Assign
Rubrics
Self-Test
Journal for reflection
All IT Subjects in ECP – use Blackboard /Edmodo extensively

8. 5. Findings thus far
Student :
Coping with University life – ability to manage stress
Becoming responsible learners
Maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle
Ability to work in groups – personality clashes
Increased level of confidence
Improvement in writing skills – Reflective Journal
Learning sign language
Excitement for learning
Academic (Work-in-progress):
Reflect on your practice and continuously improve with confidence

9. 6. Conclusion
“We all have the potential to be better than we are “ Dalai Lama
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” Dr. Wayne Dyer