Page 6 - DUT Conduit Sept 2023

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS SENIOR LECTURER, EBRAHIM ASMAL REPRESENTED DUT AT RADIO ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PANEL DISCUSSION:
UNVEILING THE WORLD OF CODING AND ROBOTICS
Sibahle Ngcobo
Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Department of Information Systems Senior Lecturer, Ebrahim Asmal, took center stage at a recent Radio Islam International panel discussion. The engaging conversation was led by radio host Bibi Aysha Laher as part of her radio segment “Youth Talk.
The central theme of the panel revolved around the enigmatic world of coding and robotics, which is gradually finding its foothold in South Africa’s educational landscape. The discussion aimed to shed light on why these technologies are relatively new to South Africa and to ignite enthusiasm and curiosity among the radio station’s listeners.
Mr. Asmal, a respected figure in the field, illuminated the definitions of coding and robotics, their profound impact on South Africa, the benefits they offer, and their transformative potential for the youth. “Coding and Robotics are two pivotal components of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). It is imperative that we nurture these skills, as they involve programming devices to perform tasks traditionally executed by humans,” elucidated Mr.Asmal.
He emphasized the urgency of acquiring 4IR skills to remain competitive globally. “To thrive on the world stage, we must embrace these technologies, learn how to harness their power, and cultivate expertise in their application,” he asserted.
Mr. Asmal underscored that these skills can be imparted from as early as five years of age, providing children with a solid foundation for future learning and personal development in the technology-driven world. He explained that coding and robotics foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, and mold individuals into well- rounded, 21st-century-ready citizens.
“This approach not only enhances their understanding of science and mathematics, as coding often involves
Pictured: Dr Ebrahim Asmal with DUT’s 4IR robots.
mathematical concepts, but also integrates principles from Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Introducing these concepts at an early age can enhance comprehension and appreciation of these subjects. Given South Africa’s challenges in reading and mathematics, this approach can help bridge those gaps. It encourages children to think logically, explore uncharted territories, and break down complex problems into manageable steps,” elaborated Mr.Asmal.
The Department of Basic Education has taken a decisive step forward by releasing a policy document mandating the inclusion of coding and robotics in the curricula of both private and public schools throughout South Africa. This landmark decision signals a shift toward a more technologically advanced and globally competitive education system.This is definitely a dawn of a new era in education.
Waseem Laher,Principal at Qurtuba Online,passionately advocated for the integration of coding and robotics in schools,emphasizing the profound positive impact these subjects can have on teaching and learning. He urged schools to take this endeavor seriously, recognizing its potential to enhance students’ technological proficiency.
In closing, Ms. Laher, the panel’s host, extended her gratitude to the participants for sharing their invaluable insights on coding and robotics, an area of education poised to shape the future of South Africa’s youth and their place in the modern world.
6
NEW ACADEMIC BOOK BY DUT’S Dr CHISITA Waheeda Peters
Dr Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita, a researcher, lecturer, author and editor currently based at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in the Department of Information Systems; talks about his editorial role on his book called: RedefiningAcademic Library Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic:AView from Zimbabwe.
“This new book was published in July, 2023 by KG De Gruyter in Berlin. I co-edited the book with three other editors. I also published an article in the book. The publication seeks to establish how information professionals are providing information services in a sustainable society in an era of information disorder. It also provides the strategic direction to strengthen the global voice of libraries, inspiring and enhancing professional practice as well as enhancing international cooperation and collaboration among LIS educators and practitioners,” he said.
Dr Chisita gave an overview of the book, saying: “At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified in Wuhan, a city in China. It rapidly spread throughout the world, resulting in a global pandemic declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2019. The Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 20, 2020, and quickly responded by instituting infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of COVID19. The government encouraged the public to remain in their homes, work from home, practise hand hygiene, adopt physical distancing, and wear face masks in all public places,” he said.
He further added that these measures meant that all schools and universities closed for face-to-face contact learning and adopted eLearning. “Librarians as trusted lieutenants for access to quality information, working with scientists, have a vital role to combat disinformation.This chapter reports on a qualitative content analysis of posts on COVID-19 on the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) digital platforms. The UZ Library responded with an implementation framework and adapted proven techniques to empower researchers and students with tools to address harmful and false information.
“The chapter presents the key lessons learnt in addressing science disinformation at the peak of the information disorder,” he explained. Dr Chisita conveyed that the implications of science disinformation to library practice post the pandemic are explored, along with the impact of the pandemic on staff skills development and service delivery in what has become known as the new normal.
He divulges that the contents of the book are divided according to the following key sub-themes that resonate with the title as outlined below:
• Library and information services in the information age.
• Data and records in an era of information disorder.
• Archives, data curation and preservation in the digital era. • Data science, analytics and visualisation.
• Information ethics in the digital era.
• Information deluge in the digital era.
• Information and knowledge management.
• Fourth Industrial revolution.