Global Journal of Social Sciences Studies

Towards inclusive and accessible e-learning in gauteng classrooms: An ICT integration framework for South African schools

Bongani June Mwale, Blondel Nyamkure, Raymond Nkateko Maluleke — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0500

South Africa has attempted to enhance its education system. It has achieved this by employing information and communication technology (ICT) to bridge the digital divide and enhance educational outcomes. Despite substantial government investment in e-learning, particularly in Gauteng township schools, its use remains inequitable, and classrooms lack true accessibility and inclusivity. This study examines the barriers to ICT implementation in schools, evaluates the effectiveness of existing e-learning approaches, and proposes strategies to enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of ICT. The study conceptualises an ICT integration model, emphasising equity-centred access, teacher agency, learner-centric design, and the promotion of communicative engagement. The study employs a mixed-methods approach that incorporates desktop and systems reviews, informed by an ethnographic perspective. Qualitative data was collected through interviews, analysed through coding and thematic analysis and quantitative data through semi-structured questionnaires and analysed through regression analysis. The study noted that numerous factors influence the accessibility of e-learning in educational institutions, such as policy goals, infrastructure investment, and ict strategy implementation. The results also observed that there are still educators' pedagogical training challenges that need to be addressed and there is a need for investments in more educational resources: ict tablets and connectivity to enhance access of educational materials to learners and educators. The study recommends that there should be increased ict resources support to schools by the Department of Education and training on pedagogy and educator change management to ensure that there is successful ict utilisation in the classroom.

Examining health and wellbeing of student athletes in a BSN program to strategically impact student retention

Kelli D. Whittington — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The purpose of this research is to examine student perceptions of their mental health and well-being to foster retention. Identifying and understanding these perceptions is pertinent to program development, which ultimately impacts the faculty's approach to student persistence. The study design used a convenience sample of students enrolled in a BSN program who were identified as student-athletes by the Midwestern University athletic department at a Division I sports institution. Those students were solicited for participation via their university email and provided a QR code and hyperlink for survey completion. The survey questions were provided by the Student-Athlete Well-being Scale (SAWS), developed by the National Athletic Association (NCAA), to explore student-athletes' perceptions of their well-being. The NCAA provided permission for the modified use of this survey instrument, using specifically requested questions. Study findings utilized descriptive statistics to determine relevant themes related to collegiate student persistence. The themes identified, which are also similar to those found in the literature, include resilience, mental health, wellness, and transition to practice as essential components. The long-term impact of these themes can be relevant to workplace readiness. Practical implications include fostering the ability of faculty members to strategically design student engagement offerings that promote these areas, thereby intentionally impacting student retention.

The transformative integration of generative AI in fostering Global Citizenship Education: Implications for pedagogy and policy

Dipak Tatpuje, Vaibhav Jadhav, Satish Shende — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This exploratory research with literature and survey through open-ended questionnaires collectively examines global citizenship education (GCED) from various angles, including its conceptual frameworks, implementation strategies across different educational levels and regions, particularly the Asia-Pacific, and its relationship with sustainable development and national identities by policy recommendations and practical guidance for integrating GCED into national education systems, curricula, and teacher training, emphasizing the need for stakeholder engagement and addressing issues such as inequality and diversity. It critically analyzes different typologies and ideologies within GCED, such as neoliberal, liberal, and critical perspectives. In contrast, others have investigated the measurement of GCED outcomes in large-scale assessments and the role of adult learning and education in fostering global citizenship. The impact of emerging technologies, such as generative AI, on GCED is also considered in terms of ethical implementation and equitable access to it.

The datafication of e-sports players and specialty hotels as venues for online communities

Angel Lei — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0500

This study investigates E-sports hotels as hybrid environments where digital networks and physical infrastructures converge to transform leisure into data-driven labor. The purpose is to analyze how these venues shape gamer identity, social belonging, and economic participation through algorithmic governance and datafication. Using an interpretive framework grounded in media studies, sociology, and computational modeling, the paper conceptualizes E-sports hotels as nodes within a tripartite network linking players, platforms, and physical spaces. The methodology integrates theoretical synthesis with a formalized utility model that represents player decision-making based on convenience, belonging, environmental quality, and algorithmic influence. Findings reveal that players’ perceived choices are strongly conditioned by data-driven recommendation systems and that a sense of belonging exerts greater influence on consumer behavior than traditional factors such as price or location. E-sports hotels convert this social validation into economic and algorithmic value, reinforcing a feedback loop between identity formation and platform visibility. The study concludes that these venues operate not merely as hospitality businesses but as infrastructures of platform capitalism, where user behavior continuously generates data capital. The practical implications suggest that understanding such hybrid spaces is essential for policymakers, designers, and cultural theorists seeking to navigate the intersections of leisure, data governance, and emerging digital economies.