Papers by Nicoline Wessels
Journal of Workplace Learning
Purpose This paper aims to examine the ways becoming information literate relates to the material... more Purpose This paper aims to examine the ways becoming information literate relates to the material objects in the Kente-weaving landscape. Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic research design was adopted wherein data was collected using participant observation and a semi-structured interview with 24 participants through their roles as either master weaver, junior weaver or novice weaver. Thematic analysis through a practice-based approach to information literacy frames the analysis of this study. Findings Information literacy relates to the material objects in terms of developing the know-how knowledge regarding the Kente-weaving tools used as well as what constitutes the quality of Kente fabrics. Practical implications Information literacy goes beyond having theoretical knowledge of the material objects of an information landscape. It is practical, not merely knowing the names of the material objects and what they are literary used for. Originality/value To the best of the au...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
This study investigates how workplace learning is enacted to make a novice Kente (a hand-woven fa... more This study investigates how workplace learning is enacted to make a novice Kente (a hand-woven fabric in Ghana) weaver information literate in the Kente-weaving landscape. Ethnography was used as the research design. Interview and participant observation were used as the data collection methods. For the interview, semi-structured interview techniques were used to solicit information from all three levels of weavers (Master, junior and novice weavers) in Bonwire Kente Centre in Ghana. Out of the 62 weavers at the Bonwire Kente Centre, 24 weavers representing 8 each from each level of weavers were purposively chosen. The findings of this study show learning is enacted to make a novice Kente weaver information literate of the Kente-weaving craft by the affordance of guidance provision, conversations, observation and learning by doing. This study contributes to the information literacy literature and workplace learning that learning and becoming information literate do not relate solely...
Journal of Information Literacy
This article reports on the relationship between becoming information literate and the body in th... more This article reports on the relationship between becoming information literate and the body in the Kente-weaving landscape. A mixed approach of incorporative ethnographic participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 24 participants through their roles as either master weaver, junior weaver or novice weaver at the Bonwire Kente Centre. Thematic analysis through an embodied-practice approach to information literacy (IL) frames the analysis of this study. The findings show that the body facilitates IL or knowing by understanding and making meaning of the cues afforded it from interaction and participation in the Kente-weaving practices. The body facilitates or enables IL through identifying and understanding cues in an information landscape.
Journal of Documentation
PurposeThis study examines what constitutes competence and how a novice becoming a competent weav... more PurposeThis study examines what constitutes competence and how a novice becoming a competent weaver is enabled by information literacy in the fabric-weavers’ workplace landscape.Design/methodology/approachEthnography as a research design was employed using participant observation and semi-structured interviews as the data collection techniques.FindingsCompetence constitutes the demonstration of Kente knowledge and mentorship capability enabled by information literacy through access to the on-the-loom and off-the-loom information in the Kente-weaving landscape.Research limitations/implicationsThis study explains how the transition from a novice weaver to a competent weaver is underpinned by information literacy.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that contribute to the understanding of information literacy in the craft workplace. The study proposes a framework for weavers' information literacy practice.
This article focuses on action research as a research design approach for Masters studies in info... more This article focuses on action research as a research design approach for Masters studies in information science and the various research methods that support and assist the research process. In this case, action research acts as a framework to guide the research and allows integration between theory, research and practice. It allows research that is simultaneously explorative, investigative, participative and contextual. A defining characteristic of this type of research is the opportunities it provides researchers to reflect continuously and systematically on their practice. The research is embedded in a longitudinal Literacy Project in two disadvantaged primary schools with specific reference to setting up and supporting school libraries.
Information communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the workplace, education delivery and ... more Information communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the workplace, education delivery and information platforms but the fundamentals of working with information have not changed. Learners and students must still investigate, reason, review, analyse and synthesise information regardless of the diversity of the platforms. This article reflects on information literacy and explores the notion of social media in the South African school context. Standards for information literate learners are discussed, as well as the teaching of information literacy in the 21st century, with reference to the Big Process Model. In the South African context the authors look briefly at two important documents namely, the National Guidelines for School Library and Information Services published in April 2012 by the Department of Basic Education (DoE) and the National Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) that came into effect in January 2011. Neither CAPS nor the National Guidelines menti...
South African Journal of Libraries and Information Science, 2012
This post-project study investigates the use of the school library at a primary school by teacher... more This post-project study investigates the use of the school library at a primary school by teachers at the end of a literacy project, without the guidance of the project facilitators at the school. The article gives background information about the Academic Literacy Research Project Unit (ALRU) from the University of South Africa which established a school library at school P as part of the literacy research project. The aim of the Literacy Project was to improve literacy levels and create a strong reading culture that would later have a positive impact on the academic progress of learners at school P. The Literacy Project involved training teachers in literacy and reading matters. In addition to the teacher training, a school librarian was trained to manage the school library. At the onset of the post-project study, self-administered questionnaires were drawn up to collect data on the teachers' school library practices after withdrawal of the project team. The questionnaires included qualitative and quantitative questions. The findings suggest that the school library is being utilised and appreciated as an integral part of the learning process; however, the teachers seem to need further exposure and training on information literacy. The authors hope that the information and interpretations provided in this article will be helpful in achieving the goal of quality education in South Africa and especially in improving the reading and literacy levels of all learners.
I, Nicoline Wessels (Student Number 04650204), declare that School libraries as a literacy interv... more I, Nicoline Wessels (Student Number 04650204), declare that School libraries as a literacy intervention tool in primary schools: action research in Atteridgeville is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references.
Communications in Computer and Information Science, 2014
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Papers by Nicoline Wessels