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A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies

In the South African higher education context, academic writing support at the postgraduate level presents significant challenges for institutions. The conventional dyadic models of writing support, typically offered by writing centres, are increasingly viewed as inadequate in addressing the multifa...

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Main Author: Ngodwana, Khanyisile
Other Authors: Ng'ambi, Dickson
Format: Thesis
Language:English
English
Published: School of Education 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author Ngodwana, Khanyisile
author2 Ng'ambi, Dickson
author_browse Ng'ambi, Dickson
Ngodwana, Khanyisile
author_facet Ng'ambi, Dickson
Ngodwana, Khanyisile
author_sort Ngodwana, Khanyisile
collection Thesis
description In the South African higher education context, academic writing support at the postgraduate level presents significant challenges for institutions. The conventional dyadic models of writing support, typically offered by writing centres, are increasingly viewed as inadequate in addressing the multifaceted nature of academic writing and literacy challenges. This study advocates for a shift towards a more inclusive and holistic approach, promoting trialogic and multi-lateral conversations within writing centres to address these challenges. The study's methodology is deeply rooted in literature and adopts Reeves' (2006) four-phase model to guide the Design-Based Research (DBR) approach. Through two iterative intervention cycles, the study integrates efforts from writing centres and subject lecturers to facilitate immersive conversations aimed at academic research literacy development. The third phase of DBR intensively focuses on testing and refining the interventions to address directly identified obstacles. The effectiveness of these interventions is measured through qualitative data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, and document analysis. The study aims to answer the question: What are the design principles for facilitating multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies? To answer this question, the study creates a dynamic and interactive environment where students can engage in meaningful dialogues and collaborative activities by integrating digital tools like Google Drive into the learning process. The study develops an integrated theoretical framework for multiple immersive digital conversations for academic research writing that interlinks linguistic, cognitive, and social elements. The study's participants include Bachelor Honours students and Advanced Diploma students, writing centre practitioners, and academic supervisors at a university in South Africa. The theoretical contribution of the study is a model of refined design principles for developing a robust intervention for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies. These principles advocate for pedagogies that respect and incorporate students' identities, aligning with adaptive and culturally inclusive teaching practices. In the realm of academic writing instruction, these principles have the potential to improve support systems significantly, enhancing students' academic achievements and advancing their research literacy skills.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language English
eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:31:30.019Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
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publisher School of Education
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/41134 A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies Ngodwana, Khanyisile Ng'ambi, Dickson Design-Based Research academic writing literacies immersive digital conversations writing centre interventions student retention In the South African higher education context, academic writing support at the postgraduate level presents significant challenges for institutions. The conventional dyadic models of writing support, typically offered by writing centres, are increasingly viewed as inadequate in addressing the multifaceted nature of academic writing and literacy challenges. This study advocates for a shift towards a more inclusive and holistic approach, promoting trialogic and multi-lateral conversations within writing centres to address these challenges. The study's methodology is deeply rooted in literature and adopts Reeves' (2006) four-phase model to guide the Design-Based Research (DBR) approach. Through two iterative intervention cycles, the study integrates efforts from writing centres and subject lecturers to facilitate immersive conversations aimed at academic research literacy development. The third phase of DBR intensively focuses on testing and refining the interventions to address directly identified obstacles. The effectiveness of these interventions is measured through qualitative data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, observations, and document analysis. The study aims to answer the question: What are the design principles for facilitating multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies? To answer this question, the study creates a dynamic and interactive environment where students can engage in meaningful dialogues and collaborative activities by integrating digital tools like Google Drive into the learning process. The study develops an integrated theoretical framework for multiple immersive digital conversations for academic research writing that interlinks linguistic, cognitive, and social elements. The study's participants include Bachelor Honours students and Advanced Diploma students, writing centre practitioners, and academic supervisors at a university in South Africa. The theoretical contribution of the study is a model of refined design principles for developing a robust intervention for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies. These principles advocate for pedagogies that respect and incorporate students' identities, aligning with adaptive and culturally inclusive teaching practices. In the realm of academic writing instruction, these principles have the potential to improve support systems significantly, enhancing students' academic achievements and advancing their research literacy skills. 2025-03-10T13:01:26Z 2025-03-10T13:01:26Z 2024 2025-03-07T12:42:37Z Thesis / Dissertation Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41134 en eng application/pdf School of Education Faculty of Humanities
spellingShingle Design-Based Research
academic writing literacies
immersive digital conversations
writing centre interventions
student retention
Ngodwana, Khanyisile
A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
thesis_degree_str Doctoral
title A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
title_full A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
title_fullStr A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
title_full_unstemmed A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
title_short A design-based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
title_sort design based research perspective for multiple immersive digital conversations in academic research writing literacies
topic Design-Based Research
academic writing literacies
immersive digital conversations
writing centre interventions
student retention
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41134
work_keys_str_mv AT ngodwanakhanyisile adesignbasedresearchperspectiveformultipleimmersivedigitalconversationsinacademicresearchwritingliteracies
AT ngodwanakhanyisile designbasedresearchperspectiveformultipleimmersivedigitalconversationsinacademicresearchwritingliteracies