South Africans might be surprised to discover that some of the country’s language challenges are similar to those faced in multilingual countries in the northern hemisphere. This is according to Orefile Malebo, an education technologist at the North-West University (NWU), who recently made a presentation at the Online Educa Berlin conference in Germany.
Held from 27 to 29 November 2024, the event brought together education leaders from across the globe to discuss the role of technology in education.
Orefile presented an article co-authored with Dr Thamie Ndlovu titled “Creating inclusive learning environments with Universal Design for Learning (UDL)”. The research focuses on adopting and implementing UDL principles at the NWU to create inclusive and adaptable learning environments.
Catering for students from different cultures
"UDL is about recognising that not all students learn in the same way," says Orefile, who is part of the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) on the Vanderbijlpark Campus. "At the CTL, we aim to adapt to the diverse needs of students who come from different cultures within South Africa and across Africa."
The research highlights how NWU integrates UDL principles into its blended learning approach. Strategies include offering alternative methods of delivering content, such as videos, immediate feedback through online quizzes, and the use of infographics. The goal is to ensure content accessibility for a diverse student population.
Thirty participants attended Orefile's presentation on 28 November. "I was excited to see the level of interest in the topic, even though I felt a bit nervous as it was my first time presenting at an international conference," she says.
The presentation included an interactive activity to demonstrate UDL principles. Participants were taught how to greet in Sesotho, using the word "Dumelang", which means "hello" when addressing a group. The session combined live demonstrations, video instructions and interactive cards.
"The activity highlighted how language challenges in South Africa are similar to those faced in countries like Canada and Germany," Orefile notes. "It was encouraging to see attendees engaging with the activity and reflecting on the shared challenges of inclusive education."
Orefile describes the experience as impactful, providing an opportunity to share insights from NWU's implementation of UDL and learn from global perspectives. "It was a privilege to represent NWU and contribute to the ongoing conversation about how technology can support inclusive education."
Orefile Malebo presents at the Online Educa Berlin conference in Germany.
