JHEA/RESA Vol. 13, Nos 1&2, 2015, pp. 193-212
© Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, 2015
(ISSN 0851–7762)
Creating Sustainable Learning
Environments for Professional Curriculum
Leadership through Information
and Communication Technologies
Molaodi Tshelane* and Sechaba Mahlomaholo**
Abstract
This paper documents the processes and procedures followed by a team
of two researchers and fve co-researchers in the creation of sustainable
learning environments at a school in the Free State province of South Af-
rica. For this purpose, we used one school to illustrate how diverse school
community members deliberately constructed a framework for the integra-
tion of ICT in the development of its professional curriculum leadership
practices. A conceptual framework driven through critical emancipatory
theory is applied as the lens that propels us to create opportunities for
self-empowerment. Grounded on this theoretical framing we then used a
participatory action research to operationalize it. We generated relevant data
through the establishment of a research team, which coalesced around a
common vision collectively identifed in pursuance of the aim of study. Data
generated were analysed using Van Dijk’s critical discourse analysis. The
fndings discussed are (i) performance through refecting on professional
curriculum practices, (ii) their actions, (iii) procedures involved therein, and
(iv) strategies. The contribution we made was a tested framework for the
integration of ICT in a professional curriculum context. This contribution
has implications for the creation of a sustainable learning environment.
* University of the Free State. Email: TshelaneMD@ufs.ac.za
** Centre for Higher Education and Capabilities Research, University of the Free State, South Africa.
Email: MahlomaholoMG@ufs.ac.za