Unit standards for a South African Music Technology Prog : NQF levels 1-4

Abstract

This dissertation is not available online. A copy of the dissertation on CD is available in the Music Library at Call number: CD MUSOV 661. The purpose of this study is to write unit standards for a Music Technology Programme in South Africa. The research focuses on the introduction of Music Technology as an integral part of the present South African education dispensation. In answering this question, the researcher also answered the sub-questions: What is technology; What is Music Technology; Will a computer replace the teacher; How will the teacher benefit from using Music Technology; How will the learner benefit from Music Technology? Necessary information and guidance for using Music Technology in Music Education is also offered. This was done to be ‘on a par with the existing formulated curricula’ for Music Education in South Africa. On the other hand this is also ‘a paradigm shift away from the existing boundaries, inherited systems and requirements of traditional examining bodies within which teachers in Music Education have operated to date’. This is in correlation with the Proposal for the MEUSSA (Music Education Unit Standards for Southern Africa) project written by Professor Caroline van Niekerk. Apart from literature review, action research was done as part of the MEUSSA team. The MEUSSA team identified the problem of writing unit standards for Music in South Africa and did something to resolve it (complete their theses and dissertations). By applying action research within the MEUSSA team, first hand experience was gained as to where the gaps are and what needed to be done to fill them. Presenting a dissertation on CD-ROM was very challenging. There were virtually no guidelines because this is a very new concept. The researcher of this dissertation is convinced that presenting the dissertation on CD-ROM should be applicable to the medium. It is important that the dissertation is still academically acceptable, but makes use of the new possibilities that the medium offers. In further studies the author intends researching the best content for a teachers’ training programme, who are willing to use technology in their teaching. Future research is recommended in order to address the problem of national employment requirements in areas of music industry and education. E12/4/210