https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/9 2026-04-17T20:44:25Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6500 Title: Tour guides as facilitators of learning under field trips Authors: Simbarashe Shadreck Chitima Abstract: Students embark on museum field trips with the goal of having enjoyable and educational experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. This study investigated how museum tour guides helped primary school children in Zimbabwe learn school curriculum content while on field excursions. The study employed qualitative research approaches where a sample of conveniently chosen 320 school children, 12 teachers, and 40 museum tour guides was used. It is revealed that there are three different categories of tour guides that are found in Zimbabwean museums and these are: evangelists, dictators, and benevolent demonstrators. It was discovered that students go on field trips in order to engage with and learn about the curriculum. According to the investigation, nine (9) tour guides were classified as benevolent demonstrators, ten (10) as dictators, and twenty-one (21) as evangelists. It was shown that evangelist and dictator tour guides hindered effective learning because they treated students like epistemic slaves. During field visits, benevolent demonstrators used active techniques of content delivery to encourage effective learning. According to the study’s findings, most tour guides fall short when it comes to promoting effective learning, and they should receive pedagogy and customer service training. 2024-10-07T00:00:00Z Simbarashe Shadreck Chitima https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6398 Title: The educational value of school-museum visits (SMV) to secondary school learners in Zimbabwe. Authors: Simbarashe S. Chitima Abstract: Zimbabwe’s school curriculum recognises the importance of learning through heritage institutions. National museums in Zimbabwe have been providing heritage education since the late 1900s and educational programmes such as the SMV are still being provided. This study investigated how the SMV empowers secondary school learners to learn curriculum content. This study was undertaken from 2018-2021. The study employed qualitative research approaches. The study reveals that secondary school learners are learning selected aspects of the Heritage Studies, History, Geography, and Science curriculum. The major barriers to learning among secondary school learners are the use of outdated permanent exhibitions, rigid and limited methods of content delivery, and less informed and enthusiastic teachers. National museums in Zimbabwe operate grounded on a behaviourist educational framework, which is restrictive to effective learning in museum settings. Furthermore, the museum’s use of permanent exhibitions inherited from the colonial period, and lack of will and financial resources to change or refocus exhibitions militated against effective learning among secondary school learners. Thus, the outdated exhibitions and limited methods of content delivery utilised by national museums is no longer in sync with the educational needs of the current generations. 2024-07-10T00:00:00Z Simbarashe S. Chitima https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6309 Title: Placing the Cart Before the Horse: E-Records Policy Experiences and Lessons from Zimbabwe’s Provincial Government Authors: Samson Mutsagondo; Petronella Katekwe Abstract: There is remarkable growth in use of electronic records in Zimbabwe. The professional management of such records is brought under spotlight as government ministries in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe manage electronic records without electronic records policies in place. The absence of electronic records policies implies lack of guidance regarding what should be done, how, when, why and by whom. The implementation of electronic records programmes in provincial government ministries before formulating and mobilising policies that guide such programmes is akin to placing the cart before the horse. Developing countries which face similar scenarios may take a leaf from the experiences of Zimbabwe where absence of electronic records policies has resulted in poor management of electronic records as well as in marked variations in the management of electronic records by different provincial ministries of the same government as well as by different departments of the same ministries. The study calls for formulation, use and enforcement of electronic records policies to enhance proper and professional management of electronic records as well as to enable such records retain their utility, authenticity and integrity. This qualitative study solicited data from 16 records and information assistants from 16 government ministries in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe as well as from the National Archives’ provincial archivist. Data were also collected through personal observation and document reviews of records survey reports, internal correspondences and annual reports. Data were analysed thematically in line with the three objectives of the study. 2022-05-12T00:00:00Z Samson Mutsagondo Petronella Katekwe https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6015 Title: The Records Management (RM) Capabilities of Lecturers at Midlands State University (MSU), Zimbabwe Authors: Simbarashe Shadreck Chitima; Peterson Dewah Abstract: Records bear evidence of business transactions and decisions undertaken by an organisation. Good records management enables the smooth flow, efficient and effective conduct of university business. University lecturers create different types of records in the course of discharging their responsibilities. These include research and publications, student teaching, continuous assessment, and examination. However, very little is known about the extent to which lecturers are able to properly manage the records they create. There have been three recorded cases of lecturers at Midlands State University (MSU) who lost examination and continuous assessment records, and this led to their dismissal. This study examined the capabilities of university lecturers in managing the records they create. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the records management background of lecturers and to examine their capability to perform records management. This study was grounded on the interpretive paradigm and employed qualitative research approaches where convenience sampling was used. The sample of the study involved 23 lecturers and one staff member from the Central Records section at MSU. The study found that participating lecturers lacked records management knowledge, and all of them did not follow any records management system for paper-based records management. Lecturers managed coursework and examination records through the Changamire Marks Management System. Some electronic records were kept in lecturers’ e-mails and personal laptops. The study established that records were susceptible to loss due to lecturers’ lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, conflicts between non-teaching and teaching staff, and lack of suitable records management infrastructure. The study concluded that most lecturers who participated in the study were dismal performers of records management; hence, records are more susceptible to loss. This study provides a step by step systems approach that universities, such as MSU, can employ to effectively manage records created by academic staff. 2023-12-20T00:00:00Z Simbarashe Shadreck Chitima Peterson Dewah