Education Students Present their Work at Seminar

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Biological Sciences for Educators 420 students presented their work at a seminar on the Edgewood campus as part of their Research and Service Learning module for this semester.

The seminar showcased the students’ Research and Service learning projects while also celebrating, recognising and valuing their research efforts.

Topics included enhancing fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy, developing dietary and physical fitness practices of students, enhancing memory ability of the elderly at an old age home, developing male students’ knowledge and learners’ understanding and attitudes to male circumcision, and  exploring students’ understanding and attitudes to blood donation.

Twelve student groups presented for up to 20 minutes each, with each student within the group being given the opportunity to talk about their research and service-learning project.

One of the groups investigated student bodybuilders’ knowledge and practice of using anabolic steroids stating that it was predominantly the youth who used the steroids to develop a muscular body.

Student Mr Vuyolethu Mbanjwa said: ‘Out of all the awareness programmes and campaigns aimed at addressing social issues faced by students at University, the issue of anabolic steroid use is often not considered. Therefore, we wanted to increase knowledge and awareness about the use of anabolic steroids by bodybuilders at the University.’

From surveys, it was found that 50% of those using anabolic steroids did so to maximise muscle build-up for competition purposes. However, through the use of interventions such as case studies and information dissemination, it was found that many of the bodybuilders also used alternative methods to build muscle.

Making recycled products was an enjoyable learning experience for primary school learners, according to another group. Developing skits and poetry to learn about the effects and actions to take against smoking and drug abuse enhanced the knowledge and skills of both the learners and students.

Another group explained that male circumcision was a topic few males spoke about but at two different sites, dialoguing and creating intervention programmes were in place. As researchers were informing the participants, some also decided to follow the necessary actions. 

Another group explored the enhancement of fine motor skills in children with cerebral palsy at a care centre in Pinetown. They used various activities to monitor and evaluate children used in the study. These activities included colouring in, picking up items and attempting to fully grasp items.

Student Ms Karleigh Williams said: ‘Through the activities, we noticed considerable improvement in certain areas. And with continual use of these activities over a prolonged time period, the children’s fine motor skills could be enhanced even further.’

Overall, the student interventions in the various placement sites had a positive effect on the participants with the students gaining enormously through the experiences.

Melissa Mungroo