School of Computing

PERSONAL PROFILE: PROF MC DONALD VAN DER MERWE

Career profile

  • 2000-current : School of Computing, Florida, Johannesburg (Internet Programming, Human-Computer Interaction, E-Learning, Software Engineering).
  • 1996-1999: Department of Human Movement Sciences, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa (Sports Psychology, Sports Sociology, Biomechanics).
  • 1994-1995: Leadership and Advancement Foundation, St Luke's Senior College, Midrand (Physical Education, Geography, Mathematics), and part-time lecturer in Departments of Human Movement Sciences, RAU & Wits, Johannesburg (Perceptual Motor Learning).
  • 1992-1994: Department of Human Movement Sciences, RAU, Johannesburg (Biomechanics, Perceptual Motor Learning). 
  • 1989-1992: George Campbell Technical High and Afrikaans Hoer Durban Noord (now Durban North College), Durban (Physical Education, Geography, Business Economics, Technical Drawings, isiZulu).

Research interests

E-learning, especially as it relates to the development, use and value of information systems.

Human computer interaction (HCI), specifically as it relates to psychophysiogical factors. Psychophysiology is an area of psychology that measures an individual's physiological responses to indicate his/her psychological state. We have instruments available to measure:

  • brainwaves (EEG - electroencephalogram)
  • galvanic skin response
  • skin temperature
  • reflexes/reaction times
  • oculomotor muscle activities (EOG)
  • electrocardiogram (ECG)
  • blood pressure

Psychophysiology has many applications, e.g.  adaptive learning systems, physiological and affective computing, online marketing endeavours, in combination with eye-tracking equipment to provide richer data, evaluation of usability and user exerience etc. You are welcome to contact me for further information should you be interested in research in this area!

Sociology of the WWW, as it relates to social network/s user experiences.

Other

Listen to a poscast covering my PhD, where I developed (coded) a mathematics-friendly forum environment where teachers can insert equations in their posts. At the time, this was not possible. This "ODEM" set the table for a case study in the South African context of disparities. 


SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Journal publications

Van der Merwe, T.M.; Bonyongwa, T (2024)
Aspects of Mobile Phone Use and Behavioural Intentions for Learning in Rural South African Schools
Journal of Education and e-Learning Research
(11) 3

Van der Merwe, T.M. (2024)
An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Disruptive Technology Adoption among Zimbabwean Small and Medium Enterprises in and around Harare, Gweru, and Bulawayo
South African Computer Science and Information Systems Research Trends
(2159)
pp 437-453

Van der Merwe, T.M.; Maloma, M; Serote, M (2023)
A Systematic Review of E-Learning Implementation Challenges in Sub-Saharan African Countries: 2016-2022
Electronic Journal of e-Learning
(21) 5
pp 413-429

Van der Merwe, T.M. (2020)
ICT use patterns, mental health symptoms and the well-being of the open distance learning student: a replication study with historically advantaged students
International Journal of Learning Technology
(15) 4
pp 360-383

Grobler, C; Van der Merwe, T.M. (2020)
Towards a Strategic Model for Safeguarding the Preservation of Business Value during Human Interactions with Information Systems
LNCS
(12066)
pp 350-357

Vidmar, R; Kotxe, E; Van der Merwe, T.M. (2020)
The Suggestion of Design Theory Artefacts for e-Government in South Africa
LNCS
(12388)
pp 81-92

Van der Merwe, T.M. (2019)
Exploring the Relationship between ICT Use, Selected Mental Health Symptoms and Well-Being of the Historically Disadvantaged Open Distance Learning Student: A Case Study
The Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education
(20) 1 (Article 3)
pp 35-52
View/download link: http://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/25179

Van der Merwe, T.M.; Armitage, G (2018)
Towards a Provisional Workplace E-learning Acceptance Framework for Developing Countries
Locally Relevant ICT Research
(CCIS) 933
pp 223-242
View/download link: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-030-11235-6_15

Conference proceedings

Azetta, A; Van der Merwe, T.M. (2022)
The Effects of Blended Learning Approaches on Class Attendance Scores in Two Final-Year Undergraduate Financial Accounting Courses
The International Conferences on Information Systems and Emerging Technologies (ICISET)
Namibia University of Science and Technology

Vidmar, R; Kotze, E ; Van der Merwe, T.M.; MENTZJC (2020)
An Approach to Design and Evaluation of e-Government Theory for South Africa
Proceedings of the 12th Annual Pre-ICIS SIG GlobDev Workshop
Munich
9780997617696

Vidmar, R; Kotze, E ; Van der Merwe, T.M.; MENTZJC (2020)
Proposed Theory of e-Government for South Africa
IDIA2020
Macau

Van der Merwe, T.M.; Azetta, A (2020)
Exploring the Impact of ICT Use Patterns on Postgraduate Student Academic Achievement in a Developing Country
SACLA2020
Virtual
pp 141-156

Azeta, A.; Van der Merwe, T.M. (2018)
Gender Differences in Postgraduate Technology Usage at a Christian University
ICEL 2018
Cape Town
pp 33-40

van Heerden, ME; Van der Merwe, T.M. (2017)
An Assessment Strategy for Learning in a First Year Programming Course: A Case in Open Distance E-Learning
9th annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Barcelona (Spain)
978-84-697-3777-4
pp 7764 - 7773