Janet Barry

Blended learning and Health Science academic staff at Nelson Mandela University 

Advanced Wound Care  

 

Janet Barry is a registered pharmacist with the South African Pharmacy Council and a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa. She has been a lecturer in the pharmacy department at Nelson Mandela University since 2012 and obtained her Master’s in Pharmacy in 2021, with research focused on blended learning. She lectures in pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, and pharmacy practice. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Janet serves as the chemistry stream coordinator within the department and is a member of the Learning and Teaching Committee in the Faculty of Health Sciences. ”.   

 

Janet supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy research and has successfully graduated two master’s students. Her research interests include systematic reviews, quantitative and qualitative research, pharmacy education, multilingualism, wound care, and mental health. She has co-authored several articles published in local and international peer-reviewed journals and has presented posters at numerous national and international conferences. In 2023, she received the NMU Faculty Excellent Teacher Award. She also serves as a reviewer for local journals and as an external examiner for master’s studies. In addition, Janet works as a consultant for the South African Pharmacy Council, where she serves on a task team in the role of moderator.   

 

 

Short summary of my MPharm study: 

 

PERCEPTIONS OF BLENDED LEARNING BY ACADEMIC STAFF IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES FACULTY AT NELSON MANDELA UNIVERSITY

 

Numerous studies have investigated the use of blended learning by academic staff at tertiary institutions.  The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of blended learning by academic staff at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Nelson Mandela University.  A related objective was to identify barriers and facilitators to the adoption of blended learning by academic staff.  A sequential, exploratory mixed-methods design was adopted for this study whereby Phase 1 (focus groups) was used to inform Phase 2 (questionnaire) of the study.  Results were analysed from both phases and organised according to strategies, support, and structure of a blended learning adoption framework.  Existing support structures to assist with blended learning adoption, understanding of what blended learning is, confidence in using blended learning tools, and time to attend training were some of the findings of the study.  The researcher concluded that academic staff in the Health Sciences Faculty at Nelson Mandela University are positioned in the second stage of the blended learning adoption framework, namely the early adoption stage of blended learning.  These findings imply that existing strategies and support within the Faculty and the University need to be further developed, and structures put into place to move to an advanced stage of adoption of blended learning by academic staff in Health Sciences Faculty of Nelson Mandela University. 

 

Qualifications

 

M.Pharm (NMU)