ICTs PROMISES AND PITFALLS IN
OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING
LUCY G KAMANJA - Instructional Designer
Institute for Curriculum and Learning Development
University of South Africa
Tel: 012-429-6905 - fax: 012-429-3551
Email:kamanlg@unisa.ac.za
Aim and Background
Aim of paper
– The aim of this paper is to examine ICT
availability and the extent to which various ICTs
are being used in an open and distance learning
Background to the Study
– The paper is based on the extent to which ICTs
are used specifically in the University of South
Africa. ( UNISA)
INTRODUCTION
ICTs associated with; contextual learning,
active learning, social learning and reflective
learning
ICTS provide new opportunities for information
distribution
Through computer/telephone networks one can
send all types of documents, whether data, video or
sound
flexible media gives multiple choices to the
learners, instructors and institutions
NEED FOR ODL IN AFRICA
ODL caters for multitudes of learners-mostly
adults in full time or part-time employment.
demand for education at all levels in the African
continent
continent can not cope with high demand for
education hence the need for distance learning
institutions
This is the alternative route in which Africa is going
to provide the much needed skills for development
Features of ODL
DE learner is removed in time and space from those
conducting the learning
DE covers education approaches that reach
learners in their environment
Open Distance Learning denotes that the
constraints on study are minimized in terms of
access, of time and place, pace, method of study
ODL aims to provide education to large numbers of
learners and be flexible enough to cater for the
various needs of the learners
ODL -SYSTEMS
ODL learners study from home– so, ODL systems
‘rely more on capital and methodology-intensive
investments than on manpower-intensive ones’ to
reach the learners
Systems enable the institutions to reach the
learners at cheaper costs.- distance education
systems is more favorable in terms of costeffectiveness especially when numbers increase
Important elements in ODL
Active engagement of learners with the learning
process and content
Instructional design that helps learners learn to
reflect on and use and use existing structures of
knowledge to guide and further their learning
Learners interacting in communities of learning
where knowledge and information is shared
openly
Important elements in ODL
The impact of a supportive learning
community serves to improve the throughput
rates by improving the student retention
rates. The student success rates are
improved while at the same there is a
noticeable raise in the final grades of
individual learners.
ICT IN ODL
ODL materials are designed to be interactive,
flexible, supportive, challenging, and self-sufficient
– Use of ICT enables the university to produce such
learning materials
ODL uses ICT to create a blended mode of learning incorporates print media and others like CDs, DVDs
Satellite, telephone, email and internet, video
conferencing, mobile wireless technology.
Role of technologies
technologies support the learning materials
produced for use in distance learning
link a teaching system with its individual end
users.
used mostly to reduce the alienation of learners
and create a supportive learning community
whenever possible
Impact of ICTs on ODL learners
Active engagement of learners
Provides approaches that helps learners to reflect
on their learning.
Interaction in communities of learning where
knowledge and information is shared openly in an
environment that values participation and
interaction between learners, teachers, and
sources of knowledge
ICT in Unisa
Unisa has more than 2000 courses delivered
through distance every year to over 200,000
learners.
The University’s principle is: ‘provide for the
integration of information communication
technologies (ICTs) in learning programs and
makes effective and innovative use of technology
in developing its programs and improving its
teaching methods’. (Unisa Tuition Policy .2006) .
ICT in Unisa contICT systems in place
internet system ensures communication
between the various colleges and departments
and Unisa web page contains all documents,
policies, rules etc pertaining to the smooth
running of the institution.
ICTs use at Unisa
• Intranet connects all Unisa staff making it easy to work
in joint projects- even though Unisa occupies various
campuses and premises.
• learner management system captures all data
relating to learners after the first registration for
example age range, occupation, residence,
previous experience and/or qualification etc.
ICT use in Unisa continternet allows learners to access information
on the courses that the university offers, the
course duration and entry requirements,
registration dates, tuition fees charged and any
other information pertaining to their study.
The university provides the ICTs like DVDs,
CDs, audio cassettes and videos to be used
together with printed materials which are the
basic ODL materials
What is available at Unisa
Unisa provides hardware and software for use by
all staff at their campuses and at the regional
centres
Also- Satellite, video conference, internet and
email, the student portal known as MyUnisa,
online learning, computer-based learning,
telephone, SMSs, DVDs, CDs, audio cassettes,
videos and print based study materials
learner use of internet
register online for the courses they want to study
at Unisa
send assignments for their continuous
assessment and receive feedback on the marked
assessment
Access their study materials through the student
portal “MyUnisa”. These have been uploaded
onto MyUnisa to enable the learners access them
before they can receive them through the postal
system.
Learner use of internet
use the student portal to have group discussions
with each other and, the lecturer/facilitator “pop in”
into their discussions occasionally, like once a
week or so.
learners can introduce the topics they wish to
discuss and share other information on academic
issues
Portal also provides learning resources that they
could use for their studies. - Includes links to
documents that they could access through the
university library. Thus can browse library
catalogue and order for books .
Learner use of internet-cont
Various courses are conducted online.
(These were found to be very successful
through a pilot study.)
Study showed print materials had a retention
rate of 42% while online had 78%. Final mark
was 17% higher than in print based learning
Other ICT facilities-Video conference
Unisa has 15 centres with video conference
facilities –plans to increase these to 24.
The management is able to address staff
assemblies in the various campuses, and
also have meetings with collaborators within
and outside the continent
The lecturers are able to hold discussions
with the tutors at the centers and staff are
also able to hold meetings between the
various campuses
Video conference - cont:
Video conference discussions are normally
conducted during the last few weeks before
the final examinations and there is normally a
high demand for this facility.
The video conference facilities in all the
centres cater for just over 300 learners at
any one sitting
Other ICT facilities-Satellite
The satellite facility - became
operational in 2005 has 21 centres and
is gaining popularity in the institution.
normally a one way communication, the
facility is used mostly for answering
questions from the learners and for
communicating with tutors and not for
group discussions
Other ICT facilities-vides, CDs, DVDs
use of CDs, DVDs, videos and audio cassettes
mostly for those disciplines that require practice
like languages, music and dance
The audio cassettes – but also for the visually
challenged learners
From 2007, all data, pictures and audio information
will be on CDs or DVDs-due to global technology
changes.
Other ICTs – SMS & telephone
the learners also receive SMS messages to
remind them of assignment deadlines,
examination dates and other important dates
and events.
Use telephone to call the lecturers on or the
call centre when they need specific
information.
CHALLENGES IN ODL FOR
LEARNERS
technologies of today are more personalized
–positive-yes-But the learner will need to find
the hardware to use the ICT with.
Only half of the learners in Unisa have so far
accessed the student portal known as
MyUnisa (104,691 students as by 26th July
2006.) the other half must have constraints
that prevented them from accessing.
Challenges in ODL contInternet use is still very expensive because Africa is
yet to install the broad-band fibre optic submarine
cable that will reduce telecommunications costs –
installation is expected to start this month.
though learning material is online, very few learners
can afford to read it online and access it at will.
Majority prefer to copy it onto floppy disks and print
it, using it as printed materials which is a more
permanent, flexible and less costly form- Picture
quality, animation and sound is then lost.
Challenges in ODL contlearners normally have to travel to the
nearest town which has internet facilities as
majority do not have the facility in their
homes. This is an expense the learner will
need to finance in order to access internet
services and participate in group discussions
Challenges in ODL contSMS reminders only received by those who
have cell-phones and have provided their
cell-phone numbers to the university.
video conference facilities cater for a very
small number due to occupancy space, and
also the learners have to travel to the study
centers on scheduled dates
Challenges in ODL contUnisa has a large number of courses.
Lecturers find it difficult to get a booking for
the time they would want to hold their
discussion with their learners using the video
conference facility or when using the satellite
to answer learners questions.
ICT Challenges in ODL for others
provides new challenges for instructors - the
need to adapt to new teaching approaches or
methodologies
Lecturers could feel alienated because ODLs
demands integrating various ICTs in a
learning package - this may require them to
understand the new technology so as to help
the learners use them
ICT Challenges in ODL for others
The successful use of the technology is
highly dependent on the committed efforts of
various people within the organization
ODL institution has to engage the expertise
of various other people like CD, video/DVD
producers and IT technical staff who monitor
and sort out any handles within the intranet
and internet services
ICT Challenges in ODL for others
Management to ensure that the relevant human
resources and equipment
students entering the ODL market in future expect
to use ICT enhanced processes because of their
previous familiarity with these technologies.
Management to ensure provision of modern
technologies and empowerment of staff in skills to
work with these technologies.
Conclusion
A mix of technologies is necessary to supplement
print materials and provide the knowledge, skills,
audio or visuals that the print media is
incapacitated to handle.
although the use of ICTs is highly recommended for
all learners, there are various constraints that
hinder learner accessibility to the ICTs
Sometimes facilities provided are also not adequate
as the numbers of learners keep increasing balance needed between access, quality and cost.
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