Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Open Distance Learning
Prof Jenny Roberts Institute for Open and Distance Learning Unisa Searchlight 14 March 2018
2
Different terminologies
Correspondence education Distance learning Open learning E-Learning ODL Flexible learning Independent study Blended learning
3
History of ODL 1840: Sir Isaac Pitman’s short hand course
1946: 1st Distance teaching university - Unisa 1969: 1st Open university - UKOU
4
Open learning Open Learning - is any form of learning with strong emphasis on flexibility and learner-centredness. It is open in terms of access, delivery and interpretation (Paine, 1989; Rowntree, 1992)
5
Principles of Open Universities
Egalitarianism (open to all) Equality of educational opportunities (gender, race, economic status) Lifelong learning Flexible curricula Learner-centredness Autonomous learning (Heutogogy) Learning through communication and interaction Adapted from: Peters, 2008
6
Open learning (Flexible)
Giving learners the choice about: Medium – print, online, video, television Place of study – home, workplace, regional centre Pace of study – own pace, paced, structured etc Support – tutors, audio conferences, helplines Entry and exit points Methods of assessment
7
Open learning exercise
How Open is Unisa?
8
Distance Learning – a process whereby the student learns while separated from the tutor/teacher (Keegan, 1986)
9
Distance Learning Separation of teacher and learning
Time, place or both Institutional accreditation Official recognition of study Use of mixed-media Print, radio, television, computer-based, audio
10
Same and Different Time
Synchronous asynchronous Classroom teaching Face to face tutorials Seminars Workshops Audio and video conferences Radio with listener response capability Learning resource centres which students visit in their own time Home study Tutorial support by Podcasts and vodcasts
11
E-learning E-Learning - -learning focuses on the intersection of education, teaching, and learning with ICT (Friesen, 2009). “E-learning is the use of electronic media for a variety of learning purposes that range from add-on functions in conventional classrooms to full substitution for the face-to-face meetings by online encounters” (Guri-Rosenblit, 2000)
12
Iron Triangle – Sir John Daniel
Daniel, J, 2013
13
According to Daniel (2013), if you stretch the triangle and achieve, simultaneously, wider access, higher quality and lower costs, you need technology.
14
Contact (F2F) vs Distance Education
On campus class meeting Direct contact with both teachers and students Traditional rigid format of set times and dates Widely accepted as the standard education High costs Technologically mediated delivery of course material Non-contiguous communication between student and teacher Economies of scale Less expensive Flexibility of place, time and venue
15
E-Learning vs Distance Education
Use of connected media to deliver course material Access to learning via the use of technology Ability to promote varied interaction Can be used in both contact and distance education context Technologically mediated delivery of course material Non-contiguous communication between student and teacher Economies of scale Less expensive Flexibility of place, time and venue
16
Open Learning vs Distance Education
Open learning - policies and practices that permit entry to learning with no or minimum barriers with respect to age, gender, or time constraints and with recognition of prior learning. These policies need not be part of a distance education system but are complementary to it. Technologically mediated delivery of course material Non-contiguous communication between student and teacher Economies of scale Less expensive Flexibility of place, time and venue
17
A blended learning approach combines face to face classroom methods with computer-mediated activities to form an integrated instructional approach. In the past, digital materials have served in a supplementary role, helping to support face to face instruction.
19
3 generations of flexible learning pedagogies
Behaviourist/Cognitive Self paced Individual Study: Watson/Skinner Constructivist Groups: Dewey, Vygostsky. Knowles Connectivism Networks and Collectives: Siemens, Downes Anderson and Dron (2011)
20
Lecture based and highly structured
Behaviourism Reward and punishment Responsibility for student learning is on the teacher Lecture based and highly structured
21
Knowledge is actively constructed based on personal experience
Constructivism Knowledge is actively constructed based on personal experience A search for meaning by the learner Personal motivation – students own beliefs, attitudes and prop knowledge Collaborative and cooperative learning
22
Connectivism A Learning Theory for the Digital Age (Siemens, 2005)
Connectivism is the thesis that knowledge is distributed across a network of connections, and therefore that learning consists of the ability to construct and traverse those networks (Downes, 2007)
23
Distance Education Mega Universities The term "mega university" was coined by Sir John Daniel, then VC of the UK Open University, to refer to universities with more than 100,000 students. Anadolu University Turkey Universitas Terbuka Indonesia Indira Ghandi India Sukhothai Thailand Korean National UO Korea National Centre for DL France Open University UK Unisa South Africa Payame Noor Iran National Centre for DL Spain
24
Status of Open Universities
Over 90 Open universities around the world 15 in India alone 1st Open university in India (IGNOU) established in 1985
25
Advantages of ODL Overcoming physical distance Addresses time and scheduling problems Increased capacity – massification Democratising education Bringing quality education to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it Cost effective education for developing nations Provides second chance to those who missed out on higher education Enables lifelong learning Can you think of other advantages – particularly in the South African context?
26
Limitations of ODL Perceived as second rate Quality issues Plagiarism
Requires well trained academic staff ?
27
ODL Challenges Quality of teaching and learning
Addressing massification Student drop out Faculty workload ODL research Incorporating technology
Similar presentations
