ODL

Mobile learning technologies have great potential to transform the learning paradigm. The Open University of Mauritius offers a free tablet to all learners reading for a degree course. This paper investigates the extent to which these tablets are contributing to the learning experience of the learners. Hundred and fifty learners studying in different courses at the University agreed to complete a questionnaire. Focus group discussions were held with four groups of 4-5 learners in view of triangulating the data and unveiling other details that could not be captured in the questionnaires. Data analysis reveals that learners, mostly working adults, are frequent users of technology with many of them using the computer for more than an hour daily; learning being one of the common activities. Learners demonstrate a positive perception of the pedagogical worth of ICT. The major obstacles to tablets use is also highlighted and include the following: frequent breakdowns, small screen size, slow processing power and short battery life. Despite these obstacles, learners value the flexibility tablets offer to learn anywhere, anytime and at their own pace. This combination of technology provision and perception of use as revealed in this paper shows that learners are well poised to embrace tablet use in their learning.

In this paper we survey, consolidate, and present the state of the art in distributed database concurrency control. The heart of our analysts is a decomposition of the concurrency control problem into two major subproblems: read-write and write-write synchronization. We describe a series ...

The present paper attempts to answer the question: what accounts for the persistence of Qur'anic schools as separate schools operating at cross-purposes with the Nigerian state in the provision of education to millions of Muslim children officially reported to be “out of school?“ To answer this question, the paper traces the long years of mutual isolation between the state and Islamic institutions, particularly in northern Nigeria, that was at first a product of colonisation, but subsequently a reflection of state failure to meet its obligations toward a people struggling to come to terms with the loss of their cultural and religious values as western influences became pervasive. The paper suggests that by remaining faithful to those values, ideas, and practices that hold together the cultural-religious essence of life, Qur'anic schools and their owners fill a void that neither the new religious elite nor the post-colonial Nigerian state has been able to recognize. The paper expresses concern, however, that although culturally-relevant, the bond between Qur'anic schools and their communities further isolates young generations of Nigerian Muslims from constructively engaging with the state. An inclusive state policy on education based on constructive engagement with the hidden clients of Nigeria's submerged Qur'anic schools is what the country needs if these schools are to play any future positive role in education.

The study investigated whether a proposed minimum admission requirement of 60 per cent in the final-year module of specialisation at undergraduate level could attribute to the course success rate of students proceeding to the BCom honours degree in Business Management with specialisation in Financial Management at Unisa. Regression analysis and Pearson chi-square tests were conducted. Final-year marks for the Financial Management module, MNF3015, showed a positive correlation with the marks students obtained for the three selected postgraduate level modules at honours level. Significant positive correlations were also found between marks of 60 per cent or more obtained for MNF3015, and marks obtained for the postgraduate modules in Investments (r = 0.464, p = 0.017), Financial Risk Management (r = 0.347, p = 0.188) and Financial Management (r = 0.468, p = 0.002). Tests for the possible statistical association between the marks obtained in the three selected postgraduate-level module...

The Almajirai are pupils enrolled in traditional Quranic schools that are prevalent in many parts of northern Nigeria. Although Quranic schools are highly revered religious institutions that have played vital roles in muslim societies in pre-colonial northern Nigeria, the challenging demands of modernity tend to put the future of these schools at risk. Pupils enrolled are consequently denied effective participation in formal basic education, and are not adequately catered for by either the state or their communities. Concern over the future of millions of children enrolled in Quranic schools has led to the official adoption of integration policy by the Federal Government intended to position them within the framework of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme for the purpose of attainig Education for All (EFA) and Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper contends that although the integration policy is widely accepted by stakeholders of the Quranic schools, there are number of contentious issues which devolve on the implementation of this policy vis-a-vis the peculiarities of these schools, their pupils, and the socio-economic rhythms of their local communities which have the tendency to exclude rather than integrate them into the regular schools. Consequently, the paper explores Open Distance Learning (ODL) as an alternative platform that has the potentials of delivering the promises and gains of the UBE to the Qur'anic school pupils in ways that are responsive to their peculiarities. The paper recommends, among other things, the adoption of a Dual mode of ODL system in which traditional classroom method is complemented by radio broadcasts in specially designed packages tailored to the needs of Qur'anic school pupils and thier teachers. This the paper believes will provide for flexiblity in the organisation of instruction, and respond to scarcity of personnel and resources in these schools.

The article was based on the Expert Panel Report at the ICDE conference in Hong Kong (February 2004) which was presented by Prof Inge P Sonnekus. Subsequently, collaboration with Dr Willa Louw and Mrs Hentie Wilson of the Bureau for Learning Development, extended the notion of learner support at UNISA.

The highlights in red emphasize the activities to which the College Committee for Learner Support and Academic Development should pay attention.

Abstract: The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the move towards more knowledge-intensive, interdependent and internationalized societies created new challenges and opportunities for the design and delivery of education. This evolution also influenced the educational branches of life long training, continuing vocational training and distance training. This paper presents an e-training system which gives information about contemporary electrical installations simulating them as a virtual class. The presented material is organized into four separate courses because each one describes different features of electrical installations and has its own importance. The type of information provided, is both theoretical and practical. Moreover, this paper projects a market research on training needs of the electrical engineering sector across four EU countries. All the above, are implemented with new digital technology methods, using multimedia content m...

This paper focuses on the language question and the education of the disadvantaged through open and distance learning at tertiary level. It seeks to explore some of the difficulties associated with the teaching and learning of the disadvantaged through open and distance learning as a result of the Zimbabwean educational language policy. The paper is a qualitative analysis of data gathered on teaching and learning of some of the disadvantaged students through open and distance learning in the Zimbabwe Open University.  Observation and unstructured interviews were used to establish the conditions experienced by these students in their endeavour to comprehend their modules as well as express themselves in tutorials, assignments and examinations. The paper suggests the implementation of a more favourable language policy in open and distance learning since the mission of the Zimbabwe Open University as an open and distance learning institution is to ensure education for all. The paper is suggesting the need to use local languages as the languages of instruction, for instance, the two national languages (Shona and Ndebele).

In this paper, we discuss the challenges experienced by Kenyan public universities in implementation of e-learning and recommend possible solutions towards its successful implementation. In the last few years, most Kenyan public universities have adopted e-learning as a new approach to teaching and learning. However, the implementation challenges faced by these universities have continued to impact negatively on its effective utilization. This paper presents the findings from a survey of 148 staff of three Kenyan public universities who are currently using e-learning in blended mode approach. The purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges hindering the implementation of e-learning in Kenyan public universities. Data was collected through questionnaires, in-depth interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that e-learning comes with some challenges that must be addressed by Kenyan public universities before successful implementation can be realized. However, th...

La programmabilité réseau est une tendance, améliorée et inspirée par les réseaux définis par logiciel, qui sont basés sur des méthodes de script et des langages de programmation standard utilisés pour le contrôle et la surveillance des éléments de réseau. Ce rapport illustre quelques nouvelles méthodes de configuration des périphériques réseau en utilisant l'automatisation, en réduisant le temps de configuration des équipements et en facilitant la maintenance. Il améliore également la sécurité du réseau en reconnaissant et en corrigeant les failles de sécurité et il augmente la stabilité du réseau. Ces méthodes représentent l'avenir des réseaux, permettant la gestion d'un nombre accru de dispositifs de manière unitaire.

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Abstract: The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the move towards more knowledge-intensive, interdependent and internationalized societies created new challenges and opportunities for the design and delivery of education. This evolution also influenced the educational branches of life long training, continuing vocational training and distance training. This paper presents an e-training system which gives information about contemporary electrical installations simulating them as a virtual class. The presented material is organized into four separate courses because each one describes different features of electrical installations and has its own importance. The type of information provided, is both theoretical and practical. Moreover, this paper projects a market research on training needs of the electrical engineering sector across four EU countries. All the above, are implemented with new digital technology methods, using multimedia content m...

Education means to acquire knowledge. New learning requirements are coming up from working population and they desperately need the knowledge for their survival. Knowledge or education can earn the livelihood for the people. Education is therefore a compulsion for all age. Education enables human beings to lead him in the right direction. Real education enables one to stand on one’s own legs and makes a man perfect. Perfection indicates the ability of human beings to address various aspects of life encounter in society. Traditional education system is unable to fulfil the thirst of various educational needs as per choice of the individual. So, keeping in view of various needs, the distance education system was evolved which is being offered according to the need, interest, ability or inner tendencies of the learners of the society and it is also known as learner centred education. Open and distance education aims at an uncomplicated and inexpensive way into higher education for the masses. It can be as efficient and valuable as regular classroom programmes and sometimes even better. In India, the distance education is not new and it was in practice during the ancient period also. We may remind the story of brave archer “Ekalabya” of Mahabharata who could achieve the best knowledge among all through self-learning. Hence, Open and distance learning system and its contribution is always remarkable in India from the ancient times. Starting from school level to higher education level, we should all work to make openness a core value of our educational institutions.
I hope this book will encourage the learners to focus on the benefits of openness and broaden their thinking about Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system. Learners can understand the different terminology and the process of distance education system, what is distance education?, how distance education system evolved in India both at school level as well as higher education level?, what are different distance education systems available in India?, how distance education institutes function?, how distance education institutes are managed?, merits and demerits of distance education system etc.

Since it started providing distance education in the late 1940s the University of South Africa (Unisa) has incorporated an element of face-to-face tuition in its educational strategy, first in the form of vacation schools, and later in the form of contact sessions by travelling lecturers. This paper explores the academic rationale underlying the practice, the history of face-to-face tuition at the university up to the challenges it faces today, and current practices in this regard in the College of Human Sciences at the university. KEYWORDS: ...

Les recherches portant sur les non-usages des TIC font generalement etat d’un manque d’equipement, de pertinence ou d’interet pour certaines technologies. Or, a l’interieur meme de formations tout ou partiellement a distance impliquant le recours a des ressources et moyens de communication en ligne, des non-usages sont reperes. Fondant notre approche sur les travaux portant sur les usages / non-usages des TIC et sur la theorie du conflit instrumental, nous interrogeons les non-usages de ces moyens de formation en ligne dans le cadre de la preparation du C2i a l’UPJV. Faisant le constat de (non-)usages differencies des ressources de formation proposees, les donnees recueillies nous permettent de pointer la maniere dont des representations et habitudes d’apprentissage scolaire allant de pair avec des conflits instrumentaux, interviennent dans les pratiques instrumentees des etudiants.

Distance education has emerged out of social compulsion, the dynamics of change and new cultures. It was the failure of traditional systems to be able to meet the demand in countries, where the resources available for tertiary education are limited, which basically gave birth to the new trend of education known as open and distance education. This new and innovative system of education has received a high level of acceptance in different countries as it offers flexible educational opportunities for continuing education to a large segment of their population. The increasing number of older adult learners with varying lifestyles in the population, increasing competitiveness of getting places in tertiary institutions, higher cost of education and a shortage of teachers are the main factors for increasing the popularity of distance education (Duncan, et al., 2003). Bangladesh has also taken the opportunity to provide a uniform and mass oriented universal system of education through open...

The major problem of underdevelopment in Africa characterized by the huge challenge to achieve the millennium development goals (MDGs) is on knowledge empowerment supported by information and communication technologies (ICTs). Information has become a strategic resource, a commodity and foundation of every activity. The emergence and convergence of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has remained at the centre of global socio-economic transformations. If implemented properly and carefully, these technologies could reduce or eliminate the imbalance between rich and poor, and the powerful and marginalized.

This report reviews the results of an impact evaluation of a large-scale collaborative project on strengthening open and flexible learning for increased education access in high HIV-prevalence SADC countries (SOFIE). The study draws on a growing body of literature that indicates that open, distance and flexible learning approaches can be effectively used to fill the gap that many developing countries are faced with in their attempts to expand their educational provision. The design of the empirical research followed a mixed-methods approach in two distinct sequential phases. Findings from a qualitative study of factors that led to disruption of schooling for children in high HIV-prevalence areas among Basotho secondary school children were used to design an open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL) intervention model aimed at tackling these factors. The findings show that more equitable access to education can be achieved by providing opportunities for ODFL as a complement to trad...