Zambia
The University of Zambia was one of the first universities in Africa to introduce distance learning 1966, where the idea was adopted from the University of New England in Australia. Its distance education uses identical courses which are offered to both internal and distance students by the same regular teaching staff. Therefore, the distance teaching activities are integrated into the normal teaching expectations of the lecturers there. This puts a very large work load onto the teachers, so a questionnaire was carried out at the university of Zambia to try and gage the tutor's attitudes towards distance teaching.
Some of the main findings were that lecturers did not have enough time to carry out their correspondence and that "distance teaching was an extra burden which was not sufficiently rewarding". This therefore leads staff to go back to 'campus-bound' teaching as this is less of a burden. In the article it states that "25% of the respondents in Scriven's study indicated that they would avoid distance teaching if they could. Scriven also discovered that 31% of the respondents disliked marking distance students' assignments". This reflects how tutors do not find distance learning enjoyable and that they would avoid the entire method of distance learning if they could. I think teachers would only be more accepting of this extra work load if universities reduced the staff's commitments to distance learning or employed more staff to make the work load more bearable.
I can also see some similarities between the tutor's attitudes to distance learning and my own attitudes towards it. As it says in the article, the staff found this method of teaching "time-consuming and monotonous". I can relate to their feelings towards it as i do find this way of learning very time-consuming and it often interferes with my other work. We are expected to do at least two full days a week of work on our blogs and posting on others, and i believe this is demanding a lot when we have numerous other units we have to concentrate on as well. I find myself not putting in as much effort with the other units as i am always concentrating on my blog. I understand that we are expected to put this much time into the unit as it has to make up for the lack of regular contact with tutors, but it does create a very heavy work load which can become quite stressful at times.
I can also understand how potentially beneficial this multi-media method of learning is, and i appreciate that it will help me in my life after university in my career, etc. However, i do prefer face-to-face learning in a classroom with other students around me. I find this much more enjoyable and beneficial as i think i learn best with people around me to bounce ideas off. I know that is the function of the 'forum', but i don't find it being the same sort of experience in that it's quite isolating doing work sat at a computer by yourself each week. I do ensure that i complete each weekly task on time and i have never fallen behind on my work in the hope that it will become more enjoyable. However, i just don't think you can beat a real life, classroom education.
What do you think? Can you also not wait for this blogging to finish? lol
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Week 7 - Distance learning
China
China's distance learning universities was one of the first in the world to introduce this form of learning. The TVU courses are multimedia, consisting of radio, television and printed materials. The social-science courses' main form of media is television where satellite transmission broadcasts lectures to the students. This method of learning started in 1986 and it had lead to the social-science courses greatly increasing in its size of students. The other forms of media used in the learning is audio- and video-cassettes which make up for insufficient transmission time. With over 1 million audio-visual copies of teaching materials being produced each year this also helps long-distance students get efficient access to the learning materials where ever they may be located.
The main learning materials for the courses are formed into three types of media; course books, reference books and study guides. Printed teaching materials are also available to supplement radio and television programmes for all the courses. I think the radio and television teaching sounds effective as the programmes are just an identical transcription of the actual classroom teaching. This ensures that the distance learning students are getting the same quality of learning as the classroom students. Also, the presenters for the television and radio teaching are specifically chosen from high standard universities all around the country. This again ensures the highest quality in teaching and puts confidence into the programme.
As well as these options of distance learning, students also have the option off ace-to-face tuition which i believe is a necessary feature as presenters of radio and television programmes cannot answer the students' questions directly and students have to wait to hear any feedback on the learning and teaching. Also, problems with the television image and radio sound could occur for technical or other reasons, so it is beneficial to have face-to-face learning on top of this.
I think the main positives of China's distance learning universities is that teaching can be delivered in a shorter time period and on a much larger scale. Also, China can be seen as less culturally and scientifically developed than other countries so this method of learning can help to evolve these areas in its society. However, there are certain negatives that can be seen. Such as the "limited transmission time for television; improper use of media; inconvenient viewing and listening for part-time study, delayed distribution of printed teaching materials, a too large student study load, insufficient provision of experimental work, and a shortage of qualified staff for research on distance education." I can see how these problems would greatly affect the standard of distance learning as if the teaching materials are delayed or there isn't enough qualified staff then this will hinder the quality of learning. If i was a student facing these problems i would be extremely concerned about the future standard of my education.
To help solve these issues, the universities have started to establish new methods of learning. These include printed teaching materials being more of the basis of new types of courses, and radio and television teaching hours being reduced. I think this will decrease the problems that have previously arisen and these future changes would defiantly put my confidence back into the distance learning programmes.
What do you think? Do you think these changes will improve the standard of distance learning in China?
China's distance learning universities was one of the first in the world to introduce this form of learning. The TVU courses are multimedia, consisting of radio, television and printed materials. The social-science courses' main form of media is television where satellite transmission broadcasts lectures to the students. This method of learning started in 1986 and it had lead to the social-science courses greatly increasing in its size of students. The other forms of media used in the learning is audio- and video-cassettes which make up for insufficient transmission time. With over 1 million audio-visual copies of teaching materials being produced each year this also helps long-distance students get efficient access to the learning materials where ever they may be located.
The main learning materials for the courses are formed into three types of media; course books, reference books and study guides. Printed teaching materials are also available to supplement radio and television programmes for all the courses. I think the radio and television teaching sounds effective as the programmes are just an identical transcription of the actual classroom teaching. This ensures that the distance learning students are getting the same quality of learning as the classroom students. Also, the presenters for the television and radio teaching are specifically chosen from high standard universities all around the country. This again ensures the highest quality in teaching and puts confidence into the programme.
As well as these options of distance learning, students also have the option off ace-to-face tuition which i believe is a necessary feature as presenters of radio and television programmes cannot answer the students' questions directly and students have to wait to hear any feedback on the learning and teaching. Also, problems with the television image and radio sound could occur for technical or other reasons, so it is beneficial to have face-to-face learning on top of this.
I think the main positives of China's distance learning universities is that teaching can be delivered in a shorter time period and on a much larger scale. Also, China can be seen as less culturally and scientifically developed than other countries so this method of learning can help to evolve these areas in its society. However, there are certain negatives that can be seen. Such as the "limited transmission time for television; improper use of media; inconvenient viewing and listening for part-time study, delayed distribution of printed teaching materials, a too large student study load, insufficient provision of experimental work, and a shortage of qualified staff for research on distance education." I can see how these problems would greatly affect the standard of distance learning as if the teaching materials are delayed or there isn't enough qualified staff then this will hinder the quality of learning. If i was a student facing these problems i would be extremely concerned about the future standard of my education.
To help solve these issues, the universities have started to establish new methods of learning. These include printed teaching materials being more of the basis of new types of courses, and radio and television teaching hours being reduced. I think this will decrease the problems that have previously arisen and these future changes would defiantly put my confidence back into the distance learning programmes.
What do you think? Do you think these changes will improve the standard of distance learning in China?
Friday, 7 March 2008
Week 7 - Distance Learning
Deakin University
This Australian University is very innovative in its learning practices as it offers numerous online course options, and i can notice both positive and negative issues with this form of online learning. Instead of the students attending lectures and seminars they receive course material through the internet. They also have access to study methods which include online conferencing, tutorial and tele-tutorial groups. The university also offers the 'iLecture' facility which enables students to download lectures in audio or video format. They also have access to Deakin's library services, which enables students to search the library database online and have books sent to their residence.
I can see that this is a positive way of learning as it is keeping up to date with society's change in new media technology and it will provide the students relevant technological knowledge when they leave university and go into a career. Most companies now expect their employees to be equipped with up-to-date knowledge of the recent technological advances so this form of learning will prepare them for future life. I also think it is a helpful tool for students in live in more rural places and maybe can't get to the university that often. The online tutorial groups and lectures will help students stay to the courses deadlines and provides a more interactive way of learning.
However, i do think there are some negatives to this way of learning too. Even though it is very interactive i don't believe you can learn as well just through a computer screen compared to the real life 'classroom' experience. You don't have the facility of a teacher being there face-to-face and having that real life interaction. It is quite an individual and therefore i think a lonely way of learning and i always work best in a seminar room with the other students around me.
What do you think? Which way of learning do you prefer?
This Australian University is very innovative in its learning practices as it offers numerous online course options, and i can notice both positive and negative issues with this form of online learning. Instead of the students attending lectures and seminars they receive course material through the internet. They also have access to study methods which include online conferencing, tutorial and tele-tutorial groups. The university also offers the 'iLecture' facility which enables students to download lectures in audio or video format. They also have access to Deakin's library services, which enables students to search the library database online and have books sent to their residence.
I can see that this is a positive way of learning as it is keeping up to date with society's change in new media technology and it will provide the students relevant technological knowledge when they leave university and go into a career. Most companies now expect their employees to be equipped with up-to-date knowledge of the recent technological advances so this form of learning will prepare them for future life. I also think it is a helpful tool for students in live in more rural places and maybe can't get to the university that often. The online tutorial groups and lectures will help students stay to the courses deadlines and provides a more interactive way of learning.
However, i do think there are some negatives to this way of learning too. Even though it is very interactive i don't believe you can learn as well just through a computer screen compared to the real life 'classroom' experience. You don't have the facility of a teacher being there face-to-face and having that real life interaction. It is quite an individual and therefore i think a lonely way of learning and i always work best in a seminar room with the other students around me.
What do you think? Which way of learning do you prefer?
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