GROUP 130 April 2009

Supporting students at a distance (ODL)

Dikeledi Mahlo

Mtholeni Ngcobo

Tintswalo Tivana

Charnelle van der Bijl

Open Distance Learning

• Open Distance Learning (ODL): focuses on removing barriers to access learning.

• Its main aspects include flexibility, openness and learner centeredness.

• It aims at bridging the time, geographical, economic, social, educational and communication distance between student and academics, institution, courseware and peers.

• It facilitates transactional process - administrative support, learning & learner support, technological support & infrastructure.

Advantages of ODL to students

• ODL can provide opportunities, accessibility, flexibility and affordability to students

• It can also allow for independent learning, continuous support from the institution and peers

• Students can study at their individual pace in a good enabling learning environment

• ODL can also provide students with skills for individual development

Disadvantages

• Face-to-face instruction: is not easily attainable • A student may not be in a right field because of

limited career guidance• Access to resources may be difficult especially

for students in remote areas • Students may study in isolation• Family and household responsibilities pose as a

challenge to students’ success

Supporting students in ODL

• Therefore: Open distance learning must involve the provision of a support system by the institution

• A learner support system consists of all activities beyond the production and delivery of course materials that assist in the progress of students in their studies (Simpson 2000)

• These include academic support and organisational support

• A vital ingredient in the support system is the ready access to adequate learning resources, services and communication

The importance of support system to students and lecturers

• A support system provides a sense of connection with others

• It also provides an opportunity for reflection and critical thinking

• It increases student retention• It is an indicator of success for an educational

institution

Academic and organisational support

• Academic support is about supporting students with:

Cognitive issues Intellectual issuesKnowledge issues of specific courses• Organisational support is the support of students

in the effective and organisational aspects of their studies

Academic support

• Includes:• Tutorial activities, which may be initiated by

defining the territory of study (the course syllabus),

• to enriching students’ learning experiences by encouraging them to study further and to seek extra knowledge

• Tutor styles: didactic vs. facilitative• Facilitative style is preferable than didactic one

Delivery support services in ODL

• Written media: instructions and information in the form of tutorial letters – with interactive activities

• More career guidance• Communication via telephone

• Face-to-face meetings (for course content facilitation) and group learning (for collaborative discussions, the exchange of learning experiences and overcoming

students’ sense of isolation) • Tutors:

- Problems:1:30; financing; remote areas

- Solution?

Delivery…

• Audio-visual media• Computers at centres and access to ICT: provides

asynchronous communication between student and peers and student and tutor/lecturer to facilitate learning at a distance

• Mixed media• Video conferencing and satellite broadcasting bridge a

distance between a lecturer and students• Regional centres are important as students may have

easy access to them rather than coming to Pretoria (centralisation vs. localisation)

Conclusion

• Supporting our students at a distance can help to affect their achievements

• However, we need to ascertain the support that is appropriate to resolve their needs

• We need to know about their experiences in education and learning and other areas of their lives

• Consistency in using appropriate support services is highly recommended

• Reference: Simpson, O. (2000) Supporting students in Open and Distance

Learning. London: Kogan Page

Thank Thank you!you!