The study of how the Introduction of online learning to traditional distance learning system impact on students-special reference to Open

University of Sri Lanka

Nalin Abeysekera

Open University of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometers (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India. Popularly referred to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, it is home to around twenty million people

Literacy Rate and Computer Literacy Rate

• With a literacy rate of 92%, and 83% of the total population having had Secondary Education, Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations. An education system which dictates 9 years of Compulsory Schooling for every child is in place, with 99% of the children entering the first grade.

• At national level, 10 percent of the above population is computer literate. The highest computer literacy rate of 20 percent was reported from the Colombo district The Monaragala district reported the lowest computer literacy rate of 3 percent.

Computer Literacy Rate….

Open University of Sri Lanka

• The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is unique within the national university system in being the only University to offer programmes of study leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree through the Distance Mode. The University was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, for the purpose of providing higher educational opportunities to working adults

Open University of Sri Lanka

•OUSL has central campus at Nawala and the 28 study centers scattered across Sri Lanka. • 24,000 OUSL students island wide.

Online learning

• Introduced one fully online course and 33 supplementary courses from the Faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Humanities are now being accessed by 3289 students online.

• The students of the OUSL will be able to access their online courses from National Online Distance Education access centers or NACs that have been set up in ten OUSL regional and study centers under the ADB funded Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP).

Online learning and MoodleMoodle is a free software e-learning platform (also known as a Course Management System (CMS), or Learning Management Systems (LMS), or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)). It has a significant user base with 38,896 registered sites with 16,927,590 users in 1,713,438 courses (as of January, 2008)

OUSL using Moodle as its e-learning flat form (Learning Management System)

Research Problem

• How the Introduction of online learning to traditional distance learning system impact on students?

Methodology

• Random Sampling method been Used

• Structured Questionnaire distributed through 50 students

Findings…

• Most of the students like Moodle because of easy understanding….

• Some have problem once using dial-up connections at home-take time to upload etc…

• Students like interface

Findings…

• Students like forums because they can discuss subject matters as well as for their networking.

Findings…

• Students feel Uploading assignments as more convenient than post or to handover to the University. Specially students in the regional centers.

Findings…..

• Students can contact their coordinator at any time at any place… Even for counseling….

Findings…

• Students who are doing their studies in post graduate level prefer this method than other students.(This might be because of their working schedules etc)

Findings…cont…..

• But students identified this method as a complement not a substitute to traditional face to face learning

Problems

• Resources-Computers as well as experts in the field,

• Infrastructure,

• No proper training on Moodle

• Low awareness level of e-Learning

• Speed-dial up connections

Problems

• Especially students from rural areas have to come to their regional center to access because of their inability to access at their home.

Recommendations

• Infrastructure Development

• Increase awareness among public

• Proper Training and Development

• Partnerships between Universities and Private sector

• Continuous research on online learning

• Country should have e-learning policy

Thank You..

Any Problems…..?????