1,720,959 research outputs found
The Role of E-Learning Policy in Academics’ Professional Development in African ODeL Institutions
No full textE-learning has undoubtedly become one of the major solutions to address the many challenges that higher education institutions face. Some of these challenges have led to the demand for distance education and the development of e-learning as a complementary and alternative teaching and learning system. This study explored the ways in which the e-learning policy in two African open distance e-learning (ODeL) higher education institutions drives academic professional development. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants, and the policy documents from the selected institutions were thematically analysed. The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology guided this study. The study’s findings revealed that comprehensive and robust e-learning policies may contribute to improving the adoption of online teaching in higher education. The findings also indicate that the e-learning policy should contribute to the capacity-building activities of the lecturers to prepare them for the new online systems. The study consequently recommends that ODeL higher education institutions in developing countries develop and continuously update an e-learning policy
Perceptions of the effectiveness of internet marketing strategies for first-time students in an ODL institution
Full text linkTechnology has the ability to open up completely new markets and to radically shake up
existing ones. The major breakthroughs in technology have altered the relationships
between marketers and consumers, and did so on a global scale, but according to Ryan
and Jones (2009), marketing is not about technology, it’s about people. Technology is only
interesting, from a marketing perspective, when it connects people with other people more
effectively. Digital marketing, like traditional marketing is not about the technology and tools
used, but it’s also about people, it’s about people connecting with other people, and building
relationships.
The World Wide Web (WWW or the web) is a universal platform for information exchange,
and it provides a channel through which businesses may display and generate sales on
their offerings and communicate with their targeted audiences. The purpose of the
proposed study is to explore and study how effective internet marketing strategies are for
new students at ODL institutions, specifically Unisa. As Singh’s (2002) research clearly
indicate the tremendous potential of the Internet and its ability to exposes new business
opportunities for organizations, the study aimed at exploring the perceptions of the new
students as to how helpful and effective the internet marketing strategies are before and
and/or during the pre-registration period. This study found that there is considerable
variation in the students’ perception of the website’s navigation and link functionality, overall
performance and the quality of education information.
The effectiveness and usability of a website as a marketing strategy lies in the successful
interaction of the students (and other users) with the website and this can only be
accurately measured by assessing user performance, satisfaction, and acceptability
(Bevan, Kirakowski, and Maissel, 1991). The main purpose of a university website is to
provide information to current and potential clients and to promote and market the
organization, which means university website is primarily a means of communication, first to
inform and second to promote. This study provided evidence that in order for university to
effectively market itself using their website, the university’s relevant bodies need to engage
in continuous improvement of the website.
One of the most effective ways of evaluating one’s website is to involve those users for
whom the website is designed for, in this case, firstly students, and other relevant
stakeholders. The results clearly indicated a need for the university to conduct further
research that may include a wider population.M.B.L.Graduate School of Business Leadershi
Using E-Portfolios for Meaningful Teaching and Learning in Distance Education in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review
No full textPlease access the full-text via the DOI link under URI at the top of this record.Web-based technology has proven itself indispensable in education, especially in distance education and in developing countries. Technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic have forced higher education institutions to be innovative in delivering education in their countries. This article seeks to demonstrate the role and value of e-portfolios as an alternative teaching and learning tool in distance education and the online environment, especially in developing countries. A systematic review of peer-reviewed academic studies of e-portfolios between 2010 and 2020 was conducted. A total of 18 papers were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The review shows that the use of e-portfolios is still a relatively new trend in developing countries. The study also revealed that e-portfolios can infuse important skills such as self-directed learning, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. These results have the potential to help institutions to creatively design appropriate support tools and strategies alongside the implementation of e-portfolios in their contexts.Curriculum and Instructional Studie
The perceptions of new lecturers towards adopting a learning management system for facilitating modules online in a South African ODeL institution
Full text linkLearning management systems (LMSs) are among the key digital tools that most institutions have developed for their lecturers and students to manage their online academic activities. The aim of this study was to explore new lecturers’ perceptions of adopting and using an LMS for facilitating online modules in the College of Education (CEDU) of an open distance and e-learning (ODeL) institution in South Africa. ODeL institutions recruit new lecturers from other traditional universities and private organisations, with the result that these individuals often have no experience of the ODeL context and therefore encounter challenges using distance education technologies to teach and support students. A qualitative case study research design was employed in this study. Semi structured interviews were used to collect data from 11 new lecturers who were purposely selected to participate in this study. The findings revealed that most lecturers were not using the university’s LMS frequently. The non-use of the university’s LMS was affected by various factors, including lack of proper skills, the design of some LMS functions and the lecturers’ attitudes. The researchers recommend that relevant training be aligned with the specific digital literacy needs of lecturers. LMS platforms form a major part of the e-learning initiatives at universities and are often central to student support; consequently, they should be used effectively to teach and support students.Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Reimagining Education in Africa: Innovations, Equity, and Policy for a Transformative Future
No full textCovid-19 as an accelerator for training and technology adoption by academics in large-scale open and distance learning institutions in Africa
Full text linkThe Covid-19 pandemic provoked a paradigm shift never imagined by higher education institutions in the world, but especially in developing countries. Drawing on findings from a PhD study, this article aims to highlight the way in which Covid-19 accelerated professional development and training and technology adoption by academics in higher education institutions and large-scale open and distance learning institutions in Africa. A total of 20 academics and relevant stakeholders from two of Africa’s largest open and distance learning institutions were interviewed, and their views are reported. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings show an increase in training and professional development of academics during the pandemic. The study also reveals the way in which Covid-19 fostered the speed and ease with which technology was adopted and used by academics for teaching and learning. The results of this research study may contribute to research of various topics on technology adoption and academics’ professional development and training and future approaches post-Covid-19.Curriculum and Instructional Studie
Postgraduate Students’ Perception of the Use of E-portfolios as a Teaching Tool to Support their Learning in an Open and Distance Education Institution
Full text linkE-portfolios have been used for decades in education; however, it is still a new trend in some developing countries as they continue to adopt e-learning practices. The study investigated postgraduate students’ experiences and perceptions of using an e-portfolio as a teaching tool to support their learning in an open and distance e-learning (ODeL) university in South Africa. A sample of 74 students registered for an online module were selected and an online questionnaire administered via Lime Survey. The results show that more than half of the respondents (71%) were using the e-portfolio for the first time. The study also revealed the contrasting views of the support received from the lecturer and institution for the e-portfolio platform, especially with technical issues. This study suggests that distance education institutions that are using e-portfolios need to strategically choose user-friendly technology tools and design appropriate student support strategies for delivering online modules. Higher education institutions that are planning to implement e-portfolios may find the results of this paper useful; however, further investigation of the learners’ needs, and available tools may assist with creative and appropriate designs of support strategies for their contexts
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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