scholarly journals Information Literacy from the Policy and Strategy Perspective

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirje Virkus
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Literacy Support ◽  
Policy And Strategy ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

This paper examines IL from a policy and strategy perspective and reports the selected findings of the research project that was carried out within open and distance learning universities in Europe. The research problem for this study focused on the need to know how information-related competencies (IRC) were developed in European higher open and distance learning (ODL) institutions. The general research strategy in this study was a mixed method strategy, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, built into a two-stage research design. A survey provided a broad picture of a phenomenon, and case studies covered a more limited area of the same ground but in more depth.The first stage was a small-scale questionnaire survey, with a structured questionnaire using a purposive sample, which was analysed using statistical techniques. The objectives of the questionnaire were to determine the extent and the ways to which IRC were developed within European higher ODL institutions, to investigate the role of libraries within the development of IRC and to identify examples of ‘good practice' in the field of IRC in European higher ODL institutions. The second stage of the study involved a multiple case study in six European ODL institutions. In this part of the study the researcher was trying to discover what people actually did in practice to develop IRC, how they experienced those processes and made sense of it.The research results will contribute to the development of ODL courses with library and information literacy support, that would improve students' IRC, and also to the Bologna aims of competence development and professional development in a context of lifelong learning.

scholarly journals Development Of Information-Related Competencies In European ODL Institutions

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirje Virkus
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Learning Institutions

This paper reports the findings of the research project that was carried out within open and distance learning universities in Europe. The research problem for this study focused on the need to know how information-related competencies were developed in European higher open and distance learning institutions. The general research strategy in this study was a mixed method research strategy, using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, built into a two-stage research design. A survey provided a broad picture of a phenomenon, and case studies covered a more limited area of the same ground but in more depth. Thus, the first stage was a small-scale questionnaire survey, with a structured questionnaire using a purposive sample, which was analysed using statistical techniques. The objectives of the questionnaire were to determine the extent and the ways to which information-related competencies were developed within European higher open and distance learning institutions, to investigate the role of libraries within the development of information-related competencies and to identify examples of ‘good practice’ in the field of information-related competencies in European higher open and distance learning institutions. The second stage of the study involved a multiple case study in 6 European open and distance learning institutions, where in-depth, semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews with 72 people were conducted which were supported by an unstructured non-participant observation and fieldwork and document analysis. In this part of the study the researcher was trying to discover what people actually did in practice to develop information-related competencies, how they experienced those processes and made sense of it. The research results will contribute to the development of open and distance learning courses with library and information literacy support, that would improve students’ information-related competencies, and also to the Bologna aims of competence development and professional development in a context of lifelong learning.

scholarly journals Challenges Experienced by Students Studying through Open and Distance Learning at a Higher Education Institution in Namibia: Implications for Strategic Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalia Iilonga ◽  
Amalia Iilonga ◽  
Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala ◽  
Nestor Tomas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Higher Education Institution ◽  
Satellite Campus ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological

Online learning remains one of the most powerful enablers and accelerators for realising higher education studies by enhancing teaching by means of innovative technologies and pedagogies. However, the success rate of students studying through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) remains very low. Therefore, institutions of higher learning in Namibia should continuously establish and assess the challenges affecting the students who opt to study via distance mode to devise strategies required to address such challenges. The objective of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by students studying through ODL at Higher Education Institution (HEI) in Namibia and establish the challenges they face. A qualitative, phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research strategy was employed in this study to explore and describe challenges experienced by students’ studying through ODL at HEI’ satellite campus in Namibia. A purposive sampling was utilised in the selection of participants. Data were collected from participants using semi-structured interviews with nine participants. Three themes were identified, namely, the reasons why students chose to study through ODL programme, challenges experienced by students studying through ODL and mechanisms for improvement. The findings of this study call for well-articulated plans and actions to address the challenges faced by students studying in the distance e-learning mode. The study recommended that both Lecturers and ODL programme Administrators should undergo refresher training on distance education annually to ensure that they are aware and can address the challenges faced by their students.

THE APPLICATION OF WELLBEING RESEARCH TO REGIONAL LEVEL IN LITHUANIA

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gintarė VAZNONIENĖ ◽  
Bernardas VAZNONIS
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Regional Development ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Foreign Countries ◽  
Analysis And Synthesis ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Development Context

In this article the significance of wellbeing research in the regional level in Lithuania has been analyzed, the advantages and disadvantages of the objective and subjective wellbeing research have been evaluated. The results of the analysis of wellbeing research reveal that the wellbeing research in the regional level is poorly amplified, the wellbeing research in the social sciences is not marked, the wellbeing is investigated in other fields not in social sciences or according to the aims of the researher and more often causes and outcomes of social economical inequality for regional development are emphasized. Scientific studies show that wellbeing research can have big influence for shaping the future of regions because it concerns local people, their choices and overall wellbeing of a particular region. Findings from foreign countries good practice disclose that wellbeing is currently widely used as a key factor and trend for the development policy evaluation. Accordingly in this article big attention is drawn to wellbeing research possible effect for policymakers. It can be concluded that wellbeing research should become an important discussion object in the regional development context because it reveals the situation about people overall wellbeing and particular life domains. The main aim of this article is to analyse the importance of wellbeing research to regional level in Lithuania. The research problem of this article is the fact that the poor experience of wellbeing research in Lithuania insufficiently reveals the wellbeing expression and use in the regional level. In the research common research methods like analysis and synthesis of the scientific literature, analysis of documents and comparative analysis have been employed.

Students’ Experience in Learning Accounting via Open and Distance Learning (ODL)

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Nur Syafiqah Hussin ◽  
Naqiah Awang ◽  
Farah Husna Mohd Fatzel
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Way Of Life ◽  
Internet Connection ◽  
New Material ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
Almost All

Covid-19 is an unprecedented crisis that has affected almost all industry players including education. It has transformed our way of life and introduced a new normal to how things are done. As an effort to contain the outbreak of pandemic Covid-19, universities have shifted to online learning. In line with this, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) has decided to execute open and distance learning (ODL) for the current semester until 31 December 2020. ODL introduces a different learning environment as compared to the traditional classroom that requires students to be self-reliant in learning new things. Hence, the purpose of the study is to explore students’ experiences in the process of knowledge transfer through ODL specifically for accounting subjects. A questionnaire was distributed to students who were taking the subject of Introduction to Financial Accounting and Introduction to Cost Accounting in UiTM Pahang Kampus Raub and a total of 206 responses were received. The study found over half of the students enjoy learning through ODL but only one-third were looking forward to having ODL for the next semester. Poor internet connection is the main reason found in the study that makes ODL not preferred by the students. At the same time, few features were highlighted by the students about ODL such as the advantage of pre-recorded video to catch up the new material and flexibility for them to learn at their own pace.

scholarly journals The Role of Open and Distance Learning in the Implementation of the Right to Education in Zambia

2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Siaciwena ◽  
Foster Lubinda
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Distance Learning ◽  
Right To Education ◽  
Youth Policy ◽  
Child Rights ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Child Policy ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
The Right

As a member of the United Nations, Zambia is committed to the observance of human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948. This is evidenced, among others, by the fact that Zambia is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Zambia has a permanent Human Rights Commission that includes a subcommittee on child rights whose focus is on child abuse and education. Zambia also has a National Child Policy and National Youth Policy whose main objectives are to holistically address problems affecting children and youth. This paper focuses on the progress and challenges currently facing Zambia and the role of open and distance learning in addressing those challenges.

scholarly journals A Scale-Selective Data Assimilation Approach to Improving Tropical Cyclone Track and Intensity Forecasts in a Limited-Area Model: A Case Study of Hurricane Felix (2007)

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 124-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Liu ◽  
Lian Xie
Keyword(s):  
Data Assimilation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dynamical Downscaling ◽  
Weather Forecasting ◽  
Forecast Error ◽  
Regional Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Track Forecast ◽  
Global Models

Abstract Accurately forecasting a tropical cyclone’s (TC) track and intensity remains one of the top priorities in weather forecasting. A dynamical downscaling approach based on the scale-selective data assimilation (SSDA) method is applied to demonstrate its effectiveness in TC track and intensity forecasting. The SSDA approach retains the merits of global models in representing large-scale environmental flows and regional models in describing small-scale characteristics. The regional model is driven from the model domain interior by assimilating large-scale flows from global models, as well as from the model lateral boundaries by the conventional sponge zone relaxation. By using Hurricane Felix (2007) as a demonstration case, it is shown that, by assimilating large-scale flows from the Global Forecast System (GFS) forecasts into the regional model, the SSDA experiments perform better than both the original GFS forecasts and the control experiments, in which the regional model is only driven by lateral boundary conditions. The overall mean track forecast error for the SSDA experiments is reduced by over 40% relative to the control experiments, and by about 30% relative to the GFS forecasts, respectively. In terms of TC intensity, benefiting from higher grid resolution that better represents regional and small-scale processes, both the control and SSDA runs outperform the GFS forecasts. The SSDA runs show approximately 14% less overall mean intensity forecast error than do the control runs. It should be noted that, for the Felix case, the advantage of SSDA becomes more evident for forecasts with a lead time longer than 48 h.

An Agent Service Grid for Supporting Open and Distance Learning

2011 ◽  
pp. 129-143
Author(s):  
Alberto Grosso ◽  
Davide Anghinolfi ◽  
Antonio Boccalatte ◽  
Christian Vecchiola
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Service Grid ◽  
Open And Distance Learning

scholarly journals HOW MUCH ‘DISTANCE’ DOES LANGUAGE CREATE IN ODL MATERIALS? A BOTSWANA CASE STUDY

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-73
Author(s):  
Mmabaledi Kefilwe Seeletso ◽  
Rinelle Evans
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Instructional Materials ◽  
Study Materials ◽  
Mixed Methods Case Study ◽  
Open And Distance Learning ◽  
Instructional Dialogue ◽  
Group Interviews

It is assumed that open and distance learning institutions develop study materials that adequately engage learners with quality content to assist their content mastery. However, distance learners continue to underperform, which raises the concern that high drop-out and failure rates may be ascribed to the study materials. This mixed-methods case study examined instructional material developed for secondary school learners studying via the open and distance learning mode. The study was informed by Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory to evaluate the process of designing and developing instructional materials while Gorsky, Caspi and Trumper’s Theory of Instructional Dialogue was used to map interaction with and within the selected study materials. A self-designed evaluation rubric included language related criteria to gauge the accessibility of content. A questionnaire survey was undertaken with purposively identified participants: five material developers, 176 learners, and six tutors. Six semi-structured group interviews and twenty individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. Open coding and SPSS reports were used for qualitative and quantitative data analysis, respectively. Findings related to non-alignment of materials with learner profile, and the national syllabus, while inadequate proficiency in the language of instruction remained problematic. The outcomes of this study highlight the importance of well-trained material developers and focused ODL policies for quality assuring effective content design and development to accommodate diverse learners with limited English proficiency.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document