The Status of E-Learning
and Educational Technology in
Makerere University
By
Tito O. OKUMU
E-Learning Manager
Monday, 31 July 2017
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Presentation Focus
Institutional Policy
History of e-Learning at Makerere
The Current Status of e-learning
Prospects at the Future
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Institutional Policy
The University Strategic Framework 2007/08 -2017/18 Art
3.2.5 outlines the ICT framework in Makerere. The
objectives are:
Harness ICT’s to improve teaching, learning, research & outreach.
Increase access to ICT facilities in the University
Improve the capacity of staff and students in ICT use
Develop an ICT sustainable strategy for the University
Provide faster access to internet services
Harness ICT to improve administration and management and finally
Harness ICT to improve marketing and public relations.
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Elearning Project
Makerere University ICT Policy
E-Learning policy is embedded in the Master ICT
Policy
– Goal 1: To improve the quality of graduates, by utilizing
modern instructional materials and methods, including
increased use of ICT in teaching and research.
– Goal 2: To provide greater access to university education,
by developing capacity for increased enrolment through
non-conventional approaches in teaching and learning i.e.
Distance education and virtual university
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Elearning Plans
• Leverage faculty/unit effectiveness by using
ICT in instruction, learning and Research.
• Create organizational and technical
conditions assuring continuous in-house elearning training capabilities in the longterm.
• Ensure and require that all students and
academic staff are trained on a continuous
basis
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Elearning Plans Cont’d
• Develop university wide and global e-learning
networks based on academic interests groups
and research collaborations.
• Establish the appropriate common DLE
infrastructure and software responsive to
academic needs through the designated
central technological unit.
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Makerere University Statistics
It has been in existence for over 86 years
It has 22 faculties/schools/institutes + constituent and
affiliate colleges
A student population of 30,000 undergraduate & about
3,000 graduate students.
Conducts a Dual-mode delivery of content.
It has 81 degree programmes, 42 of which are in
sciences.
Approximately 1,161 faculty teaching staff
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History of E Learning @ Makerere
1997 – (AVU) pilot project.
Introduced satellite content delivery,
Use of webnars, Interwise Communication
software, CD ROMS, Tapes etc
Introduced WebCT
Digital library
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2002 Co-curriculum Development Project
With Makerere University, University of DarSalaam and Tuft University in USA
Collaboration
with
Political
Science
Departments of the three Universities.
Department of Gender and Women Studies was
incorporated in this project especially the ELearning aspect.
Introduced Blackboard LMS at Makerere in 2002
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Partnership with Tuft University
In Sciences, targeted the Makerere University
School of Public Health.
Introduced Tuft Universities Knowledge Base
(TUSK), LMS
It is used extensively at the College of Health
Sciences
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Partnership with University of
Western Cape SA
• Knowledge Environment for Web-based
Learning (KEWL) http://nextgen.mak.ac.ug
• KEWL is registered as open source under GPL
and therefore carries no licensing costs.
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Other e-Resources
HURIS – Human Resources Information
ARIS – Academic Records Information System
FINIS – Finance Information System
MakLIBIS - Library Information System, http://
http://mulib.mak.ac.ug/col-link/e-resources.html
Research Repository
RMACS
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Possible Open Educational Resources
http://www.wikieducator.org/
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/
http://ocw.mit.edu
http://www.oercommons.org/
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Other e-Collaboration
Millennium Science Initiative (MSI)
African Virtual \University (AVU), http://www.avu.org
Tuft University, http://tusk.musph.ac.ug
Teacher Education for Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) project –
http://www.tessafrica.net
Strengthening Agricultural & Environmental Capacity Through Distance Education
(SAEC-DE) – Mak, UON, Univ of Florida, CIAT with USAID Funding
EDULINK and other e-learning projects in the Faculty of Agriculture
RENU
NUFFIC
Association of African Universities and
South African Institute of Distance Education http://www.saide.org.za
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Infrastructural Support
Connectivity
Makerere total internet bandwidth is 25 mbps
Access points,
7,838
Computers/laptops
5,191
Students; Kiosks
12 (multimedia labs )
A university-wide fibre optic cable network
Introduction of iLabs in collaboration with MIT.
Wireless networks in 2 Halls of residences (Dag &
Africa)
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Contribution from Development Partners
•
•
•
•
•
•
Carnegie,
FORD Foundation,
NORAD,
Rockfeller
UTL and
SIDA
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Internet Kiosk location
No PC Allocated
1.
Medical School
10
2.
Faculty of Arts
10
3.
School of Education
10
4.
JICA building
15
5.
CCE Hall
20
6.
Senate building
20
7.
Gender
15
8.
Faculty of Vet Medicine
20
9.
Africa Hall
15
10.
Faculty of Forestry
20
11.
ELearning Unit
20
Total
175
Source: DICTS Makerere University, Oct 2008
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Faculty/unit
Computers/laptops
Data points
Institute of Environment and Natural Resources
50
75
Institute of Psychology
20
80
Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics
98
159
Makerere Institute of Social Research
35
72
School of Education
91
336
School of Industrial and Fine Art
37
63
Academic Registrar
120
209
University Hospital
7
28
140
214
DOSATE
24
30
DICTS
65
80
4
49
150
31
200
7,838
University Library
Estates Department
Main Building
120
Student Guild
Faculty of Food Science & Technology
Total
0
50
5,191
Source: DICTS Makerere University, Oct 2008
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Computer Connectivity @ Makerere University
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
Computers/laptops
Data points
0
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Human Interface
•
•
•
•
Leadership
Lecturers
Students
Supporting Staff
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Leadership
Council Committee on E-Learning in form of a
Management Unit- University wide
E-Research Group at Faculty of Computer and
Information Technology
E-Learning Faculty Committees at Faculty level
ELearning Coordinators at Faculties and Departments in
the University
E-Learning Unit at IACE
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Lecturers
Some staff have been trained on online facilitation using
Blackboard, TUSK and KEWL LMS
Under NUFFIC e-Learning Project, 20 trained in Europe
and others trained locally; training has also been
undertaken for FCIT, WGS, FEMA and others under
Carnegie funding.
Staff graduating recently from abroad have had exposure
on a variety of LMS
Several staff pursuing graduate studies are researching in
e- and m- learning.
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Lectures cont’d
• There is training being offered by CIT for
all staff who are interested.
• Individual Units of the University have
trained staff
• Computer access has been provided by the
Ministry of ICT for those interested.
• Staff have some access to computers
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Blackboard
KEWL
No. of users
32,979
2,784
No. of courses
1,190
283
No of Users for
more than 1 course
18,834
283
57%
5%
Active usage (%)
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Students
• Constructive approach to include students
• Training of students in basic computer skills
Makerere University approved an introductory
level computing course for all University
students.
• Students belong to the age bracket which is
keen in IT.
• Fliers have been distributed to all students
for enrolment on the blackboard platform
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Support Staff
• Invitation for training was made to all staff.
• Administrative
support
to
improve
communication between education providers
and students.
• ARIS, FINIS MakLIB and HURIS are operational
• Most can access the intranet and have
Makerere email address.
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From Distribution…
Materials online
Learning Management
Systems
Information
Presentation
Transmissive Learning
Expansive Learning
Communication
Weblogs
Communities
…to
Collaboration
E-Portfolios
WiKis
Collaboration
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Critical Areas to be addressed
• Ratio of Computers to Users
• High cost of Connectivity
• Low Computer literacy rate at the University among
staff and students
• Power Outages
• Incentive mechanisms that encourages staff embrace
educational technology
• Increasing demand for end-user access infrastructure
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Critical Areas cont’d
• Elearning Critical Mass to champion
implementation at Makerere University.
• Identify Specific Deliverables
• Proprietary software access
• Quality assurance
• Gender mainstreaming
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Thank You for Your attention
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