GROUP 1
30 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 issues
 Knowledge 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
you!