Open Distance Education Research Articles

Unveiling Scholarly Insights: Quality Assurance in Open and Distance Education

Open and distance education (ODE) has continuously evolved, significantly influencing educational, daily, and professional spheres, thereby prompting interest in its sustainability and quality. This study explored global scientific perspectives on quality assurance in ODE using the science mapping method. Search terms centred on open education, distance education, and quality assurance; data was gathered from 4,224 scientific texts in the Web of Science Core Collection. Analyses were conducted using VOSviewer software. Co-authorship analyses explored scientific collaboration structures at the country level. Globally shared concepts of interest to the scientific community were addressed using co-occurrence analyses. A detailed examination of co-occurrence outputs led to classification related to general and emerging key concepts. Results depicted a widespread global interest in quality assurance in ODE, fostering connections based on new cultural similarities. The concept of quality assurance in ODE continues to be enriched and developed, gravitating towards focused learning and instruction, establishing strong ties with various components of regular education as well as human elements. However, the prevailing view of quality assurance has yet to encompass this diversity. Rather than consider the nature and current potential of ODE, it has maintained an externalized and technical perspective.

Industry Mentoring Program: Empowering External Degree Students for Career Success – Case Study from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka

In today's interconnected world, open distance education has become widespread, granting students the flexibility and accessibility to pursue higher education through external degree programmes. Despite the increasing feasibility of delivering knowledge and skills online, a significant hurdle remains in ensuring that participants are adequately equipped for the demands of the professional world of work. Traditionally, exposure to industry standards and practical experiences is gained through activities like industry visits, guest talks, meetups, and workshops, which are often absent in online distance education programs due to their remote nature. This dearth of industry-preparedness and practical skills presents a formidable obstacle for graduates as they transition into the workforce. Thus, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry expectations becomes imperative to enhance students' employability and career readiness, ultimately fostering their success in the workforce. This case study delves into the solution to this challenge through a meticulously crafted programme aimed at cultivating industry-ready graduates. Leveraging available technology, the program provides immersive experiences within the online learning environment. The paper details the Industry Mentoring Program (IMP), which employs technology to simulate real-world experiences, assesses stakeholder perceptions of the programme's value, and offers insights for future enhancements. This programme was conducted targeting the final year students of the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) External Degree programme of the University of Moratuwa. This study investigates the experiences and viewpoints of students taking part in the IMP using surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. Four student cohorts who have undergone the programme have provided their feedback both quantitatively and qualitatively. Across all groups the student satisfaction was totally positive with over 80% of the participants indicating their satisfaction at 4 or 5 on a Lickert Scale of 5 indicating very satisfied. Students’ perception of their preparedness for the workforce after participating in the IMP also is extremely positive. The findings indicates that the IMP significantly improves the career opportunities of BIT students. Feedback obtained from other stakeholders such as potential employers, resource persons and administrators also validate the effectiveness of the programme. The feedback and suggestions are incorporated to enhance the programme. University has decided to incorporate this programme into the curriculum with the 2024 curriculum revision of this open distance degree programme of BIT.

Revolutionising classrooms with AI: Educators' insights on transformative opportunities and challenges

This paper examines the transformation opportunities of AI in education, focusing on its benefits and challenges from the perspectives of educators. The research methodology involves a qualitative study with practising educators who were students enrolled in a master's program in education at an open distance education university in South Africa. Data collection is conducted through an online discussion forum. The paper concludes that while AI offers exciting transformative opportunities such as personalised learning and effective education, it should be used wisely, complementing traditional teaching methods. It emphasises addressing biases, overuse, plagiarism, and data privacy issues. The study emphasises the need for more information on educator’s use and perceptions to pave the way for AI to complement educators and, in so doing, benefit all educators and students equally.

Open distance education for teachers in Ukraine: the case of the Ukrainian Open University of Postgraduate Education

The Ukrainian Open University of Postgraduate Education (UOUPE) is a self-governing educational institution that aims to provide distance education for teachers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the integration of Ukraine into the European educational space. The UOUPE is based on a design-transforming nonlinear paradigm and a reflexive-positional approach, enabling a community of progressive educators who can respond to modern challenges and change their learning and professional practices. The paper presents the interregional cooperation project for teachers' professional development, which the UOUPE implements in collaboration with the Department of Philosophy and Adult Education of the Central Institute of Postgraduate Education of the University of Educational Management. The paper also reports the results of the first diagnostic stage of the project, which involved 120 teachers from different regions of Ukraine.

Digital Transformation in Higher Education and Postgraduate Research Supervision in Africa: A Critique of 4IR-Based Interventions in Open Distance Education

Digital Transformation in Higher Education and Postgraduate Research Supervision in Africa: A Critique of 4IR-Based Interventions in Open Distance Education

Mentoring as complementary support for learner engagement

Student engagement is linked to student success and shaped by the availability of student support through their academic journeys. Improving engagement with adequate support strategies is a continuous challenge for open and distance learning (ODL) institutions. However, there is limited understanding of how student engagement experience can be influenced by a support team outside the instructional context of faculty presence. In 2020, the Open Polytechnic (OP) Te P?kenga, a specialist provider of open distance education in New Zealand, implemented a three-tiered framework for student support. This system includes technology-supported mentoring interventions that are aligned to, and separate from, academic faculty support; the mentoring system gives students access to consistent engagement opportunities during their course journeys. The current project examines how students perceived these mentoring interventions, and this paper specifically examines the perceptions of newly enrolled online students on their experiences of the mentoring interventions during onboarding. Students in two introductory level block courses participated in an online, qualitative survey and their responses were thematically analysed following a deductive approach. Key themes in the data were related to the concepts of transactional presence and emotional engagement. These findings demonstrate the value of complementary non-academic support during student onboarding.

Impact of E-Learning System: Google Classroom Interaction between E-Facilitators and E-Learners at the University of Ibadan Open Distance Learning Centre, Nigeria

Open Distance Education, an e-learning delivery system, is structured toward quality education for development and growth that meets the needs of the modern world. Its e-learning method is geared toward quality education that provokes critical thinking, scientific innovation, artistic revolution, and managerial skills. With all these qualities, criticizers still believe that the orthodox method of learning drills, as such face-to-face interaction, fixed location, and immediate feedback are still the best learning practice. Therefore, this article examines the impact of the e-learning system of Open Distance Education as a friendly learning flexibility and teaching mode that provokes mutual understanding, critical thinking, and immediate feedback between online facilitators and e-learners. Also, it investigates how its teaching approach stimulates innovative research, learning security, and interactive mutuality. Seven (7) excerpts are purposively selected from Google classroom interactions. The article uses Schechner's performance theory and the theories of Freud and Jung. Performance theory emphasizes human activities, while the theories of Freud and Jung talk about human interactive engagements. Theories are used to analyze interactive mutuality and knowledge based-performance between e-facilitators and e-learners. The data are subjected to content analyses.

History and Developments of Schools Administration in Nigeria: From Natives to Present

This paper discussed the trends in school administration and educational development from the time of the natives until now. Secondary data was used to support the points raised in the paper using an interpretive research paradigm by sourcing data from print and online resources. Several reformations and national educational policies were implemented at intervals to channel the developmental course. The finding from this study showed that incessant strike actions by the university unions, the proscription of the earlier approved private universities and cause, and the merging of some institutions during the military era were a setback to the expected development. Access to higher education is improved with the licensures of private universities and the embrace of open distance education. Challenges include corruption, decayed infrastructures, cultism, examination malpractices, poor ranking, underbudgeting for education, poor research output, brain drain, politicization of education, school dropout, and so on. It is recommended that the government increase the educational budgetary allocation, and the appropriate government agencies should monitor educational activities.

Beyond The Borders Global Collaboration in Open Distance Education through Virtual Exchanges

As a component of their educational programs and with the guidance of educators and/or facilitators, groups of students participate in virtual exchanges (VE), which are extended periods of online intercultural interaction and collaboration with peers from around the world. Experts in a scientific subject are linked up with others who want to participate for teaching and learning through virtual collaboration. In order to host material where both students and professors can share knowledge in a particular subject, many worldwide colleges and ODeL institutions use virtual platforms. Students can improve knowledge and abilities in a range of areas crucial to their personal, academic, and professional growth through virtual communication. Both synchronous and asynchronous digital tools were employed by students and teachers for virtual communication and collaboration. Students in South Africa can digitally interact with a professor in Canada and elsewhere. The difficulty is that some of the lecturers and students are not instructed on how to utilize the technology, let alone how to deal with network issues. Examining the literature was done with a focus on the virtual exchange in ODeL. The study's methodology is qualitative research. The study has used connectivism theory to examine the data collected from students participating in virtual interaction. According to the Connectivism theory, learning happens when peers connect and collaborate to exchange ideas, thoughts, and viewpoints. The study utilized five online learning groups. The participants' thoughts, experiences, and perspectives on the value of digital engagement were solicited. The gathered data were analyzed using thematic analysis, a technique for uncovering themes in qualitative data. The findings demonstrated that digital interaction and virtual exchange enhance communication, problem-solving abilities, and language development

Evaluación de las asignaturas optativas en modalidad a distancia desde la mirada del estudiantado de la licenciatura de Médico Cirujano

The educational model of the Open University and Distance Education System (SUAyED) is based on the generation of learning ecologies that consider environments, situations and contexts of activity different from the traditional ones, which offer opportunities to learn. The principles of this model are flexibility, adaptability, innovation, interaction and interactivity, distributed teaching, co-responsibility, continuous evaluation, humanism and sustainability, which are considered in the design of optional subjects in the distance modality (MOLIMOD). The technical and design aspects were evaluated through a questionnaire with a Likert-type scale, applied to students from the first to the fourth year of the Medical Doctor degree (MDD) who took any of these subjects. The results guide us to a positive perception from the students. The systematic evaluation allows constant improvement and shows that the students are satisfied with the design and implementation of MOLIMOD. Keywords: Medical education; evaluation; distance modality; optional subjects; didactic design.

El docente de las asignaturas optativas en modalidad a distancia

Distance education at the Faculty of Medicine (FM) is a modality that contributes to fulfilling the professional profile of the surgeon. Currently, there are 26 subjects called elective subjects online in the distance modality (MOLIMOD), attended by 46 advisors. The teacher evaluation is characterized by assessing the satisfaction of the students in the achievement of their learning, the performance of the teachers, their abilities, the use of psycho-pedagogical resources and learning strategies. The MOLIMOD advisors were evaluated from 2015 to 2022 through a questionnaire on the Moodle platform applied at the end of the course. The questionnaire was confidential and consisted of six dimensions. The teachers who are part of the Open University and Distance Education System of the Faculty of Medicine (SUAyED-FM) make up a varied academic body, ranging from 25 to 92 years of age, with training in various disciplines. The results allow us to support the argument that there is coherence between the definition of the teaching profile established by the SUAyED and the performance of its functions in the distance modality. Keywords: Medical education; teacher evaluation; distance modality; optional subjects.

IMPLEMENTATION OF MOBILE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SYSTEM OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

Mobile learning is analyzed as an organization and solution of problems for complex, systematic informatization of educational activities and the implementation of measures aimed at integrating educational, scientific and managerial activities of an educational institution for the training of competitive specialists who possess a professional specialty based on modern information and telecommunication technologies. It is shown that the implementation of mobile learning involves solving a number of tasks; the development of mobile learning tools forces a new look at the technologies for implementing distance learning. The mission of an educational institution that implements mobile learning is to realize the transition from an industrial society to an information society, to use a network information and educational environment, to provide open and distance education throughout life or work based on new information and telecommunication technologies. Such an educational institution offers educational services based on a combination of network, video interactive technology and wireless access to resources, anytime and anywhere. The author's view on the formation of the mobile learning system in open distance education consists in the formulation of key provisions, which we include: the vision of mobile learning; the goal of an educational institution implementing mobile learning; purpose and tasks of mobile learning in open distance education; mobile learning technologies; didactic possibilities, properties and functions of mobile learning; multimedia core as a basis and carrier of mobile learning knowledge. As part of the research, we formulated a vision of mobile learning in an educational institution, which we understand as an ideal picture of the future, as a state that can be achieved under the most favorable conditions.
 Keywords: e-learning technologies; distance education; mobile learning; educational process; interactive learning; information and communication technologies; electronic training courses; LMS Moodle

Open Learning, Distance Education with reference to General and Special Education and inclusive education

Open learning and distance education have grown as transformative tools in the field of education. These techniques enable learners in a range of settings, including general and special education, with possibilities that are adaptable and inclusive. the notions of open learning, remote education, and inclusive education, with an emphasis on the roles these ideas play in facilitating access, equity, and the provision of a high-quality education for all students. It studies the underlying tenets and practises of diverse educational approaches, concentrating specifically on how they meet the requirements of a wide spectrum of pupils, including those who have physical or mental impairments. the potential benefits and problems involved with implementing inclusive education approaches through open and remote learning, with the final focus being placed on the critical role that technology and educator support play in developing an inclusive and empowering learning environment.

Open Learning, Distance Education with reference to General and Special Education and inclusive education

Open learning and distance education have grown as transformative tools in the field of education. These techniques enable learners in a range of settings, including general and special education, with possibilities that are adaptable and inclusive. the notions of open learning, remote education, and inclusive education, with an emphasis on the roles these ideas play in facilitating access, equity, and the provision of a high-quality education for all students. It studies the underlying tenets and practises of diverse educational approaches, concentrating specifically on how they meet the requirements of a wide spectrum of pupils, including those who have physical or mental impairments. the potential benefits and problems involved with implementing inclusive education approaches through open and remote learning, with the final focus being placed on the critical role that technology and educator support play in developing an inclusive and empowering learning environment.Keywords : Open learning, Distance education, Distance education, Special education, Inclusive education

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF A SMART UNIVERSITY IN TERMS OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

A theoretical analysis of the requirements of modern society for distance education was carried out, which emphasizes the importance of introducing Smart Education. The main functions of Smart Education, which meets the society’s need for open, high-quality distance education, are substantiated. It is noted that Smart Education implements not only basic didactic principles, but also relatively new ones: interactivity, adaptability of learning, flexibility of the educational process. For their implementation, the structure of a Smart course is defined, the development of the components of which is ensured by the use of smart technologies. The needs of the development of the concept of a Smart University are substantiated and its characteristic features are determined. It is established that the implementation of the concept of a Smart University should include scientific research, staffing, educational process, management and marketing of educational institutions, use of modern information technology and digitalization. A strategy has been developed to implement the concept of a Smart University, which is based on the combination of four components "4T": technologies (digital technologies, educational content in free access for students, providing feedback to teachers and students, automation of administrative tasks), tactics (student-centered model, which is based on the appropriate facilities), talents (competent teachers who have a complex of professional competencies, and smart students who are able to develop and improve themselves in the future professional field), traditions (traditions that are supported by modern requirements with prospects for the future). The use of Smart technologies ensures the implementation of the tactics of organizing the activities of a modern university, which is aimed at developing talented students and teachers’ professionalism, taking into account the experience and traditions of classical education. The implementation of the Smart University strategy will help create a modern educational environment and provide access to open distance education.

Mixed Models of Non-Proportional Hazard and Application in The Open Distance Education Students Retention Data

The problem that arises in the Cox model is that there are more than two types of covariates and the presence of random effects is a non-proportional hazard (NPH). One example of a case that involves many factors is student retention. Low student retention can lead to dropping out of college or failure in completing studies. The purpose of this study is to overcome the problem of NPH caused by the presenceof time-independent covariates, time-dependent covariates, and random effects. The research method uses simulation. Some of the modified models are the stratified Cox model, the extended Cox model, and the frailty model. The developed model is applied to distance education student retention data. The results of the study show that frailty and study programs provide considerable diversity in explaining thetotal diversity of the model. It can be concluded that frailty needs to be considered by UT to improve the quality of services to students. In addition, other covariates that have a significant effect on UT student learning retention modeling are age, domicile, gender, GPA, marital status, employment status, number of credits taken, and number of registered courses.

The Effect of Science Kit and Supervision Models on The Implementation and Implications on The Evaluation of Science Practicum Distance Learning

The implementation of science practicum is one of the challenges in the open distance education system. The purpose of this research is to examine the effect of the Kit IPA variable and the pattern of guidance on the implementation and evaluation of Science Practicum activities in Distance Learning. The type of research in this study is an explanatory research with a quantitative approach involving a number of 306 students who have taken the Science Practicum course in the Elementary School Teacher Education program. Respondents' responses were analyzed using a Likert scale and data analysis using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The results of the data have met the Model Suitability Test (Goodness of Fit Test) which includes: Science Kit and Guidance Patterns have a significant effect on Practicum Implementation. Guidance pattern has a significant effect on practicum evaluation, but Kit IPA and practicum implementation have no significant effect on practicum evaluation. The implication of this research is that it provides the potential for improvement in the implementation of science practicum in distance education due to the needs of the educational community.

Ensuring Quality in the Communication between Tutors-Counselors and Learners in Open and Distance Education. The Case of the Hellenic Open University

The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors that contribute to the quality of the communication process between tutors-counsellors and students in the departments of an Open University where group advisory meetings are organised through video conferencing. Communication in open distance education is multidimensional and since the most important form of communication is the interpersonal relationships, it is interesting to explore how the quality of communication is ensured when face-to-face meetings are replaced by teleconferencing in view of the current pandemic crisis. The research process that was followed is identified as descriptive-diagnostic, adopting a mixed research approach, through the collection, analysis and synthesis of quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings showed that adult students consider that the quality in communication requires the tutor to encourage participation, involvement in the process of learning and developing critical thinking. However, the respondents believe that through video conference there is not a high frequency of interaction. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effectiveness of other factors in the learning process in addition to the technological ones.

Virtual Learning Environment of the Brazilian Health System (AVASUS): Efficiency of Results, Impacts, and Contributions.

The Virtual Learning Environment of the Brazilian Health System (AVASUS) is a free and open distance education platform of the Ministry of Health (MS). AVASUS is a scalable virtual learning environment that has surpassed 800,000 users, 2 million enrollments, and 310 courses in its catalog. The objective of this paper was to assess the impacts of the educational offerings on health services and AVASUS course participants' professional practice. This study analyzed data from AVASUS, the Brazilian National Registry of Health Care Facilities (CNES), the Brazilian Occupational Classification (CBO), and a questionnaire applied to 720-course participants from five regions of Brazil. After acquiring and extracting data, computational methods were used for the evaluation process. Only the responses of 462 participants were considered for data analysis, as they had a formal link to CNES. The results showed that respondents recommended 76.2% of AVASUS courses to peers. Accordingly, the quality of educational offerings motivated 81.3% of such recommendations. In addition, 75.6% of course participants who answered the questionnaire also indicated that AVASUS course contents contribute to enhancing existing health services in the health facilities where they work. Finally, 24.6% of all responses mentioned that courses available in AVASUS were essential in offering new health services in such facilities.

Investigation of regularities of occurrence of external effects of education and their significance for the economic development

The aim of the research is to assess the quantitative impact of education on the emergence of externalities and economic development. It has been shown that the increase in the education of specialists in interaction with innovative activity contributes to the emergence of external effects, which have a high level of significance for economic dynamics. As a result, the total contribution to GDP, as a result of an additional year of study for a specialist with a higher education, increases by about 50%. Realizing this effect, the largest economies of the world (the USA, the European Union, China and Japan) have been increasing the share of specialists with tertiary (vocational) education approximately linearly at a rate of 0,8 ±0,2% per year over the past 25 years. For Russia, the positive effect of a high level of tertiary education is significantly reduced due to the problems of interaction with the economic environment. The income that innovators themselves receive is, in a significant proportion of cases, relatively small. In particular, for the «Open Distance Education» innovation, the innovator's income was about 0,3% of the income of other recipients of benefits from the innovation. A significantly large share of the income from innovation is realized as an external effect of other users of the innovation, especially the consumers of the manufactured products and followers. Quantitative estimates of the external contribution to GDP of the innovation «Open Distance Education» show that they amount to about 14 thousand dollars per graduate, and only 340 million dollars a year. The findings can be used to assess the impact of education and develop strategies for staff training and innovation development.