effective e learning from far, far away

Effective e-

learning from

far, far awayM van Rooyen

Background

Blackboard(Webstudies) main LMS

Client side Java – install Java on

computer

Browser dependant

Bandwidth intensive

Background – on campus

Works very well on campus

Students work in computer areas –

lab technicians

Lap tops – IT – technicians

Bandwidth no issue – intra-network

Background – Post Grad

SU – runs number of post graduate

programmes – part time students

Number of students increase every

year

Make use of e-learning. Inter-

telematic sessions, broadcast of

lessons and LMS for distribution of

files, assignments and assessments.

Department of Nursing

>50

8%

40 -

50

45%

30 -

40

31%

< 30

16%

Age distribution of students Post-graduate

programmes

All students are off-

campus - Germany

Students are mostly

older than 40

Background – off campus

Students don’t know computers

Limited access to technology

Bandwidth and configuration

requirements pose technical

challenges for off-campus students.

Large problem – nurse students

were unable to complete quizzes

Problems with Webstudies

Configuration of web browsers

Installation of Java

Internet Cafés

Bandwidth

Files download

quizzes

Pilot study - Moodle

Less demanding in terms of bandwidth

and configuration requirements

PHP programming language

No configuration of computer e.g. Java

installation

Not browser dependant

MLE-Moodle

Post Graduate Diploma in

Nursing

181 students were enrolled for the

program in 2010

Four different modules were

created on Virtual Nurse (the name

of the Moodle based system) for the

second semester.

Formative Evaluation

Quantitive Data

Queries from both Learning

Management System databases

Polls

The queries

1 Module

2 quizzes

951 attempts

4 modules

Six quizzes

802 attempts

Results of the Queries

34 reset due to

technical errors

1 reset due to

technical error

The polls

Virtual Nurse Webstudies

Which LMS is faster to use? 22 7

Which one do you prefer to use? 10 8

Which LMS is better for completing

quizzes in?

9 5

Which LMS is easier to use? 11 8

The way forward

Number of quiz attempts reset due

to user errors

Students don’t know computers

One day workshop

First years – compulsory ICT module

Face to face

Full time

The way forward

Not compulsory for post graduate

Short courses

Blended learning approach

One day workshop – extended

with online learning

MLE-Moodle

In 2008, 92 people per 100 people

had access to cellular phones in

South Africa

7 who had fixed internet access

Research Mobile Learning

Conclusion

Currently 3 different Moodle installations

Not Open Source vs. Proprietary battle

Find the right tool for the circumstances

Number of students increase every year

Find the right tool to help students

And they all lived

happily ever after

Marinda van Rooyen

vrooyen@sun.ac.za