WSU E-LEARNING EVENT  

“Integrating information and communication technology into learning and teaching”

3-4 November 2009

Professor SP SONGCA

Trends & developments of ICT use in Higher Education: International perspective & initiatives

ObjectivesObjectives

(a)(a)Sharing ideas.Sharing ideas.(b)(b)Prepare the way for roll-out of e-learning Prepare the way for roll-out of e-learning according to WSU plan. according to WSU plan. (b)(b)FSET Strategic objective 5.2.2 for 2009 - FSET Strategic objective 5.2.2 for 2009 - Transforming teaching and learning to learner-Transforming teaching and learning to learner-centred approach and PBLcentred approach and PBL

• What: learning/teaching in digital form,• How: content and instructional methods to help

learn the content through digital media.• Rationale: to improve learning performance.

What is e-learningSix Principles of Effective e-Learning: What Works and Why By Ruth ClarkSix Principles of Effective e-Learning: What Works and Why By Ruth Clark

• Individualized self-paced e-learning online refers to situations where an individual learner is accessing learning resources such as a database or course content online via an Intranet or the Internet.

• A typical example of this is a learner studying alone or conducting some research on the Internet or a local network.

What is e-learning

• Individualized self-paced e-learning offline refers to situations where an individual learner is using learning resources such as a database or a computer-assisted learning package offline (i.e., while not connected to an Intranet or the Internet). An example of this is a learner working alone off a hard drive, a CD or DVD.

What is e-learning

• Group-based e-learning synchronously refers to situations where groups of learners are working together in real time via an Intranet or the Internet. It may include text-based conferencing, and one or two-way audio and videoconferencing. Examples of this include learners engaged in a real-time chat or an audio-videoconference.

What is e-learning

• Group-based e-learning asynchronously refers to situations where groups of learners are working over an Intranet or the Internet where exchanges among participants occur with a time delay (i.e.,

• not in real time). Typical examples of this kind of activity include on-line discussions via electronic mailing lists and text-based conferencing within learning managements systems.

What is e-learning

PrinciplesPrinciplesSix Principles of Effective e-Learning: What Works and Why By Ruth ClarkSix Principles of Effective e-Learning: What Works and Why By Ruth Clark

• The multimedia principle Adding graphics to words can improve learning.• The contiguity principle Text near graphics improves learning.cooperation and team work• The modality principle Explaining graphics with audio improves learning.• The redundancy principle Explaining graphics with audio and redundant• The coherence principle Using gratuitous visuals, text, and sounds can hurt learning• The personalization principle Use conversational tone and pedagogical agents to increase learning

Trends - E-Learning in South Africa

Hon. Min. N Pandor: “E-learning in South Africa”(09/01/2007)

In our country, we have a strong commitment to ICT in education. Bringing ICT connectivity to our schools and education institutions will and must happen. We are already piloting a dedicated education network called the EduNet that will connect all schools and make connectivity affordable to teachers and learners. It is a task that will occur alongside the provision of basic educational infrastructure.

It is our belief that ICTs in Education should integrate teaching and learning with access to infrastructure. Key to reaching this objective is the successful integration of teachers into this process. So although we are here to ‘move YOUNG minds, we have to move OLD minds’ too. We are strengthening our efforts at effective and ongoing professional support for teachers in order to ensure sustained use of ICT.

Trends - E-Learning in South African educational institutions

South African Institutions are at different levels of e-learning. Some institutions are advanced in that they have been using different modalities extensively for some time, while others are just starting.

One leading institution, working with the University of Gronigen is Tshwane University of Technology:

All students in South Africa need to have the opportunity to work with new technology and learn to be innovative. In particular many black students in South Africa come from poor families with parents who are non-educated and who are lacking technology at home. The Tswane University of Technology provides access to new technologies and trains students in using them, in order to best prepare the students to the requirements of the continuously modernizing South African society. Mobile technology has been identified as one of these tools.

Trends - E-Learning in South African educational institutions

Generally historically poorly endowed institutions are still grappling with issues of inadequate infrastructure, policy, management and resources.

For example a study conducted by the University of Zululand showed that there was still need for an ICT policy, information security, improvement on ICT resources, confidentiality, adequate ICT infrastructure, and that the university should increase / allocate enough funds for bandwidth management. An Investigation Of Effectiveness Of Ict Management At The University Of Zululand , 2007, RT Mushi and Le Roux, University of Zululand

Trends - E-Learning in South African educational institutions

The work of the Centre for Educational Technology (CET) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has shown that there are pockets of innovation occurring across the institution. Defining innovation: what counts in the University of Cape Town landscape? Glenda Cox, ascilite, 2008, Melbourne.

At the University of Stellenbosch, information and communication technology facilities available for the MBA programme include wireless broadband internet access and a public hotspot at the Bellvista Lodge for on-campus students. Academic support is provided via the e-learning platform, WebCT.

University of Johannesburg selected WebCT Vista to extend multimodal learning to other campuses. This system was expected support intense assessment activity.

TrendsE-Learning in South African educational institutions

The work of the Centre for Educational Technology (CET) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has shown that there are pockets of innovation occurring across the institution. Defining innovation: what counts in the University of Cape Town landscape? Glenda Cox, ascilite, 2008, Melbourne.

At the University of Stellenbosch, information and communication technology facilities available for the MBA programme include wireless broadband internet access and a public hotspot at the Bellvista Lodge for on-campus students.

Academic support is provided via the e-learning platform, WebCT.University of Johannesburg selected WebCT Vista to extend multimodal learning to other campuses. This system was expected support intense assessment activity.

Trends - E-Learning support in South Africa

South Africa has a strong infrastructure support for e-learning and a competitive high tech industry to support e-learning.

In addition to this, like most developing or semi developed countries, the economy and its consumers are more hungry for technology that their counterparts in developed countries where, because of the abundance, technology is taken for granted and even frowned upon as an intrusion.

Government policy and will to support e-learning has been demonstrated.

Trends - E-Learning at WSU

Onother leading institution, working with the University of Gronigen is Walter Sisulu University

Strategic decision: E-learning currently at pilot stage with the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology having been selected strategically for this pilot.

Strategic decision: WebCT largely replaced with Blackboard which is more user friendly and versatile.

Trends - E-Learning challenges at WSU

Infrastructure – Current thinking at leadership level appears to be swaying toward wireless connectivity and laptop hardware. This should pave the way for movement to other portable devices. In the short to medium term all staff and students should be using portable devices (laptop/cell/palmtop/etc) for their educational business.

Broadband connectivity – WSU is located in four campuses with more than twelve delivery sites. Currently ICT is working very hard to reach a broadband connectivity target very soon.

Conclusion- E-Learning debates for WSU

To be the university of first choice we must emerge as leaders in e-learning, innovation and SMME development.

E-learning rollout must be backed by extensive institutional and organizational research. Clearly we have an undisputed champion in CLTD in this respect. This must be strengthened.

Performance impact is one of the key research areas – it is important to know the impact of e-learning on performance.