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Posts Tagged ‘Instructional Systems’

The extent of and reasons for non re-enrolment: A case of Korea National Open University

Despite continuous efforts to increase retention, dropout rates are high in distance universities. The objectives of this study were: 1) to investigate the extent and causes of non re-enrollment at a mega university, Korea National Open University; and 2) to suggest actions to improve the retention of students, in general, and those with higher risks […]

Reflections on assessment in Open Distance Learning (ODL): the case of the University of South Africa (UNISA)

The article explores the challenges of assessment in open distance learning (ODL). The authors argue that ultimately assessment should be about improving the quality of teaching and effective learning. It should be based on making expectations explicit and public, setting appropriate criteria and high standards for learning quality, systematically gathering, analyzing and interpreting evidence to […]

Prerequisites for Persistence in Distance Education

In the last two decades, distance education has grown worldwide and is now established as a reliable educational method. Accompanying this development, questions about low rates of student persistence have come to interest governments, institutions, and university management. This article is based on an original local study at a university in Sweden investigating what it […]

Assessment in Open and Distance Learning System (ODL): A Challenge

Assessment is an integral part of the learning process. The traditional practice of assessment has changed to meet the need of the contemporary society. In this paper assessment strategies used in Open and Distance Education are discussed and constructive suggestions are given to meet the challenges of assessment. Recently we experience a paradigm shift in […]

The Intersection of Dialogue and Low Transactional Distance: Considerations for Higher Education

The theory of transactional distance has been subjected to a variety of empirical tests and philosophical critiques. Throughout this process, the variable of dialogue has attracted much attention. Although dialogue has proven difficult to measure and define, it is widely regarded as an ideal outcome of the teacher-learner transaction. Considered from a constructivist perspective, dialogue […]

Completion Rates – A False Trail to Measuring Course Quality? Let’s Call in the HEROEs Instead

Statistics are often used to reveal significant differences between online and campus-based education. The existence of online courses with low completion rates is often used to justify the inherent inferiority of online education compared to traditional classroom teaching. Our study revealed that this type of conclusion has little substance. We have performed three closely linked […]

Purdue U. Software Prompts Students to Study—and Graduate

Just when students thought they were finished with Mom and Dad’s nagging them to do their homework, a piece of software has taken the parents’ place. But this new nagging reminder, called Signals, has given students at Purdue University a boost in graduation rates. Wired Campus Full Article

European Commission launches ‘Opening up Education’ and reveals the programme’s new webportal

You may all well be aware of the elearningeuropa.info portal of the European Commission. Well, the portal is no more, it is renewed, reviewed and relaunched with modified objectives and services supporting the launch of the ‘Opening up Education’ programme, an action plan to tackle digital problems of schools and universities. The new website, Open […]

MOOCs in the Corporate World

As the need for an educated global workforce continues to grow, so does the demand to train those employees and help them become life-long learners. And, although many believe that MOOCS — massive open online courses — may provide the answer, it is still in the conceptual phase when looking at it from a business […]

Download Open University Publication: Innovating Pedagogy 2013

The series of reports explores new forms of teaching, learning and assessment for an interactive world, to guide teachers and policy makers in productive innovation. This report presents ten innovations that are already in currency but have not yet had a profound influence on education. –Badges to accredit learning –Citizen inquiry –Crowd Learning –Digital scholarship –Geo-learning […]