Students' accounts of the need for continuous support in a distance learning programme

This paper looks at a qualitative case study of distance learning at Universiti Utara Malaysia as described by a small group of distance learners as they progress through their courses at the institution. It concerns the learners – it is their story, their experience, their perspective. In particular, this thematic report looks at learning support in distance learning as it surfaced as one of the central findings of this research. This is an issue that arose from discussions with the students, rather than being predetermined by the research design. Conclusions have been drawn regarding the role of learning support to facilitate distance learning at Universiti Utara Malaysia. The concept of need and support is important as it relates to the different requirements from support into action that enables the learners to connect with their teachers, the course content and with other learners.     

电大学习支持服务体系的机遇与创新

学习型社会建设是广播电视大学面临的历史使命,在学习型社会建设的大背景下,越来越多的“远程教育共同体”将诞生,远程教育学习支持服务体系将支撑“远程教育共同体”的运行。通过对远程教育学习支持服务体系发展历史的分析,指出远程教育公共服务体系的发展方向是现代服务业,要按照现代服务业的市场机制运行。针对远程教育公共服务体系的发展形式,指出广播电视大学的学习支持服务体系需要不断创新并对其建设提出建议。     

Current status of learner support in distance education: emerging issues and directions for future research

This study examines the literature on learner support with the aim of helping institutions of higher education plan and implement support services for distance learners. The following issues emerged as areas of particular importance to future research in distance learner support: 1) the lack of research on cost-effectiveness; 2) the lack of empirical research; and 3) the need for a learner-centered approach in designing and implementing learner support. These issues are discussed in detail to enhance our understanding the role of learner support in post-secondary level distance education programs. It is further argued that future research should focus more on developing and refining methods for cost-benefit analysis of learner support, developing a general framework of the learner support model in dual-mode institutions, and developing systematic methods to identify, analyze, synthesize, and assess the needs of distance learners.     

现代远程教育建构性学习环境探析

现代远程教育建构性学习环境,是指在先进的计算机多媒体技术和网络技术支持下的、以建构主义理论为基础的远程教育学习环境。它的特征是以学生为中心,具有真实的学习情境和背景,可以进行广泛的协作与会话。创设建构性学习环境对学习者、教师、学习资源和技术资源等提出了全新的要求。     

远程开放教育中学习者的素质构成

素质教育应该是一种个性化和特色化的教育。由于学习者自身的基本品质有所不同，因而其素质构成也不相同。开展远程开放教育，应确定相应的素质构成目标，并探索积极有效的途径。远程开放教育学习者的素质应由自主学习能力、全面的职业素养、专业发展能力等三方面构成。     

论现代远程教育的科学学习观

现代远程教育是与全日制普通教育相对而产生的一种新型教育形式，教育观念、学习环境、师生角色的变化以及由此引起的教学手段、学习方法、学习管理的变化，彰显现代远程教育的个性特征并构建了现代远程教育自身及自身所蕴含的学习理念、平等精神和智慧张力，提出了远程教育学习在远程环境下学习的新要求。总结现代远程教育的发展规律、学习规律，指导学习开展科学的学习，适应和驾驶远程条件下的学习，不但是远程教育发展和学习所需要的，同时也是十分实际和紧迫的。     

关于现代远程教育学习者对学习支持服务需求的调查分析

本文以中南大学网络教育学院2006年专升本应届毕业生为研究对象,设计了网上问卷调查以收集现代远程教育学习者对学习支持服务需求的相关数据,通过数据分析,我们对学习者进入现代远程教育学习之后的困难及需求有了一个比较清楚的认识。针对存在的问题,本文提出了相应的建议和对策,以期望学习支持服务能真正满足学习者个性化的自主学习需要。     

The challenges of universal primary education in Uganda through distance education programmes

Abstract

This article reports on teacher education in Uganda, with specific reference to the role that distance education has played in upgrading the quality of education in general and in supplying more qualified teachers to meet a growing demand, specifically for teachers involved in primary education. The investigation paves the way for the establishment of the Open University of Uganda and illustrates how the Primary Education Policy of Uganda has increased access to 7 million primary school learners to schools in 2002. The article also explains how the qualifications of 10 000 in-service teachers have been upgraded between 1995 and 2000. The successes of two major in-service teacher education programmes are discussed. The article also explains how the Mubende Integrated Teacher Education Project (MITEP) not only contributed to the training of teachers, but also focused the attention of educators on the possibiliities of distance education for Uganda. Furthermore, it also argues that the Northern Integrated Teacher Education Project (NITEP) has on the other hand achieved successes in the field of inservice teacher education. The programmes assisted in the training of academic support staff who work in distance education. The article concludes by addressing the further needs of distance education in Uganda and highlights the challenges facing distance education programmes in Uganda.     

Investigating educational change: The Aga Khan University Institute for educational development teacher education for school improvement model

This article continues the analyses of the impact of an innovative teacher education programme aimed at school improvement in a developing country context (A. Khamis, P. Sammons, 2004. The development of a cadre of teacher educators: some lessons from Pakistan. International Journal of Educational Development, 24(3), 255–268). Building on recent publications that have analysed outcomes of the teacher education programme and how the cadre of teacher educators has worked to initiate improvement in schools in Pakistan. The article considers the ‘teacher education for school improvement model’ based on findings from the case studies of nine co-operating school. Lessons are presented to further inform the development of teacher education programmes and the measurement of effectiveness of such programmes in developing country contexts. The article further considers relevant international research on educational change and reform to draw further lessons. These lessons include the need to pay greater attention to the cultural contexts and milieu in Pakistan, and the need to create models of school improvement and teacher education that originate within developing country contexts rather than the adaptation of European/North American models that are based on sources of data in those contexts. The article concludes by arguing for the need to develop better theoretical understandings from the current innovations underway and placing the onus on intervening agencies to better inform educational change strategies promoted in developing country contexts.     

远程教育高辍学率现象探析

国内外统计数据都显示远程教育的辍学率远远高于传统教育,在亚洲,远程教育的辍学率更是高达50%。国外关于这方面的研究较早,理论也比较成熟,但是就如何解决辍学率这个问题,成熟的理论还不多,而国内关于远程教育中辍学问题的研究较晚,理论方面也较欠缺。因此,本文在结合笔者实际工作和研究的基础上,分析了国内远程教育中学习者辍学的特点、原因,并相应地尝试提出了一些解决对策,期望对认识和解决远程学习者的辍学问题有所裨益。     

The management of large-scale change in Pakistani education

This article argues that although there are increasing similarities in priorities across different national education systems, contextual differences raise questions about the replication of sets of change strategies based on particular understandings of the nature of educational change across these different systems. This article begins with an overview of some of the dominant constructions of the management of change in the literature, particularly from Western economically developed democracies. It then outlines the Pakistani educational system to highlight some of the issues raised by the application of these change policies and models to a developing country. This article draws from a research study which explored the views and experiences of school leaders and teachers with regard to the management of a large-scale reform programme at the higher secondary level in Pakistan. The findings of this study illustrate the way in which there is a dissonance between the culture and practices of a specific national educational system and the assumptions embedded in the sets of reform strategies that have been imported from other systems. This article concludes by exploring how change management processes can be reconceptualised in order to be sensitive to the context of education in a developing country.     

远程开放教育学习平台建设存在问题及对策研究——基于学习者视角

远程开放教育学习平台是开展学习支持服务的重要途径。学习平台获取的便利性、可操作性及学习者对其提供资源的满意与否,将直接影响远程开放教育机构学习支持服务的有效性。文章基于远程开放教育学习者视角,对网络学习平台建设存在的问题进行了思考。     

“以提升学习者体验为中心”的情感化交互设计

远程教育学习者往往通过同各种课程产品、支持服务、信息系统以及与教师或同学之间的不断互动来完成知识构建。文章认为,远程教育领域的情感化交互设计就是始终关注这些互动情境中学习者复杂的内心体验与思考,关注影响学习者情绪和行为的每一个互动环节,以提升学习者体验为中心,不断引导课程设计、服务设计和系统设计,从而使远程教育学习充满情感化、人性化的美好体验。     

基于网络的学习支持服务实证研究

作为远程教育的重要过程因素,学习支持服务是自主学习的基本保障。本文报告了作者在开放教育试点专升本英语专业课程辅导中实施学习支持服务的行动研究。研究结果表明,开展基于网络的“四导多互动”支持服务对学生的自主学习具有明显的促进作用,其做法对其他学科辅导教学有一定的借鉴意义。文章最后介绍了作者对完善远程教育学习支持服务的思考和建议。     

How does a STEM Access module prepare adult learners to succeed in undergraduate science?

ABSTRACT

This article explores the impact of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Access module on the progression of students to undergraduate Science. Drawing on the Widening Participation (WP) literature, this research investigated the experience of adult learners from disadvantaged backgrounds taking their first steps into higher education (HE). A mixed methods institutional case study was conducted, drawing on extensive survey data and interviews with students and tutors. Key findings included: enhanced student understanding of how to use tutor support; improvement in the skills and confidence of students in relation to maths, as a result of an embedded interdisciplinary curriculum; and an uplift in student study skills. This study was undertaken in a distance learning context, addressing issues in entry-level STEM, but the conclusions are applicable to other HE settings.     

The University of Fort Hare’s learner‐centred Distance Education Programme

The Open University has been working with the University of Fort Hare on its Distance Education Project since 1997, helping to develop its innovative distance education programme for primary teachers in the Eastern Cape. Recently the OU has been involved in researching the impact of this programme on teachers’ perceptions of their practice and their classroom practice. This case study explores the context in which the programme was developed, the philosophy that underpinned its development, its structure, materials and the role played by the Open University. Using preliminary findings of teacher‐learner perceptions of the programme, the case study examines the effectiveness of the teacher support and their responses to the programme. Initial findings from questionnaires and semi‐structured interviews highlight the cohesive and holistic impact of the programme. The focus on context and culture in developing the programme is seen as significant by all teacher‐learners in challenging and motivating different ways of thinking about their teaching, learning and their practice.     

远程开放教育"导学-自学-助学"教学模式探究

教学模式是指在一定的教育思想、教学理论、学习理论指导下的教学活动进程的稳定结构形式。我们在远程开放教育实践中,总结并提出了“运用现代信息技术,以学习者自主学习为中心、教育者导学为关键、多种媒体和交互手段助学为支撑的‘导学-自学-助学’三维互动教学模式”。     

Progress assessment in Chinese distance education: the voices of learners

Progress assessment aims to assess students’ performance and progress during a course of study. Its purpose is primarily developmental—to help students improve learning. Progress assessment is of special value in distance education in that it can motivate or pace distance learners throughout their course of study. It can help the tutor monitor the learning process of distance learners, diagnose their problems and provide prompt help and support. However, few empirical studies have been reported in the literature that address the issue of progress assessment from the perspective of Chinese distance learners. This paper investigates the perceptions of Chinese distance learners with regard to the necessity of progress assessment and the way it is being implemented in practice.     

从教育公平的视角看电大远程开放教育的价值取向

教育公平是社会公平的重要组成部分。电大远程开放教育体现了教育公平的基本价值取向,是实现教育公平的重要渠道。为发展电大远程开放教育、推进教育公平,应加强国家信息网络基础设施和网络教学资源建设,加快电大公共服务体系建设以及推进电大教学资源平台建设。     

远程开放教育有效学习支持服务研究

学习支持服务是远程开放教育教学和管理工作的重要环节,其主要功能是指导、帮助和促进学习者的自主学习,提高学习者的学习质量和学习效果。探索有效学习支持服务的方法和策略,不断提高教学质量和服务质量,对于提升电大开放教育办学的影响力和竞争力有积极意义。