Open and Distant Learning (Odl) Students Are No More Just Learners

Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 2016

Different types of Course Management Systems (CMS) are fully integrated in conventional and online courses in many Universities degrees. Although they are suitable for lecturer-student information sharing, their asynchronous nature prevents an efficient interaction, which may hamper the learning process. As an alternative, synchronous virtual learning platforms can help fill the gaps in traditional CMS. However, there is very little feedback regarding its use in higher education. The Universitat Politècnica de València introduced in 2010 a synchronous e-learning platform, named Poli[ReunióN], an Adobe Connect-based online service. Poli[ReunióN] provides virtual sessions where interaction between lecturers and students is enabled by means of audio/video-conferences and software application sharing. By following this path, Poli[ReunióN] provides an opportunity for planning new educational experiences where technology may help to achieve new learning objectives. However, the implementation of this tool still needs to be explored. In order to check its usefulness, we have performed a multidisciplinary learning experience involving a wide range of subjects over several degrees: Private Telecommunication Systems (degree in Telecommunications Engineering), Algorithms and Data Structure (degree in Computer Sciences), English for International Tourism (degree in Tourism Management), Genetics and Plant Breeding (degree in Agricultural Engineering) and a specific course for teachers' training. The advantages and disadvantages of the use of Poli[ReunióN] in tutoring and in different learning activities proposed in the aforementioned degrees are discussed from both perspectives-lecturers and students. These experiences may help lecturers and other education professionals to adopt similar e-learning tools.

In an increasingly technological milieu, new technologies are appearing and can be integrated into different aspects of education, not only in those subjects strictly related to technology, but also in other settings. In this framework, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has acquired different elearning platforms since the early 2000´s. Initially, PoliformaT, a Sakai-based platform, was extensively introduced among the lecturers of the UPV. However, despite its suitability for sharing information between lecturers and students, its asynchronous nature prevents an efficient interaction between both, which may difficult the learning process.

2009

Proceedings of the …, 2006

E-learning is becoming more and more prominent, supporting the improvement of both synchronous and asynchronous learning. The impressive development of the Information and Communication Technologies has made available to higher education the infrastructure that permits universities to fulfil the increasing requirements for academic electronic services. The most widespread asynchronous e-learning tools are the learning management systems, the web-based platforms that offer instructors an easy to use environment suitable for managing and delivering educational content for their courses, but which can also be used for communication between instructors and students.

Journal of Research and Innovation In Open and Distance Learning

A critical analysis of digital learning ecosystems in ODL universities reveals increasing adoption and innovation of technologies in the process of delivering education across the world. Though proponents of traditional-based education argue that students experiencing learning through ODL systems are disengaged from the learning process and that teachers are equally disconnected from the learning process, with insufficient value placed on face-face teaching, pressures to assign overinflated grades, and incentives to teach content only, and not critical thinking skills, however, technology has the potential to alleviate many of the challenges. Moreover, some of the challenges are peculiar to some of the ODL education systems, especially universities in the developing world. Emerging digital resources and technologies hold promise to enrich and revitalize ODL university systems, give students a deserved learning experience, and better prepare students and teachers to face the 21st cen...

Engineering and Educational Technologies, 2021

The article deals with the main strategies, methods and objectives of synchronous and asynchronous E-Learning Modes from a scientific and practical point of view. A detailed description of the synchronous and asynchronous online-learning at different historical stages is presented. The task of the distance education in light of the trends of modern society and its role in the implementation of professional and social aspirations of an student is shown. The basic problems of contemporary ICT, the difference and peculiarities of the synchronous and asynchronous methods of e-communication are determined. The general tendencies, content, sources, means, forms and methods of ICT implementation in terms of strict quarantine circumstances are highlighted. Certain ICT tools implemented by higher educational establishments to provide distance learning in the educational institutions are defined. The key ways of overcoming the contradictions that arise in the path of self-improvement of a stu...

2016

The standards in the educational system present specific expectations on the students’ ability in comprehending the information provided in theories and practices as well as setting guidelines to set estimation on students’ performance. It is improved in a planned, targeted, and sustainable in accordance with the changing demands of local, national, and global. Education ecosystem is seen as a compilation of supportive and complementing education institutions which feature different approaches such as the numbers of student enlisting, nationality, cultural surrounding, types of activity, level of academy, subjects and/or disciplines of the study, interest for the research and value. Given the increase in the number of students studying at colleges and universities outside their home countries, recently the research community has believed that an e-Learning Ecosystem is the next generation of the e-Learning. Accordingly, any education superintendents need to pay attention and put qua...

In today's scenario the education system is opting for a more flexible and a more learner centred educational model. A hybrid e-learning model allows learning happen in a more personalized manner. It incorporates mixed learning methods offering a learning mechanism that encompasses a better learner-facilitator relationship. It is a mix of Synchronous, Asynchronous, Face to face and remote learning models. Hybrid e-learning model can provide immense prospects to explore by incorporating various learning mechanisms. This model requires careful planning and analysis in order to have a positive impact on the education system. Using this model, the institutions and the organizations can offer both in-campus and remote learning with the benefits of digital projects and activities. Technology has also enabled the educators to assess learners in a more convenient and pertinent manner. The various digital tools available for analysing and evaluating the teaching outcomes aids in offering a successful hybrid e-learning environment.

2007

There is an increasing need for education since the workforce of today is expected to be highly educated and continuously learn. Distance education is a powerful response to meet the growing need for education. Online education, here concisely defined as distance education mediated online, is the most common type of distance education. It mainly relies on asynchronous communication although it is well known that many students regard the lack of synchronous communication as disadvantageous. This thesis aims to achieve a deeper understanding of how, why and when synchronous communication, as a complement to asynchronous communication, affects student participation in online education.

2013

This last 2013 issue of Open Praxis brings together nine articles which were awarded an ICDE prize for Innovation and Best Practice in the field of open and distance education. They describe innovative practices or research in a wide variety of areas. These ICDE prizes, which aimed to stimulate innovation and best practice in open, distance, flexible, online and e-learning, were awarded in the 25 th ICDE International Conference, 16-18 th October 2013, held in Tianjin (China). The scientific committee of the conference pre-selected 27 papers among those submitted to the conference and proposed for the prize (169 candidates). Out of these, nine papers were selected as the winners by the Editorial Board of Open Praxis, on the themes of Open Educational Resources and intercultural aspects, Learning analytics, Mobile learning, Impact, Teaching quality, and Leadership. Awarded papers were selected considering both the conference and the journal's general criteria. Special consideration was given to the following selection criteria: overall clarity, innovation, good practice, transferability, impact and overall quality. Du Ruo and Yang Xiaotang were awarded the ICDE KNOU prize on the theme of mobile learning for their paper Build optional digital textbooks for distance learners. The authors of this paper explore a new type of e-books, the "digital textbooks," mainly in four areas: definition, tools, technology and functions, based on research on mobile learning and ubiquitous learning. As they contend, supporting different learners successfully in a digital age, will depend on how well those new media and new technology are used when building smarter learning materials and learning environments. It is essential to carry out research to evidence how these media are actually supporting learners, and this paper provides an example of such research. The prize on the theme of leadership was awarded to Khar Thoe Ng, Suma Parahakaran, Rhea Febro, Egbert Weisheit and Tan Luck Lee for their paper Promoting sustainable living in the borderless world through blended learning platforms. The authors remind us that the definition of learning space has become broader over the past decade through blended learning platforms incorporating emerging digital and non-digital learning tools. The paper reports recent studies on the development of blended learning platforms to promote sustainable living. It focuses on in-service teachers' understanding of, as well as the attitudes towards, Education for Sustainable Development and the three essential skills that are required for sustainable living, i.e. thinking, technology and living skills. These include cooperative learning and communication skills developed by their students through sharing of resources in e-platforms with easy access information and cross-cultural learning opportunities. The concept of "borderless school" illustrates very well the current trend in lifelong learning. On the theme of learning analytics, the prize was awarded to Dewi Juliah Ratnaningsih for her paper Open and Distance Education Systems: Do They Enhance Graduates' Soft Skills? (The