Pedagogical issues in ODL

International Journal of Research in English Education, 2019

As there is a great improvement in technology, the demand for innovative ways of delivering education is increasing and this has led to changes in learning and teaching methods. Distance education, which is so different from traditional education, consists of studying from home where students and teachers are physically distant while classroom learning is the type of education system in which the learners and the teachers work under one roof. Electronic means are used to keep students in touch with teachers, provide access to communication between students and bridge the gap and distribute educational material though distance learning programs. Both learning systems have their own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing between these two learning methods highly depends on learners' requirements. In this paper, the researcher aims to discuss history and theories of distance learning, review literature on distant learning, state advantages and disadvantages of distance learning, express implications of the study to learners and teachers, and finally mention suggestions for improving distance learning.

One of the leading authorities in distance education is Desmond Keegan and his description of distance education which lists its defining elements is one of the most cited definitions in the literature. His book, The Foundations of Distance Education, first published in 1986 and translated to Italian and Chinese is widely regarded as a basic reference. The defining criteria which he proposed in 1986, a revision of one he made in 1980, are:

INTRODUCTION TO DISTANCE EDUCATION Distance education as a generic term used to define the field or distance learning is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides "access to learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance, or both. Distance education courses that require a physical on-site presence for any reason (excluding taking examinations) may be referred to as hybrid or blended courses of study. Massive open online courses (MOOCs), aimed at large-scale interactive participation and open access via the web or other network technologies, are recent developments in distance education. A number of other terms (distributed learning, e-learning, online learning, etc.) are used roughly synonymously with distance education. However distance is the oldest and mostly commonly used term globally. It is also the broadest term and has the largest collection of related research articles. THE CONCEPT AND PRINCIPLES OF OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL) There are several approaches to defining the term Open and Distance Learning (ODL). Adebayo (2007a) defined open and distance learning as the type of education that takes place outside the conventional school system; it is imparted without necessarily having personal interaction with students or learners. Creed (2001) defined distance learning as ‘an educational process in which a significant proportion of the teaching is conducted by someone far removed in space and /or time from the learners. According to UNESCO (2002), ODL is one of the most rapidly growing fields of education, and its potential impact on all education delivery systems has been greatly accentuated through the development of Internet-based information technologies, and in particular the World Wide Web presenting approaches that focus on opening access to education and training provision, freeing learners from the constraints of time and place and offering flexible learning opportunities to individuals and groups of learners. To Kaufman, Watkins and Guerra (2000),.

2021

The article examines the problem of organizing distance learning in the conditions of uncertainty and the forced transition of teachers and students to online interaction. The situation that has arisen is viewed as a natural experiment the education system finds itself in requiring an understanding of its results at a certain stage. A theoretical analysis of the most popular distance learning organization technology implemented in Russian universities under current conditions (the coronavirus pandemic) is conducted and a critical evaluation of the obtained initial results of the readiness of higher education system to transition into the new digital education reality is provided. The discovered problems of distance learning include: the insufficient level of teachers’ digital tolerance and the lack of necessary competencies in them; the psycho-emotional instability of the online interaction participants; low learning motivation and the level of students’ practical skills; the lack o...

2019

With the advent of new technologies, their easy access and increased speed in sending and receiving information, the contemporary teaching model has modified its structures in order to embrace this new virtual market. The new teaching model was basically characterized by the existence of the teachinglearning process with the physical separation between teachers and students, intermediated by some type of technology for the establishment of communication. However, Distance Education has advantages and disadvantages, and this work was developed through an interpretative analysis of the main aspects applied to distance education in order to report those advantages and disadvantages. The different tools available for Distance Education are visionary aspects because the student's interest and dedication he/she can become a self-taught, being able to use with greater propriety the critical sense for decision making inside and outside the classroom. However, there are consequences if the learner does not engage, fails to give correct feedback, and does not actively participate in proposed activities.

International Journal of Information and Communication Technologies in Education, 2018

Distance learning and e-learning have significantly developed in recent years. It is also due to changing educational requirements, especially for adults. The article aims to show the advantages and disadvantages of distance learning. Examples of the 20-year use of the distance learning form of computer science describe the difficulties associated with the implementation and implementation of this form of teaching. The results of students in the full-time and distance form of teaching in the bachelor’s study of computer science are compared. Long-term findings show that distant students have significantly lower scores in the first years of study than full-time bachelor students. In the following years of study, the differences diminish, and students’ results are comparable. The article describes the possibilities of improving the quality of distance learning.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Distance Learning, 2009

Distance learning is an educational process which assumes that a student-user and a teacher-instructor are physically separated while the technology enables their communication and overcoming time and space obstacles. Like other types of educational processes distance learning also has its advantages and disadvantages. One of the most significant tasks of regularly created distance learning contents is overcoming disadvantages and problems which the users and instructors are faced with during the learning process. Some foreign experiences indicate the following disadvantages that the users usually face with: competence for system usage, regional differences, harmonizing teaching programs of different subjects, technical problems, communication problems, etc. Within the project IT.1.25.3215 under the name "System of distance learning (DL) based on Internet technologies by using multimedia educational software", distance learning system has been developed as well as a research, which included studying users, their attitude and opinions about the system. A great attention has been paid to advantages and disadvantages, which the users faced with during their work.

Canadian Contexts of Adult Education, 2013

2010

Our main focus is to highlight the most important challenges in distance education aimed at adults: specific psychological challenges coming from adult development, the problems of quality and evaluation, and the effect particular distance education forms and their content (interactivity, salience, and multimedia additions) have on adult learning. In the opening section, theoretical grounds for how adults learn, treat learning, how they function in informational stress and in the role of a pupil are presented. This is than followed by the discussion of pedagogical aspects (motivation, self esteem etc) of results evaluation and didactical difficulties of planning high quality distance learning. Finally, a review of research results into how different types of material content affects adults’ perception and comprehension and how retention and transfer and influenced in effect. In the summary, we move on to discuss how b-learning (blended) and c-learning (complementary) could be employ...