Quality Assurance in Modules at the Institute of Distance Education, the University of Zambia

Authors

  • Webster Hamweete

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61538/huria.v13i0.75

Abstract

Albeit distance education currently focuses attention on the use of Internet and elearning facilities, these cannot overtake the importance of using the printed modules. It therefore follows that the quality of these printed modules which are by and large used as instructional materials must be of high quality.  To the contrary the printed modules that are used at the Institute of Distance Education at the University of Zambia have for a long time never been reviewed to ascertain their quality.  In fact these modules are more of batches than they are modules.  This study aimed to close this overt gap by assessing the quality of the modules used in all programmes of study having in mind the inevitable need to improve them. Data was collected in 2009/2010 from 1,107 students drawn from all of degree programme courses by way of using a questionnaire designed by the researcher.  The data were analysed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) from which frequency distributions and averages were obtained.  It was found out that students were not satisfied with the quality of the modules.  They indicated that the modules were less interactive, the language used was not appropriate to the learners, the font sizes and types were not in line with the learning materials being used.  The conclusions made were that it is inevitable to improve the modules by ensuring that these were made interactive.  Some of the measures that needed to be taken were that of pre-testing of the modules, training of course writers and editors.  It would also be useful to encourage teamwork when producing the modules

Author Biography

Webster Hamweete

The University of Zambia, Institute of Distance Education

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Sub-theme Two: E-Learning and Open Educational Resources (OERs)

The Role of Mobile Phone Learning In Escalating Access to Open Educational

Resources (OER) In Developing Countries

Zainab RUHWANYA, Grace MBWETE And Magreth MUSHI, The Open University of Tanzania

Trajectories of attaining and sustaining quality in e-learning

Chiome Chrispen and Chabaya Owence

Zimbabwe Open University,

Cost-Benefit of E-Learning under ODL of Developing Economies

Magaji, S. Department of Economics, University of Abuja, Nigeria Adelabu, J. S. A. University of Abuja,

Mobile Technologies for Enhancing Distance Learning in Tanzania: An Exploratory

Study

Ezra K. Maritim and Honoratha M. K. Mushi

Open University of Tanzania, Tanzania

A quest for increased interactivity in the print instructional resources of ODL institutions in Africa: Writing the study units of NOUN print course materials Felix E. Gbenoba, NOUN

The Impact of ICTS Diffusion on Mdgs and Baroclinic Digital Learning Environments in East and Southern Africa

Prof. Gabriel Kabanda

Zimbabwe Open University

Potential Students’ Perceptions on Online Learning as Innovation

Dr. Honoratha M. K. Mushi

The Open University of Tanzania

Online learning for social constructivism: creating a conducive environment

Lydia Mbati

University of South Africa

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Published

2012-08-13