Compiling an Evidence-Based Improvement Plan for the Support of Distance-Education Students at a Southern African University

Autor/inn/en	Makhakhane, Bothephana; Wilkinson, Annette C.; Ndeya-Ndereya, Charity N.
Titel	Compiling an Evidence-Based Improvement Plan for the Support of Distance-Education Students at a Southern African University
Quelle	In: Africa Education Review, 13 (2016) 1, S.20-36 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1814-6627
DOI	10.1080/18146627.2016.1186421
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Distance Education; Case Studies; Technology Uses in Education; Mixed Methods Research; Questionnaires; Surveys; Focus Groups; College Faculty; College Students; Developing Nations; Student Needs; Access to Computers; Human Resources; Teacher Competencies; Educational Resources; Barriers; Tutors; Lesotho + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Distance study; Distance learning; Fernunterricht; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Technology enhanced learning; Technology aided learning; Technologieunterstütztes Lernen; Fragebogen; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung; Fakultät; Collegestudent; Developing country; Developing countries; Entwicklungsland; Humankapital; Lehrkunst; Bildungsmittel; Förderlehrer; Lehrender; Tutor
Abstract	This article illustrates how an event guide can be used to organise, systematise and prioritise the large amount of findings from an extensive study. The study aimed to enhance student support at a distance-education institute in a Southern African country (Lesotho). In this case study an improvement-oriented evaluation of the strengths, weaknesses and constraints of the current situation at this University was undertaken. Data collection resembled a triangulation mixed-methods design which included questionnaire surveys and focus-group discussions among the students and lecturers in a distance-education programme. A resource inventory was also drawn up. Based on the merged findings, a strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats (SWOT) table was drawn up. The findings clearly depicted the difficulties associated with the provision of quality support for distance learners in a developing country with relatively weak infrastructure and few resources. The main purpose of the article, however, is to describe how the findings and the implicated actions needed for improvement were organised to compile an improvement plan by means of an event guide which consists of a series of event tracks. The article not only shares valuable perspectives about improving the support for distance learners in a developing environment, but also introduces a practical way of organising key findings from research in a way that potentially encourages action and implementation, particularly in an area and context where improvement is of critical importance. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01