Research Article
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Discourse on student participation in the Open Distance Learning using Open Educational Resources

Year 2020, , 49 - 68, 22.01.2020
https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.658130

Abstract

The concepts Open Distance (ODL) and the Open Educational Resources (OER) are central to Higher Education around the globe. Although the OER are understood to be freely available online material that anyone can use for teaching and learning purposes, there is some evidence to suggest that majority of students in the African continent do not use the OER. On the other hand, existing research recognises the ODL as the learning environment that breaks the barriers that limit students to access higher education such as location and distance from the university, financial pressures and other social problems. This paper reflects on the students’ participation and use of OER, focusing in purposively three selected ODL institutions. Drawing from community of inquiry framework, and given the nature of the ODL environment, this paper argues that students’ lack or limited participation in the use of OER seem to be dominated by what the OER can do which is promotion of access, equity and quality. This argument is presented with the full acknowledgement that access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is essential to access, adapt and use the OER.

Supporting Institution

University of South Africa

References

  • References Anderson, T., Rourke, L., Garrison, R., & Archer, W. (2001). Assessing teaching presence in a computer conferencing context. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 5(2), 1-17. doi:10.24059/olj.v5i2.1875
  • Butcher, N., & Moore, A. (2015). Understanding open educational resources. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada: Commonwealth of learning.
  • Cannella, G. S., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2007). Predatory vs. dialogic ethics. Qualitative Inquiry, 13(3), 315-335. doi:10.1177/1077800406297648 Common Wealth of Learning. (2015). Guidelines for  open educational resources (OER) in higher education. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
  • Cox, G., & Trotter, H. (2017). Factors shaping lecturers' adoption of oer at three south african universities. In C. Hodgkinson-Williams, & P. B. Arinto (Eds.), Adoption and impact of OER in the global south (pp. 287-348). Cape Town: African Minds. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1094852 Retrieved from https://search.datacite.org/works/10.5281/zenodo.1094852
  • Fischer, H., Heise, L., Heinz, M., Moebius, K., & Koehler, T. (2015). How to identify e-learning trends in academic teaching. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 12(1), 31-43. doi:10.1108/ITSE-09-2014-0031
  • Garrison, R. D. (2017). E-learning in the 21st century: A community of inquiry framework for research and practice (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/igidl/communities_of_inquiry_in_online_learning/0
  • Garrison, R. D., & Anderson, T. (2003). E-learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice. London: Routledge/Falmer.
  • Johnstone, S. (2005, ). “Open educational resources and open content, background note”,
  • Maritim, E. K., & Getuno, D. M. (2018). Scalability of learners’ success rates in e-learning: A survey study of the learners’ perspectives. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning, 21(1), 1-15. doi:10.2478/eurodl-2018-0001
  • Materu, P. N. (2004). Open source courseware: A baseline study. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
  • McGrea, R., Miao, F., & Mishra, S. (2016). Open educational resources: Policy, costs and transformation. In F. Miao, Mishra Sanjaya & R. McGreal (Eds.), Open educational resources:Policy, costs and transformation (pp. 1-12). Paris: UNESCO.
  • Moore, A. H. (2002). Lens on the future: Open-source learning. EDUCAUSE Review, 37(5), 42. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/218195918
  • Mortari, L. (2015). Reflectivity in research practice. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5), 1-9. doi:10.1177/1609406915618045
  • OECD. (2007). Giving knowledge for free: The emergence of open educational resources. (). Paris: OECD. Retrieved from http://apo.org.au/?q=node/16547
  • Pitsoe, V., & Letseka, M. (2018). Access to and widening participation in south african higher education. In J. Hoffman, P. Blessinger & M. Makhanya (Eds.), Contexts for diversity and gender identities in higher education: International perspectives on equity and inclusion (pp. 113-125). Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited. doi:10.1108/S2055-364120180000012009 Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/S2055-364120180000012009
  • Santally, M., Cooshna-Naik, D., Conruyt, N., & Wing, C. (2015). A social partnership model to promote educators' development in Mauritius through formal and informal capacity-building initiatives. Journal of Learning for Development, 2(1) Retrieved from http://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-01375627
  • Santosh, S., & Santosh, P. (2016). Use of open educational resources in distance education-opportunities and challenges in indian scenario. Staff and Educational Development International, 20(1), 39-54. doi:10.1080/01587919.2012.692068
  • Seawright, J., & Gerring, J. (2008). Case selection techniques in case study research: A menu of qualitative and quantitative options. Political Research Quarterly, 61(2), 294-308. doi:10.1177/1065912907313077
  • Wolfenden, F., Auckloo, P., Buckler, A., & Cullen, J. (2017). Teacher educators and oer in east africa: Interrogating pedagogic change. In C. Hodgkinson-Williams, & P. B. Arinto (Eds.), Adoption and impact of OER in the global south (pp. 251-286). Cape Town: African Minds. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1094850 Retrieved from https://search.datacite.org/works/10.5281/zenodo.1094850
Year 2020, , 49 - 68, 22.01.2020
https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.658130

Abstract

References

  • References Anderson, T., Rourke, L., Garrison, R., & Archer, W. (2001). Assessing teaching presence in a computer conferencing context. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 5(2), 1-17. doi:10.24059/olj.v5i2.1875
  • Butcher, N., & Moore, A. (2015). Understanding open educational resources. Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada: Commonwealth of learning.
  • Cannella, G. S., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2007). Predatory vs. dialogic ethics. Qualitative Inquiry, 13(3), 315-335. doi:10.1177/1077800406297648 Common Wealth of Learning. (2015). Guidelines for  open educational resources (OER) in higher education. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
  • Cox, G., & Trotter, H. (2017). Factors shaping lecturers' adoption of oer at three south african universities. In C. Hodgkinson-Williams, & P. B. Arinto (Eds.), Adoption and impact of OER in the global south (pp. 287-348). Cape Town: African Minds. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1094852 Retrieved from https://search.datacite.org/works/10.5281/zenodo.1094852
  • Fischer, H., Heise, L., Heinz, M., Moebius, K., & Koehler, T. (2015). How to identify e-learning trends in academic teaching. Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 12(1), 31-43. doi:10.1108/ITSE-09-2014-0031
  • Garrison, R. D. (2017). E-learning in the 21st century: A community of inquiry framework for research and practice (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. Retrieved from https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/igidl/communities_of_inquiry_in_online_learning/0
  • Garrison, R. D., & Anderson, T. (2003). E-learning in the 21st century: A framework for research and practice. London: Routledge/Falmer.
  • Johnstone, S. (2005, ). “Open educational resources and open content, background note”,
  • Maritim, E. K., & Getuno, D. M. (2018). Scalability of learners’ success rates in e-learning: A survey study of the learners’ perspectives. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-Learning, 21(1), 1-15. doi:10.2478/eurodl-2018-0001
  • Materu, P. N. (2004). Open source courseware: A baseline study. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
  • McGrea, R., Miao, F., & Mishra, S. (2016). Open educational resources: Policy, costs and transformation. In F. Miao, Mishra Sanjaya & R. McGreal (Eds.), Open educational resources:Policy, costs and transformation (pp. 1-12). Paris: UNESCO.
  • Moore, A. H. (2002). Lens on the future: Open-source learning. EDUCAUSE Review, 37(5), 42. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/218195918
  • Mortari, L. (2015). Reflectivity in research practice. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5), 1-9. doi:10.1177/1609406915618045
  • OECD. (2007). Giving knowledge for free: The emergence of open educational resources. (). Paris: OECD. Retrieved from http://apo.org.au/?q=node/16547
  • Pitsoe, V., & Letseka, M. (2018). Access to and widening participation in south african higher education. In J. Hoffman, P. Blessinger & M. Makhanya (Eds.), Contexts for diversity and gender identities in higher education: International perspectives on equity and inclusion (pp. 113-125). Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Publishing Limited. doi:10.1108/S2055-364120180000012009 Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/S2055-364120180000012009
  • Santally, M., Cooshna-Naik, D., Conruyt, N., & Wing, C. (2015). A social partnership model to promote educators' development in Mauritius through formal and informal capacity-building initiatives. Journal of Learning for Development, 2(1) Retrieved from http://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-01375627
  • Santosh, S., & Santosh, P. (2016). Use of open educational resources in distance education-opportunities and challenges in indian scenario. Staff and Educational Development International, 20(1), 39-54. doi:10.1080/01587919.2012.692068
  • Seawright, J., & Gerring, J. (2008). Case selection techniques in case study research: A menu of qualitative and quantitative options. Political Research Quarterly, 61(2), 294-308. doi:10.1177/1065912907313077
  • Wolfenden, F., Auckloo, P., Buckler, A., & Cullen, J. (2017). Teacher educators and oer in east africa: Interrogating pedagogic change. In C. Hodgkinson-Williams, & P. B. Arinto (Eds.), Adoption and impact of OER in the global south (pp. 251-286). Cape Town: African Minds. doi:10.5281/zenodo.1094850 Retrieved from https://search.datacite.org/works/10.5281/zenodo.1094850
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Studies on Education
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ramashego Shila Shorty Mphahlele

Matlala Makokotlela 0000-0003-0297-7408

Publication Date January 22, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020

Cite

APA Mphahlele, R. S. S., & Makokotlela, M. (2020). Discourse on student participation in the Open Distance Learning using Open Educational Resources. Journal of Educational Technology and Online Learning, 3(1), 49-68. https://doi.org/10.31681/jetol.658130


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