ICT in Education/Change Projects/2016B Tanzania Improving Quality of Learning

Title of the change project : IMPROVING QUALITY OF LEARNING CONTENTS FOR DISTANCE COURSES- UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

Change agent : Amina Kiluwasha

Email : amina.kiluwasha2010@gmail.com

Name of the organisation : University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM)

Country : Tanzania

Started date :6th September 2016

Status (finished/ongoing) : ongoing

1. Background of the project (problem):

Recent developments in ICTs specifically eLearning have heightened the need for University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to supplement on-campus face-to-face delivery as well as meeting increased students’ enrolments through blended distance learning. Since 2008, the University has been offering three postgraduate programmes: Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Management (PGDEM), and Master degree in Engineering (MEM).

The delivery model of these programmes combines traditional face-to-face delivery with eLearning technologies specifically the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) ( http://lms.udsm.ac.tz ) and Compact Discs (CDs). All learning resources are uploaded in LMS for students to access, with the same copy burned on CDs and given to students. The CDs enable students to access learning resources in offline environment, or when there is limited Internet connection. Furthermore, instructors facilitate course delivery using LMS tools such as discussion forums, chat and forums.

At the middle of each semester, students are required to attend face-to-face classrooms at the nearest learning centre. The face-to-face sessions helps students to receive immediately support and guidance on areas where students were struggling. Currently, there are two operational learning centres: Mwanza and Dar Es Salaam. The centres are equipped with computers connected to Internet, and printing services.

The main challenge facing these programmes is the quality of learning resources. The available course contents have not followed instructional design pedagogical strategies suitable for distance courses. The learning resources are uploaded with the format of normal face to face teaching and learning. The courses are consisted of skeletal course guides or course hand-outs with minimum contents. Additionally, some instructors normally upload courses used to teach in traditional face-to-face delivery in the LMS without any e-learning instructional improvements. It is not uncommon to find summarized courses with Microsoft PowerPoint, PDF or Microsoft Word format uploaded in LMS for students’ access. In addition to that, these courses lacked interactivity and were designed without considering eLearning pedagogical approaches.

2. Objectives :

To improve the quality of learning resources by re developing available contents that follow instructional design pedagogical strategies suitable for distance courses

3. Stakeholders :

University management, Lecturers, students, multimedia experts, programmers

4. List of Activities :

5. Expected result ; We expect to come up with sample course(s), the courses will follow eLearning pedagogical approaches with availability of interactive contents suitable for self-learning.

6.  Actual result  :

7. The Project organisation :

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