omde 601 - shannon johnson_a2_djo_88
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Shannon Johnson
OMDE 601 Section 9020
June 27, 2015
Essay #2
RUNNING HEAD: Developed vs. Developing: Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa
Developed vs. Developing:
Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa (UNISA)
Shannon M. Johnson
University of Maryland University College
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 2
Developed vs. Developing: Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South
Africa
Two distance education institutions on two continents, one from a developed nation and
one from a developing nation. Both universities have moved from correspondence education to
online learning. Both have made it their mission to offer high-quality, distance education
courses to students worldwide. This essay will compare and contrast Penn States World
Campus and the University of South Africa. Specifically, their histories and why they have
come into existence, what populations they each serve and how they are organized to fulfill their
missions, what methods of teaching and learning they use, and the technologies each use to
achieve distance learning success.
History and Reason for Existence
The Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1855, starting out as one of the first
agriculture science colleges (Our history, 2015). In an effort to provide agriculture education to
farmers across Pennsylvania, Penn State began offering correspondence courses in 1892 (Online
Education, 2015), moving the institution from a single-mode institution to that of a mixed-mode
university (Guri-Rosenblit, 2009).
With many years experience educating adults at a distance, in 1998, Penn State moved
into the online learning aspect of distance education and widened the universities reach to an
audience worldwide. The World Campus, Penn States virtual campus, launched its pilot
semester in the spring of 1998 and had a total enrollment of 41 students, in three programs
(Hons, 2002).
Commented [DJO1]: A good introduction short, concise and clear to the reader so one knows exactly where you are
going.
Commented [DJO2]: PSU is Pennsylvanias land grant university established by the Morrill Act of 1862.
Commented [DJO3]: You might note that Penn State in the 60s 90s also used audio, video and other technologies as their DE mission evolved.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 3
The University of South Africa was founded, shortly after Penn State, in 1873 as the
University of the Cape of Good Hope. The university changed its name to the University of
South Africa, also known as UNISA, in 1918. UNISA did not begin to offer correspondence
courses until 1946, when it became the first university to teach exclusively at a distance (UNISA
annual report 2013, 2013,).
While UNISA did not start offering courses at a distance as early as Penn State, both
institutions followed a similar path to becoming leaders in distance education.
Mission and Population Served
Penn States World Campus now serves students from across the United States, in more
than 60 countries and across seven continents. The World Campus website states:
Our mission is making sure you have access to a quality academic experience, even if
you have a job and family obligations to fulfill. If you cant come to one of our brick-
and-mortar campuses, well bring our campus to you (About Us, 2015).
UNISAs student population is as varied as those that attend World Campus, with
students ranging from high-income to poverty stricken (Ryan, 2008,). The university has
students enrolled from over 130 countries. The universitys mission is to provide all people
regardless of race, colour or creed with access to higher education (Celebrating 140 years in
2013, 2013).
Approximately 35,000 students earn diplomas and degrees from UNISA each year with
the majority being undergraduate students. Only 9% of enrollments are outside of South Africa
(Student success, 2015). Students come from a wide range of geographical backgrounds from
rural to urban areas (Mbatha, 2014).
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Commented [DJO4]: Unless this is s a direct quote, you do not include page number.
Deleted: p.3
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Commented [DJO5]: Direct quote do you have a page number?
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Commented [DJO6]: At least in 2015, it is usually written UNISA.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 4
While Penn State focuses on bringing the campus to their learners doors because they
realize that their students are working adults with familial obligations, UNISAs focus is to
provide education for all no matter their status in life.
Institutional Values
Penn States World Campus falls within the Outreach and Online Education segment of
Penn State University. The website lists five values that the division goes by: excellence
focusing efforts on areas of strength and opportunity; integrity holding to the highest ethical
standards; accountability taking ownership of work, actions, and the organization; innovation
embracing creativity and disciplined risk-taking; and inclusiveness creation of an inviting
environment for all people (Mission and vision, 2015).
UNISA wishes to serve every country on the African continent and overcome language
and cultural barriers (About UNISA, 2015). Unisa specifies the universitys values as social
justice and fairness and excellence with integrity (UNISA annual report 2013, 2013, p.4)
In their value statements both universities discuss opportunities for everyone and holding
the univeristies to high ethical standards, two great guiding principles.
Organization/Systems of Operation
The governance of both institutions follows a similar process of having a council to make
major decisions for the universities.
World Campus is guided by a board of trustees who have responsibilities in the university
budget, goals, policies and procedures. The President is responsible for the day to day of the
university (Leadership and mission, 2015).
Deleted: nisa
Commented [DJO7]: This reads like it is direct text if yes it must be put in quotation marks with a page number if
available.
Deleted: nisa
Commented [DJO8]: Good
Commented [DJO9]: Generally yes, but the Board of Trustees govern Penn State University. The World Campus
may have an advisory board that must generally meet the
basic requirements that flow down through official channels
and reporting structures from the Board.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 5
UNISA is guided by a corporate governance council that oversees the operations of the
university. The council attempts to lead the university using an ethical foundation, they are
responsible for implementing plans, strategies, policies and procedures. They are also
responsible for information technology decisions (About UNISA, 2015).
Model of Teaching and Learning
The World Campus website indicates that the curriculum is career-focused, the courses
are taught by faculty trained to teach online and who are field experts, and that the courses are
designed with technology to enhance the curriculum (Why Penn State World Campus, 2015).
World Campus uses a centralized learning platform with a single access sign on. All courses
share the same four characteristics: fully online, equal to campus courses, they are interactive
and they are adult learner-centric (How it works (faqs), 2015).
On their university website, UNISA discusses their mission to provide lifelong learning, a
student-centered approach to teaching and their desire to use innovation and creativity. The
university aims to remove access barriers for their students, provide learner support, and try to
promote flexible learning for their students (About UNISA, 2015)
Technologies Used
Penn States World Campus currently uses ANGEL as their learning management
system. ANGEL allowed users to view course content, upload assignments, take quizzes, and
view grades. However, since the purchase of ANGEL by Blackboard, Penn State was informed
in 2014 of an end-of-life date, and the school is currently exploring the possibility of replacing
ANGEL with Canvas (Stuck, 2015).
Deleted: Unisa
Commented [DJO10]: And likely funding and budgeting. These are typical board functions boards dont normally get in to issues about what degrees are delivered by distance
education unless they are new or significantly modified
existing programs that require board approval. Normally,
however, the Provost for Academic Vice President drives
these and the boards approval is basically a procedural and policy formality.
Commented [DJO11]: Nice
Deleted: Unisa
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 6
The new Canvas system, if chosen, will offer students options for mobile learning and it
offers more opportunities for collaboration within the LMS that the ANGEL system did not
(Stuck, 2015).
While UNISA has Africas largest academic library, it does not appear that they have an
online library as World Campus does.
UNISA uses several different technologies to support their distance education learners.
E-tutorials are included in many modules. The university uses myUnisa as their student portal
and they also incorporate Web 2.0 tools such as video conferencing, e-mail, and Skype in their
curriculums (Student services and support, 2013).
Conclusion
The University of South Africa and Penn States World Campus are about as
geographically separated as the student populations they serve. While there are a few similarities
in the two universities there are more differences, some more pronounced than others.
Both universities are leaders in distance education and have been educating adult learners
since the 1800s. World Campus is an online campus that compliments Penn States other brick-
and-mortar campuses while UNISA is a distance learning only university.
Penn States focus is bringing education to adult learners with responsibilities and
UNISA wants to ensure no matter a persons status that education can be earned by all. Both
universities are organized with a council that governs the major decisions for the universities.
When it comes to teaching and learning Penn State offers learners a career-focused
curriculum while UNISA takes a student-centered approach to teaching and learning.
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Commented [DJO12]: I think you would find PSU also is student centered, their aims are just more focused on serving
returning adult learners and preparing them for work.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 7
The largest difference, that causes you to remember that these two institutions are from
two different stages of developed comes when you look at the technologies used. World Campus
is currently looking at upgrading their learning management system to integrate more
opportunities for collaboration and mobile learning. Unisa is still using modules and they do not
offer an online academic library. The inability for students to access a large reference library of
materials really shows how far apart the universities really are.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 8
References
About UNISA. (2015). Retrieved from UNISA:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=20572
About us . (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/about-us
Celebrating 140 years in 2013. (2013). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from UNISA University of
South Africa: http://www.unisa.ac.za/140/index.php/history/
Guri-Rosenblit, S. (2009). Diverse models of distance teaching universities. Encyclopedia of
Distance Learning(2), 727-733. Retrieved from
http://www.box.com/s/51sbixtccnccfxboh1uk
Hons, C. (2002). Big ten school in cyberspace. T H E Journal, 29(6), 27. Retrieved from
https://search.ebscohost.com [AN 6048902]
How it works (faqs) [Web page]. (2015). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from Penn State World
Campus: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/how-online-learning-works/how-it-works-
faqs
Leadership and mission. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-
state/leadership-and-mission
Mbatha, B. (2014). Global transition in higher education: From the traditional model of learning
to a new socially mediated model. International Review of Research in Open and
Distance Learning, 15(3), 257 - 274. Retrieved from
http://www.eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=EJ1033097
Commented [DJO13]: Very good reference list and adherence to APA. Good work.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 9
Mission and vision. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State:
http://www.outreach.psu.edu/about/vision-mission/
Online education. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.outreach.psu.edu/online-
learning/
Our history. (2015). Retrieved from Penn State: http://www.psu.edu/this-is-penn-state/our-
history
Ryan, P. (2008). A small experiment in online learning. South African Journal of Higher
Education, 22(4), 877-888. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com [AN 36812748]
Stuck, E. (2015, April 21). IST students see strong potential for Canvas to become Penn State's
next LMS. Retrieved from Penn State News:
http://news.psu.edu/story/353860/2015/04/21/impact/ist-students-see-strong-potential-
canvas-become-penn-state%E2%80%99s-next-lms
Student services and support. (2013). Retrieved from UNISA:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=24020
Student success. (2015). Retrieved from UNISA:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=15928
UNISA annual report 2013 [PDF document]. (2013). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from UNISA
University of South Africa:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/happening/docs/1217_UNISA_AnnualReport_2013_final.pdf
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 10
Why Penn State World Campus [Web page]. (2015). Retrieved June 19, 2015, from Penn State
World Campus: http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/about-us/why-penn-state-world-
campus
Shannon,
Overall, your paper is well written, well organized and covers the main elements in
the assignment. The one topical area you did not address was [Make sure to address how
DE practice is influenced by context for each of the organizations.] Penn State is a well-
funded, reputable American university that can operate without many of the constraints
that face African nations. UNISA has evolved during one of the most challenged social
issues in African history Apartheid. In practice this means that for decades UNISA
focused on educating the white population and was managed and led primarily by
Afrikaners not African black leaders that have managed UNISA since 1990. This context
raises many questions and we would have liked to have seen you discuss these in your
paper. It is fair to say that UNISA faces significantly more barriers to delivering distance
education than Penn State. We would have liked to have seen you address some of these
differences in more detail.
A second issue is around what constitutes an open university? In the U.S. the
concept of an open university is seldom used given we have over 4,150 colleges and
universities most of which provide some level of DE in 2015. The majority of these are
accessible to the majority of population. Penn States World Campus is a fine choice no
problem here but many would argue it is not an open university or even an open arm of
PSU. This raises an interesting question: Can a dual mode university truly be an open
university? Beyond this discussion but something to think about.
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Comparing Penn States World Campus and University of South Africa 11
Overall, your paper adhered to APA and your reference list is very good. In a few
places, you need to review the requirements of direct quotes not a direct quote you do not
include the page number. If it is a direct quote you must enclose in quotation marks and
include the page numbers.
Grade Breakdown
Content: 85
References: 90
Writing: 88
APA 90
Overall Grade: 88
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