can vesel provide a model for collaborative participation in the design and delivery of e-learning?...
TRANSCRIPT
Can VeSeL provide a model for collaborative participation in the design and delivery of
e-learning?
Pauline Ngimwa
PhD student
The Open University, UK
Outline
Research Project Research topic Methodology Findings
VeSeL: a model for collaborative participation approach for e-learning players
Research project Research problem
Development of e-learning and its implication for African Higher Education a continent of challenge for expanding access to new
technologies huge opportunity for deployment of these technologies
for education expansion Expectations for universal access (Millennium
Development Goals, UNESCO’s Education for All goals) to basic education means increased demand for teachers
Continental challenge of meeting this demand (Gross enrolment Ratio below 5% in most countries)
Therefore huge potential for e-learning and supporting information resources
Academics and librarians are experiencing change in their role and importance
Two perspectives of electronic information resources in e-learning context e-learning perspective
lays emphasis on content production, collaboration and exchange of knowledge
libraries’ perspective focus on content organisation, retrieval and access
The two have a role in mediating and providing the interface between the extraordinary riches of the digital world and the planning and presentation of the courses
The student is at the centre of these two perspectives, therefore the need to understand their perceptions of these resources.
The study is an investigation of the perceptions of students in African universities on electronic information resources, with a focus on the user support and effects of subject disciplines on the
perception.
Methodology A qualitative study within a case-study
framework Why a case study?
Suitability for small scale research, allows focus on fewer cases (Blaxter, et al, 2006 & Burns, 2000)
Answer to the ‘how’ question of students perceptions (Yins, 2003)
Context is the University of Nairobi, Kenya School of Computing and Informatics (Chiromo
Campus) Faculty of Agriculture (Upper Kabete Campus) University Library
Participants
Purposive sampling to identify students familiar with electronic information resources and belonging to two subject disciplines 5 postgraduate Agricultural students 5 postgraduate and 3 undergraduate Computer
science students VeSeL team provided this combination Included selected academics and library
personnel
Data collection instruments Data collection instruments
In-depth interviews Semi-structured with open-ended questions to allow
students tell their stories Allowed probes and follow-up questions for emerging
issues Informal conversations with lecturers and librarians Library documents, mainly statistical reports Observations
Data analysis followed thematic analytical approach
Findings
Library’s electronic information service University places high importance on the role of the library in
research and scholarship But, findings reflected poor usage of electronic information
resources, usability difficulties and inappropriate provisions
High levels of IT skills among students and lecturers are changing perceptions of roles and levels of engagement Lecturers taking the role of facilitating the access and usage of
the resources – role belonging to the librarians More engagement with the lecturers Electronic information resources and e-learning resources seen
as one thing Students taking more charge of their usage of these resources
Findings
Librarians being left out of the picture! Perceived as having inappropriate skills to provide
electronic resources service A disconnect between what is needed and what is
provided Limited collaboration between lecturers and
librarians and between librarians and students Therefore no participation in the e-learning
environment
VeSeL: a model for a collaborative for participation approach for e-learning players Brings together key players in a complex e-learning
landscape Students as learners Students as active participants in the design of e-learning
As creators of knowledge As facilitators of knowledge exchange
A team of experts providing support, guidance and resources Creating and enabling virtual spaces for knowledge exchange
and networking End-user (community of farmers) who also act as
knowledge creators End-user focused Lots of engagement at all levels
VeSeL’s role similar to the information providers (Librarians) Traditionally, librarians actively participated in a learning
environment Provided suitable resources Provided physical spaces (seminar rooms, etc) for knowledge
exchange Currently, two models exist at the University of Nairobi but at
different levels “VeSeL’s expert/end-user focused” at the project level “Traditional librarian/lecturer model” at the institution level
Could VeSeL be a model for the library to engage with its’ students better and allow for better support for the lecturers in developing and supporting e-learning through electronic resources?
asante sana