OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL)
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) refers to the provision of flexible learning opportunities in terms of access and various modes of knowledge acquisition.
Flexible
The option is available for any person to obtain an education anywhere, anytime and in a way that suits the learner.
Access
The opportunity is provided for all learners without any constraints of time and place.
Multiple modes
The use of multiple delivery systems and learning resources
(Ahmad, Phillips, Santhi & Wahid, 2010)
ODL is increasingly being accepted and is part of the mainstream education that is much needed. It is driven by the need for such learning to be accessible by the larger population for the purposes of continuous skills upgrading, learning new skills and technological advances that enable remote teaching. The government is aware of the ODL potentials in fulfilling the rights of individuals to learn and incorporating the study leave opportunity into the framework of human capital development.
WHAT IS ODL?
The open and distance learning is usually contrasted with ‘conventional’ or ‘face-to-face’ education, which may be described as the form of education which takes place in a classroom or lecture halls. However, both ‘distance’ and ‘face-to-face’ education are labels covering a wide range of variations and methods. Face-to-face education may vary along a continuum from one-to-one tutorials, group activities, seminars and classroom teaching to lectures for large audiences. In each case, different educational philosophies may be applied and different methods may be used. Face-to-face education may be supported by a range of media, and may be combined with periods of independent study. In a similar way, distance education has a variety of forms, according to the underlying educational philosophy, organisational approach and choice of technology, and distance educators may incorporate into their programmes an element of face-to-face teaching.
OUR ODL PROGRAMMES
