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The National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa (NADEOSA) Conference took place at Monash South Africa, in Ruimsig, Roodepoort on 14 -15 July 2016. In line with the promotion and support of quality open and/or distance learning (ODL) in South Africa, the conference theme was: Technology enhanced open and distance learning and different facets of transformation within the post-school education and training sector. Najma Agherdien of Saide provides a reportback.
This conference was preceded by a one-day Workshop on Design and Development of Coherent ODeL Programmes presented by Tony Mays, University of Pretoria/Saide and a separate one titled Turn your Presentation into Publication facilitated by Prof Mpine Makoe, University of South Africa. Over 11 institutions were represented at the conference
The conference welcome speech by the Monash Vice Chancellor, Prof Louw, was inspiring. He stressed the importance of shifting from a focus on output (e.g. number of graduates, publications, etc.), to (e.g. What happens to graduates after 5 years and how have they improved their lives as well as those of their communities?)He reminded us that strengthening partnerships would stand us in good stead and that we should revisit the mission of higher education. His welcome speech was followed by a presentation by Dr Felicity Coughlan from the Independent Institute of Higher Education. Dr Coughlan, like Prof Louw, called for strengthened partnerships (especially between private and public higher education and all stakeholders) and less restrictive traditional views.
The keynotes by Dr Melissa Layne (on Day 1) and Dr Phil Ice (on Day 2), focussed on using feedback, data and learning analytics to enhance Open, Distance and eLearning (ODeL) and good programme and course design respectively. It seems that South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) experience some of the same challenges (e.g. connectivity, change management issues.) as US institutions. In the words of Dr Ice, "we are not that far behind the rest of the world and our integration of mobile technology for teaching and learning might very well mean that we could surpass the global North." Both presentations emphasised student learning - what and how students are learning – and improving provision based on designing courses on good frameworks and/or ODeL principles.
The parallel sessions were varied with topics ranging from a focus on students (access, roles, perceptions, perspectives, success, tutoring and assessment), staff (professional development, social change issues, etc.) and learning design (designing for interaction and having a solid theoretical base). Pertinent issues related to whether we really know who our students are, and remaining relevant came up in many of the sessions. One got the sense that the more things are changing the more they stay the same. Concerns around policy implementation, resistance to change, inability to shift outdated pedagogies, working in silos, and the like seem to be ongoing challenges.
Finally, Prof Alan Amory from Saide presented a session on Day 1 on how the African Storybook website was conceptualised and redesigned. On Day 2, he focussed on the latest framework Saide uses for learning design. The need for informed, intentional design based on sound theoretical principles and the notion of educating for social good were foregrounded.
In conclusion, the important contribution to the debates about the future of ODel in South Africa and NADEOSA ’s role in this cannot be emphasised enough. The ongoing research, engagement and debate on issues around ODeL provision remains crucial and this was noted during the closing and evaluation session.
For photographs, click on the Facebook link here. The conference presentations will soon be available on the conference website.
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