The roles of administrators in distance learning programme at higher learning institutions
—This study examined the role of administrators in facilitating instructors and students of distance education programme (DEP) to the use of effective communication tools of the present digitized environment. Administrators/coordinators of DEP were purposively selected from three different univ...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/37381/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/37381/1/Roles_of_Administrators.pdf |
| Summary: | —This study examined the role of administrators in
facilitating instructors and students of distance education
programme (DEP) to the use of effective communication tools of
the present digitized environment. Administrators/coordinators
of DEP were purposively selected from three different
universities in Malaysia. Their responses from interviews had
been transcribed and coded. Students' feedback and monitoring
activities on Learning Management System (LMS) were also
collected and analyzed. Findings suggest that administrators
did not consider certificate or experience in distance learning
while recruiting instructors to teach in DEP. Instead, they
perceived that university lecturers from the conventional
programme should be able to fulfil course learning outcomes
designed for the DEP. Evidence had shown that administrators
bureaucratic decision in mandating LMS with grade attached,
seemed to deter lecturers from using effective communication
tools such as emails and facebook. When asked on plans to
improve the administration of DEP, the administrators
mentioned that training has really helped lecturers to improve
their content delivery skills. It is concluded that the
circumstantial or semester training through LMS which
involved training among lecturers who are new in the e-learning
environment is inadequate. The monitoring of DEP through the
LMS is recommended to be focused on upgrading
communication practices as well as attitudes among lecturers
for effective online instructions which are critical to the
eventual achievement of the DEP learners. |
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