E-education : a possible route to establishing a graduate identity in an ODL environment?

Abstract

The trend that technology affects most spheres of people’s lives impacts on society’s requirements for essential skills and knowledge. Effectively using technology in teaching and learning in an open distance learning environment can enhance the quality of education and prepare students for their role as knowledge workers. E-education (which acknowledges the role of ICT in both teaching and learning requirements) particularly may offer opportunities to enhance students’ engagement and to contribute to the establishment of a graduate identity in an ODL environment. It may expand teaching-learning in an ODL environment by creating innovative spaces to do so. Introducing innovative teaching pedagogies to existing learning cultures may, however, require a change from instructivism to constructivism (and eventually connectivism). Misalignment may occur during this process because many people, institutions and established ideas are involved. The type of attitude change that the implementation of e-education may require from both academic staff and students could be described as a major cultural change.