In this modern world, there is no doubt that information and communication technology
(ICT) has brought remarkable changes in the distance education sector. Investigations
into the influence of technology in education differ, but a few of them among adult
learners suggest benefits worth inquiring about. This study explored e-learning at
Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) by determining the perception
of distance students at its nine regional centres. The objective of the study was to
determine distance students’ perception of the ease of use of e-learning, identify the
benefits of e-learning, identify challenges encountered when engaging in e-learning
and make recommendations for the effective use of e-learning at NUST.
In an attempt to explore e-learning at NUST, a qualitative research design was
employed to collect data from the distance students through telephone interviews. The
qualitative method was regarded as suitable for this study to get in-depth perspectives
of the distance students concerning e-learning. Data was analysed thematically.
The study revealed that distance students were aware of and understood the elearning
concept. While the study brought to light some challenges, the students who
participated in the study expressed satisfaction with the e-learning system at NUST
due to its convenience, flexibility, cost reductions and interactive opportunities it
presented to them while studying. It is recommended that the e-learning system be
redesigned to respond to the challenges that distance students encounter in engaging
in e-learning and for its effective use.
Mo lefatsheng le la segompieno, ga go pelaelo ya gore tshedimosetso le thekenoloji
ya tlhaeletsano (Information and communication technology (ICT) di tlisitse diphetogo
tse di makatsang mo lekaleng la thutotlhaeletsano. Dipatlisiso di a farologana ka ga
tlhotlheletso ya thekenoloji mo thutong, fela tse di mmalwa tse di dirilweng mo
baithuting ba bagolo di tshitsinya fa go ka nna mosola thata go tswelela ka tsona.
Patlisiso e, e tlhotlhomisitse ka go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha kwa Yunivesithi ya
Namibia ya Saense le Thekenoloji (Namibia University of Science and Technology
(NUST) ka go tlhomamisa ka moo baithuti ba thutotlhaeletsano ba bonang go le
bonolo ka teng go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha, go lemoga mosola wa go ithuta
ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha, go lemoga dikgwetlho tse ba di itemogelang fa ba ithuta ka
tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha le go neela dikatlenegiso tsa go ithuta ka go dirisa
mafaratlhatlha ka mokgwa o o ka bontshang katlego kwa NUST.
Mo maitekong a go tlhotlhomisa ka go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha kwa NUST, go
dirisitswe moralo wa mmeo wa khwalitatifi go kokoanya dinewane (data) go tswa go
baithuti ba thutotlhaeletsano ka dipotsolotso tse di neng di dirwa ka tlhaeletsano ya
mogala. Mmeo wa khwalitatifi o tserwe jaaka o o maleba mo patlisisong e go thusa go
ka fitlhelela ka tsenelelo molebo o baithuti ba thutotlhaeletsano ba bonang dilo ka gona
mabapi le go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha. Dinewane di ne tsa tsharololwa go ya
ka tatelano ya merero.
Patlisiso e senotse fa baithuti ba thutotlhaeletsano ba ne ba lemoga se e bile ba
tlhaloganya mogopolo o, wa go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha. Le fa patlisiso e, e
senotse dikgwetlho dingwe, baithuti ba ba nnileng le seabe mo patlisisong e, ba
bontshitse go kgotsofalela matlhamaganyane a go ithuta ka tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha
kwa NUST ka ntlha ya fa go ba tlhofofaletsa, go dirisega bonolo, go ba fokoletsa
ditshenyegelo le go ba neela ditšhono tsa dikgolagano tse mokgwa o, o di ba
tlhagiseditseng fa ba ithuta. Go atlenegisiwa gore matlhamaganyane a go ithuta ka
tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha a tlhamiwe sešwa gore a tsibogele dikgwetlho tse baithuti ba
thutotlhaeletsano ba itemogelang tsona fa ba tsena mo mokgweng o, wa go ithuta ka
tiriso ya mafaratlhatlha le go o dirisa ka bokgoni jo bo feleletseng.
In hierdie moderne wêreld het inligtings- en kommunikasietegnologie (IKT) sonder
twyfel merkwaardige veranderings in die afstandsonderrigsektor meegebring. Studies
van tegnologie se invloed op onderrig verskil, maar daar is ’n paar wat volwasse
leerders betrek en dui op voordele wat die moeite werd is om te bestudeer. Hierdie
studie het ondersoek ingestel na e-leer by die Namibiese Universiteit van Wetenskap
en Tegnologie (NUST) deur die persepsies van afstandsonderrig-studente by sy nege
streeksentrums te bepaal. Die studie se oogmerke was: om te bepaal hoe maklik
afstandsonderrigstudente dit vind om e-leer te gebruik; om die voordele van e-leer te
identifiseer; om die uitdagings wat met e-leer gepaardgaan, te identifiseer; en om
aanbevelings te maak rakende die doeltreffende benutting van e-leer by NUST.
In ’n poging om e-leer by NUST te ondersoek, is ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp
ingespan om data deur middel van telefoniese onderhoude met afstandsonderrigstudente
in te samel. Die kwalitatiewe metode was geskik vir hierdie studie om
omvattende inligting oor afstandsonderrigstudente se perspektiewe op e-leer te
bekom. Die data is tematies ontleed.
Die studie het getoon dat afstandsonderrigstudente bewus is van die e-leerkonsep en
dit verstaan. Die studie het lig gewerp op enkele uitdagings, maar die studente wat
aan die studie deelgeneem het, het aangedui dat hulle tevrede is met NUST se eleerstelsel
omdat dit gerieflik en buigsaam is, verminderde onkoste meebring en
geleenthede skep vir wisselwerking tydens hul studie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die eleerstelsel
herontwerp word om die uitdagings wat afstandsonderrigstudente tydens
hul studie teëkom, die hoof te bied en die doeltreffendheid van e-leer te verhoog.
