Distance students’ perception towards e-learning at Namibia University of Science and Technology’s regional centres

Abstract

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.