Learning at a Distance

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Learning at a Distance
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Open and Distance Learning (ODL), for whom?

• who prefer to learn while being employed.
• who do not prefer setting aside a time period
  fully from their lives only for studies.
• who missed higher studies when they were young
  and wanted higher studies now.

ODL is for every one
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Interaction

• Identify the differences in conventional and
  distance learning

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Conventional Vs ODL

• Limited opportunities
• Limited flexibility in course selection
• Selected students allowed
• No recognition to previous qualifications
• No awards for part completion
• Duration is fixed
• Need to study at a rate not specified by you
• Need to attend scheduled classes
• Job orientation/adoption only after graduation

• Unlimited opportunities
• Wide flexibility in course selection
• Anyone allowed
• Due recognition by way of course and credit
  exemptions
• Appropriate awards for part completion
• Duration is not fixed
• You can decide on the rate of study
• Very limited scheduled classes
• Securing an employment while studying

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Study System

• You learn through
• Self study lessons prepared by the Faculty
• Face to Face Teaching
• Lab Classes
• Field Visits
• Web based Material
• Videos, CDs and audio visual aids.

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Our vocabulary

• Course
• Basic unit of teaching
• Session
• A course consists of several sessions written in
  self-study style
• Study Programme
• A set of courses that qualifies for a award (A
  Certificate, Diploma, Degree)

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About a course

• A course is designated by a code that gives
• Department that offers AE, CE, EC, ME, TT, MP
• Category X, Y, Z, K, L, M, I, J, W
• Level 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
• Subject content (credit) 1/6 , 1/3, 1/2, 2/3,
  5/6, 1 and 2

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• Example
• CEX2312
• Department Civil Engineering
• Category Engineering
• Level 1
• Credit Value ½
• Serial No.30

• Exercise
• MPZ3231
• Department ?
• Category?
• Level?
• Credit value?
• Serial No.?

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More about credits

• Credits assigned to a course gives an idea on the
  study time needed
• One credit course needs about 450 hours of study
  that include your personal study time and the
  participation of activities such as face to face
  teaching, lab classes, exams and preparation time
  exams.

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More about credits cont.,

• You need to collect minimum number of credits for
  each of the categories by successfully passing
  the courses.
• You could also get the course credits by
  exemption subject to certain limits
• You could get virtual credits for your previous
  qualifications at a certain level and in a
  relevant category when there is no equivalent
  course is offered by us.

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Components of a course

• Printed lesson materials
• Day schools
• Lab classes
• Mini projects
• Assignments
• Continuous Assessment Tests
• Field visits
• Survey camps
• Factory visits

• Some of these components are used to assess the
  teaching/learning process

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Overall Continuous Assessment Mark (OCAM)

• OCAM (Eligibility Mark) is computed by combining
  the performances of several components.
• Most courses use CATs, TMAs and Labs to calculate
  OCAM.
• Only those who get a certain minimum mark for
  OCAM is allowed to sit the Final Examination.
• Final grade is based on the average mark of both
  OCAM and Marks of the Final Examination

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Support

• Day Schools
• 3- 12 day schools of 2.5hr spread over the year
• Meeting individually or as groups with course
  coordinators on appointment.
• Supplementary learning materials in libraries
  including audio and video.
• Communication via telephone, OUSL Web Page and
  email with coordinators (Direct dial 2881Ext)
• Online access (Moodle) to selected courses