Philip M. Uys
PhD
Deputy Director: Centre for
Academic Development (Educational Technology)
Tel: +267- 3552799
Fax: +267- 3902 884
E-mail:
uyspm@mopipi.ub.bw or
Abstract: This paper provides a summary of the results of a pilot study towards
identifying a relevant and effective approach for developing elearning
materials at the University of Botswana (UB). These results are based on eight representative
pilot projects that were conducted between November 2002 and December 2003. The
prominent team-approach for the development of elearning materials has been
analysed within the context of the
Introduction
An effective approach
to technological change needs to be developed in the context and culture of an
organisation (Gunn, 1998:142; Pettit and Hind, 1992:119; Uys, 2000; Uys,
Nleya & Molelu, 2001; Woodhouse, 1999).
The culture of an organisation refers to
“…the values, beliefs, practices, rituals, and customs of an organization” (Marquardt,
1996:24) and could be unique to an organisation.
The dominant team-approach
for the development of distance and elearning materials (Bates, 1993:232; DEC working party, 1989; Garrison, 1989:98&117; Holmberg, 1995) has therefore been
analysed within the context of the
The LASO model of
technological transformation (Uys, 2001) being used as an overall elearning
implementation framework at UB emphasises the combination of bottom-up and
top-down approaches and include the use of development teams as an important
bottom-up strategy.
This study is the
first of its kind at the University of Botswana (UB) and was designed to lead
to a relevant and effective approach for the development of elearning materials
at the University.
eLearning at UB has been defined in line with the
University’s vision as the appropriate organisation of Information and
Communication Technologies (ICTs) for advancing student-oriented, active, open,
collaborative and life-long teaching-learning processes.
The
This study aligns
itself further with the stated objectives of
The Study
A
pilot study was conducted during 2003 that is illustrative of the University
context and actively sought to incorporate characteristics of teachers,
learners and relevant support systems.
The rationale for conducting these elearning pilots includes testing and
developing best-practice models (including development approaches) and
approaches in the University and wider
Eight
widely representative elearning projects were selected in November 2002 by the Educational
Technology Unit (
The pilots varied in
terms of the academic and computer literacy levels of the students, the size of
the classes, the goals formulated by the subject matter experts, the media used
and the delivery approaches used. All the pilots, however, focused on the
experimental and appropriate use of information and communication technologies
in courses.
Various roles in each
pilot development team were identified based on the literature and former experience
of staff within
These pilots received
preferential support from
The SMEs signed an agreement at the outset to work as part of a
multi-disciplinary development team, to create a written statement of intended
outcomes and planned approaches and to create and present a written analysis in
collaboration with the other members of the multi-disciplinary development team
at the conclusion of the pilot.
The basis for the findings of this study includes the written reports of
the subject matter experts, the input of the instructional designer, graphic
designer and media developer as well as comments by the members of the pilot
teams at the completion of the pilots on the effectiveness of the different
roles within the development teams.
The role of the
sponsor was carried out by the Office of Research and Development and the
Deputy Director: Centre for Academic Development (Educational Technology) in
providing funding for research assistants. The wider environment has been
identified as very important such as support by the head of department of the
SMEs and the support of the Manager, Educational Technology and Deputy
Director: Centre for Academic Development (Educational Technology) of the media
development team. The wider environment also included the provision of a
computer facility by
The instructional
designer and the SME acted as project managers in respective pilots. The role
of project manager is critical to ensure operational coordination of the
various roles and team members.
Subject matter experts
(SMEs) in most pilots did not only provide content, but were also trained to
develop materials electronically based on
templates. The SMEs also managed their research assistant and supported
students. In some cases a traditional approach was followed where no Web links
were provided, but only references to library resources. Other SMEs invested
significant time in the development of content and in analysing external
websites. In one pilot a
course development team (CDT) of SMEs and a separate course implementation team
(CIT) of SMEs were used. The CDT developed the content of the online course,
while the CIT used the developed course in their teaching. This, however, led
to a difficult transition regarding ownership and familiarity. The size of
these teams might have actually slowed down the development process.
The instructional
designer is another key role that provided educational guidance to the SMEs
during the design and development process. The instructional designer provided extensive support in each pilot for
developing the course concept, structure and content. The role of the
instructional designer during these pilots was extended to include project
management, providing training in online materials production, training
students and creating online materials. In some cases the guidance needed to be
stronger so that SMEs would not have to depend completely on electronic media
in their courses but would have accepted a blended approach.
The role of the media developer
is to create online media within the LCMS. As the online media developer was
still growing into this position during the pilot study, this person focused on
assisting with uploading materials into the LCMS, with setting up online
quizzes and in some cases reviewing the
development of online materials. The instructional designer, graphic designer
and research assistant were involved in this role in developing the materials
with the SMEs.
The graphic designer
created the graphical elements of materials such as banners, icons, video material and templates. The graphic designer
responded to guidance by the instructional designer in developing graphical
elements that supported the pedagogy of the respective pilots like anchoring
the instruction around a cartoon figure that featured throughout the course.
Some form of editing
in suggesting changes in text, layout and navigation was in most cases
performed by the instructional designer and research assistants.
The most prominent
gatekeepers were the SMEs and the instructional designer who brought relevant
information from outside the project into the development process. The
gatekeepers facilitated the inflow of wider organisational dimensions of the
University into the development processes. In some cases this supported
experimentation with elearning based on the freedom of academic staff to
experiment with new didactics. This inflow, however, also inhibited the work of
some SMEs as one commented “It was not
possible to develop and use quizzes for test and examination because the
routine of paper-based examination used by all other faculties had to be used.”
The research
assistants did a variety of work as required by the SMEs. Research assistants
in the respective pilots evaluated,
gathered and analysed data, helped with electronic presentations, developed
databases, created online materials, supported students during course delivery
and recorded videos. This role was much appreciated by academic staff that
carried out the pilot projects with minimal or no release from their other
duties.
Subject librarians
were very willing to assist the SMEs with finding relevant resources, but in
many cases this role was carried out by the academic staff themselves or by the
research assistants. Supporting academic staff in this manner is part of the
responsibilities of subject librarians at the University and academic staff
will be encouraged to seek the direct support of the respective subject
librarians in finding appropriate materials.
Students were not
actively involved in the development process until the point of their
participation in the actual delivery of the courses. The flexibility of the
elearning materials especially within the LCMS, however, did allow for later
changes as required.
The wider environment in which an elearning development team operates
has been identified as very important such as support by supervisors, adequate
access to computers by students and the provision of training to team members.
Various multi-disciplinary roles
are necessary within an elearning development team. Team members, however,
should have the freedom to support and build each other up according to their
strengths.
Some roles require a specific focus and emphasis to ensure the
appropriate use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in
teaching and learning within developing settings. The SME and
instructional designer roles proved to be pivotal.
The role of the
sponsor is necessary for the provision of necessary funding, wider support and
overall project control. The project manager is necessary to ensure operational
coordination of the various roles and team members. Close cooperation between
the SME and instructional designer is vital in the development process to
ensure continuity if there are availability issues.
Subject matter experts
(SMEs) were integral in the development process by providing content, but also
in developing materials electronically. Developing settings calls for a partnership
model where materials are developed with and even by SMEs due to the relative
scarcity of expertise. SME development
teams could be effective if these are small. The separation of development and
the implementation teams led to difficulties that can be avoided through a
single SME team working together from the outset. The concept of involving
additional academic staff members with the SME during development can
strengthen continuity and capacity building.
The instructional
designer played a pivotal role in the design and development process. It seems that the instructional designer in a
developing setting needs to provide clear guidance to SMEs to put in place contingency
plans where there is a possible overdependence on electronic media. An instructional
designer in a developing setting will also encourage SMEs to consider a blended
approach where a variety of media is used to counter dependence on electronic
media.
The role of the media
developer is critical but might be able to be carried out by various other
roles within the team including the SMEs.
The graphic designer is seen as a very important role to make the elearning
materials more user-friendly and to support specific pedagogical concepts. The
role of the editor can be accomplished by peer review of colleagues or perhaps
using students to pilot the materials during the first run of the course and
provide necessary feedback.
The gatekeepers play
an important role in facilitating the inflow of other organisational dimensions
into the development processes and thus ensuring that the development process
integrates well with the organizational context. The substance and importance
of this role needs to be discussed in more depth during the development process
so that there can be deliberate efforts to acquire relevant external
information.
Providing research
assistance to SMEs might not be possible during the continued implementation of
elearning, but release from other duties as
well as more direct involvement of subject librarians and students should be considered to assist academic staff to
venture into elearning activities.
Recognition should be given by the University to the efforts of early
adopters in elearning to encourage these SMEs to continue their elearning activities
and also to draw others into the appropriate inclusion of ICTs into their
courses.
There should be consideration for a project approach to the development
process to keep everyone focussed, as was the case with the pilot projects, and
not for a general support approach. A project approach could provide better
support to academic staff engaged in elearning. A number of projects could for
instance be selected per year that would receive dedicated support.
More can be done to support the SMEs emotionally and provide recognition
through for instance a Staff Newsletter.
This study could also
contribute to the development of appropriate approaches for elearning material
development at other organisations in
The positive learning experience that the team development
approach within the pilots provided, and the reality that this University has
merely taken the first steps on the elearning route is well captured in the
following comment by a SME: “We worked as a team and everyone was keen to see
that the product was good. For all of us it was the first experience and so the
product has areas which we now can see need editing or improving upon”.
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Acknowledgements
The elearning pilot study at the