Students Perceptions on the Effectiveness and Advantages of the Open Distance Electronic Learning Methodology (ODeL) over the Traditional Face to Face Learning Methodology, "Two Years On"

Abstract

This article examines the perceptions of students on the effectiveness and advantages of the Open Distance electronic Learning (ODeL) methodology over the traditional face to face learning methodology. The University of Zimbabwe has, in the past two years, been offering a Bachelor of Education degree in Science and Mathematics Education using the Open Distance electronic Learning methodology. Three secondary school Teachers' Colleges, namely Mutare, Hillside and Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College are being used as satellite centres for this ODeL degree programme. Two intakes were enrolled in September 2010, one pursuing a two - year Post diploma degree programme and the other pursuing a three – year Post ‘A’ Level degree programme. This innovation has generated a lot of interest across the country and the first graduates on the Post Diploma programme completed their studies this year (June, 2012). In this study, the student population consisted of 31 university students in their second year, mainly using the Open  Distance electronic Learning methodology (ODeL), blended with face to face tutorials at the three secondary school Teachers' Colleges. The results indicate that students perceive the ODeL methodology as having significant advantages over the traditional methodology although the advantages are not necessarily knowledge related. The advantages cited by most students include learning from the comfort of their homes, learning the material at a  convenient time and place of their choice, fitting in better with the students' life style, enabling students to work while learning and being close to their families at  all  times, especially the married ones, hence reducing the risk of contracting HIV.