Unit 2: Understanding ODL_Activity 2
- Which of the two institutions is more open?
Of the two Institutions, institution B is more open than institution A as enrolment age entry is open and entry qualifications are also relaxed. Institution B also enrolls students regionally. It also offers much easier ways sitting of examinations not like traditional schooling you have to do and write at the same time.
If I were to prefer open and flexible learning I would choose institution B – as it is not strict on entry requirements, writing examinations when you are ready, most of study time is from home, and more reliable when it comes to accessibility.
But if were to prefer a more inflexible system, then choosing institution A – as you physically go to campus to learn and most times you use hard copy materials and you more likely communicate in person or through post.
Some of the aspects of distance education I might consider making open are: age entry should be open, entry for qualifications should be flexible that is go for both vocational and academic, and how many subjects to enroll with and the access to resources and learning materials, along with proper orientations of the courses offered.
Unit 2: Understanding ODL-Activity 3
Question 1 Table 5
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Do students have choice on when to register over an academic year? -yes
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Do students have a choice regarding the form of assessment e.g. multiple choice, portfolio, essay? No
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Are there set assignment and examination dates or can students choose dates when they are ready? yes
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Is there a wide range of student support options from which students can choose? yes
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Is student support accessible and affordable? No
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Can students access learning environments and resources from a range of devices? No
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Do students have choice on curricula to follow? No
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Do students receive nationally and internationally recognised qualifications? Yes
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Do students get anything if they exit before they finish a ‘complete’ qualification? yes
10.Do the programmes open up the future for students? Yes
Question 2: 6/10*100= 60 percent- which it shows the ODL in my country is not open.
Question 3: I think some education institutions in the Pacific Island countries are open unlike for some no because still not reaching the flexibility stage. As still with the traditional schooling system and facing problem on accessibility to ICT and so forth. Also, students not meeting the same level of accessing information that all should acquire at the same time.
Unit 2: Understanding ODL: activity 4
Based on your experience or knowledge of your context, describe the type of curriculum that is most attractive to out of school youths between the ages of 16 – 24 years.
Usually, out of school youths prefer a curriculum that is much more flexible where they can learn at their pace and place of time. As they have different things to get involved in and they especially the youths also will find curricula that is vocational more interesting and skillful based on hands on training and so forth unlike based on theory right through. So, youths are livelier and keener to learn more on that type of learning. As they interact with technology, they would like to experience more into it. So, the flexibility of open education is very important in the context here especially in the Solomon Islands where most youths would like to build up their traditional skills into the vocational skills they have experienced.