07. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 7 (PCF7), 2013
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Browsing 07. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 7 (PCF7), 2013 by Region "Africa"
Now showing 1 - 20 of 125
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemOpen AccessAnalysing Cameroon Government’s ICT Policy Documents and Trainee Teachers’ Perception of ICT in education policy implementation using Critical Discourse Analysis(2013-11) Ndenge, KinsleyBased on forum discussions of 10 trainee teachers at a higher teachers training college in Cameroon, this paper aims to synthesize teachers' perception of ICTs in education and development using critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).It gives a radical implication on the governments' techno-centric view of ICTs for education and development through their policy documents and how this intends translates through implementation,utilization and teacher development at the micro level. The researcher uses CDA informed by critical policy to interrogate how hegemony influences public policy of ICTs which intends leads to poor implementation because contextual factors are not carefully considered before drafting policy.CDA is used to understand this contextual factors through trainee teachers' discourse of ICTs from forum discussions and word clouds are used to give a content analytical perspective of the policy documents. The researcher confronted a massive compliance and ideological rhetoric to ICT discourse but observes a latent integration process of ICTs in Education and development. Preliminary findings indicate that policy implications should include the need to greatly provide opportunities for training to teachers in the use of ICTs for education in order to encourage initiative for use and also calls for an improvement of mobile technology infrastructure. // Paper ID: 55
- ItemOpen AccessAppraisal Of Open And Distance Learning Education In Nigeria: National Open University Of Nigeria Experience(2013-11) Ohioze, Wilson F; Odishika, Vivian A; Adedeji, Liadi A; Olusanya, Samuel O; Adesina-Uthman, Ganiyat ANigeria Open and Distance Learning is a promising and practical strategy to solve the challenge of widening access to education therefore increasing participation in tertiary education. It is increasingly being accepted as an educational delivery standard which is viable, cost-effective and flexible without sacrificing quality. This paper seeks to appraise the Nigeria experience of open and distance learning education with emphasis on it promises, performance and challenges. The secondary data gathered from the existing literature from the National Open University of Nigeria and the National University Commission is analyzed using descriptive data analysis. The research thus concludes that what is increasingly at stake is what needs to be done to ensure that distance education is sustainable properly resourced and it is of standard and quality such as to deliver on what it promises. One of the challenges is to ensure that there are structures for expanding access to higher education, at the same time ensuring that learners enjoy an educational experience that would lead to quality learning experience, resulting in educational success. // Paper ID: 338
- ItemOpen AccessArtemisia Improving Livelihoods In Eastern And Central Kenya(2013-11) Kago, E K; Arundo, T O; Ngetich, A K; Nthuraku, F KMalaria has remained a major killer in Africa mainly to children under 5 years. Teachers, parents, pregnant and breast feeding mothers waste productive man-hours either being sick or taking care of their sick children instead of being gainfully employed. With resistance to chroroquine and sulfur based drugs the only alternative WHO approved remedy is coartem (Artemisin Combination Therapy (ACT)) at 600 Ksh per dose in Kenya, too costly for majority. With scientifically approved efficacy of Artemisia tea in management of malaria in rural area among poor communities, it will reduce malaria burden for local communities ensuring malaria treatment at low cost. The study aimed at making Artemisia tea accessible malaria endemic regions in eastern Kenya, to campaign through posters, video and realia for Artemisia accessibility, to reduce incidences of malaria and its economic burden among poor vulnerable rural women. 50% farmers adopted this innovation at college proximity, School Absenteeism reduced, college grades improved. The Kenyan variety did better with more height at flowering, and flowered late than Brazilian variety that dwarfed at flowering and had less foliage subsequently fetching less in the market Both varieties were attacked by white fly. The cuttings from Brazilian variety established faster, producing more seeds which were not viable while Kenyan variety produced less seeds which are more viable. The college supplied enough seeds and seedlings to all the contacts farmers as well as organizing seminars and workshops. Artemisia students have become more marketable. Most of the clients preferred processed tea to seedlings and seeds respectively. The pig manure produced most yields. Artemisia therapy relieved other ailments such as joint pains, digestive discomfort loss of appetite, insomnia, epilepsy menstrual problems and stomach distress. In Thika technical the Artemisia therapy is covered via video learning and modules as short term course in herbal medicine. // Paper ID: 123
- ItemOpen AccessAsa Briggs Lecture: Open Learning for Development: Towards Empowerment and Transformation(2013-12) Tait, AlanAsa Briggs Lecture presented by Mr. Alan Tait, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Learning for Development, Commonwealth of Learning, Professor, Distance Education and Development, Open University, United Kingdom, at the Seventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, 4 December 2013, International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
- ItemOpen AccessAssessment of pre-service teachers’ information and communication technology literacy and use of open educational resources(2013-11) Okonkwo, C A; Ikpe, AdakoleThe practice of education is changing globally in response to education for all (EFA) and the millennium development goals (MDG). Open educational resources (OER) offer viable opportunity as a tool to enable realistic outreach by incorporating innovative strategies in teaching and learning. Therefore, present generation of pre-service teachers need to be empowered with information and communication technology (ICT) skills to effectively utilize OER needed for the on-going transformation in education. However, there seems to be a digital divide and gender gap in the awareness and use of OER in this part of the globe and the developed world. This study assessed pre-service teachers ICT literacy necessary for effective deployment of technology in exploit of open educational resources. It also appraised the pre-service teachers’ awareness of the concept of OER as well as their experience, involvement and use of OER in their educational pursuit. Data were collected using structured questionnaire items from pre-service teachers of two tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The major findings of the study’s survey indicated that although most of the participants are very skillful in ICT usage but they are not very aware of the existence of OER. Hence, they have not been using OER as envisaged for empowerment and transformation in their learning environment brought about by current dispensation of open learning. Interestingly, they are very eager to be trained in the rudiments of OER. The results indicated there is an urgent need for their professional development to include enlightenment and training in the rudiments of OER in line with the global practice. This would enable them function effectively as agents of empowerment and transformation in the present day literate society. // Paper ID: 200
- ItemOpen AccessAn Assessment of the performance of entrepreneurship and Flexible Skills Development Initiative in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria(2013-11) Idogho, P O; Ugheoke, M L; Egele, A FChronic unemployment problem is plaguing the Nigerian society manifesting in young graduates from tertiary institutions roaming the streets in search of white-collar jobs without success. This has caused some of them great frustration, leading to their engaging in violent crime and other antisocial practices such as kidnapping, armed robbery, advanced fee fraud etc in the bid to survive. To curb graduate unemployment and the state of insecurity that general unemployment has caused, one of the strategy adopted, introduced and being implemented by the Nigerian government is the teaching of Entrepreneurship Education in all tertiary institutions in the country. In line with this policy, Entrepreneurship study has been taught in Auchi Polytechnic Auchi, since 2007. The study investigated the perception of graduating students of the 2010/2011 session on the effectiveness of the policy strategy with a view to curbing graduate unemployment in Nigeria. A sample of 3,600 respondents were drawn from a population of about 12,000 graduating students. This sample represents 30% of the total population of the graduating students. Data was collected using the instruments of questionnaire and interviews. The data was analyzed using percentages, bar chart and pie chart. // The result showed that 59% of the graduating students agreed that entrepreneurship education can curb graduate unemployment, 21% disagreed while 20% were undecided. It was concluded that entrepreneurship education plays a great role in curbing graduate unemployment in Nigeria. Therefore, leadership at all levels should play its role in ensuring the effectiveness of the implementation of the policy on entrepreneurship development of undergraduate students. // Paper ID: 274
- ItemOpen AccessBasic Computer Literacy for Sierra Leone Police Officers(2013-11) Thoronka, Kaprie; Sesay, Alpha B; Sesay, Abu B; Thoronka, Kevin W; Jawara, Fatmata HThis project highlights training of Sierra Leone Police Officers in Makeni City, Sierra Leone. // Information communication and technologies in Sierra Leone is at 99% poor and it is accessible. The use of computers and the Internet is another big problem. Youths, women and children don't have access. In 2012, Yegesie International Open College of Technology (YIOTEC) with the mandate to provide free access to computing and the Internet became a solution. YIOTEC started with consultation, meetings, workshops and seminars on the power of the computer and the Internet. // Internet Society and the Senior Experten Service - Bonn became technical supporters where they trained the staff of YIOTEC, which became trainers for different groups in Sierra Leone. YIOTEC found out that the Sierra Leone Police Force, to be a Force for Good, they have to be Computer Literate and be part of the digital world to bridge the International Digital Divide. YIOTEC's mission is to empower and equip both old and young willing to fight against this NEW ILLITERACY. // YIOTEC in partnership with the Sierra Leone Police, GIZ and regional headquarters of Sierra Leone Police, trained 150 senior Police officers dealing with records and Information and Communication. The Inspector General of Police found the course - Basic Computer Literacy for Officers so important, supported the continuation of training. More have been given the priority to be part of the digital world. Officers were trained in Microsoft Office Application programs and Internet and Computer Core CERTIFICATE courses - IC3 which have proved successfully and has caused many officers to be employed in DARFUR. // The Police can now be able to handle office work using the computer and the Internet, searching for information relating to their work or duty and also in designing activities to combat Cyber Crime. These 2 courses took 6 months. // Today, YIOTEC have trained over 560 students including the Police officers, the Soldiers and Bike riders. // Materials are provided by Senior Experten Service and other Information Technology Open learning institutions. This course was taken at their time, and graduates were promoted to other ranks. // Paper ID: 464
- ItemOpen AccessBridging the Gender Gap in Education through Open and Distance Learning: The Case of Doctorate Students in some Cameroonian Universities(2013-11) Meno, Yeba J S MThis study focuses on societal and cultural factors that cause gender inequality at the doctorate level in some Cameroonian universities, and how the use of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) can help address the gender inequalities. Specifically, the study seeks to find out how the marital status of women, tradition, and participation in decision-making and financial autonomy can influence gender inequality at the doctorate level. In Cameroon research results reveal that gender inequality is high in higher education notably at the doctorate level. The study hypothesizes in the main that there is a significant relationship between socio-cultural factors and gender inequality at the doctorate level in some Cameroonian universities, and that ODL will help address the gender inequality. The population for the study consisted of female doctorate students from three private and public universities in Cameroon. The sample of selected respondents consisted of 63 female doctorate students chosen from the universities at random. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data was collected from focus group discussions. Secondary data was collected from documents and scientific studies carried out in this domain. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Chi-square (X2) statistical analysis. Qualitative data was analyzed by describing the data and interpretation of meanings of the information supplied by the participants involving lessons learnt. The findings revealed that gender inequality exists at the doctorate level in some Cameroonian universities, and that ODL will help to bridge the gender gap. We recommend amongst others that women should be sensitized on the importance of ODL to them. The government should help fight gender blind policies, and all forms of socio-cultural practices that impede women’s progress at the university. // Paper ID: 255
- ItemOpen AccessBridging The Gender Gap Through The use of Open Distance Learning (ODL)(2013-11) Righa, Margaret MGender equity in education has been an issue of concern both in Kenya and internationally. Although tremendous success has been made in attaining Education For All (EFA) in Sub Saharan Africa and Kenya in particular, gender disparities in access, retention, transition and performance still exist. Girls in particular have continued to record poor retention and transition rates as well as poor performance in examinations. Despite Kenya being among the Sub-Saharan countries that have recorded reduced gender gaps in Primary and secondary education, the aforementioned disparities still exist. This could be attributed to the fact that a lot of attention has been given to access to education. However, one of the major challenges faced in Kenya in regard to access to education is the few number of schools available especially in rural setups where girls and boys walk long distances to access education. This has affected girls more than boys with most parents preferring to keep their girls at home. Moreover, even of utmost concern is the few number of teachers available in Kenyan schools with the current student-teacher ratio standing at 45:1.This paper therefore advocates for the use of ODL to ensure equity in education especially where schools and teachers are few. The writer is cognizant of the fact that access to internet services and computer gadgets may be a challenge in Sub Saharan Africa and in Kenya in particular, due to the economic status of the countries and advocates for the use of cheaper technology such as mobile phones and where applicable intranet services may be used. // Paper ID: 153
- ItemOpen AccessCapacity Building in Trainers of Technical Vocational Education and Training at the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL)(2013-11) Nitschke, Jan JThe Namibian College of Open Learning is a state-supported institution of learning with the key focus of providing educational opportunities to adults and out-of-school youth. Its programmes focus has traditionally be on Secondary Education programmes, however as part of its diversification strategy, it implemented a range of Professional and Vocational education programmes. // At the beginning of 2013, the College introduced the following TVET courses developed by the Namibia Training Authority (NTA): Automotive Mechanics, Welding and Fabrication, Plumbing and Pipefitting and Office Administration. These courses are registered at levels 1-3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). // Traditionally, TVET courses have only been offered through the contact mode of study in Namibia and hence there is resistance in some education circles in offering TVET through ODL. As such it was necessary to build capacity in the TVET trainers, particularly in Assessor and Facilitator training to lay the platform to address the challenges the College face in offering TVET through ODL. The training would form the basis of re-orientating trainers to be more efficient with trainees during contact sessions, hence the trainees would need less contact time and can study through ODL. Online facilitation should also be implemented to bring TVET in line with academic programmes where the use of ICTs is implemented. // The College partnered with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), to facilitate these trainings. Fifteen (15) TVET trainers were trained over a period of 13 days. // The study captures the knowledge, skills and experiences of the trainers before and after the training. A questionnaire was developed and administered to collect data before and after the training, while focus group discussions and interviews were also conducted with the participants. The study found that most of the trainers had knowledge of assessment and facilitation in conventional schools, but did not know that it was so different for TVET. // Paper ID: 260
- ItemOpen AccessCapacity Development Through Open And Distance Learning: A Case Study Of National Open University Of Nigeria’s Environmental Science And Resource Management Programme(2013-11) Medupin, CeciliaThis study revealed how environmental education was communicated to a variety of people through Open and Distance Learning (ODL through the programme environmental science and resource management offered at the degree level at the School of Science and Technology of the National Open University of Nigeria. This opportunity provided learners with the ability to continue their education build capacity and brought about social justice, with the aim of contributing to social awareness and create opportunities in social life. Questionnaires were administered on 150 learners who registered with the university across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The aim of the study was to determine the accessibility and relevance of the programme to registered learners from various six geo-political locations using also their demographic characteristics. The results of the study indicated various benefits, including: the positive perceptions of open and distance learning by the respondents which resulted from their improved access to education; the availability of course materials, the open system of admission where students can register at any time of the year; at their convenience; the flexibility of study, the ability to develop skills and capacity and the potential of open learning to provide new employment opportunities, enhance career prospects and work place promotion were some of the benefits indicated by the respondents in their questionnaires. Through open learning, environmental awareness and accessibility to homes and communities is increased. This would consequently encourage the management of natural resources for the future by the promotion of technological advancement in environmental management, sound data collection and analysis. Thus, communication of environmental data would further improve the chances of mitigating future environmental challenges and encourage exchange of solutions between nations. // Paper ID: 233
- ItemOpen AccessA case study to demonstrate the role of community radio in Khayelitsha, South Africa, as a platform for ODL and the empowerment of mothers of children under the age of five(2013-11) White, GailThe adoption of community radio as a platform for ODL in Africa plays an increasingly important role in health and development interventions. This paper will explore how a training and mentorship programme contributes to the production of balanced programming that focuses on key health issues and the resultant impact on marginalised women. It will examine the relationship between a collaborative training programme with the Zibonele community radio station in Khayelitsha, South Africa, against the quality of health programming as perceived by listeners. The training programme which has two key components includes face-to-face training and continuous mentorship and support. An interactive relationship enables the radio station to develop programmes that are in line with community needs, thereby developing sustainability through participatory engagements. Throughout the apartheid era people in South Africa were classified by race and subjected to a number of segregatory laws that limited interaction between different ethnic groups. This coupled with poor access to information and low literacy levels has made community radio a popular source of informal learning. Post 1994, the community of Khayelitsha continues to rely on this platform as a source of accurate information in the vernacular language, thus reinforcing the need for capacity at community radio stations to produce quality programming that adequately reflects the needs of its listeners. // This paper will share the results of focus group discussions conducted with women living in Khayelitsha to illustrate how content development has improved over the course of 10 months and how listeners respond to the information provided by the radio station. It will attempt to show the resultant health impact on women by comparing base-line health statistics and will further demonstrate the effectiveness of mentoring and support to community radio stations as a vehicle for ODL. // Paper ID: 395
- ItemOpen AccessChange, Discontinuity and Re-architecture at an ODL Mega-university(2013-11) Baijnath, NThe University of South Africa [UNISA], which celebrates its 140 years of existence this year is in the throes of deep transformation. Institutional transformation takes place within the context of ambitious plans to widen participation at the national level. Persistent challenges of increasing pass rates and throughput in distance education must also be overcome in order to cement the credibility of ODL as a viable avenue for quality higher education. // Much institutional change is driven by the conjuncture of national broadband infrastructure, receding costs, massive investments in institutional technological architecture, and tried and tested teaching, learning and assessment technology and applications, as well as the rapid advances in OERs, which render the shift online desirable. However, increased size and organizational complexity consequent to prolific growth over the past decade, a more diverse student body, and wide geographical dispersal of students, has also impelled the changes illuminated here. // The changes underway are resonant with changes in the economy and society in general as most of industry shifts to paperless environments. We have been impelled by concerns about the competencies and employability of graduates in the digital age. The shift online is intended to equip students, especially those from impoverished and technology poor backgrounds with skills for the digital age. // Beginning with a new business model, the effort underway is aimed to overhaul the operational model, and ultimately the entire organizational architecture. // This paper will illuminate the underlying premises of the change underway, and the challenges attendant to such largescale and unprecedented change to the architecture of an organization of the character and size of Unisa. // Paper ID: 20
- ItemOpen AccessCommunity Radio and Health Development in Rural Cameroon: An Impact Evaluation of COL-Cameroon Link Program in Lebialem SWR, Cameroon(2013-11) Afutendem, Lucas NCommunity radios are key role players and important change makers in establishing and promoting healthy trends and life styles. In an effort to educate, protect, support and promote mother and child health care best practices in rural communities, COL-Cameroon Link Partnership turned to Lebialem Community Radio, Menji, South West Region, Cameroon and in active collaboration with local stakeholders, initiated and have been running a program titled "Asogha legung emeh boh mua" (Talk on Mother and Child Health Care) in October 2011. After three years of program implementation, we evaluated it from various angles and to set up an ongoing process of dialogue between project funders, beneficiaries, government, health officials and civil society. We evaluate the development, implementation and impact of the new approach to health. // Data was collected from a sample of 120 respondents. It was analyzed with descriptive statistics using frequency distribution and percentage. Target Group Interviews (TGI) and participant observation techniques (POT) were used to evaluate the program, to obtain qualitative information about the views of beneficiaries, government and civil society, and to assess program development and implementation. Respondents expressed their knowledge, opinions and concerns about mother and child health especially breast-feeding. // The findings revealed that 70% of listeners indicated that the program was relevant to the mother and child health care information needs. 80% of respondents admitted that they gained some new knowledge through listening to the program and that all efforts should be made to sustain it. However, some constraints were observed as irregularity of broadcast and non-access of the radio waves in certain localities. The results offer advice on additional considerations that should be taken into account when setting up the project in other communities. Conclusions are followed with suggestions for the way forward. // Paper ID: 100
- ItemOpen AccessConsidering the Plausibility of Attaining Universal Secondary School Education for the Girl Chid in Nigeria through ODL(2013-11) Sarumi, Kahar W; Omazu, EricThe universal declaration of human rights recognised education as a human right. Despite this recognition, a large percentage of the human population still lack access to education. This is particularly true of the girl child from less privileged background. In Nigeria, statistics shows that the percentage of girl child enrollment in secondary school is 44.3% as against 55.7% for the boy child enrollment. This disparity has wide implications for child upbringing, gender equality, access to resources and human development. Opening up access to education for the girl child is fundamental to narrowing these gaps. This paper is premised on the assumption that ODL system can serve as veritable tool for expanding educational opportunities available to the girl child in Nigeria. While the paper explores avenues through which the ODL system could be incorporated into the secondary school education, it also discusses modalities for effective functioning of the ODL system in secondary education as well as the extent of the benefits and opportunities the ODL holds for the universal secondary education of the girl child in Nigeria. // Paper ID: 325
- ItemOpen AccessCreating and Sharing Open Educational Resources Through Action Research in a Challenging Context(2013-11) Turuthi, David GProverbs are expressions of the folk which contain wisdom, truth, morals, experiences, lessons, and advice concerning life and which have been handed down from generation to generation. Proverbs were used since the Middle Ages as pedagogical tools in the study of language with the aim to enhance educational outcomes. With increased access to variety of technologies, teaching and learning has to be reformed to be in tandem with the times. Integration of videos in teaching Kiswahili proverbs was deemed by the authors as an attractive teaching strategy because it is interactive therefore likely to provide great enthusiasm and motivation to students. Our presentation will focus on how videos were integrated in teaching Kiswahili proverbs in a school in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya, with particular emphasis on bringing the context of the proverbs taught to class, to remove abstractness and replace it with a near representation of real objects and situations. This was a participatory action research involving one teacher and Form Two students in one secondary school. Data was collected through multiple methods that included interviews, classroom observations, reflective conversations, focus group discussion and document analysis. Data collection and analysis were concurrently done since the findings of an earlier cycle had to inform a later one. Findings from the study suggest that when learners interact during learning with videos that indicate real experiences or contexts, there is increased enthusiasm and motivation and therefore a positive climate for learning. The learners during a post-intervention focus group discussion suggested that videos attracted their concentration in the lessons because of its audio-visual nature that enabled them to engage more than one sense organ. As a practical contribution of this study, a selection of the videos of contexts in which proverbs exist were shared as Open Educational Resources (OERs) so that others from challenging educational contexts may have access. The authors also took a commitment to develop more videos for sharing as OERs as a further contribution to improved teaching and learning. // Paper ID: 114
- ItemOpen AccessDeploying Online Streaming of videos via the internet for the delivery of classroom lectures (Real time/On-demand streaming) in ODL schooling(2013-11) Odion, Amadasun OThis paper, investigates the model of online streaming which provides a free-of-charge access to streaming educational lectures via the internet. Streaming video can be used for live instructional broadcasts or recorded instructional activities that can attracts learner’s attention and present information that is easy to absorb. Essentially, streaming video is a term applied to the compression and buffering technologies that allow one to transmit and view video in real time through the internet. The study shows that streaming video is relatively of high quality/low bandwidth format suitable for asynchronous web-casting, also its look into the production system, video editing system, streaming server for post production in streaming video format. Following the global economic changes and the growth of social network media worldwide, education is undergoing a paradigm shift as the wall in classrooms are opening up to rich digital contents. This shift has been influenced largely by technological and pedagogical trends, video streaming is poised to act as a powerful agent that adds value and enhances the quality of learning experience. // Paper ID: 459
- ItemOpen AccessDeveloping a capacity-building Programme for training of Primary School Headmasters the use of ICT in Primary Schools in Mauritius(2013-11) Auckbur, Ricaud G DThis paper presents a learning framework for the training of Headmasters, as adult learners, in the use of ICT as a tool in management in Primary Schools in Mauritius. The introduction of ICT in Management and Education is a new measure adopted by the Ministry of Education and Human Resources to ensure that Educational Institutions in Mauritius are not left behind in fostering a knowledge-facilitated society. // Paper ID: 51
- ItemOpen AccessDevelopment of Computer-Aided Interactive e-Learning Platform on Kinematics of Machines(2013-11) Momoh, J JOne of the fundamental, yet challenging tasks in Nigeria education is the development and utilization of teaching strategies that effectively convey information in a format that is conducive to students as their preferred learning styles. Due to the fact that students prefer the conventional method of teaching in order to provide better understanding of conceptual theory and computational works that seem tedious manually which can be done using computer, this platform has been designed to provide various animation, image, e-book and online resources on kinematics of machines. The main aim of the presentation is to build an e-Learning platform focused on the kinematics of machines, using the most advanced multimedia tools with high definition videos, wiki, quiz and evaluation among others. The developed e-learning platform on kinematics of machines provides a unique experience, impossible to achieve with the traditional system of learning in the classroom. The training with the e-Learning platform is engaging and interactive, included instructions from live video, presentations, chat, link library and assessments in order to maximize the learner experience on kinematics of machines learning process. This presentation will review relevant literature, describe the e-learning platform developed and compare its use to other content delivery methods, discuss the experiences and evaluation of using the e-learning platform and how the students benefited from using the e-learning platform, and discuss the necessary hardware and software and the process of making an e-learning platform. // Paper ID: 310
- ItemOpen AccessEconomic and Socio-Cultural Constraints that Engender Legal Education in Northern Nigeria and the Use of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) to Effectively Address this Trend(2013-11) Oyakhiromen, Ifidon; Godwin-Clark, SoibiNigeria is dynamic and pluralistic in terms of its traditions and cultural values. This has significantly impacted the trend of educational development with respect to gender in the legal profession especially in the northern part of Nigeria. This paper intends to examine the traditions and cultural values in Northern Nigeria and its contribution to engendering and sustaining gender disparities in the pursuit of a legal career. This paper will be divided into three sections. The first will examine the economic challenges encountered within the family unit, the community and the region and how its effect has served to create and sustain disparity in the legal profession. The second section focuses on strong traditions, religious influence and cultural factors their spoken and unspoken norms, which sometimes emasculate the female desire to pursue legal career. These strongly entrenched views often times co-operate with the conservative colonial heritage and nature of the legal profession to sustain gender disparities that are today evident in the highly disproportionate male-female ratio in the legal profession in the north. The third section discusses the traditional mode of learning and obtaining a law degree and juxtaposes it with the ODL system highlighting the use of ODL as an effective tool to combat the constraints highlighted above. Finally the advantages of ODL in creating accessibility, convenience and economic efficiency in delivering legal education equitably will be explored. Also the use of ODL will be advocated as a desirable and inevitable change agent to address misconceptions, gender imbalance and promote necessary equality in representations at the Bar, on the Bench and in all facets of the legal profession and to ensure equity in the dispensation of justice for all men irrespective of their gender in a system where the female is still regarded as subservient, her education secondary and her role as merely complementary. // Paper ID: 456