Open & Distance Learning (ODL) Needs Consolidation through Innovative & Collaborative Learning Approaches: A Sri Lankan Case Study

Abstract

PCF5: Cross-Cutting Theme // The author has been involved since 1979 in teaching Chemistry at the B Sc degree level simultaneously to students in two non-conventional programmes outside the state managed Sri Lankan University system. He has also been involved over 42 years of his academic career in teaching Chemistry to B Sc students in many conventional Universities in Sri Lanka and in Papua New Guinea. Over the past four decades varied experiences have been obtained in both “teacher centred” and “student centred” teaching/learning approaches to a wide spectrum of students in many conventional and non-conventional tertiary level programmes. This paper discusses the results of case studies conducted over three years with a view to strengthen ODL by consolidation & coordination of such experiences into a more productive teaching/learning mode that attempts to make use of the better elements of ODL and face to face instruction within the particular needs & demands of students. // Paper ID 449