Study on Open School Learners’ Access to Electronic Media and their Use

Abstract

The Open School of Bangladesh Open University (BOU-OS) uses both the conventional face-to-face (f2f) tutorial system based on the print module and electronic technologies such as CDs, audiovisual cassettes, and radio and TV broadcasts for the delivery of the programmes. It means that the use of ICTs in the delivery of academic program at BOU is still minimal. In Bangladesh concept of technology-enabled open schooling was initiated in 1956 with ‘School Broadcasting Program (SBP)’ and still that is academically controlled by the BOU-OS. Therefore, the BOU came into existence through using electronic media. Finally, BOU adopted m-Learning because of the increasing popularity of the mobile phone and that it has provided an additional medium for the operation of distance. Still no comprehensive study is conducted how the learners get accessed to these media and what extend they use them to complete their learning? Therefore, the aim of the current research is to determine the relationship between OS learner use of electronic media and reading proficiency in the BOU-OS; it also investigates to what extend the TV programmes impacts on the OS’s learners’ learning activities; to find out how effectively the learners are being benefited through listening the radio programmes; to examine the computer communication and/or SMS is useful for learning activities. The predictor variables are viewing television programmes, listening radio programmes, using a computer for communication, and text messaging. Subjects included 300 SSC students. Regression analysis is used to statistically measure the effects years in the open school has on electronic media variables. The current research has wonderful implication in both national and BOU policy formation. This study has huge implications to the policy developers. This will also have implications for policy in the BOU. At a wider level, it will have implications for the entire education sector as the second chance education is performing the major role of the educational provision. // Paper ID: 102