Maturity Levels of Student Support E- Services Within an Open Distance E-learning University

Abstract

The University of South Africa (UNISA) is one of the distance education universities that is shifting from open distance learning (ODL) to open distance e-learning (ODeL). UNISA started as a correspondence institution in the 1950s and it has since evolved into an ODeL university. The aim of this research was to assess and determine the maturity levels of UNISA lecturers’ and tutors’ explorations of various forms of e-learning technologies to support students in an ODeL environment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 academic staff members. A hybrid approach involving inductive and deductive reasoning was used to guide the whole research process. The online course design maturity model (OCDMM) was modified and adapted in order to guide data collection, data analysis, and the interpretation of results. The results of the study indicate that the maturity levels of UNISA’s student support e-learning technologies are at the basic levels of the maturity assessment framework for open distance e-learning. It is hoped that the results of this research will serve as a starting point that the University can use to constantly measure improvements made in advancing e-learning activities. 

The role of digital learning toward students' satisfaction and university brand image at educational institutes of Pakistan: a post-effect of COVID-19

“…Better quality of e-service can encourage students for learning through an online system. Consistent with the current study Nsamba (2019) elaborated that the e-service quality affects directly to the loyalty of e-learning students. In line with the current study, various prior studies also highlighted that e-service quality has a positive effect on student e-learning (Khodadad Hoseiny et al, 2013;Mart ınez-Arg€ uelles et al, 2009;Zeglat et al, 2016).…”

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“…Another case study, conducted by Zawada (2019:15), notes that Unisa has a complex Quality Assurance (QA) system in place, however, its “effective implementation may not be evenly spread across the institution”. In line with Nsamba’s (2019) and Zawada’s (2019) argument, this paper argues that ODeL and DE institutions can improve the enactment of a high-quality culture of teaching and learning with the student and lecturers at the centre of meaning-making and success. Thus, the focus of this study is to assist students and lecturers via eLearning technologies to reduce TD; which arguably debilitates meaningful learning.…”

“…Despite attempts in the literature to understand how meaningful learning occurs between lecturers and students, this action study attempts to use eLearning technologies to support students in their learning and seeks to understand how these technologies can bridge the TD between both stakeholders at the University of South Africa (Unisa). A pertinent study conducted by Nsamba (2019) at Unisa, aimed at assessing the maturity levels of lecturers and tutors’ explorations of different forms of eLearning technologies to support students. The study found that the use of eLearning technologies by lecturers and tutors was measured at level 1 or ‘basic’ on the Maturity Assessment Framework for ODeL.…”

“…Literature suggests that DE remains decentralised in the department in which it functions (Nsamba, 2019; Xiao, 2018; Zawada, 2019). Daniel (2012: 90) mentions Tony Bates who refers to the “Lone Ranger” approach which occurs when a lecturer or student works independently away from the support of others.…”

Antecedents of Student Loyalty in Open and Distance Learning Institutions: An Empirical Analysis

“…Studies on e-services have looked at various aspects of e-service quality. E-services provided by the university include various electronic services that require no face-to-face or physical interaction between learners and the university, such as electronic registration, electronic payment, electronic seminars or tutorials, and live forums with tutors (Nsamba, 2019). Yoo and Donthu (2001) developed SITEQUAL, a psychometric measure of service quality for online shopping websites.…”