Study on Impact of E-Learning as a Teaching Method

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The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is the only recognized university in Sri Lanka where students are able to pursue further education by distance education techniques in keeping with the philosophy of open and distance learning. A wide range of options are available to the distance educator. They fall into four major categories as voice, video, data and print. E-learning can be considered as one technological option. It can be defined as “a mode of providing learning experiences to learners, using ICT to overcome barriers of traditional learning”. There are several methods in e-learning such as web-based training, instructional Radio and Video-based Learning. Open University of Sri Lanka is now involved in online learning with Moodle, one of the famous learning management systems(LMS).The main focus on this study it to identify the impact of online learning for its students.For this study random sampling method and interview method have been used. According to the findings most students prefer forums as discuss subject matters and also for their networking .Students considered uploading assignments as more convenient than posting or handover to the University. They like this method because they can contact their coordinator at any time at any place. Particularly some prefer this to contact their coordinator even for counseling. Lack of resources-Computers as well as experts in the field, infrastructure, no proper training on Moodle, and Low awareness level of e-Learning can be considered as main problems. Some students still prefer traditional face to face learning method in lecturing. Hence E-learning with traditional face to face method or known as blended method can be used to access the larger number of students in distance mode. Nalin Abeysekera is a lecturer and facilitator for online and marketing at Open University of Sri Lank

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Study on Impact of E-Learning as a Teaching Method –Special Reference to the open University of Sri Lanka : Study on Impact of E-Learning as a Teaching Method –Special Reference to the open University of Sri Lanka Nalin Abeysekera Open University of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia, located about 31 kilometers (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India. Popularly referred to as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, it is home to around twenty million people

Literacy Rate and Computer Literacy Rate : Literacy Rate and Computer Literacy Rate With a literacy rate of 92%, and 83% of the total population having had Secondary Education, Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations. An education system which dictates 9 years of Compulsory Schooling for every child is in place, with 99% of the children entering the first grade. At national level, 10 percent of the above population is computer literate. The highest computer literacy rate of 20 percent was reported from the Colombo district The Monaragala district reported the lowest computer literacy rate of 3 percent.

Open University of Sri Lanka : Open University of Sri Lanka The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) is unique within the national university system in being the only University to offer programmes of study leading to certificate, diploma, degree, postgraduate diploma and postgraduate degree through the Distance Mode. The University was set up by the Government of Sri Lanka under the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, for the purpose of providing higher educational opportunities to working adults

Open University of Sri Lanka : Open University of Sri Lanka OUSL has central campus at Nawala and the 28 study centers scattered across Sri Lanka. 24,000 OUSL students island wide.

Online learning : Online learning Introduced one fully online course and 33 supplementary courses from the Faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Humanities are now being accessed by 3289 students online. The students of the OUSL will be able to access their online courses from National Online Distance Education access centers or NACs that have been set up in ten OUSL regional and study centers under the ADB funded Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP).

Online learning and Moodle : Online learning and Moodle Moodle is a free software e-learning platform (also known as a Course Management System (CMS), or Learning Management Systems (LMS), or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)). It has a significant user base with 38,896 registered sites with 16,927,590 users in 1,713,438 courses (as of January, 2008) OUSL using Moodle as its e-learning flat form (Learning Management System)

Findings… : Findings… Most of the students like Moodle because of easy understanding…. Some have problem once using dial-up connections at home-take time to upload etc… Students like interface

Findings… : Findings… Students like forums because they can discuss subject matters as well as for their networking.

Findings… : Findings… Students feel Uploading assignments as more convenient than post or to handover to the University. Specially students in the regional centers.

Findings….. : Findings….. Students can contact their coordinator at any time at any place… Even for counseling….

Findings… : Findings… Students who are doing their studies in post graduate level prefer this method than other students.(This might be because of their working schedules etc)

Findings…cont….. : Findings…cont….. But students identified this method as a complement not a substitute to traditional face to face learning

Problems : Problems Resources-Computers as well as experts in the field, Infrastructure, No proper training on Moodle Low awareness level of e-Learning Speed-dial up connections

Problems : Problems Especially students from rural areas have to come to their regional center to access because of their inability to access at their home.

Recommendations : Recommendations Infrastructure Development Increase awareness among public Proper Training and Development Partnerships between Universities and Private sector Continuous research on online learning Country should have e-learning policy

Thank You.. : Thank You.. Any Problems…..?????