Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a new phenomenon that is being steadily embraced in higher education space in Africa, particularly in Ghana. It is an innovation to the traditional bricks and mortar learning system in institutions of higher education and, if such novelty is not carefully managed...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Munkaila Abdulai, Fred Awaah, Michael Osei, Ernest Yayviah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) 2022-12-01
Series:West African Journal of Open and Flexible Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wajofel.org/index.php/wajofel/article/view/103
_version_ 1797350816762298368
author Munkaila Abdulai
Fred Awaah
Michael Osei
Ernest Yayviah
author_facet Munkaila Abdulai
Fred Awaah
Michael Osei
Ernest Yayviah
author_sort Munkaila Abdulai
collection DOAJ
description Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a new phenomenon that is being steadily embraced in higher education space in Africa, particularly in Ghana. It is an innovation to the traditional bricks and mortar learning system in institutions of higher education and, if such novelty is not carefully managed and deployed, its essence may be misplaced. Administrators, instructors and learners are important collaborators in this project. Unfortunately, those collaborators are also new to ODL operations and their learning management systems. A major concern for learners remains effective learner support services while empowerment, skills development and infrastructure for teaching and learning are important for administrators and instructors. The paper explored the perceived quality of ODL resources and learner support services across Ghanaian ODL universities from students’ perspective. For this study, a sample of 503 respondents were randomly selected from five (5) ODL universities and quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed that instructors’ support was found to be unsatisfactory whilst the atmosphere of the learning center is considered non-conductive. Distance learning universities are recommended to invest more in technology-driven services that would enhance quality systems, and instructors support while attending to the needs of the learners quickly.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T12:50:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-9694c0c663ef422da0e84805939ecaba
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2276-6472
2786-9717
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T12:50:31Z
publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)
record_format Article
series West African Journal of Open and Flexible Learning
spelling doaj.art-9694c0c663ef422da0e84805939ecaba2024-01-20T10:36:15ZengRegional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)West African Journal of Open and Flexible Learning2276-64722786-97172022-12-01102Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in GhanaMunkaila Abdulai0Fred Awaah1Michael Osei2Ernest Yayviah3University of Professional Studies, GhanaUniversity of Professional Studies, GhanaDepartment of Marketing University of Professional Studies - GhanaDepartment of Marketing University of Professional Studies - Ghana Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a new phenomenon that is being steadily embraced in higher education space in Africa, particularly in Ghana. It is an innovation to the traditional bricks and mortar learning system in institutions of higher education and, if such novelty is not carefully managed and deployed, its essence may be misplaced. Administrators, instructors and learners are important collaborators in this project. Unfortunately, those collaborators are also new to ODL operations and their learning management systems. A major concern for learners remains effective learner support services while empowerment, skills development and infrastructure for teaching and learning are important for administrators and instructors. The paper explored the perceived quality of ODL resources and learner support services across Ghanaian ODL universities from students’ perspective. For this study, a sample of 503 respondents were randomly selected from five (5) ODL universities and quantitatively analyzed. The results revealed that instructors’ support was found to be unsatisfactory whilst the atmosphere of the learning center is considered non-conductive. Distance learning universities are recommended to invest more in technology-driven services that would enhance quality systems, and instructors support while attending to the needs of the learners quickly. https://wajofel.org/index.php/wajofel/article/view/103Open and Distance LearningLearner Support ServicesQuality Assurance
spellingShingle Munkaila Abdulai
Fred Awaah
Michael Osei
Ernest Yayviah
Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
West African Journal of Open and Flexible Learning
Open and Distance Learning
Learner Support Services
Quality Assurance
title Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
title_full Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
title_fullStr Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
title_short Perceived Quality of Open and Distance Learning Resources and Effective Learner Support Services among Dual-mode Universities in Ghana
title_sort perceived quality of open and distance learning resources and effective learner support services among dual mode universities in ghana
topic Open and Distance Learning
Learner Support Services
Quality Assurance
url https://wajofel.org/index.php/wajofel/article/view/103
work_keys_str_mv AT munkailaabdulai perceivedqualityofopenanddistancelearningresourcesandeffectivelearnersupportservicesamongdualmodeuniversitiesinghana
AT fredawaah perceivedqualityofopenanddistancelearningresourcesandeffectivelearnersupportservicesamongdualmodeuniversitiesinghana
AT michaelosei perceivedqualityofopenanddistancelearningresourcesandeffectivelearnersupportservicesamongdualmodeuniversitiesinghana
AT ernestyayviah perceivedqualityofopenanddistancelearningresourcesandeffectivelearnersupportservicesamongdualmodeuniversitiesinghana