16 Nov 2015

Botswana College of Distant Open Learning (BOCODOL) has set strides in technology mediated programmes and courses through a project termed integration of ICTs into teaching and learning. 

The dean of the school of education at BOCODOL, Dr Bogadi Nage-Sibande said the project was aimed at spearheading the implementation of the schools strategic goals. The goals, she said, was to leverage on technology and increase the number of programmes and services that were mediated through technology.

Dr Nage-Sibande said the project was born out during a consultative meeting on the importance of integrated ICTs into teaching and learning. The meeting was coordinated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Singapore government.

She explained that the project’s aim was to impart skills of integrating ICTs into teaching and learning. She said this was primarily through the development and repackaging of existing print based materials into interactive online materials and skills to support the learning process.

Dr Nage-Sibande said initially it was to be an intervention that would include representatives from all BOCODOL sections involved in materials development. Fortunately, she said COL acceded availing technical support to BOCODOL for the project.

“To that end we have received technical support through our very able consultant, Mr Andrew Moore from Neil Butcher and Associates in South Africa” she said. 

However, she said the unfortunate part has been that COL support came with conditions, which ended up forcing them to exclude some of the initial envisaged beneficiaries. 

“I do hope that similar projects  such as  this one will be possible in the future to benefit the other material developers and more support staff,” said Dr Nage-Sibande.

She said the project has been going well and receiving internal support from executive management and other sections of the college. She added that the support received would be crucial if the project was to succeed.

She applauded the team effort played by the two deputy executive directors. She said they ensured they apply everything in their power to remove the obstacles courted before the team success.

“I am happy to report that so far a total of 15 officers have been capacitated and are now pioneers in the implementation of the idea,” she said. She further explained that they pioneered the plan to develop and adapt existing print based courses to interactive online courses.

Presenting the online blueprint, Mr Moore praised the concept, defining it as the ground breaking model that would change the face of education worldwide.

He also applauded BOCODOL management and staff for the progress the project has covered. He said this have shown how important the project was to education and Botswana as a whole.

“Basically this is an attempt to teach really large classes and the record at the moment is two hundred thousand students in one class all taught at the same time,” he said.

Mr Moore said the courses provided were available and open online and accessible through selected schools. He further said the potential impact was to get more students. “It address the question of why should students go to schools physically while they can study at the comfort of their homes through their phone and tabs,” he said

“In the next five years we  are going to see the education scene change,” he added. Ends