Presentation
Blended Learning at the Central University of Technology, Free State
JJC Badenhorst and KJ de Beer
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| Paper (11 pages) |
Recently the high drop-out rates at the Central University of Technology (CUT) have become a matter of concern. The socio-economic and educational background of the “typical” CUT student forces the institution increasingly to find innovative but effective teaching strategies to address this problem. It became clear that the traditional lecturing, face to face delivery is insufficient to create an effective learning experience. For this reason the CUT decided to institutionalise a learner-centred approach towards teaching and learning. It was agreed that a blended learning approach should be implemented and experimented with to see whether it addresses some of the learning problems experienced.
Subsequently CUT embarked on blended learning, where e-learning on the campus will be one element of the delivery methods used. This decision is also aligned with one of the elements of the mission of the CUT which is to facilitate and enhance access for all learners. This implies that a learner must freely have access to learning material and learning activities.
CUT uses WebCT as a Learning Management System. With WebCT, activities and learning material are electronically available for the learner. The lecturer facilitates the learning process by using the WebCT platform to guide the learner through the learning experience. By selecting the correct methods, interactions and activities using a blended learning approach, it is therefore possible not only to ensure that the quality on the campus and at the regional learning centres is on par, but also to regulate the quality of the learning process itself.
The purpose of this paper is thus to share the experiences and reflections of CUT in this regard and to report on progress made in this regard and to identify those areas that needs further investigation.