Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education

Distance education and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been marketed as cost-effective ways to rescue struggling educational institutions in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study uses classroom video analysis and follow-up interviews with t...

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Autor principal: Jean-Marie Muhirwa
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Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Athabasca University Press 2009
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/229b47edba59437a852bc6aef97d8df7
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:229b47edba59437a852bc6aef97d8df72021-12-02T18:03:26ZTeaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education10.19173/irrodl.v10i4.6281492-3831https://doaj.org/article/229b47edba59437a852bc6aef97d8df72009-09-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/628https://doaj.org/toc/1492-3831Distance education and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been marketed as cost-effective ways to rescue struggling educational institutions in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study uses classroom video analysis and follow-up interviews with teachers, students, and local tutors to analyse the interaction at a distance between learners in Mali and Burkina Faso and their French and Canadian instructors. Findings reveal multiple obstacles to quality interaction: frequent Internet disconnections, limited student access to computers, lack of instructor presence, ill-prepared local tutors, student unfamiliarity with typing and computer technology, ineffective technical support, poor social dynamics, learner-learner conflict, learner-instructor conflict, and student withdrawal and resignation. In light of the near death of the costly World Bank-initiated African Virtual University (AVU), this paper concludes by re-visiting the educational potential of traditional technologies, such as radio and video, to foster development in poor countries.Jean-Marie MuhirwaAthabasca University Pressarticleinteractioninteractivitysub-Saharan Africalearners’ supportInternet connectivitypedagogySpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691ENInternational Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, Vol 10, Iss 4 (2009)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic interaction
interactivity
sub-Saharan Africa
learners’ support
Internet connectivity
pedagogy
Special aspects of education
LC8-6691
spellingShingle interaction
interactivity
sub-Saharan Africa
learners’ support
Internet connectivity
pedagogy
Special aspects of education
LC8-6691
Jean-Marie Muhirwa
Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
description Distance education and information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been marketed as cost-effective ways to rescue struggling educational institutions in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study uses classroom video analysis and follow-up interviews with teachers, students, and local tutors to analyse the interaction at a distance between learners in Mali and Burkina Faso and their French and Canadian instructors. Findings reveal multiple obstacles to quality interaction: frequent Internet disconnections, limited student access to computers, lack of instructor presence, ill-prepared local tutors, student unfamiliarity with typing and computer technology, ineffective technical support, poor social dynamics, learner-learner conflict, learner-instructor conflict, and student withdrawal and resignation. In light of the near death of the costly World Bank-initiated African Virtual University (AVU), this paper concludes by re-visiting the educational potential of traditional technologies, such as radio and video, to foster development in poor countries.
format article
author Jean-Marie Muhirwa
author_facet Jean-Marie Muhirwa
author_sort Jean-Marie Muhirwa
title Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
title_short Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
title_full Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
title_fullStr Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
title_full_unstemmed Teaching and Learning Against all Odds: A Video-Based Study of Learner-to-Instructor Interaction in International Distance Education
title_sort teaching and learning against all odds: a video-based study of learner-to-instructor interaction in international distance education
publisher Athabasca University Press
publishDate 2009
url https://doaj.org/article/229b47edba59437a852bc6aef97d8df7
work_keys_str_mv AT jeanmariemuhirwa teachingandlearningagainstalloddsavideobasedstudyoflearnertoinstructorinteractionininternationaldistanceeducation
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