Lydia Mbati Institute for Open and Distance Learning University of South Africa

1. Technology, society and pedagogy: an on-going synergetic relationship in driving open, distance and e-learning practice Lydia Mbati Institute for Open and Distance Learning University of South Africa

2. Presentation layout • Introduction • Societal developments and ODeL • Technological developments and ODeL • Pedagogical developments and ODeL • Developments for a digitised world • Conclusion

3. Introduction

4. Societal developments and ODeL • The church and education • The state and education • Colonization contributed to the emergence of correspondence education • Right to education

5. Societal developments and ODeL • Massification of education Massification led to changes in existent student-lecturer relations, society-university nexus and the reduction of elitism in higher education Massification led to changes in existent student-lecturer relations, society-university nexus and the reduction of elitism in higher education.

6. Societal developments and ODeL • The results of massification are evident around the world. In China, for example, the growth in the demand for higher education coupled with education informalisation and the construction of a learning-oriented society has led to growth in the ODeL sector • In South Africa, the new democratic government anticipated and encouraged the massification trend. This led to high expectations about the role that distance education would play across the system by increasing access and cost effectiveness (Badat 2005:192).

7. Tertiary gross enrolment ratio by geographical region, 2000 and 2007

8. Societal developments and ODeL • Globalisation and democratisation have similarly had an impact on ODeL. • Cross-border education • Open Education Resources • The knowledge society

9. Societal developments and ODeL Continuous professional development is one of the areas in which ODL has played a pivotal part. ODL programmes have led to the continuous professional development of lecturers and health professionals in Africa and elsewhere.

10. Technological developments and ODeL • The printing press • Print-based media as a means of knowledge transfer. Audio-visual material, computer-mediated communication and online interactive multimedia, as well as internet-based access to online resources supplemented print-based media

11. Technological developments and ODeL • These technologies make possible the reduction of the transactional distance in ODL environments. • Mass production and delivery of coursework • A learning approach described as “traditional” science formed the basis of the early technological media usage in ODL • Systems approach in distance education

12. Pedagogical developments and ODeL The main difference between the two is the emphasis on observable changes in behaviour by the behaviourists, and the internal mental activities of information processing, representation and self-awareness associated with cognitive theories Behaviourism Cognitive theories

13. Pedagogical developments and ODeL • The impact of behaviourism on ODL is reflected in lecturer-centred approaches which were and are still used to facilitate learning in some ODL contexts.

14. Developments for a networked world • New theories • Students as producers as well as consumers of knowledge • Self-determined students • The flipped classroom • Increased providers of education • The disruptive force of technology • Knowledge as a freely accessible resource ODeL institutions ought to investigate alternative business models in this changing educational landscape.

15. Thank you