EFFECTS OF THE OPEN DISTANCE ELECTRONIC LEARNING (ODEL) SYSTEM ON STUDENT SERVICE DELIVERY AT THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Dublin Core
Title
EFFECTS OF THE OPEN DISTANCE ELECTRONIC LEARNING (ODEL) SYSTEM ON STUDENT SERVICE DELIVERY AT THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Creator
DOMINIC UZHENYU
Description
Open and Distance electronic Learning (ODeL) has transformed itself to become virtual with
minimal or even no physical tutor-student contact as academics create learning platforms, mark
assignments and even supervise dissertations and theses online. The Zimbabwe Open
University (ZOU) has undergone a lot of transformation since becoming a fully pledged
university in 1999. ZOU started with class contact (face-to-face with tutor) and use of modules
but has made great strides towards full use of electronic learning (e-learning) in line with
contemporary global practices in ODeL. The study used the explanatory research design. A
questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The interview guide was used to collect
qualitative data. The study established that the majority of academics’ workload had increased
as the transition phase was taking longer than expected. A lot of administrative work, coupled
with inadequate training to effectively use the ZOU MyVista software learning platform,
pressure emanating from doctorate degree studies by most academics, the need to undertake
research and publish research papers as well as implementing a demanding quality assurance
system, all strained academics. On a positive note, the use of e-learning has expedited feedback
and communication to students, and it is also very convenient to them as they no longer have
to travel long distances or queue at regional campuses to see the regional programme
coordinators. The study recommended that more training on e-learning and availability of more
accessible infrastructure, namely computers and relevant software, would capacitate both
academics and students. There is also an urgent need to bring Part Time tutors on board, who
are the majority but currently left out of this e-learning drive, so that there is a strong learning
culture at ZOU for improved service delivery
minimal or even no physical tutor-student contact as academics create learning platforms, mark
assignments and even supervise dissertations and theses online. The Zimbabwe Open
University (ZOU) has undergone a lot of transformation since becoming a fully pledged
university in 1999. ZOU started with class contact (face-to-face with tutor) and use of modules
but has made great strides towards full use of electronic learning (e-learning) in line with
contemporary global practices in ODeL. The study used the explanatory research design. A
questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data. The interview guide was used to collect
qualitative data. The study established that the majority of academics’ workload had increased
as the transition phase was taking longer than expected. A lot of administrative work, coupled
with inadequate training to effectively use the ZOU MyVista software learning platform,
pressure emanating from doctorate degree studies by most academics, the need to undertake
research and publish research papers as well as implementing a demanding quality assurance
system, all strained academics. On a positive note, the use of e-learning has expedited feedback
and communication to students, and it is also very convenient to them as they no longer have
to travel long distances or queue at regional campuses to see the regional programme
coordinators. The study recommended that more training on e-learning and availability of more
accessible infrastructure, namely computers and relevant software, would capacitate both
academics and students. There is also an urgent need to bring Part Time tutors on board, who
are the majority but currently left out of this e-learning drive, so that there is a strong learning
culture at ZOU for improved service delivery
Publisher
ZIBEM
Date
2024
Files
Collection
Citation
DOMINIC UZHENYU, “EFFECTS OF THE OPEN DISTANCE ELECTRONIC LEARNING (ODEL) SYSTEM ON STUDENT SERVICE DELIVERY AT THE ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY,” ZOU Institutional Repository, accessed July 12, 2025, https://ir.zou.ac.zw/items/show/405.
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