the status of e-learning and educational technology in makerere university

1E-Learning in Makerere UniversitySaturday 22 April 2023

The Status of E-Learning and Educational Technology in

Makerere University

Tito O. OKUMUE-Learning Manager

By


Presentation Focus• Institutional Policy• History of e-Learning at Makerere• The Current Status of e-learning• Prospects at the Future

Saturday 22 April 2023


Institutional PolicyThe University Strategic Framework 2007/08 -2017/18 Art 3.2.5 outlines the ICT framework in Makerere. The objectives are:

Harness ICT’s to improve teaching, learning, research & outreach.Increase access to ICT facilities in the UniversityImprove the capacity of staff and students in ICT useDevelop an ICT sustainable strategy for the UniversityProvide faster access to internet servicesHarness ICT to improve administration and management and finallyHarness ICT to improve marketing and public relations.



Elearning ProjectMakerere University ICT PolicyE-Learning policy is embedded in the Master ICT Policy– Goal 1: To improve the quality of graduates, by

utilizing modern instructional materials and methods, including increased use of ICT in teaching and research.

– Goal 2: To provide greater access to university education, by developing capacity for increased enrolment through non-conventional approaches in teaching and learning i.e. Distance education and virtual university


Elearning Plans• Leverage faculty/unit effectiveness by

using ICT in instruction, learning and Research.

• Create organizational and technical conditions assuring continuous in-house e-learning training capabilities in the long-term.

• Ensure and require that all students and academic staff are trained on a continuous basis


Elearning Plans Cont’d

• Develop university wide and global e-learning networks based on academic interests groups and research collaborations.

• Establish the appropriate common DLE infrastructure and software responsive to academic needs through the designated central technological unit.


Makerere University StatisticsIt has been in existence for over 86 years

It has 22 faculties/schools/institutes + constituent and affiliate collegesA student population of 30,000 undergraduate & about 3,000 graduate students. Conducts a Dual-mode delivery of content.It has 81 degree programmes, 42 of which are in sciences.Approximately 1,161 faculty teaching staff


1997 – (AVU) pilot project.

Introduced satellite content delivery, Use of webnars, Interwise Communication software, CD ROMS, Tapes etcIntroduced WebCT Digital library

History of E Learning @ Makerere


With Makerere University, University of Dar-Salaam and Tuft University in USACollaboration with Political Science Departments of the three Universities.Department of Gender and Women Studies was incorporated in this project especially the E-Learning aspect.Introduced Blackboard LMS at Makerere in 2002

2002 Co-curriculum Development

Project


Partnership with Tuft University

In Sciences, targeted the Makerere University School of Public Health.

Introduced Tuft Universities Knowledge Base (TUSK), LMSIt is used extensively at the College of Health Sciences



Partnership with University of Western Cape SA

• Knowledge Environment for Web-based Learning (KEWL) http://nextgen.mak.ac.ug

• KEWL is registered as open source under GPL and therefore carries no licensing costs.



HURIS – Human Resources Information ARIS – Academic Records Information System FINIS – Finance Information System MakLIBIS - Library Information System, http:// http://mulib.mak.ac.ug/col-link/e-resources.htmlResearch RepositoryRMACS

Other e-Resources


Possible Open Educational Resourceshttp://www.wikieducator.org/

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/

http://ocw.mit.eduhttp://www.oercommons.org/


Other e-CollaborationMillennium Science Initiative (MSI)

African Virtual \University (AVU), http://www.avu.org

Tuft University, http://tusk.musph.ac.ug

Teacher Education for Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) project – http://www.tessafrica.net

Strengthening Agricultural & Environmental Capacity Through Distance Education (SAEC-DE) – Mak, UON, Univ of Florida, CIAT with USAID Funding

EDULINK and other e-learning projects in the Faculty of Agriculture

RENU

NUFFIC

Association of African Universities and

South African Institute of Distance Education http://www.saide.org.za


Infrastructural SupportConnectivity

Makerere total internet bandwidth is 25 mbps

Access points, 7,838

Computers/laptops 5,191Students; Kiosks 12 (multimedia labs )

A university-wide fibre optic cable network

Introduction of iLabs in collaboration with MIT. Wireless networks in 2 Halls of residences (Dag & Africa)



Contribution from Development Partners

• Carnegie,• FORD Foundation, • NORAD, • Rockfeller • UTL and • SIDA


17E-Learning in Makerere UniversitySaturday 22 April 2023Saturday 22 April 2023

Internet Kiosk location No PC Allocated

1. Medical School 10

2. Faculty of Arts 10

3. School of Education 10

4. JICA building 15

5. CCE Hall 20

6. Senate building 20

7. Gender 15

8. Faculty of Vet Medicine 20

9. Africa Hall 15

10. Faculty of Forestry 20

11. ELearning Unit 20

Total 175

Source: DICTS Makerere University, Oct 2008


Faculty/unit Computers/laptops Data pointsInstitute of Environment and Natural Resources 50 75Institute of Psychology 20 80Institute of Statistics and Applied Economics 98 159Makerere Institute of Social Research 35 72School of Education 91 336School of Industrial and Fine Art 37 63Academic Registrar 120 209University Hospital 7 28University Library 140 214DOSATE 24 30DICTS 65 80Estates Department 4 49Main Building 120 150

Student Guild 0 31

Faculty of Food Science & Technology 50 200

Total 5,191 7,838

Source: DICTS Makerere University, Oct 2008


Computer Connectivity @ Makerere University


Human Interface• Leadership• Lecturers• Students• Supporting Staff



LeadershipCouncil Committee on E-Learning in form of a Management Unit- University wideE-Research Group at Faculty of Computer and Information TechnologyE-Learning Faculty Committees at Faculty levelELearning Coordinators at Faculties and Departments in the UniversityE-Learning Unit at IACE



LecturersSome staff have been trained on online facilitation using Blackboard, TUSK and KEWL LMS Under NUFFIC e-Learning Project, 20 trained in Europe and others trained locally; training has also been undertaken for FCIT, WGS, FEMA and others under Carnegie funding.Staff graduating recently from abroad have had exposure on a variety of LMSSeveral staff pursuing graduate studies are researching in e- and m- learning.



Lectures cont’d• There is training being offered by CIT

for all staff who are interested.• Individual Units of the University have

trained staff• Computer access has been provided by

the Ministry of ICT for those interested.• Staff have some access to computers



Blackboard KEWL

No. of users 32,979 2,784

No. of courses 1,190 283

No of Users for more than 1 course

18,834 283

Active usage (%) 57% 5%


Students• Constructive approach to include students• Training of students in basic computer skills

Makerere University approved an introductory level computing course for all University students.

• Students belong to the age bracket which is keen in IT.

• Fliers have been distributed to all students for enrolment on the blackboard platform



Support Staff• Invitation for training was made to all staff.• Administrative support to improve

communication between education providers and students.

• ARIS, FINIS MakLIB and HURIS are operational

• Most can access the intranet and have Makerere email address.


28E-Learning in Makerere University

From Distribution…

Learning Management Systems

Materials online

PresentationInformation

…to Collaboration

E-PortfoliosWeblogs

Communication Collaboration

WiKisCommunities

Transmissive Learning

Expansive Learning


Critical Areas to be addressed• Ratio of Computers to Users• High cost of Connectivity • Low Computer literacy rate at the University

among staff and students• Power Outages • Incentive mechanisms that encourages staff

embrace educational technology• Increasing demand for end-user access

infrastructure


Critical Areas cont’d• Elearning Critical Mass to champion

implementation at Makerere University.• Identify Specific Deliverables• Proprietary software access• Quality assurance• Gender mainstreaming


Thank You for Your attention

the status of e-learning and educational technology in makerere university

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