University of Makeni

Distance Education and E-Learning Strategies

 AT UNIMAK

• Distance Learning – education

• E-learning – hybrid postgraduate programmes
 DISTANCE LEARNING – EDUCATION

• The university distance education program operates in three centers in Makeni,

Port Loko, and Kabala, using the Catholic Secondary Schools as the outreach

centers.

• Our lecturers for TC and HTC Programs have a wealth of practical experience

in distance education - outreach training - program since 2016/2017.

UNIMAK ODEL STRUCTURE

• VC

• Director of Academic Affairs

• Deans of Faculties

• Distance Learning and Online Coordinator

• Learning Center Coordinators

• Lecturers
 COVID-19 TRIGGERED ONLINE
TEACHING

• UniMak’s PG programmes went online in response to COVID-19 and measures

• COVID-19 triggered a digital transformation in education (Khalili, 2020)
• In the beginning we were reliant on free virtual teaching resources such as
Zoom and Google Drive
 EXPANDING
OUR ONLINE
TEACHING

• Through our COVID-19 experience,

we learned what our capabilities are
• Invested in virtual teaching resources:
vitual classrooms, professional zoom
accounts, better internet
• Developed two hybrid PhD
programmes and three new masters
programmes –that have a hybrid
component
• Our model is the complex, adaptive,
blended learning system
 COMPLEX, ADAPTIVE, BLENDED LEARNING SYSTEM

• Learner – at centre, active PG

student/researcher
• Teacher – still a facilitator of learning but with
new modes of delivery. Some in Makeni and
some outside. Draw on our Scientific Advisory
Committees (SACs) to enable experts from all
over the world to teach
• Content – Hybrid enables expansion of
content. Tutors design classes – diverse modes
and styles
• Technology – Zoom classes (recorded),
resources shared via email and online
platforms. Resources then available offline.
Live classes, not prerecorded
• Learning Support – tutors share experiences
to enable learning, IT support
• Institution – virtual classrooms, internet
provision Wang et al. (2015)
 OTHER ONLINE
OPPORTUNITIES

• Staff and students are able to take advantage of online

seminars, workshops and conferences
• We can host virtual/hybrid events
• Research opportunities have been opened up, including
collaborative research projects for our staff and students
• New modes of conducting research using technology –
phone interviews, WhatsApp surveys and Zoom meetings
• Thus expanding our research capacities
 OUR CHALLENGES

• Infrastructure – electricity and internet

• Lack of online depositary
• Online capabilities – some staff and students are not familiar with online
learning
 REFERENCES

Khalili, H. (2020) Online interprofessional education during and post the

COVID-19 pandemic: a commentary. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(5),
687-690.
Wang, Y., Han, X. and Yang, J. (2015) Revisiting the Blended Learning
Literature: Using a Complex Adaptive Systems Framework. Educational
Technology & Society, 18(2), 830-893.