Research In De

Interactivity in distance education: The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) experience Terhemba Nom Ambe-Uva [email protected]

Asma AL-Amri u054767

Tamadher AL-Za'abi u063225

Available at: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/8 0/27/f6/f3.pdf We have read a research paper titled: Interactivity in distance education: The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) experience. This paper represents a study of students’ experience of interactivity in distance education programs at the NOUN. It analyzes how NOUN distance education has been able to create a sense of learning community and how these connections help students to develop a sense of personality and social presence. The study aims at understanding the NOUN's distance students' perceptions about interactivity that the NOUN's distance programs offer. Moreover, the study aims at assessing the NOUN’s institutional framework for enhancing interactivity at a distance. To accomplish this research; the NOUN delivered some courses at a distance. They locate 18 Community Resource Study Centers around the country and connect them with the NOUN. These centers suppose to provide students with training and learning, interactive sessions, internet access, access to the Virtual library and other computer applications. Undergraduate and Master students from four majors comprising Arts and Social Sciences, Business and Human Resource Management, Education, and Science and Technology were surveyed about some demographic and interactivity issues. Three forms of interactivity were included in the survey. They were: (1) one-on-one with the facilitator, (2) one-on-one or in small groups with the students, (3) full-class group including the facilitator. Discussions were conducted with six focus groups including students, facilitators and administrators to elicit qualitative information about interactivity. Research results shows that students believe that most distance courses require interactivity. They indicated that if interactivity was not an integral aspect of the course design, the interactivity especially between students themselves would be low. 80% of the sample learned through experiencing a high level of opportunity and helpfulness through those three forms of required interactivity. Almost around 80% indicated that they have experienced a kind of voluntary interactivity discussing topics that were not related to the course content. The sample of study acknowledged inaccessibility of various technology modes such as video and audio, teleconferencing etc which affected the interactivity of students with the course materials.