IPS adopts E-learning

IPS TO ADOPTS E-LEARNING SYSTEMS

Lecturers of the Institute of Professionals Studies are to start Lectures, receive

and mark student’s assignments and proposals as well as interact with their students

online. The initiative begun as part of efforts being made by the School Of Research

and Graduate Studies, (SORAGS), of IPS, to partner Duquenes University based in

Pittsburgh, United States of America, to exchange lectures with IPS online.

In line with this initiative, Lecturers and administrators of the Institute have

been taken through a two day thorough training on some online applications and

security systems necessary for the implementation of an E-learning system namely

Moodle, Moodle Mobile Sheet, Data Security, and Data Encryption.

Moodle, an open source (free/almost free) E-learning system, enhances conventional

classroom teaching and learning. It has features that will give lecturers the

ability to upload course material, as well as gather and review assignments from

students. It will also help them design their courses and course outline in a way

that could be used both online and in the traditional classroom setting. Lecturers

can also mark assignments, keep records of grades and quizzes, chat with students

online and create their own websites with the Moodle application.

Students on the other hand can upload their assignments, proposals etc for the

attention of their respective lecturers. They can also access course information

which will be uploaded by lectures, end engage in online group discussions with

their colleagues.

Briefing participants at the workshop, systems administrator of IPS, Mr. Edwin

Ayenor said Moodle enhances freedom since it has unlimited user access once there

is a server and will encourage peer review among lecturers and students alike. He

added that a survey conducted on weekend student has proven that an E-learning

system will be beneficial and will appeal to them more, since most of them are

workers who have internet access but less studying time.

Dean of the Research and Graduate school, Rev. Mrs. Goski Alabi also took

participants through some practical aspects of Moodle namely the E-learning course

preparation, using standardized applications such as Bloom’s Taxonomy that will

enable lecturers prepare their courses online by following a template which seeks to

standardize courses as well as make their work less difficult. Rev. Mrs Alabi who

also lectures in a solely online master’s programme in Global Leadership ran at the

Institute’s graduate center, introduced participants to the Moodle Mobile Sheet.

This mobile application will enable lecturers capture assessment details of students

such as internal assessment results and class work results, offline (i.e. on their

mobile phones) and upload them later on to the IPS Online Student Information

Systems.

To prevent tampering of results and other information that will be uploaded, they

were also taken through data security and encryption systems.

Mr. Ayenor noted that there has been numerous requests for further and a more

detailed training as well as several follow- ups from participants which is an

indicator of their readiness for such a system. According to him, the next move

will be the provision of additional training for lecturers on how to set up their

own courses and a massive awareness creation. There will also be the organization of

a onetime workshop for students on networks that could be used to support the

initiative such as facebooks, yahoo messenger, twitter and the likes. Meanwhile,

lecturers are being encouraged to spread the word to their students as well as

encourage them to send their assignments, proposals etc via email to prepare their

minds.

Currently, IPS has three certified module trainers who can and will assist in the

take-off of the system. The cost involved and internet interruptions were however

mentioned as some challenges that may come up. Nonetheless, facilitators of the

workshop, Mr. Ayenor and Rev. Mrs Goski Alabi were optimistic that it will be a

success should the system be adopted since the advantrages it has, far outweighs its

disadvantages.

Source: Gifty Andoh Appiah.

giftdot@yahoo.com