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Unisa Western Cape staff shine at two international conferences
In a remarkable display of Unisa Western Cape's dedication to innovation and excellence in distance learning, three staff members presented at international conferences in 2024. Their presentations focused on student success, digitalisation, and the importance of community outreach and engagement in improving open and distance learning for students.
Experiencing the culture of Botswana with their executives at the International Conference gala event.
John Abrahams, the Head of Facilitation of Learning for the Western Cape Region, highlighted the transformative impact of proactive student support on learning interventions at decentralised centres of open and distance learning. He co-presented the study "Exploring the use of an early alert system to enhance student support for improved retention and academic performance" with Mbodi Khorombi from the Unisa Midlands Region at the Unisa Inaugural International Conference on Teaching and Learning in Muckleneuk, Pretoria.
The Khorombi and Abrahams study investigated the use of an early alert system (EAS) to identify first-year students at risk of failing or dropping out, and provide interventions to contribute to their retention and success. "During our presentation, we demonstrated the benefits of using the EAS by tracking students' activities on the learning management system,” commented Abrahams. "Throughout our research, we found that the early alert system can predict student performance in individual courses and allow for early interventions. Our research intervention indicated a positive correlation between the amount of student support received and success in high-risk modules."
Adéle Blacker presented on ways to eliminate aspects of compounded marginalisation of rural learners in ODL contexts at the Botswana Open University Inaugural International Conference.
Adéle Blacker, renowned for her research in community-based learning, presented on the role of strong institutional visions and foundations in driving quality and shaping educational innovations at the Botswana Open University Inaugural International Conference in Gaborone, Botswana. She highlighted the importance of relevance, quality and significance, specifically in contexts where complex and critical issues related to rurality, community embeddedness, opportunity and compounded marginalisation can impact teaching, learning and community engagement in distance learning.
"In my work in resource-constrained environments," she stated, "I have found that student support activities have a significant impact on the mediated learning experiences of students. These activities also contribute to their efforts to sustain their enrolment based on their academic and social experiences. It was crucial for me to examine the dimension of marginalisation in the Harrison and Atherton (2021) study and to share the nuanced voices of students. I wanted to shed light on the ways in which limited resources affect their learning experiences."
Blacker argued that the development of strong and supportive communities within online distance learning environments is crucial for student success. She further shared successful case studies from her own involvement in community-based learning, illustrating how active community engagement can enhance collaboration, reduce isolation and improve retention rates.
Jacques du Toit chairing a session on artificial intelligence at the Botswana Open University Inaugural International Conference.
The third presentation, titled "Adoption Antecedents in Digital Innovation in ODL: Perspectives on Transforming E-Tuition Regional Support Frameworks" and delivered by Jacques du Toit, also at the Botswana Open University Inaugural International Conference, combined the themes of educational innovation, student support and recontextualisation in regional settings. This presentation focused on integrating digital innovation into higher education teaching and learning, and highlighted the multidimensional processes involved. It examined interconnected elements such as organisational readiness, including an organisation's capabilities, resources and culture, which are significant factors in digital innovation in open and distributed learning.
Jacques du Toit addressing the conference delegates on the importance of digital innovation in ODL at the Botswana Open University Inaugural International Conference.
"I think we often overlook the importance of leadership and their strategy for digital transformation when considering digital innovation,” emphasised du Toit. “This has a significant impact on the adoption environment. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it became apparent that the role and vision of digital transformation influenced regional support models in the adoption landscape. These factors were not only important for the dynamics of digital innovation, but also for user experience, change management, and aligning regional vision with digitalisation."
He highlighted the synergy between vision, digitalisation and context, proposing innovative strategies for integrating these elements.
These presentations not only showcased Unisa Western Cape's commitment to expanding the reach of the region internationally, but also provided valuable insights for distance learning practitioners globally. Expressing her pride in the presenters, Michelle Frauendorf, acting Regional Director of the Western Cape Region, said: "By championing student success, digitalisation and community engagement, our staff are paving the way for the future of distance learning, ensuring it is more effective, inclusive, and engaging for all students."
* By Thabo Dayeni and Jacques du Toit, Unisa Western Cape
Publish date: 2024/07/31
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