Open Distance and eLearning Virtual Conference
Dr Mary Ooko
Dr Mary Ooko
Manager: Unit for Distance Education
University of Pretoria
South AfricaDr Ooko is currently the Manager of the Unit for Distance Education at the Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria.
She has experience spanning over thirty years in the teaching/teacher training field, and e-learning implementation in higher education. Dr Ooko was the founding Chair of the Education Department at Africa Nazarene University and the founding Director of the Institute of Open and Distance Learning at Africa Nazarene University between the periods of 2008 to 2015. She worked at Kabarak University, Kenya as the Director of Kabarak University Online from 2015 to 2018 and served at the United States International University as the Director of USIU Africa Online before joining the University of Pretoria. Dr Ooko also worked for Community of Christ Church, USA as a Resource production coordinator in Africa.
She holds a Doctoral Degree in Didactics from the University of South Africa, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration, from the University Of Nicosia, Cyprus. Dr Ooko is also a holder of a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from Park University, U.S.A, Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, York St John University in the United Kingdom and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Hearing from the State University of New York, New Parltz, USA. Dr Ooko holds a post graduate certificate in Management Advancement Programme from the University of Witwatersrand, Business School.
Her research and publication work includes technology adoption for teaching/learning, learner support services, management and administration of ODL programmes, quality assurance in distance education, professional development, and faculty support.
She is a member of the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in Southern Africa and a Fellow of Higher Education Academy of the United Kingdom.
Dr Ooko is the Innovator of the Virtual Academy which is a learning platform where primary school lessons are interactive, animated, and simulated in a powerfully dynamic virtual learning environment.