ERIC Number: EJ1071342
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1814-0556
EISSN: N/A
Students' Experiences and Challenges of Blended Learning at the University of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Mtebe, Joel S.; Raphael, Christina
International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology, v9 n3 p124-136 2013
Recent developments in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), especially eLearning, have heightened the need for University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) to supplement on-campus face-to-face delivery as well as meeting increased students' enrolments through blended distance learning. Since 2008, the University has been offering three postgraduate programmes: Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering Management, and Master degree in Engineering via dedicated Learning Centres in Mwanza, Arusha, and Dar es Salaam. In total, 310 students have been enrolled into these programmes since 2008. However, the implementation of these programmes has resulted in mixed and unpredictable results. This paper reports on students' experiences as well as challenges UDSM has been facing during the implementation of blended learning courses in Tanzania. The data were generated through documentary reviews and 22 responses from a questionnaire distributed to students enrolled into these programmes. The study has revealed outdated learning resources, unavailability of instructors during live online sessions, under-utilization of Learning Centres, and technical difficulties are the main factors that affect students from exceling well in blended learning programmes. These findings have a number of important lessons and implications for similar institutions running blended learning or wishing to implement blended learning specifically in developing countries.
Descriptors: Student Experience, Blended Learning, College Students, Barriers, Program Implementation, Questionnaires, Content Analysis, Student Surveys, Enrollment Rate, Delivery Systems, Teaching Methods, Institutional Characteristics, Graduation Rate, Obsolescence, Educational Resources, Access to Computers, Access to Information, Internet, Teacher Shortage, Technical Support, Usability, Student Attitudes, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education, Technology Integration, Foreign Countries
International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology. University of the West Indies Open Campus, Dave Hill, St. Michael BB11000, Barbados. Tel: 868-663-9021; Fax: 868-645-9741; Web site: http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Tanzania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A