Assessment of challenges in developing self-instructional course materials at the National Open University of Nigeria
The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is Nigeria’s only university dedicated to providing education through the use of distance instructional methods. So far, however, the lack of availability and poor distribution of course materials, which underpin instructional delivery at NOUN, continue to be hindrances to achieving the university’s vision and mission. There are delays and difficulties in developing and distributing materials to students and Study Centres. Many pioneer students cannot graduate because of this challenge. This paper examines the process of developing self-instructional course materials at NOUN. It reflects on the challenges associated with the quantity, quality, and timely production of course materials, labelled “the hills, the wills, and the skills” obstacles. The paper concludes that there is a need for better professional development in order to provide efficient ODL delivery.
Usability of Instructional Interface: Accessibility Strategies of Courseware Design for Distance Learning, Nigeria
Usability is always the basic factor to be considered when developing any learning product. It attracts students to use the developed product such as courseware and help learners to gain more knowledge in learning. When usability strategies are considered in designing courseware, the courseware can be usable for the target users. Currently in Nigeria courseware are not fulfilling the requirement. Users are not happy with courseware; hence the usage is not encouraging, especially, in distance learning environment. Accordingly, this paper explains about the needs for determining the appropriate instructional interface elements using multimedia as part of usability strategies in courseware for distance learning. The study was carried out with fifteen academic staffs of a distance academic programme at university of Ilorin, Nigeria. Data were gathered through unstructured interviews. Having analyzed, the results show that there is a need for a study that determine the usability strategies for distance learning in Nigeria.
The Meaning of Wisdom in James: Examination of a Hypothesis
The following essay is an attempt to examine the manner in which the writer of the Epistle of James uses the concept of Wisdom; and to study the suggestion that the way in which he uses it is more or less interchangeable with that in which other writers of the New Testament use the concept of the Holy Spirit.