Abstract:

The role of media in education is evident today in the number of computer labs, television sets, and libraries that have become part of the curriculum in most universities today. Media comes in different forms and each form affects the way students learn and interpret information. Media has brought the world closer (globalisation) so that students from other universities in different parts of the world are connected through a mere internet connection. This research paper focuses on the important role of media in education, focusing on its unique significance in Open and Distance Learning (ODeL) institutions. However, media concepts refer to new technologies, and various means through which information, ideas, and content are communicated to the students. With the advent of new technologies, the landscape of media application in education has undergone significant transformation. The new technologies are of paramount importance for the lecturers to facilitate and reshape the teaching and learning paradigms in the online classes in ODeL institutions. This current research suggests that with the shift to remote learning, platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet have become important tools to conduct online lessons, thus allowing lecturers to conduct live lessons and facilitate the discussions. Furthermore, with platforms like Moodle and Blackboard, lecturers and administrators utilise them for course management, student participation, assessment, student record and most significantly communication between lecturers and students. This research is underpinned by the constructivism theory of learning. The premises of this theory argue with the idea that students construct knowledge for themselves, each student constructs meaning as he or she learns. This research reveals that the way technology is used in education depends on the lecturer's understanding of the applications on how to use them for teaching. In addition, a qualitative research approach was utilised. The secondary data was analysed through the critical Discourse Analysis approach. Furthermore, the paper acknowledges that while new technologies bring positive changes, they also present challenges. However, the researchers argue that embracing these technologies can lead to personal and professional growth for lecturers, particularly through the integration of Artificial Intelligence applications with traditional teaching methods. Ultimately, the research contributes to understanding the evolving relationship between media, technology, and education in the context of ODeL institutions.

Keywords:

Artificial Intelligence, Education, Open and Distance Learning (ODeL) Institutions, Technology and Media.