Abstract:

This presentation is to share the experiences of the stake holders (students and lecturer) in using e-Learning in an Extended Programme classroom in a rural African University. The Extended Programme is designed for students who are not academically prepared, but who are willing to work hard to succeed and obtain their qualification. The Extended Programme includes an additional year of study which will enhance students’ basic knowledge and skills before progressing onto more specialist studies in the later years of the qualification.

At the beginning of 2015 new computer tablets were issued free of cost to a group of 60 students. Most of these students from poor financial backgrounds did not have any experience on desktop computers or computer tablets. However, they used these computer tablets in the study of Physics and other learning areas.

How did the students receive the e-Learning? What were the successes and challenges? Is e-Learning a substitute for traditional classroom teaching? What are the benefits of e-Learning? A questionnaire was administered to all the students towards the end of 2015 to get answers to these and other questions.

In this paper presentation, the issue of effectiveness of e-Learning will be discussed in the light of the processes and experiences gained through this project.

Keywords:

e-learning.