Open Distance Learning (ODL)

 

Open Distance Learning (ODL)

´WHAT IS ODL:

1. With ODL, you can learn anywhere and anytime you want.

2. Using this method, anybody can learn.

3. It is a flexible method for anyone in the world

´USES OF ODL :

1. If you are unable to access the learning opportunities this method is made for you,

EX:

1.   If your university or school is far away from your home.
2.         If you unable to come to the university or school because of any reason

        (If you are disabled and if you doing a job)

With ODL students can have a flexible study calendar.

´HOW DOES ODL WORK:

• Digital learning resources:

(soft copies of the textbooks, lecture videos, presentation slides, websites, and video resources such as YouTube videos)

• Video conferencing:

(doing lectures or group activities via MS Teams, Zoom, Google Classroom, etc)

• LMS – Learning Management System:

(using this method students can do quizzes, complete exams, and message to there lecturers)

• Online Exams
• Social Media:

(using social media such as WhatsApp, Viber, etc students create group chats and share their resources with their friends and teachers)

As an open-distance learner, you have to work harder than a normal student because you use a self-learning method, you can not meet your teachers and friends whenever you like, and sometimes open distance learner is a working student.

´DISADVANTAGES OF ODL:

• When you use something like ODL to learn country like Sri Lanka; you can expect,

1.      Long-day power cuts
2.      Signal issues
3.      Technology problems (everybody doesn’t have laptop or smartphone for

     online learning)

• Students can get depressed because of the study system.

 (Students can not meet their friends and teachers daily, and students can not ask their questions from teachers, because of distance learning student gets stuck in their home and became anti-social)

• Students can not gain group work experience because they do it using video conferencing and never meet their group members in person.
• Students didn’t have competition with their fellow students because they never meet.

´TO FIX THESE DISADVANTAGES, STUDENTS SHOULD MEET THEIR FRIENDS AND TEACHERS AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK. WHEN YOU WORK WITH OTHERS FACE-TO-FACE YOU CAN GAIN EXPERIENCE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE. IT CAN SOLVE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, ETC

“You can gain distance from the real world and become fully online. But you lose friendships, experience, and advice from adults. That is the biggest loss you can face in your life ”

-Sachini Alahakoon-