What is ODL?
Open and distance learning (ODL) is both a philosophy and a model of educational practice. "Open" means that everyone should be able to access the learning they desire. They should not be discriminated against due to financial resources, gender, age, location, rank or anything else. "Distance" means that learners study in a location separate in time and space from their instructor. "Distance" learning can help reach the goal of "open" learning in several key ways.
If properly designed, distance learning can effectively reach extremely large numbers of learners - into the thousands. Learners do not have to be in one place at a time, they do not have to travel for their coursework, nor do they even have a specific schedule for their coursework. They can study anytime, anyplace. This model of learning strives to be inclusive and democratic. It opens barriers so that potential learners can be located in rural environments or war zones, they can be looking after their family or working long hours, yet they can still complete studies that will help them grow personally and professionally.
I was either traveling or otherwise too busy for conventional classroom settings. Although I knew that an online course was my best option, I was skeptical, because I thought that it would not work for me. Then the opportunity came for me to participate in this course. Although I was still skeptical, I thought I would not lose anything by trying. I am so glad I signed up for the course. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone. I am so excited about the new world it has opened up for me, and I am searching for another course to participate in.
- WHO learner, Bahamas
I have always been confronted by a busy schedule due to the nature of my work and a big family responsibility coupled with inadequate resources which made it difficult for me to undertake further training. Due to the convenience of the eLearning modality, I managed to overcome those conditions by adjusting my learning schedule when it conflicted with my office duties or family responsibilities by studying at night and in the office during or outside working hours.
- IFRC learner, Kenya
Today, distance learning often means incorporating some type of technology into the teaching and learning process. ODL means that students can access their course material on CD-ROM or via the Internet. They can contact tutors by email, they can communicate with other students through email, chat rooms or instant messaging, and they can visit virtual libraries for research.
Open and distance learning is about access. As an intergovernmental organisation working throughout the developing world, we understand access issues. COLeLIO designs courses where gender, location culture, language and age are no longer barriers to learning. This means our courses have the ability to democratise learning throughout the developing world.
Open and distance learning is sustainable because it is easily scalable and thrives on economies of scales. It is also affordable because COLeLIO provides learning solutions that engage learners at a fraction of the price of face to face workshops and classes.
Open and distance learning is environmental friendly - Internet and CD-ROM materials are reusable, sharable, and essentially paperless. By taking learning to the hands of learners, it is travel free and carbon neutral.
Needs analysis
You may realise your organisation has certain training gaps or particular training challenges. International organisations often have specific characteristics that make traditional classroom instruction or workshop seminars unsuitable. For example:
- Your training needs are multilingual.
- Your employees are located around the world.
- Job descriptions and priorities shift frequently.
- Available technology can be unreliable.
You may think your training budget is too small to make the enormous difference you require to train hundreds or thousands of people. You may be wrong.
COLeLIO may be able to design a custom training plan for you.
We conduct a thorough needs analysis of your specific training challenges.
We analyse your content, your learners, your corporate culture, the environment of your staff and their access to technology. We consider their study habits, their motivation and their life experience. These are all factors that play a part in successful learning. Then we provide you with customised options for training, normally using CD-ROM, the Internet, print or a combination.
Learner support
Rather than having a face-to-face instructor, we assign each learner an individual tutor. Learners and tutors communicate through email. These tutors act as virtual teachers, but they are also mentors and coaches to the students. Studying in isolation can be challenging, and success rates can suffer if participants lose sight of their initial goals.
Tutors grade the learners' assignments and provide vital feedback, and, even more importantly, they provide support for the learners and help them through the course. They motivate and encourage learners. It is not unusual for tutors to virtually get to know the participants - their families, lives and work - as they progress through the materials.
The course's tutors were very supportive and guided me using very simple instructions. Their feedback on my course work, which was provided promptly, assisted my learning and was able to show my progress in the course. That is why they are considered, in my opinion, one of the main reasons this course is very successful.
- WHO learner, Egypt
The Writing Effectively series
COLeLIO is best known for its award-winning Writing Effectively series. In the late 1990s the UNHCR recognised a serious issue with the field reports submitted to headquarters. These reports were inconclusive, difficult to understand and generally ineffective. The quality of the reports constituted an enormous problem because refugee status could not be properly assessed.
Knowing they needed a large-scale solution, UNHCR requested COL's assistance in designing a print-based, electronically tutored writing course for field workers in volatile locations around the world. After the noticeable difference this course made in UNHCR's written reports, UNAIDS and WHO asked COL to develop and deliver a similar course. This time, both organisations were technologically equipped to offer employees an eLearning course, so COL developed the materials on CD-ROM for world-wide dissemination. Since 1999 COL has been engaged by seven multilateral agencies to develop and deliver technical writing courses. Nine courses are now offered in English and French and delivered by print and CD-ROM to 800 participants worldwide annually.
UNHCR, with its staff dispersed so widely in so many locations, needs to develop more distance learning opportunities for its staff, and this course establishes an excellent example of the democratisation of learning in our organisation.
- UNHCR Trainer
Although each course is customised, Writing Effectively is based on a simple model. Each course begins with a Foundation Module teaching the basics of communication, analysing the audience, and adopting a writing strategy. Then, depending on whether the participant holds an administrative or professional position, they study either General Office Correspondence or Report Writing. Each of these modules is tailor-made to follow the templates and style guides of the learner's organisation. Additionally, each organisation can deliver the course so that it suits the timelines of their employees. COL does not specify a set duration for study time; rather it prefers to work with each organisation to set parameters that will work in the most practical way for their staff.
My writing ability has improved greatly. The temptation to write long sentences and use passive verbs has given way to use of short sentences and active verbs to make sentences clearer. In addition, the Reader Analysis skills have prepared me to write accurately to address the needs of my audience. Finally, I have now become gender sensitive in my writing.
- WHO learner, Ghana
Participants come to this course with a range of English or French writing skills. There is no doubt that learners will greatly improve their written work and will naturally begin to think about the purposes of communication, its intended audience and its intended result before even beginning their writing.
Passing this course helped me to improve my writing communication skills. At present, I know the process of writing an effective report. I am familiar with how to define the objectives, analyse my audience and adopt a writing strategy and avoid the barriers. I try to avoid discriminatory writing, excessive length and lack of coherence and try to construct logical paragraphs. It definitely helped me be more successful in my job.
- IFRC learner, Iran
A companion course, Reading Effectively, is currently being developed. This course teaches learners how to process large amounts of information, especially electronic information, judiciously, quickly and effectively. It analyses the reader's comprehension and provides strategies for reading with purpose. It teaches participants how to read for decision-making and provides practical activities for reading reports and graphics.
A customised approach
We know that each partner organisation has its own mandate and specialisation in the field. Rather than provide an "off-the-shelf" training product, we will provide you with a customised course, specifically designed and tailored to suit your needs and the needs of your employees.
Research shows that training materials based on organisation-specific documents and case studies provide a better transfer of knowledge than 'off-the-shelf' eLearning products. In customised courses, participants quickly recognise the relevance and usefulness of the training and can apply it immediately to their workplace context.
WHO's mode of communication with the outside world is by letters. Careful drafting, editing and proofreading is required to ensure the organisation's reputation is assured and that goodwill is built and maintained between WHO and its governing bodies. WHO is a multicultural organisation with people of different gender and professional backgrounds. It is important to write clearly, adapt communication style and content in a structured way while considering the addressed audience.
- WHO learner, Switzerland
The upfront costs of designing a customised course are rapidly repaid by immediate impact and efficiencies in the field.
Follow-up
COL works at both a governmental and grass-roots level. Our reputation depends on the success of your participants. Once we develop your course materials, we want to continue serving you. We can also provide the following services:
- Access to excellent contacts at governmental, administration and field levels.
- A network to help you successfully promote your course into the communities where you are working.
- Evaluation of the course's impact and success.
- Revision of your course as your organisation changes and grows.
- Redevelopment of the media delivery as your staff's access to technology changes.
You can take advantage of COL's learner management and course delivery systems. In addition to developing customised training solutions for your needs, we can provide you with backend administrative systems for delivering your course. Our learner management systems are all computerised which ensures a paperless administration of the courses.
We can provide the following learner management services for you:
- Learner registry systems
- Certification processes
- Learner records management systems
- Learner support systems
- Tutor recruitment
- Quality assurance
In other words, we are not just providing you with a training product, we are providing you with an ongoing training service.
The benefits
The benefits of offering a COL-designed course mean that your employees can access crucial training wherever they are located - in the field, in regional offices, or at headquarters. Some of our most determined students have completed their studies while working under immense pressure in a disaster area or war zone.
I am sending you this message from an Internet cafe from a very dangerous area. It is the only cafe that I could find; all the rest have closed their doors due to security reasons. Sorry my message will have to be short since the shooting is very heavy now and I have to leave right now... they are still hunting some armed fugitives. Will try to check my mail within two days to see your comments on my second trial. Wish me luck to get home safely!
- Email message from IFRC learner, Iraq, to her tutor in Canada.
We are passionate about taking training beyond the classrooms and offering it into the hands of people who desire it, regardless of their circumstance. We care about every one of our learners and making it possible for them to learn.
We also revise our courses so that they change when the workplace changes. eLearning course content and delivery can be modified, repurposed and revised, so that it will be relevant and current years after it was first created.
