What is eLearning

The NetTel@Africa curricula for both the Post Graduate Diploma and Masters Degree in ICT Policy and Regulation are built for an eLearning environment. The working definition of eLearning is:

the effective teaching and learning process created by combining digital content with local community and tutor support along with global community engagement.

NetTel eLearning is based on constructivist learning, that is learners “construct their own knowledge.”  The eLearning environment includes “opportunities for acquiring basic skills, knowledge, and conceptual understanding, not as isolated dimensions of intellectual activity, but as contributions to students’ development of strong identities as individual learners and as more effective participants in the meaningful social practices of their learning communities in school and elsewhere in their lives.” (Greeno, et al., 1998, p. 17)

NetTel@Africa has chosen the KEWL learning management system as the main web-based platform for distributing and facilitating the eLearning curricula. KEWL allows for effective use of the Web for learning by:

• Providing access to rich sources of information.

• Encouraging meaningful interactions with content.

• Bringing people together to challenge, support, or respond to each other.

 Each of the courses has the following aspects:

1. eLectures – eLectures provide crucial concept or technique that students need in order to apply it to a problem or discussion.
2. Discussion Forum – This is where online interaction takes place for each course. You will be expected to initiate a discussion and post replies.
3. Ask an expert – In addition to the local learning facilitator, you will have access to an expert practitioner for each course. This expert practitioner will be available to generate discussion about a particular topic and to respond to questions.
4. Mentorship – If you require an online mentor who is a professional in a particular subject area and who can provide ongoing feedback let your course instructor know so we can help locate an online mentor for you.
5. Local learning facilitator or tutor support  – A local learning facilitators and/or lecturer will be available for face to face interaction at your Home Institution.
6. Access to network resources -  Additional reading materials relevant to your course are located in “Course documents”.  Moreover, some assignments will require that you locate material on the Internet for sharing in the conference room or discussion forum.
7. Structured group activity – You will be expected to participate in a combination of the following structured group activities:  seminars, small group discussions, learning partnerships and dyads, student work groups and learning circles, team presentations,  simulations or role plays, and peer learning groups. Please get some guidance from your course instructor or local learning facilitator.
8. Informal peer interaction --  Sometimes the best learning occurs during informal peer interaction so please email each other if you require private space.