Assessment of Learning Resource Designs for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing learning resource designs for enhancement of teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in South-East, Nigeria. Six research questions guided the study, and some of them are: 1. To what extent has the content design of the learning resources enhanced teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria? 2. To what extent has the instructional design of the learning resources enhanced teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria? Five hypotheses were formulated and tested at the probability of 0.05 level of significance. The study adopted descriptive survey research design and was carried out in the six study centres of National Open University of Nigeria in South-East Zone. The population of the study was 1,183; made up of 68 academic staff and 1,115 learners of National Open University of Nigeria in South-East Zone. The sample of the study was 939, drawn using simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled Assessment of Learning Resources for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Questionnaire (ALRETLQ). The instrument was face validated by three experts and its reliability was determined using Cronbach alpha estimate with an overall reliability co-efficient of 0.93. Weighted mean was used to answer the six research questions while Student t-test was used to test the five hypotheses. Copies of the instrument were administered to the respondents through direct delivery technique. Findings of the study revealed that the learning resources that are adequately provided for the enhancement of teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria include specially written commentaries, Internet, radio programmes, on-line resources, telephone, textbooks, media notes for use with audio tape or video tape materials, computer software, and specially written self-instructional texts. They are categorized into print, DVD/video, digital resources and web resources. Findings of the study also revealed that the content and technical designs of the learning resources to a little extent enhanced teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria while the instructional design and social considerations of the learning resources to a moderate extent enhanced teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria. All the five hypotheses tested revealed that there were significant differences between the mean ratings of academic staff and learners of National Open University of Nigeria on the extent to which the content design, instructional design, technical design and social considerations of the learning resources have enhanced teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria in South-East Zone. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education should ensure that learning resources are adequately provided for the enhancement of teaching and learning in National Open University of Nigeria, and that distance education administrators should ensure that educational publishers provide accurate and up-to-date content that meets curriculum standards, learning goals and addresses the different cultural backgrounds of distance education learners.