Abstract:
This paper focuses on how distance education (DE) facilitators of the Advanced
Certifi cate in Education (ACE) are trained, supported and quality-assured during
contact sessions to improve their facilitation skills. The argument is whether
facilitators are adequately trained, quality-assured and supported to assist students
studying independently in improving their performance. A further argument
is whether the training, quality assurance and support of facilitators contribute
to the two-way communication between students and the facilitator, and the
communication of students with one another during the learning process. Ten
facilitators from two provinces, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo, who were involved
in the ACE Education Management Programme, were purposively sampled and
interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The aim was to establish what
the support structures and methods used for distance education facilitation
were. Findings revealed that module coordinators had no standardised training
programme or support mechanisms for the facilitators, which resulted in some
facilitators being better prepared than others. These fi ndings may contribute to
designing a standardised facilitator training programme and support strategies for
the improvement of facilitation and learning, as well as quality assurance at contact
sessions.
Description:
Proceedings of the 4th biennial International Conference on
Distance Education and Teachers’ Training in Africa (DETA) held at
the Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique, 3-5 August 2011.