Designing and developing programmes in open, distance and e-learning

Abstract

This paper flows from a pre-conference workshop developed and facilitated by the author for the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa (Nadeosa) conference 2017. The paper and workshop explore the nature of programmes generally and the particular challenges of designing programmes for open, distance and e-learning (ODeL), in particular drawing upon the author’s work for Saide, the University of Pretoria and a DEd study in progress exploring the mainstreaming of Open Educational Resources in curriculum practices. Approaching the issue from a non-determinist, interpretivist and transactional perspective, and drawing upon a number of metatheoretical perspectives, but most strongly hermeneutics and systems theory, it is argued that while there is no one right way to develop a programme for an ODeL context, there are a number of questions and perspectives that are likely to provide useful lenses. This argument favours curriculum as an evolving and consultative process rather than a discrete and technical event.