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In the academic year 2013, the ECSU management has identified two common modules to be delivered in the mode of blended learning (combination of face-to-face and e-learning). According to E-Learning Advisor of the the ECSU Development Learning Center (DLC), Christian Zange, Public Service Delivery, Ethics and Change Management module was developed and hosted by the Institute of Public Management and Development Studies. Similarly, Ethiopian Public Administration and Governance module was developed and hosted by the Institute of Leadership and Good Governance. The Development Learning Center (DLC) took the responsibility for the technical implementation of the e-learning system (web-system, recording lectures, etc.).

The two modules have been delivered in a blended approach (both, e-learning and face-to-face teaching) to all masters programs. The semester is now closing, and the pilot is finalized. During the semester, the e-learning website was visited 11,622 times (153,631 page views).

DLC is currently conducting an evaluation survey on how this new approach has affected the learning process. Every student has received an email with a link to the survey questionnaire that will allow him or her to comment on this module.

The module followed a new paradigm of content delivery to the students in contrast to the traditional lecture-led-education. This approach, which is called Flip-Teaching, has been successful in quiet a number of universities around the world. It is a system leading universities across the world are adopting into their education delivery.

Flip-teaching as the name suggests, allows the traditional role of a classroom which was used only as a lecture venue, to be used for having more interaction with the instructor through presentations, exercises and long question and answer session. In this approach, students are supposed to consume the lecture before coming to class. While in class, they spend their time getting engaged in different activities (asking questions, commenting on the answers, presentations, group discussions etc.) with the instructor.

The DLC worked closely with the two institutes mentioned above to effectively implement this new flip teaching system. DLC also developed a web infrastructure for content distribution (Lectures, readers, forums for discussion, assignment submission forms, as well as dashboard for the instructors to manage their interaction with the students). Altogether, DLC registered more than 500 students in the new developed common module website and gave training during the first weeks of the second semester. Lectures have been recorded and uploaded into the site for the students. This gave them a flexibility they never had before. Students now can watch the lecture anytime and anywhere there is an internet connection. If a student is sick or has some commitment that may have taken him/her away from the university for some time, he/she still will have the opportunity to follow the lecture and catch up with the module.

One of the prominent parts of the common module website is the forum where all kinds of discussions have been held online in a transparent manner. In the traditional system, the teacher could only be available for question and answer after the lecture or on some days of the week accordingly. In here, students can ask question from any computer with internet connection and their teacher can reply online. This has multiple benefits as the questions and answers are available for all the students to see. Again, students can further benefit from the answers given by asking another question based on the previous ones or give their own comments.

The delivery of the module will be adapted according to the feedback that is received from students. One important improvement currently is already being implemented: All video-lectures will receive sub-titles. This will allow the student to follow the lecture more easily, and avoid misunderstandings. This is especially important for students with hearing problems.

Contact:

DLC E-Learning Advisor

Christian Zange

E-Mail: christian.zange@dlc-ecsu.org

Ext: 212

Mobile: +251 (0) 92 379 8480