Innovative Educators

Prospectus
Project Selected: DOODLE - Developing Online Open Distance Learning E-models for
vocational skills education
Project Source
European Commission SOCRATES-Minerva, Promotion of Open and Distance Learning
Information and Communication Technologies in the Field of Education
Coordinator: Leeds College of Technology
Project responsible: Nav CHOHAN
Project responsible for the partner Delta Singular Educational Services, SA (former
EUROSKILLS, SA): Dr. E. Karpodini-Dimitriadi
Project duration: 2002-2003
Description
Addressing the practical nature of certain vocational skill requirements presents an
exceptional challenge for educators wishing to use distance-based e-learning methods.
There is little formal research on distance learning specifically targeted at practical skills
training.
The project seeks to facilitate the development of "practical skills" for vocational
learners through distance learning programmes and to develop best practice models
using existing Internet technologies ranging from mixed multimedia web page content
to web conferencing software. The models will be designed to improve employability.
The results showed that the best way to acquire these skills consist of a combination of

methods that include education and distance learning and teaching in a classroom.

New Problem
Following from the description of the project above our response will be based on an
existing problem briefly outlined here.
There is the need for online education to cater to the needs of individuals who are skills
oriented and are seeking the opportunity to complete studies online. Thus the problem
of making distance learning applicable to gaining practical skills is the issue to be
explored. There is a plethora of institutions that are now offering online and distance
courses but they are highly academic in nature. The problem then, being faced by
University aged persons in the Caribbean is the unavailability of online courses that are
geared towards developing practical skills.
The problem is an established one. The School of Technical and Vocational Studies at
the University of Technology was the population selected to answer the poll question:
Are you dissatisfied that your practical University course is not offered fully online? If it
was offered fully online, would you do it? Respondents were given the opportunity to
give reason for their choice. Of the 98 persons interviewed, 83% said yes while 17% said
no. The data indicates that many persons, for whatever reasons, are quite interested in
online studies for their practical skills.

Description of Learners
The population is centered on University aged students who are interested in acquiring
vocational training skills online. Their ages range from 18 - 45 years. Many of these
students are already working in the field of study. Some of them are married with
families and are not interested in commuting to and from classes. These learners would
find online learning more convenient because of their work schedules and familial
responsibilities.
List of Possible Solutions
1. How to videos
2. Synchronous / media conferencing
3. Voice overs
4. Voice thread
5. Podcasts
6. Webinars
7. Camtasia
8. Powtoon
9. TedTALKS
10. PowerPoint with Voice
Challenges
Data collection might be impeded because of time issues. Solution - project will be
scenario based.

Implementation of project
Additional Information
Poll is being conducted using Survey Monkey online. The poll is geared towards
students of the School of Technical and Vocational Education.

Reference
DOODLE - Developing Online Open Distance Learning E-models for vocational skills
education retrieved from http://www.isoc.siu.no/isocii.nsf/projectlist/100400
DOODLE: Developing Online Open Distance Learning E-models for vocational skills
education retrieved from http://ekarpodini.com/en/blog/2013/04/01/186/
and
http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/static/Bots/docbots/Documents/Compendium/Odl
/comp_M_2002.pdf