AVAILABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF QUALITY COURSE MATERIALS FOR

AVAILABILITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF QUALITY COURSE MATERIALS FOR EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT NTI/DLS ADMINISTRATION BY NDEM N. YAKEDOHO(Amb. P) Pnm, FCAI, FIICA, FICEN NTI SOUTH -SOUTH ZONAL OFFICE BENIN CITY – EDO STATE

• ABSTRACT Distance Education has been given great advantage by modern invention in electronic gadgets. One of such notable advantages of technology to Distance Education is the ability to instruct without the presence of a teacher and to extend knowledge. The era where the teacher was regarded as reservoir and custodian of knowledge has witness and is overtaken by time-shift and place shift in Instruction with the invention of books and other instructional media. • The NTI DL Programmes rely mostly on print media; thus the focus of this presentation is to x-ray the strategies for production with emphasis on distribution of course material for the effective implementation of NTI DL programs nationwide. Also the Importance of course materials in learning and the characteristic of good distance learning materials as well as the advantage of print in DLS would be examined in a nutshell.

1. 0 Preamble The NTI DLS rely mostly on print based course material which is provided from the NTI, Headquarters in Kaduna. The process of production is very elaborate, requires time and is cost intensive.

1. 2 Course Books Development The process of production begins after the development – (Writing and Editing) of the course materials. The effectiveness and success of this depend largely on the time and attention – use of right personnel assigned to its planning, organizing and the subsequent management of the entire process. The task of planning and organization of course materials production demands thorough knowledge and expertise in distance education programme in the following areas

1. 2 Course Books Development Knowledge of the learner (Learner Analysis): This involves the objectives and purpose of the programme. The category of the learner, their educational social and cultural background should also be considered. the psychological and physiological features such as age, sex and present level of experience etc. Development and preparation of the material: The most crucial issue at this stage is the distance – the techniques of imparting skills and knowledge to the learners in the absent of the teacher , the type of programme, objectives and the need of putting in place a two way communication interaction between the learners and the learning material – (the facilitator). the accessibility of the information and materials to the learners at affordable cost and at the expected time to get the desired result.

1. 2 Course Books Development Evaluation and Feedback: Every process of instruction should provide means of assessment and evaluation to ascertaining the level of attainment of learners and instructional objectives. Through the feedback which must be valuable in form of grades or marks and other remedial and follow-up, should be integrated to the course material and made available to the learners on time during tutorial to enable them remain focused on their self study.

1. 3. Importance of Course Materials in Distance Learning 1. 3. 1 Individualization of Instruction: Help individualizing Instruction by allowing the learner to move at their own rates. 1. 3. 2 Organization of Instruction Help in organizing and unifying instruction by providing common reading experiences, suggested activities recommended readings and questions. 1. 3. 3 Reference materials Serve as reference text to non-NTI student but interested learners. Stimulate growth in factual knowledge and in literary appreciation which helps in the development of critical thinking of users. It improves reading and learning habits of learners and provides the learners and users the skills to transform the gathered information into knowledge. 1. 3. 4 facilitators skills through the notes and manuals on ways to handle instructional challenges.

1. 4. Characteristics of Good Course Materials for Distance Learning Distance learning course materials differ from textbooks and other forms of educational materials. They are more complex and technical. DLS materials represent both time and place shifts, and should therefore be suitable in the circumstances. • COL enumerate the underlisted as some of the good characteristics of Distance Learning Materials. – Provide the content to be learnt – Structure the content into learning sessions – Help students decide which part they need to use and when – Provide activities to help students to learn the contents and apply it – Provide feedback to learners, to help them learn from their mistakes – Motivate students – Help students develop those study skills that are essential to individual learners – Provide a means for students to assess their progress

2. 0 Strategies for Effective Distribution of Quality Course Materials For course materials to be useful, they ought to be delivered to the learners at the designated study centre at an affordable cost and on time. Efficiency connotes the interrelationship between efforts put into the system and the corresponding results, effectiveness involve the extent of achievement of set and desired objectives/goals. Some of the tips that can enhance speedy/efficient and effective distribution of course materials include. 2. 1 Course Materials Requisition There is need to ascertain the required quantity of course materials at the designated study centres before the commencement of every semester. On delivery of course materials at the dispensing centre; in the case of NTI State Office, the materials should be delivered to the study centres through the Centre Managers who takes custody of the materials for issuance to the students in conjunction with the Centre Desk Officers.

• • • 2. 2 Decentralization of Course Materials Production The area covered by programme could be segmented into zones and in each zone, a printing- production base identified to handle the required production for each of the zones. In doing this, the Institute can partner with the production point to deliver the required course materials to the dispensing points. This will take care of wastages of time/money in delivery. An adequate database has to be put in place with effective and efficient monitoring. Record keeping is therefore is utmost essential. 2. 3 Partnership with Courier Service and Transport Outfit within the Zone The Institute and the State office could partner with transport companies and courier service firms to deliver course materials to states or centre. This requires proper way billing and packaging of the materials to ensure safety and damaging while in transit. 2. 4 Re-routing of excess Course Materials Within Contagious States After reconciliation of supplies , state Coordinators should declare excess materials and be prepared to re-route such excess course materials to where they are required and as instructed. To ensure this, adequate quantity of material should be produced, With proper records and adequate monitoring, this should not be difficult. 2. 5 Provision of utility and functional vehicles All state offices will enhance the distribution of course materials to the study centres within the state and zone. 2. 6 Setting aside special/revolving funds A special funds/account for course materials development, production and distribution will enhance provision of course materials. The Institute may avail herself the opportunity available at TETFUND

• 2. 7 Provision of special grants • For course materials distribution particularly in states with difficult and or aqua marine terrain this will facilitate distribution of materials to such areas. • It should be noted that print material is the foundation of distance education and the basis from which all other delivery systems evolved, print is the most significant component of all distance education programmes because of the following advantages. • However, the limitations of print material pave prospects to NTI DLS. Such limitation of print includes: • Limited view of reality – the difficulty of adequately re-creating motion and action in print. • Passive and self directed study – it take more motivation to read a book than listen or view ( watch) • Feedback and interaction – the learner may decide to skip the activities and assignment which may limits his understanding. • Dependent on reading skills - viewing and listening skills are easily develop than reading skills. Reading skills need improvement; which if absent cripples the effectiveness of even the most instructionally sound print materials.

3. 0 Challenges to Effective Distribution of Course Materials • Late development of course materials; you cannot what you do not have. • Late production and (or) delivery to the coordinating offices for onward dispensing to states, zones and study centres as applicable. • Inadequate funding of the dispensing offices – state/zone to embark on materials distribution • Lack of functional and utility vehicles of the dispensing offices • Late requisition of require materials from the dispensing offices • Inadequate data base in the states resulting in an unrealistic and exaggerated request for course materials base on selfish projection. • This must be overcome and calls for the introduction of wider range of technological option into NTI DLS such as voice, video, audio video and even online distribution of course materials.

4. 0 Recommendations • In view of the aforementioned challenges the following recommendations are herein advanced • Timely development and periodic review of course materials • Decentralization of production base • Timely and production of require quantity of materials • Prompt submission of enrolment data from the state offices • Adequate funding of state offices to enhance materials distributions • The Institute should avail herself of the opportunity available at TETFUND

5. 0. Conclusion • Programme effectiveness and efficiency is influenced by resource availability, accessibility and utilization as well as the way the instructional programmes are managed, delivered and evaluated. The Institute should set aside fund (by setting up a special account) for the development, production and distribution of course materials. The Institute’s programmes are time bound and should not be disrupted to avoid back log and jam of academic activities; otherwise the credibility and integrity of the entire system would be at stake which will be difficult to redeem with its attendant consequences. Timely development, production and effective distribution of course materials to students is sine quanon for efficient and effective programme delivery.

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