This study investigated the effectiveness of the Learning & Development (L&D) offered to e-tutors at an Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) institution. The ODeL institution where the study was conducted has historically experienced low throughput, a low pass rate and a high dropout rate. To address these challenges, the ODeL institution relies on strategies that include, among others, the recruitment and appointment of e-tutors to support and mentor students throughout their academic journey. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of e-tutors’ L&D in enhancing students’ learning experiences in an ODeL institution.
A cross-sectional quantitative research approach was adopted for this study. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The instrument was captured on MS Forms and the link was shared via email to a census sample of 869 e-tutors appointed at the ODeL institution. One hundred and ninety-nine (199) e-tutors participated in the study and the quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
The findings of the study revealed that the e-tutors’ L&D was effective in improving e-tutor’s skills and competences. However, the study revealed that a majority of e-tutors require further training on subject-related content, online communication and technological skills. The study concluded that the ODeL institution must make subject-specific assessment compulsory across all colleges, prioritise online communication and technological skills training interventions and advanced training for experienced e-tutors.
Recommendations include: standardised subject-specific assessment; improved technological and communication training; increased the frequency of training; and the development of a tiered training model.
Dyondzo leyi yi lavisisile matirhelo ya Dyondzo na nhluvukiso (L&D) leyi nyikiwaka vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki eka nhlangano wa Dyondzo ya le Kule leyi Pfulekeke (ODeL) eka dyondzo yale henhla. Ahlangano wa ODeL laha ndzavisiso wu endliweke kona hi matimu wu vile na vuhumelerisi bya le hansi, mpimo wa le hansi wa ku pasa na mpimo wa le henhla wo tshika xikolo. Ku lulamisa mintlhontlho leyi, nhlangano wa ODeL wu titshege hi tindlela leti katseke,na tin’wana ta tona , ku thola na ku thoriwa ximfumo ka vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki ku seketela na ku letela swichudeni eka riendzo ra swona hinkwaro ra dyondzo.Xikongomelonkulu xa ndzavisiso lowu a ku ri ku lavisisa ku humelela ka L&D ya vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki eku nhluvukiseni ka ntokoto wa dyondzo ya swichudeni eka nhlangano wa ODeL.
Endlelo ra ndzavisiso ra tinhlayo leri hlengeletaka vutivi hi nkarhi wun’we ri amukeriwile eka ndzavisiso lowu. Datha yi hlengeletiwile hi ku vutisa swivutiso. Xitirhisiwa lexi xi tekiwile eka Tifomo ta MS naswona linki yi rhumeriwe hi imeyili eka xikombiso xa nhlayo ya vanhu va Madzana ya nhungu –makume tsevu na nkaye (869) wa vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki lava thoriweke eka nhlangano wa ODeL. Dzana na makume nkaye nkaye (199) wa vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki va nghenelerile eka ndzavisiso naswona datha ya nhlayo yi xopaxopiwile hi ku tirhisa tinhlayo leti hlamuselaka na ta xiringanyeto.
Leswi kumiweke eka ndzavisiso lowu swi paluxe leswaku vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki L&D a yi tirha kahle eku antswiseni ka vutshila ni vuswikoti bya vona. Hambi swi ri tano, ndzavisiso wu kombise leswaku vunyingi bya valeteri va le ka vadyondzisi va xielekitironiki va lava ku leteriwa ku yisa emahlweni eka timhaka leti yelanaka ni dyondzo, vundzeni, ”online” mbulavurisano, vutivi na vutshila bya thekinoloji. Ndzavisiso wu gimete hi leswaku nhlangano wa ODeL ri fanele ri endla leswaku tikholichi hinkwato ti boheka ku endla xikambelo xa dyondzo yo karhi hi nhloko-mhaka yo karhi, wu rhangisa mbulavurisano hi ku tirhisa Inthanete ni ku letela vanhu hi thekinoloji, ni ku nghenelela eku leteleni ka vadyondzisi lava nga ni ntokoto hi ku tirhisa Inthanete.
Switsundzuxo swi katsa nkambisiso lowu ringaniseriweke wa dyondzo yo karhi, ndzetelo wa thekinoloji lowu antswisiweke na vuleteri bya vuhlanganisi na nhluvukiso wa modele wa ndzetelo wa switepe.
Ngudo iyi yo ṱoḓisisa mvelelo dza u Guda na Mveledziso (L&D) dzo ṋetshedzwaho vhagudisi nga inthanethe kha tshiimiswa tsha u Guda nga inthanethe kha Ngudo nga Inthanethe kha Vhukule Hovuleaho (ODeL). Tshiimiswa tsha ODeL he ngudo ya itwa hone tsho tshenzhela ḓivhazwakale ya u bvelela ha fhasi, tshivhalo tsha fhasi tsha u phasa na tshivhalo tsha nṱha tsha u litsha tshikolo. U tandulula khaedu idzi, tshiimiswa tsha ODeL tsho ḓitika nga zwiṱirathedzhi zwine zwa katela, vhukati ha zwiṅwe, u topola na u sedzulusa vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe u itela u tikedza na u eletshedza matshudeni kha lwendo lwavho lwoṱhe lwa zwa pfunzo. Tshipikwa tshihulwane tsha ngudo iyi tsho vha tshi tsha u ṱoḓisisa mvelelo dza L&D ya vhagudisi vha vha u gudisa nga inthanethe kha u khwinisa tshenzhemo dza u guda dza matshudeni kha tshiimiswa tsha ODeL. Nḓila ya ṱhoḓisiso ya khwathithethivi ya zwipiḓa zwo fhambanaho yo ṱanganedzwa kha ngudo iyi. Data yo kuvhanganywa hu tshi shumiswa mbudzisombekanywa. Tshishumiswa tsho dzhiiwa kha Fomo dza MS nahone vhuṱumani ha kovhelwa nga imeiḽi kha sampuli ya mbalo ya vhathu ya vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe vha 869 vho tholwaho kha tshiimiswa tsha ODeL. Vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe vha ḓana na fuṱahe-ṱahe (199) vho shela mulenzhe kha ngudo nahone data ya tshivhalo yo senguluswa hu tshi shumiswa zwitatisitiki zwi ṱalusaho na zwi bveledzaho.
Mawanwa a ngudo o dzumbulula uri L&D ya vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe yo vha i tshi khou shuma kha u khwinisa vhukoni na vhukoni havho. Fhedziha, ngudo yo bvisela khagala uri vhunzhi ha vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe vha ṱoḓa vhugudisi ho engedzeaho nga ha zwi re ngomu zwi tshimbilelanaho na thero, vhudavhidzani ha inthanethe na vhukoni ha thekinoḽodzhi. Ngudo yo pendela nga ḽa uri tshiimiswa tsha ODeL tshi tea u ita uri tsedzuluso yo khetheaho ya thero i kombetshedzee kha khoḽedzhi dzoṱhe, u vhea phanḓa vhudavhidzani ha inthanethe na vhudzheneleli ha vhugudisi ha zwikili zwa thekhinoḽodzhi na u wana vhugudisi ha nṱhesa ha vhagudisi vha u gudisa nga inthanethe vha re na tshenzhemo.
Themendelo dzi katela u ṱola ho linganelaho ho livhaho kha thero, vhugudisi ho khwiniswaho ha thekhinoḽodzhi na vhudavhidzani, u engedzwa ha tshifhinga tsha vhugudisi na mveledziso ya modele wa vhugudisi wo ṱanganelanaho.
