Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)
The
project
involved
the
design
of a
multimedia
study
package
for
distance
teaching
in
computerised
information
retrieval.
This
included
external
online
and
CD-ROM
informa-
tion
retrieval,
as well as
specialized
systems
such
as
in-house
databases,
videotex,
teletext
and
Internet.
The target group
was
information
specialists.
The
findings
may
also
apply
to other target groups,
provided
a
thorough
situation
analysis
serves
as
point
of
departure.
The
project
was
initiated
by the
growing
importance
of
distance
education,
the
constant
developments
in the online
industry
and the
need
for
didactically
grounded
study
packages
for
teaching
computerised
information
retrieval
skills.
Such
packages
should
focus on
technological
knowledge
and
skills
on
the
higher
cognitive,
affective
and
psychomotor
levels.
A
literature
study was
conducted
on four
subproblems:
the
nature
of
distance
education;
the
characteristics
of
multimedia
study
packages;
the
didactical
grounding
of such
packages
(including
curriculum
development,
instructional
design and
media
selection);
and the
state
of the art regarding the
'teaching
of
computerised
information
retrieval.
This led to
the
conclusion
that the theory of
distance
education
should
serve
as
focal
point
in the
design
of
a
multimedia
package,
while
special
attention is also
given
to
Keegan's
theory
which
focuses
on the
reintegration
of the
teaching
and
learning
acts.
Study
packages
should be
the
result
of
instructional
design,
which
is
dependent
on
curriculum
development.
The
latter
includes
decisions
made
on the macro
and
meso
levels
of
the
curriculum
and
the
consideration
of
technological
infrastructures
available
in
the
wider
society.
Provision
should
also
be
made
for the
typical
characteristics
of
multimedia
packages
for
distance
teaching,
including
individual
study,
irregular contact
teaching
sessions,
active
student
involvement,
opportunities
for
self-evaluation,
enriching
and
remedial
learning
events,
student support and the
recognition
of the
needs
of adult
learners
(andragogical
needs),
as
well as
those
of
young
adults.
The
mastering
of higher order
skills
should be
supported
by
opportunities
for active
student
involvement
including
self-evaluation
of lower order skills.
Provision
should
also be
made
1I1
for the
practical
application
of
knowledge
and
skills,
as
welI
as
evaluation
skills,
by
fully
exploiting
the
possibilities
offered
by
interactive
teaching.
Students
should,
however,
attend
interactive
sessions
welI
prepared.
This could be
ensured
by
making
use
of prior
self-
evaluation
as well as tutor
evaluation
of both
subject
matter
and
media
literacy.
A
variety
of
media
and
teaching
methods
can be
applied
in the
mediated
teaching
of
computerised
information
retrieval.
Media
selection
should
be
based
on
media
character-
istics,
performance
objectives,
subject
nature
and
logistical
factors.
An
eclectic
model
for
instructional
design
is
proposed.
A
concept
design
for a
multimedia
package
for
distance
teaching
of
computerised
information
retrieval
was
developed
by
applying
this
eclectic
model.
The
concept
design
was
based on the
didactical
situation
at
the
University
of South
Africa.
Although
the design
has
focused
on the
ideal
situation,
where
students
have
access
to
computers
and
attend
sporadic
contact
teaching
sessions,
suggestions
are
also
made for a
differentiated
package.
These
suggestions
include
a basic
study
package,
a learning contract
with
the
student and
his
employee,
and a
package
with
enriched
learning
experience.