2003/2004
UNIVERSITY OF THE
WEST INDIES
ACADEMIC PROGRAMME
COMMITTEE OF THE UWIDEC
I - Report on a
Meeting of DEC Site Co-ordinators, December 12th, 2003
Chair: PVC Lawrence Carrington at Cave Hill
Sites on the system:
|
Antigua |
Montserrat |
|
Belize |
St Lucia |
|
British Virgin Islands (rep. at Cave Hill) |
St Vincent |
|
Trinidad: Sangre Grande |
|
|
Dominica |
UWI Cave Hill |
|
Grenada |
UWI Mona |
|
Jamaica: Montego Bay |
UWI St Augustine |
|
Jamaica: Ocho Rios |
|
1. Professor Carrington reported on staffing matters, and on the preparation of a memorandum of needs for TAC.
2. The Chair reported on information received from Tommy Chen about the E-link Americas initiative. Mr Chen later presented further details of the project and indicated that it would very swiftly provide high bandwidth Internet connectivity for the NCCs at rates about a quarter to a fifth of those currently paid to Cable & Wireless. If the UWI were to participate it was necessary to discover how each site could obtain a VSAT licence; it would be best to centralise licence holding, either in the DEC or in the office of the University Director of IT; and the UWI should formalise its involvement with the project. New VSAT equipment would need to be acquired for each site.
3. It was noted that Cable & Wireless still tried to defend its monopoly in some territories, so the feasibility of obtaining the necessary licences would need to be investigated as a matter of urgency. It was agreed that the Chair would pursue the matter as soon as Mr Chen returns from leave.
4. A paper on Capacity had been circulated prior to the meeting and was intended to take forward discussion at the previous meeting.
5. With respect to the need to move away from reliance on local face-to-face tutorials, there was general agreement that the UWIDEC should move to a planned implementation of e-tutoring for many of its courses. Several cautionary points were made:
(1) support should be seen in terms of the entire instructional design of courses; in the past this may have been skimped, but revision of existing courses would allow for greater attention to overall coherence;
(2) typical learning styles need to be acknowledged; systems that require deep-seated change need explicit training modules for students and staff; e-tutoring is more structured than merely answering fortuitous e-mail messages;
(3) UWI ought not to dispose too readily of a feature that gives it an advantage over competitors in the DE market.
6. With respect to the suggestion for more extensive use of week-ends and of non-UWI space, it was observed that
(4) proposals for more extensive use of weekends may create problems with some students and some members of staff at the Centres;
(5) some locations do not have spare space near-by; TLIs themselves now engage in extensive evening work.
7. The Chair observed that research into learning styles can be difficult and might involve outside assistance, but he acknowledged that it was necessary to give direction to instructional planning.
8. The Chair invited Ms Smith to indicate her concerns that the UWIDEC needs to undertake an analysis of what the market requires and to advertise its programmes more aggressively. He suggested that she prepare a short paper for general discussion at the next meeting, which could then go forward to inform the incoming Director of what needs to be done.
9. The Chair drew attention to a request from Ms Bellot for information on examination irregularities for a report she is preparing for the next meeting of the Board for NCC/DE. He urged all co-ordinators to respond fully to Ms Bellot. He asked her to ensure that all sites were sent a copy of her request.
10. Ms Bellot indicated that the 1999 cohort were contemplating legal action in light of the continuing failure to produce their results. The Chair undertook to contact her directly on the matter.
II - Report on a
Meeting of DEC Site Co-ordinators, March 2nd, 2004
Chair: PVC Lawrence Carrington at Mona
Sites on the system:
|
Antigua |
St Kitts (from Nevis) |
|
Bahamas |
St Lucia |
|
Belize |
St Vincent |
|
British Virgin Islands |
Trinidad: Mayaro |
|
Cayman |
Trinidad: San Fernando |
|
Grenada |
Trinidad: Sangre Grande |
|
Jamaica: Mandeville |
UWI Cave Hill |
|
Jamaica: Montego Bay |
UWI Mona |
|
Jamaica: Savannah la Mar |
UWI St Augustine |
Two sites were unable to link up:
Montserrat
Dominica
1. The Chair reported that several matters submitted by the APC and the Board to the other central Boards had been swiftly and favourably received, including a proposal for e-mail submission of coursework and the provisional registration of students without the usual matriculation requirements. He noted that all sites would be informed of these developments in writing.
2. He also reported that the University had strongly supported claims to UGC for extra funds to provide access to satellite systems and to replace outdated equipment.
3. The Chair reported on personnel matters and on associated issues of accommodation at Cave Hill for new posts.
4. Mr Chen reported that some islands were due to cut-over to frame relay on March 11/12. He noted that this move ought not to impinge on technical staff needs; it would simply provide cheaper service. He also indicated that recent problems on the system were not due to the frame-relay but rather to a change in the bridges; technicians were working to improve this aspect of the system.
B. Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN)
5. The main new issue considered at the meeting was the inaugural meeting of the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network held in Grenada, 17-18 February. The Chair asked Mrs Steele, Mr Chen, and Ms Marrett to report on it.
6. Originating from the OECS, this project was seen as providing an opportunity to co-operate with TLIs throughout the region (including non-contributing countries) in the provision of on-line learning. Access to broadband via the E-link Americas satellite would be dependent on participation in the CKLN. It was noted that two committees had been formed and that Mr Ken Sylvester had been given a temporary appointment as Project Co-ordinator. Initially, the Project would be housed in the OECS Secretariat.
7. It was noted that there seemed to be a fear of UWI dominance. The Chair indicated that the UWI had no intention of seeking to dominate the project. Ms Marrett indicated that she was seeking his help in approaching CARICOM to hold discussions with TLIs on the nature of collaboration in the region.
8. There was some concern for the nature of UWI involvement in the Grenada meeting - the absence of senior persons who could commit the University and the absence of the TLIU. The Chair observed that the meeting had been planned without consultation with the University, so that there had been little time to organise a more authoritative and representative team.
9. The Chair observed that it appeared that little progress was being made with respect to the University's involvement with the IACD project, which also promised satellite links to increase bandwidth. It seemed that the action was now with CKLN and E-link Americas, so that the University should ensure that it was not left out.
10. The Chair noted that it was hoped to find a student to sit on the APC, whose meetings were to rotate through the campus countries. It was suggested that there may well be significant differences between the concerns of DEC students at campus sites and those in the NCCs, so that a representative for the particular campus country could be invited to each meeting, in addition to one from the NCCs. It was also suggested that an on-line facility be established to allow all students to comment on matters going to APC - the Chair noted that this was consistent with the intention to make APC documentation freely available on the web-site.
11. Ms Marrett and Mrs Fanovich reported on their experiences with organising students. Dr Welch reminded the meeting of the difficulties of selecting an individual from among the sites. The Chair requested other suggestions to be submitted to him.
12. Bahamas raised the question of the efficiency of teleconferences for course co-ordinators and how information on student progress through the programme could be made available locally. This latter point was also raised by St Lucia, where it was noted that mark sheets are no longer circulated to the Centres. Grenada suggested that in some subjects examiners might be asked to compile a general report on performance, which could assist local tutors.
13. Grenada reported concerns about the short time permitted for some coursework assignments, and once again the issue of late examination results, echoed here by several other sites. It was noted that Dr Welch was working on these issues.
14. Grenada also suggested that the Chair convene a Think Tank, to review the content and teaching of EC08A, a course now franchised to the SCS. Antigua remarked that one of its tutors had earlier submitted a report on this course that should contribute to any such review.
15. Grenada noted also the continuing problems of shortage of space.
16. Mona raised a question whether the remuneration of Site Co-ordinators ought not to be responsive to differences in the number of students, of programmes, etc. that their Centres deal with. The Chair indicated that this was a matter the new Director needed to consider.
17. Ms Marret reported briefly on the launch of CARADOL at a teleconference on March 2nd. The Constitution had been emended and ratified; officers had been elected. The official launch would be held in April to coincide with a CARICOM ministerial meeting.
Office of the Board for NCC/DE
March 12th, 2004