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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
31

Learning styles : implications for higher education / Thesis

Van Rensburg, Gisela Hildegard 06 1900 (has links)
Significant changes have taken place in higher education over dte past ten years. Learners are more liberated and want to be acknowledged as individuals with differences, and not expected to adapt their individual characteristics to fit in with the specific environment of the learning situation. A new emphasis is placed upon creating and sustaining learning environments that accommodate Ieamer needs and dte process of effective learning. Learners' individual needs include their need to learn how to learn and an acceptance of their individual differences as expressed in learning styles. Active Ieamer participation in dte learning process is necessary for effective learning to take place. Only dten can the desired outcome be reached. For a Ieamer to actively participate in the learning process, the Ieamer must know how to learn, and how to function as an independent Ieamer. To reach these goals, sound knowledge of individual differences in learning st;ytes is necessary. The impact of individual differences on education and the way they affect educational practice, future learning and academic achievement places the emphasis even more strongly on constant awareness, updatlng or change, improvement and development of the educational environment. The educator, as one of the role players in the educational environment, is the facilitator of learning, and should be empowered with a strong knowledge base regarding individual differences among both learners and educators, thus becoming more innovative and creative. Qualitative non-empirical research was undertaken. The aim of this research was to analyse and explore the concept learning style as well as to promote learning style awareness through assessment of learning st;ytes, and to provide an organised frame of reference to guide the learning process and provide for systematic education. Based on insight and knowledge gained through Inductive and deductive reasoning, The Learning Style Assessment Tool and a model for learning style promotion in higher education were constructed. The instrument enables learners and educators to assess their own learning st;ytes and identify their learning characteristics and preferences. The model can serve as a basis for acknowledging and accommodating learning styles in higher education. The desired outcome of this research is effective learning and quality education. / Health Studes / D. Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)
32

An Empirical Study of Authentication Methods to Secure E-learning System Activities Against Impersonation Fraud

Beaudin, Shauna 01 January 2016 (has links)
Studies have revealed that securing Information Systems (IS) from intentional misuse is a concern among organizations today. The use of Web-based systems has grown dramatically across industries including e-commerce, e-banking, e-government, and e learning to name a few. Web-based systems provide e-services through a number of diverse activities. The demand for e-learning systems in both academic and non-academic organizations has increased the need to improve security against impersonation fraud. Although there are a number of studies focused on securing Web-based systems from Information Systems (IS) misuse, research has recognized the importance of identifying suitable levels of authenticating strength for various activities. In e-learning systems, it is evident that due to the variation in authentication strength among controls, a ‘one size fits all’ solution is not suitable for securing diverse e-learning activities against impersonation fraud. The main goal of this study was to use the framework of the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) theory to conduct an exploratory research design to empirically investigate what levels of authentication strength users perceive to be most suitable for activities in e-learning systems against impersonation fraud. This study aimed to assess if the ‘one size fits all’ approach mainly used nowadays is valid when it comes to securing e-learning activities from impersonation fraud. Following the development of an initial survey instrument (Phase 1), expert panel feedback was gathered for instrument validity using the Delphi methodology. The initial survey instrument was adjusted according to feedback (Phase 2). The finalized Web-based survey was used to collect quantitative data for final analyses (Phase 3). This study reported on data collected from 1,070 e-learners enrolled at a university. Descriptive statistics was used to identify what e-learning activities perceived by users and what users perceived that their peers would identify to have a high potential for impersonation. The findings determined there are a specific set of e-learning activities that high have potential for impersonation fraud and need a moderate to high level of authentication strength to reduce the threat. Principal Component Analysis was used to identify significant components of authentication strength to be suitable against the threats of impersonation for e-learning activities.
33

Learning styles : implications for higher education

Van Rensburg, Gisela Hildegard 30 June 2002 (has links)
Significant changes have taken place in higher education over the past ten years. Learners are more liberated and want to be acknowledged as individuals with differences, and not expected to adapt their individual characteristics to fit in with the specific environment of the learning situation. A new emphasis is placed upon creating and sustaining learning environments that accommodate learner needs and the process of effective learning. Learners' individual needs include their need to learn how to learn and an acceptance of their individual differences as expressed in learning styles. Active learner participation in the learning process is necessary for effective learning to take place. Only then can the desired outcome be reached. For a learner to actively participate in the learning process, the learner must know how to learn, and how to function as an independent learner. To reach these goals, sound knowledge of individual differences in learning styles is necessary. The impact of individual differences on education and the way they affect educational practice, future learning and academic achievement places the emphasis even more strongly on constant awareness, updating or change, improvement and development of the educational environment. The educator, as one of the role players in the educational environment, is the facilitator of learning, and should be empowered with a strong knowledge base regarding individual differences among both learners and educators, thus becoming more innovative and creative. Qualitative non-empirical research was undertaken. The aim of this research was to analyse and explore the concept learning style as well as to promote learning style awareness through assessment of learning styles, and to provide an organised frame of reference to guide the learning process and provide for systematic education. Based on insight and knowledge gained through inductive and deductive reasoning, the Learning Style Assessment Tool and a model for learning style promotion in higher education were constructed. The instrument enables learners and educators to assess their own learning styles and identify their learning characteristics and preferences. The model can serve as a basis for acknowledging and accommodating learning styles in higher education. The desired outcome of this research is effective learning and quality education.
34

Uthålligt lärande om värmen? : Domesticering av energiteknik i passivhus / Sustainable learning about indoor heating? : Domesticating energy technology in passive houses

Isaksson, Charlotta January 2009 (has links)
Den vanligaste lösningen på problemet att för mycket energi används i den byggda miljön är implementering av energieffektiv teknik. Men installation av teknik räcker sällan för att nå förväntad energibesparing: det är människor som i sin vardag använder tekniken och de använder den inte alltid på det sätt som teknikutvecklarna har tänkt sig. I avhandlingen behandlas människors vardagliga användning av energiteknik. Det innebär att fokus skiftas från produktutvecklarnas och experternas intentioner och syn på teknikens användning, till det sociala sammanhang där människor lever sitt vardagsliv. Syftet med avhandlingen är att undersöka hur energiteknik som utvecklats för att hushålla med energi och effektivisera energianvändningen domesticeras i hemmet. En fallstudie har genomförts för att undersöka hur energikonceptet för passivhus med tillhörande teknik domesticeras i hemmet. Detta energikoncept förväntas leda till ett nytt energieffektivt sätt att hantera värmen i bostaden. Fallstudien består av två intervjuomgångar med boende i passivhusen i Lindås, söder om Göteborg. Utifrån ett sociokulturellt perspektiv på lärande och begreppet domesticering analyseras hur de boende tolkar energikonceptet i passivhus, hur de på olika sätt förändrar sitt förhållande till värme och sitt sätt att hantera värmen inomhus, samt hur och varför deras engagemang för energitekniken begränsas. I avhandlingen analyseras processen där de boende med stöd av tidigare erfarenheter och olika typer av resurser efter hand gör tekniken begriplig och lär sig att hantera värmen i sitt passivhus. En slutsats är att mer uthållig energianvändning inte kan nås enbart genom att utveckla nya energitekniska lösningar, utan det krävs också att förutsättningar skapas för att människor ska kunna lära sig hantera de mer hållbara alternativen och dessutom välja dem. / New and more energy efficient technologies are usually regarded as the solution to the problem with too high energy consumption in the built environment. It is not enough, however, to fulfil the expected reduction of energy consumption since other influential factors have to be considered as well. There are for example people who use technology in ways unintended by the developers. In this thesis, people’s daily use of energy-related technology is investigated. Thereby, focus is shifted from the technology developers’ expectations and opinions regarding how to use the technology towards the social contexts in which people live their everyday life. The aim in this thesis is to investigate the domestication in private homes of energy technology developed to reduce energy use and improve energy efficiency. A case study is conducted of how the energy concept in passive houses and its related technologies are domesticated in the daily life of householders. This energy concept is expected to lead to a new energy efficient way of handling heating. The case study comprises of two rounds of interviews with the occupants of the passive houses in Lindås, south of Gothenburg. The households’ interpretation of the energy concept of passive houses and how the householders change their andling of and relationship to the indoor temperature are analysed from a sociocultural learning perspective and the concept of domestication. The thesis analyses the process in which the household members learn how to handle the energy technology in their passive house, supported by their earlier experiences and other kinds of resources. One main conclusion is that sustainable energy use is not only a question of developing new, energy efficient technologies. In order to meet the national and international goals set up for energy efficiency and energy conservation, tools must be developed that encourage people to choose and to learn sustainable ways of using the new technology.
35

The role of the preceptor in selected clinical nursing practice settings in Botswana

Dube, Antonia 30 June 2004 (has links)
A non-experimental, explorative, descriptive, quantitative study was undertaken. The purpose was to explore and describe the views of preceptors and preceptees regarding the fulfillment of the role of the preceptor in selected clinical nursing practice settings in the Botswana context. The study included 72 preceptors and 200 nursing students/preceptees who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analysed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of this study indicated that there were numerous constraints that interfered with the preceptor role in accompaniment of the preceptee. These constraints included the lack of desirable characteristics and time to plan learning opportunities, inadequate use of teaching strategies and inadequate knowledge on preceptee evaluation. Recommendations were stated for improvements in the future role of the preceptor in clinical practice settings Limitations of this study were also highlighted. / Health Studies / M.A.(Health studies)
36

Learning styles : implications for higher education / Thesis

Van Rensburg, Gisela Hildegard 06 1900 (has links)
Significant changes have taken place in higher education over dte past ten years. Learners are more liberated and want to be acknowledged as individuals with differences, and not expected to adapt their individual characteristics to fit in with the specific environment of the learning situation. A new emphasis is placed upon creating and sustaining learning environments that accommodate Ieamer needs and dte process of effective learning. Learners' individual needs include their need to learn how to learn and an acceptance of their individual differences as expressed in learning styles. Active Ieamer participation in dte learning process is necessary for effective learning to take place. Only dten can the desired outcome be reached. For a Ieamer to actively participate in the learning process, the Ieamer must know how to learn, and how to function as an independent Ieamer. To reach these goals, sound knowledge of individual differences in learning st;ytes is necessary. The impact of individual differences on education and the way they affect educational practice, future learning and academic achievement places the emphasis even more strongly on constant awareness, updatlng or change, improvement and development of the educational environment. The educator, as one of the role players in the educational environment, is the facilitator of learning, and should be empowered with a strong knowledge base regarding individual differences among both learners and educators, thus becoming more innovative and creative. Qualitative non-empirical research was undertaken. The aim of this research was to analyse and explore the concept learning style as well as to promote learning style awareness through assessment of learning st;ytes, and to provide an organised frame of reference to guide the learning process and provide for systematic education. Based on insight and knowledge gained through Inductive and deductive reasoning, The Learning Style Assessment Tool and a model for learning style promotion in higher education were constructed. The instrument enables learners and educators to assess their own learning st;ytes and identify their learning characteristics and preferences. The model can serve as a basis for acknowledging and accommodating learning styles in higher education. The desired outcome of this research is effective learning and quality education. / Health Studes / D. Litt. et Phil. (Advanced Nursing Sciences)
37

Quels usages des TICE permettent d’optimiser l’apprentissage d’une Langue Vivante Étrangère dans une approche par compétences ? : le cas de la compréhension de l’oral en polonais langue étrangère / How to use information and communication technology (ICT) to optimize foreign language learning process in a competence-based approach ? : the case of oral comprehension in Polish as a foreign language

Gut, Dagmara 05 April 2013 (has links)
Cette recherche-Action en didactique du polonais langue étrangère (PLE) pose la question des conditions d'usage des environnements médiatisés d'apprentissage (EMA). Plus précisément, nous nous intéressons au rôle et aux apports de différents types d'étayage, propres à un outil multimodal, mis à disposition des apprenants dans un module de compréhension orale (CO) et destiné à un travail en autonomie. Le cadre théorique est construit autour de l'acte d'apprendre que nous questionnons selon différentes approches : psycho-Cognitive, didactique et multimédia. Deux études complémentaires, concernant les EMA du PLE et les représentations/attentes des enseignants et apprenants de polonais par rapport à ce type d'apprentissage, complètent cet état des lieux. Sur ces fondements, nous adoptons à nos besoins un prototype conçu sur la base d'un document vidéo authentique et accompagné de plusieurs aides à la CO exploitant la multicanalité du support multimédia. Nous présentons enfin une expérimentation qualitative à visée pragmatique. Son objectif est d'observer de manière empirique quels usages font les apprenants des options d'aide dont ils disposent afin de déterminer leur utilisabilité et utilité pour la CO. Nous essayons de cerner quelles fonctionnalités les utilisateurs emploient, pourquoi (leurs attentes) et avec quels résultats pour la compréhension (leur satisfaction). En plus nous recueillons des avis critiques sur le prototype élaboré. Par le biais d'une triangulation des données, nous déterminons un certain nombre d'implications didactiques et ergonomiques susceptibles d'optimiser le processus de CO d'un document multimédia grâce à la prise en compte des caractéristiques cognitives des apprenants. Nous supposons notamment qu'une répartition de l'accompagnement en fonction des phases du processus de compréhension pourrait aider les apprenants à développer non seulement leurs compétences linguistiques (à savoir la CO en PLE), mais aussi la compétence stratégique (les stratégies cognitives et métacognitives) / This action research in dealing with the teaching of Polish as a Foreign Language investigates the conditions of use of multimedia learning environments (MLE). More specifically, we focus on the role and contributions of different types of help options, specific to multimedia tools, available to learners in listening Computer Assisted language Learning (CALL) activity. The theoretical framework is built around the act of learning that we consider according to different approaches : psycholinguistic, didactic and multimedia. Two complementary studies, the corpus analysis of the already existing polish MLE and the opinion survey on teachers' and learners' expectations related to CALL learning systems, complete this inventory. On this basis, we designed a listening comprehension CALL prototype module based on an authentic video document and accompanied by several multimodal help options. Finally, we present the results of an experimental qualitative study. Its objective is to observe empirically how learners use the help options available to them. Thereby, we attempt to identify their usefulness and usability for oral comprehension. We try to identify which aids the learners use, why (their expectations) and with which results for understanding (their satisfaction). We also collect critical opinions on the developed prototype. Through a triangulation of data we focus on a certain number of teaching and ergonomic implications to optimize the listening comprehension of a multimedia document, especially by considering the cognitive characteristics of learners. We suppose in particular that the understanding process could be forested by the progressive integration of help functionalities in CALL listening comprehension tasks. In our opinion, this could help learners to develop not only their language skills (i.e. listening comprehension of Polish as a Foreign Language), but also strategic competence (cognitive and metacognitive strategies).
38

Putting the Pieces Together: Using Learning Analytics to Inform Learning Theory, Design, Activities, and Outcomes in Higher Education

Goodman, Amy Graham 12 1900 (has links)
The goal of learning analytics is to optimize learning and the environments in which it occurs. Since 2011, when learning analytics was defined as a separate and distinct area of academic inquiry, the literature has identified a need for research that presents evidence of effective learning analytics, as well as, learning analytics research that is conducted in conjunction with learning theory. This study uses Efklides' metacognitive and affective model of self-regulated learning (MASRL) to define cognitive, metacognitive, and affective variables that can explain students' learning outcomes in hybrid/online sections of Calculus I in the 2020-21 academic year. Cognitive variables were measured according to the cognitive operational framework for analytics (COPA). Metacognitive variables were defined according to the ways in which students interacted with the course content in the learning management system (LMS) and supplemental instruction, and affective variables were measured by ways students gave evidence of their affective states, such as in discussion board posts. All variables were compared across the course learning design, activities, and outcomes. Binary logistic regression revealed five significant variables: two cognitive, one metacognitive, and two affective. Thus, this study provided a learning analytics, evidence-based link between self-regulated learning theory and learning design, activities, and outcomes. In addition, implications for students, instructors, and learning theory were explored, as well as, the qualifications of this study as evidence of effective learning analytics.
39

Связь удовлетворенности учебной деятельностью и личностных черт у студентов-психологов : магистерская диссертация / Communication satisfaction with learning activities and personality traits of psychology students

Прохоров, В. В., Prokhorov, V. V. January 2019 (has links)
Объектом исследования является удовлетворенность учебной деятельностью. Предметом исследования стала связь удовлетворенности учебной деятельностью с чертами личности. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (70 источников) и приложений, включающих в себя методики, применявшиеся в ходе исследования. Объем магистерской диссертации 125 страниц, на которых размещены 10 рисунков и 6 таблиц. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются гипотезы, указываются методы обработки данных. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по теме удовлетворенности учебной деятельностью, чертам личности и их влиянии на успешность деятельности психолога. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования, а также результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: пятифакторный личностный опросник «Большая пятерка», тест-опросник удовлетворенности учебной деятельностью, анкета «Мотивы получения психологического образования». Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования. / The object of the study was satisfaction with learning activities. Communication of learning satisfaction and personality traits. The master thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, conclusion, list of references (70 sources) and applications, including the techniques used in the course of the study. The volume of the master's thesis is 125 pages, on which are placed 10 figures and 6 tables. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the development of the problem, sets the goal and objectives of the research, identifies the object and subject of the research, formulates hypotheses, specifies the methods of data processing. The first chapter includes a review of foreign and domestic literature on the topic of satisfaction with learning activities, personality traits and their impact on the success of a psychologist. The conclusions of the first chapter are the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It presents a description of the organization and methods of the study, as well as the results obtained using all the methods used: the Big Five five-factor personality questionnaire, a test questionnaire of educational satisfaction, a questionnaire on the “Motives for obtaining psychological education”. The conclusions of chapter 2 include the main results of an empirical study. The conclusion summarizes the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as the conclusions of the hypotheses put forward, the practical significance of the study is substantiated.
40

La place de l’autonomie de l’apprenant en formation ouverte et à distance dans le contexte de l’enseignement supérieur ouest-africain

Touré, Mamadou 12 1900 (has links)
Les difficultés croissantes de l’enseignement supérieur en matière d’accessibilité aux formations et de disponibilité de filières de qualité, dans les pays en voie de développement de l’Afrique de l’Ouest notamment, conjuguées avec le développement vertigineux des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC), suscitent un grand espoir de faire de la formation à distance une solution alternative crédible des formations présentielles (OCDE, 2006). Or, si la littérature s’accorde à reconnaitre aux TIC et l’interactivité qu’elles procurent des facteurs favorisant l’apprentissage (Karsenti, 2006), la réalité du terrain éducatif lui impose de reconnaitre que non seulement la révolution de la formation ouverte et à distance (FOAD) n’est pas encore d’actualité (OCDE, 2006), mais qu’elle ne le sera que si, pour faire face à la distance transactionnelle, plus accrue en formation à distance, l’apprenant ne se contente plus d’apprendre, mais d’apprendre à apprendre, ce qui exige de lui des compétences d’autonomie. Or, malgré des décennies d’intérêt et d’investissement de la recherche, le développement de l’autonomie sur le terrain reste toujours marginal, les débats philosophiques ayant pris le pas sur la quête de solutions pratiques (Albero ,2003). La question de savoir comment les éducateurs de la FOAD utilisent les solutions existantes, censées favoriser l’autonomie de l’apprenant, telles certaines formes de tutorat et de travail de groupes, n’est pas sans intérêt, puisqu’elle permet de mieux comprendre le terrain cible et sa part de responsabilité dans cet insuccès de l’autonomie. S’inscrivant en droite ligne des travaux d’Albero (2003), la présente étude organise les principes d’autonomie suivant un cadre conceptuel privilégiant l’action et le développement, selon une dimension dynamique symbolisant l’importance du soutien à accorder à l’apprenant, une dimension topologique indiquant la nécessité pour ce soutien de prendre en compte les différents aspects sur lesquels l’apprenant peut exercer son autonomie et une dimension chronologique exprimant l’importance du désétayage. De façon pratique, cette étude, démarrée en 2009 dans le contexte de la FOAD du 2IE (Institut International des Ingénieurs de l’Eau et de l’Environnement), sis à Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso, s’organise en trois articles : le premier tente de comprendre si les conditions d’efficacité de la FOAD, selon les apprenants, formulent un besoin d’apprentissage en autonomie; le second tente de comprendre, à partir des propos des tuteurs, si l’encadrement des apprenants respecte les principes d’autonomie; enfin, le troisième article s’est penché, sur la base des intentions exprimées par les concepteurs, sur le respect des principes d’autonomie par les cours. L’éloignement des apprenants et l’objectif de comprendre leurs perceptions de la FOAD, nous ont fait préférer une approche de recherche de type mixte, à la fois qualitative pour mieux comprendre leur perception (Karsenti & Savoie-Zajc, 2004) et quantitative, pour tenir compte de leur éloignement. Pour la perception des éducateurs, nous avons opté pour une approche qualitative/descriptive plus appropriée dès que l’étude vise la compréhension du phénomène social abordé (Karsenti & Savoie-Zajc, 2004). Des résultats obtenus, la perception des 62 apprenants sur les 170 initialement invités par courriel à répondre au questionnaire, semble confirmer l’autonomie de l’apprenant comme une condition de leur réussite en FOAD. La demande des apprenants pour un soutien accru, malgré l’effort actuellement consenti par l’encadrement, effort reconnu par les apprenants eux-mêmes et qu’attestent les 10 tuteurs interviewés sur une quarantaine au 2IE, devrait, toutefois, inviter à la réflexion, puisque ne s’opposant pas réellement à un apprentissage en hétéronomie. À l’analyse, il apparait que l’insatisfaction des apprenants s’expliquerait par la non-prise en compte des différents aspects susceptibles d’influencer leur apprentissage. De plus, en nous référant aux entretiens avec les 11 concepteurs de cours sur un total de 30, il apparait que, bien que conscients de la nécessité d’adapter les cours au contexte de la FOAD, ni la modularité des contenus, ni la flexibilité de la structure des cours ne semblent être prises en compte. Au final, l’étude révèle l’urgence de lutter contre les habitudes acquises en formation présentielle et la nécessité d’employer des pédagogues professionnels formés pour une pédagogie d’autonomisation. Encore faudrait-il que l’autonomie soit véritablement consacrée par la littérature comme une praxis pour signifier qu’elle n’a d’autre fin qu’elle-même, et non comme une poiesis, pour dire que l’autonomie vise une production et cesserait dès que son objectif est atteint. / The increasing difficulty of providing university education in developing West African countries due to lack of access and inadequate facilities, combined with the breakneck development of information and communication technologies (ICT), have given rise to hopes that open and distance learning (ODL) can provide a practical alternative to face-to-face classrooms (OECD, 2006). However, although the literature reports that ICT and the interactivity they provide can foster learning (Karsenti, 2006), the reality of current education systems forces us to admit that not only has the ODL revolution not been fully realized (OECD, 2006), it will happen only when, to cope with transactional distance, which is a major factor in ODL, learners will not be content with simply learning but will learn how to learn, and this will require autonomous skills. Nevertheless, despite decades of interest and research, real learner autonomy is still marginal, and philosophical debates have replaced the quest for practical solutions (Albero, 2003). It was therefore deemed relevant to explore how ODL educators use available solutions, said to foster learner autonomy, such as certain forms of tutoring and group work. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of how these practices are applied and their role in the failure to develop autonomy. Following the works of Albero (2003), this study organizes the principles of autonomy within a conceptual framework: interrelations between action and development are described, evidencing the importance of providing support to learners. This topological dimension underscores how educational support must take into account the diverse areas where learners can exercise their autonomy, and a temporal dimension highlights the importance of the progressive reduction of support. This study was initiated in 2009 under the ODL program of the 2iE (International Institute for Water and the Environment) at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It is organized as three articles: the first seeks to identify the conditions for effective ODL as perceived by learners, and evokes the need for autonomous learning; the second attempts to understand, based on interviews with tutors, whether coaching practices conform to autonomous principles; and the third, based on the expressed intentions of the course designers, examines course compliance with autonomous principles. Given the geographic distance between learners and our aim to understand their perceptions of ODL, we adopted a mixed methods approach, using qualitative methods to better understand learners’ perceptions (Karsenti & Savoie-Zajc, 2004) and quantitative methods to account for their isolation. To grasp the educators’ perceptions, we opted to use qualitative description as a more appropriate way to comprehend the social issues involved (Karsenti & Savoie-Zajc, 2004). Of the 170 learners who were emailed a questionnaire, 62 responded. The results appear to confirm that learner autonomy is a condition for successful ODL. Nevertheless, requests by the learners for more support, despite ongoing efforts under the coaching system, efforts recognized by the learners themselves and confirmed by the ten tutors interviewed out of 40 approached at the 2iE, led us to reconsider: there may still be a place for heteronomous learning. The analysis suggested that learners’ dissatisfaction could be explained by the failure to take into account diverse aspects liable to influence learning. In addition, referring to the interviews with the 11 course designers (out of a total of 30), it appeared that, although they were well aware of the need to adapt the courses to the realities of ODL, neither site-specific contents nor flexible structures were included in the course design. The study concludes on the urgent need to cast off traditional face-to-face learning modes and to hire professional educators trained in learner empowerment. And the question arises: will autonomy ever be defined in the literature as a praxis, i.e. a goal in itself, or will it remain a poiesis, whereby autonomy aims for production and loses its purpose once the objective has been obtained?

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