About Us

The Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL) was established in 2011 as a synergy among the major stakeholders in order to achieve the mission and vision of the University's distance learning programmes.
The Centre for Open Distance and E-Learning is the Administrative Unit for all distance learning programmes of Federal University of Technology, Minna and is accountable for all programme management and delivery process to provide all necessary learner support services. The Centre serves as the hub for the University's distance learning programmes.
The Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning is been managed by a Director who is directly responsible to the University's Vice Chancellor.
Among other activities, the Centre performs the following functions:

• Promote, plan, direct, and coordinate the provision of distance learning
• Liaise with the Departments, Centres and the Postgraduate School in the development of appropriate programmes.
• Facilitate the recruitment and training of full-time and part-time staff required for course development, production and implementation.
• Manage and oversee the development and delivery of distance education through the study centres which are operational centres for students' registration, advisement, administration of residential session and other forms of face-to face contact.
• Facilitate the distribution of study materials and administer marking assignments to ensure two-way communication between students and their tutors.
• Maintain an accurate and comprehensive record system of systems, material production and records of study centres.
• Administer examinations and process students' results in conjunction with relevant departments, faculties, and the Postgraduate School.
• Write handbook for students, course writers, tutors, and study centre coordinators.
• Liaise with the University library in the provision of library services at the study centres.
• Collaborate with other institutions to provide laboratory facilities and equipment for distance learners.
• Provide accountability reports and statistics on enrolment, finances, retention, graduation, etc., on the operation of the distance learning programmes.
• Where appropriate schedule on-campus orientation for distance learners and part-time tutors.
• Perform programme review every three years to keep abreast of global developments and to improve programme quality, effectiveness and efficiency.
• Administer programmes for and on behalf of its partner Institutions.

Preamble

The concept of establishing Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL) in Federal University of Technology, Minna was born out of the necessity to provide access to higher education to a larger number of interested students presently limited by the existing structure (human and physical resources) or engaged in other life demanding issues. This is in line with the Nigerian National Policy on Education (FRN, 2004) which recognized open and distance learning as a way of providing access to quality university education for those who otherwise would have been deprived through the conventional process. The Federal University of Technology Minna has demonstrated its commitment to partnership with other tertiary institutions and international educational bodies to promote open and distance learning. This development informed the university senate’s position to approve the establishment of the Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (CODeL) in 2011.

Principles

The concept of Federal University of Technology, Minna CODeL programme submits to the following principles:

1. Availability of system of remote training for a wide range of consumers;
2. Provision of quality education in an affordable and cost effective way;
3. Introduction of Distance Learning new technologies in framework and integrating same naturally with traditional education system;
4. Priority to the pedagogical approach at the design and realization of educational process in the environment;
5. Encouraging, supporting and monitoring students progress to implement intervention for improvement when necessary;
6. Availability to the trainees various models of educational processes;
7. Constant updating of CODeL educational services; integration of automated training systems as means of maintaining educational process.
8. Development of capacity in open distance and e-learning delivery through regular staff training and development processes.

Justification

1. Currently, there is virtually no global University that is not on Open Distance Learning
2. The University is desirous of fully utilizing the Memorandum of Understanding entered into with its international partners such as Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, India, Universities in Belarus, National Open University of Nigeria and many others.
3. The University is one of the foremost Nigerian tertiary institutions in the application of ICT in several facets of teaching, learning and research. Therefore, there is the need to take advantage of the huge investment by the University in Information Technology infrastructure development.
4. The University has numerous experienced and skilled academic, technical and administrative staff members who can assist in effective delivery of distance learning programme.
5. The need to grant learning access to diverse learner population (matured students, people with learning disabilities, employed workers, inmates, full-time housewives, etc) who may prefer to study from home or workplace at the times that suit them.
6. Open Distance Learning keys into the Federal University of Technology, Minna, strategic vision to offer mass education to qualified teeming population of Nigerians that are desiring to acquire it.

Vision

To be a global Centre of excellence in e-learning.

Mission

The centre is committed to the delivery of quality distance learning through dynamic and pragmatic training, research and entrepreneuary services, driven by Information and Communication Technology.

Objectives

The objectives of the programme are in line with the National Policy on Education 2004 which shall be to:

1. Provide access to quality education and equity in educational opportunities for those who otherwise would have been denied;
2. Meet special needs of employers by mounting special certificate courses for their employees at their work place;
3. Encourage internationalization especially of tertiary education curricula;
4. Ameliorate the effect of internal and external brain drain in the University by utilizing Nigerian expert teachers regardless of their location or places of work.

Programme Viability

The financial viability of a programme must be carefully considered before it is developed. The Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning needs to develop a distance learning programme-costing model to guide programme development. Heads of Departments and Deans of Schools should be able to offer guidance to the University.

Curriculum Development

1. The curriculum for each academic programme should be in line with the NUC Approved programme in the face-to-face mode.
2. The curriculum will have academic integrity and be responsive to the vision and mission of FUT, Minna, national educational imperatives, and societal and employment needs,
3. The curriculum will ensure that the learning outcomes are clearly articulated in terms of competences, skills and behavioural attributes.
4. It will be aligned with the student profiles
5. The curriculum development process will be conducted by a team involving academics, curriculum and course designers, student support specialists, language specialists, tutors, and relevant stakeholder
6. Evaluation strategies will assure the quality of the learning process and will suggest improvements. Particular emphasis will be placed on student feedback. FUT, Minna will ensure that it supports the student throughout his/her study.

Teaching in Open Distance and E-Learning of Federal University of Technology Minna

The CODeL shall disseminate all materials using various asynchronous technology. Management of the programmes shall be supported by a web-based learning management system (LMS). The print-based self-study instructional materials shall be the core of this project. However the teaching and learning methods for a particular programme or course:

1. Will be determined by the nature of the programme, the profile of the students, students’ access to resources and the level of the programme.
2. Will include independent study of learning materials, completion of various activities, formative assessment tasks, tutorials, practical work and opportunities to interact with others as well as research activities.
3. Will include work-integrated learning as a planned component of a curriculum when outcomes can only be achieved through work-based experience.
4. Courseware will be developed by a team of lecturers taking particular course(s) for distance e-learning. In doing so, learning objectives should be well defined; evaluation should be inline with the stated objectives.
5. Online delivery will be facilitated by the use of appropriate ICT facilities such as JoomlaLMS software, Skype, e-mail, Blogs, wiki educator, internet streaming technologies. etc.
6. Database and portal website will be developed to access learning and knowledge resources.
7. Developed courseware should be accompanied with a well written Study Guides that will lead the study
8. Lecturers taking particular course will be responsible for teaching, examining and grading of students learning outcomes.

Available Learning Resources

(i) Course material will prepare student for learning, develop the necessary skills, attitudes and knowledge that the student needs, guide the student through the learning process and include sufficient and appropriate learning activities to enhance knowledge.

(ii) CODeL will invest in good quality course design and study material and will provide effective student support services.

(iii) CODeL will make effective use of the Open Education Resources (OER), educational and social technologies in learning programmes in appropriate and innovative ways that improve the quality of teaching and learning.

(iv) CODeL will collaborate with other Institutions to develop and share study materials to improve the ODL quality of teaching.

TO ACHIEVE THESE, LEARNING MATERIALS:

• Will be systematically designed and tailored to ODL format, (i.e. interactive, comprehensive, accessible, contemporary, etc).
• Will be accessible to target students,
• Will require the active engagement of the student,
• Will make appropriate use of media and ICT
• Will build on the students’ experience and knowledge enabling the student to construct new knowledge.
• Learning resources will meet international quality standard
• Courseware will be well designed to facilitate access to information.

DELIVERY CHANNELS Advanced teaching and learning models, well designed courseware, effective/efficient administration and student support using a wide range of delivery channels are core to the success of our students. FUT, Minna will use the best possible mix of media to support these core functions which includes:

Technologies with limited interaction

• Other resources such as digital media (audio and video cassettes, CDs, DVDs), satellite broadcasting, online distribution of content and information and corporate websites, audio and video podcasting and streaming, and possibly radio and television will be used to facilitate the process of teaching and learning.
• Asynchronous technologies such as wikis, blogs, social networking facilities and e-portfolios will be used effectively to support teaching and learning.