ATTITUDE OF WOMEN LEARNERS TOWARDS DISTANCE EDUCATION: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district and data were collected from 43 women distance learners of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and 77 women distance learners of Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) following purposive sampling method. The comparative attitude level was measured in eight subareas of distance learning viz., general, admission procedure, self learning material (SLM), multimedia, assignments, counseling, study centers and evaluation system. The findings revealed that women distance learners have positive attitude towards distance learning and no significant difference was found between the overall attitudes of learners from both universities. However, the IGNOU learners exhibited more favorable attitude than SVSU learners on five sub-areas of attitude towards distance learning namely admission procedure, assignments, counseling, study centre and evaluation system with a significant difference only in assignments area (P<0.05). The related implications for distance education are discussed

Keywords

• Distance education
• attitude of women learners
• India

Kaynakça

1. Adeoye, F. A. (2010). Learners’ choice and perception of distance learning degree programme of the National Open University of Nigeria. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 19(1), 33–42.
2. Andrew, C. N. (2003). Open and distance learning practice at the Papua New Guinea
3. University of Technology. http://www.col.org Biswas, P. K. (1999). Freshers in IGNOU: A study of their awareness, interest and motivation. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 8(3), 273–282.
4. Das, M. (1992). Approaches to learning and academic performances of students in traditional and open universities: A comparative study. (Unpublished Ph.D. thesis in Edu).
5. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi: Fifth survey of educational research. Gaba, A. K. (2010). Learners’ perception towards Information and Communication
6. Technologies: A case study of Indira Gandhi National Open University. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 19(3), 143–157. Holmberg, B. (1989). Theory and practice of distance education. London: Routledge and Kegan.
7. Kamla, B. K. (1995). Women friendly perspectives in distance education: Problems and prospectus with special reference to Indian conditions. Speaking for ourselves, Women and distance education in India Manohar 1995.
8. Krishnan, C. (2004). Distance Higher Education in Kerala: Students’ assessment,

9. Discussion Paper Published by Kerala Research Programme on Local development. Kumar, A. (1998). An investigation in to the distance Learners Academic Self Concept,
10. Study Habits and Attitude towards distance Education in Relation to Academic performance at First Degree level. (Unpublished Ph.D Edu.) Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut (Sixth survey education research). Kumar, A. (1999). Open university distance learners attitude towards distance education.
11. Perspectives in Education, 15(3), 165–173. Nembiakkim, R., & Mishra, S. (2010) Distance education research: Attitudes and barriers.
12. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 19(3), 215–222. Osei, C. K. (2010). Perceptions of students towards use of distance learning: The Case in an Executive Masters Business Programme in Ghana. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 13(2).
13. Pant, H. (2005). Attitude of distance learners towards multimedia approach to instruction. AAOU Journal, 1(1), 65–72.
14. Sahoo, P. K., & Bhatt, V. D. (1987). A study of attitude of students towards correspondence education. Jounral of Indian Education.
15. Sahoo, P. K. (1998). A comparative study of courses from Indira Gandhi Open University and University of correspondence courses in Orissa state, AAOU’98-Abstract of Papers.
16. Singh, B., & Chaturvedi, H. C. (1996). Intelligence and attitude of off campus and on campus students towards education. Indian Journal of Open Learning, 5(1).
17. Sultana, S., Jahan, T., & Numan, S. M. (2011). A study of learners perception and attitude towards BA/BSS programme of SSHL of Bangladesh Open University. Turkish Online
18. Journal of Distance Education, 12(3), 181–189. Thompson, G. (1990). How can correspondence based distance education can be improved? A survey of attitudes of students who were not well disposed towards correspondence study. Journal of Distance Education, 5(1), 53-65.
19. Tripathi, M., & Kanungo, N. T. (2010). Information use pattern of researchers in Open and Distance Education: An analysis of citations of Indian Journal of Open Learning. Indian
20. Journal of Open Learning, 19(3), 183–198. UGC (2003). Higher education in India - Issues, concerns and new directions, recommendations of UGC Golden Jubilee seminars- 2003 held at eleven universities in
21. India, The University Grants Commission. Skills, Profile: What are Employers Looking for, ERIC Digest No.: (ED 399484). APPENDIX The Questionnaire I agree Sometimes I do not agree Statements