Page 88 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

Development of Effective Instructional Design Skills for Online and Remote Teaching and Learning
The University’s Teaching and Learning Plan is premised on acquiring and institutionalising instructional design expertise. This is done through cascading training to demonstrate knowledge and skills of developing an effective instructional design. Best practice was shared to provide continuous training to academics on module organisation and presentation.
One of the initiatives introduced by the University to improve online teaching and learning skills was the conversion of materials from paper-based to online materials. Academic staff were trained on how to use Znanja software (used to convert paper-based materials into online materials). The benefit of the software is that it creates interactive materials, has an artificial intelligence component, and can change written text to audio. Various training sessions took place that were aimed at acquainting the academic staff with the software for material conversion as well as training of IT
specialists, Moodle Champions, TLC staff, so that they could transfer skills to academic staff. Alongside training, Ted4life was used to assist with the editing and conversion of materials that were approved by TLC. Znanja software was integrated with Moodle and trainers were trained on how Znanja works on Moodle. Internal training was conducted that enabled academic staff to use their converted materials during the second semester.
Emergency Remote Assessment and Quality
Assurance
Assessment is a critical element of teaching and learning in all modules. To ensure that assessment results can be accessed and used for various purposes at a future date, the results must be recorded. Due to the movement to online teaching and learning, the assessment methods also had to be adjusted to online assessment, or methods that best suit the need for online teaching. A secure and reliable assessment management system is in place at an institutional level that provides accurate, consistent, and credible results. Adjustments were made through the University structures
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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