Enhancing the Role of the Hellenic Open University as a Lifelong Learning Organisation: Crossing the Rubicon into the E-Learning Era

Abstract

The Hellenic Open University (HOU) has recently ‘crossed the Rubicon’ into the e-learning era, offering learners the opportunity to attend online classes. For the teaching personnel, the specific change initiative involved stress-generating issues, associated with the ability to use new technologies and tools, and apply online active learning methods and techniques, as well as with issues related to e-learning effectiveness and self-efficacy. On these grounds, a qualitative study was conducted seeking to investigate academics’ views about the challenges they faced, influencing the implementation and effectiveness of online classes. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with randomly selected academics who taught online classes. The data of the interviews underwent a three-level qualitative analysis, following the ‘grounded theory’ methodology. Besides the limitations inherent in the study, the important point was that it enabled important aspects of issues related to design and delivery of effective online courses to be highlighted. The findings of this study clearly depicted the need to support academic staff on multiple levels in their endeavour to implement online courses.

Citation

Panitsides, E.A. and Karapistola, A. (2020), "Enhancing the Role of the Hellenic Open University as a Lifelong Learning Organisation: Crossing the Rubicon into the E-Learning Era", Sengupta, E., Blessinger, P. and Makhanya, M.S. (Ed.) International Perspectives on the Role of Technology in Humanizing Higher Education (Innovations in Higher Education Teaching and Learning, Vol. 33), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 89-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2055-364120200000033006