• The Vista University Team (henceforth referred to as the Vista Team) arrived in Orlando, Florida on Sunday, October 29 to begin an intensive visit to the campuses of the University of Central Florida, Bethune-Cookman College and Daytona Beach Community College. The Vista Team spent one and a half days each at the Daytona Beach Community College and Bethune-Cookman College campuses in Daytona Beach, and two days on the campus of the University of Central Florida in Orlando. During this time the Vista team met with institutional administrators and technology/HIV/AIDS faculty and staff who shared their expertise. The Vista Team toured a variety of facilities such as wireless classrooms, online student resources, technology labs, computer enhanced teaching facilities, and ITV rooms. They also viewed and interacted with specialists demonstrating the functions of learning centers, virtual classrooms, video production units, wireless classrooms, online student resources, technology enhanced classrooms, and the transformation of digital camera and video pictures into computer programs. Special meetings with faculty engaged in HIV/AIDS programs were also arranged for one Vista Team member. The goal of this visit was for the Vista Team to see first hand a myriad of technological applications within higher education, and then to determine and prioritize those applications most relevant to Vista University’s programs and mission.

Established Baseline Infrastructure
    • Under the direction of Ms. Charlotte Motha, TELP Coordinator at Vista University, and following Distance Education Workshops held on June 22, 2001 between VUDEC (Vista University Distance Education Campus), UNISA (University of South Africa) and TSA (Technikon South Africa), the Vista Steering Committee (with special input from Professor Lubout - Science & Technology Education, and Mr. Reuben Legodi -Coordinator, Learner Support Centre) developed a detailed list of infrastructure baseline needs. This proposed infrastructure baseline was reviewed and revised by the Consortium Committee and returned to Vista University for final approval.

Vista Installed Video Conferencing Equipment
    • Through negotiations and meetings with UNISA, Vista University was able to obtain and install Video Conferencing Equipment in four identified sites (Vista cost-sharing, no cost to grant). This equipment became operational in March 2002, and was enhanced by designated technology requests/purchases and training/workshops outlined in the Work Plan.

Delivered Capacity Building Workshops: HIV/AIDS – Health Promotion
    • The Integrated Health Promotion and Immune-Management Network Workshop, VUDEC, Pretoria, April 24, 2001
    • Project Alignment Workshop, Johannesburg, May 28, 2001
    • Integrated Curriculum Development in HIV/AIDS, May/June 2002
    • SAQA Update Workshop, June 2002
    • Assessment Tools in HIV/AIDS & Health Promotion, July 2002
    • Computer-Based Education, July 2002
    • Integrated Marketing, August 2002
    • Development of Assessment Criteria for Recognition of Prior Learning, August 2002

Distance Education/Learner Support Centre Technology Workshops
    • Distributive Education Programs at UCF, September 2000
    • Distance Education Programs at Bethune-Cookman College, September 2000
    • Basic Web-Page Course Design, September 2002
    • Writing for the Web/WebCT-Training, September 2002
    • Collaborative Learning Techniques, September 2002
    • Advanced Distributive Learning, September 2002
    • Successfully Managing Student Computer Labs, September 2002
    • Academic Development for Distance Education, October 2002
    • Facilitating Learning through OBE, October 2002

Delivery and Installation of Computers in Pretoria and Remote Sites
    • Final delivery of computers to the Central VUDEC Campus in Pretoria was completed in April, 2002. Since that date, Mr. Mantsipane Reuben Legodi, VUDEC Learner Support Centre, has been coordinating the development of a network for these computers, which will be placed in various remote Learner Support Centres. Transportation contracts to these remote sites, and software site- licenses have been coordinated and completed. Mr. Legodi has also taken a positive initiative to work with Technikon South Africa to develop joint use computer laboratories.

Established HIV/AIDS Management Team
    • Ms. Marlene Gerner was hired with grant funds, and is currently on-the-job as the Administrative Assistant for the HIV/AIDS program at Vista University. Additional staff members have been hired (typists, course developers). She has proved to be extremely effective in managing communications, workshop agendas, coordinating site-visit schedules etc.

Developed HIV/AIDS Marketing Initiatives
    • Mr. Leon Roets of VUDEC, has developed a detailed marketing plan and budget for the HIV/AIDS Program at Vista University. Web-sites have been developed both at Vista University and at the University of Central Florida, and the grant has partially sponsored the publication of the HIV/AIDS “Bible,” which includes an article written by Mr. Roets. A new marketing brochure has been designed, printed and distributed.

Draft Agreement of Collaboration between Vista University and the University of Central Florida Consortium
    • Based on a mutually-agreed upon site-visit itinerary developed during previous video conferences between Vista University and the UCF Consortium, a six-person team (two representatives from each Consortium Institution) made a site-visit to Vista University from 5-16 September, 2002. During that site-visit Vista University and Consortium Team members developed a draft Agreement of Collaboration, including the identification of a mutual research agenda. During these meetings it was also agreed to develop a website for the Vista/UCF Consortium Partnership to showcase current achievements and to be used as a tool to obtain future follow-on grants.

Prepare, Print and Distribute New/Revised HIV/AIDS Course Materials
    • Mr. Leon Roets, with the assistance of the UCF Consortium Team and Marlene Gerner (HIV/AIDS Administrative Assistant), has reviewed, revised, edited, printed and distributed new/revised course materials for the Graduate Program in HIV/AIDS Health Promotion Program at VUDEC. (Samples of these course materials are available through Mr. Leon Roets, Sociology Department, VUDEC).

Evaluate Effectiveness of Technology Applications in Learner Support Center/Make Adjustments
    • During and immediately following the UCF Consortium Site-Visit to Vista University in September 2002, Mr. Reuben Legodi, VUDEC Learner Support Centre analyzed, assessed and adjusted appropriate training for students, academic staff and lab assistants for VUDEC’s Learner Support Centres. This was facilitated by an on-site visit to VUDEC’s remote Learner Support Centre in Pietersburg, South Africa during the September site-visit.

CASE STUDY OF THE PROJECT

Infusion of technology into distance learning:
A case study of Vista University and the University of Central Florida Consortium

Profile of the UCF Consortium
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona Beach, Florida

Profile of Vista University)
    • Vista University was established in 1982 for the purpose of upgrading teachers.
    • The University has since grown into an eight campus structure of which VUDEC is the distance learning campus
    • 30 Learner Support Centres countrywide

Student profile and enrollment

What is a Learner Support Centre (LSC)?
The role of LSC in Distance Education
    • Provide contact sessions in the students’ local communities
    • Facilitate communication between the University and students
    • Provide counselling and academic development sessions
    • Afford opportunities for lecturers to have contact with students

Project Objectives
    • Create a technology-based distance learning model
    • Enhance the service-delivery of Learner Support Centres
    • Enrich the capacity of the HIV/AIDS programme
    • Develop sustainability of the Project beyond TELP

Overall Results
    • Assessment of distance learning modes at all partner-institutions
    • Stronger collaboration between VUDEC staff and LSC’s
    • Development of an Agreement of Collaboration for next three years
    • Collaboration on joint curriculum development, implementation, exchange of resources, research and grant seeking

Achievements (A) and Impact (I)
    • Usage of technology (Video Conferencing) to facilitate communication among Vista staff and UCF Consortium (I)
    • Sharing of technology resources to enhance distance learning institutions in South Africa (I)
    • Bring Vista on par with other distance learning institutions in South Africa (I)
    • Skill improvement on curriculum development and evaluation for distance learning (A)
    • Improved the communication between VUDEC and LSC’s (I)
    • Sharing of technology resources and expertise to enhance distance learning (A)
    • Improved quality of curriculum development and implementation (I)
    • Establish the VISTA-NICDAM Alliance to support the HIV/AIDS programme (I)
    • Usage of video-conferencing and e-mails (I)
    • Technology-based communication with other international organizations (I)
    • Development of business plans and fund proposals (A)
    • Joint presentation of the project at International conferences (I)
    • Exposure to International and Education sectors (I)
    • Development of project management skills (I)
    • Capacity building of staff and networks (A)
    • Improved service-delivery through partnerships (I)
    • Receiving further funding due to success of project (I)

IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE PROJECT

While there were many notable accomplishments throughout the life of this project, the following have been determined to have the most significant impact.
    • Developed and delivered HIV/AIDS program marketing initiative throughout Southern Africa.
    • Developed and delivered HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion capacity building workshops for Vista Faculty and for community-based NGOs.
    • Prepared, printed and distributed to Vista’s Distance Education students new/revised HIV/AIDS course materials based on Outcomes-Based Education.
    • Coordinated the involvement and utilization of outside institutions and NGOs in development of HIV/AIDS and Health Promotion education programs at Vista University
    • Purchased, delivered and installed computers to 28 remote Learner Support Centres to integrate technology into Vista’s Distance Education programs.
    • Developed and delivered technology capacity building training sessions to Vista faculty members.
    • Developed and delivered capacity building workshops on web-based course design for Vista University’s Distance Education Campus.
    • Developed Vista University/Consortium website to promote partnership activities and to obtain future funding beyond the end of this grant.
    • Developed a learning community including Vista University and the University of Central Florida Consortium faculty to collaborate on research agendas and professional publications.
    • Prepared Memorandum of Agreement for future collaboration between Vista University faculty and the University of Central Florida Consortium faculty.

APPENDIX
• Audit A133
• External Evaluation
• Vita of External Evaluator
• Copies of Brochures, Publications and Electronic Productions