NEWS:

26 Feb, 2016


Students accessing information through OLAT
Learning has significantly improved at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) courtesy of Online Learning and Training (OLAT) platform.


In an interview recently, OLAT specialist Mr Noel Jambo said one can access video clips, notes and power point presentations of all class sessions that take place at the institution across the globe as long as they have an access number.


OLAT is an acronym for Online Learning and Training. It is a web application – a so-called Learning Management System that supports any kind of online learning, teaching, and tutoring with few educational restrictions.



“The platform has immensely improved teaching and learning as students can review whatever took place in class even if they were absent or did not understand properly. This has also greatly helped in the wake of increasing numbers of students” said Jambo.


He said the initiative is being piloted under the three year USAID funded Agricultural Innovation Partnership project jointly implemented by LUANAR, Cornell University in USA and Sathguru management consultants of India.


“The aim of the initiative is to improve learning and training by taking videos of class sessions, notes and presentations and upload them on the website so that all the students can access regardless of distance as long they have key,” said Mr Jambo.


Mr Jambo added that learning has improved as reflected to students’ grades saying even the number of students being withdrawn has reduced but was quick to warn that this does not encourage students to deliberately miss classes.


He further said students that are on campus do not have to worry about the internet as this platform is also accessed through the intranet.


Agness Lungu, a student, said before the initiative was introduced if one missed a class it was difficult to catch up with colleagues but now even if one missed a class, he/she can just access the video of the class session.


“The introduction of OLAT has greatly improved learning as one is free to review the class if they did not understand some content or if they did not attend the class” said Agness.


It is free software and open source. Its development started in 1999 at the University of Zürich and OLAT won the MeDiDa-Prix prize in the year 2000.


Written By: Daniso Mkweu

Submitted By: Public Relations Office