Assessing the Factors of Lecturers’ Readiness in Open and Distance Learning

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic pushes lecturers to adopt new norms, particularly open and distant learning (ODL), in their teaching. The first lockdown had a significant influence on the educational system at all levels, forcing all the lecturers at the university where the research was conducted to carry on with the teaching and learning process by utilising any online teaching resources that were available. The research aims to determine the relationship between ICT-equipment readiness, content readiness, ODL training readiness, students’ readiness, towards lecturers’ readiness. It also aims to explore the influence of all four factors towards lecturers’ readiness. A total of sixty-nine lecturers from various faculties responded in the online survey, and the data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression. The result reveals the existence of a relationship between the readiness of ICT equipment, content, ODL training, students, towards lecturers’ readiness. The regression model revealed the content readiness, and ODL training readiness factors significantly influenced lecturers’ readiness. The significance of the study is to suggest the educational institutions to take initiative in providing staff training so they can create instructional materials that suit their students' needs and promote open and distance learning for them.