FACTORS AFFECTING ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IN OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING (ODL) SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY (AIOU)

Abstract

Aim of the study was to identify factors which are affecting assessment practices in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, including factors affecting assessment of assignments, components of workshop and term final examination. The study was intended to answer the questions, how feedback, student faculty proportion, motivation, learning styles and personal problems affect assessment practices during assessment of assignments? What difficulties, students of B.Ed face during presentation of Lesson Plans and compilation of Portfolios? How style of questions, environment and examiners affect assessment practices during term final examination? Population of the study was all students of B.Ed (1.5 year), (2.5 year) and 4 year students, enrolled during semester Autumn-2018, in Multan region of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). Sample comprised of 131 male and 119 female students. Sample was taken by simple random sampling technique. The study was descriptive in nature, and self developed questionnaire was used to collect data from sample students Validity of the research tool was determined through expert opinion method. Coefficient of alpha reliability for validated questionnaire had a value of .76 for respondents’. Data was collected and analyzed by employing SPSS to calculate frequencies, means, standard deviation, and percentage. t-test was used to calculate gender differences. The study concluded that all factors which are affecting in Open and distance Learning (ODL) system are also affecting on assessment practices in Multan region of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), The study recommends on the basis of findings that factors which affect assessment practices in Multan region may be given due consideration to minimize student difficulties. (1) Assessment of assignments by providing timely feedback on semester assignments, deploying faculty keeping in view the enrolment, motivating students and by adopting flexible teaching styles. (2) Component of Workshop, training regarding lesson plan preparation and portfolio compilation need improvement. (3) Term Final Examination, exam personnel may be deployed on merit, old technological items may be replaced with new ones and physical facilities may be improved at Multan regional campus of AIOU.