Web-Enabled Student Support Services (WESSS) in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system: a case study

Abstract

The concept of the ODL system focuses on open access to education and training to make the learners free from the constraints of time and place, and offering flexible learning, curriculum or other elements of structure opportunities to individuals and groups of learners. IGNOU is serving its best in developing the attitude and aptitude among the learners for education for those who cannot afford to go far. Effective Student Support Services are a vital means of enabling students to cope with the academic and personal pressures of distance education. This research explored the implementation of Web Enabled student support services by IGNOU Regional Centre Karnal, in order to obtain feedback from the learners amidst COVID 19 pandemic. Keeping in view of the probability of responding to the questionnaire, a random sample was drawn from the 3400 learners of PG, UG, Diploma and Certificates Programmes, admitted for July 2019 (Fresh) under Regional Centre Karnal. An online questionnaire was used for the collection of the primary data that contained 12 Items based on the Likert Scale in addition to 16 open-ended questions. The Likert Scale items ranged (5 Point scale) from (1) strongly disagree (2) Disagree (3) Neither agree nor disagree (4) Agree (5) strongly agree. The other 16 items pertaining to the learner profile and using resources were also included in the questionnaire. The findings indicate a positive attitude among the IGNOU ODL learners towards learning through Web-enabled mode/online mode.