Innovative courseware development on agenda

Thursday, 31 July 2014, 10:47 am
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

Innovative courseware development on agenda for Minister Joyce’s visit to Open Polytechnic

Finding out more about the Open Polytechnic’s work in developing a range of innovative online and tablet based courseware was on the agenda for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce during his campus visit today.

The Open Polytechnic is the largest provider of flexible distance learning in New Zealand, and one of the biggest educators of the current workforce.

During his visit, Minister Joyce was shown the work Open Polytechnic is doing to develop tablet based learning applications for adult learners in foundation level programmes.

“Our research shows that no one else in the world has released an education app like the one being created by Open Polytechnic”, says Chief Executive Dr Caroline Seelig.

“The app comprises audio, video, graphics, and interactive learning activities that will help adult learners overcome literacy and numeracy issues so that they can fully engage with the study materials.”

The app has been developed to be delivered on low cost tablets, and fully self-contained so that learners who do not have access to the internet at home can still complete the learning outcomes and move onto the next level of their studies.

Other highlights of Minister Joyce’s visit included being shown behind the scenes of the Open Polytechnic’s virtual campus for students, the Online Campus, to see how the organisation is using video and interactive courseware to enhance the learning experience for distance students.

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