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ERIC Number: ED575755
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 144
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3696-2715-2
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Distance Teacher Education in Ghana: The Learner's Experience
Kisseih, Gordon A.
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Oral Roberts University
Purpose, Scope, and Method of Study: The purpose of this grounded theory study was to understand the experiences of learners in a distance teacher-education program administered by a national university in Ghana. Participants were 21 working adults whose program combined independent study with attending classes at regional centers. Interviews addressed their overall experiences as learners, including time management and sense of isolation from classmates and/or instructors. Findings and Conclusions: Six themes/categories emerged as challenges faced by the distance students in the program. They experienced loneliness due to minimal infrastructure development and poor cell phone networks. Demands of the program conflicted with social and family life and were compounded by uneven gender roles and family responsibilities. Work demands made it difficult to complete assignments. Feelings of isolation from instructors and peers arose from distance and limited internet connectivity. The pressure of examinations was increased by inadequate course materials. Common to all the challenges and emerging as the core category was the difficulty of time management. A seventh theme/category included the strategies that enabled the students to cope with the challenges of the program. A number of strategies enabled the students to cope with the challenges of the program. Attractive financial incentives helped with the pressure of finances and work. Students developed the mindset that the situation was temporary, therefore tolerable. Creating an online community using WhatsApp enabled the students to cope with feelings of isolation and the pressure of examinations by providing a platform for communication with peers and instructors. Finally, carefully setting priorities helped the students deal with competing demands for their time. This description of the challenges and coping strategies of these distance students has implications for program implementation for distance teacher education in the sub-Saharan African region and Ghana in particular. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ghana
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A