Online Learning Program development

1. Background
Online learning is a technology-based learning system that we can obtain through the internet
using electronic devices. It is also called “ e-learning”.
World wide studies show that online enrollment has grown by 12.9% when compared with the
1.2% growth in overall enrollment in higher education. The growth has spread to all universities
including the notable universities like Harvard, and Cambridge. The lockdown that has come
out as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic is another cause for seeking an alternative method of
teaching and learning and increasing the demand for the online program.
In our country, universities and colleges are claiming that they have started the online program.
The agency for the Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) is encouraging
higher education institutions to start the program and has made a draft regulation and guideline
to be approved by the government soon.
Unity University , as a leading private university, has thought about the program and is
preparing to be engaged with its own schedule by the 2013 academic year (Eth.calendar). The
Business Development Department, as a key stakeholder, has prepared this proposal so that
after comments and feedback are collected from the relevant sectors, it will come out as a
comprehensive and workable program .

2. Rationale of the program

With the rapid expansion and development of information technology, the online program is
widely exercised throughout the world in universities and colleges.The development and
integration of new models and tools for learning have brought fundamental changes in the way
universities and students approach the teaching and learning methods.
The universities and colleges in our country are part of the international community and are
expected to open and run online programs. Every college and university in the country
regardless of size, ranking, public or private is encouraged to invest and start e-learning as an
alternative means of education.
Unity University, as a member of this community, needs to play an important role in the
advancement of the technology. It aims at continuing the disrupted programs while maintaining
the COVID-19 prevention regulations and guidelines of the government at the same time.
It also aims at making a paradigm shift in its educational programs towards the new online
learning program.
Since the program is a new environment of learning, it is advised to consider the pros and cons
of the program when the design is set up. Factors for the success of the program include: the
curriculum, the facilitators, the choice of the technology and the students.

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3. Feasibility Study

3.1 Market Condition

Since the emergence of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the education sector, like others, has
significantly faced serious problems and challenges.Schools are closed and students are
staying at home, waiting for the re-opening of classes. The government and the educational
institutions are also considering the re-opening with a new approach to the teaching and
learning system. Online education is the new teaching / learning system chosen to be
conducted in the sector.
Unity University, as a member of the education sector, is expected to carry out this system in all
its tertiary education programs. Arrangements are being carried out by the university by
installing IT related systems which include the e-library.
The university has a large number of students ranging about 15,000, out of which 84.5% are
undergraduates and postgraduates. These are the target markets for the online program.
Besides the existing number of students, newcomers are also expected to join the university in
the coming academic year. Therefore, a substantial increase in the number of enrolments will
be realized. Majority of the students are internet users, and as a result, the market size will
increase as long as the availability of enhanced network connectivity is coupled with the
convenience offered by the university.
Another possible market for online education is the working population. These are the target
groups who couldn’t come to the campuses because of their work engagements. Government
departments and agencies could also be possible target markets.

3.2 Service (production) program

The major services the university renders currently include :
● Educational service ( General education -K G - 8th grade, undergraduate and
postgraduate programs.
● Executive Training service
● Enterprise Services (Printing, Medical and cafeteria services)
Regarding the educational service, the overall average percentage utilization is 83% for
undergraduate and postgraduate programs, and 85% for general education.
The regular and distance education will be covered by the online program.

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4 Course design, delivery and evaluation

4.1 Course design and delivery

The formal online learning program is expected to be implemented with a full scale approach in
the coming academic year. For early preparation, existing students and newcomers need to be
informed ahead of time about the program through the different media.
The major responsibility for the course design will be that of the course departments and the
instructors. They are required to have the capabilities of the technology and media related skills,
especially, computer and other internet usage skills. Therefore, a skill inventory needs to be
conducted as soon as possible, and using this information those Instructors who have the skill
gap need to be trained on how to work with the program before the formal program starts.
The instructional methods should include powerpoint presentations, case studies, worked
examples, demonstrations,and project works.
The delivery strategy should also include audio and video conferencing, chat, email messaging.
Allowing downloads is also an option of delivery.
The delivery method will be via the university’s online learning platform. It will be a central online
platform that students can access from their personal PCs, mobile phones, or tablets.
Virtual classroom will be the main forum for the program. It is a digital environment that enables
live interactions between the tutor and the student. With an active participation of students,
virtual classes create an environment similar to a physical classroom.
Video conferencing is also one of the most common tools used in a digital teaching space.

4.2 Evaluation
Once the courseware is installed on a server, it has to be made accessible for the students.
Students will be tested at regular intervals throughout their study period to assess their
understanding of the course materials. For each assignment, students will receive their topic,
dead line and word count. They will be required to produce a structured reasoned argument
within the boundaries set out by the course instructors.
Regarding the discussion activities, the course instructor will generally start each discussion
with a question or topic for debate. Students then need to research the topic and post their
responses to the task demonstrating their own knowledge and understanding . This way they
will end up in a debate with the ideas and views posted by fellow students.
Another assessment method is a journal entry, an ongoing update giving the opportunity to
reflect back on what you have learned during the period under review, and how you will apply
what you have learned in the future.
Regarding exams, tutors have no way to oversee a virtual exam or test, they are typically open
book and open notes. The option of completing a “ take-home “ examination in the form of an
essay or final assignment.

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4.3 Implementation plan
The university should have comprehensive institutional and organizational mechanisms to
facilitate the development and growth of e-learning. In order to implement the online education,
the management, the relevant academic and administrative departments must have the same
understanding about the program so that it will get full support in the implementation plan.
A significant investment is required for the smooth running of the program. The funding for the
investment and the technology infrastructure to support the program is another critical success
factor.
There might be a need for a curriculum revision and development to ensure the enhancement of
the online program.
In order to run the program effectively and efficiently, there is a need for:
● developing and updating the teaching and learning policies.
● promoting and rewarding the faculty and the staff for appropriately using and
demonstrating the e-learning.
● providing increased technical and instructional design support to assist in the design and
development of e-learning and research materials.
● training the staff, the lecturers, and students on the operation and technological support
of the program.

5. Resource requirements

5.1 Equipment, materials and supplies

The equipment, materials and supplies requirements for the online education are estimated in
the following table.

Table 01. Equipment, materials and supplies requirements and cost estimates

No. equipment, materials, & supplies quantity Unit price Total price

1. Server (router support, accessories) 1 400,000 400,000

2. Computer 3 20,000 60,000

3. Laptop 1 30,000 30,000

4. Network attached storage (NAS) 3 40,000 120,000

5. Flash drive (<120 GB) 2 3,000 3,000

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 6. Microphone & speaker (for computer) 3 15,000 45,000

7. Webcom (camera) 3 30,000 90,000

8. LCD projector 3 45,000 135,000

9. Other related materials (20%) -- -- 88,300

- Total -- -- 1,059,600

5.2 Engineering and technology

Since the number of students is very large, there might be a need to rent the service of the
server functions (space & hosting) from worldwide companies like Google, DigitalOcean and
Linode. Although it might be expensive, this will solve most of the problems and is easy to start
the program immediately.
High speed internet connection, updated software applications and few “ smart classrooms “
(with LCD projectors and sound system) are needed to run the program smoothly.

5.3 Organizational setup

An IT unit that can provide the service design, delivery and support of the program, has to be
established and the unit needs to include :
● Project coordinator
● Full stack developers (the front end- for the students, and the back end for the server)
● Network administrator
● Mobile app. developer
● Desktop app. developer
A computer laboratory (data center) needs to be organized.

6. The platform
The learning platform is a platform that will access to deliver courses to students and manage
their online activities. It is a software (a web page) that sets interactive online services and
provides students with access to information, tools and resources to support educational
delivery and management. The followings are some of the Information on some of the platforms,

6.1 Zoom :
It is a video conferencing application which provides a “..Free..” platform for online services.
However, the free service is disrupted now and then and since the data is saved on Zoom, it
can be used for advertisement. In the conferencing session, It stays only for 40 minutes and in

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order to resume the service, you have to ask for the meeting ID, and since the ID which they
give has few digits with no other character, it is easy to be hacked. Any one can enter into the
meeting which he is not supposed to attend and can cause disturbances. It is slow and the ID is
changed now and then and can cause disruptions in the meeting.
The message sent by the university first goes to the zoom data center, stored there and then
goes to the student afterwards. Therefore, Zoom will have access to your data and can use it for
any other purpose of its own.

6.2 Open Sources :

Using an open source is also a free platform. Since the code is open to everyone, users can
have a chance to contribute to the development of the data, and when hacked, it can be seen
easily and the contributors can make an immediate correction on it.
In an open source platform, you will not be dictated, and data will be saved in your server and
can secure your data safely.

7. Budget implications
The purchase and installation of the technology requires a huge amount of money. Funding and
operational support might be needed from stakeholders, government agencies, and other
sources of funding.
Since the courses are online, the competition will be tough and profit might not be realized soon
when compared with that of the traditional system. The suggested strategy is to focus on quality
education.
The university needs to revise the tuition fees in order to recover the costs. Since the
investment is a fixed investment, it will be used for an extended period of time to a large and
widely dispersed population, resulting in a significant return on the investment.

8. Accreditation
Online programs are worthy, especially in crucial times like the COVID 19 pandemic throughout
the world. They are equally accepted with that of the traditional teaching and learning programs.
The Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA) has drafted a directive that will
enable higher education institutions to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students online.
As per the information disseminated from the agency, the directive is expected to be approved
in the coming weeks.
The university should be prepared and start the work in all aspects to get the accreditation as
soon as possible.

( NB. Secondary sources are used for the proposal.)