Telematic Learning Systems

When the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education embarked on the telematic learning systems route in 1995, an instructional model was introduced whereby students would benefit from having access to learning facilitators with both academic and field-related expertise in addition to educational technology applications. Although the telematic learning system is excellently positioned for distance learning in a technology-driven environment (where classrooms without walls are the order of the day and higher learning is reaching hundreds of remote students through the use of appropriate technology), it also provides for a blended approach where interactive multimedia learning material is wedded with personal tuition through a network of facilitators. A great deal of resources is provided on the facilitation network for most of the telematic programmes of the University. To obtain and preserve quality learning for the university and its students, it is imperative that facilitators are developed and empowered to act as multi-skilled 21st century mentors for the University’s telematic learners. This paper reports on research that constitutes, as primary objective, a model for forecasting vital attributes in facilitators in a telematic learning system where the facilitator should improve the quality of life of the telematic student who chooses this specific route of learning, anticipating the outcomes to b