Faculty Involvement in Instructional Materials Development for Distance Study at the University of the South Pacific - Journal Article

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dhado

Study examines how members of the University of the South Pacific’s teaching staff participate in instructional materials development for distance study, using a structured questionnaire. It measures time spent, satisfaction with produced materials, preferences regarding development and teaching strategies, and views on improving the development process. Responses indicate unsatisfactory conditions and calls for more time, better coordination and planning, stronger consultation, and adequate support services, alongside concerns about developers understanding the USP region and its target students.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Background and context of study

Study focus and methods

Findings and improvement requests

DOCUMENT RESUME ED 313026 AUTHOR Naidu,Som TITLEFaculty Invo]vement in Instructional MaterialsDevelopment for Distance Study at the University ofthe South Pacific. PUB DATE87NOTE16p.PUB TYPEJournal Articles(080)--Reports -Research/Technical(143)JOURNAL CITDistance Education;v8 n2 p176-8y 1987 EDRS PRICEMF01/PC01 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS*Cooperative Planning;*Distance Education;Foreigr.Countres;Instructional Desiyn;InstructionalDevelopment;*Material Development;Questionnaires;*Services;★Teacher Attitudes;Teamwork;TimeManagement IDENTIFIERS*University of the South Pacific(Fii) # ABSTRACT As a regional institution serving the needs of lldifferent island nations of the South West Pacific,the University ofthe South Pacific(USP)1s,along with its on-campus face-to-faceteaching activity,deeply committed to and reliant on distance studymethods.Both of these activities at the university are the principalresponsibility of a single body of teaching staff.Thisinvestigation,through the means of a structured questionnaire,studied the involvement of members of the university's teaching staffin instructional materials development for distance study.Itinquired into the time they spent on such activity,their levels ofsatisfaction witn the materials they produced,their preferences withregard to teaching and instructional materials developmentstrategies,and their views on how the process of instructionaldevelopment at the university could be improved.Responses revealed arather unsatisfactory picture with requests for more time formaterials development,better coordination and planning,greaterconsultatior among colleagues,and adequate support services ininstructional materials development for distance study.There wasconcern and consensus abouc the need for instructional materialsdevelopers to be adequately familiar yith the USP region and thestudents for whom the materials are intended.Some respondentssuggested that course writers,prior to developing instructionalmaterials,be allowed to spend time in the region becoming familiarwith the local learning context.Among the less frequently mentionedsuggestions was that prospective course writers be sent abroad forshort-term training courses in distance education and instructionalriaterials development for distance teaching.(Author/GL) ***★****************************************************************** ★ Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made ★*★★★★★★★★★★★★★★***★★*★***★**★****★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★* Us DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOice of Educational Resenich and ImprovementEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER(ERICI A This document has been reproduced asreceived from the person or organizabonoriginating it 口Minor changes have been made to improve raproduction quality ● Points of viewor opinionsstated inthis document do not necessarry represen!othici惠OERt poston or policy ED313026 工Roi4080 As a rcgional institution serving the needs of eleven different islandnations of the South West Pacific,the University of the South Pacific is.along with its on-campus face-to-facc teaching activity.deeply committedto and reliant on distance study methods.Both these act vities at the Uni-versity are the principal responsibility of a single body of teaching staff. This investigation.through he means of a structured questonnare.studied the inolvement of membcrs of the University's teaching staff ininstructional materals development for distance study.It enquired intothe time they spent on such activity,their levels of satisfaction with thematerials they produced,various preferences and their views on how theprocess of instructional materials development at USP could be improved. Responses recen ed revealed a rather unsatisfactory picture with a cry for.among other things.more time.advance plannng.greater consultationamong colleagues and adequate support services in instructional maternalsdevclopnent for distance study. Faculty involvement in instructional

FAQs

What method was used to study faculty involvement in instructional materials development?

The study used a structured questionnaire to collect responses from members of the university’s teaching staff.

What aspects were assessed in the questionnaire responses?

It assessed time spent on materials development, satisfaction with produced materials, preferences for teaching and development strategies, and views on how the process could be improved.

What improvements did respondents request?

Respondents requested more time for materials development, better coordination and planning, greater consultation among colleagues, and adequate support services.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dhado