QA4ODFL1/Infrastructure/Logistics

In distance education, planning of the logistics involved in undertaking the various processes is very important. Key processes in a distance education environment include course design, advertising courses, student recruitment, student orientation, developing and dispatching of learning materials (or uploading them on the LMS), setting of assignments, availing assignments to students timely, marking assignments and providing timely feedback, examinations, etc. Systems and structures have to be put in place to ensure these processes happen in unison to each other. Often, sufficient lead-in time is needed to allow the processes to take place. Delays in one process have potential to disrupt the rest of the activities for the entire semester or year. For example, if learning materials are not ready for students when they register, assignments due dates will not be met, marking of assignments may be delayed, providing feedback and capturing coursework marks will not happen in time. This may have implications on timing of semester examinations and release of results.

Appropriate systems and resources need to be in place for all processes to happen smoothly and on time.