Teaching (still) Matters: Experiences on Developing a Heutagogical Online Module at UNISA

Abstract

Online learning is beginning to make indelible inroads in South African higher education institutions. Although in its
incipient stages in a few institutions it shows much promise for the future student who will study away from the actual university.
Higher education institutions perceive the need to be of service to a large number of students who are not necessarily in the
vicinity of the campuses. It then appears that the “new” universities will be incomplete without the introduction of effective online
programmes. These programmes will be part of the future university and will ensure student productivity while also responding to
the calls for massification. This article explores the utilisation of heutagogical principles in a new online programme at the
University of South Africa (UNISA). Based on principles of self-guided learning, heutagogy magnifies the role of the student. The
article also sheds light on how UNISA’s online module maximises the effective use of heutagogy.