Promises and Pitfalls of Open and Distance Learning

Abstract

Amid the vast spread of the coronavirus pandemic, educational institutions have shifted to online learning across the world. In this connection, people of different cultures are experiencing a rigid period in which mainly school administrators, instructors, and students have to teach and learn at a distance due to corona restrictions. In this context, institutions that have already adopted the principles of ODL and have integrated these principles into their online courses utilized the promises that extend further educational opportunities and potentials from the beginning of the corona process. Therefore, the primary aim of this chapter is to shed light to the promises and pitfalls of ODL in terms of the steps to be taken and the necessary features of an appropriate course design. In addition, this chapter is intended to contribute to the related literature with the updated sources of recent developments during corona lockdown and guide professionals, researchers, and instructors who would benefit from theoretical and practical knowledge for effective distance course design.