INFLUENCE OF PERCEPTION OF CONTENT OF PRINT INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIUM ON LEARNER PARTICIPATION IN DISTANCE LEARNING: THE CASE OF BACHELOR OF EDUCATION PROGRAMME UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI, KENYA.

There has been a shift worldwide in the delivery of distance education from the use of print medium towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) approach. However, print medium still remains the most preferred mode of transmission of distance learning especially in developing countries and Kenya being no exception. This is due to its usefulness in cases where infrastructure that supports the use of other media especially those that are web-based are still limited. This study was carried out at the University of Nairobi. Its purpose was to determine how learner perception on content of print instructional medium influences participation in the programme. Three aspects of content were studied which included the perception of scope, currency and relevance of the content and how these influence participation in distance learning in the programme were investigated. A total of 547 Bachelor of Education students in the programme were targeted for the study. Out of these, 231 participants were selected through simple random sampling procedure. The researchers also interviewed 11 full time and 15-part time lecturers who were involved in the programme. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data. Mixed method approach was used that involved qualitative and quantitative data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as linear regression and Pearsons correlation coefficients. The decision to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis was based at 0.05 levels of significance. Results indicate that 77% of student respondents perceive scope of the content as broad and therefore useful for participation in distance learning, while 94% of lecturers had a similar view. On the other hand, 98% of students perceived the content as relevant to their participation in the programme. While 94% of the lecturers had a similar view. With regard to currency of content of print instructional medium, 86% , of student respondents viewed content of study units as current and therefore useful for their participation in distance learning process, while 50% of the lecturers had a similar opinion. Therefore, the distance learning programme had adequate scope, relevant content but did not have much current information in given subject areas. Hence, there is need to periodically review the content of print instructional medium in order to make it current and relevant to 21st century learners. This would go a long way in accelerating the acquisition of Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)relevant to education in Kenya.