Widening participation in science education: the potential for distance learning to deliver programmes of study in foundation level science

Abstract

The College of Science (COS) at Wits University in South Africa has been running a successful access course to the faculty of Science for over ten years. In this time, more than 370 BSc graduates have emerged from this programme. However, this programme offers access to only 200 students per year. The COS decided to broaden access to its programmes by making its existing courses in physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences and mathematics available in open learning format. This article provides the rationale and description of the project and presents some early findings on the research into the piloting of this programme in its first year.


SAJHE Vol.18(1) 2004: 382-394