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"To achieve goals you’ve never achieved before, you need to start doing things you’ve never done before." These were the words of internationally respected author Stephen R. Covey during a video clip that set the tone for an enlightening Open Distance Learning (ODL) Implementation launch that took place on 10 February 2010 at the Senate Hall.
The video clip illustrated a group of children playing soccer but with an abstract view of the game. While the clip of adorable children running around and scoring goals for the wrong team did make the audience laugh, there was an element of truth in the message: It is not uncommon to find team members rushing around to get things done, but very rarely is everyone working towards one common goal. Just because the leader understands the goal, doesn’t mean everyone else does.
The clip and these points "set the scene for what needs to be done", according to Prof Rita Maré, Unisa's Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, in her welcome address. She went on to say that "the future of Unisa, students and ODL is for Unisa to become a world class ODL institution." Prof Mare encouraged everybody to act like world cup soccer teams and appealed to the rest of the university to support the teams especially through challenges.
Prof Peter Havenga, Executive Director: Academic Planner, presented an overview of the ODL implementation plan. He focused on expectations, deliverables and lessons learnt. He said that there was "a lot of work done in the previous task teams and now we’re building on that." The expectation is to have a clear picture of where everything stands. This needs to be done by June this year.
ODL Coordinator, Dr Paul Prinsloo spoke about a shared macro conceptual framework followed by the introduction of the conveners and task teams. The respective conveners are as follows:
- Task Team 1 (Admissions): Prof D Singh
- Task Team 2 (Higher Certificate): Prof R Moeketsi
- Task Team 3 (Assessment): Dr IG Moche
- Task Team 4 (Student Support): Dr J Heydenrych
- Task Team 5 (Technology Enhanced Teaching, Learning and Student Support): Mr Deon van Der Merwe (ICT)
- Task Team 6 (Student Throughput/Success/Retention): Prof GI Subotzky
This year the ODL coordination office, in the office of the Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, will support and coordinate a number of initiatives to implement the approved ODL implementation plan. All curriculum and courseware development will implement the approved framework. The task teams that are constituted according to the ODL implementation plan will submit proposals to the Senate Teaching and Learner Support Committee (STLSC) and Senate by June 2010.
Once the panel concluded, the audience was given a chance to make comments and pose questions/concerns that needed to be discussed. | 
