An Exploratory Case Study: The Sudden Introduction of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in an ODL Accounting Program. The University of Papua New Guinea Open College (UPNG OC) experience

The sudden introduction of IPTV provided the opportunity to cautiously appraise the role of technology to support the predominantly print form of distributed learning within the UPNG OC network. Towards appraising and evaluating the IPTV this research question was posed; does the IPTV Live Broadcast have an effect on the Accounting 2 DE learners’ academic performances? To answer this question the quasi experimental design was employed and the t test was used to compare the mean aggregate scores of the ODL students using instructionally designed print materials and those using instructionally designed print and supplemented by IPTV Live Broadcast. The results revealed that there was a significant difference between the means at both p = 0.10 and p = 0.05 significance levels when comparing the mean scores of the students who passed with respect to their (1) Assignment scores, (2) Term End Examination (TEE) scores and (3) Total Marks. And since the result was consistent across the Assignment, TEE and the Total Scores it is inferred that the IPTV did not have a positive effect on the students who were exposed to it, because it was not fully integrated into the course delivery package. Finally recommendations for policy makers, academics and the Course Development Team are offered with respect to the findings of this study with the hope that relevant actions are taken to improve and establish an economically prudent and appropriate strategy for effective use of technology to support distance learning courses among a network of campus and centre sites in Papua New Guinea.