Course planning and administration by instructors: the Case of St. Mary’s University College

Abstract

The importance of a well thought course delivery that requires a thorough planning and strict execution thereof is reiterated by many to ensure the provision of quality education in higher learning institutions. The overall purpose the study is to examine the current course planning and delivering practices of instructors and come up with suggestions on possible options of action for the betterment of these practices towards enhancing the quality of education offered by the UC. The study was conducted based on the course plans prepared and distributed to students by the instructors, and feedbacks from students on their observation and perceptions about the course plans and implementation by the instructors during the course period. Therefore, samples of course outlines and students were used as data sources. The selection of samples was carried out through random sampling method where systematic and convenience sampling techniques were employed to pick the sample units. The systematic sampling was applied for students where every third student in the classroom was made to participate in the study as a respondent. In the case of course outlines, the convenience sampling technique was applied where 9 to 10 course outlines were picked randomly from each department. The study revealed that a planned course delivering is a commonly practiced task across all instructors, departments and mode of enrolments (regular and extension) in the UC. The course planning approach of instructors also took in to account most of the aspects that thought to be important by most authors referred herein, given the components incorporated in the course outlines. This, however, needs to be practiced on a standardized, harmonized and continuous basis. It should also be noted that the monitoring and evaluation of the practice is equally important, especially for the enhancement of the practices of planning for and delivery of courses by instructors thereby quality of education offered by the institution over time.