#23 Why Ghana Loves Distance Learning with Oiada International

Show Notes

In this episode, our hosts delve into the world of distance learning with a focus on the experiences of students and teachers from Ghana. The episode features engaging interviews with three inspiring students: Shelter, a high school student aspiring to be an obstetrician; Annabel, a junior high student who dreams of becoming a journalist; and Rashida, who aims to be a fashion designer. Each student shares her unique 'golden moments' of using live video conferencing while highlighting the impact of distance learning on their personal and academic growth.

The conversation also invites Godfred, a dedicated educator and facilitator at Osagyefo Leadership International School in Accra,  to share his perspective. Godfred brings a wealth of knowledge in teaching Science and Mathematics. His passion for making learning fun and accessible shines through as he discusses the flexibility of distance learning and its transformative role in providing quality education.

A key part of the discussion revolves around how distance learning enables these students and teachers to share and correct misconceptions about Ghanaian culture. They explore the collaborative process of developing workshops that showcase different elements of their culture, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation among global audiences.

The episode also delves into the technological aspects of distance learning, with a particular focus on the hardware used -- video conferencing equipment, green screens, and more. The guests express their excitement and fascination with these tools, emphasizing how they enhance the learning experience. This leads to a discussion on the future of education technology, with a nod to the impact of Cisco equipment.

Bertram, the Oiada Ambassador, filmmaker, actor, and writer, also joins the conversation, bringing insights from his experience in Public Relations Management. 

Overall, this episode highlights the power of distance learning in bridging cultural gaps and empowering students and teachers in Ghana.

Guest Links:
Oiada International - https://www.oiadaintl.org/

Host links:
Browse amazing virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org

Seth's  Banyan Global Learning prepares students for real life with live virtual learning experiences in Character Education: banyangloballearning.com

Creators and Guests

Host

Allyson Mitchell

SF

Host

Seth Fleischauer

TM

Host

Tami Moehring

What is Why Distance Learning??

Why Distance Learning? is a podcast about the decisions, design choices, and assumptions that determine whether live virtual learning becomes shallow and transactional—or meaningful, relational, and effective at scale.

The show is designed for education leaders, instructional designers, and system-level practitioners responsible for adopting, scaling, and sustaining virtual, hybrid, and online learning models. Each episode examines the structural conditions under which distance learning actually works—and the predictable reasons it fails when it doesn’t.

Through conversations with researchers, experienced practitioners, and field-shaping leaders, Why Distance Learning? translates research, field evidence, and lived experience into decision-relevant insight. Episodes surface real tradeoffs, near-failures, and hard-won lessons, equipping listeners with clear framing and language they can use to explain, defend, or redesign distance learning models in real organizational contexts.

Hosted by Seth Fleischauer of Banyan Global Learning, and Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration, the podcast challenges outdated narratives about distance learning and explores what becomes possible when live virtual education is designed intentionally, human-centered, and grounded in evidence.