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Tutor constraints in a mixed mode course
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Abstract
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LOLA (Learning about Learning On-line) was a professional development course for academic and related staff in higher education about developing open and distance learning courses. This case study is examines the role of, and constraints on, a tutor in a mixed mode distance education course.
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Teaching Context
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Subject Area
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Generic, staff development, developing open and distance learning courses (ODL).
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Instructional setting
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Continuous professional development delivered by distance learning to staff in higher education in Romania. Participants were involved in developing, delivering or supporting ODL courses.
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Participants
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40 students in Romania
1 tutor in Scotland
1 local facilitator in Romania
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Study mode
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Part-time distance learning at home. Most participants were located near one of 4 regional study centres and formed local study groups.
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Pedagogical approach
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Work based learning, task based activities involving learning by doing.
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Teaching Methods
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3 face-to-face local workshops. Course modules and readings incorporating tasks, activities leading towards assignments. Tutor/peer support via email and conferencing system.
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Materials
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Course texts, Tutor marked assignments, web based on-line learning environment and discussion area.
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Assessment
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6 tutor marked assignments
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Length of use
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10 hours per week over 5 months
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Prior experience
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Tutor experienced in on-line learning, students mainly inexperienced.
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Technical context
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Customised virtual learning environment running under Web-CT, with group and community discussion areas hosted on WebBoard. Extensive use of email for tutor-student interaction.
All Students did not have consistent and reliable access to web and email.
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Contact
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Author(s):
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Carol Higgison, Project Manager Online Tutoring Skills (OTiS)
ICBL, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS
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URLs:
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About the author
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My main job is in staff development. I am currently the manager of the OTiS (On-line Tutoring Skills) project ( http://otis.scotcit.ac.uk) Programme( http://www.scotcit.ac.uk). For the previous 3 years I co-ordinated a national staff development programme for Scottish Higher education in the use of C&IT to support teaching and learning http://www.talisman.hw.ac.uk/). . My career as an on-line tutor began with the Open University in 1987 and I keep my hand in with various projects including tutoring on LOLA – Learning about learning on-line during 1999. |
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