COURSE AIMS
Identify differences between various modes of distance education and other forms of education.
Determine appropriate methods for communicating with, and motivating action from, new distance education students.
Provide effective support services to students undertaking distance education studies.
Explain the ways that teachers and students can work together by using effective listening skills, problem solving techniques, empathy and other interactive strategies to maintain effective and meaningful relationships in the learning process.
Manage physical and human resources within a distance education program to achieve appropriate benefit for cost expended.
Conduct effective assessment of distance education students.
Conduct effective administration of distance education students.
Improve students’ and teachers’ ability to communicate effectively in a distance education environment.
Provide support for graduates upon or following completion of a distance education course.
COURSE STRUCTURE
There are nine lessons in this module as follows:
1. Scope and Nature of Distance Education –how it is different
2. Getting the student started
3. Supporting Students
4. Real Time Support
5. Managing Resources
6. Assessment
7. Student Administration
8. Communication Skills
9. Supporting Graduates
WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THIS COURSE
Investigate the scope and nature of distance education being used in your country, both by: a/ Government Education Services and b/ Private enterprise
Describe which method of distance education you think is most appropriate for specified skills
Interview students from the same course or a course in the same field to find what motivates them to complete the course.
Give an example of a positive and a negative incentive in an educational setting.
Give an example of where a negative incentive may be appropriate and explain why.
List three (3) practical ways a teacher might develop inquisitiveness or curiosity amongst students
Explain how your approach might be different when trying to motivate a perfectionist or high achiever compared to motivating a person with low self esteem or lack of enthusiasm
Investigate 2 other distance educations schools and compare support services in each.
Explain how you could increase the capacity of the learning experience to cater to varied individual needs amongst D.E. students studying on line courses
Observe and record listening behaviour
Describe what applications you think chat has for distance education
Outline training needed before using a new tutor (with only classroom teaching experience) as a distance education tutor, who needs to communicate with D.E. students using a variety of different communication methods
