‘Designing for Online and Web-based Learning and Support for Students’ (DOWLSS)
Abstract:
This elearning package focuses upon staff becoming e-tutors with a particular emphasis on student support and guidance at a distance and will be available for use by EHU and partners, with design blueprints and principles available for use by sector.
The Rationale behind the development of this module is supported by the views of Salmon (2000);
“Any significant initiative aimed at the introduction of technology into teaching and learning should include effective e-moderator support and training, otherwise its outcomes are likely to be meagre and unsuccessful.” (Salmon, 2000, p80)
In this module this notion is extended to acknowledge the importance of climate and conditions related to student support and guidance online, which complements tutor engagement with learners per se. Therefore in order for successful online teaching and learning experiences, we must provide suitable training for online tutors, in order to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding of online support processes.
The key aim of this module is to develop tutors to be able to design and deliver elearning experiences which include appropriate consideration of academic, pastoral and technical support needs in the context where learners are situated.
The content of the module will focus upon the support needs (above) with emphasis on the behaviour of the tutor, and the support and guidance of students studying online. In saying this, in order to support students effectively, online courses should be developed efficiently with pedagogical principles in mind, and therefore these principles should be reinforced throughout this module, providing a ‘model’ for online course development.
Comparisons between face-to-face and online studying will highlight the skills required for online tutoring. The module should build upon this by possibly introducing researched models such as Salmon’s 5 Stage Model (salmon 2000). Emphasis should be placed on the importance of tutor familiarity within the online environment and its tools, and progress to introducing asynchronous discussion and its support.
Module Aim
Participants will be able to design and deliver elearning experiences which include appropriate consideration of academic, pastoral and technical support needs in the context where learners are situated.
Objectives
- To understand the range of needs of learners across the three domains of academic, pastoral and technical support;
- Be equipped to effectively design and implement approaches to guidance across the domains in relation to information/tools provision and through online behaviours of tutors;
- To critically reflect upon their experience of both being supported and supporting others within the context of the online environment in relation to the above.
Key Considerations
- Needs and Contexts of online learners (academic, pastoral and technical)
- Tutoring skills for supporting students online (behaviour and communication)
- Sources/tools for supporting learners
- Sources of pastoral support
- Reflection and action planning for your unique context
It is recommended that staff should work through this module prior to their delivery of courses in order to provide sufficient support and guidance to students. Further to this, the module should be concise with a number of units spanning across approx 3 weeks. Within the modules, tutors will be prompted to undertake various activities/reflections to clarify and deepen their understanding of e-tutoring as a community of practice.
If you have a particular interest or expertise in this area and would like to contribute, or if you would just like to learn more about our project, please contact Peter Reed (eQT Pathfinder Project Co-ordinator).
Last updated: 28-Mar-2008
