How can we help? Supporting students in distance tertiary education: An evaluative study

Main Article Content

Rachel McCahon

Abstract

This article reports on a study which investigated the role of student support in the completion of a distance education programme at tertiary level. It aimed to identify crucial methods of support in distance education, related to the nature of the student body in a specific programme of study. It found that a wide range of support mechanisms were needed and valued. Tutor attributes such as availability and approachability were regarded as crucial, personal knowledge of students by tutors increased students' sense of identification with the programme and the likelihood of their completion, and the effectiveness of support systems could be enhanced by the creation of a feeling of intimacy within an institution.

Article Details

How to Cite
McCahon, R. (2023). How can we help? Supporting students in distance tertiary education: An evaluative study. Journal of Open, Flexible and Distance Learning, 5(1), 27–38. Retrieved from https://jofdl.nz/index.php/JOFDL/article/view/153
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Articles
Author Biography

Rachel McCahon, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

Programme Manager, Information and Library Studies