Australian University use of Tutors in a DE Program
DE students feel isolated and disadvantaged by not having personal contact with the instructor or tutor, so the role of the tutor is critical in a DE program. At Curtin University of Technology, the DE tutors are responsible for answering any student questions, as well as providing assessments and giving the students feedback. This is the Open University format as we read about in our textbooks. The tutors are to assist students on a one-to-one basis when needed, or on a group basis using audio, video or computer conferencing (which would include e-mail, chats, and web board discussions).
Some important features of this universities
program that I found include:
1. Students are given the name and contact numbers of their tutor during
the first week of the semester.
2. The tutors are required to contact each student within the first three
weeks of the semester by either telephone, e-mail or form letter.
3. Tutors specify times to the students when they are available to help
them.
4. Tutors must attend a workshop on the delivery of a DE unit.