Instructional and Student Support Systems

Question 1

an approach in which two or more disciplines collaborate in the learning process with the goal of fostering interprofessional interactions that enhance the practice of each discipline” (Care & Scanlan 2001)

Answer 1

Interdisciplinary education

Question 2

two distinct ways in which course planning and development took place (Care & Scanlan 2001)

Answer 2

1. Parallel-Linear Model - At no time did all the participants in this model come together to discuss the developing course
2. Interdisciplinary Team Model - the various participants met as a team on a regular basis to develop the course, problem solve, and discuss issues as course development unfolded.

Question 3

defined as giving up copyright and control of course material to another university unit. (Care & Scanlan 2001)

Answer 3

Ownership

Question 4

the range of services both for individuals and students in groups which complement the course materials or learning resources that are uniform for all learners (Tait 2000)

Answer 4

student support in ODL

Question 5

primary functions of student support (Tait 2000)

Answer 5

1. cognitive: supporting and developing learning through the mediation of the standard and uniform elements of course materials and learning resources for individual students;
2. affective: providing an environment which supports students, creates commitment and enhances self-esteem;
3. systemic: establishing administrative processes and information management systems which are effective, transparent and overall student-friendly.

Question 6

support services for students may be summarised as typically including: (tait 2000)

Answer 6

1. enquiry, admission and pre-study advisory services,
2. tutoring,
3. guidance and counselling services,
4. assessment of prior learning and credit transfer;
5. study and examination centres;
6. residential schools;
7. library services;
8. individualised correspondence teaching, including in some cases continuous assessment;
9. record keeping, information management, and other administrative systems;
10. differentiated services for students with special needs of one sort or another e.g. disability, geographical remoteness, prisoners;
11. materials which support the development of study skills, programme planning or career development.

Question 7

six core elements for a framework for the development of a planning tool for student support service (tait 2000)

Answer 7

1. student characteristics
2. course or programme demands
3. geography
4. technology
5. scale
6. management systems.

Question 8

characteristics of a good DE mentor or tutor: (segoe 2014)

Answer 8

1. Be friendly and approachable.
2. Plan carefully around students’ needs, prepare thoroughly and know his or her subject content well.
3. Facilitate learning and help students with academic and technological support in the related course of study.
4. Mark assignments promptly and give high quality feedback to students.
5. Communicate, guide and counsel students regularly in their studies and even in their private affairs.
6. Assist DE students to develop time management and study skills.
7. Know that students are unique and that they are autonomous learners.

Question 9

Fox (2003) puts forth the five components of effective learning that should be seriously considered when implementing tutor support in an ODL environment (Segoe 2014)

Answer 9

1. that the tutor should be able to help students to solve real-life problems,
2. activate students’ prior knowledge as a precursor to undertaking new learning,
3. take on board new knowledge through demonstration and worked examples,
4. help students to try out new learning by applying it in new situations and,
5. finally, the tutor should integrate learning into the students’ own world of experience.