Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Module 2
Introduction
"I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think."
Socrates
In this module we begin to explore the role of the e-tutor. For this purpose we
consider the participants profile and how they learn best in an online environment
in communities of learners.
The literature emphasizes the importance of the tutor in the success of online
courses. Participate in the first discussion of this week describing the role of the
online tutor. What metaphors can you use to describe the tutors job? Feel free to
compare aspects of this role to other more familiar roles such as a teacher, guide,
moderator, role model, etc.
Readings:
Readings:
Describe your notions of potential participants, according to
the following attributes:
Range of ages
Social and cultural setting
Language and style of speaking
Prior experience with virtual
courses
Professional experience
Place of study
Reasons for taking the specific
course
Motivation to study
After writing some ideas and/or questions, read about Adult learning:
Lieb, S. (1991) Principles of Adult Learning
http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/
guidebk/teachtip/adults-2.htm
Optional reading:
Blondie, L. (2007) Evaluation and Application of Andragogical
Assumptions to the Adult Online Learning Environment. Journal of
Interactive Online Learning. (6)2.
http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/getfile.cfm?volID=6&IssueID=20&
ArticleID=104
3. They
4. They
they already
solve
are
know
problems
motivated
Online courses have higher levels of student attrition than face-to-face courses
due, mainly, to feelings of isolation. The shared feelings and experiences of a
community reduce the likelihood that students will feel isolated and alone. The
learning community contributes to a feeling of connectedness, support, and
shared experiences, and by extension, to retention and learning success.
Another reason for building learning communities is that communities contribute
to the quality of individual learning. As part of a community, learners engage
in dialogue with other learners, using knowledge and deepening understanding.
They need to make their ideas explicit and question each other to develop shared
understandings. Learning is an interactive process in which learners actively
construct knowledge through the exchange of ideas with others.
The tutor cant create a community. Learning communities develop when people
with common interests get together to learn. What tutors can do is provide
the conditions under which they are most likely to emerge and support young
communities to continue growing - even beyond the course.
Activities
10
11