Apologies if you receive this more than once.

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Institute of Educational Technology

VIRTUAL SEMINAR
There are a few places left on the following virtual seminar

Supporting open and distance learners

30 October - 10 November 2000

Presented by Ormond Simpson, author of 'Student Support in Open Distance
Learning', Kogan Page London, 2000

Introduction to the book
Merely exposing students in Open Distance Learning to course materials
whether in hard copy or on the Web is not sufficient to ensure their
survival and progress as effective students.  Student Support, - tuition and
advice and guidance - is an essential part of the educator's tools for
enhancing students' progress and enriching their experience.  

The book covers the fundamental definitions and activities of student
support, examining both academic (tuition) and non-academic (advisory)
support.  The emphasis is heavily on the practical and effective but within
a theoretical framework.  After working through definitions and activities
in student support the book examines the particular issues of delivering
such support at a distance - by correspondence, telephone, audio-visual
methods, and by computer.  Face-to-face support is also covered.  The book
then surveys sources of student support outside the institution and how
student support is used to develop students' learning skills and assist
student retention.  Support for different kinds of students in different
environments is also covered.  The book then looks at the underpinnings of
student support - theories, staff development, quality assurance and costs.
Finally the future of student support is surveyed and some tendentious
guesses hazarded.

The virtual seminar
The two week seminar follows the content and structure of the book.  The
seminar group will work through the book section by section and discuss the
issues raised with the author and other participants.  Important aspects of
the seminar will be the sharing of experiences, evaluating findings and
exchanging ideas and materials.

Seminar outline
1.	Models and definitions
			What is meant by student support?
			Definitions of student support - academic and
non-academic
			Why do we need student support?

2.	Non-academic support - advising
			Different non-academic activities
			Skills in student support - establishing a dialogue.

3.	Delivering support - tuition
	Different academic activities
	Skills and styles in academic activities.

4.	Delivering student support at a distance
-	Correspondence
-	Telephone
-	Audio visual including broadcasting
-	Face-to-face
-	Computer
				-  e-mails
				-  the internet

5.	Student support outside the institution
-	family
-	other students
-	peer
-	mentoring

6.	Learning skills and student support

7.	Support for different students in different environments
-	institutionalised students
-	students with special needs
-	educationally disadvantaged students

8.	Student support and retention

9.	Theories underlying student support

10.	Structures and quality in student support

11.	Future developments in student support

Who will benefit from the seminar?
-	anyone working in any support capacity with students whether as
tutors, advisers, guidance workers or counsellors;
-	anyone concerned with the organisation of support such as
administrators;
-	anyone concerned with research and evaluation issues in ODL;
-	senior management concerned with setting up student support systems
and establishing quality control procedures.

Time commitment from participants
8 hours per week.

The 8 hours will include reading and looking for information on the Web, as
well as participating in discussions that are not dependent on everyone
being online at the same time. All you need is access to the Web through a
browser (IE or Netscape). We use asynchronous text conferencing software
that's accessed through the browser. It's like email except it allows more
structured discussions.

Fee
The cost, including a copy of the book associated with the virtual seminar,
will be £120 per person, less 10% discount if you book more than one place
on this or any of our other seminars or workshops.

Seminar presenter
Ormond Simpson originally graduated with a first degree in physics and a
teaching qualification in further and higher education.  He then taught in
universities and colleges in Africa and America before being appointed as a
Senior Counsellor in the UK Open University.  He is currently Director of
the Open University Centre for Educational Guidance and Student Support
where he is concerned with research, professional development and
initiatives in guidance and support.

He has contributed to several courses in Open and Distance Learning such as
the University of London MA in Distance Education, the Indhira Ghandi
National Open University course for counsellors and the Association of
European Correspondence Schools Diploma.


To book a place
Please contact Brenda Parish: Email: [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  or Tel: 01908 653055.

Christine Wellard



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%