Introduction

In order to support your learners well, you need to spend some time understanding what they are going through. 

The first unit will help you:

• focus on what your learners may find easy or difficult about learning at a distance and using technologies that may be new to them.
• think about how you can support them in the type of e-learning they are engaged in in their institutions.   

In this unit, we also look at some of the resources that are available to support a special kind of lifelong learner - the distance educator.

Outcomes

Tick the things you would like to be able to do by the end of this unit:

1. Identify the aspects that your learners are likely to find easy and difficult about learning at a distance and using technology in their learning.
2. Establish a friendly, inviting atmosphere at the start of a programme.
3. Clarify expectations with learners at the start of the learning programme.
4. Discuss the different ways in which learners can be supported in three different kinds of e-learning programmes: web-supplemented, web-dependent and fully online.
5. Reflect on your tutoring role in relation to standard criteria for quality learner support in distance education (see Learner support criteria).
6. Identify some resources for your own professional development.

Use your selected outcomes to help you decide which parts of the unit to focus on in the greatest depth.

Reading and Reflection

Click on the following links to access the materials for this unit:

• Learners speak about learning online
• Clarifying expectations with learners
• It's not about computers - it's about people!
• Netiquette and other niceties
• Supporting learners in blended and fully online environments
• Case studies: delivering e-learning in South Africa