Online Education: lessons for administrators and instructors

Singh, P. and Pan, W 2004 "Online Education: lessons for administrators and instructors", in College Student Journal, June 2004 v38 i1 p302(7)

Potential for increasing communication for learners using online technologies

"The most often heard complaint and a potentially recurring problem is the perception that the Web-based online course lacks face-to-face interactions between student and instructor" (Singh & Pan, 2004, p 4). This charge has also been levelled at workplace learning, and current funding structures do nothing to encourage greater interaction. It is interesting then to consider that the combination of online and workplace learning strategies could provide an answer. Under User Choice contracts, training providers are required to visit the learner in their workplace three times per year. Whilst this is the minimum, it becomes the default standard. Anecdotal information suggests that close links with learners and their employers are best maintained through more frequent contact, but where individual new apprentices are scattered through multiple businesses physically getting to each workplace more than the minimum times can prove difficult. Online support and communication does not remove the need for and benefits of onsite visits by training providers, but it can provide more regular and cost-effective support and structure for the learner.