Mediated interpersonal communication between students and tutors in Distance Learning


Ευτυχία Σαρακατσάνου
Παρασκευή Βασάλα
Abstract

The object of the research was to examine the development factors and the framework as well as the impact of interpersonal distance communication between students and tutors to students’ learning at Hellenic Open University. The survey was conducted during the 2006 – 2007 academic year among students of the two Hellenic Open University postgraduate programs “Studies in Education” and “Adult Learning”. The data was collected by semi-structured interviews and the method used for their analysis was context analysis. The results showed that the students, instigated by their academic needs, took the offered opportunity to communicate with the tutor. The maintenance and the frequency of this communication depend on the tutor. According to the students’ opinion, communication can contribute to the advancement of learning when the tutor meets the students’ individualized needs but this depends on the way the tutor manages interpersonal communication.   

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