Recognized as the leading book on the subject, Supporting Students in Online, Open and Distance Learning considers the support of students either on or off-campus. Ever-greater numbers of students are studying as part of open, flexible, distance or online courses and, with the rise in numbers and expectations, so the need to offer these often-diverse students effective support is critical. Fully revised and expanded, this new edition reflects current concerns and developments in ODL. It includes increased coverage of tuition in different media, issues of student retention, structures and quality assurance, staff development, online support and computer conferencing. Practical and authoritative, the book tackles the full range of student support issues in ODL, including: *developing the most appropriate tuition techniques *social support *retention *delivering support at a distance and online *face-to-face support *learning-skills and staff development Supporting Students in Online, Open and Distance Learning is essential reading for all those with an interest in recruiting and teaching students in open and distance learning or e-learning situations. It will help lecturers, moderators and tutors to develop a range of skills with a focus on support, retention and student outcomes.

Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Learning, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of student support both on and off campus. While online and distance learning are the world's fastest growing areas of educational development, they have a fundamental weakness-their graduation rates, which can be lower than 20 percent. In this powerful new edition, Ormond Simpson builds on a rich history of research in distance and e-learning to show how retention rates can be improved through tested support methods, often at a net financial profit to the institutions involved. By comparing the evidence as well as the cost-effectiveness of various support tactics, this book describes how to promote student success and encourage skill-development from a number of different perspectives: definitions and purpose, theory and psychology, ethics, costs and benefits, activities, sources, media, proactive and reactive, assessment and feedback, staff development, writing support into course materials, research, quality assurance and institutional structures. This concise, practical guide is informal and jargon-free, yet its approach to evidence is rigorous, making it invaluable reading for all those interested in recruiting and teaching diverse students for successful online and distance learning.

Supporting Students for Success in Online and Distance Learning, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive overview of student support both on and off campus. While online and distance learning are the world's fastest growing areas of educational development, they have a fundamental weakness-their graduation rates, which can be lower than 20 percent. In this powerful new edition, Ormond Simpson builds on a rich history of research in distance and e-learning to show how retention rates can be improved through tested support methods, often at a net financial profit to the institutions involved. By comparing the evidence as well as the cost-effectiveness of various support tactics, this book describes how to promote student success and encourage skill-development from a number of different perspectives: definitions and purpose, theory and psychology, ethics, costs and benefits, activities, sources, media, proactive and reactive, assessment and feedback, staff development, writing support into course materials, research, quality assurance and institutional structures. This concise, practical guide is informal and jargon-free, yet its approach to evidence is rigorous, making it invaluable reading for all those interested in recruiting and teaching diverse students for successful online and distance learning.

This new addition to the respected Open and Distance Learning Series is an up-to-the-minute guide for educators wanting to come to terms with their support role in open and distance learning. Covering all aspects of student support from tuition and counselling through to the broad range of delivery methods available, the book offers practical solutions that are set within a sound theoretical framework.

Student retention has become a key issue for all further and higher education institutions and is a major concern among those involved in online learning courses where retention rates are often even poorer than those for traditional campus-based courses. There is increasing recognition that student retention is the responsibility of the actual institutions running the courses, and that it is within their power to encourage sustained participation without compromising academic standards.In this book, Ormond Simpson provides a clear, accessible analysis of what works and at what cost. He outlines strategies for increasing retention, providing useful case studies and examples to illustrate how these strategies can change institutional policy and practice. Areas covered include: Who drops out and why Integration Reclamation 'Retentioneering' an institution Recruitment and retention Course design.