What gives a tutor the X Factor: Examining the criteria for successful online learning facilitation

Dr Sarah-Louise QuinnellH818 Student

OutlineO IntroductionO Methodology in a minuteO It’s all about performanceO What does this mean for learning

technologists?O Future plansO Question time

Introduction

As a learning technologist /

skills developer I have

supported both face-to-face,

online and blended learning.

During this time I have begun

to notice some differences in

how students rate their tutors

performances in the different

genres of learning.

I wanted to understand how

and why online students

viewed tutors differently and

what criteria were important

to them, basically: What

gives an online tutor the

X factor?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/larahsphotography/

Methodology in a Minute

• 2 Vocational Marketing Courses.

• 4 Groups of students – 2 groups took the courses online, 2 groups took the courses face-to-face.

• After each class students asked to rank their tutors out of 5 – where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent.

• At the end of each course students were asked to complete questionnaires designed to understand their ratings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/truthout/

It’s all about the performance

O Personality / Personalisation

O Tell me a story – entertain me with your content

O Its not enough to just connect

O I need to be able to view you any time anywhere

O Technology Support – If it doesn’t work it’s your fault

O BYOD is king

http://www.perins.net/2012/03/12/drama-gcse-rehearsals-performances/

What does this mean for learning technologists?

O Acknowledge differences between face-to-face & online facilitation

O Set & manage student expectations early on

O Hand’s on to support students and staff

http://www.learninginstitute.qmul.ac.uk/elearning/blogposts/wordle/

Future Plans

Theoretically: Publish paper in the Journal of Marketing and Higher Education

Practically: Use the findings in my new job – Learning & Development Manager Macmillan Education Mactrac Group

http://www.greenbookblog.org/2013/06/10/arfam8-what-measurement-of-the-future-looks-like/

Any Questions