What must be considered in administering learner support?

The principal effort in administering learner support is usually delegated to a regional administrative center and a regional system of study centers. While the distance teaching institution's center is responsible for creating and producing course materials and providing such specialist services as credit transfer, these regional centers are responsible for providing the services that support the students as individuals.

Thus, for example, it is the regional center that provides educational guidance to those inquiring about study, and such specialist services as support to students with disabilities and vocational guidance. The regional center is responsible for recruiting and monitoring part-time tutors and for maintaining a network of study centers. And the regional system must provide library services, often a difficult challenge.

Some regional systems handle an enormous volume of administrative tasks. Just one of the 13 regions of the Open University (UK) supports 17,000 students, manages 26 study centers, and recruits more than 800 part-time tutors and counselors.

More on learner support

 

Molefi, F. 1998. Support Services for Distance Education Students at the Department of Non-Formal Education. A paper presented at the Distance Education Workshop for Setswana Part-Time Writers, DNFE: Gaborone.