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In most forms of distance education students are assigned to personal tutors who
interact with them individually, by electronic or conventional mail, and as a member of a
group, by teleconferencing. The best tutors are those able to establish a personal
connection and empathic rapport with students, despite the distance between them. They
also communicate well, whether through writing or audio- and videoconferencing. And
because distance teaching is often undervalued in dual-mode institutions, they tend to be
intrinsically motivated, choosing distance teaching for the satisfaction and excitement
they derive from it. This excitement usually shows in their interactions with the students
and is a source of motivation for the students. Helping tutors develop the skills of
distance teaching is an important responsibility of the management of a distance education
system. Training should focus on learning about learners and on developing the skills for
using distance learning technologies and for facilitating interaction with individuals and
groups.
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