Use of Tutorial Support : experiences from Hong Kong distance learners

Abstract

The use of information and communication technology in open and distance education provides students online tutorial support in addition to conventional support. However, limited research has been done on learners’ perceptions of online tutorial support in Asia. The purpose of this study was to compare conventional and online tutorial supports from distance learners’ perceptions at the Open University of Hong Kong, covering tutorials, surgeries, day schools, telephone tutorials, email, discussion boards, and chat rooms. The method of questionnaire survey was employed and a multi-staged sampling technique was used. 449 completed and valid questionnaires were received, giving a return rate of 39.6%. Five topics were explored in this study: the frequency of attendance or use of tutorial support, usefulness to distance learning, perceptions of tutorial support, satisfaction with teaching strategies, and expectations and needs of tutorial support. It was found from this study that, although students preferred face-to-face communication, email and discussion boards have emerged as a favourable addition to the conventional methods of student support for distance learning. It is expected that these findings will be useful for distance educators in implementing and improving their practice of tutorial support.