Online informal professional development for distance tutors: experiences from The Open University in Scotland

Cornelius, Sarah and Macdonald, Janet (2008). Online informal professional development for distance tutors: experiences from The Open University in Scotland. Open Learning, 23(1) pp. 43–55.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02680510701815319

Abstract

Academic staff who work away from the university campus have few informal opportunities to keep in touch with their peers, and the provision of appropriate professional development for them can be problematic. At the Open University in Scotland an online forum provides a platform for the development of an informal community of distance tutors. It encourages exchange and reflection on the subject of using online media to support students, and has been running continuously for over three years. This paper presents the findings from research undertaken to establish who uses the forum, how and for what purposes, and draws out issues relevant to others supporting and developing staff at a distance.

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About

  • Item ORO ID
  • 11781
  • Item Type
  • Journal Item
  • ISSN
  • 0268-0513
  • Keywords
  • communities of practice; distance tutoring; informal professional development; online staff development; virtual community
  • Academic Unit or School
  • Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
  • Depositing User
  • Users 772 not found.
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