Abstract:

This paper presents an empirical study that explores the experience of distance learning students on a post-graduate degree with a cohort of 300 students. In distance learning, e-learning technologies are prevalent features and one aspect of this research is to investigate the role of these e-learning technologies in promoting learning. The mechanisms by which the course is delivered are through synchronous communication meeting/tutorials for individual module unit tutorials, exam tutorial and laboratory demonstrations. The commitment and resources dedicated both in the design and delivery of the online tutorials.

Therefore, this research is about identifying the impact of these tutorials on student learning experience and how such understanding can be used to redesign the manner in which these tutorials are delivered. This research is essentially about improving practice through research and action and therefore the main methodological framework that is used is action research.

Keywords:

action research, educational development, synchronous tutorial, distance learning, evaluation.