innovation in distance education

QUALITY PANEL

LOCATING THE STUDENT VOICE IN THE QUALITY DEBATE

Trish Andrews

innovation in distance education

Locating the Distance Student’s Voice• Blurring of boundaries between modes

of learning• Adoption of ICTS has meant that many

traditional DE institutions have struggled to maintain their distinctive mission

• Much broader range of institutions other than traditional distance education providers offering DE

• Streamlining courses to offer one mode of delivery

• De facto distance education• Assumptions about use of technology

in relation to distance learners and distance teachers

innovation in distance education

Quality processes• Not necessarily suitable for DE

• Feedback that is obtained is not necessarily implemented

• Existing student voice strategies can be more about structures

• Need for more dialogical processes

• Need to recognize the individualness of students as well as their contribution to the wider community.