Jones, Chris (c.r.jones@lancaster.ac.uk)
Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:22:23 +0100
From: "Jones, Chris" <c.r.jones@lancaster.ac.uk> Subject: Class size Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999 10:22:23 +0100
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Alfred Bork wrote:
> The problem is that distance learning, aned online learning, can mean
> many different things. The constrast is particularly strong between the
> US and the megauniversities such as the UK Open Universities. Several
> in this list have been suggesting sizes of about 20, plus or minus. But
> the Open University has many 'classes.' very succe4ssful, with 10,000
> students!
I think there is a deal of confusion here. I think the OU UK expect to recruit
10,000 to a particular course taught on-line this year. This is well above the
usual course size and is a new mode of delivery, this being the first major
course that moves away from the OU's traditional model.
The old OU model was paper based and relied on local tutors. The distance
education provided by the OU had a small local geographically based tutor
group. Even the new course will have small tutor groups. These will almost
certainly not recruit above 25 and expect to reduce in size as this mode showed
itself to have a relatively high drop out in its trial year.
So where does this leave us. A 'class' is not a course. The OU experience seems
to accord with the size of classes reported on the list, though I expect that
exact size depends to some extent on the mode of delivery.Even when entirely
delivered online the OU has tutorial groups of around 20.
Chris Jones,
Tel: +44 (0) 1524 593421
Centre for Studies in Advanced Learning Technology (CSALT),
Department of Educational Research,
Lancaster University,
Lancaster LA1 4YL,
United Kingdom.
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