Η επικοινωνία διδάσκοντα και διδασκόμενων στην εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευση. Μελέτη περίπτωσης στο Πρόγραμμα Εκπαίδευσης Εκπαιδευτών του Κ.Ε.Ε.ΕΝ.ΑΠ.

Abstract

In distance learning, communication is very important for bridging the distance between the tutor and the students. The role of the tutor is particularly important in this respect, especially for providing the students with the necessary support, encouragement, and feedback so that they can actively participate in the learning process. The main objective of the present work is to explore the role of the tutor in the training programme for instructors of the Center for Continuing Education and Adult's Distance Education (C.C.E.A.D.E.) in the region of Western Macedonia, Greece, focusing on communication. Furthermore, to examine the opinions of students and tutors on several aspects of their communication during the programme, including their proposals for improving the effectiveness of communication. A combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was used: a questionnaire was answered by the students and a semi- structured interview was addressed to the tutors. The results show that both students and tutors believe in the importance of communication. The role of tutors is particularly important in addressing, through communication, the needs of the students with respect to both instructional and emotional support. The most important form of communication developed was interpersonal communication during the meetings, followed by communication through e-mail and telephone respectively. Communication was perceived to be effective to a great extent. However, the results show that there is a need for further improvement. Appropriate use of new technologies can be very useful in this respect.