Addressing the Needs of Diverse Distributed Students

Two interrelated studies were undertaken to assist Alberta post-secondary institutions with meeting challenges associated with providing services to diverse distributed students that are of similar quality to services provided to traditional classroom students. The first study identified and assesse...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International review of research in open and distance learning 2013-07, Vol.14 (3), p.134-157
Main Authors: Shimoni, Rena, Barrington, Gail, Wilde, Russ, Henwood, Scott
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic degrees
Academic Support Services
Administrator Attitudes
Adult Basic Education
Adult Students
Best practice
Best Practices
Canada
Change Strategies
Community colleges
Delivery Systems
Developmental Studies Programs
Distance Education
Distance learning
distributed learning
diversity
e-learning
Educational Environment
Electronic Learning
Employee Attitudes
Focus Groups
Foreign Countries
Interviews
Knowledge Management
Needs Assessment
Online instruction
Online Surveys
Policy Analysis
Postsecondary Education
School environment
Special Needs Students
Student Attitudes
Student Diversity
Student Needs
Studies
Teacher Attitudes
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Summary:Two interrelated studies were undertaken to assist Alberta post-secondary institutions with meeting challenges associated with providing services to diverse distributed students that are of similar quality to services provided to traditional classroom students. The first study identified and assessed best practices in distributed learning; the second refined the focus to students who were identified as members of diverse sub-groups. Research activities for the studies included: a comprehensive literature review of best practice in distributed service delivery; an online survey for students enrolled in distributed learning through eight colleges and technical institutes; staff and student focus groups; and interviews with students, front-line staff, senior post-secondary administrators, and representatives from provincial government and community organizations. Findings highlight impressions and experiences in relation to best practice criteria for service delivery in distributed learning, along with “best practices behind the best practices” that facilitate the adoption and improvement of distributed service delivery.
ISSN:1492-3831
1492-3831
DOI:10.19173/irrodl.v14i3.1413