Distance education caters to a specific type of learner (at least for now) which is defined by a person with the discipline skill to sit down all alone in front of a computer and study without a real schedule to keep. All alone in their computers without any peers around to help or talk to, she immerses herself in learning.
Because of this "lonely study" situation most students might perceive the course is a one-to-one class, the teacher is there for her and only her. The student might see a teacher more in a tutor or coach role. "But, in reality the teacher might have up to fifty students in one class and be teaching a variety of courses," Tom Matano responds to the subject.
In an utopic world, every class would be 1 to 1 for a student's complete attention. And that is what students think is happening right now. Something has got to give, either there is more time spent with students or the experience is designed to feel more like a normal class with peer interaction and a teacher instead of a tutor. What is the right solution?
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