https://jriiejournal.com Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:13:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7 https://jriiejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cropped-JRIIE-LOGO-1-32x32.jpg https://jriiejournal.com 32 32 194867206 https://jriiejournal.com/adequate-organisation-of-tutoring-sessions-as-an-effective-tool-for-student-support-in-open-and-distance-learning-the-experience-of-the-open-university-of-tanzania/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adequate-organisation-of-tutoring-sessions-as-an-effective-tool-for-student-support-in-open-and-distance-learning-the-experience-of-the-open-university-of-tanzania Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:09:11 +0000 https://jriiejournal.com/?p=1668 Read More Read More

]]> Janeth O. Jonas – Department of Adult and Distance Education, the Open University of Tanzania
Janeth E. Kigobe – Department of Curriculum and Instruction, the Open University of Tanzania

E-mail: janeth.jonas@out.ac.tz; janeth.kigobe@out.ac.tz

Abstract: This study attempted to examine students’ opinions on the practices of different tutoring modes available at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The necessity of this study was based on the ground that adequate organisation and management of tutoring sessions in ODL settings, determines the degree of support services provided to students. Four variables that in the study’s case were coined as ‘tutoring modes’, were involved, which included orientation, face-to-face, online facilitation and tutor’s written comments on students written assignments. The study was guided by social constructivist theory (SCT); whereby convergent mixed methods design, which allows simultaneous data collection, analysis and interpretation was adopted. Data were collected from 270 undergraduate students from eight selected regional centres of OUT and one personnel from Deputy Vice-Chancellor-Regional Services and Learning Technologies (DVC-RS-LT) office through questionnaire, focus group discussion and individual interview. The findings revealed that the management and organisation of tutoring support sessions faced some challenges; and hence, these challenges led to ineffectiveness in their ability to assist students to learn. It was recommended that the arrangements and organisation of the tutoring sessions needed some realisation so as to help students to have smooth transition and adjustments into the learning process. The study suggests that tutoring services provided through a variety of tutoring modes at OUT need to be well-planned, well-organised and well-managed to enable these tutoring modes to meet the expectations of students.

]]> 1668