An Empirical Research on the Competencies of Distance Education Tutor at the Open University of China in the Context of Blended Learning

Abstract

Considering the common contradictions between work and study as well as family and study among distance learners, “more online, less face-to-face” should be an ideal mode in distance learning. How the distance education tutors implemented blended learning (BL) via the platform of Moodle at the Nanhai Experimental College of OUC(NHOUC) is investigated by means of semi-structured interviews and unstructured observation. Besides, what competencies the tutors have already possessed and will need to develop are looked into through a questionnaire survey. The study has found the best current practice of BL at the NHOUC is no more than “face-to-face equal to online”. Hence, the recommendations include that tutors should have a good grasp of basic learning theories and creatively apply them to design for learning, strengthen services of non-academic support and attach importance to distance education principles to effectively employ the mode of “more online, less face-to-face”.