Meeting the Diverse Needs of Learners in a Distance Learning Environment
Jinfo Blog

By Sophie Alexander

Abstract

Distance learning is flexible, accessible and well-placed to meet the diverse needs of individuals. Despite the obvious advantages to distance learning, there are some pitfalls to avoid when designing a programme and a recent FreePint Webinar highlighted some of these.

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Distance learning has become a growth area for employers as it's perceived to be a more cost-effective way to learn. Employees can continue working whilst enhancing their career prospects and can study when it suits them. 

A recent FreePint Subscription Article provides many insights and useful advice. 

Delivering Cost-Effective Learning

With the increasing popularity of distance learning, the challenge is to design and deliver cost-effective programmes that meet the evolving needs of knowledge workers.

The distance learning pedagogy is different to the more traditional face-to-face environment and instructors need to adapt their teaching methods accordingly.

Designing Distance Learning

FreePint's recent webinar "Getting Started with Effective Distance Learning" highlighted some of the important issues to consider when designing a distance learning programme.

Apart from the more obvious considerations such as choice of platform and content hosting, video is now an easy and cheap option and the visual component is a particularly effective way to learn.

For an increasingly mobile workforce, particularly sales teams, audio has proved popular.

Diverse Needs of Learners

Different learners have different needs and the main takeaway of this webinar was that the quality of the teaching and the instructor's attitude is of paramount importance and most conducive to an effective learning environment.

Instructors need to really think about what they want to convey and how they are going to convey it.

Do You Want to Find Out More? 

This webinar would be useful to anyone thinking of running a successful distance learning programme.

Subscribers can log in to view the webinar or read Sophie Alexander's in-depth Subscription Article which gives some useful tips on the ways that learners can interact differently with content in a distance learning environment - and ways that instructors can experiment with the different options available.

This Blog Item is part of the FreePint Topic Series "Best Practices in Information Skills Development" which runs from April-June 2015, visit the Topic Series Page to see more Blog Items, Articles and other resources.

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