Evolving Learner Support Systems: From Distance to Digital Education

Abstract

With changing scenarios in globalization, technologization, and conception of twenty-first-century learners and learning, distance teaching institutions are also gradually changing their delivery strategies and learner support systems. This is more visible in the following: from separation of course design and learner support to both forming an integral part of blended teaching-learning; from physical and geography-based operation to more technology-enabled networked operation; from largely behaviorist model to more of constructivist and connectivist models of course design and learner support; and from a humanistic support system to more of strategic support system. In these changing scenarios, however, the changes in academic practices have not kept pace with technology changes; and technology and market, rather than the scholarship of teaching and support, dominate the support discourse and practice. These developments raise various research questions which need to be investigated further. The analysis in the chapter shows that the future of distance and online learning vis-à-vis learner support is poised to shift from the “course material-tutoring” system to the “networked-interactive-intelligent” system, though both will continue for quite some time to come. Institutional leaders, faculty, and other stakeholders need to engage with further articulation and reflection toward evolving a quality, productive, pedagogy-led, and learner-friendly support system.