Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: preliminary findings

Paper

McDonell, Jennifer, Parkes, Mitchell and Tynan, Belinda. 2010. "Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: preliminary findings ." 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2010). Sydney, Australia 05 - 08 Dec 2010 Brisbane, Australia.
Paper/Presentation Title

Virtual tutor support using SMARTHINKING: preliminary findings

Presentation TypePaper
AuthorsMcDonell, Jennifer (Author), Parkes, Mitchell (Author) and Tynan, Belinda (Author)
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2010)
Number of Pages8
Year2010
Place of PublicationBrisbane, Australia
ISBN9781742720166
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/McDonell-full.pdf
Conference/Event27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2010)
Event Details
27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2010)
Parent
Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE)
Delivery
In person
Event Date
05 to end of 08 Dec 2010
Event Location
Sydney, Australia
Abstract

The University of New England (UNE) has been using a virtual tutoring service called SMARTHINKING since 2007. UNE explored the use of a 'virtual tutor service' to support distance education students in their academic development; to reduce attrition; and to provide academic support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all students with access to a computer irrespective of geographical location. A cascading selection of units across different disciplinary areas and cohorts of students were targeted for the virtual tutorial support service over 6 semesters to provide rich data. A survey consisting of 20 questions was developed and implemented at the end of each teaching period. Preliminary analysis of data indicates that SMARTHINKING appears to be making a difference to student learning outcomes. However, while uptake tends to be low in all cohorts but where students select to use the service they are positive about its effects.

Keywordsvirtual tutor support, online learning, technology
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390303. Higher education
Public Notes

Authors retain copyright. Copyright © 2010 Jennifer McDonell, Mitchell Parkes,Belinda Tynan. The authors assign to ascilite and educational non-profit institutions, a non-exclusive licence to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction, provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The author(s) also grant a non-exclusive licence to ascilite to publish this document on the ascilite Web site and in other formats for the Proceedings ascilite Sydney 2010. Any other use is prohibited without the express permission of the author(s).

Byline AffiliationsUniversity of New England
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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