Student perceptions of face‐to‐face induction for on‐line programmes
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09684880210446578 |
| Date | 01 December 2002 |
| Pages | 207-212 |
| Published date | 01 December 2002 |
| Author | Myra Hodgkinson |
| Subject Matter | Education |
Student perceptions of
face-to-face induction
for on-line programmes
Myra Hodgkinson
Introduction
This paper recounts the outcomes of an
investigation into the perceived importance of
a face-to-face orientation event as part of the
introduction to an on-line MSc Hospitality
and Tourism Management programme. In
preparation of this paper a thorough literature
review and search of the Internet into
information regarding existing face-to-face
orientation programmes for students pursuing
an on-line award-bearing programme were
undertaken. It is interesting to report that very
little information on this topic was available.
Various individuals in academic institutions
were then contacted to seek help with sources
of information and to discuss their views
regarding this topic. The majority confirmed
that little research has, thus far, been
conducted into this subject, and furthermore,
that they would be interested in any findings
from the research activity described in this
paper.
The first section of this paper is a brief
literature review followed by the context of
the research activity. The third section
records the outcomes of interviews with 15
students and attempts to identify student
perceptions regarding the importance that
they attach to the orientation activity. Finally,
some conclusions are reached, with
suggestions for further research.
Literature review
Numerous Web sites and electronic journals
do, however, have an on-line learning focus.
These sources confirmed that there is an
awareness of the need for teachers/instructors
to plan their courses in order to actively
engage their students in on-line dialogue and
interaction, and below is a brief review of
these authors.
Although face-to-face contact at some point
in the community building process can be
useful and facilitate community development,
this contact is not likely to change the group
dynamic created online (Palloff and Pratt,
1999). In fact, these authors argue that the
Internet can facilitate improved interaction
between students (Palloff and Pratt, 1999,
p. 9), particularly introverts. This view is
supported by Peters (1998), who notes that
the Internet provides new opportunities for
distance learning students to participate in
The author
Myra Hodgkinson is Professor of Management Learning
at the Nottingham Business School, The Nottingham Trent
University, Nottingham, UK.
Keywords
Students, Perception, Learning, Trust, Participation
Abstract
This paper is concerned with student perceptions
regarding a face-to-face orientation event prior to
commencing an on-line MSc in Hospitality and Tourism
Management. The curriculum is offered collaboratively by
four institutions located in the UK, Germany and the USA,
and delivered by technology to students anywhere in the
world. The second cohort of students on this programme
were interviewed and their expectations and perceptions
regarding the orientation event explored. The findings
suggest that the students valued participation at the
event but that their expectations were learnt as a result of
attendance and were not necessarily those that they
experienced prior to attendance. Students valued,
amongst other aspects, the chance of meeting their peers,
putting faces to names, the opportunity to build trust and
felt that they would be more able to participate in the
group work that is a feature of the programme.
Electronic access
The research register for this journal is available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregisters
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/0968-4883.htm
207
Quality Assurance in Education
Volume 10 .Number 4 .2002 .pp. 207±212
#MCB UP Limited .ISSN 0968-4883
DOI 10.1108/09684880210446875
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