Online open days for distance learners

About 100 people took part in online open days held last month for potential students interested in learning at a distance.

The virtual open days, believed to be a first for Australasia, used an online conference system called Adobe Connect to enable participants to interact with academics and support staff and give them the chance to ask questions and hear more detail about how distance learning works.

Participants were sent instructions on how to take part after responding to online advertising. They listened to presentations and typed questions online, which were responded to in real time by staff from across the university.

National Centre for Teaching and Learning director Professor Mark Brown says the sessions were a good way of showing that Massey is open to communicating with potential students and finding out what they want to know. "It was also great to get potential students comments and questions, if they are asking those questions, there are others out there that are probably interested in the answers as well,” Professor Brown said.

More virtual open days are planned for semester two enrolments next year and for 2014. There are also plans to develop a distance learning orientation online.