A study on Online Interaction Between Tutor and Students In A Public Speaking Course at Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia

Sedyaningsih, Sri and Zuhairi, Aminudin (2011) A study on Online Interaction Between Tutor and Students In A Public Speaking Course at Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia. Jurnal Open Education Research, 17 (3). pp. 68-73. ISSN 1007-2179

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Abstract

Learning support is essential to facilitate students in an online learning environment. At Universitas Terbuka (UT), learning support services are provided in various means, using the face-to-face as well as distance and online modes. Online tutorial is one of the learning support services provided by UT, with the aim of providing opportunities to students to have better understanding of the printed learning materials. Because of its online character, online tutorial has the advantage of allowing for more flexible access to learning through asynchronous means of interaction and communication between tutor and students and peer online tutorials among students themselves in a virtual learning environment. The physical absence of tutor in an online learning environment makes interaction or dialogue become impersonal and pragmatic, and online interactions focus on the learning topics under discussion. The course Public Speaking is intended to develop the students’ capability to express and communicate ideas with the public effectively. The course is equipped with printed and non-printed learning materials to help students in their independent learning activities. Students learn concepts on public speaking from the printed materials and are exposed with examples of public speaking through non-printed or CD-ROM materials. The online tutorials are designed to enhance students’ learning of public speaking concepts through online interactions. This study attempts to look at how the interaction and communication between tutors and students in online learning environment without interpersonal communication aspects such as inclusion, affection and control. A descriptive study has been conducted involving content analysis of online tutorial activities during the semester 2010-1. Findings of this study have revealed that there seems to be lack of politeness, weak communication etiquette, and the need for online tutors to enhance students’ motivation to learn in an online learning environment.

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