1. I’m a friend of someone who
responds: avoiding the void in online
learning communications
Aileen McGuigan
University of Dundee

2. the personal tutor

4. Evaluation: research questions
 To what extent does the TQFE-Tutor system meet
the communication and tutoring needs of TQFE
programme participants, in place of the personal
tutor?
 How significant are the workload savings for
tutoring staff?]

5. Methodology






online survey
focus group discussion
interpretive, qualitative approach
mitigation of insider bias
subjects
tools

6. Participant response

7. Staff response





positive
alleviation of workload pressure
less stress
efficiencies
enhancement of teaching and learning

8. Research questions revisited
 To what extent does the TQFE-Tutor system meet
the communication and tutoring needs of TQFE
programme participants, in place of the personal
tutor?
 How significant are the workload savings for
tutoring staff?]

9. Conclusion
Aileen McGuigan
University of Dundee
a.mcguigan@dundee.ac.uk