Online educational counselling for students with special needs: Building rapport

What is it about?

In brief, this paper reports the findings from a study which investigated the effects of providing access to the services of an educational advisor on-line for a group of thirteen undergraduate distance learners with long term health problems, within a closed peer group conference environment. The results of an earlier study had suggested that for students with special needs, personal rapport with an advisor is considered important for problems to be aired and addressed. The study, based at The Open University, UK, took place over the course of an academic year. Students were able to approach the advisor for advice, either in a dedicated ‘room’ within the conference area, or privately by e-mail. She was also encouraged to participate informally in the student-led topics, on an occasional basis. The findings were encouraging. Increased levels of motivation and enjoyment of the study process were reported by more than three quarters of the sample and in autonomy by more than half.

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Why is it important?

The findings of this study help to raise awareness of the variety of difficulties facing distance learners with long term health problems. They highlight potential advantages of providing access to the services of a known educational advisor for study support , both one to one and in a closed group environment on-line.

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