STEM2020 - Developing HE practitioner confidence and skills to ensure effective online teaching and support for distance learning students

As more HE providers are developing online courses, preparing HE practitioners new to online teaching is important to ensure effective student learning and support. Prior to their induction programme we surveyed new associate lecturers joining the STEM faculty at the Open University about their previous experience and confidence to tutor students online. From our findings we make recommendations for training to improve HE practitioners’ confidence and skills for teaching in an online environment. Parallels are made for support that could be offered to students new to online learning.