The document discusses student support services in distance education. It describes various services provided to distance learners, including academic advising, counseling, financial aid assistance, social programs, and career workshops. It also outlines support activities at the headquarters and study center levels, such as orientation programs, tutoring, exam preparation assistance, and library facilities. Challenges of distance education like lack of support, feelings of isolation, discipline, and technology are also summarized.

1. DISTANCE EDUCATION
Unit-III
LEARNING AT A DISTANCE
2019-2020 (III Semester )
Dr.N.Sasikumar
Department of Education
Alagappa University
Karaikudi

2. Student Support Services (SSS)
• The Student Support Services Program (SSS) is a
federally funded retention program that provides
effective academic and personal support for a diverse
student population. The program is designed to
significantly increase the retention and graduation rates
of its participants.
• Student Support Services (SSS) are considered as
backbone of distance education. ... Various student
support services are provided by the Open Universities
and distance education institutes all over India for
imparting education and for improving the
performance of learners.

3. • Student Support Services is designed for students who have
been identified as having an academic need and either first
generation college student, as having low-income family
status, or both.
• SSS is designed to significantly increase the retention and
graduation rates of the participants it is funded to serve.
• To providing proactive, intrusive, comprehensive and
innovative services to enhance our student's success at USF.
SSS provides a plethora of services including individualized
academic advising, counseling, coaching, financial aid
assistance, social and cultural enrichment programs,
employment and workshops that broaden career
perspectives, improve academic skills, promote self-
confidence and address various non-cognitive factors.

4. STUDENT BENEFITS
• The summer program is free to all students who complete the
19/20 FAFSA and meet low-income requirements (tuition, housing,
books, meals)
• SSS students who qualify receive the SSS scholarship
• Receive personalized academic advising and counseling
• Receive priority summer housing
• Receive a head start on the fall curriculum by earning 9 credit
hours
• Enhance study-skills and problem solving
• Explore career goals or major choice
• Discover the campus and the surrounding Tampa Bay area
• Make friends with other students before the fall semester

5. Student-Support Services(SSS)
Management
• The main aim of distance education is to promote self study or
independent study among distance learners in the absence of
regular face-to-face (F2F) teaching.
• Every DLI extends support to its learners, which comprises of a
cluster of facilities and activities that are intended to make the
teaching - learning process easier and more interesting for the
learners.
• All these activities beyond the production and delivery of course
material assist in the progress of students in terms of learning,
interacting and effective communication and, the support
system may range from study centre counselling/tutorial
support to administrative problem solving

6. STUDENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN
THE DIRECTORATE OF DDE
Student Support Services at Headquarter based
Study Centre. Most important services at
headquarters are:
• Administrative,
• Academic,
• Information Collection.

7. ADMINISTRATIVE
• Publicising and Promoting DDE Programmes
• Creation of Study Centres
• Registration of Students
• Looking after the admission activities
• Distribution of Study material
• Clear Cut Norms
• Personal Data Form
• Enquiry-cum-Reception Centre

8. ACADEMIC
• Introduction-cum-Orientation Programme
• Personal Support
• Preparation of Guidelines and Instructions
• Meeting of Local Coordinators
• Preparation of Calender of Academic Activities
• Preparation of Study Material
• Provision of Library Facilities
• Tutoring
• Assistance in examinations preparation
• Provision of facilities to perform practical tasks

9. INFORMATION COLLECTION
• Development of Student Profile
• Development of Expert Database
• Sample checking of Assignments and Internal
Tests

10. Student Support Services at Study Centres
• To provide Application-cum-Examination Form along with General
instructions to the students at the time of admission.
• To give guidance, advice and information about the programmes to the
students.
• To check the eligibility of the students while collecting Application Forms
along with Fees.
• To identify the counsellors.
• To distribute course material.
• To organise counselling as per the schedule given to the students at the time
of admission.
• To provide library facilities to the learners.
• To evaluate assignments and forward the grades to the headquarters.
• To conduct term-end-examination.
• To provide lab facilities for computer/IT programmes.
• To provide grassroot feed back to headquarters.
• To promote team work and team spirit.
• To motivate students to continue their education

11. FUNCTIONS:
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
•It involve applied science
in modern technology
•Manual skills is properly
the concern
• It involve teaching of
practical skills
•Creating skilled man
power
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
•Upgrade knowledge &
professionalism
•Train for self-employment
and financial independence
•Career minded education
•Hands on experience

12. NEEDS AND IMPORTANT OF
TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION:
• It is essential for bridging the gulf of society
• It prepare a person to work in private sector
and industries
• It prepare one for self-earning
• It fulfills nations demand of education
and employment

13. PROGRAMMES UNDER TECHNICAL AND
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION:
•Bachelor of computer Application and Master
of Computer Application
•Master of Arts andTourism Management
•Master of Business Administration
•Diploma Programme in Rural Development
•Course on Fashion Design, interior
Design
• B.ED and PSTE (pre-service teacher
education)

14. Advantages Disadvantages
• Add-on costs
• Minimum academic work
• Many of the jobs
are lower-paying
position
• Lack of qualified
trained teachers
• Digital divide
• Stakeholder Resistance
• Cost effectiveness
• Flexibility in its
approach
• Student centric
• A strong network of
Student
 Support Service
• Wide acess & coverage

15. PROBLEM AREAS IN PRESENT
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND
TRAINING SYSTEM
High drop out rate of secondary education
Enrollment in 11th and 12th grade of vocational education
Employers want employees with good academic
• skills not just vocational skills
Private and industry participation lacking
Present regulations are very rigid
Lack of experienced and trained teachers
Vocationalisation at all levels is not possible
No clear policy of vocational education

16. Suggestion andmeasures:
Vocational education and training should be made more
attractive in order to capture the eyes of the learners.
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme should be
enforced and encouraged in the ODL system.
The VET programme should be made compulsory in the
Secondary stage of Education, as it is the last stage of
education in formal mode for most of the students.
NGO‟s can also work together with the Distance Education
Institutes for providing vocational course and programmes.
The ODL institutes can also provide training for the trainers
of the ITI‟s, ITC‟s
through its courses.
The Open Universities can make use of radio, television,
internet, etc to provide vocational courses through audio and
audio visual study materials. Such steps will motivate the
learner and keep him engaged.

17. TECHICAL AND VOCATIONAL SYSTEM IN INDIA

18. Programs for women through
distance education
Open learning permits learning with minimum
barriers related to age, gender and time
constraints.Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is a
term used to describe learning that uses ICT to
enhance learning.
Students support
Makes flexibility in learning provisions
Removes barriers to access
Provides curriculum and instruction design
Gives credit to prior learning
Provides programme delivery
Meets the diverse needs of the students

19. Benefits of Open and Distance Learning
Improvement in women’s social esteem by earning degree.
Provided second chance to continue their education.
No requirement to stay on campus to earn degrees.
Allowed women to study at their own place, time and pace.
Enhanced the means of empowering women.
Enabled women to pursue education alongwith household
task.
Provided flexible system to complete their education.
Enabled women to earn income.
Enabled women more educated and financially independent.
Gained more respect in the family and in the community.
Increased career opportunities.
Increased confidence in dealing with the community.
Enlightened legal literacy and women’s rights and
entitlements.
Developed ability to think critically.

20. Distance Education and Rural Development
Human resources(quality and quantity);
Pattern of social organization(values, social stratification
mobility, power structure land tenure system);
Economic structure(agricultural production structure,
industry, market relations, etc,);
Technology in agriculture and in the non-agricultural
sector;
Infrastructure(physical infrastructure, transport and
communication, social infrastructure, spatial order);
Institutions and organizations (administration, people's
organization, etc.);
Services (marketing, credit extension, social security);
Education and training (formal and informal).

21. Skill development through distance Education
Open and distance learning provides a means to accessing the
skills needed for development.
The demands for training from the labour market are very large
and ongoing; the demands from young people seeking employment
or wanting to become self-employed are critical.
Skills training by open and distance learning:
the stakeholders;
the learners;
the curriculum;
designing,
developing and delivering the courses;
supporting the students;
training the staff; accrediting the results and assuring the quality of
training.
It also looks at ways of teaching practical skills.

22. OBSTACLES IN DISTANCE EDUCATION
Lack of Support
Only working one-on-one with a tutor will help them to solve this common problem of
distance education by finding the missing building blocks and understanding difficult
concepts
Feelings of Isolation
Teaching others, explaining concepts, answering questions and defending positions are all
excellent was of learning and thinking critically.
Discipline
There is a certain amount of social pressure and regulation that goes with a traditional
classroom.
Students have to show up on time and with homework done and they are guided through
every step of their course, reminded of upcoming assignments and tests and there is a
structure and routine to follow.
Technology
Advances in technology have made distance learning a more viable option as students are
able to interact with each other and with the instructor, utilize audio, video and text to learn
and use the internet for research.
To ensure that your student is an effective distance learner, they must have access to all
the technology they need and to be able to effectively navigate and use the tools at their
disposal.