Recently the topic of distance learning and online universities has been discussed in many articles. As noted in these entries, the distinction between face-to-face and online learning is blurring, since all face-to-face universities already incorporate online components in their teaching higher degrees, and therefore it makes less and less sense to make distinctions between one and other situation. In Pakistan normally students prefer to involve in physical classes.

Virtual campus is part of learning Process:

Some universities operate completely online; others are face-to-face but offer some online degrees; degrees are even offered where some subjects are online and other face-to-face; and of course, in all universities – face-to-face or not – students have a virtual campus that is a fundamental part of the learning process.

Distance Learning

In general, students from distance learning universities receive education in different modalities: study materials in text or audiovisual, attention through forums or mailboxes, classes by live or deferred videoconferencing, use of digital whiteboards, etc.

Different Teaching Groups:

These entities normally work with two different teaching groups. One is the “staff” faculty, which coordinates each subject and develops its programming and contents, working normally from the headquarters of the entity. The other group is the teachers who give direct attention to the students, and who can exercise their work in the different centers of the university if it has several. Distance learning has many advantages as well but a proper methodology is required.

In some cases, the same person can perform both functions, but they do it differently and efficiency is required. Regarding the teaching staff, their employment and academic position is clear, as they correspond to one of the figures contemplated by current legislation for university teachers, whether official or hired.

Much more confusing is the situation of the second group of teachers, which is responsible for providing direct attention to students. If they are not well aware of the students’ needs, then the whole system of teaching will be affected and the students’ final results would not be very encouraging.

How teachers assist in semi presence cases:

These teachers receive different positions or titles according to the university (tutors, consultants, collaborators, etc.) and perform different functions according to the university, which range from student orientation or attention to problems of the subject, to the delivery of a content program, broadcasting and / or recording of video classes, collaboration in the design of teaching material, or even attention in person in semi presence cases.

The functions of these teachers also include for example the evaluation of students, either through continuous evaluation tests or with their participation in the final exams.

Distance learning teachers have less recognition:

Some of the teaching staff reconciles their work with another teaching position in a traditional university. They have vast experience in teaching through both online and offline modules. One thing you must note that some teachers are dedicated and exclusively to teaching distance learning at universities. However, in most cases, these teachers are hardly recognized as such at the academic, legal or labor level.