Egyptology Online

1
Egyptology Online

• Ann Barlow
• Ashley Cooke
• University of Manchester

2
Background

• Nature of the programme long standing distance
  learning adult course
• Student body diverse both in experience and
  location
• Attraction of the subject academic and esoteric
• Tutor team freelance and detached

3
Rationale for conversion

• Increasing international interest
• Cost-implications of distributing printed
  material
• Maintaining academic currency
• Learning experience dependent on visual materials
• Need for student interaction

4
Team approach to course conversion

• Project managed by Centre for Continuing
  Education
• Material revised by Course Director Professor
  of Egyptology
• Online delivery designed and implemented by
  Distributed Learning team using WebCT

5
Evaluation

• Pre-launch evaluation by tutor team as part of
  training for e-tutoring
• Students aware of the course as a pilot and
  encouraged to feed back regularly
• Online end of year survey

6
Reflections

• Achieved interaction
• Established a cohesive tutor team
• More able to monitor potential withdrawal
• Response times much quicker

• Students not as computer literate as expected
• Drowning in information
• Underestimated preparation needed for e-dicussion