STATUS OF FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION IN DISTANCE EDUCATION AT AIOU

Face-to-face contact is one of the strategies used in the teaching learning process in distance education. It is a means of alleviating the problems of isolationism, which the distance learner faces. Apart from serving to supplement or complement teaching, face-to-face contact bring together both the learner and the teacher to interact socially. In this paper, the status of face-to-face instruction in distance education is highlighted. Conditions under which it may be effective and made to contribute towards the goals of distance education are examined; finally, suggestions are given as to the future direction of face-to-face instruction as a component of distance education.