The ethical dimensions of learner support

Abstract

Open, distance and elearning institutions of higher education often face ethical issues relating to their distinctive mission, especially where the core role is to open educational opportunities to under‐represented groups while maintaining academic standards. Openness is surely a ‘good thing’; and yet there are often tensions relating to government policies, recruitment, access to technology, curriculum, teaching and student support that sometimes involve uncomfortable trade‐offs. We consider some ethical aspects relating to learner support in the broadest sense, drawing in particular on the experience of The Open University, United Kingdom.

Keywords:

• Adult students
• Distance education
• Ethics
• Policy formation
• Social values
• Tutoring