Thesis supervision in face to face model and distance instruction model

1. Thesis supervision in face to face model and distance instruction model --- A comparative perspective By Gui Ying Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

2. Thesis Supervision in distance instruction model • Thesis supervision in distance education has a very promising future because of its flexibility and convenience. It saves students’ time, energy and money. • Due to the lack of face-to-face communication, it is easy for students to get confused or lost in the cyberspace. Instruction of thesis writing is especially difficult in distance education due to the physical separation of the teachers and students. • Writing is the most challenging in all the • teaching activities of English.

3. Different instruction models demonstrate different philosophies • Campus instruction ---teacher dominating , care taking , parent like • Distance instruction- “whole person” education. Independent. Students take initiative.

4. The supply of resources and reference materials • Campus thesis instruction –hardcopy • Distance thesis instruction- e-version on the platform, easy to add and update: E.g.: thesis writing manual, VOC and VOB lectures,etc.

5. The difference in interaction style • Interaction in campus thesis instruction : Face to face , telephone, email, text message • Interaction in distance instruction : Telephone, email, text message, MSN. Platform.

6. Thesis evaluation and quality control • Campus instruction: the tutor gives a tentative grade , then the defense committee reevaluates the thesis based on the student’s oral defense performance and a final grade is given. • Distance instruction: the tutor gives a tentative grade, the reevaluation group reexamines the paper and gives a grade. And the student gets a grade for his performance in oral defense. The lower of the two grades will be the final result of the student’ s thesis.

7. Discussion and findings • The comparison of these two models of thesis supervision is not meant to belittle either of them. We try to find the advantages and disadvantages of each in order to make up their deficiencies.

8. Discussion and findings • In campus thesis supervision, we should learn from distance education and encourage the students to be more independent. • In providing resources and reference materials for thesis writing , we should learn from Beiwai Online to make the reference materials into e-version and upload them on the internet. • For thesis supervision in distance model, the tutor should provide more face to face communication opportunities to the students in order to establish a close rapport with the students like on campus.

9. Conclusion • We should understand the special features of each instruction model and explore better means and measures in instructing students' writing in either context. It is our mission to effectively supervise thesis writing both in traditional face to face education and modern distance education.

10. Thank you !