Research On The Learning Support Services Of The Open University UK

In an open university,the learning support services can improve teaching effects and ensure the quality of distance education.The Open University of the United Kingdom（OUUK）has enjoyed a good reputation for its superior quality for years in the area of distance education with the because of its student oriented model of the learning support services.It is helpful for the development of the learning support services in the Open University of China（OUC）to research the learning support services of the OUUK currently,and to find the invaluable experience.The paper adopt the method of Literature Research and the comparative study.Gathering and distinguishing information and researches about the learning support services of OUUK by the Literature Research.With the method of comparative study,summarizing the features of academic support and non-academic support about OUUK.Combing the successful experience of OUUK with the current situation of the development of OUC,this paper puts forward the beneficial enlightenment to China and provides some reference suggestions for the construction and development of the learning support services.In OUUK,the learning support services has gone through four stages of development,and has became the model for integrated learning and learner support.The study is underpinned by Simpson’s theory of academic and non-academic support services,and incorporates the concept of learning support services.So the academic support services of OUUK are divided into the learning resources and the associate lecturer services,and the non-academic support services are divided into information services,consultant services,and technical services.The study found that OUUK provides the academic support services to meet students’ courses learning demand and assist students in the courses of study.Firstly,OUUK provides learning resources to meet students’ courses learning demand,such as prepared courses and Access Module to improve the resilience of students,course learning packages reducing students’ difficulties in completing learning tasks,digital library for students to find learning resources,Open Learning online resources linking the courses of OUUK.Secondly,OUUK provides associate lecturers who can assist students in the course learning process.Associate lecturers should carry out teaching activities to improve students’ learning skills and master learning content,mark students’ homework and give feedback to help students correctly evaluate their learning outcomes,set up group cooperation to cultivate students’ ability to cooperate,initiate and maintain supportive contacts to troubleshoot students’ learning difficulties.OUUK provides students with one-stop convenient non-academic support full of humanistic care.Firstly,information services provided by OUUK is comprehensive and humanistic,such as registration information service to answer the difficult questions about the enrollment selection of intended learners,Student Handbook for resolving freshmen’initial learning confusion,courses information for making known to public,online forums to provide information about the selection of modules and courses,credit transfer information to guide students,an information services that seeks to reduce students’ choices difficulties in financial aid.Secondly,OUUK set up student support teams centered on subjects to provide students with one-stop learning support services.Thirdly,OUUK provides students with easy-to-learn technical support services,such as using learning analysis system to improve the timeliness of intervention,building extracurricular learning communities to improve students’ sense of belonging,using the file management system to improve the continuity of student support,using learning tools and Student Home to improve student learning efficiency.At present,there are some problems in the construction of learning support services in OUC.The support of learning resources needs to be optimized and improved;the tutoring of teachers lacks the support of the learning process;the provision of information services is insufficient,and the design and development of technical support is insufficient.The learning support services construction of OUUK has the following revelations to the learning support services construction of OUC.First,optimize learning resources and strengthen the effect of learning resource services;Second,clarify teachers’ responsibilities,strengthen learning process and consulting support;Third,optimize information services,information provision should Fully clear;the fourth is to use technical support to optimize and improve learning tools.