| THEME | POSITIVE EXPERIENCES/BENEFITS | CHALLENGES/CONSIDERATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| Take-up | Some learners used established support avenues effectively (talk channels, email, phone, student services), suggesting existing systems met many needs. | Low or no use of booking calendar in some courses; learners phoned directly based on prior expectations; recommendation to introduce VC early in a programme to set expectations and reduce direct calling; variable communication practices across facilitators. |
| Perceptions of learners’ needs | VC could reduce anxiety through personalised interaction; learners appreciated having the option available even if not used; facilitators could direct anxious learners to VC to build connection. | Some learners may be hesitant to engage in face-to-face interaction (e.g., shy/apologetic), potentially limiting uptake. |
| Optimising times and availability | Flexibility (allowing longer calls when needed; follow-up bookings) supported learner needs; initial VC time used to build rapport; different cohorts benefited from different time slots. | Initial 20-minute allocation sometimes too short; identifying optimal hours was variable; lunchtime vs early evening popularity differed; need a range of booking times across the week. |
| Perceived value and benefits of video chat | Learners valued direct engagement and reassurance; VC helped prepare students for industry practices; screen sharing enabled clearer explanations and visuals; facilitators reported increased role satisfaction and stronger connection with learners. | VC appealed more to some students than others; camera use varied; booking-calendar reason field was helpful to academics. VC also acted as a gate-keeping strategy. |
Opening Doors in ODFL with “Video Chat” – Adding Synchronous Academic Support to Asynchronous ODFL Delivery
By: Lynnette Brice
Figures & Tables
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55982/openpraxis.18.3.1053 | Journal eISSN: 2304-070X
Language: English
Page range: 576 - 588
Submitted on: Nov 3, 2025
Accepted on: Apr 10, 2026
Published on: Aug 4, 2026
Published by: International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
© 2026 Lynnette Brice, published by International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.