In particular, computer mediated conferencing is an important new way of sharing, constructing and transmitting knowledge among students taking the management courses. However, the key aspect is the extent to which online conferencing is appropriated designed, integrated and moderated by the OUBS tutors. The Business School has undertaken large-scale online training for its management tutors as part of an action research study. A long string of relevant teaching qualifications or experiences are unlikely to be found at this stage of development of online teaching, although some universities including the OU are offering good online Masters degrees in distance teaching. It is most important to look at the potential and at skills.
Online hierarchies tend to loose their power and communication is more informal.
Students need to become more self reliant. Online moderators need to manage the students expectations online. A Model of Teaching and Learning Online Action research in OUBS over several years has lead to the development of a model of understanding of how management students and tutors use conferencing. Even where technological infrastructure and support are strong, and even when worthwhile learning applications are developed, without staff development nothing is likely to happen beyond pilots. Any training for online programme must accommodate people with a wide range of prior skills and knowledge.