Human Biology 133, offered internally and by distance has recently changed, for the internal mode, from a large lecture and lab based unit to one in which students work collaboratively to complete activities and some assessment.
Tutors facilitate group work and provide both academic content and pastoral care.
To match this type of learning environment via distance mode and without on campus contact, was a challenge we had to meet. The new distance structure follows the internal unit with sessions comprising activities, investigations and infobytes. The distance infobytes give the detail provided by the tutor in the internal class. To allow students to undertake practical activities a kit was developed which provides similar outcomes as on campus activities but without hands on access to human material. The CD ROM allows access without the download times and costs involved in online use.