Instructional immediacy--simply, the Accessibility of the teacher to students--has long been considered a crucial component of quality education. But what are online students to do?

An interesting new study takes a look at this question, from the view of online graduate-level healthcare students.

...little is known about experiences distance education learners in graduate study programs have had with immediacy...The following three overarching themes were identified and are used to explain and describe significant features of instructional immediacy behaviors that healthcare learners who graduated from either a Master of Nursing or Master of Health Studies distance education program found valuable: 1) Model engaging and personal ways of connecting; 2) Maintain collegial relationships; and 3) Honor individual learning accomplishments.

An interesting read that covers a timely issue. What have your experiences been like in online courses? Do you think the industry needs improvements in the area of instructional immediacy?

(Photo Source: APU)