Introduction: The Rationale for a Generic Online Tutor Training Module

This introductory article outlines the two phases of the e-Educator training project aspects of which are covered in more detail in the subsequent articles in this Special Issue of the Malaysian Joumal of Distance Education. Phase one of the project in 2005-2006 involved a collaboration between the University of Nottingham, UK and Beiwai Online at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, China to develop a generic training module for tutors who support students on online courses. The rationale behind the decision to develop a generic module is introduced as well as the decision to develop this module with online tutors in China and then to pilot this with distance learning tutors in Malaysia in phase two of the project. This is followed by an introduction to the articles within this first of two Special Issue of this joumal that covers the nature of the pedagogy and the curriculum. The next issue will cover the development process, some of innovative tools within the module and the research surrounding the development and implementation.