A VLE site was established to help online distance learners prepare for a new interdisciplinary level 1 science module. The site aimed to improve retention and success by enabling students to sustain / build skills knowledge motivation and confidence before module start. This session provides evaluation of a student feedback questionnaire (n = 16) and peer review by two tutors moderating the forums and identifies priorities for future development as part of the on-going project.
While satisfaction was high among respondents students engaged little with forums using them to re-establish contacts from previous modules rather than seek academic support. Furthermore students would have liked synchronous tuition and the periodic release of new study materials. Next year building a study community of students and tutors on the forum as well as introducing some synchronous tutorials are the key priorities for increasing engagement.