E-TUTORING: AN APPROACH TO SUPPORT OPEN AND DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS AMIDST COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

E-tutoring in student support has been well documented however, its significance to open and distance learning institutions during the COVID-19 is still limited. The continued low student retention and success rates put unprecedented pressure to these institutions, as they are responsible for student support. This article presents the findings of an investigation on e-tutors' perceptions of student support in mathematics, science, technology and environmental education courses within an open and distance learning environment in South Africa. The article utilises a blend of connectivism theory by Siemens together with a conceptual framework by Reinmann-Rothmeier and Mandl as key to contributing towards effective student support. Using the interpretive qualitative case study, five e-tutors were interviewed and observed while interacting with students in a digital learning platform. The findings indicate challenges of inadequate student interaction in a digital platform, limited knowledge, and skills of e-tutors on digital media, as well as the need to design digital activities that provoke and motivate students learning. The article recommends transformed digital strategies and creation of interactive activities that will appeal to student engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]