Designed primarily for use by potential users of telecourses produced by other institutions or production houses, this guide provides fundamental information on the design, use, and management of telecourses, and describes experiences of successful telecourse users. It is noted that this guide is also applicable to radio courses, and the introduction provides background information on telecommunications media as vehicles of instruction. Defining telecourses as instructional systems with interrelated parts, the first of eight chapters discusses the distinctive features of these systems and their components, including both printed materials and other media. The second chapter provides an overview of the characteristics of telecourse students and their needs, and research on telecourse effectiveness in meeting these needs. The advantages of telecourse use presented in the third chapter range from the extension of instructional services to cost effectiveness and cooperative ventures. Modes for the delivery of instruction described in the fourth chapter are broadcast and cable television, Instructional Television Fixed Service, videocassettes and computer-managed videodiscs, and audiocassettes. Highlights of the telecourse acquisition process described in the fifth chapter include needs assessment, selection, and curriculum approval. Telecourse management concerns are addressed in the sixth chapter, including overall organization and telecourse adaptation, while the seventh chapter focuses on the role of the administrator in planning ahead, enrolling students, and promoting telecourses. The concluding chapter considers the importance of top-level administrative commitment to successful telecourse utilization. A list of 17 acronyms is included. (DJR)