In like manner as conventional education and teaching approaches distance education tends to model the same procedures. Indeed, formerly enriched on printed material served as a primary source. However, thanks to the developments in technology and evolution in education, computerised information has made inroads in distance education programmes.…

In the conventional education process, there have always been certain obstacles throughout the human history. From that point of view, "Open and Distance Education" are the ones which are much more sensitive to quality and to the dissemination of knowledge to society as well as having certain advantages in getting over matters rather…

This study aims to describe the similarities and differences in the science interests of males and females from Israeli and Arab Middle Eastern countries, as derived from over 1,000 science questions sent to an international ask-a-scientist site. Our findings indicate that while the stereotypical gender gap in interest persists, and significant…

In like manner as conventional education and teaching approaches distance education tends to model the same procedures. Indeed, formerly enriched on printed material served as a primary source. However, thanks to the developments in technology and evolution in education, computerised information has made inroads in distance education programmes.…

There are a significant number of studies in the literature stressing the important role of teacher immediacy behaviors on learners' perceptions of social presence and satisfaction in open and distance learning environments. Yet, those studies were conducted in different open and distance education institutions than the current example of which…

The Open Education Faculty Students Centers have been offering many services to students in Turkey since 1982. Building up bridges between students and faculties, student centers have had technological improvements since 1998 and thereafter quality of services have been increased and services given to students at the student center have been…

Anadolu University has a technical infrastructure, well-qualified faculty, and operates in an innovative and flexible frame. It takes an initiative role to meet the needs of higher education in Turkey by providing equal opportunity not only to satisfy those who value the principle of lifelong education but also seeks new information via distance…

A significant number of studies in the literature stress the important role of teacher immediacy behaviors on learners' perceptions of social presence and satisfaction in open and distance learning environments. Yet, those studies were conducted in different open and distance education institutions than the current example of which unique…

Anadolu University in Turkey is one of the world's largest and least known mega-universities. Well over one million students in Turkey, the European Union and Northern Cyprus are enrolled in its Open Education System and yet few accounts of this dual-mode provider appear in the international literature. This article describes the evolution of the…

The aim of this paper is to review learner support services in Turkish distance education system, the Open Education Faculty (OEF) of Anadolu University. The paper examines the Turkish distance education system according to four types of support systems; (1) learner support and learner needs; (2) learner support and content; (3) learner support…

Understanding the socio-cultural context is the key to developing appropriate support systems for distance learners. The socio-cultural context in Turkey is a critical ingredient in the development of Turkish distance education programmes, in which two elements of Turkish culture--patronage and an oral tradition--seem to play a significant role.…

Approximately 200 studies were conducted on the Open Education Faculty (OEF) in Turkey between the years 1982 and 1997. This book aims to inform researchers on the literature about the OEF. The book consists of four main chapters. The first chapter is an introduction which gives an overview of worldwide distance education efforts and presents a…

The purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes of preschool teacher candidates studying through distance education approach towards the teaching profession and to determine their perception levels of teaching competency. The population and sampling of the study were the senior students of Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty,…

The aim of this study is to determine the factors and problems associated with the growth of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries and examine the Turkish distance Education System from the point of the factors such as cultural; political; economic; technological. The study, firstly, introduces some applications…

The aim of this study is to review the Turkish distance education system, Open Education Faculty (OEF), from the point of view of the communication' elements and learner support services. The study, firstly, introduces the related literature and the growth of distance education in Turkey; explains generally the communication and interaction…