Beginning with a definition of open learning as flexible learning systems in which people study how, when, and where it suits them, this summary reports on activities of the Council of Educational Technology (CET) that are designed to promote open learning systems; explains different forms of open learning systems, such as flexistudy, learning by…

The paper starts with a general description of the Open University's teaching system as it operated in 1976, and student progress through the system. It then analyzes the University's cost structures on the basis of the University's 1976 Recurrent Estimates, and by indicating, on the basis of the information given, estimated average, marginal, and…

These 14 essays address convergence--the breaking down of barriers between open and distance learning and conventional education, and the creation of more multimodal institutions. "Convergence of Distance and Conventional Education" (Tait, Mills) is an overview to the book. "Efficacy and Ethics of Using Digital Multimedia for…

The 18 papers presented at the conference reported in this document are grouped into four major sections. The first section, on the nature of open learning, includes "How Open Is Open Learning?" (H. Temple); "Open Learning and Community" (I. Cunningham); "Are We Really Open--With Our Learners and Ourselves?" (W. J. K.…

Describes activities of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the United Kingdom related to ways that information technology may contribute to learning. Topics discussed include cognitive science; evaluation of changes in learning; language skills; learner-machine interface; policy and management issues; teacher education; computer…

This document is an overview of the projects conducted in England and Wales as part of the European Year of Lifelong Learning. The document begins with an overview of lifelong learning that outlines the United Kingdom's educational attainment targets for the year 2000 and the six strands of the United Kingdom's lifelong learning policy framework…

This book is designed to give planners of open and distance learning programs the technical information needed to determine the cost of programs and analyze the behavior of costs. The following are among the topics discussed: budgets; classification of resources (human resources, premises and accommodation, and equipment and furniture); a basic…

This document contains 19 papers presented at a conference on educating adult educators at the University of Exeter, England in July 1998. The following are included: "Themes and Issues in Training the Adult Educator" (Rosesanne Benn); "Training Adult Educators in Poland" (Tadeusz Aleksander); "Educating Teacher…

This document contains four reports on technology and further education (FE) that Lynton Gray and Ann-Marie Warrender prepared for the Further Education Funding Council's Learning and Technology Committee. The first report, "Main Themes from Learning & Technology Committee Press Surveys," examines three themes that were identified…

This combination literature review and annotated bibliography includes a summary of findings related to the following topics: the barriers to education and training faced by selected groups (women, ethnic minorities, refugees, individuals with special needs, individuals lacking basic skills, and exoffenders); innovations in open learning (open and…

This book identifies the major new developments in the provision of education and training for adults and examines the ideas, developments, and strategies currently being used in the light of the particular needs of disaffected adult learners. (Disaffection refers to feelings of estrangement, lack of trust, feelings of inadequacy, anger, and…

Describes the approach to environmental education courses at Open University. Includes broad course content, team teaching approach, and philosophy of reorienting education towards sustainable development. Course material for open learning includes self-contained study packs as well as course texts, video, audio, and computer software. Nonformal…

The College of Social Studies, which existed in Kikuyu, Kenya, in the 1960s, operated in the British liberal tradition and had a 1-year course similar to those of British residential colleges. The career paths of approximately 130 mature students who took the course were examined in a case study that was conducted in 1995-96. The names of 104…

This book presents a blueprint for using a quality assurance-based approach to planning and developing open and distance learning (ODL) courses in the United Kingdom. The following are among the specific topics discussed: (1) typical aims of ODL (opening access to education; responding to student needs; designing self-study materials; student…

This document is intended to help open learning and distance learning practitioners use, design, and select appropriate open and distance learning materials. The document begins with a brief overview of the following forms of open and distance learning materials: workbooks; structured materials; computer-based training materials; online materials;…