Quality in distance education and open learning is the theme of this collection of five papers. The first is a compilation of outlines of Charles Sturt University (New South Wales, Australia) innovative teaching projects contributed by project leaders or team members. Quality initiatives are described in a range of disciplines. In seeking to promote quality assurance, distance institutions often attach considerable importance to student survey responses, as the student is the consumer of the product, distance education. Thus, the second paper examines a series of fallacies associated particularly with the use of printed questionnaires to evaluate distance subjects. The way in which students use the distance education study materials is the subject of papers three and four. The first of these involves a survey of two student groups regarding their use of intext activities, and a literature review allows discussion of general trends in student use of these materials. The second of the materials-use papers examines student interactivity with study materials, lecturers, and each other. The effectiveness of the interactivity and some recommendations for future action are included. The final paper gives a description of the way in which the Royal Australian Airforce redefined aircraft trade training from face-to-face teaching to predominantly distance mode. (Contains 25 references.) (Author/MAS)