Purpose: This paper aims to present a model for the quality assurance of digital educational material that is appropriate for adult education. The proposed model adopts the software quality standard ISO/IEC 9126 and takes into account adult learning theories, Bloom's taxonomy of learning objectives and two instructional design models: Kolb's model…

The discipline of education is a multi-faceted system that must constantly integrate new strategies and procedures to ensure successful learning experiences. Enhancements in education provide learners with greater opportunities for growth and advancement. "Open Learning and Formal Credentialing in Higher Education: Curriculum Models and…

The author examines the background and purposes of open learning in Great Britain. Political motives are emphasized. The distinction between distance education and open education is made. The author calls for more focus on individualizing instruction in distance education. (CH)

An investigation of the phenomenon of open education (OE) was based on three questions. To answer why OE has received so much attention, researchers surveyed and analyzed arguments that influenced thinking about OE and establishment of OE institutes. To answer the question concerning the defining characteristics of OE, researchers took the…

The University of Mid-America's (UMA) goals and plans are reviewed in this evaluation planning paper. Several issues effecting the overall shape of external evaluation activities over a five-year period are described. Focus in this report is on UMA's philosophical orientation and future plans, the rationale for the open learning approach, UMA open…

This handbook, which is intended for adult and community education (ACE) organizations and vocational education and training (VET) providers, outlines more than 40 practical successful pathway models that provide opportunities and options for women's transition from informal, noncredit ACE courses to accredited VET courses. Discussed in the first…

Distance education's use of the instructional systems design model has been challenged by critics who suggest that the learner is passive and learning is superficial. A suggestion is that distance education should be structured so that learners assume a more active role in the development and use of autonomous and self-directed learning…

The American educational system is based upon outmoded premises and should be revised in line with present trends and future needs. Our present system of education was created to serve an industrial society: to develop an elite cadre of well educated professionals, a mass of somewhat educated technical workers, and a solid base of laborers. It…

This book examines embedded support in course material. The focus is on self-study and associated concepts such as independent learning, distance education, and open education, and the general context is adult and higher education. The seven chapters cover: (1) general introductory material, including a description of the future, distance…

This book, which is intended for distance educators and students of the theoretical foundations of distance education, offers a conceptual model of distance education and recommendations for policy and practice that link the principles of instructional design and the provision of learner support. Discussed in the first four chapters are the…

Ideological arguments are made for open learning, economic ones for distance education. If it can produce similar results to those of conventional education at a lower cost, then distance education has a powerful appeal. With increasing demand for access to educational opportunities at all levels, and often decreasing budgets in real terms for…

This book contains new and previously published translations of 11 essays and articles about the industrialization of teaching and learning in distance education that were originally published in German by Otto Peters between 1965 and 1993. A "Preface" (Desmond Keegan) and an introduction placing Peters' writings in their historical…

Designing open, flexible distance learning systems on the World Wide Web requires thoughtful analysis and investigation combined with an understanding of both the Web's attributes and resources and the ways instructional design principles can be applied to tap the Web's potential. A framework for open, flexible, and distributed learning has been…

This report contains forty papers presented at the tenth international conference of the International Council on Correspondence Education. The conference theme is described as one analyzing educational and administrative sub-systems and components, with reference to their purposes, significance, characteristics, interrelationship, and cost…

The Republic of Croatia and Republic of Slovenia both became independent states in 1991 after separating from the former Yugoslavia. Despite their common origin, Croatia and Slovenia have very different cultures and traditions, different systems of education, and very different systems of adult education. Most of the differences between the two…