Distance education programs often try to prove their legitimacy by using methods and materials as similar as possible to those used in traditional, classroom-based, lecture-oriented courses. Since off-campus students must exhibit a certain level of independence and self-guidance to succeed, it might be more reasonable to tailor educational…

This paper offers suggestions for providing accelerative opportunities for rural gifted students. Guidance is provided on overcoming local barriers and the chronic lack of sufficient resources in rural areas. Strategies incorporating telecommunications, cooperation with other districts and universities, faculty inservices, and community mentoring…

Individualized learning by distance education is discussed, with examples from Lincoln College, New Zealand. After identifying advantages and disadvantages of this approach for students, five degrees of freedom in learning encompassed by this mode are covered that involve content, method, pace, assessment, and sequence. Freedom of content allows…

Based on a second language learning workshop that was a follow-up to the 1990 British conference, "Autonomy in Language Learning," at the Lane End conference center, this report covers the practical implications of the ideas that emerged at the conference. The continuum that encompasses learner autonomy and autonomous learning is…

The VIISA (Vision Impaired In-Service in America) training model provided early intervention/childhood professionals with training that would help them better serve preschoolers, ages birth to five, with blindness and visual impairment. Materials and procedures for two courses were developed and taught to 344 participants in 9 states over a 3-year…

This guide presents state policies and procedures for all types of off-campus instruction delivered by Colorado institutions. Instruction may be offered at off-campus locations, at other institutions' campuses, or delivered to students via the mails or electronic media. Part A provides an introduction, while Part B considers general policies…

The Distance Learning Program was implemented in 1984 by Ikipujung Pandang University to provide training opportunities for nondegree secondary school teachers in isolated rural areas of eastern Indonesia whereby they did not have to attend classes on a regular, full-time basis at a conventional educational institution. The program focuses on…

This guide provides an in-depth look at distance learning. It lists hundreds of currently available undergraduate, master's, doctoral, and professional certificate programs. The courses listed are all offered for credit or certification by a growing number of accredited "electronic universities" that deliver their classwork via personal…

This booklet outlines specific strategies to help teachers prepare an effective self-study course for students enrolled in nontraditional study. The guide is organized in four chapters that cover the following topics: (1) consideration of students and their motivation; (2) preparation of an effective course (conceptualization--goals, expectations,…

Describes the production of a telecourse for early childhood literature, including the rationale for the telecourse, planning and development of the course, the production process involved, and the components of an accompanying study guide. Some general evaluations of the telecourse, which has been taught for four years, are reported. (CLB)

This guide for adults who are seeking external degrees offers guidance for selecting such a program and a listing of 140 accredited programs. The five chapters of part 1 provide an introduction to external degree opportunities. Chapter 1 briefly considers the multiple ways in which today's adults can continue their education. Chapter 2 explains…

This handbook describes what must be done to coordinate and manage distance education activities, shares practitioners' tips, provides guidelines for ensuring quality and strategies for building successful programs, and tells how to find specialized information. In addition to offering an introduction to the concepts and activities of distance…

This book contains 19 papers grouped in three sections that lead the reader through the process of planning, producing, and presenting materials in open and distance learning, based on experience in Great Britain. Following an overview by Roger Lewis, the Planning section contains the following six papers: "Resources and Constraints in Open…

This guide on implementation of open learning in Great Britain provides information on resourcing, resource deployment, and costing and pricing. It begins by drawing attention to points of importance to those engaged in forming policy on the provision of open learning. These are presented in a series of flowcharts giving quick reference to…

This booklet is the second of three sequels to "A Guide to the Selection of Instructional Methods." Following a brief introduction, the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of five individualized learning techniques are examined: (1) directed study of material in textbooks; (2) study of specially-prepared hand-out notes or…