What the author has learned from this experience is to allow time for the unexpected when dealing with technology. She has further learned that one needs a strong technological support system in the school to ensure that access can be restored. The physical setting for online learning is important, as well. Students need to have a place where they…

Various authorities outline the benefits of collaboration in the form of classroom writing groups in learning certain writing skills. Collaboration promotes interaction, dialogue and negotiation between reader and writer. Whether the collaboration resides in interior dialogue or communal discourse or both, collaborative discourse can enable the…

In today's usage the distinction between open and distance education is often blurred. Indeed, open education and open learning are not synonymous with distance education and distance learning, a fact that is readily discernible by examining the characteristics of each. Teaching and learning in distance education are based on two elements: a…

This descriptive state-of-the-art report presents a survey of recent distance learning developments in Britain, mainly by local colleges in the public education sector, and discusses the motivation and experience of adult learners. Distance learning in general is examined, and current models of provision and the audiences served by these programs…

The goal of this report is to examine the progress of the Washington Learning Anytime Partnership (LAAP). In 1999, a 1.8 million dollar grant was given to Washington's community and technical colleges to increase and improve the courses offered through the Internet including the development of a "one-step system" to enable students to view and…

The Open Junior Secondary School, or "SMP Terbuka," was conceived in 1976 as a means of providing junior secondary school education through distance education delivery to disadvantaged students in Indonesia. Although different in structure, SMP Terbuka is part of Indonesia's formal educational system, and uses the same standard Junior…

Reviews Internet tools for online college-level guided study courses (a term synonymous with correspondence course) and discusses bureaucratic issues that must be dealt with. Presents a model for an online guided study course that maximizes the power of the Internet while ensuring that courses are effective and manageable. (AEF)

Describes a graduate course in distance learning incorporating multiple technologies within a constructivist paradigm. Discusses advance planning; the course overview, materials and resources; logistics; technological issues; pedagogical issues; and difficulties and limitations. Lists suggestions for teachers using multiple technologies in…

Describes the planning and implementation of an online writing center for adult students of SUNY Empire State College, a non-residential, independent-study distance-learning institution. Highlights informational and facilitative properties of hypertext and the need for a personalized instructor "voice." Components of the program included…

Presents the characteristics and development of self-learning material (SLM) in distance education. Discusses teaching with programmed learning; structure of SLM; and how SLM helps in self-study. Discusses the advantages of print materials as accompanying programmed instruction, because they are portable, well-structured, compact, and easily…

Discusses how academic libraries and librarians in developing countries can contribute to the creation of self-directed learners and self-reliant researchers, especially among nontraditional students. The library role in independent learning programs and the collection size and library skills instruction required to meet learner needs are…

Presents results of a study on the use of learning activities in self-instructional materials by distance learners of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). It shows that learners make use of the activities extensively as they have positive perceptions about benefits of Self-Assessment Questions and Terminal Questions given in the…

A study was conducted at one of the study centers of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to find out what extent material is self-instructional, and other factors related to print material and its effectiveness in distance education. Results are presented in this article. One major finding was that to a large extent, students were…

In the West African Region of Africa, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is the first full fledged university that operates in an exclusively open and distance learning (ODL) mode of education. NOUN focuses mainly on open and distance teaching and learning system, and delivers its courses materials via print in conjunction with…

These occasional papers focus on open learning and distance education. This volume contains four papers on a variety of topics: bridging courses, issues for researchers in evaluating interactive multimedia, designing study materials to address the special needs of distance students, and faculty attitudes concerning technology. Papers are:…