This article reports on work undertaken within Phase 2 of a pilot study concerned with the design, development, and evaluation of online resources. Drawing on recent developments in the application of technology within open and distance education, these resources were structured around the principles of problem-based learning (PBL) for use with…

The five papers in this edition address issues of general interest in distance education. In the first paper, "Study Methods and Study Notes: Interim Report," Stephen Relf and Terry Geddes report on a study designed to identify patterns of use and trends in the ways in which distance students use their study notes. In the second paper,…

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…

The Open University of United Kingdom's Postgraduate Certificate of Education program is an 18-month, part-time course that annually trains over 1000 graduate teachers via electronic conferencing and open learning methods. The program provides every student and tutor with a Macintosh computer, printer, and modem and builds on face-to-face contacts…

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 the increasing need for professional development and retraining in Australia, especially for inservice teacher education, and describes new methods that may be more effective than traditional methods. Highlights include open learning; the modularization of courses and programs; the adaptation of instructional materials; and distance…

As the demand for education rises, and with the increasing availability and sophistication of the means of delivery, open education and e-learning is being seen as a way to rapidly increase student numbers. This paper explores some realities of providing traditional open education and e-learning in an international environment and examines the…

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…

This collection of 13 articles contains the reflections of experienced course developers on a particular course that illustrates the process of constructing flagship distance education programs. "Educational Developers in Action--A Series of Tales from the Mud" (Michael Parer) is an introduction that discusses the technology of distance…

A survey of the 9,949 senior students in the business administration and economics programs of the Open Education Faculty (distance education) was conducted during the 1985-86 school year to obtain information on their social and socioeconomic characteristics. Usable responses were received from 8,382 students. The questionnaire sought information…

The second of two volumes in these proceedings contains the text (or, in a very few cases, an abstract) of 87 papers on the use of technology at all levels of education, including elementary, secondary, and higher education. These papers were presented in 29 topic sessions and one plenary session. Themes of the sessions include: (1) educational…

This paper examines the significant features of open learning and considers its potential to assist in the promotion of national social and economic goals in New Zealand. It deals primarily with employment-related education and suggests that the three principal beneficiaries--the state, employers, and students--should bear the costs. The paper…

This book considers the concerns of the different groups of stakeholders in determining the direction of developments in vocational education and the contribution that open, flexible, and distance approaches can make. Chapter 1 introduces the background against which developments in the use of these approaches to vocational education and training…

The Department of Community Nursing and the Open Learning Centre of Technikon Natal (South Africa) and the community-owned Community Development Programme are collaborating to provide online learning to rural and urban community nurses. The project involves the development of a multimedia pharmacology course, a virtual Internet class, and the…

Examines vital design issues pertaining to the "Online Self-Test," a simple solution for dealing with concerns about lack of time and lack of motivation in distance education. Presents experiences gained during the implementation of the Online Self-Test Center for Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, India, and…