This response to Perna et al. provides an alternate approach to research on massive open online courses (MOOCs). We argue that a student-centered, theory-driven conceptualization and methodological approaches allow us to move beyond descriptive statistics and into a deeper understanding of MOOC learners. Examples using a teacher development MOOC…

The staff in British Infant Schools creates a special learning environment. British parents have differing expectations of the schools and their own educational role. In creating the open classroom, a modification of the British Infant School, American educators seem to have missed these two crucial points. (SJL)

This paper considers the question of how much of the instructional process instructional designers should control by pre-planning and managing instruction so that it is equitable, focusing on three specific concerns: (1) whether the designer who plans the instruction or the student is responsible for student learning; (2) whether or not the…

Open area designs for school buildings were adopted frequently in Australia in the 1970s, often without adequate preparation of the educators who would be using them. A study of the effects of open area designs led to the recognition that school building design warrants more serious attention as a variable in formal education than it has yet…

Discusses reasons for failure in open learning, describes areas that can adversely affect student performance, and suggests possible corrective actions. Highlights include validation, or developmental testing, of courseware; the climate for learning; the role of local instructors; consequences of success or failure; course design; learning style…

Offers a comparative framework for school organizations which illustrates tacit differences in teacher role expectations inherent in unique types of organizations. Expresses the central idea that the effective classroom teacher's role is operationally defined by the organizational system in which the teacher functions. (CSS)

In the 21st century learning should be continuously available. This book traces the evolution of year-round school schedules from 1840-1980 in the United States and documents the many innovative educational programs of the past. It also describes the status, philosophy, calendars, and strategies of the 1990s and offers forecasts for continuous…

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…

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…