Analyzes periodical literature on distance education, covering four refereed journals, and concludes that: researchers in distance education use mostly the survey method; use of citations is a common practice; there is a trend towards collaborative research; 80% of papers originate from five countries; and research on learner-centered issues…

This report presents conclusions of a study of the feasibility of adapting Open University materials for use in student-centered learning in other institutions, especially polytechnics. It discusses the development of open learning in the polytechnics, drawing attention to the need for collaborative production of materials. Chapter 1 is an…

The author's purpose here was to analyze some of the basic assumptions on which the present practices of open education are built and to investigate the apparent discrepancy between theory and practice. (Author/RK)

Described is a highly individualized and open teaching situation, Student-Structured Learning in Biology (SSLB), used with a randomly selected group of 9th-, 10th-, and 11th-grade students at the Florida State University Developmental Research School. Students chose their own content and method of learning and were free to pursue, or not pursue,…

Open school Native American students had a more positive self-identification than either Native American or white traditional pupils. (Author)

Assesses the effects of program openness, which is the degree to which programs reflect the characteristics of open education, type of classroom, and teachers' need for structure on children of differing conceptual level. It was predicted that students who require much structure (low conceptual level) would have more negative attitudes in open…

A detailed critical review is conducted of N. Bennetts "Teaching Styles and Pupil Progress," a British report investigating the implementation and effectiveness of informal, progressive educational theory in Great Britain. (MB)

Presents the results of a research survey comparing graded and nongraded elementary schools. (Author/RK)

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…

Examines sociometric data from 60 elementary classrooms to test the hypothesis that friendship patterns vary according to whether classrooms are "open" or "traditional." The author concludes that children's friendship patterns are affected by the structure of the classroom. (Author/DB)

Suggests a return to the humanistic tradition, or open education'' modeled after the British primary school with its four operating principles: decentralized classroom, non-structured classes, abundant learning resources, individualized instruction. (DS)

Compares the effectiveness of interactive free choice learning experiences to and combined with the lecture-demonstration approach in teaching sixth-grade children (N=50) to criticize and control experiments. Results contradict Piagetian theory regarding the importance of interactive experiences and exposure to materials in fostering these…

Each of the four papers in this collection is concerned with open learning in one form or another. "Open Learning: Some Current Perspectives" (Ian Barnard) addresses the topic of open learning in general, commenting on contemporary views and developments, and defining the term as a collective for approaches and practices that focus on…

This study investigated the relationship between organizational climate and selected organizational variables--reading achievement, teacher experience, and teacher attrition. The study sample consisted of the total teaching staffs and 642 randomly selected students from five elementary schools in a metropolitan school district. Data were collected…

The purpose of this study was to compare aspects of educational environments in elementary schools which differed in the degree to which programs were individualized flexible, and diverse; and architectures were open. Fifteen classes were assigned to the cells of a factorial design, and data on educational environments were collected from teachers…