This introduction to the Open University contains an historical overview; a description of undergraduate, postgraduate, and associate-level courses of study; and information on course components, including printed material, television and radio, tuition and counseling, assignments and assessments, summer school, and course teams. Data and…

This case study of a small suburban school district in the San Francisco Bay Area examines the interplay among individuals and groups within the district who make and implement policy decisions. The issue of awarding credit for experience-based learning focuses and directs the study. As an introduction to examination of the ways decisions are…

THE LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY (ENGLAND) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PROVIDES A LEARNING ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH EACH PUPIL CHOOSES HIS OWN ACTIVITIES AND WORKS IN A GIVEN SUBJECT AREA UNTIL HE IS READY TO CHANGE ACTIVITIES. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS DROPPED THE TRADITIONAL ELEVEN-PLUS EXAMINATION, DESIGNED TO SELECT HIGHLY ABLE STUDENTS (ABOUT 1/5) FOR ACADEMIC…

The document provides descriptions of five individualized learning models developed by the Community College of Vermont, a noncampus institution, for its predominantly adult student population. Models include: (1) Cluster, involving 10-30 students in a learning support group to define their needs and interests and to investigate appropriate…

This report describes 3 years of research on identifying, categorizing, and comparing teachers' ideas about teaching. The study used two different groups of 32 Wisconsin elementary school teachers selected according to a stratified random sampling procedure. The first group of teachers participated in a taped 2-hour interview on their ideas about…

The dual objectives of this nongraded, phase-elective program in English are to teach critical analysis in reading, listening, and viewing, and to teach logical organization in thinking, writing, and speaking. Provided are the school district requirements, an explanation of the five phase levels, and brief outlines of each of 57 course offerings…

A research project investigated the effectiveness of the use of a tape recorder and taped lessons with accompanying worksheets for independent work activities in the 1st grade. An experimental group heard lessons on reading readiness, auditory perception, phonics, and reading skills, in addition to having regular instruction from the teacher. The…

Two Automated Apprenticeship Training (AAT) courses were developed for Air Force Security Police Law Enforcement and Security specialists. The AAT was a systematized audio-visual approach to self-paced job training employing an easily operated teaching device. AAT courses were job specific and based on a behavioral task analysis of the two…

This basic textbook for Dutch contains 10 units. The text is adaptable for use in an academic institution (anticipated completion time is one academic year), in an intensive program (completion time is 90-120 hours), or in independent study. The vocabulary is limited, and only basic and essential grammar is included. A brief introduction contains…

Arguing against the "bandwagon" approach to innovation and change, and pressing for careful consideration of the potentials inherent in "openness" in education, the author explores the interactions among the phenomena of open space, open structure, and open curriculum. In examining the nature of these interactions, he sets the…

Courses and programs being delivered at a distance require a unique set of professional competencies. Whether using synchronous or asynchronous methods of instruction, systematic instructional design can help stimulate motivation, increase interaction and social presence, and authenticate learning outcomes. Principles of adult learning, including…

A common pattern in all studies of adult learning is that informal learning seems to be a very normal, very natural human activity. A 30-year old study and the 1998 Livingstone study show parallel findings. One of the most important findings is that about 90 percent of people had done some sort of intentional learning in the last year. The 10…

A theoretical framework for a psychology of coaching was developed. First, the literature on cognitive approaches to coaching, behavioral approaches to coaching, and combinations of the cognitive and behavioral approaches was reviewed. Next, two studies examined the development and validation of a new measure of private self-consciousness called…

This book, which is intended primarily for students and others interested in the theory and practice of adult education, contains nine essays demonstrating how traditional adult education values that are derived from philosophies of "individualism" also imply a "public" dimension that is referred to as "mutuality" and manifested not only in the…

This book presents performance-based projects as a systematic way to provide middle school and high school students both the structure and the freedom to become actively engaged in their own learning. The approach is based on the concept of authentic learning, which advocates a relevant, real world experience to personally engage students in…