ERIC Number: ED333100
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1986-Jan
Pages: 19
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Rough and the Smooth--Students' Experiences of O.U. Study. Open-Ended Feedback from the Student Opinion Survey. The "Pete Davey Survey." Report No. 2.
Mason, Robin; Morgan, Alistair
The Student Opinion Survey was sent to a random sample of 2,600 Open University (OU) students who had gained at least two credits and were studying during 1984. The response rate was 84 percent. Responses to open-ended questions on about one-third of those questionnaires were analyzed to determine the significant phenomena in students' experiences of OU study. The subject that most occupied students' minds was tutors and tutorials. Well over one-third mentioned that the decrease in the number of tutors and the inaccessible locations of tutorials had hindered them. Students indicated that the quality of tutors varied from excellent to appalling; the quality of OU material compared very favorably with other academic institutions; and OU study had contributed to their change and development. Most comments about assessment were in the form of suggestions for change. The major concern regarding courses was the number that had been dropped from OU's offerings or postponed. Criticisms about books were that there were too many, they were too expensive, or they were not relevant. Criticisms about administration included increased fees and poor course guides. The critical feedback about summer schools focused on poor quality, expense, disruption to family arrangements, and the fact that they were not optional. Students suggested that OU might economize by scrapping television and radio. (YLB)
Descriptors: Adult Education, Courses, Distance Education, Educational Administration, Educational Benefits, Educational Change, Educational Improvement, Educational Radio, Educational Research, Educational Television, Foreign Countries, Higher Education, Needs Assessment, Open Universities, Opinions, Student Attitudes, Student Evaluation, Student Experience, Summer Schools, Tutorial Programs, Tutors
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Open Univ., Walton, Bletchley, Bucks (England). Inst. of Educational Technology.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A