This paper discusses the critical situations I have been asked to "improve" by providing professional development for teams of adult numeracy and functional mathematics teachers in the post-16 sector in London. These situations have not been identified through any research process, but arise from internal management reviews of course…

The Open University, or the OU as it is more familiarly known, has reached middle age. The OU has a lot to celebrate. It has become UK's largest university, pioneered supported open learning, and provided access to a high-quality provision from which more than two million learners have benefitted. Internationally, it has many sister institutions…

This article focuses on the potential of free tools, particularly inquiry tools for influencing participation in twenty-first-century learning in science, as well as influencing the development of communities around tools. Two examples are presented: one on the development of an open source tool for structured inquiry learning that can bridge the…

An oddity of the past decade is that millions of adults have actually lost rather than gained the opportunity to engage in lifelong learning. The destruction of what Jack Straw in 1991 called "one of the finest adult education services in the world" has not been a conscious aim of New Labour. However, it has occurred as a direct result…

In April 2008, one sees the start of the consultation on the second phase of the government's e-strategy for education, published in 2005 as "Harnessing technology: transforming learning and children's services." This follows hard on the heels of the progress report and implementation plan for the technology strategy for further…

This typology classifies distance education according to the kinds of instructional support provided by educational agencies and by the dimensions of learner self-sufficiency. The classification is then applied to the educational delivery system in British Columbia. (SK)

In response to the need of adults, especially in rural areas, for more flexibility in course scheduling, a Welsh community education agency designed a home-based learning program. Courses typically consisted of a tutorial every three weeks, homework, self-tests, and assignments submitted by mail. (SK)

A status report on the open university in Scotland, including enrollment and staff data and a listing of undergraduate teacher education courses offered. (SJL)

The present paper gives an overview of some of the modular day courses offered and, in some cases, developed by tutors at a former hospital school providing education to adults with severe learning disabilities. The aims of the courses were cognitive and personal development, as well as aesthetic and spiritual enrichment. Art history was offered…

Educational opportunity for growth and self-fulfillment should remain open to people of all ages. In Great Britain there are several higher and adult education systems to encourage and fulfill the talents of youth, adults, and older students, including open learning systems, youth services, flexistudy, open universities, adult education, and…

Today's economy demands a much greater commitment to adult vocational training. Both conventional British universities and the Open University serve this need, but there are areas where more needs to be done. Commitment of substantial resources is necessary and this probably cannot be achieved from fee income alone. (Author/MSE)

In response to obsolescence of knowledge and increased need for continuing education, open and distance higher education formats for higher education are being developed in Europe. These formats use technological advances to make continuing education available. Many European Community nations have well organized systems of open university…

Argues that needs research generally is not a good means for deciding whether a new institute should be or can be established and provides examples of needs research undertaken by the Staff Bureau for Research and Evaluation of the Dutch Open University. (Author/MBR)

Summarized the reports of the committees that have been involved in planning all types of adult education programs in Finland. (JOW)

Reviews the historical development of adult and continuing education as provided through the Open University system of Great Britain. An interview with the librarian for Oxford's Department of External Studies examines the current status of the program and describes the library services available to participants. (8 references) (CLB)