A re-examination of the role of educational technology in the Open University in Great Britain. (HB)

A discussion of the role of the consultant in the Open University in Great Britain. (HB)

It is often said that if educational technology is to be of real service it must be an integral part of the learning and research system which is a university, not merely an afterthought. In the case of the British Open University a successful attempt bas been made to design the institution using educational technology as a basic approach. It is…

A general examination of the assumptions of educational technology as a body of knowledge. (HB)

An evaluation of the student-centered learning program at Great Britain's Open University is presented. (HB)

Author believes that if the Open University continues to be successful, it can hardly fail to exert a powerful influence on the future development of higher education in Great Britain. (Author/HB)

Care must be taken to select technology appropriate to the teaching task in distance education. Five principles of media selection are: increasing student-system interaction, matching the medium with the materials, reducing duplication, choosing the most direct channel, and developing user-friendly systems. Interactiveness and efficiency of…

An examination of Britain's Open University in light of its success which proves some past educational assumptions false and poses challenges for future educational development. (HB)

It is shown that Open University students are psychologically able to sustain an independent (i.e., student-centered) program of learning and that the Open University degree structure is sufficiently flexible to incorporate truly independent study into its structure in the form of a project credit. (Author/LBH)

An alternative technique, cost-effectiveness analysis, is proposed as a more appropriate way of evaluating the Open University. A rudimentary application of the technique to the cost structure of OU indicates that it could result in a substantial reduction in OU's costs. (Author/LBH)

The value of intensive commentary by subject expert teachers on Open University course materials is emphasized. The insights of someone who can alternate the role of reading as a student with that of reading as an expert and teacher are seen as significant in making substantial improvements to course material. (Author/LBH)

A method for making improvements in Open University coursework is reported and its effectiveness assessed. A model of developmental testing, when carried out in the year before presentation of a course, is shown to be a powerful tool for improving that course. Its main characteristics are summarized. (LBH)

This article argues for another commitment by the Open University in a new field of educational technology based on the telephone. Consideration is given to one-to-one telephone calls for tutorial purposes, conference calls, teaching by satellite, and meeting by telephone. (LBH)