Advice is given to course teams from the Social Sciences faculty at the Open University in England on the proper use of educational consultants. Practical suggestions on the selection of appropriate tasks for consultants and of consultants for tasks are followed by suggestions on briefing, contracting, and maintaining liaison with consultants.…

The Regents External Degree is a New York State program offering a college degree to individuals, whether by earned college credit or knowledge acquired in other experience areas. The external degree and the College Proficiency Examinations are administered by the University of the State of New York, which has no campus or courses but accepts…

This handbook discusses the role, structures, organization, and management of study centers as they operate in different postsecondary settings in the Asia Pacific region. Eight chapters and a postscript are included: (1) introduction; (2) what is a study center; (3) why might an institution want study centers--functions, architectural types,…

This report makes recommendations for the establishment of an active research and evaluation program for the Open Learning Institute (OLI) and the Knowledge Network (KN) of British Columbia (Canada). It is suggested that the OLI and KN programs develop a framework for evaluating their own performance, that the database be improved to provide…

Defines an approach to the evaluation of autonomous multimedia distance learning systems which covers both the institution's overall performance and specific features within the institution. Aspects of evaluation discussed include design of evaluation systems as well as evaluating output, cost-effectiveness, curriculum, instructional resources,…

Examines the vulnerability of distance teaching universities (DTUs) around the world to competition both from campus-based universities that are initiating distance teaching and from dual mode universities that have traditionally offered a range of teaching methods. Costs are considered, and the future feasibility of single mode universities is…

Focusing primarily on educational television, the use of various media in open universities and distance education settings is examined in order to determine whether particular conditions must be met for the successful use of the particular medium or media in collaborative projects. It is noted that there is no logical, step-by-step procedure for…

This nine-paper collection from a June 1983 Open University (OU) campus workshop in Milton Keynes, England, describes an interactive video project developed for an OU undergraduate course, T252, Introduction to Engineering Materials, and discusses varied aspects of interactive videodisc program development. The following papers are included:…

This pamphlet is intended to assist the consumer in making informed decisions when choosing between distance learning programs. Distance education and distance learners are defined. Included is advice on beginning a program search; choosing a school; accreditation; evaluating quality of electronically offered programs; evaluate non-accredited…

The history and philosophy of the free university, defined as an organization that offers noncredit classes to the general public in which "anyone can teach and anyone can learn," is explored. Offered is practical advice for starting a free university center or exchange and ensuring its success. Three contemporary versions of free…

Describes the Universitas Terbuka, Indonesia's open university. Established in 1983, the university (1) provides better access to higher education, primarily for recent secondary-school graduates; (2) trains large numbers of students from culturally and economically underdeveloped areas; and (3) allows secondary-school teachers to obtain the full…

This handbook describes what must be done to coordinate and manage distance education activities, shares practitioners' tips, provides guidelines for ensuring quality and strategies for building successful programs, and tells how to find specialized information. In addition to offering an introduction to the concepts and activities of distance…

This guide on implementation of open learning in Great Britain provides information on resourcing, resource deployment, and costing and pricing. It begins by drawing attention to points of importance to those engaged in forming policy on the provision of open learning. These are presented in a series of flowcharts giving quick reference to…

Discusses the collaborative use of learning materials in distance education based primarily on experiences at the Open Learning Institute (OLI) of Hong Kong. Topics addressed include curriculum issues; instructional design; academic standards; technical factors; copyright regulations; costs; product evaluation; readability; and ethical…

The manual is intended for training workshops on program and curriculum development for the post-literacy stages, since many countries successful in literacy work find that even greater challenges await them as erstwhile illiterates emerge from literacy classes as new literates. The emphasis is on programs and curricula to help new literates…