Through further implementation of distance education, Chinese Taipei may both continue and increase its economic development. The benefits of lifelong learning have been demonstrated in the past 30 years by the economic growth and labor force skills development in Chinese Taipei. The founding of the National Open University, in 1986, with its…

This document contains five papers examining evaluation concepts and practice in selected distance education (DE) institutions. "Preface" (Harish Rathore, Rudolf Schuemer) defines evaluation in DE and provides an overview of the evaluation philosophies, agendas, and methodologies discussed in the five papers. "Evaluation Practices at the Indira…

Economics and mass higher education have become firmly coupled not only in the minds of distance educators but also in those of policy makers, politicians, educational economists, and social scientists. These conference proceedings add to the knowledge and experience of colleagues from around the world who address the topics of cost effectiveness,…

This book reports on the expansion of open and distance learning during the past decade, examining ways in which open and distance learning for higher education has responded to the needs of the new society, and summarizing the lessons of recent practice for policymakers and educators. After an introductory chapter, "Open and Distance…

In 1996, the Virtual University (VU) started as an online learning project at the University of Hagen (Germany) with a few courses and a small number of users. Today the VU has grown into a large learning platform with a student community of more than 10,000 and more than 200 learning events online. This paper describes some of the experiences…

This paper outlines a specific distance education solution to a condition of teacher shortage involving the collaboration of two major institutions of higher education in two countries: the Open University of the United Kingdom and the California State University System of California, United States. The paper explores global challenges facing…

A mail survey of nonaccepters of places in Britain's Open University showed the major reasons for declining were financial problems, time commitment, effects on family life, other family or personal changes, increased work responsibilities, moving, unemployment, and necessity of studying another field for work. (MSE)

A program designed to educate Open University students in Yorkshire in the use of videotape equipment for their extension courses has resulted in an unusually high rate of equipment use, especially among advanced students. Probable success factors are outlined. (MSE)

From 1974 to 1982, the University of Mid-America, modeled on the Open University of Great Britain, tried to give adults new access to higher education. Its successes and failures are discussed by its president and vice-president. (MLW)

Reviews six papers from the Open University Distance Education Research Group which cover the following topics: the credibility of distance education, admission systems, distance methods in adult basic education, the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (Costa Rica), Radio Ecca (Canary Islands), and the Open University (Great Britain). (EAO)

Describes the general data management and file processing system created by the Open University to assist the tutor-counsellors in their support of students. The differences between the tutorial and the counselling functions are discussed, details are given of the type of information stored on disc. (EAO)

Students evaluated their learning experience in terms of course valuing, content learning, personal learning, and behavioral learning. Significant differences were found between the two courses, with higher ratings for the more difficult. Limited but significant correlation with attainment measures was found, higher for continuous assessment than…

This assessment of the Open University (OU) after its first eight years considers the nature of the demand for the OU, patterns of study, and factors affecting students' progress and graduation, e.g., their occupation and previous educational qualifications. (EAO)

Students in six advanced mathematics courses at the Open University were surveyed to identify and analyze reasons for withdrawal from the courses. Specific recommendations for preventing dropout advising and readily available counseling, clarifying course sequences, avoiding assumptions about student sophistication, and developing new curriculum.…

Student advising at the University without Walls at the University of Minnesota focuses on developing cognitive skills outlined in Bloom's taxonomy by overseeing student programs and progress through graduation and by early assessment of student skills. Each phase of student advising incorporates one or more specific cognitive skill. (MSE)