Two small studies, one an "eye-tracking" study and the other a "remote observation" study, have been conducted to investigate ways to identify two kinds of online learner interactions: users flicking through the web pages in "browsing" action, and users engaging with the content of a page in "learning"…

This article presents an overview of the education system in Malaysia and highlights some issues pertaining to higher education. In addition, this article also looks at some issues specific to the teaching and learning of mathematics both at school and in the universities. Some data on students' achievements in mathematics examination at public…

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…

This discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of using television in an open university's distance learning program begins by examining the parameters of the use of television in distance learning, i.e., distribution, utilization, and production. It is suggested that television provides two unique presentational characteristics when used in…

A survey of new and continuing undergraduate students was undertaken at the end of 1986 to obtain information on the related issues of costs of studying and access to equipment for study purposes. Questionnaires were sent to a sample of 2,400 students at the Open University (OU)--1,200 students taking their first OU course and 1,200 continuing…

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.…

Observing that distance teaching so far conducted at Britain's Open University is based on an authoritarian model with teacher-developed multimedia programed courses, the author proposes a new approach to such correspondence-type courses in which a framework is provided for students to organize their own learning using their own methods. (JT)

The activities of Quebec's Tele-Universite are described and compared with those of Britain's Open University from which it differs in emphasis on cooparation with other organizations and on regional study groups. Now one of the ten units of the University of Quebec, it offers continuing education programs for teachers and an adult education…

Reports a 1974 survey of the 12,800 students taking courses in Britain's Open University to determine viewing and listening figures for each course and to compare the figures for different transmission times and the different faculties (disciplines). The average student watched about two-thirds of the TV and heard about half of the radio programs…

The use of science laboratories as an instructional tool is reexamined from the points of view of the underlying premises, purposes, and practicality of laboratory instruction. Different approaches to laboratory instruction are outlined, and their relevance for the Dutch Open University's program of distance education is discussed. (Author/MSE)

The plans for the physical expansion of the University of Witwatersrand cannot be divorced from its goals. In planning a new campus area, there is an underlying philosophy of growth to accommodate all sectors of society and to serve the total community of which the university is part. (MLW)

A study of alternative uses for Open University instructional materials, conducted by both a large-scale survey of current use of the materials and by examination of one alternative use plan, is reported. The materials were intended for use in a course on caring for older people. (MSE)

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)

The purpose of this study was to identify the significant characteristics of distance education students who have dropped-out or continuously and successfully progressed in the distance education program at the NOU of Taiwan. The major focus was based on the found factors which might relate to the students' decisions for dropping out or staying in…