A study comparing Open University (OU) and conventional university (CU) student performance in economics shows OU students even with CU students in microeconomics and higher in macroeconomics. The research was controlled for both test-wiseness, previous experience, and representativeness of OU students. (MSE)

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…

The Leeds Counseling Project of the National Extension College, Cambridge, sought to investigate the needs of adult correspondence students outside the Open University. The design of the project, its implementation and its results are discussed. The conclusion considers ways in which local counseling might be provided and supported. (Author/CT)

An enrollment control program designed to reduce oversubscription in some majors was implemented at an open-admissions university. It was found that while the policies of such programs differ substantially from open-admission institution policies, such programs can work well when appropriate interventions and services are provided. (MSE)

Discusses three models of consultation and their assumptions regarding the roles and responsibilities of evaluation consultants, suggests collaborative approaches as appropriate for evaluating the internal functioning of distance education programs, and presents the application of a collaborative model to the selection of evaluation issues at…

Discussion of the Home Computing policy at the United Kingdom's Open University focuses on the first year of a project that is seeking to provide: (1) an assessment scheme for students with disabilities using computers; (2) the provision of adapted hardware and software; and (3) the provision of suitable training and support. (12 support) (LRW)

This discussion of definitions of distance education responds to previous articles attempting to define the field. Topics discussed include distance education versus conventional education; group-based distance education; differences between open learning and distance education; and criteria to define distance education. (13 references) (LRW)

Briefly outlines the early history of distance education programs in the 1960s, emphasizing the success of the Open University in the United Kingdom. Discusses 10 individual models of virtual universities that are international in scope. (JKP)

Considers the successes and failures associated with the design, production, delivery, and evaluation of a home study course entitled "World Ecology: The Scientific Context" offered through Athabasca University (Canada). Discussion covers potential and actual students, course design, course teams, copyright, course materials, enrollment,…

Provides a brief description of a distance education program applied to inservice teacher training in Portugal. Written materials, radio, television programs, and the self-assessment system are described; and statistics are provided. (EAM)

Suggests eight parameters as criteria for describing and comparing distance education/open learning institutions: target population, dimensions of openness, organizational structure, design and development of learning materials, use of advanced technology, teaching/tutoring system, student support systems, and interinstitutional collaboration. (35…

A study at the Open University of Israel found students who study in organized groups and get weekly tutorials have a higher persistence rate than those with tutorials every three weeks. More experienced students and those in liberal arts and social sciences have a higher course completion rate. Age, sex, and educational background have little…

Development of a national higher education market in Australia provides the opportunity for open-access universities to develop recruitment strategies based on the experience of North American institutions. Implications are drawn for focusing on student learning potential, reorganizing the curriculum, integrating recruitment and teaching/learning…

The success of Great Britain's Open University has become a model for distance education in the United States. The Open University is nonselective in admissions and designs its courses for part-time students and working adults. It plans to begin enrolling American students in a new sister institution, the United States Open University. (MSE)

Defines an open university, explains why Ghana needs an open university system, and describes how to establish one. Discusses the role of government, business, and expatriate Ghanaians and presents a model of an open university, including academic sections and research centers. (PEN)