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)

Results of a 1978 survey of women summer school technology students are reported. It is found that these women did not have early scientific education, enjoyed the new kind of intellectual stimulation technology offered, and early study difficulties caused by lack of scientific education did not impede their success. (MSE)

The president of the University of Mid-America describes the past growth and future direction of this seven-state consortium which produces and distributes multimedia courses and provides alternative learning opportunities to underserved adult learners. (SK)

The development of a student-centered approach to learning to study is described, and its strengths and weaknesses are noted. Two study skills workshops run by the Open University are also outlined, along with practical tips on how to make them work. (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)

This is a short review of the progress of some members of the Open University Technology Faculty in researching, discussing, and preparing a project course for first presentation in 1979, in which students will design and carry out their own project on any topic relating to the subject areas within the Technology Faculty. (Author/LBH)

Describes an evaluative study conducted at the Universitas Terbuka (Indonesia) that examined the role of face-to-face tutorials as an optional supplement to other instructional materials at a distance education institution. Attitudes, characteristics, and roles of the tutors are examined, and student attitudes are briefly discussed. (21…

Describes the distance mode of delivery in higher education practiced at the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). Highlights some of the distinctive features of the system and the main problems identified during interviews with twelve students, eight full-time academic members of staff, and seven managers of OUT. Concludes with suggestions for…

The paper gives a brief overview of the use of digital video in distance education, the background to The Open University's Digital Video Applications (DiVA) Project, the contexts in which the Digital Video Library system is being used and some evaluation findings. Through DiVA, the university is investigating how it can use its video assets…

This article reports the findings of a 3 year research project which investigated disciplinary variation in student writing. Within an Open University course in the history of science, students from an arts background were found to achieve significantly higher grades than those from a science background. Textual and interview data suggest that…