Describes design and production of the award-winning software used to control Great Britain's Open University Materials Science videodisc, the Teddy Bear Disc, which is used to teach undergraduate students about materials engineering. The disc is designed for use in one-week sessions, which students attend in July or August. (MBR)

This profile of an open university library system in Pakistan covers its primary objective; functional organization; library collection and collection development; staffing, budgets and expenditures; library services (users, technical, reference); departmental libraries (on-campus branch, regional); and the library building. A list of 16 library…

An examination of the need for academic advising and tutoring for upper division students of the Open University in Scotland reveals a gap between institutional recommendations and the actual use and perception of the services. Clearer guidance is recommended for tutor-counselors, and questions are posed about service needs for further…

The situation of the part-time tutor at the Open University is examined by a staff member. Consideration is given to the sense of isolation, the part-timer's general role in the university and limitations enforced by that role, and the contribution part-timers could make to course maintenance and planning. (LBH)

An article taken from a state-of-the-art paper given at the UNESCO/UNDP International Workshop on Environmental Education at Belgrade in October 1975. Topics include the media as environmental educators, environmental action, university-related courses, problems and opportunities, and recommendations for action. (JT)

Using British research related to the Open University's Postgraduate Certificate in Education (OU PGCE), a preservice teacher education program, this paper considers how open and distance learning (ODL) programs are evolving quality assurance systems and procedures across a range of elements, including student teacher assessment. The paper…

Studies the use of audiovisual media (radio, television, and audio-cassettes) in a technology course at the Open University in Great Britain. Results show that each type of media lends itself to a particular teaching function in distance education. (Author/JJD)

A three-year project to adapt existing Open University parenting course materials for a wider range of family and community settings is described. Experience using the materials with informal groups of mothers, and with individuals within the groups, are discussed. (MSE)

Examines the cost structure and future system costs of Venezuela's Universidad Nacional Abierta, compares them with the costs of other distance universities, and discusses the cost implications of media choice, size of program, and number of students. The usefulness of cost analysis and projection for decision making is also discussed. (EAO)

A form used in Britain's Open University for teachers to criticize team-developed courses has been improved to allow for more constructive comments, more two-way communication, and continual course improvement. (MSE)

A Consultancy Service was established by the Open University to deal with foreign requests for advice on the creation and development of distance learning systems. The approach to training courses is described along with examples of courses under development. (LBH)

Describes the planning of the Al-Quds Open University (Jordan) and the problems accompanying the plan's implementation. Discusses the rationale behind choosing of educational media and planning and designing courses. Addresses the need to collaborate with conventional educational institutions to provide higher education for the maximum number of…

Describes a study of eight universities in England that investigated the size and characteristics of their part-time degree programs. Highlights include government policy; cost; competition between universities; admissions policies; completion rate and drop-out rate; instructional design, including modularity; continuing education; and program…

Describes the design of a prototypical computer-mediated communication (CMC) system at the Open University of the Netherlands called StudieNet which focuses on a single mathematics course. The concept of the integrated study environment used in StudieNet is explained, StudieNet functions are compared with the nonautomated course, and how the…

Begins with a tribute to Professor G. Ram Reddy (founder of Indira Gandhi National Open University), then focuses on enhancing the role of open universities in providing borderless distance education. Highlights include the need for open distance-education; philosophy and vision; the distance teaching system; the role of information technology;…