To overcome the barriers that deny part-time adult learners the opportunity for continuing their educations, the University of Mid-America proposes the creation of a nationwide American Open University (AOU). The AOU will be an independent, accredited institution with its own board, faculty, and administration. It will have regional centers across…

This report describes a study conducted by the Audio-Visual Media Research Group of the Open University to investigate student attitudes, over time, to the value of radio as a course component. Results of a January 1979 survey using a questionnaire are reported with tables and analyzed according to (1) whether a student had access to a VHF radio…

After initial hostility and skepticism to Open Universities, the critical response became more favorable. From 1971 onwards there was a tremendous amount of writing about the Open University, not only in British journals and newspapers but also abroad. This bibliography incorporates over 130 entries dealing with the Open University in Great…

This report discusses briefly the concept of open education and its application at the college and university level. Efforts already underway in the United States and abroad are covered in two appendices. Four models of open universities are described in some detail. One model is based on the extension of community college activities. The second…

This study offers a preliminary description of the faculty members at the University of Minnesota who have worked with University Without Walls (UWW) students outside of the conventional classroom setting. The American Council on Education Faculty questionnaire was sent to 141 university faculty members; 53 percent responded. Findings indicated:…

The Open University, founded in 1969, has already become the largest university in Britain in terms of the number of undergraduate students, with an enrollment of 41,000 in 1973. This paper is concerned with three areas of discussion: (1) the number of teachers studying Open University courses; (2) the courses available or planned in science and…

At Britain's Open University all the teaching staff work in teams, one team responsible for each course throughout its life. The author examines and evaluates the effective functioning of these course teams identifying conditions under which such units might be effectively utilized in other settings. (JT)

An evaluation of the student-centered learning program at Great Britain's Open University is presented. (HB)

This examination of international distance education and open university applications of communication satellites at the postsecondary level notes activities in less developed countries (LDCs); presents potential models for cooperation; and describes technical systems for distance education, emphasizing satellite technology and possible problems…

Educational opportunity for growth and self-fulfillment should remain open to people of all ages. In Great Britain there are several higher and adult education systems to encourage and fulfill the talents of youth, adults, and older students, including open learning systems, youth services, flexistudy, open universities, adult education, and…

The underlying philosophy of Everyman's University, Israel's open university, is to maintain educational excellence while providing equal educational opportunity to large segments of the population through free access and a flexible program of distance education. (MSE)

Suggests individual educational technologists have developed a variety of work styles including those characterized as: knowledge expert, executive manager, social-analyst, and specialist. These styles of working, based upon work behaviors of educational technologists at Great Britain's Open University, are compared in terms of practices, focuses,…

Discusses development and use of Open Learning Institute's computerized course development and production systems which solved some of the inherent problems in course writing. A network of microcomputers which facilitates preparation of production-ready manuscripts and course authoring templates constructed from word processing software is…

The cost effectiveness of videocassettes and television broadcasts for the Open University's instructional purposes is examined, and the relative inexpensiveness of videocassette production and distribution is weighed against other issues, including access to equipment, changes in format necessary to take advantage of videocassettes' instructional…