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)

The provision of a professional development programme for distance tutors can be problematic because of the need for flexibility to cater for a variety of working practices, or to overcome the hurdles imposed by geographical remoteness. At the UK Open University, online networks are widely in use for teaching and learning, and we are actively…

This paper reports an investigation of the impact of students cognitive style on their effective use of educational text-based computer-mediated conferences. The research centres on an empirical study involving students from three courses run by the British Open University. Statistical analysis of the data does not suggest that cognitive style has…

This paper presents an exploratory study that investigates the effects of online learning on distance education students in an open university context. Two hypotheses are posited: (1) a direct relationship exists between students involvement in online learning and distance learning outcomes, and (2) an indirect relationship exists between these…

The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of learning among adult learners in a Web-based learning environment over the study period of one year in the Open University in Tampere and Lohja in Finland. The learning environment varied from face-to-face small group sessions to Web-based online discussion sessions. During this study contextual…

Terry Anderson is a professor and Canada Research chair in Distance Education at Athabasca University, Canada's Open University, where he teaches in the Masters of Distance Education program. In this article, Anderson begins his response to "A Review of E-Learning in Canada" by commenting that he believes Philip Abrami and his colleagues…