The papers in this collection were originally developed for use in Further Education Staff College (England) conferences for senior staff in further education establishments. (Further education is similar to American adult education.) The process of curriculum development in further education is viewed as operating at levels associated with the…

This study examines alternatives to direct transmission of television and radio programs for courses with low student enrollment at the Open University. Examined are cut-off points in terms of student numbers at which alternative means of distributing audio or audio-visual materials become more economical than direct television or radio…

Interest in the establishment of external degree programs and programs for off-campus higher education has been accelerated throughout the country by the recognition of the need for new approaches to the extension and improvement of higher education opportunity and for ways of reducing the cost of education to both students and taxpayers. State…

This report examines student and faculty participation, providing statistical data and descriptions, in the University Without Walls (UWW). Emphasis is placed on an overview of the UWW student body, procedures of students admitted to UWW, active students as of June 30, 1972, educational alternatives of former and potential UWW students, faculty…

Describes an experimental correspondence course in Britain's Open University, an upper division biology course in ecology. The course differs from most others in that individual research study projects are substituted for the study center tutorials that supplement correspondence work in most other courses. (JT)

A staff tutor in mathematics in Britain's Open University illustrates three types of communication breakdown due to language factors that occur between the team developing mathematics correspondence courses and their students. He concludes that the traditional teaching language of university mathematics is not entirely suitable in the Open…

Describes the two and one-half year process of developing a genetics course for Britain's Open University. The final package of print, television, radio, home experiments, summer schools and a number of assignments and examinations is a product of the course team of Open University staff, British Broadcasting Corporation production staff, and…

Describes the membership, responsibilities, problems, and group dynamics involved in the team approach to the design and development of courses for Britain's Open University. The team selects content and creates teaching materials using various media (correspondence texts, television and radio programs, summer school, home experiment kits,…

Continuous student assessment in Britain's Open University courses is based on CMAs (computer-marked assignments) and TMAs (tutor-marked assignments). To insure common standards are applied by all tutors, TMAs are monitored by two methods: staff inspection and statistical procedure. Use of the latter for standardizing grading is described fully…

Briefly describes the University Without Walls program at the University of Minnesota, the adult students who are enrolled, and a report on how these students assess some of their experiences in the program. (Author/RK)

A discussion of issues and considerations in planning for the opening of distance education institutions in developing and developed nations draws on the experience of recently established institutions and looks at government involvement, the political process, and the role, composition, schedule, and reports of planning committees. (MSE)

Questions drawn from Britain's Open University's examinations illustrate the cognitive processes fundamental to making meaning from information, an important objective of education. It is concluded that education must encourage and assist students in drawing generalizations, distinguishing the particular from the general, and understanding the…

Although the basic objective of providing some local support services for Britain's Open University students has been met, some feel that the services are not operating optimally, and there is no direct evidence that the services achieve their stated goals, including reducing attrition, enhancing achievement and satisfaction, and giving academic…

The impetus and situation for development of a Polish open university similar to Britain's are outlined and discussed, focusing on Poland's educational system since World War II, the limits to expansion of conventional universities, new educational interests, alternative program models, and administrative organization. (MSE)

Describes a range of computer-assisted applications for the distance education system at the Fernuniversitat in Hagen, Federal Republic of Germany, which include distance teaching organization, counseling, text-processing for study materials, test and assignment scoring, course evaluation, and telecommunication and computer access with videotex.…