Describes the evolution of distance education courses at the University of South Carolina and the results of a study of students who participated in those courses. Highlights include student performance and reactions of both students and faculty to the telecourses. (Author/CLB)

Information on a telecourse program at the University of Kentucky is provided, based on a survey of the user population of the media-based educational program. This population consisted of 88 adult learners and other more nontraditional students. The telecourses were one component of the instructional system, which included printed materials,…

A pilot television series reached some 100,000 Ontario elementary school students with a series on meteorology and ecology. Flexible interactive opportunities (via broadcast, newsletter, phone, mail, personal contact) were utilized; resources not available were provided, while at the same time local options were preserved and encouraged. Use of…

Presents results from a study of the status of distance education in community colleges. Discusses the design, support, and administration of telecourses; staffing and teacher training practices; course offerings; and existing assessment and evaluation studies. Addresses criticisms of distance education and cites research results on its…

Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) enrolls over 6,300 students annually in college-credit telecourses and computer-based courses. At the midpoint of each term, all students who have withdrawn from a distance education course are surveyed regarding their reasons for withdrawing and their perceptions of possible improvements. In winter…

An evaluative questionnaire completed by 30 high school principals and 159 high school students who used the TI-IN Network demonstrated the advantages of interactive satellite television instruction for rural and small schools. The study found that a large number of subscribers to TI-IN were small rural high schools whose principals stated that…

During the fall semester of 1976, a pre-test/post-test study was conducted to compare open circuit television and on-campus instruction for "introduction to business" students. The telecourse consisted of on-campus orientation, newsletters, a study guide, 30 TV programs, telephone assistance, selected activities, and examinations. The sample…

This study of distance learning at Tidewater Community College (TCC) was conducted to determine enrollment patterns, retention, and success in distance learning courses and student perceptions. Distance learning was defined as students enrolled in one of three modes of course delivery: telecourse, online, and compressed video. The time frame for…

The Florida Teletraining Project (FTP) was funded by the Department of Defense to test the feasibility of using a video teletraining network (VTT) (two-way audio/two-way compressed video) to present military instruction to reservists in Florida. The program was to be conducted by two-year community colleges in collaboration with armed forces…

In this working paper and executive summary, focus is on procedures to be used in cost-effectiveness studies of the University of Mid-America/State University of Nebraska (UMA/SUN) delivery system of open learning. Two major questions are addressed: Should cost-effectiveness studies be undertaken, and if so, what kind of studies? The planning…

Through a series of case studies, this report examines the varied connections between selected Ontario schools and the TVOntario programs and services designed to support teaching and learning. The case studies profile nine school districts: Waterville, Countryside, Edgewater, Cliffside, Pleasantville, Rocky, Satellite City, Centretown, and…

The second phase of field testing for an Introductory Psychology course offered in the regional open learning program of the University of Mid-America is reported. Learner characteristics and learner evaluations of the instructional units are compared with findings from the first course offering. Throughout the paper, learner comments are inserted…

The enrollment of learners is significant to the State University of Nebraska (SUN) and the University of Mid-America (UMA). SUN is the pilot state delivery system and UMA is the regional course development, delivery coordination, and research agency; both view current enrollment as an indicator of future response to courses developed by the UMA…

Howard Community College (HCC), in Maryland, surveyed telecourses and Weekend College (WC) students to collect information on their characteristics and satisfaction. Surveys were conducted for each set of students, obtaining a 34% response rate (n=109) among telecourse students and a 47% response rate (n=75) among weekend students. Results of the…

Vista College, a non-campus college which offers classes in a number of community locations, has developed several strategies to meet the needs of student groups not previously served fully by the Peralta Community College District, including worker-students, older adults, the handicapped, and women. A survey was conducted in 1981 to obtain…