The development of external studies programs in higher education, utilizing instructional design technology, is hypothesized to require the interaction of faculty content experts and curriculum specialists in a special type of development process. A model is proposed to include: (1) delineation of individual roles, (2) specification of the…

Developmental testing at the Open University is a type of formative evaluation in which a small sample of students work through learning materials to determine their effectiveness. On the basis of student feedback, the material may be accepted as it stands, modified in part, or totally revised before it is produced in its final form for the…

The success of distance teaching depends largely on students' comprehension and appreciation of print communication. A communication gap exists, and many students are unable to recognize levels of complexity presented to them. Changes in course structure can help alleviate this learning problem. (MSE)

The growth of the Open University has led to attempts to increase the efficiency of the whole operation, such as prepackaging of teaching materials and advanced scheduling and planning of new courses. Effects of such policies on tutor-student links and the immediacy of materials are discussed. (AF)

The development of course materials at the Open Learning Institute, British Columbia, Canada, is examined from two perspectives: as an industrial process and as a social process. The public institute provides distance education through paced home-study courses. The course team model used at the Institute is a system approach. Course development…

Described are the investigatory procedures, research and development, and achievements and conclusions for each of 12 work assignments for the 13-month period from January 1, 1974 through January 31, 1975 relating to the University of Mid-America (UMA). UMA is a regional consortium, comprised of the University of Kansas, Kansas State University,…