Place is material, conceptual and symbolic. Physically, the Library at Townsville College of Advanced Education was central, visible and distinctive. Internally, it provided a dramatically different environment from other college buildings. It functioned as the (metaphorical) "hub" of the external studies programme and, when the college…

A weekend residency was held at Empire State College entitled, "Knowledge for What?--The Social Uses of Knowledge." Participants were Empire State College students from all areas of study. The total learning experience included the weekend residency and contract work based on the weekend. The report covers only the activities of the…

The author, a non-nurse on a school of nursing faculty, became a student in the Regents' External Degree Program in Nursing of the State University of New York. She reflects personal feelings concerning her motivations, experiences, competencies, and commitment. (EA)

A 1987 evaluation of the Brisbane College of Advanced Education's external studies operations was conducted using a survey instrument sent to a sample of 397 external students, not including dropouts or those who have temporarily withdrawn. The survey was designed to collect information about the college's external students, their pattern of use…

A course in the management and administration of British public education systems offered through the British Open University included radio dramatizations which were accompanied by broadcast notes and a correspondence text. Radio 15, "Caught in the Net," was designed to dramatize a simple decision model involving human interaction.…

A study of external degree program students' participation in and attitudes toward their programs used Cross's Chain-of-Response model to examine future goal orientation, anticipated educational benefits, attitudes toward prior learning, program barriers, and program supports. Important variables are discussed. (MSE)

After a full year of operation, many questions have been asked about Empire State College (ESC) concerning the type of students who seek such an institution and how these students handle the major responsibility of planning and carrying out their studies. A group of 10 graduates were selected from the 30 graduated in fall 1972 for lengthy…

Describes a study of on-campus and external university students' perceptions of factors influencing external studies. Students identified family, job, and life circumstances as major influences; self-reliance and finances as advantages; limited library access as a disadvantage; and a preference for on-campus study or a combination of both.…

Student perceptions, observations, and evaluations concerning formal and informal instruction, other academic concerns, and related socialization dimensions of a first-time-functioning external doctoral program are examined. The unidentified institution's program sequence and faculty background are briefly described. (Author/MLW)

The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of graduates of an off-campus agriculture degree program. Additionally, selected teaching variables and attitudes related to agricultural courses delivered by videotape are described. Objectives were as follows: (1) describe selected variables related by graduates of an off-campus professional…

The four papers in this collection focus on distance education and open education. In the first paper, "The Open Learning Institute," D. W. Roberts cites the original recommendation that Charles Sturt University establish a new division to be known as the Open Learning Institute, and presents a definition of the concept. In the second…

Problems associated with determining attrition rates and causes of attrition in the Regents External Degree Program of the University of the State of New York were studied. Students were defined as having dropped out of the program if they had not paid their annual records fee (registration fee). Data are provided to compare attrition figures to…

A study in which British open university students were asked how they came to be studying the social sciences foundation course is reported. The students' approaches to learning are analyzed and their orientations (vocational, academic, personal, and social) are compared to those of students in a conventional university. (MSE)

The purpose of this study was to develop a data base of expectations and perceptions held by students and faculty in the Far Eastern Division of Los Angeles Community College Overseas (LACC], which provides educational programs for military personnel in Korea. The study was further intended to replicate an earlier study of student/faculty…

A course in instrumentation offered through the British Open University included a television program which introduced and illustrated Fourier analysis and transducer response. The television component was evaluated using questionnaires, telephone interviews, and group discussions. The program was successful in that it demonstrated complicated…