For fifteen years, Australian Higher Education has engaged with the openness agenda primarily through the lens of open-access research. Open educational practice (OEP), by contrast, has not been explicitly supported by federal government initiatives, funding, or policy. This has led to an environment that is disconnected, with isolated examples of…

The United States faces a period of opportunity for reinvention unlike any other, and the need for dramatic reform extends to higher education. Today, the United States is at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges in meeting expectations and upholding values that have long distinguished the nation. For the benefit of every American,…

Open learning systems require the development of learning materials. Potential economies of scale and quality control advantages argue in favor of the central development of materials packages. Instructors would be free to concentrate upon the provision of tutorial and counseling support and laboratory and workshop hands-on experience. Some method…

These self-instructional resources have their origins in a workshop on the Costs and Financing of Open & Distance Learning which took place from 6-10 August 2007 in Gabarone, Botswana. The workshop was sponsored by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) with the overall aim of building capacity to plan, negotiate and manage appropriate financial…

Examines the operation of the Downtown Open School in Minneapolis, which serves children of parents who work downtown. Describes how the school follows the structure of a Basic School, focusing on effectively connecting classrooms and resources to enrich the curriculum. Details school characteristics, including mixed-grade classrooms, grade-level…

Britain's Open University, a significant departure from the conventional university, is described, contrasted, and compared with its traditional counterparts. This paper examines the economic implications of establishing an open learning system in the United States, while emphasis is placed on the history and structure of the Open University,…

Reviews data on (1) the adequacy and allocation of American educational resources; (2) students' achievement compared to foreign students today and American students in the past; (3) the impact of open versus traditional schools; and (4) public assessment of current education. Indicates recent declines in effort, achievement, attitudes, and…

Discusses student support systems in distance education based on experiences at the Open University (United Kingdom). Topics addressed include distance education versus traditional education; changes in the learning process; management theory; student support as a service industry; course production; resource allocation; and decision-making…

In this book, the authors document experiences that indicate that the open classroom -- the community itself -- constitutes distinct advantages over standard concepts. Using many actual cases, the authors show how students facing the realities of life -- particularly in urban areas -- provide their own and satisfactory answers to problems.…

This paper presents a complex, hybrid, method of cost analysis of online courses, which incorporates data on expenditures; student/course enrollment; departmental consumption/contribution; space utilization/opportunity costs; direct non-personnel costs; computing support; faculty/staff workload; administrative overhead at the department, dean, and…

This document contains 14 papers explaining how 12 further education colleges in the United Kingdom used fellowship funds to maximize their use of current information and learning technologies and make other substantial innovations to improve their flexibility, accessibility, and rates of participation. The following papers are included:…