Reflections on student support in open and distance learning

This is a very interesting moment to reflect on Student Support in Open and Distance Learning (ODL). After some 10 years of the radical intrusion of a range of technologies, principally those grouped around what has been broadly termed ICT, we have the chance to see if and how the world of ODL has qualitatively changed. To begin with a historical perspective on the European context, as is well known correspondence education is said to have begun in England in 1844 with Isaac Pitman's shorthand course delivered by correspondence, using the new postal system, enabled in its turn by the rail system that was beginning to make travel and communication across England quicker than ever before (Shrestha, 1997). The crucial dimension of Pitman's system was that he corrected students' work and sent it back to them. Thus although separated from the teacher, students received feedback, together we can at least imagine with encouragement from their tutor

Open Universities: the next phase

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to report on research on the views of Presidents and Vice Chancellors of Open Universities of current threats and opportunities for their institutions as the author approaches the 50th anniversary of the first Open University in the UK in 1969. The paper offers a historical account of the development of the Open University model, and assesses the extent to which it remains in the key position as owner of innovation in the higher education sector. Design/methodology/approach - Interviews were conducted with leaders of Open Universities or distance teaching universities. They covered a total of 14 universities. Findings - The replies from institutional leaders reveal the current developments, opportunities and strategic challenges of the universities. It is suggested that the digital revolution along with a wider range of environmental changes for higher education have substantially eroded the first-mover advantage that Open Universities had undoubtedly enjoyed in the first 25 years. Originality/value - The paper concludes that there are significant concerns that innovation in Open Universities is not sufficiently embedded to ensure that their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals will be maximised, or even in some cases their survival, and that a key but undervalued element is leadership development for innovation and change

Reply to Engelhardt, Thomas; Wolf, Andy, regarding their comment ‘Surveys and all – the role of pediatric anesthetic societies’

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115909/1/pan12779.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/115909/2/pan12779_am.pd

Response to: comments on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and anesthesia

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79269/1/j.1460-9592.2010.03392.x.pd

Survey research: it's just a few questions, right?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111977/1/pan12680.pd