05. Conference Proceedings & Working Papers

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Open Access
4d Technologies: Can ICT Make a Real Difference in Achieving the Goal of Universal Primary Education?
(2004-07) Leach, Jenny; Moon, Bob
PCF3 // Working paper presented by Jenny Leach and Bob Moon at the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF3) in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Open Access
A Business Led Approach to Open Learning
(1999-03) Horsfield, Tony
PCF1 // A business-led approach // There is a trend throughout the world for organizations to invest predominately in development that will support their business goals and change. Organizations are also increasingly expecting individual members of their workforce to manage their own learning and commit a great proportion of their free time to company-led learning initiatives. Open Learning is seen by many organizations as on ideal vehicle for developing their people, so long as the development results in a competent work force and an improvement in business performance. //
Open Access
A commonwealth 'Credit Bank'
(1999-03) Pollard, Derek; Sykes, Stephen; Young, Lynda
PCF1 // In March 1995 the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL) commissioned the UK Open University to explore the establishment of a Commonwealth 'credit bank'. The final report was published in February 1997, Adam et al (1997). // Two main functions were envisaged: // · The establishment of Commonwealth-wide credit equivalencies for distance learning courses; // · The provision of a central agency through which the credit could be accumulated and applied to credentials. // The study drew on earlier work by the CoL which identified the advantages of developing credit transfer arrangements between Commonwealth distance education programmes. // Recent pedagogic developments have resulted in universities worldwide exploring ways of crediting students' previous learning, facilitating student mobility, encouraging the recognition of qualifications for academic and vocational purposes and collaborating in the production of course materials. Technological developments, particularly the rapid increase in the availability of the internet, have opened up new possibilities and potential demand for the transfer of learning credit. // In view of this and changed economic circumstances we have revised our original proposals. This paper seeks to make discuss those proposals, and to provide a background to the discussion of case studies. //
Open Access
A Learncasting Exchange: Using a Mobile-Enabled Electronic Market to Enhance Regional Education and Economic Development
(2006-10) Vassell, Clive
PCF4 // This paper will introduce an online ‘learncasting exchange' and discuss how it might help to enhance the education of young people and the economic development of a region. // The paper will start with a background discussion covering a number of diverse areas of relevance to using technology to improve prospects for education and regional development. The topics to be covered include: // Economic development // The mobile phone and mobile commerce // Approaches to learning // Electronic markets // Blended learning // Open source software and // Object technology // The paper will then summarise these disparate ideas to distil the key guidelines encapsulated in this writing. It will then use these principles to guide the planning and implementation of an open source application designed to offer some concrete assistance in facilitating the kind of educational and economic development sought by the leaders of the Caribbean and elsewhere. // The paper will finish by outlining the kind of future research and development which might prove useful in this area, and discussing the potential implications of the key deliverables. // Paper ID 298
Open Access
A Recipe for a Good Blend
(2002-07) Alford, Michael
PCF2 // Working paper presented by Michael Alford at the Second Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF2) in Durban, South Africa. //
Open Access
Access to Higher Education, Language and Academic Literacy
(2008-09) Cannell, Pete; Hewitt, Lindsay
PCF5 Sub-theme: Governance and social justice // The Open University in Scotland’s Learning Development Team’s remit includes educational development and working to widen access to higher education. This paper reports on work in progress with refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants in Scotland. Over the last two years, the team has worked in partnership with other educational institutions and with agencies supporting refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants. Practical outcomes of this work include a guidance pack and website and the development of a self-diagnostic resource for individuals whose first language isn’t English. The paper outlines the evolution of this activity and highlights some of the issues that have arisen. These are discussed in the context of a selective review of the literature on the creation of transnational identities. The review focuses on work, education and the importance of language skills. Based on reflection on experience and insights from the literature it is argued that a better understanding of the interaction between the development of language skills and academic literacy is important for supporting adult migrants into the education system in the ‘host’ country. // Paper ID 213
Open Access
Active Learning and Open Learning (Case Study)
(1999-03) Greene, Judith
PCF1 // Working paper presented by Judith Greene at the First Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF1) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. //
Open Access
Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood through DE
(2006-10) Kulatunga, Gamini
PCF4 // The Open University with the assistance of Operation Days Work of Norway has launched in 2005, a certificate programme on Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. This is a follow up programme of the Rural Communication Project that was completed in 2004, undertaken by the Rural Research Unit (RRU) of OUSL and COL, which identified technologies that are of immediate relevance to the rural poor. The ability of the rural people to adapt technologies to suit their needs was demonstrated. RRU decided to embark on a programme for the rural youth using a combination of distance learning methods and learning by doing. Norwegian Operation Day’s Work approved the concept of taking technology to underserved distant regions to empower youth to seek livelihoods in their own situation instead of migrating to the urban areas. The Open University began the programme, operating five rural study centres in remote locations catering to 90 students, supported by five animators. The programme is conducted in Sinhala and Tamil using printed material supported by work done using local resources. The main activities chosen by the students address rural food needs and value addition to agricultural produce. On completion of the students’ projects, in March 2006, the students will be awarded a certificate in Agriculture for Sustainable Livelihood. Plans are afoot to expand the programme to two more centres from this year. In the coming years emphasis will be paid to meeting energy needs, as it has been identified as a crucial constraint that hampers rural development. // Paper ID 35
Open Access
Am I good Enough? The Mediated use of Open Educational Resources to Empower Learners in Excluded Communities
(2008-09) Lane, Andy
PCF5 Sub-theme: Governance and social justice // This paper explores the issues involved in providing education to excluded communities and reviews some case studies where the mediated use of open educational resources available from the UK Open University’s OpenLearn website has empowered socially excluded groups. It argues that the successful use of e-learning in the long term is dependent on appropriate interventions within excluded groups and communities, and that open educational resources provide a safer option for them to gain confidence and competence and so become more empowered. // Paper ID 405
Metadata only
Asa Briggs Lecture: Educational Resilience in Times of Division
(2022-09-14) Blackman, Tim
Asa Briggs Lecture presented by Professor Tim Blackman, Vice-Chancellor, The Open University, at the Tenth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF10), in Calgary, Canada on 14 September 2022.
Open Access
Asa Briggs Lecture: New Technologies: New Possibilities for Reaching the Unreached
(2008-07-15) Gourley, Brenda
Asa Briggs Lecture presented by Professor Brenda Gourley, Vice-Chancellor, Open University in UK, at the Fifth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning, 15 July 2008, London, United Kingdom.
Open Access
Beyond Allowing the Disadvantaged in: Biographical Perspectives of Online Higher Education Alumni with Migratory Backgrounds
(2022-09) Xarles-Jubany, Gemma; Lee, Kyungmee
PCF10 Sub-theme: Promoting Equity and Inclusion // Since the United Nations made a call in 2016 to facilitate online education for migrants worldwide, the number of online initiatives targeting this profile of students has been growing. The rapid growth in course offerings and students' enrolment has mistakenly been considered evidence for the increased accessibility of university education. However, improving access to higher education is a complex and multidimensional social issue beyond allowing the disadvantaged in universities. Thus, our research aims to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the accessibility of online higher education rooted in an actual online HE practice, going beyond the point of entrance. This article focuses on the biographical narratives of three alumni from the Open University of Catalonia, each with migratory backgrounds from a different continent of origin and previous university experience, illustrating the journey of obtaining an online bachelor's degree. A set of influencing factors has been identified, based on which the accessibility of online education has been reconceptualised. Additionally, we suggest strategies to better support this profile of students in the context of online universities. // Paper ID 6357
Open Access
Blended Learning: An Appropriate Strategy for the Future Development of an Established International Distance Learning Course
(2004-07) Copping, Alexander G; Mellett, Peter
PCF3 // This paper outlines the experiences of the MSc Construction Management [CMDL] programme team at the University of Bath, UK in devising an effective strategy for the future development of an established distance learning programme. The term ‘blended learning’ in our case represents the combining of IT-based (Web and CDROM) delivery and problem-based learning [PBL] strategies with an existing paperbased programme of study. // The paper starts by outlining the pedagogical reasons for adopting a blended learning approach and then evaluates the driving forces external to the pure pedagogical aspects that have influenced the developmental ideas. Particular focus in the paper is also given to a discussion on how the courses two emerging markets (Southern Africa and China) are going to be accommodated by the blended learning approach. // The paper presents a case study which should be of interest to others running distance learning courses. It acts as an illustration of how distance learning courses need to change and adapt in a rapidly evolving global education market.
Open Access
Broadcasting, Skills Development and Good Governance: Encouraging Online Learning Communities in Media Organisations
(2008) Thomas, David
PCF5: Cross-Cutting Theme // This short presentation aims to share with you the experience of trying to deliver media skills training around the Commonwealth using distance learning techniques. We’ll look at some of the drivers for this kind of approach, and some of the shortcomings. // Some of the problems we’ve had to overcome have ranged from the technical (which sometimes seems ironic for media organisations), to the cultural. We’ve also found some linguistic challenges. For example, when is it alright to use the phrase “Hit me up” on a message board posting? I’ll return to that shortly. // Since 2005 we’ve been mainly developing training courses for staff in national broadcasting organisations; the kind of broadcasters who were modelled on the BBC’s concept of public service broadcasting. // But like the BBC, these organisations have had to change out of all recognition in the past few years. The challenges of online media, technical developments such as the introduction of digital editing (rather than using tape and editing with scissors), the introduction of staff performance monitoring – these have all had a profound effect on the skills needed by the broadcasters and their managers. Commercial pressures bring other challenges for hardpressed production offices. // The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, with whom I’ve worked most over the last three years, has many member stations who you would recognise as traditional public service radio and TV broadcasters. But grafted onto those activities we now have the new media of web services delivered by computer or mobile device. // One of the most surprising things is how some of these new ways of interacting with one another are quite familiar to many trainees in their private lives, but seem to cause big headaches for the organisations they work for. // Paper ID 421
Open Access
Building Public Health Capacity using Open Educational Resources
(2008-09) Heller, Richard F; Dada, John; Oaiya, Omo; Rossiter, James R
PCF5 Sub-theme: Health // Working paper presented by Richard F Heller, John Dada, Omo Oaiya and James R Rossiter at the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF5) in London, United Kingdom. // Paper ID 270
Open Access
Copyright Issues in the Production and Development of Open and Distance Learning Materials in the United Kingdom
(1999-03) McCracken, Richard
PCF1 // Working paper presented by Richard McCracken at the First Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF1) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. //
Open Access
Delivering Distance Education for Modern Government: The F4Gov Programme at the University of Chester
(2006-10) Talbot, John
PCF4 // The Foundation for Government (F4Gov) programme developed for the British Civil Service is an innovative low cost accredited programme of distance learning using a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment designed to improve individual and hence organisational performance. It is flexible in terms of design and delivery and enables individuals and organisations to devise learning which meets their needs. The emphasis upon theory and practice is designed to reflective practice as well as embed deeper learning associated with higher education. The content of the programme is designed to equip participants with the skills necessary to deliver modern government. // The University of Chester is anxious to talk with partner institutions who are interested in adapting the programme for their own needs. // Paper ID 48
Open Access
Developing a Certificate Course in Computing for Delivery via the Internet in the United Kingdom
(1999-03) Darby, Jonathan
PCF1 // Working paper presented by Jonathan Darby at the First Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF1) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. //
Open Access
Developing Citizens: BBC News for Children and Young People around the World
(2008) Shreeve, Helen; Crompton, Virginia
Workshop Session: The BBC has developed complementary strategies to enable young people and children in the UK and around the world to develop as Global Citizens through the News. In a 90 minute participatory workshop we will explore the following projects: Access to the News; Engagement with the News; News Generation; News Dialogue. // Paper ID 432
Open Access
Developing Content with Developing Countries
(2008-09) Mason, Robin; Rennie, Frank
PCF5 Sub-theme: Livelihoods // We have been successful in obtaining a grant from the European Union Asia-Link Programme to work with four Asian Universities on the capacity development of their staff in the area of the design and support of distributed learning resources. A key instrument in this capacitybuilding training is the collaborative development of course content using Open Content and Open Source applications. The four countries are: the Maldives, Cambodia, Bhutan and Nepal, and all four of the universities in the partnership have distributed campuses. The three European partners in the project are all universities that are heavily involved in distance teaching: the British Open University (the lead partner), the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute (UHI) and Anadolu University in Turkey. The seven partner universities practice different forms and levels of distance or distributed education, and are at very different stages in the evolution of their design, delivery, and student support mechanisms. UHI is distributed in the sense that it is composed of fifteen academic partners – colleges and research centres spread over a very wide geographical area of northern Scotland. Various combinations of technologies are used to deliver courses to students so that they do not need to re-locate in order to access higher education. Furthermore, staff can provide tuition to learners beyond the confines of the ‘home’ campus. The British Open University can be called distributed in the sense that it too uses technology to deliver courses to students spread over the whole UK and beyond. Online and face-to-face tutorials are held to support students in their study of either print-based or web-based course materials. Anadolu is the largest distance teaching university in Turkey with over 1 million 200 undergraduates! // Paper ID 187