Achieving the outcomes of this course will require integration of a range of broad focus areas. While not all of these will be covered in detail, the Supporting Distance Education through Policy Development Course will draw in the following broad subject areas:  

 1. Policy development 

    • Processes of policy development (with a particular focus on national policies);

    • Guidelines about what national policies should seek to cover;

    • Strategies for conducting relevant policy research and understanding policy implementation contexts;

    • Formats for national policy presentation; and

    • Relevant policy development tools.

While this course will focus on the above areas specifically in relation to development of relevant policies for distance education, the subject area itself is generic and could apply to a range of policy development processes. Thus, all of the subject areas below will incorporate specific focus on the relevance of subject matter to policy development.

 2. An introduction to open learning and distance education 

Key concepts (open learning, distance education, open and distance learning, etc).

The relationship between open learning and distance education.

Rationale behind using distance education methods.

Positioning distance education within a national education system.

 3. Designing distance education programmes and courses 

Needs assessment

Curriculum development processes.

Target audience.

Learning outcomes.

Content areas.

Teaching and learning strategies.

Learner support.

Financial planning.

Interactive materials.

Assessment and feedback.

 4. Learner support systems 

Strategies for supporting learners.

Learner support and administration.

Drawing on existing resources to support learners.

Learner support and national coordination.

 5. Use of media and technology 

Differentiating between media and technologies.

Educational characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of different media and technologies.

Factors influencing choices of media and technologies (including national infrastructure policies).

Applying the most appropriate media and technologies to support learning outcomes.

Using media and technologies to support educational delivery, interaction, and learner support.

 6. Planning and managing distance education 

The policy environment.

Structures for distance education provision (including differences between single-mode, dual-mode, and mixed-mode institutions).

Establishing credibility of distance education.

Managing distance education systems and programmes.

Understanding institutional requirements for effective learner support.

Staffing and finances.

Professional development of staff.

Setting and maintaining standards and professional ethics.

Issues of copyright.

Research and evaluation.

The concept of quality assurance.

Constructing and maintaining quality assurance policies and processes.

Collaboration and partnerships.