WEEK 7. Distance learning. The Open University.

A discussion of The Open University.

The Open University is the most widely known distance learning institution in the UK. Courses can be studied from anywhere in the world assuming resources can still be accessed and there are no previous qualifications necessary for enrolment.
While this may be regarded as a positive, what I think is a negative that must be considered which I have talked about here; http://kayrodge.blogspot.com/2009/03/week-7-distance-learning-chinas-tvus.html Is the idea that such ease of enrolment to university may eventually render degrees worthless, or a lot less valuable than previously. Certainly a degree was once a sure way to find one’s way into work and lower entry requirements now mean a degree, or even a 1st class degree, may not always be enough.
In addition, many employers do not just look at the degree or class of degree gained but also the institution the degree has come from. With a hierarchy of universities, The Open University is arguably at the bottom of this hierarchy.
In the lecture notes, Evan points out some positives of distance learning, but in my opinion these are all true of F2F synchronous learning in a seminar environment.
Positively, ‘information wants to be free’ and OU is certainly aiding this, making gaining a degree cheaper, and more accessible. However, if the qualifications from the OU aren’t widely recognised and also serve to lessen the importance of other degrees then these positives don’t seem particularly strong.

http://www.open.ac.uk/