With the rapid growth in the development and use of information technology, open and distance learning (ODL) is becoming an increasingly popular method of study, especially for those adults who are unwilling or too busy to attend a college or university. ODL includes any learning provision in which a significant part of the learning is managed by the learner and ranges from online learning to traditional correspondence courses.

However, ODL is not an easy option – to complete the course successfully an extra set of skills is required. These include the ability to learn as an individual without face-to-face contact; the need to build and maintain motivation without the support of other students; the ability to meet deadlines without constant reminders from tutors. ODL students must learn how to use a variety of self-instructional media and print materials, and they need to be organised and self-disciplined. This chapter provides advice on how to become an effective open and distance learner.

UNDERSTANDING AND USING INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY

To succeed on your ODL course you need to understand the technology you will be required to use. This may include television, videos, computers, CD-ROM, modems and the internet, e-mail, video-conferencing, electronic discussion forums and fax machines. Before you begin the course you will need to consider the following points:

• What equipment will you need to use? Will you have to purchase any new equipment? Can you afford to do so? Will you be able to set up the equipment yourself, and if not, who will do it for you and how much will it cost?
• What skills do you already possess? How do these match the course requirements? Are there any specific pieces of equipment with which you are unfamiliar? How do you intend to rectify this gap in your knowledge?
• Do you know anyone who can help install the equipment and train you in its use?
• Do you need to set any ground rules for other members of your family using the equipment? How will you ensure that videos will not be taped over or floppy disks wiped clean?
• What will you do if your equipment breaks down?

Chapter 10 provides advice on making the most of information technology. If you are new to computers it might be useful to enrol on a computing course before you begin your ODL course. This will help you to concentrate on your studies rather than waste time trying to sort out technological problems. Some ODL centres will provide their own IT induction courses which will prepare you for further study.

When you work on your own you can spend hours trying to solve a technological problem, when all you need is to be told how to do it by someone who knows. You might not be able to do this on ODL courses, so try to become familiar with the technology before you begin your studies. The following tips should help you to use information technology more effectively:

• Consult the course literature and/or website as they should provide detailed guidelines about using the equipment required for the course. Some will run IT modules or induction courses.
• Check whether the college provides free technical referral and assistance.
• Make friends with somebody experienced in IT.
• Develop an online study group. You can use this group to gain support with your studies, but also to seek advice on technological problems.
• Practice using the equipment when you have plenty of time and are not constrained by deadlines.
• Remember the help button on your computer.
• The internet is a great source of information and advice for technological problems.

• Don’t be embarrassed to ask your children for help – most will be proud to be of assistance.
• Keep all manuals carefully filed for easy reference.
• Remember to use any free IT support services that were offered when you purchased your equipment.

LEARNING AS AN INDIVIDUAL

Although tutorial support is available when required, most of the work you do as a distance learner will be carried out on your own, in your own time. This means that you have to be disciplined if you are to complete your studies successfully. In addition to working well independently, you will need to have the confidence to tackle complex concepts, ideas and arguments with little tutor input. Also, you will need to be able to understand, and follow, written instructions.

Some ODL courses will provide a timetable by which the various tasks should be completed. If a timetable is provided in this way, make sure that you adhere to it and complete all the tasks on time. If a timetable is not provided, you will need to produce your own. On a wall calendar note in red any important deadline and examination dates – if you are setting your own dates, make sure that you do not put yourself under any unnecessary pressure (see Chapter 3).

Once you have a visual representation of all the important dates and deadlines, you need to think about how much work you have to do to meet these deadlines. At the start of your course you may not know this because you don’t yet know how easily or how quickly you can complete each module. For the first couple of weeks take note of how long tasks take. This will give you an idea of how much work you will need to complete each week to meet your deadlines. You can then produce a weekly timetable of tasks (see Chapter 2). Complete tasks early – don’t leave things until the last minute as most tasks are much harder when you are working under pressure.

Many ODL courses provide self–assessment tests after each topic or class. Make sure that you complete these tests – they will act as a guide to how well you have understood the information. Don’t be tempted to miss out the tests because you feel you do not have the time. If you find a test very hard, try it several times so that you understand what you are learning.

REMAINING MOTIVATED

Chapter 2 provides advice on building and improving motivation. For distance learning this is especially important. If you are to complete your course you have to keep your motivation levels high. In addition to the advice provided in Chapter 2, there are extra things that you can do to improve your levels of motivation:

• Choose a course and learning package in which you have a high level of interest.
• Poorly designed course materials can influence your levels of motivation. Check these before you start the course to make sure that they are well–designed and well–presented. Poor use of colour can be a de–motivator. However, if used properly colour can be a powerful tool to convey information – colour should be consistent, simple and clear. There should be plenty of ‘white space’ in the materials and they should look well–structured and uncluttered, with plenty of headings and sub–headings.
• Think about why you have chosen to study your course by distance learning. What are the main advantages? Pin this list in a prominent place and refer to it if you ever find yourself becoming frustrated with the method and technique of distance learning.
• Motivation levels can be influenced by problems of access to information and support. This includes access to libraries, student advisers, financial aid and technical support. Most ODL centres know that if they are to retain students they need to provide high levels of support. However, the onus is on you, as the student, to access this support. Make sure that you read the course literature carefully to find out what is available, and if in doubt, ask. Your tutor will be able to provide advice and guidance on what is available.
• Feelings of isolation influence motivation levels. Make sure that you participate in the course as much as possible – contact your tutor on a regular basis and contact other students whenever possible.
• Lack of feedback can influence motivation levels – if you feel you are receiving inadequate feedback, speak to your tutor.
• Low self-confidence can be a de-motivator. If you find yourself questioning your own ability to succeed, speak to your tutor.

OBTAINING BOOKS AND JOURNALS

Many ODL students study at a considerable distance from their college. If this is the case, you need to think about how you are going to access all the books and journals required to complete your work.

Many ODL centres have developed a postal loan service. Through this service books and photocopies of journals can be requested via the online catalogue and posted to your nominated address. Loan periods are often extended to include the time taken to post materials. However, many libraries will charge for this service and you will have to pay for return postage. If you use this service it is recommended that you use recorded delivery or obtain a certificate of posting when returning materials to guard against lost items.

The UK Libraries Plus scheme enables part–time, distance learning, full time postgraduate and placement students to borrow from the libraries of other higher education institutions. You can register to use up to three member institutions and can apply for borrower rights and reference access. For more information, including a list of members libraries and registration details see www.uklibrariesplus.ac.uk. To use host libraries you will need to present your identity card and the UK Libraries Plus registration form or membership card.

At the present time you will not have computer access at member libraries. However, a pilot scheme has been launched to test the possibility of opening up access to computers for distance learners. The project is called UK Computing Plus and further details about this pilot study can also be obtained from the UK Libraries Plus website.

TIPS FOR SUCCEEDING AT DISTANCE LEARNING

Tutors and students on a variety of ODL courses were asked what they considered to be the most important pieces of advice to give students who wanted to succeed on their course. The tutor tips are as follows:

• 1)Make sure that you understand how the course is designed. Many courses offer a quiz or a questionnaire that you can complete before you enrol. This will enable you to find out whether the course meets your needs and is suited to your individual learning style.
• 2)Make sure that you have the minimum technical requirements for the course. Some ODL centres will provide you with a list of IT skills needed, or will ask you to complete a self–evaluation questionnaire prior to enrolment. If you don’t have the right skills, enrol on a course to acquire them before you start your ODL course. As a tutor it can be quite frustrating to receive a barrage of questions about technology, rather than questions about the course content.
• 3)Read the course material and syllabus carefully so that you know exactly what the course is about and what is required.
• 4)Generate a strategy for successfully completing the course and stick to it. Set yourself targets to include the amount of time taken to complete a task, the quantity of work to be done in a week, progress through modules and progress through assignments.

• 5)If you are unsure about how to write an assignment, ask your tutor to supply you with a copy of a good assignment. Most tutors have plenty to choose from.
• 6)If you are struggling with something, move onto something new. Make a note of your problems and speak to your tutor or other students. Don’t stop working just because one topic is holding you up.
• 7)You will receive a lot of course material. Don’t try learning it all – some topics will need you only to understand the issues. Try to distinguish between what has to be learned and what should be understood.
• 8)Make contributions and share your ideas with tutors and other students.
• 9)Check your e–mail and post regularly and don’t get behind with your work.
• 10)Apply what you have learned. Even better, try to practice what you have learned – you will find it easier to retain the information.
• 11)Organise your time effectively – many ODL courses provide advice and guidance on time management (see Chapter 3).
• 12)Find a suitable place to study.
• 13)Go over a piece of work until you thoroughly understand it.
• 14)Speak to your tutor if you have any problems. Tutors are there to help and will do everything they can to get you through your course.

The box below lists the student tips on succeeding at distance learning.

UTILISING TUTOR FEEDBACK

To be a successful ODL student you need to use tutor feedback effectively. On many courses you will not meet your tutor face-to-face, but instead will receive written feedback, either through the post or via e–mail. When you receive this type of written feedback you cannot tell in what context it has been written – whether the tutor was happy or annoyed, pleased or dismayed with your work. It is easy to take comments out of context and read much more into them than was ever intended by the tutor. This is especially true with tutors who have a brief, ‘straight–to–the point’ style.

When you receive feedback try to keep your emotions away from what you are reading. Take the comments for what they are – constructive advice about what you have done well, what has not been done so well and what can be improved upon. Try not to take any criticism personally, but instead relate it to your work and future assignments.

Sometimes, however, you may find that you are unsure about what is being said. If this is the case, contact your tutor and ask for clarification. Think about how you word your correspondence and try not to be confrontational or accusing – remember that your tutor will not know how you were feeling when you communicated. Remember also that it is useful for tutors to receive feedback on the usefulness and clarity of their feedback! More advice on dealing with tutor feedback is offered in Chapter 17.