Five publications are currently available in a developing series of handbooks for practitioners in open and distance learning (ODL). The series covers the key roles and functions of ODL systems from the practitioner perspective. The purpose is to give practitioners advice and guidance about their tasks, functions and roles, and to enable practitioners to reflect on the critical issues they face. In this way, the series aims to model good ODL study materials and to provide key study materials for ODL training. In developing this series, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) seeks to address the needs of ODL for accessible and practical training materials for professional development. Each handbook can be read in a number of ways - as an informative text; as part of the materials for a workshop or short training programme; or as part of an extended training and study programme requiring learners to undertake a practical project.
Instructional Design Template
(published in 2006)
COL has developed a template for instructional design that helps content developers to convert their subject matter expertise into learning materials. It helps authors incorporate ODL instructional design techniques into their learning texts. Created in just over a year and tested in many countries and institutions with feedback from many instructional designers, this template is truly a collaborative effort. COL hopes that anyone who may feel discouraged from developing ODL learning materials will now feel empowered to begin to do so.
ODL Document Template (MSWord DOT format)
User Guide (PDF)
Quick Reference Sheet (PDF)
Creating learning materials for open and distance learning:
a handbook for authors & instructional designers
(published in 2005)
Full Handbook in Acrobat/PDF Version (6MB, warning if on slow connection)
Full Handbook in Acrobat/PDF Version (3MB, smaller with poor image quality)
Introduction
Unit 1: WHAT IS INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN...?
Unit 2: ADAPT OR CREATE?
Unit 3: PLANNING AN ODL COURSE
Unit 4: PLANNING AND WRITING A UNIT OF LEARNING
Unit 5: WRITING FOR THE WEB
Unit 6: PLANNING ASSESSMENT
Unit 7: STUDY GUIDES
Unit 8: LANGUAGE, WRITING STYLE AND LAYOUT
Unit 9: DRAFTING AND TESTING
Unit 10: QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEMS
References
(June 2004)
provides an introduction to costing in open and distance learning (ODL). It is designed for people setting up new ODL programmes and for people wishing to improve the quality of the management of existing programme. "Costing ODL" includes fully functioning spreadsheets but it is not a costing tool.
(published in 2004)
Introduction
Unit 1: THE TARGET GROUP AND THEIR NEEDS
Unit 2: STRATEGIC ODL PLANNING
Unit 3: STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLANNING IN ODL
Unit 4: DEVELOPING AND ACQUIRING MATERIALS
Unit 5: TUTORING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS
Unit 6: RECRUITING AND ENROLLING STUDENTS
Unit 7: ASSESSING STUDENTS
Unit 8: MANAGING AND ADMINISTERING THE SYSTEM
Unit 9: EVALUATION
Bibliography
(published in 2004)
Introduction
Unit 1: THE PLACE OF TUTORING IN ODL
Unit 2: CORE ODL TUTORING SKILLS
Unit 3: THE SUSTAINING ROLE OF TUTORS
Unit 4: ASSESSMENT IN ODL
Unit 5: PLANNING AND FACILITATING GROUP LEARNING
Unit 6: SUPPORTING TUTORS
Appendix A: SAMPLE STUDY PLANS
Appendix B: NOTES FOR FACILITATORS
Bibliography
