Report of the Expert Group on Commonwealth Co-operation in Distance Education and Open Learning that proposes the creation of a University of the Commonwealth for co-operation in distance education, itself working closely with, and forging an effective partnership between, a wide variety of institutions through the Commonwealth. The Group shows not only how technologies could be harnessed on a Commonwealth-wide basis, but how teaching materials could be pooled and shared to become a Commonwealth-wide resource, freeing individual learners throughout the Commonwealth from the constraints of distance and the need to study at a present place or time.

The challenge of managing education effectively is formidable. Written by two education managers, this text explores the issues associated with good leadership in educational and training institutions. It is based on their own work and on a series of detailed interviews with eminent leaders.

As new digital forms of formal and informal learning proliferate, there is an increasing need to better understand how people in different regions of the world are implementing massive open online courses (MOOCs) and other forms of open educational resources (OERs). Educators, researchers, politicians, and numerous other stakeholders want to grasp what the outcomes of these initiatives are and how they can be improved. Ongoing e-learning developments related to both technology and pedagogy have pushed institutions and organizations to grapple with issues of accreditation, credentialing, quality standards, innovative assessment, and learner motivation and attrition, among other areas of concern. In response, MOOCs and Open Education Around the World explores and illuminates unique implementations of MOOCs and open education across regions and nations. The book also focuses on the various opportunities as well as the dilemmas presented in this rapidly evolving age of technology-enabled learning. What are the different delivery formats, interaction possibilities, assessment schemes, and business models? What are the key controversies or issues that must be discussed and addressed? This edited collection explains MOOCs and open education trends and issues in a variety of contexts, shares key research findings, and provides practical suggestions and recommendations for the near future.

This well-organized book emphasizes the various aspects of science education, viz. the use of computers in science education, software programs, the Internet, e-Learning, multimedia, concept mapping, and action research. It introduces students to the latest trends in the methods of teaching. The book also strives to foster science education through non-formal approaches, such as distance education with special reference to commonwealth of learning model, or academic games. What distinguishes this text is its emphasis on making the teachers understand that learning students’ psychology is the prerequisite for the success of any education programme. Keeping this view in mind, the text explains the well-known theories of learning of Piaget, Ausubel, Bruner and Gagne—which are closely related to science teaching. Primarily intended as a text for the undergraduate students (degree and diploma) of Education (B.Ed. and D.Ed.), this could serve as a source book for in-service teachers and science educators. In addition, curriculum developers and policy makers working in the field of science education having an abiding faith in moulding youngsters to face the challenges of 21st century should find this book useful and stimulating. KEY FEATURES : Lays emphasis on inculcating values or the development of scientific temper in students. Cites a number of examples related to teaching methods from both urban and rural areas to illustrate the concepts discussed in the text.

Asa Briggs has been a prominent figure in post-war cultural life - as a pioneering historian, a far-sighted educational reformer, and a sensitive chronicler of the way in which broadcasting and communication more generally have shaped modern society. He has also been a devoted servant of the public good, involved in many inquiries, boards and trusts. Yet few accounts of public life in Britain since the Second World War include a discussion or appreciation of his influential role. This collection of essays provides the first critical assessment of Asa Briggs' career, using fresh research and new perspectives to analyse his contribution and impact on scholarship, the expansion of higher education at home and overseas, and his support and leadership for the arts and media more generally. The online bibliography of Asa Briggs' publications which accompanies the book is available on the The Institute of Historical Research website here.

As inter-institutional collaboration has become a key policy issue in distance and higher education, strategic alliances for course development, teaching and credit transfer have become a central feature of institutional culture and policy-making. Distance educators are leading higher education around the world in overcoming the many problems involved in collaboration to forge exciting new institutional links with significant benefits for students and institutions. Through Canadian, Australian, American and Malaysian case studies, this ground-breaking book identifies and analyses the key factors enhancing and inhibiting collaboration. The high incidence of failed collaborative ventures indicates that the dynamics and strategies for success are poorly understood. This book seeks to redress that lack of understanding, and to assist in future policy-making, in distance education and throughout the higher education field. The authors conclude that a culture of `collaborative individualism' is emerging which is playing a significant part in the profound changes occurring in the nature and practice of higher education. The authors are internationally well-known and highly regarded distance educators, with first-hand knowledge of the difficulties and benefits of collaborative ventures.

Shridath "Sonny" Ramphal looks back at the fifteen years he spent as the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. He shares glimpses of conflicts, discussions, and characters such as Uganda's tyrant, Idi Amin, and the enlightened spirits of others like Germany's Willy Brandt and Nelson Mandela — all of whom Ramphal encountered in his global life.

Economic growth and the creation of wealth have cut global poverty rates, yet vulnerability, inequality, exclusion and violence have escalated within and across societies throughout the world. Unsustainable patterns of economic production and consumption promote global warming, environmental degradation and an upsurge in natural disasters. Moreover, while we have strengthened international human rights frameworks over the past several decades, implementing and protecting these norms remains a challenge.These changes signal the emergence of a new global context for learning that has vital implications for education. Rethinking the purpose of education and the organization of learning has never been more urgent. This book is inspired by a humanistic vision of education and development, based on respect for life and human dignity, equal rights, social justice, cultural diversity, international solidarity and shared responsibility for a sustainable future. It proposes that we consider education and knowledge as global common goods, in order to reconcile the purpose and organization of education as a collective societal endeavour in a complex world.

Distance education is arguably one of the major developments in education during the 20th Century. This title explores the array of distance education theories and practices as they have been shaped by the late-20th Century and then positions these in terms of the contemporary circumstances of the 21st Century.