The purpose of this paper is to share insights gained from the discovery, design, and delivery phases of creating a three-tiered model of non-academic learning support in open, distance, and flexible learning (ODFL): "Learner Engagement and Success Services (LESS)", at Open Polytechnic | Te Pukenga, New Zealand. Presented as a case…

Universitas Terbuka is a public university in Indonesia that implements an open-distance education system. The quality and success of higher education in Indonesia are indicated by the gross enrolment rate (GER). Modelling student retention is one indicator of the value of the GER. The chances of distance learners' retention in a certain period…

This qualitative survey studies the perceptions of adult students enrolled in a teacher training programme in Greece. It examines synchronous distance education, the Microsoft Teams platform, and the prospect of strengthening and establishing this type of education after the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey used the semi-structured interview as a…

The OER Universitas (OERu) is a consortium of more than 30 higher education institutions on five continents. It was founded in 2011 to provide learners everywhere with learning opportunities and pathways to official recognition or credit. The OERu maintains a very economical base with very low expenses. It supports a sustainable learning…

Online learning has risen in popularity among learners, educators, and university administrators over the last 3 decades. However, one of the biggest challenges for educators is adapting to best practices, pedagogies, tools, and technologies when delivering instruction in this environment. Because learners have choices when enrolling in a…

Faculty members' soft skills are vital for developing students' knowledge, understanding, values, and skills. How teachers integrate soft skills with the subject matter influences how their students acquire the skills they need in their academic life and beyond. Soft skills are a key factor for students' success--not just in their academic work,…

The closure of primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid shift to remote learning, placing more responsibility for learning on parents and guardians. This study sought to explore parents' experience while engaging in their children's remote learning during that period. The study is particularly timely in light of a dramatic…

This study uses a statistical survey over three consecutive years to show how the first-year students of a mid-sized Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) secondary international school perceive the impact of using their own iPad on their learning. The students' perceptions how awareness of the usefulness and challenges associated with using their iPads in…

This opinion piece seeks to define and contextualise educational terms that are used, and appear to be misused, in contemporary academic literature and practice. It aims to explore the concept that these three words, "open," "flexible," and "distance," fall into the categories of policy, mode of learning, and models…

The researchers of this case study explored English language learner (ELL) parents' experience as they supported their children's English language development in an online (virtual) kindergarten programme. One-on-one semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Then the researchers used thematic analysis to describe the participants'…

Engaging and motivating learners to successfully complete their studies are crucial elements for the success of distance educators around the world. The researchers' AIM newsletter, which is formatted in accordance with motivational learning theory, has been delivered to first-year learners in economics at Open Polytechnic of New Zealand from 2010…

The "distance" in "distance learning", however it is defined, normally refers to a gap between a learner and their teacher(s), typically in a formal context. In this paper I take a slightly different view. The paper begins with an argument that teaching is fundamentally a technological process. It is, though, a vastly complex,…

With the increased adoption of online learning (even greater as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic), online asynchronous discussions have become a mainstay of many online learning platforms. As teachers struggle to communicate and connect with students due to the forced transition online, we can better appreciate the differences between traditional…

The study explored the psychosocial experience of distance learners at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife. Psychosocial experience refers to the aggregate outcome of events and feelings that define or affect a person's knowledge and perception of their prevailing social environment.…

In open, flexible, and distance learning, asynchronous online discussion persists as a popular means of interaction and collaboration. The research literature abounds with consideration of instructor roles and expectations of teachers and tools. Student-to-student interaction is widely acknowledged as a salient benefit of asynchronous online…