The “Virtual University”

Abstract

Universities make the assumption that providing distance education is a simple process of translating from one medium to the next: the current popular medium being the Internet. However, the danger in this approach is two fold. First, if the components of distance education are ill understood then an inappropriate pedagogy and strategy may result. Second, a lack of understanding of the properties of the Internet as a medium may cause unrealistic and unrealisable expectations. Thus the inappropriate strategy is matched to an unreliable medium expectation and the distance education programme is unlikely to provide the desired educational environment for the student. This paper highlights the need to understand the components of distance education and the properties of the Internet before embarking upon a distance education programme via the Internet: the Virtual University. The paper summarises some of the experiences of the Open University in this field and reports on areas needing further research such as tutoring (problem-solving sessions) and electronic learning/teaching materials (development).