Exercise 10. Read the text and fit the sentences below into their proper places.

DISTANCE LEARNING

The defining feature of distance learning is that you do not need to attend the awarding university/institution in person. This allows you to study from home with course materials provided by the institution. (1) Institutions provide special systems of support to help you through the course.

This style of study is not new. The University of London established its External Programme in 1858 to make the degree accessible to students who, for one reason or another, could not come to London to study, and it now offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, to almost 24,500 students in over 157 countries around the world. Many professional bodies were also aware of the conflict that people face between the need to work full time and the need to acquire and keep up to date a professional qualification. (2)

Provision for students unable to attend university increased in 1969 when the Open University was established. (3) It offers its 150.000 students the opportunity of studying for undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications or a range of professional diplomas. Now a growing number of other UK institutions are developing distance learning programmes to offer students the chance of studying without leaving home.

The academic support given to a distance learning student varies from programme to programme and from institution to institution. (4) In its simplest form, students may receive basic academic guidance through specially written study guides and past examination papers and reports. However, many programmes provide an extensive range of materials including videos, computer disks, audio tapes and annotated texts. Some institutions have introduced programmes of study which can be delivered to a student’s home by Internet. Direct tutor support may not always be available, but, if it is, it may be given through seminars given by visiting academics and email/fax responses to assignments returned to the home institution, residential summer schools and/or revision weekends. (5)

The choice of qualifications available to students is wide, from ‘A’ levels to undergraduate diploma and degrees, master’s programmes and PhD by research.

A Since the turn of the century, such bodies have offered their members the opportunity to gain qualifications through correspondence courses.

B However, the focus is on self-study.

C These can be paper-based, on CD-Rom or provided through the Internet.

D Some universities and colleges have local partners who provide on the spot advice and support.

E The OU differs from most other British universities in that it is open to any adult living in the UK/EU irrespective of previous educational qualifications.

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20