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Print Learning

The oldest distance learning establishments were entirely dependent on print material for learning. Such institutions were often called correspondence schools. They have a long history I will not reproduce.

As indicated, the Open University in the U.K. is still primarily print dependent. But the available print material is a far cry from that provided in most early correspondence schools. It is produced by a long and elegant process, and almost always produced directly for the course involved. Little existing print material is used in Open University courses, rather for each course new print material is created for the course by the development team.

The Open University does not depend entirely on print material. Generally distance learning involves a variety of learning media, although one might dominate. But 90% of all distance learning institutions use some text.

Text is not interactive, so this is a weak strategy today. But is often used partially because it is familiar to many.