Investigation of students' views attending the postgraduate programme "Studies in Education" about distance individualized learning at the HOU - A case study.

Open and Distance Education constitutes not only a simple teaching method, but also a self-sufficient education system, different from the conventional one. It is not based on 'face to face' knowledge communication, but on the 'individualization' of learning, mainly through the individual study of the educational material provided by the educational institute, in the present case by the HOU. Within this educational framework adult students are far apart from the instructor (tutor-counselor) and the educational institute. Their role is upgraded, as they are involved in an 'individualized learning' process, or otherwise 'self-learning' process, on the basis of which individual/personal diversities, needs, experiences, preferences and expectations are to be satisfied. Learning is experienced as an 'individual matter' presupposing and entailing adulthood enhancement and independence. This paper refers to the investigation of the postgraduate students' views attending the programme "Studies in Education" about distance individualized learning at the HOU. We have investigated six main aspects involved in the implementation of the individualized learning at the HOU: a. educational material, b. interpersonal communication, c. student support, d. instructor's role, e. use of new technologies and f. service provision (registration and library departments). Through the investigation of the students' views, the advantages and disadvantages of the individualized learning at the HOU have been recorded and analysed. Moreover, recommendations have been stated concerning the reinforcement of the advantages and the restriction of difficulties and problems that adult learners have to cope with during their distance individualized studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]