A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning

Colin Tattersall; Wim Waterink; Pierre Höppener; Rob Koper

doi:10.1080/01587910600940463

A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning

Colin Tattersall^*, Wim Waterink, Pierre Höppener, Rob Koper

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Open and distance learning (ODL) gives learners control of the time, place, and pace of learning, often being characterized as flexible learning. However, this flexibility goes hand‐in‐hand with procrastination and non‐completion. As a result, the efficiency of the educational process is of importance to ODL providers, government funding agencies, and learners themselves. Despite its importance, measuring efficiency in ODL is problematic. This article presents a case study in measuring educational efficiency using a method which reflects the special characteristics of ODL. The article concludes with a discussion of the wider applicability of the measurement method in the context of lifelong learning.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	391-404
Number of pages	14
Journal	Distance Education
Volume	27
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/01587910600940463
Publication status	Published - 2006

Keywords

Educational Efficiency
Lifelong Learning
Learning Pathways
Learning Providers
Measurement
Open and Distance Learning

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10.1080/01587910600940463

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title = "A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning",

abstract = "Open and distance learning (ODL) gives learners control of the time, place, and pace of learning, often being characterized as flexible learning. However, this flexibility goes hand‐in‐hand with procrastination and non‐completion. As a result, the efficiency of the educational process is of importance to ODL providers, government funding agencies, and learners themselves. Despite its importance, measuring efficiency in ODL is problematic. This article presents a case study in measuring educational efficiency using a method which reflects the special characteristics of ODL. The article concludes with a discussion of the wider applicability of the measurement method in the context of lifelong learning.",

keywords = "Educational Efficiency, Lifelong Learning, Learning Pathways, Learning Providers, Measurement, Open and Distance Learning",

author = "Colin Tattersall and Wim Waterink and Pierre H{\"o}ppener and Rob Koper",

note = "DS_Description: Tattersall, C., Waterink, W., H{\"o}ppener, P., & Koper, R. (2006). A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning. Distance Education, 27(3), 391-404.",

year = "2006",

doi = "10.1080/01587910600940463",

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journal = "Distance Education",

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T1 - A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning

AU - Tattersall, Colin

AU - Waterink, Wim

AU - Höppener, Pierre

AU - Koper, Rob

N1 - DS_Description: Tattersall, C., Waterink, W., Höppener, P., & Koper, R. (2006). A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning. Distance Education, 27(3), 391-404.

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

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AB - Open and distance learning (ODL) gives learners control of the time, place, and pace of learning, often being characterized as flexible learning. However, this flexibility goes hand‐in‐hand with procrastination and non‐completion. As a result, the efficiency of the educational process is of importance to ODL providers, government funding agencies, and learners themselves. Despite its importance, measuring efficiency in ODL is problematic. This article presents a case study in measuring educational efficiency using a method which reflects the special characteristics of ODL. The article concludes with a discussion of the wider applicability of the measurement method in the context of lifelong learning.

KW - Educational Efficiency

KW - Lifelong Learning

KW - Learning Pathways

KW - Learning Providers

KW - Measurement

KW - Open and Distance Learning

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DO - 10.1080/01587910600940463

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VL - 27

SP - 391

EP - 404

JO - Distance Education

JF - Distance Education

IS - 3

ER -

A Case Study in the Measurement of Educational Efficiency in Open and Distance Learning

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Keywords

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