Study of the Open, Flexible and Distance Learning (OFDL) Project

Davidson, J.K., Elliot, D. , Garside, L., Brna, P. and Wilkinson, J.E. (2006) Study of the Open, Flexible and Distance Learning (OFDL) Project. Project Report. Scottish Executive Education Department, Edinburgh, UK.

Abstract

This document reports on an evaluative study of the impact and sustainability of the Open Flexible and Distance Learning (OFDL) Project. The evaluation aimed to explore the impact of the OFDL Project on students, teachers and further education (FE) lecturers. The research design employed a mixed methods approach, involving both quantitative and qualitative methods to supplement and enrich the data sources, which were drawn mainly from teaching staff and students in a representative sample of secondary schools and FE colleges in Scotland. The main point to note from this research is that FE colleges appear to be making much more use of the OFDL resources than schools. The FE colleges have provided evidence that they are contextualising the resources to suit the needs of their students and that the way forward is with more blended teaching approaches. The evidence suggests that schools need to be given the opportunity, with encouragement and support from the local councils in conjunction with Learning and Teaching Scotland, to develop some online resources suitable for their own settings.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Project Report)
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brna, Prof Paul and Elliot, Dr Dely
• Authors: Davidson, J.K., Elliot, D., Garside, L., Brna, P., and Wilkinson, J.E.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Education > UGIEC / SCRE; College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change
• Publisher: Scottish Executive Education Department