Week 7- Task Three

I decided to look at the University of London, distance learning website for this task.
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/study_ep/index.shtml

The university of London, external system has been offering wide range of distance learning since 1858. When reading the study experience, it explains that you must be self motivated and enjoy working independently which I think highlights that fact that you will not be interacting in a social experience but rather learning on your own.

Study Materials include:
Study guides and handbooks – specially written by University of London academics and designed to guide you through your studies.
Textbooks
Past examination papers and Examiners’ reports.
CD-ROMs which may include information resources or interactive exercises.
Online resources – including access to online libraries, study materials and databases

The UoL is not just limited to England it is a major institution in Africa,Asia, Carribean, Europe and South America etc with over 40,000 students worldwide. It allows people to study at their own pace while also having a job and travelling around. There is an online library with access to to a full-list text database, journals etc. It also allows students to take exams online. The UoL also features 'Online Learning Enviroment'. The OLE provides access to online support and collaboration between students and academics. It helps to deal with the issues of distance learning including features such as:

• Student-student and student-tutor discussion boards
• Contact with programme administration staff
• Secure assignment submission and retrieval
• Internal messaging
• Links to external resources including the Online library
• Access to online study materials and study guides
• Audio and video resources
• Assessment activities
• Student and staff profiles
• Student community areas

Overall from looking at UoL external system, there are valuable points to distance learning it allows people who may not be able to attend university a chance to study for a degree and fufil aspirations. It also allows students to continue with jobs as well as studying. It is also important that this distance learning is available to other countries, as this increases the accessibility of studying towards higher education.