Providing home computing facilities for students learning at a distance

One of the major challenges facing distance education in the 1990s is the continuing growth of information technology. There are two overlapping groups of students who need access to information technology: those who use information technology as a tool to learn unrelated subjects, and those who are studying the area of information technology itself. In 1988, the Open University implemented a home computing policy to increase students' access to computers, and under this policy students use microcomputers in their homes as part of their university study. In 1990 there were 13,500 students taking courses which had a home computing element.

Two objectives in introducing the use of home computing in any course are: firstly, the need to ensure that students with varying amounts of computer experience (including novices) can learn to use the system quickly and efficiently; and, secondly, that the computer-based materials provided can be used successfully and smoothly by the student studying alone. In order to meet these objectives we conducted a three-year evaluation of the introduction of the policy, and conduct formative, iterative evaluations of courses as they are being developed. This paper draws on the findings of these evaluations to consider the first three years of the home computing policy. In particular it assesses the benefits and problems from the students' point of view, and also the implications for course designers and educational technologists of providing access to information technology in this way, and carrying out the necessary ongoing evaluations.