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Virtual Conference on Best Practices for Open and Distance Learning

10 June 2004

Dave Wilson
"Best practice itself is multi-faceted and should be understood at different levels..."
The third in a series of four e-mail-based virtual conferences began on 1 June 2004 on the topic 'Best Practice' and how it relates to open and distance learning (ODL). The conferences, organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), are being held in May and June 2004 prior to the Third Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF3) on Open Learning, which will be held in Dunedin, New Zealand, from 4 to 8 July 2004.

The theme for PCF3 is 'Building Learning Communities for Our Millennium: Reaching Wider Audiences through Innovative Approaches'. Sub-themes for discussion during the conference include education, health and local government. 

COL Communications Manager Dave Wilson said, "Best practice itself is multi-faceted and should be understood at different levels, ranging from broad principles to specific practices. One of the goals for this discussion is to gather descriptions of particularly effective practices so that they can be discussed and analysed for general themes that might reveal best practice guidelines."

The virtual conference is both for Forum participants and those who are unable to attend in person. ODL is an accessible and effective education mode used throughout the world to teach a vast array of subjects. Each 10-day-long discussion is open to the public free of charge.

'Emerging Issues' is the topic of the next and final pre-PCF3 discussions, scheduled for later in June. The just-concluded conference on 'Research and Development' was as active and lively as the first one on 'Latest Developments'.

COL is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. For more information on how to join the final last module of the series on the topic 'Emerging Issues', visit www.col.org/virtualconferences/.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 187      9 June 2004

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