What is distance learning? It means that you study on your own, at home or wh

What is distance learning? It means that you study on your own, at home or wherever suit you. Recently the world-famous open university in the United Kingdom has designed a new style of distance learning which is called "supported open learning". The phrase "open learning" means you study in your own time. You read course material, work on course activities and write assignments. The word "supported" means you have help from a tutor, the student service staff at regional centers and centralized areas such as the university’s library. You can also contact other students through tutorials and informal study groups, the university’s on-line conferencing system and events and clubs organized by the student’s union. Most distance learning courses use printed paper materials. They also include some interactive materials such as a CD, DVD or video. Many courses have a website and an online computer conference. You’ll need access to a computer with Internet to make use of these. The open university can help its students buy a computer and pay for the cost of accessing the Internet.
   With most distance learning courses, no previous qualifications are required to study. Of course, you have to be aged 18 when your course starts, but there is no upper age limit. Currently the open university has around 150,000 undergraduate and more than 30,000 postgraduate students, of which 10,000 have disabilities. Nearly all students are studying part-time, about 70 percent of undergraduate students are in full-time employment. More than 50,000 students are sponsored by their employers for their studies. Most distance learning courses are available throughout Europe. Some of them are even available in other parts of the world. With over 25,000 of its students living outside the UK, the open university is the only international institution that offers distance learning throughout the world.