1. E-Learning and Distance
Learning in the UK
Able 2nd Meeting
Adana, December 2011

2. Snapshot of the UK Higher Education sector
• There are over 300 institutions in the UCAS scheme
including universities, colleges of higher education and
further education colleges that offer HE courses. [Ucas 2011]
• Undergraduate students attending on-campus courses will study
for at least three years to obtain their bachelors degree.
• An institute can only call itself a
university in the UK after being
instituted by Royal Charter
(basically this is an official
recognition by the State). Only
universities can award a degree
(whether it be bachelor, master or
other). [study2u.com]

3. Non University distance learning aspects
• Government Supported distance learning –
focussed on helping people with core skills:
– Maths
– English
– Computers and IT
– Job Seeking Skills
– Life Skills
– Business and Job Specific Skills
• They also „sell‟ on-line courses to businesses and
feature both face to face and distance learning..
A Recent JISC study into online learning , delivered by the technology
assisted lifelong learning centre (TALL) at the University of
Oxford, identified more than 2,600 courses already being delivered online in
the UK, and worldwide the area is seen as having huge potential for growth.
There may be many more, a true number is hard to get
hold of, but some organisation exist, like the “The British
Institute for Learning & Development” to badge courses of
quality…

4. The history of e-learning, distance learning, open education in
the UK and How it developed…
• The Open University was the world's first successful
distance teaching university, founded on the belief that
communications technology could bring high quality
degree-level learning to people who had not had the
opportunity to attend traditional campus universities..
– 1960’s - Conception
– 1970’s - Realisation and Acceptance
– 1980s – Expansion and Introduction of Technology
– 1990’s - Changing Audience
– 2000s - Innovation in Teaching Methods
The Open University still produces programs with
the BBC – on televsion and Radio, that fits in with
educational aspects of courses..

5. VLEs’s Blackboard and Moodle
VLE take up Some Universities
have a combination
of both e.g.
University wide
Blackboard Blackboard and
Other Department, or
course specific
Moodle. Other have
a custom built VLE.
Following a £5 million
investment in 2005, The Open
University, UK is the second- Most Blackboard
largest Moodle deployment by users are using
version 9.1 of
user-base, with 714,310 users Blackboard…
and 6,093 courses.

6. Which universities use distance learning, e-learning in
addition to face to face (traditional) learning in the UK ?
Most UK
Universities have
some provision for
distance learning or
e-learning..…
These Universities
are either part of
RDI or have taken
part in Government
studies in e-
learning

7. Handicaps to e-education
The major issue
facing e-
education in the
UK is a disparity
between city and
rural broadband
speeds –
especially an
issue with Skype
or large media
files
This also affects
mobile
signal, which is
poor in rural
areas…

8. What are the efforts to promote e-learning in
the UK?
• In March 2005, the Higher Education Funding council for
England (HEFCE) developed a 10-year strategy to integrate
e-learning into higher education
• There is funding for projects in the field of e-learning
available from „JISC‟
– JISC inspires UK colleges and universities in the
innovative use of digital technologies, helping to
maintain the UK's position as a global leader in
education.
• There are frequent news reports on the rise of distance &
e-learning in the national press and educational
supplement – especially in light of recent university fee
raises in the UK

9. How prevalent is online learning in the UK?
• Study of UK Online Learning [3] October 2010 identified
over 2,600 HE level online and distance learning courses
offered by, or on behalf of, UK HE and FE institutions. These
included:
– 1,528 courses offered by 113 HE and FE institutions; of which
510 were identified as being delivered online (including
blended learning);
– 952 courses offered by the Open University; of which 600
were dependent on the web and a further 95 were delivered
fully online;
– 175 courses offered in partnership with commercial partners.
– Plus the % of UK educational establishments which provide
distance learning to UK businesses as a bespoke package

10. Some Pros & Cons of online learning
Positive Elements Negative Aspects
• E-learning can fit around • It can be hard for students to
jobs, family and commitments find the time to dedicate fully
to courses with other
• In most cases there will be a distractions
large financial saving for the
student, course fees and • It can be very isolating to the
relocation fees etc. student, especially if there
isn't a well thought out
• There can be the freedom to community aspect to the
only learn the required, or course
vital aspects of a course or
qualification – topping up • Tutors may not have the
skills or furthering work support or training necessary
to help e-learners