Globalization, education and open distance learning / edited by P. R. Ramanujam

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. Open distance learning in India: a brief history -- 3. Open distance learning in the Anglophone Caribbean -- 4. Open distance learning in Africa -- 5. Open distance learning, development and the commonwealth -- 6. Higher education through E-learning global challenges -- 7. Visions of learner autonomy -- 8. Quality assurance in ODL: from cottage industry into the main stream -- 9. Learning from, in and with technology -- 10. Internet browsing through community radio -- 11. The Will to learn: tutor's role -- 12. A successful ODL accounting course -- 13. Technology, pedagogy, and quality in open distance learning.

It has taken about two years for me to put the 13 pieces as chapters, including the introduction to this volume. My contribution to the book as such is confined to the Introduction, Chapter 2 and Chapter 13. The remaining 10 chapters are from others. Notes on the contributors would show the eminence, and the stature of the contributors. Inevitably my editing was minimum. Therefore, I can claim at the best, to have collected others' contributions and assembled them in a particular order. While assembling these chapters, I had these concerns in view - Open Distance Learning (ODL) in the developing countries, the emerging technology scenario in the context of ODL and globalisation, and quality which is a major challenge in the developing world. I hope, the chapters included in this selection would reflect some of the key aspects of the ODL of the present times. The Americas have not been included in the selection, because it needs a separate volume to talk about the experiences of the North and the South Americas.