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Makale Özeti:
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This study draws on the experience of a cohort of 22 students from 09 tutorial centers
enrolled in a Master of Education (M Ed) distance learning program administered by the
Bangladesh Open University (BOU). It's purpose is to locate the aims and philosophies of
distance learning within the experiences of actual distance learners in order to see if
learners' needs were being met by the program and to obtain a fuller understanding of
core aspects of distance education.
The study found that students were, on the whole, satisfied with the course materials,
the choice of modules, assignment feedback, and length of time given to complete the
assignments, but significant problems surfaced regarding issues of student support, and
access to and provision of resource materials. Arguably, these are issues intrinsic to the
successful provision of distance learning courses, and the results both concord with
aspects of the research literature (Burge & Howard, 1990; Chen, 1997; Hyland, 2001;
Morgan, 1995; Robinson, 1995; Simpson, 2000; Tait, 2000) and raise some interesting
questions regarding the provision of distance education and its ability to meet the needs
of learners.
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