A System of Coordinated Open Learning:

Over the last two decades, more than ever, there has appeared a confusing plethora of terms, in attempts to describe forms of higher education that do not subscribe to the widely accepted norms of conventional campus-based higher education. We believe that there are traits of uniqueness in the form of Open Education adopted by the AOU. As we describe the main components that build the AOU system of Open Education, it becomes evident that virtual learning, distance education, and distributed education, in particular, comprise only components of the AOU adopted system of Open Education. The Open Education system adopted by the AOU aims at the creation of a coordinated open learning process. The main components that erect this process include the following:

1. The Student Learning Pack:

This pack contains the main reading material that has been prepared especially for independent study. In addition, the pack contains numerous other items that may vary slightly depending on the particular course requirements. It may contain further reading material in the form of set books, supporting notes, or study guides. In addition, the pack contains a number of audio visual (AV) aids in the form of audio cassettes, video tapes, and online-enabling CDs. Some packs may also contain particular software application packages, enabled on particular CDs. All packs contain a course calendar that serves as gauging milestones to the progression of study of course material and contents. Copies of Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) comprise another constituent of the Student Pack. Hence, this pack is considered a corner stone amongst components of the learning process of open education.

2. Tutorial Sessions:

Tutorial sessions are designed to provide a forum of interaction between the tutors and students on one hand, and the students themselves, on the other. Tutorial sessions are held, on average, for one hour a week for course carrying the weight of three credit hours. They are run by qualified and well-trained tutors. In principle, the sessions are supposed to be run as discussion forums treading on the main topics covered in accordance with set course calendars. Tutors are instructed to utilize these sessions in innovative ways that help students learn the material more efficiently and more effectively. They are not intended to serve as straight classroom lecturing forums. Attendance of scheduled tutorial sessions is viewed to be mandatory by the AOU.

3. Teleconferencing:

The aim of providing students with a teleconferencing facility is twofold. It provides a means of communication, at a distance, between students and tutors. It also provides a means of communication amongst student groups, in the hope that it helps to promote a community of learners.

4. Office Hours: 

Tutors are required to maintain announced weekly office hours. They are intended to provide a more informal environment of tutoring. Some Tutors may choose to expand the notion of face-to-face contact to utilizing Teleconferencing facilities as alternative means of providing contact and communication with their students.

5. Computer and Multimedia Laboratories:

Acquiring proper computer and Internet skills is a main requirement for all AOU students. As a technology-driven institution, the AOU equips each of its Learning Centers with computer and multimedia lab facilities. The facilities are made available to students over long hours each day.

6. Courses Online:

Some of the courses have mandatory online components as part of the course study. Other courses have websites that serve as a supporting aid to facilitating the learning process. The AOU intends to adopt an effective e-Learning platform which would host the offering of online components for all courses.

7. Lectures via Satellite Links:

Through a project of cooperation with UNESCO, the University has installed satellite links with certain Branches as a first phase of building a fully dedicated satellite network that would connect the Headquarters and all Branches, serving as well as a videoconferencing facility. Supporting the transmission of lectures and seminars constitutes a major objective of erecting this network.

8. Residential Schools:

Some courses may require a more focused and intensive contact over certain portions of course offering. Such a requirement may be met by invoking the concept of a  Residential School. In essence, students attend classes at a Learning Center for intensive, short periods as required by the course concerned.