Open and Distance Learning Methodologies in Higher Education

The Spanish National Distance Education University (UNED) Model is presented in which traditional distance courses are complemented by CiberUNED services. The methodology used from the teacher’s point of view is analysed and an overview of the strategies that has been emphasized using virtual courses are presented. The Avicenna Virtual Campus Research Eumedis Project is presented. 1.Introduction Distance Teaching Guidelines has been influenced by permanent educational and technological research and development activity. The evolution learning interfaces and usability research reflects the helpful interaction of educational and technological experts in open and distance learning course production. The new paradigm of the Web Design in Educational Contexts has been integrated in the Blended Learning Model in which traditional distance teaching has an important role for the success of learning process. From a Pedagogical side Templates to prepared learning modules has been developed to help teachers during the interactive online course design. 2.Open and Distance Learning Guidelines Distance Education is immerse in the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Society. After a period in which Computer Based Training was considered as the solution for continuing training in enterprises; nowadays the called blended learning approach has been demonstrating the adequacy for self-learning students. One of the specificities in Distance Education is interactivity that takes place in either synchronous or asynchronous time. ANDERSON (2003:133) presents six types of interaction: Student/Content, Student/Teacher, Student/Student, Teacher/Content, Teacher/Teacher, Content/Content (Figure 1). 1