Table of Contents

Part I: Creating a university of the air
1. The challenge of The Open University
2. Opening a castle of the air

Part II:The first two decades
3. Growth and acceptance: c. 1969–89
4. Sensemaking and sociability: The first two decades of learning

Part III: The Open University since the 1990s
5. Convergence and divergence
6. Pedagogies promoting participation

Part IV: Half a century of learning
7. Open to people

Select bibliography
Index

About the Author

Daniel Weinbren is a Fellow in History at the Open University

Reviews

The principal strength of this account lies in the intimate way in which we are presented with not only the institution but the people to whom it meant so much. Stories and anecdotes from staff, students, media personal and government combine to give a sense of how the institution later became known as something of a national treasure. The fact that it is in essence an insider account offers a unique perspective of the ways in which this ‘machine’-like structure with its mechanistic forms of production and delivery developed the capacity to offer students a uniquely personal learning experience.
*.*