Review

Open to some debate

Open Learning in Nursing, Health & Welfare Education
Kate Robinson & Pam Shakespeare
Open University Press, 1995, £14.99

This is a timely publication which attempts to address some of the problems of providing open learning packages to diverse groups of learners. The authors are concerned that those providing packages may fail to address some of these issues fully. In recent years there has been a proliferation of institutions offering opportunities for further or higher education which are open to all and flexible in approach. This has generated considerable interest from students who have undertaken the many different degree level programmes and courses, such as conversion from Enrolled Nurse to Registered General Nurse.

It is interesting that in the race to attract students, the OU has forged links with centres experienced in providing open learning within institutions and has brought its own particular expertise in teaching ‘at a distance’ to the process of creating a new dimension in education.

Chapter three is by far the most interesting, challenging some assumptions about open learning which could usefully be applied to teaching adults generally. Not all learners have positive experiences of learning situations which they can draw on. The authors show how teachers can make use of reflective practice for the benefit of students and the professional development of teachers.

The authors have excellent credentials and much experience in providing open and distance learning opportunities, but they have missed their target audience of experienced teachers. The text will mainly be of interest to inexperienced or student teachers. Some of the advice on selection of materials is very basic and the authors instruct prospective teachers on how to conduct themselves with students including ‘identifying the person’ ie, recognising the students.

This book tries to provide a well-referenced text for those involved in new forms of teaching while also being a basic ‘how to’ guide. But the overall impression is slightly patronising and results in a missed opportunity to shape the future of open learning.