Hello, and welcome! I am so glad you found your way here – whether you are a student navigating the world of distance education for the first time, a seasoned online learner looking for support and community, or an educator designing courses for students you may never meet face to face. This space was created for all of you.
Twenty-Five Years in the Classroom – and Beyond
My journey in education spans more than 25 years, and it has taken me far beyond the walls of any single classroom. I began my career as many educators do – passionate about my subject, eager to connect with students, and full of ideas about how learning should feel. Over the decades, that passion has been shaped, deepened, and sometimes completely transformed by the realities of teaching and learning at a distance.
I have worked as a course developer, building courses from the ground up – writing learning outcomes, structuring content, choosing the right activities and assessments to support learners who are working independently, often across different time zones and life circumstances. I have also worked as a course content expert, bringing subject matter knowledge into collaborative course design processes, helping to ensure that the content is not only accurate but truly learner-centred.
What Is Open Learning? Paced and Non-Paced Courses
One of the most important things I have learned over the years is that not all distance learners are the same – and not all distance courses should be the same either. Open learning is built on a commitment to flexibility and access: the idea that education should fit around people’s lives, not the other way around.
Paced courses follow a set schedule – there are start and end dates, weekly modules, assignment deadlines, and often opportunities for interaction with instructors and fellow students in real time or close to it. These courses suit learners who thrive with structure, who benefit from the rhythm of a shared learning journey, and who want to feel part of a cohort even when studying remotely.
Non-paced courses – sometimes called self-paced or open-entry courses – offer something different entirely. A student can enrol at any point during the year, work through the material at their own speed, and submit work on their own schedule within a broader enrolment window. This model is a lifeline for learners who are balancing work, family, health, or other responsibilities alongside their studies. It is also incredibly demanding to design well.
Why This Blog?
After 25 years, I have a lot to share – and a lot I am still learning. This blog exists to bridge the gap between the experience of being a distance learner and the experience of designing and teaching distance courses. Too often, those two perspectives stay siloed. Students do not always know why courses are designed the way they are. Educators do not always hear what the experience is truly like from the learner’s side.
Here, you will find practical tips for studying at a distance, insights into how open learning courses are built, honest conversations about the challenges of remote education, and resources for educators who want to do their best work for students they may never meet in person. Whether you are just starting out or decades into your own journey, I hope you find something here that helps.
Let’s learn together – across any distance.