Through necessity or choice, those engaged in open and distance learning have always been independent learners. If the concept of time as well as geography is added to the concept of "distant" we have all the ingredients for the newer concept of lifelong learning.

Open all Hours

The beginning of a year (and of this year in particular) seems a good time to look more closely at the open part of open learning and see how it is becoming ever more a part of mainstream activity. The technological revolution in which we find ourselves is likely to give a significant boost to all learners, making them independent in ways that didn't seem possible a few years ago.

It seems to me, both from observation and from personal experience, that, for all its faults, the Internet is a great "democratiser" - whether in working, political, social or learning contexts. I do not have to wait for information to be made available to me - with a few web addresses and some search engines I can decide what, when and how I can access information. My access to this information is not restricted by my physical location or condition or (once the cost of PC and phone line have been included) by cost. If I don't like the material I am given, or need something simpler or more detailed, I can take the initiative and create my own learning sources.

The City & Guilds Group comprises:
• City & Guilds
• Pitman Qualifications
• City & Guilds International
• NEBS Management
• City & Guilds Scotland
• City & Guilds N Ireland & Ireland
• City & Guilds Wales