Some send out traditional material by post, some provide on-line material. Some courses are accredited, some are not. It emerged yesterday in the workshop that many people involved in distance learning did not know of other programmes in existence, and there was a lack of awareness about what is available at the moment, implying a need to make existing resources more widely known. There was a suggestion that a database should be generated to provide information on distance learning courses that are available. Accreditation is a problem because it is a difficult and slow process to get through accreditation institutions.
Some courses are regionally-based and have a tutor backup support system.