Page 62 - Universitas Terbuka Center of Excellence In Asia 2010 and The World 2020 (A Journey Towards a Leading Open and Distance Education Institution 1984-2008)

approach is still used even though only for course materials for graduate

programs. The development of course materials for diploma and undergraduate
programs use Writer-Editor approach.

Development of Content Format of Printed
Course Materials

UT printed course materials contain learning materials that shou ld be
studied by students in accordance with learning purposes set in the course

outline (GBPP). The course material is known as complete self-learning or self
contain course materials which mean that students primarily only require to study

those course materials in order to achieve their learning goals. Beside those self
contained course materials , there are also courses in which learning materials

are developed by using textbooks or part of it supported by a study guide. These
kinds of materials were used at Engl ish programs managed by Lembaga

Pengembangan Program Pendidikan Bahasa- UT (LP38-UT) , in cooperation with
Cambridge University 1990. Additionally, graduate programs also used this type

of course material before 2001 . But in 2001 , UT decided not to use these
materials any longer. This decision was made considering the different

characteristics between textbooks and self- learning course materials. In
addition , it was difficult to ensure the availability of textbooks in the market

around so that UT began to reduce the use of textbooks as a primary course
material.

Quality improvement of UT course materials in every aspect, including
format, is a continuous process. The format of self contain course material is

basically designed to help students learn effectively. UT has been in operation
more than two decades, and during that period of development there were some

changes in the format of course material.

40