Flexible learning: How can we get there from here?

The term “flexible learning’ has been used by many institutions with regard to their methods of course delivery, particularly by those seeking to attract external students. In almost no cases is the use of the term justified, since the flexibility concerned relates only to certain very limited components of the learning process. This paper outlines the very real problems that are faced by institutions seeking to make their courses truly flexible, and proposes a classification scheme to measure the degree of flexibility achieved.