Open learning is a methodology of teaching in the tertiary level where the student is provided a syllabus of the subject matter to be taken for the particular term. The teaching comes in the form of hand outs or reading lists that the student needs to read during the course of the term. To dispense with classroom attendance, some opt for discussion groups often about once or twice during the term, but most of the inquiries and clarifications are coursed directly to the lecturer or subject matter expert. Here are some of the institutions offering such courses:

1) Universities or Community Colleges

This is the most formal of the sources of open learning courses. In this set up, a student still needs to enroll in the interview and after an interview admission is conducted. Then, depending upon the degree or units sought to be acquired, the program is determined together with a course adviser. With this, the subjects to be taken are plotted and enrolled into. During the term, the syllabus would be provided and discussion groups are undertaken depending upon the agreement of the students. What is most important here is the active participation of the educational institution in providing for the learning materials and even the expertise as the students go through the curriculum.

2) Correspondence schools

In this case, as the name implies, all interaction between the student and the educational institution is through letters sent and received between them. In this source of open learning, the letters form the exchanges in learning by and between the learning coach and the student. At the end of the term, a validation exam would be sent for the learner to take as a pre-requisite for completion. If the learner completes the requirements, then one is duly certified by sending a letter vouching for the capacity and ability of the learner.

3) Internet learning courses

This is the new learning frontier, the virtual classroom. Here, one logs on and registers to a whole host of learning courses. In this area, the learning is either done interactively or through tests one undertakes online. Here, internet resources such as search engines, online libraries and chat lines can be used to interact, though virtually. In this medium, one needs not to go out of the home to be able to take the course and complete the validation for the learning. The internet does that for the learner. Once validated, units are earned until completion of the course and certifications are provided by the learning facilitator.

Open learning denotes openness in the means of sharing information between the facilitator and the participants. Aside from the obvious facility differences, openness allows for options in the pace and source of the learning. So whether one enrolls in a university, sends a confirmation to a correspondence school or signs up in the internet, the learning process is preserved and ingrained in the student for use and accessibility. Eventually, a better and more learned individual emerges from these sources.