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Abstract

The teaching of literature is inextr icably connected with face-to-face initiation into the enjoyment of and cr itical thinking about literar y texts. In this respect, the increasingly g rowing sector of Open and Distance Lear ning in higher education poses a significant challenge for literar y studies, no less so as it addresses an emergent student body compr ised mostly of mature students with significantly divergent backg rounds and expectations. The article traces the different answers provided to these challenges by nine European ODL universities. By discussing their objectives and methods along the axes of cur r iculum design, educational mater ial and educational procedures, this comparative survey attempts to describe an emergent profile of literar y studies as well as help promote dialogue about the practice of literar y instruction in higher education. The survey is based on the outcomes of a two-and-a-half-year research prog ramme undertaken by the research team `OpenLit', operating under the auspices of the School of Humanities at the Hellenic Open University.

Keywords

curriculum design educational material educational procedures literature ODL virtual/traditional open universities

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References

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Teaching Literature in Open and Distance Learning

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