The Bates model
Bates characterizer the model as relying heavily on theories of instructional design, including those for building in student activities providing clear and timely feedback and carefully structuring content.
He also notes that different kinds of learning can be carefully assigned to specific technologies or learning model and need not all be technology based.
However, since technology is a major component of most open and distance learning course delivery systems, great emphasis is placed on making the best match of learning requirements to appropriate technologies and then carefully testing the resulting instruction
Additional comment by Bates caution about the typical lack of adaptation of materials to individual needs and that design of a course can take as much as two years. However, Bates also criticizes much of what he call remote instruction, wherein a live instructor offers a course to student at a distance via satellite or other technology. This often is nothing more than a replication of face classes with little thought given to learner interaction, and it often fails to take advantage of the unique benefits of the available technology while incurring many of its limitations. Somewhat unique elements of Bates’s model relate to creating open and distance learning products and account for access, cost, copyright clearance and tutoring arrangements. Bates reminds readers that, at the time of course delivery, the issues of warehousing, packaging and mailing of print materials, library service, and tutoring become critical to success. These are make-or-break issues too often neglected by novice design of open and distance learning courses.