ABSTRACT
One of the most obvious features of open and distance learning is that it brings in students from a wider range of backgrounds than conventional education. Students' previous educational experience may have been disrupted through illness, family breakdown or in other ways. Educational disadvantage can arise in a number of ways through both previous educational experience and current circumstances. Circumstances that appear to disadvantage students are being a shift worker, unemployed, isolated in some way, being a man, and studying maths, science and technology-based courses. The algorithm will depend on student progress data collated by the institution as to the particular characteristics of its failing students, and emphasize the importance of collecting and evaluating such data. Depressives are not as successful as agoraphobic students but some can make progress, particularly in periods when the depression is under control.
