Abstract:

Technological developments have created a revolution that challenges teaching in general, and in higher education in particular, and new technologies call for a re-assessment of traditional teaching methodologies and their effectiveness. The present study is an empirical study of the effectiveness of a distant-learning project conducted by the Open University of Israel in FSU states. In 2008, over 5,000 students from 11 FSU states, especially Russia and Ukraine, participated in the Open University Russia Project. The study explores the attributes of the participating population, their reasons for participation and their expectations, their satisfaction with the project, the project’s contribution to participants’ knowledge and its effect on their behavior, in terms of their ties to Judaism and Israel, their intention to emigrate to Israel, and their desire to attend a higher education institution in Israel. Findings show that the distant-learning courses developed by the Open University in this project strengthened national values and identity. Findings show a significant level of effectiveness that is reflected in students’ knowledge, values, and willingness of behavioral change, and may provide an indication of long-term results.

Keywords:

Teaching technologies, pedagogy, higher education, academe, Zionism, online learning, FSU, Israel.