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... Open to people, places, methods and ideas

 
A young man sits in a classroom with a pen in his hand

The Open University's mission is to make university study available to anybody, everywhere and at any time. This aspiration has always shaped the strategic choices of the University and its teaching methods.

The OU's four Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning reflect its commitment to be open to methods. Funded by HEFCE and drawn together into a collective known as the Open CETL, the Centres are developing and strengthening methods of open learning in ways that reflect new social priorities and realities.

The Open CETL intends to provide insights into delivery of effective life-long learning at scale and free from constraints of time and place.

Feedback from the 4th and final Open CETL Conference held on the 15 - 16 December 2009

With over 250 delegates, the Open CETL Conference once again proved to be an enormous success in 2009. The focus of this conference was to explore the ways in which the work of the four Centres could be carried forward and embedded into individual practices and across the University whilst celebrating the CETLs successes. A diverse programme with over 80 abstracts for short orals, workshops and simulations plus the ever popular poster presentation session ensured a captivated audience and stimulating conference.

 

After the conference, delegates were asked to a) provide three words that they would use to best describe the conference and b) how they would use the knowledge and understanding that they had gained from the conference in their own practice.  We have created two word clouds using Wordle to illustrate that feedback.

 

To read more about the conference please visit our 'News' page.

 

Wordle cloud for Question A

 

Wordle cloud for Question B

Contact The Open CETL


Highlights

Supporting Workplace Study: a free staff development resource
This is an on-line open course for professional staff involved in providing educational supervision to colleagues (or others on placement in their organisation), as part of a foundation degree or other accredited work-based/practice-based course of study.
Use of the Virtual 3D Immersive Social World known as Second Life to investigate the use of eLearning techniques using virtual student tutorials, in order to facilitate the learning of topics in mathematics
One of the internet-based technologies which has become very prominent in recent times is that of 3-D Social Immersive Virtual Worlds (also known as social Multi-User Virtual Environments). Universities world wide are developing the facilities in these worlds, such as social networking and online collaboration tools, for eLearning and distance teaching purposes. The Open University has made an investment in Second Life and has bought land within the world called Cetlment Island.
E-Learning of Physical Science through Sport (ELPSS)
This project is funded by the HEA Academy under the National Teaching Fellowship Scheme project strand. Commencing in August 2007 and running to July 2010, the project will receive £200k funding to deliver engaging reusable e-learning resources in the fields of Physics, Chemistry and Materials Science.

Latest

Online collaborative learning: read all about it!
12th Mar 2010 COLMSCT are pleased to announce the publication of two books by Teaching Fellow Karen Kear.
COLMSCT Thematic Booklets 2010 now available
8th Mar 2010 COLMSCT have produced a series of thematic booklets highlighting the innovative work of the Centre.

See all news stories

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