OpenLearn Wales launches

The Open University has launched OpenLearn Wales - free online learning resources for anyone with an interest in Wales. The first multimedia collection to launch concentrates on Welsh history and its sources and includes videos from the BBC Coast series, audio recordings of seventeen BBC Radio Wales programmes, a case study of David Lloyd George, a glossary of Welsh history and a Welsh history timeline. Some of the material comes from the Open University course, 'Small country, big history: themes in the history of Wales'.

Rob Humphreys, Director of The Open University in Wales said, "This is an open access website available throughout the world. It compliments the Open University’s Small country, big history: themes in the history of Wales course about the history of Wales but it also fulfils a much wider educational role.

"It provides students, teachers and others in and outside Wales with a completely free, multi-media resource for the teaching and learning of Welsh history.

"This is a tool for learners of all ages who are keen to learn more about our small nation's extraordinary past. Whether you are in school as part of history lessons, are overseas and want to learn more about your heritage or simply want to see new content such as history maps and a comprehensive timeline, OpenLearn Wales has what you need.

"We expect the collection to expand further as more resources come online, but we believe it's already the home for Welsh history on the web."

The collection holds over 40 maps of Wales, over 100 images and links to other academically approved sites for further resources on Welsh history. It also includes a timeline of the most important events in the history of Wales between 1150 and 2000. Visitors to the site are encouraged to add to the timeline and create their own versions.

Many of the resources are made available under a Creative Commons license which allows people to freely download and amend the content. Visitors who register on the site will also be able to see who else is studying the materials and form their own learning communities.