For many students their first taste of OU study is when they visit OpenLearn, the University’s open educational resource. Visitors get access to free bite-sized units, taken from full-length OU courses, which they can study as and when they want.
The material is made available under a flexible Creative Commons copyright licence, which means learners can share and even remix it to suit their own needs.
Each unit in the site’s LearningSpace has learning outcomes and self assessment activities, as well as suggested learning pathways. In addition there are learning support and social networking tools in the LabSpace, where users can access particular areas of knowledge and educational expertise, as well as join discussion forums, write blogs and contribute to wikis.
The website has had 6.25million visitors since its launch in 2006 and hosts more than 8,000 hours of course material. Below are some of the most popular courses viewed on OpenLearn and details of what you can expect from the full course presentation...
Start writing fiction (A174)
This is a popular 10-point online creative writing course, which aims to fire the imagination and harness students’ creativity. It is an enjoyable opportunity for students to experience OU study without committing themselves to a full 60-point course. “You’ll learn about plot, narrative strategies and genres, and the course will give you a lead into studying OpenLearn creative writing,” says course manager Andrea Mills. “You will learn from the works of well known writers as well as listening to the advice they give on starting to write fiction.”
Portales: beginners’ Spanish (L194)
This not only helps students develop their Spanish language skills in everyday contexts – it also gives an insight into Hispanic culture. The entry-level course uses the theme of a journey, taking students through a range of situations they would encounter while visiting Spanish-speaking countries, including shopping, working and eating. “It is a fantastic way to learn a language if you can’t commit to an evening class,” said one former student. “I’d started learning Spanish from books while on holiday and wanted to ‘formalise’ and deepen my ability.”
Managing performance and change (B700)
This is a stage one route to the MBA (Master of Business Administration) qualification. At the end of the course students will gain a Professional Diploma in Management. The course helps managers gain the skills to improve their team, department, organisation or project’s performance. “Students tell me again and again that their studies improve their chances of promotion and getting a job,” says course team chair Alan Davidson. “They also tell me they are more confident of their business knowledge and this gives them more respect at work.”
Essay and report writing skills (LDT_5)
This gives invaluable advice in honing a vital study skill. This 15-hour OpenLearn course helps new or potential students overcome any apprehension they may have about writing essays or assignments, by breaking down the process into individual components. The free course uses instructions and activities to highlight nexactly what is required from academic work and gives helpful tips to plan, structure and write assignments or reports. It takes students through each stage from preparation, planning and drafting an essay to ‘polishing’ before submission. It introduces students to principles of good practice that can be applied to any type of writing.
Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law (W100)
This is a Level 1 course offering basic knowledge of the English legal system. Students are introduced to the nature and function of rules and law, exploring civil and criminal sanctions; issues raised by human rights legislation; and the concepts of rights and justice. It also looks at the distinctiveness of legal reasoning and the way in which law responds to events and contributes to the development of different social, business and economic institutions. Senior Lecturer Carol Howells said: “By exploring the relationship between law, life and society, W100 considers how rules, rights and justice help shape the society in which we live.”
Issues in the brain and behaviour (SD805)
This is an interdisciplinary module which fits into either a Masters in Science programme or a Masters in Psychology. The course investigates two topics, addiction and neural ageing, and the way that different disciplines can contribute to an explanation of issues in brain and behaviour. “It is only by taking a holistic approach that we can truly engage with the cutting-edge debates about the fascinating topic of neural ageing,” said Senior Lecturer Heather McLannahan.
Engineering the future (T173)
This examines the idea of ‘engineering’, from design concepts to the manufacture of products. It also looks at developments in engineering methods and applications that will shape the future. Professor
Mike Fitzpatrick said: “The course is a key component of the OU’s engineering teaching programme, but will be of interest and value to students studying a range of subjects, including design, environment, and information technology. “The course examines the breadth of human activity that is described as engineering and is richly illustrated with case studies.”
Data, computing and information (M150)
This is a 30-point Level 1 course, helps students understand the mysterious world of computer programming. The course explains the mechanisms used by computers to take on different tasks, how they are embedded into hardware and software, and teaches students how to write simple programs. One student said: “If you want to do this course to improve your chances at job hunting, saying you can program a computer (and being able to prove it) will go a long way.”
Innovation: designing for a sustainable future (T307)
This investigates how successful innovations emerge and how new ideas, designs and inventions are translated into marketable products. Rather than focusing on innovation for profit, the course looks at how it can ensure a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future. One student said:
“The course is nicely presented and the TMAs force you to think about what you have read and apply it to the world around you.”
Croeso: beginners’ Welsh (L196)
This is a Level 1 course which gives students the confidence to use the language in realistic everyday contexts. It covers a range of practical situations including socialising, shopping and travelling, as well as looking at aspects of Welsh society and culture. The main teaching text is a form of South Wales Welsh, although there will be opportunities to hear speakers from other parts of the country.
For more information on these courses and others, and to sample the content
of OpenLearn, visit www.openuniversity.co.uk/2010
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