Platform is the Open University's community website, representing the OU community online. It's the place to find content linked to the subjects you're studying, thinking of studying or have a general interest in; a place to chat to others in the forums; comment on blogs and articles or rate or tag them; enter competitions or access member offers and benefits; and tap into study support and careers advice. Platform also hosts online events, a community noticeboard where you can buy/sell and ask for advice, and an events calendar. If there's something you want to see on Platform or you have comments or suggestions then drop us an email - platformeditor@open.ac.uk
Study group for SK124
I'm starting SK124 in October and I was wondering if anyone else doing this course might want to start a study group? I thought it might be a good idea to have some help and it'll be a good way to make new friends! Anyone interested let me know :)
I'm starting SK124 in October and I was wondering if anyone else doing this course might want to start a study group? I thought it might be a good idea to have some help and it'll be a good way to make new friends! Anyone interested let me know :)
OU wins University Face Off campaign
Student Sarah Wicks, who’s been rallying support for the campaign – including asking Platform to promote the cause – is delighted with the outcome after beating closest rivals Aberystwyth to the top spot.
“I’m grinning from ear-to-ear!” she said. “We won! We were over 1,000 points ahead of our nearest rival Aberystwyth by the end, after a monumental effort by students who set up a Facebook campaign group, pinned up posters at tutorials and rallied support from the Student Association forums.
The Open University has scooped the title of 'most supported university' in the University Face Off campaign on Facebook. Student Sarah Wicks, who’s been rallying support for the campaign – including asking Platform to promote the cause – is delighted with the outcome after beating closest rivals Aberystwyth to the top spot. “I’m grinning from ...
OU launches news app for iOS and Android devices
The app, entitled OU News, works along the same lines as the BBC’s news app, and offers single destination access to all OU news from a phone or tablet - from media press releases; the student and alumni community website, Platform; YouTube, OU Twitter accounts and Facebook.
This is the first time the OU has developed an app for both iOS and Android devices and follows the launch of popular apps such as Photofit Me and Devolve Me.
The OU News app is available from both the Apple Store and Android Market Place.
Useful links
The OU has launched a news app, signposting users to the latest goings-on across the university. The app, entitled OU News, works along the same lines as the BBC’s news app, and offers single destination access to all OU news from a phone or tablet - from media press releases; the student and alumni community website, Platform; YouTube, OU Twitter accounts and ...
*CLOSED* Win £100 off a holiday with Cottages4you
Not got your holiday plans sorted this year? Well, Cottages4you has joined with Platform and is offering OU students and alumni the chance to win £100 towards a cottage break.
All you need to do is answer this question: What is the capital of France?
Email your answer, with the subject header "Cottage holiday" to platformeditor@open.ac.uk by 13 June 2011, including your full name and address.
As a student or alumni of the Open University, cottages4you are delighted to be able to offer members a 10 per cent discount in any of their cottages throughout the UK, Ireland, France and Italy - see here for details.
Terms and conditions
Holiday prize is subject to availability and must be booked and taken by 31 Dec 2011. Prize value of up to £100 applies to accommodation only - no cash alternatives or substitutions will be offered. Insurance, ferry supplements and other miscellaneous costs are not included. Holiday prize is not transferable. Standard booking conditions apply as outlined on the website. Discount is subject to availability, applies to new bookings only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Discount does not apply to any extras including insurance and ferry supplements. Cottages4you booking terms and conditions apply.
This competition opens on 10/05/11 and closes on 13/06/2011. Prizes must be taken as offered and are not transferable or exchangeable for a cash equivalent. Only one entry per competition per person. This competition is open Open University students and alumni. Entries must be received by 13 June 2011. The promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the promoter by the relevant closing date for any reason. The winner will be chosen and notified within 14 days by email to arrange delivery of the prizes. The name and home town of the winner will be published on Platform. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Not got your holiday plans sorted this year? Well, Cottages4you has joined with Platform and is offering OU students and alumni the chance to win £100 towards a cottage break. All you need to do is answer this question: What is the capital of France? Email your answer, with the subject header "Cottage holiday" to platformeditor@open.ac.uk by 13 June 2011, ...
Save yourself some pennies with these OU deals and offers
Make the most of your student or alumni status by taking advantage of special offers and exclusive services negotiated just for you. Whether you want to order a book or plan a holiday, take advantage of these benefits and save yourself some pennies. These offers are exclusive to members of the OU community and you’ll have to be logged in to click beyond this point and access them. You can search the offers by the following categories - fashion, financial, food and drink, gifts, leisure and travel and you'll find the deals and offers here, under the Services tab on the Platform homepage.
Make the most of your student or alumni status by taking advantage of special offers and exclusive services negotiated just for you. Whether you want to order a book or plan a holiday, take advantage of these benefits and save yourself some pennies. These offers are exclusive to members of the OU community and you’ll have to be logged in to click beyond this point and ...
Fancy a chat in the forums?
Chat in the Platform forums or start your own conversation thread…
There’s the book club forum area (which links to the Platform Book Club group), OU Life forum area (which links to the Study Support group) and you can start forum threads in any of the groups or your subject sections too. You will have to join the relevant groups before you can start posting in the forums and you’ll have to be logged into the site too.
You’ll find the Book Club and OU Life forums under the Join In tab on the Platform homepage and you’ll find other forum threads under the general discussion areas within the groups and subject areas. At the moment we realise it’s not all that easy to find all the forums and we’re working to make them more accessible.
On the Platform homepage and Join In landing page you can also see the newest forum threads, the most popular forum threads and your replies.
Chat in the Platform forums or start your own conversation thread… There’s the book club forum area (which links to the Platform Book Club group), OU Life forum area (which links to the Study Support group) and you can start forum threads in any of the groups or your subject sections too. You will have to join the relevant groups before you can start posting in ...
eBay? More like ouBay! The community noticeboard
Want to sell something, ask for advice, get recommendations for a holiday, find a travel companion etc? Then use the community noticeboard, a new feature on Platform which you'll find under the Join In tab on the homepage. You can add or search for notices under the following headings – for sale, wanted, help me, or notices. You can also use the noticeboard to promote events that might be of interest to the OU community, ask questions of them or offer snippets of advice.
There are some terms and conditions of use though, so have a read of our noticeboard rules on the right hand side of the page.
Want to sell something, ask for advice, get recommendations for a holiday, find a travel companion etc? Then use the community noticeboard, a new feature on Platform which you'll find under the Join In tab on the homepage. You can add or search for notices under the following headings – for sale, wanted, help me, or notices. You can also use the noticeboard to promote ...
Introducing.... Platform's bloggers
Platform has three blogs on the site - go check 'em out!
There’s Carrie, Platform’s student blogger who’ll update you on everything from TMA versus exam weighting, the highs and lows of studying, joining a student protest, OUSA and how she’s dropped out a few times along the way.
"I dropped out of school at 17, halfway through my A Levels and got a job. I’ve worked full time ever since, but when I reached 23 I enrolled with the OU and started on a journey towards the degree I’d never stopped wanting. In 2009 and aged 29 I realised I didn’t want my journey to end and formulated a new plan which includes a masters, a PhD, research and whatever else I might be able to cram into a journey now held under the umbrella term “lifelong learning and ongoing self-improvement”.
- Read Carrie's bog - Carrie on being a student
There’s also Steven Primrose-Smith, a student with a difference. He’s studying for two OU degrees while cycling 31,000 kilometres across 50 European cities and trying new foods as he goes. It’s a three-year challenge and he’ll be updating Platform on his travels.
"This life is damn short, and it can be snatched away at any given moment. Whatever it is you want to do, just do it. Don't hang around. In other words, literally or metaphorically, get on your bike!"
- Read Steven's blog - The UniCyclist
And there’s also our Society Matters blog, edited by Dick Skellington, featuring posts by a number of authors on the things that happen and matter in society. Guest bloggers, academic bloggers and posts by Dick himself. Dick, previously a programme manager in the social sciences faculty, and actively involved in the affairs of his home town of Stony Stratford, Bucks, finds light relief through the theatre company he helped to form.
- Read Society Matters
Or if you have your own blog and post about OU life and your studies, why not let us know and we’ll add it to our blogroll on the right hand side of this page. Just email us - platformeditor@open.ac.uk - and let us know where we'll find your blog.
Platform has three blogs on the site - go check 'em out! There’s Carrie, Platform’s student blogger who’ll update you on everything from TMA versus exam weighting, the highs and lows of studying, joining a student protest, OUSA and how she’s dropped out a few times along the way. "I dropped out of school at 17, halfway through my A Levels and ...
Freshers' Fair explained
A familiar annual event at universities around the UK, the Fresher's Fair is intended to help initiate the newest influx of students into their new surroundings, providing opportunity to join social groups, sports clubs, and other student-led organisations.
At Platform, we’ve broadened the remit by placing the emphasis on all of the aspects that we think will aid the induction of the brand-new OU student and you'll find our Freshers' Fair here, under events tab on the Platform homepage.
We’re still highlighting all the clubs and societies you can join, but we’re also drawing your attention to the study support that you can receive, where you can get discounts on your set course books, honest and helpful articles from imminent, current, and previous students, and much, much more.
If you are a new student looking for advice from impartial advice, or want to bestow your experiences of OU study, then this is the place to be…
A familiar annual event at universities around the UK, the Fresher's Fair is intended to help initiate the newest influx of students into their new surroundings, providing opportunity to join social groups, sports clubs, and other student-led organisations. At Platform, we’ve broadened the remit by placing the emphasis on all of the aspects that we think will aid the induction of the ...
How to create a group on Platform
Our groups area is where you can link up with people studying the same subject, on the same course, living in the same area, with the same interests - or any other point of connection you choose.
We suggest you take a look around first to see which groups area already live on Platform. You can join as many as you wish, and once you're a member, and logged into Platform, you can contribute news, ideas, forum topics and polls and also pull in relevant RSS feeds into your groups. You can comment on other members' posts; create and vote in polls, start discussion threads and tell each other about events.
You can also set up your own group if your course, hobby or other area of interest isn't covered (remember to add it to one of the subject or interest categories available so that others can find it!). It's then up to you as administrator of the group to decide whether you want to share the running of the group with all its members or manage its smooth-running yourself or with a few others.
To create a group click the blue “create your own group" button on the groups page. You can name your group (title), add a mission statement (editorial), add a description (which appears on the group landing page to describe your group to others, and decide if you want to list it in the groups directory or keep it private. You can also load an image to illustrate your group.
You can also decide if membership is open to all, whether you want to approve membership requests, keep it invite only or closed.
Under subject area tick the subject most relevant to you group so it can be listed correctly in the directory, ie, if it’s a group for A174 Start writing fiction you’d tick Arts and Humanities. And then, if appropriate tick one of the interest boxes, if appropriate.
Click save and your group has been created and you can start using all the features. If you have any queries about the groups, just email a member of the Platform team and we’ll do our best to help -platformeditor@open.ac.uk
Our groups area is where you can link up with people studying the same subject, on the same course, living in the same area, with the same interests - or any other point of connection you choose. We suggest you take a look around first to see which groups area already live on Platform. You can join as many as you wish, and once you're a member, and logged into Platform, you ...
*NOW CLOSED* Take part in the Platform egg hunt for chance to win £250 in OU course vouchers
Platform’s inviting you to join an egg hunt with the chance of winning £250 in OU course vouchers.
There are six eggs hidden across Platform and each of them boasts a letter. Find the six eggs, rearrange the letters and let us know which word the eggs spell by sending an email to platformeditor@open.ac.uk by no later than Friday 29 April.
To make it a bit easier, as this is such a vast site, with each egg there’ll be a clue to help you find the next one.
Here’s the first clue… if you were thinking about a change of direction from office worker to teacher you’d probably take a look at this page.
Please make the subject of your email ‘Egg hunt comp’ and include your answer, full name and address. Correct entries will all be entered into a draw and the winner will receive £250 in OU course vouchers, to spend at their leisure.
Terms and conditions
This competition opens on 05/04/11 and closes on 29/04/2011. Prizes must be taken as offered and are not transferable or exchangeable for a cash equivalent. Only one entry per person. This competition is open to all except employees of The Open University. Entries must be received by 29 April 2011. The promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries that are incomplete, illegible, corrupted or fail to reach the promoter by the relevant closing date for any reason. The winners will be drawn and notified within 28 days of the competition closing. The name and home town of the winner will be published on Platform. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Platform’s inviting you to join an egg hunt with the chance of winning £250 in OU course vouchers. There are six eggs hidden across Platform and each of them boasts a letter. Find the six eggs, rearrange the letters and let us know which word the eggs spell by sending an email to platformeditor@open.ac.uk by no later than Friday 29 April. To make it a bit ...
