Out with the old? What do you do with old course materials?

I haven't found anything to do with my old course materials yet! I have them in cardboard boxes in my shed. I know some people sell them on ebay, but I can't really be bothered to do that, arranging couriers and stuff as they would be so heavy to post. I'm not really interested in trying sell them to make money, would be happy to give them away free to freinds or family. Out of interest, who buys other people's old course material and why?

I have referred back to some of my last course to refresh myself on certain topics, so was glad I kept it.

I have my old materials in a box too and wondered what to do with them, but then again thought I might want to re read them. eh problems problems

Try freecycling them. To find out your nearest group go to www.freecycle.org . I picked up a whole load from another freecycler and now have the luxury of reading for interest without TMA's and dreaded exams.

I have to say, I have all of mine still, although I have only been studying since Oct 06 so there are only 6 sets!

I only have one old year's worth at the moment (soon to be two) and the materials are currently in the wardrobe in my spare room. I suppose I'll recycle them eventually, but right now I don't want to throw them away.

I am really proud about my books and assignments and have them nicely lined up in my office. I still find myself consulting books on various levels. I think they are a very useful and important resource in my professional and private life. It would break my heart if I would have to give them away.

Hi, with 6 years of set books and coursebooks i cannot throw mine out, many are still up on the bookshelf and i have been known to get them down to try and help my son with his homework! It also reminds me how far i have got with the OU and still talk about some of the books i have read while doing 19th century novels and have lent them out to friends to read.

I think it depends on what you are studying.

I'm doing Maths and Computing and so often want to go back to previous materials to check I've understood ideas before reading more advanced material. Especially in the maths I often go back and look at earlier material to check I still remember how to do the simpler exercises before starting on a new unit.

A lot of my computing units have basically become reference material which I go and look at when I want to find out specific language terms or solutions to particular problems I know I've worked on before.

I plan on starting a library. lol

I'm only on my 2nd short course, but if I manage to complete my degree (not with the OU as I don't live in the UK), I could have up to 50 or so text books.

If I manage to complete my degree, I may re-read some of the earlier text books and wonder why I found them so difficult to understand!

Alan

I've kept some of mine - those that were exceptionally interesting (like the U212 course) and some that might be useful. I've just passed on some, though, via Freecycle. I was amazed at how many people wanted them!

I am doing my same course (Classics) at University in September so mine should all come in useful *thumbs up* and I keep ANYTHING to do with Classics so mine will always be with me... I see them as an investment! Ditto the course books that arent OU, some of them are amazing and I might never have found them independently.

I keep all of them! All of the books are on my shelf in front of my desk, and all of the paper booklets (eg. TMAs) are in a folder. I find having them all out is really good motivation - to see how far I've come, what've enjoyed, what I spent hours to figure out... and how much I've got left to come!

Thank you for posting the Freecycle webpage. I have just joined this group as I have items that I can give to others and perhaps find items to help me.

Excellent!!

I am new to Platform, and look forward to getting to know this OU site,

All the best to everyone,

Ginnette Hargreaves

I can't part with my old OU materials either! They sit proudly on my bookshelf and I hope to maybe refer to them again one day.

It doesn't add any benefit if the course books are marked up when you have completed the course, but even still I do keep hold of them to be recycled to the local council. I know the OU does accept unmarked course books to be donated to new students.

I keep thinking I should sell my books (5 years worth!) but I just can't do it! I'm quite attached to them and they remind me how much work I've done over the years. If you want to sell them though there's a really good website www.universitybooksearch.co.uk where you can buy and sell OU course materials. I bought some Spanish course books because I didn't have time to do the course but would like to dip into it occassionally!

I've still got mine in the loft and my student number begins with an 'F'!

I am keeping it for now until I finish my open university degree.

If you are sure you don't need them throw it away to be recycling.

Thankfully all my courses have PDF files, the paper versions go straight out in the re-cycle bin usually unread.

Look at the site www.universitybooksearch.co.uk where you can advertise to buy/sell old OU material.

Jim

I've never thought to get rid of them... Mind you, I am only on my second module. I quite like them all lined up on my bookshelves, it's quite aesthetically pleasing.

I'd like to think the Level 1 books may come in handy when my children are studying ICT in their later school years, perhaps.

Hi I too have kept my courses, it is interesting to have a different perspective compared to when I studied. Finished my degree in 2007, and did some study before that with the short courses. However have been bitten by the bug again, but with my current job, wish for anyone who ha ir knows of someone with the living arts study packs from 2000. Am looking on auction sites for something different!!

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