The Open University

Digital picture books could harm young children’s learning

9 March 2021

A comprehensive meta-analysis of prior research has found that children aged 1-8 are less likely to understand picture books when they read the digital, versus print version. However, when digital picture books contain the right enhancements that reinforce the story content, they outperform their print counterparts. The results were published today in Review of Educational […]

Teacher leaning over students with computer tablets

Tip top teaching – free resources to enhance classroom skills

8 March 2021

With the return of children to school, teaching professionals need to be fully prepped for the busy and bustling classroom. The Open University’s free learning site, OpenLearn has created two dedicated resource hubs to support and develop subject and pedagogical knowledge for primary school teachers and teaching assistants, including a wide range of articles and […]

Wellbeing advice from one student to another

3 March 2021

As we mark University Mental Health Day, it’s important that we all look after our wellbeing. OU graduate Liz Burnett champions mental health awareness in her blog and her cake business, following her own experience of a breakdown in 2014. Here, she shares some invaluable advice, to fellow students… Whether you deferred this academic year, […]

Enhance your skills in Chinese business culture with the OU’s new online short course

10 February 2021

China has a variety of diverse cultures and having an insight into its core cultural values can be hugely beneficial for business and social interaction. The Open University’s (OU) new online short course provides a great opportunity to grow your understanding and build your network. In 16 weeks, students will delve into the core values […]

Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week OU poll finds more employers now backing work-based learning

4 February 2021

A report commissioned by The Open University and The 5% Club has found that nearly three quarters (70%) of employers held the belief that apprenticeships and work-based learning would be vital to their organisations’ recovery from COVID disruption, compared to just half (50%) of business who were asked in August 2020. The Open University commissioned […]

Voices of children and young people aged 3-12 expressed during pandemic

1 February 2021

The Open University’s Children’s Research Centre (OUCRC) and psychologist-led, Children Heard project have collaborated to analyse survey responses from 240 children aged between 3-12 (48 early years and 192 primary school age participants) on their thoughts, feelings and experiences of living through the COVID-19 pandemic. The report demonstrates how children have varying experiences of the […]

Five ways the OU’s new chatbot can support disabled students

29 January 2021

The process of disclosing a disability can be a time-consuming, stressful process, which the OU is aiming to improve with a chatbot to support both its students and staff. The OU’s chatbot, produced through the ADMINS Project, has been developed by educational experts, staff and students to improve disability disclosure processes for people with disabilities. […]

OU assists FIFA in creating safeguarding in sport diploma

28 January 2021

The Open University (OU) and FIFA have today announced the launch of the FIFA Guardians Safeguarding in Sport Diploma – a major new global education programme designed to strengthen and professionalise safeguarding standards across football. In line with FIFA’s long-term commitment to professionalise and embed child and adult safeguarding standards across the game, the course […]

New report highlights trends in online and blended learning

7 January 2021

‘Enriched realities’ and ‘Using chatbots in learning’ are two of the top ten new approaches to learning and teaching in this year’s Innovating Pedagogy report from The Open University. The ninth edition of the report launched in January 2021 was produced by leading educational researchers at the OU’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET), in collaboration […]

NHS award for Open University nursing apprenticeships

26 November 2020

A partnership between The Open University , Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has won the 2020 North East and Yorkshire NHS Parliamentary Award for Wellbeing at Work. The Future You Partnership was launched in September this year, providing an apprenticeship route for both experienced and aspiring healthcare workers in Leeds to […]

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Category: Education, languages and health