Accessibility Statement for Art and life before 1800 (A237)

Mode of study

The module comes with four printed module books while additional study materials are on-line only. Online materials are composed of pages of text with images; audio/video clips (all with transcripts/subtitles); diagrams; interactive media; animations; and self-assessed quizzes. Online materials also include links to external resources, online forums and online tutorial rooms.

Tuition strategy

This module provides a range of learning events including on-line tutorials and day schools that have been carefully designed to support student learning, skills development, and assessment at key points in the module journey. There will also be a gallery visit with an online (or other) alternative and regular opportunities to engage with academics on the module team. These learning events are not compulsory but will help you consolidate your learning.

Working with others

The online study materials regularly encourage you to share ideas and artworks with other students using Open Studio. Collaboration and conversation on this platform is designed to develop your understanding of key issues and topics, and to cultivate a vibrant learning community that includes other students and module authors. Additionally, you are invited to contribute to online forums and activities that provide an informal and supportive environment in which to reflect on the module content.

Practical work

In the Independent Study section each week you are given an optional practical task. These tasks are devised to deepen your thinking around a key aspect of the week’s learning in a way that is hands-on, creative, and open-ended.

There is an optional gallery visit to reinforce key learning and support preparation for one of the tutor-marked assignments. We’ve prepared an alternative virtual gallery visit if you are unable to attend.

Diagrams and other visual content

The study materials contain multiple photographs. A key learning outcome is to develop your abilities to analyse artworks individually or comparatively. Blind and severely partially-sighted students with a background in art history when more fully sighted should be able to draw on past experiences.

Reproductions of artworks will be available in electronic format. These can be magnified within the limits of standard computer applications, but no textual descriptions or alternative formats of reproductions are available.

Finding information

You will be required to search for, and make use of, third-party material online both in individual study weeks and also as part of the tutor-marked assignments and end-of-module assessment. Online study materials are designed to support you in acquiring and developing skills and confidence in independent research at a level appropriate to OU level 2 study. We can, however, provide alternatives for required/assessed research material to enable you to meet the learning outcomes of the module.

Assessment

This module has four tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) at the end of each part and an end-of-module assessment (EMA).

Each learning event (tutorials, day schools and gallery visits) directly support assessment. Additionally, throughout the module, there are online study materials to prepare you for the assessments, including bespoke podcasts, roundtable discussions and other activities designed to help you gain relevant skills and knowledge.

Feedback

You’ll receive feedback from your tutor on each of your submitted tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) to help you track and reflect on your TMA performance. You should refer to it to help you prepare for your next assignment. In particular, when preparing for your end-of-module assessment it is wise to review and draw on all the feedback you have received across the module.

Schedule

We structure all University modules to a set timetable and you’ll need time-management skills to keep your studies on track. We’ll support you in developing these skills.