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Making your learning count

This innovative and flexible OU level 1 module allows you to count different types of learning towards a formal OU qualification. The type of study you can count includes courses from the OU’s free learning website, OpenLearn, other open educational resources (OERs) or learning programmes you may have undertaken through work or elsewhere. Through a series of topics and assessments, you will explore what you have learnt whilst developing the skills you need to be a successful student. You choose the courses to include, making this learning experience an entirely personal one. Your tutor will help you identify your learning goals and plan your study to meet your specific needs and interests.

Modules count towards OU qualifications

OU qualifications are modular in structure; the credits from this undergraduate module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree.

This is an optional module in our:

Foundation Degree in Combined Professional Studies (X13)

BA (Honours) Arts and Humanities (R14)

BA (Honours) Business Management (Q91)

BA/BSc (Honours) Open (QD)

BSc (Honours) Combined STEM (R28)

BSc (Hons) Mathematics (Q31)

BSc (Hons) Mathematics and Statistics (Q36)

BSc (Hons) Mathematics and its Learning (Q46)

What you will study

Open educational resources (OERs) provide a valuable platform for learning about a wide variety of topics and subjects. This module allows you to take what you have learnt and use it towards the OU qualifications outlined above.

You will need to select 150 hours of learning to bring to the module, some or all of which may have been completed already. This may come from the OU’s free learning website, OpenLearn, or other specified OER sites. This includes edX, Coursera and OERu. To get an idea of what you could choose to study with this module, check out our example study pathways.

You will also study consolidating material and complete assessments which ask you to analyse and reflect on your OER study. You will develop a range of study skills including the ability to plan and reflect on your learning. You will learn how to communicate your learning through a variety of tools, and interact with other students through giving and receiving peer feedback. Drawing on the study you have selected to bring to the module, you will also be introduced to ideas of interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinarity to develop an understanding of the power and importance of making connections between disciplines.

The final assessment task provides you with an opportunity to consolidate your learning as you approach the completion of this module.

You will learn

The module allows you to select learning to suit your interests and will help you explore what happens when you bring different knowledge, skills and learning experiences together. You will discover the richness that comes from thinking about a topic from a variety of angles. This new insight may confirm that your learning goals are exactly as you had originally planned, or it may open a whole new world of possibilities.

Entry requirements

Although there are no formal entry requirements, this module is most suitable if you have completed some study using The Open University’s free learning website, OpenLearn. or other specified OER. This includes edX, Coursera and OERu or any other OER.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

What's included

You'll have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a study planner
  • course-specific module materials
  • video content
  • assignment details and submission section
  • online tutorial access

You'll also have personalised support and one-to-one phone tutorials.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Most tutorials are conducted 1:1 between you and your tutor, although there will be opportunities for collaboration with other students. Your tutor will help you plan your work and think about the ideas explored in the module. Your tutor will also comment on and support you with your assessments.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying YXM130 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

Future availability

Making your learning count (YXM130) starts once a year - in October.

This page describes the module that will start in October 2025.

We expect it to start for the last time in October 2026.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Course work includes:

6 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment