Teaching, learning and assessment methods
There is a strong commitment to creating opportunities for students to network and connect through multiple means. Tutors will facilitate a range of shared learning activities, both synchronous and asynchronous, that build on your developing knowledge and help to develop work related skills. The strategy also aims to support the personal learning journey of individuals who have their own unique experiences of development.
Principles governing the strategy demonstrate the following qualities:
- student centred, inclusive, personalised and contextualised within the real world
- articulation of experience put at the centre of the learning process
- use of reflection and skills of synthesis as part of an integrative learning process
- continuous formative feedback supported by peer engagement through, for example, blogging and group activities
- help for you to find connections between topics
- support for deep and transformative learning.
Within this framework tuition and assessment events will be the means by which you make the link between your experience, knowledge and understanding, and the teaching. These will include:
- a programme of online synchronous tutorials
- access to a moderated development forum
- reflections on practice in relation to key concepts
- report writing
- case studies
- collaborative work developing negotiating skills
- personal development planning sessions (3 per student per module), focused on developing individual student’s skills and knowledge, developing strategies for continuing study and ensuring student engagement with the module materials (intended to help with motivation and retention and progression);
Practical and/or professional skills and attributes
When you have completed this diploma, you will be able to transfer and use relevant key skills in your workplace and daily life. Practical and/or professional skills as well as key skills are an integral part of all modules at all levels. They are developed as a consequence of module work throughout the programme and are also built into aspects of the assessment process.
Communication
The open nature of entry to the OU means that we emphasise reading and writing skills at OU level 1. At higher levels we make assumptions about your basic abilities in these areas, although feedback from your tutor on your writing skills continues to be important. As you work on higher-level modules, you will find that the materials from which you work become increasingly complex and diverse, and you will need more sophisticated skills of interpretation, selection, analysis and synthesis.
Information technology
These skills are introduced and used in a number of modules but form an important part of the compulsory modules. As such, a basic IT literacy is an outcome and requirement of the diploma programme.
Learning how to learn
Because OU students are studying at a distance, there is a strong emphasis on helping you to develop as an independent learner.