OUstudents
Spring 2014
MAGAZINE
Welcome to your Students Association
magazine, a place to share your stories, connect with
other students, and find out what we’ve been up to.
2
OU students asked to leave
their mark
3
This is not just a
conference...
6
Loan liabilities: What you
need to know
12
Studying in isolation: Life as
an OU student
16
Could you take on a
moderator role?
19
Hoodies, goodies and exam
papers, what do you think?
+44 (0)1908 652026
[email protected]
www.open.ac.uk/ousa
Charity Commission Registration in
England and Wales: 1144251; and in
Scotland: SC042840
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Marianne Cantieri, President
“Starting the New Year with a flourish.”
There’s nothing like starting a New
Year with a flourish and 2014 is
certainly doing that for OU students
with two major projects going ‘live’.
The first, in early February is the
implementation of the Student Support
Teams, which I’m sure you’re all aware
of by now.
In fact, although this has been a major
project that has been under
development and consultation around
the University for a number of years,
the only difference that current
students should find is that they are
given one set of contact details with
which to contact The OU.
Your relationship with your tutor
remains the same, but you’ll be able
to get responses to any other queries
that you may have by using the
contact details that have been sent to
you.
If you’re between modules, or taking
a break from study, you’ll receive the
contact details later, but until you get
them you should contact your
Regional or National Office as you
have in the past, where help will be on
hand.
“
A major advance in OU
student consultation.
”
The benefits of the Student
Support Teams should be that while
the student/tutor relationship remains
the same, you’ll be able to get all the
other information or advice that you
need with one call or email, a
‘one-stop-shop’! For more information
take a look here
The other major project going live soon
is the Student Consultation Forums
where students can become
consultation volunteers who will be
able to voice their opinions about OU
study and proposed OU policy in the
online Consultation Forums (which by
the way will be open for everyone to
read although only the volunteers will
be able to write).
This is a major advance in OU student
consultation as, for the first time,
students will be able to input their
opinions on their study issues,
changes in University policy or new
projects, before any final decisions are
made.
Also the University has committed to
taking the students’ view into account
and to feeding back into the student
forums the reasons for implementing
the students’ views, or not.
Apart from the online consultations
there will be face-to-face consultation
meetings in all the Regions and
Nations (more news on page 4).
So you see, it’s an exciting start to the
year, with a lot of other things going on
as well. Read on to find out more …
OU students asked to leave
their mark
Over 20,000 OU students will be asked to leave their mark
by completing the 2014 National Student Survey (NSS).
OU students, identified by the Higher
Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
will be asked to complete a set of
questions about their student
experiences as part of a national
survey.
The feedback from the survey is
invaluable to the OU and us, your
Students Association. It helps us to
understand what we’re doing right, and
provides insight into areas we need to
work on.
Last year, the University responded to
the survey’s feedback by improving
library services and working on ways
to provide even better academic
support.
We have just one question in the
survey, number 23, which asks
students how satisfied they are with
their Students Association.
If you’ve received an email we’d urge
you to leave your mark by completing
the survey. If you haven’t, there are
still plenty of ways you can leave your
mark…
• Volunteer with us
• Get your OU voice heard
The survey also provides information
for prospective students and is hugely
influential in helping them make
informed choices about what and
where to study.
#new2OU: “Excited my @nusuk card is on its way! I didn’t know I was entitled to one!”
2
OUstudents - VOICE
Spring 2014
This is not just a conference...
...this is the OU Students Association Conference, Milton
Keynes Campus, 27 – 29 June 2014!
It seems unbelievable but it really is
two years since the Students
Association was planning its last
Conference.
At that time we were busily cooking up
the first of a new and improved event,
which was set to be rich and delicious,
zesty and sharp, with lashings of a
tasty student focused centre.
Eventually dishing up to over 350
students on campus, with hundreds
more partaking online, the spread
on offer in 2012 definitely satisfied
appetites.
Delegates got a flavour of their
Student Association, elected their
freshly picked representatives and
hungrily devoured the smorgasbord
of juicy activities arranged for their
delight.
Students gave the event a huge
thumbs up and consensus was that
it had been an amazing experience,
many bemoaning that it would be a
two year wait until the next one.
Following on from that success, the
doors will be wide open once again
in June for Conference 2014 when
we expect this rare chance to be a
delegate on campus or online to once
again be seized by OU Students
everywhere.
Who could resist this fantastic
opportunity to help decide on the
student leadership and have a say in
other important decisions about the
Association and the University and to
take part in a full fat agenda of
stimulating and inspiring student
focused activities?
“
OU students don't have
many opportunities to
get together and this
is a very big and a very
special one.
”
On campus, the weekend will include
the rare treat of time for socialising and
mixing with fellow students.
Accommodation and catering are
provided free together with reasonable
travel expenses.
For delegates taking part online,
there’ll be virtual space which will allow
students to link up with like-minded
© Vee W Selburn
others and those failing to get one of
the first come first served slots, can
get a taste of the action by watching
selected highlights from the
Conference area on our website.
Interested in taking part?
Registration for Conference 2014
(27-29 June) doesn’t open until after
Easter weekend but we’ve opened a
mailing list for interested students to
provide them with early information
about when and how they can register.
To get on the list to guarantee early
information about applying for a place
at this year’s event, send your name
and student number to:
[email protected] without delay.
Also let us know your region or nation
and if you’re interested in attending on
campus or if you’d prefer to
participate online.
This is not just a Conference; this
will be a hand reared,
traditionally cured, carefully
marinated, perfectly steeped,
slowly roasted, mouth-wateringly
sumptuous OU Students
Association Conference...
See you there!
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “Never underestimate a student of the Open University.”
3
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Tony Royal, OU student
“It’s been a wonderful 15 years of OU study”
It started back in 1988 I already had a
degree in Engineering but, I now found
myself sat in the cockpit of a military
transport aircraft, flying to places far
and wide and with time on my hands to
develop further my passion for science
and mathematics.
With the (mandatory) foundation
course under my belt I moved swiftly to
the ‘cutting edge’ of computing, M205,
with people travelling miles (well,
from next door) to see my glistening
Amstrad 1512 and its twin floppy discs
in operation!
I was now hatching a hair-brained
scheme to become an astronaut so
decided diversification was in order,
hence a shift to chemistry (S246 and
S247) and astrophysics (S256) for my
next modules.
Unfortunately the intervention of the
First Gulf War forced me to drop one
of my chemistry courses, but a final
skirmish with the beautiful differential
equations of MST204 (arguably the
best course I’ve completed with The
OU) saw me amass sufficient credit for
the award of BA, as there was no BSc
in those days let me tell you!
It was at this time that I had started
singing in a local choir and, with a
non-existent British space programme
to join, I happened upon The OU’s
music Diploma; something I thought
just might help me decipher and
understand all that ‘stuff’ on my
manuscripts!
As my time to leave the RAF drew
close in 1998 I decided a formal
teaching qualification might be helpful
so embarked upon the OU’s PGCE
in Secondary Mathematics, which I
enjoyed and put to use during my
transition from military to commercial
pilot; indeed I still teach maths, physics
and chemistry for enjoyment on many
of my days off from flying.
A few years later, and missing The OU,
I felt a mad hankering to do a PhD.
The usual prerequisite for a
doctorate though is a Masters degree
so, in 2008, I finally ‘bit the bullet’ and
enrolled on the OU’s Mathematics
MSc programme. Five years later, the
dissertation looms and, with a bit of
luck, I soon hope to be in a position
to do some research … if anyone is
brave enough to let me near a lab!
It’s been a wonderful 15 years of OU
study. Thanks to all who have helped
make it so thus far!
Regional meetings set to bring OU students
together to discuss key issues
We have a fantastic opportunity for 20 OU students, from each of the English Regions, to
represent other students by attending a unique meeting at their OU regional office.
Working in partnership with the
University, we have organised a
series of regional meetings to enable
students to meet, face-to-face, with
lecturers, staff and fellow OU students,
to get their views heard.
The meetings represent just one of
a number of new ways in which the
University is consulting with students.
You can find more detailed information
on the Student Consultation website.
You don’t have to attend a meeting
to get your voice heard...
To help shape the agenda of every
meeting, we’re asking you, OU
students, to leave your comments
about any regional issues on your
regional forum. This is your opportunity
to discuss matters concerning services
delivered within your region and on
wider issues concerning OU students.
Get involved by posting a new thread
or join in the discussions posted by
other students, everyone’s views and
feedback are welcomed!
We anticipate this will be very
popular so, don’t miss out, register
your interest to attend your regional
meeting by emailing your full name
and PI number to Kate Snapes,
Representation Officer:
[email protected]
The Regional meetings will take place
on the following dates:
Date
5th April
5th April
3rd May
10th May
10th May
31st May
7th June
7th June
14th June
14th June
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “Just had a burst of productivity with uni work, it felt good.”
Meeting
East of England
North
North West
Yorkshire
South
London
South West
West Midlands
East Midlands
South East
4
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Michelle Darby, OU student
“The OU helped me step up to the mark.”
Many things in life can change in a
moment, but one constant through the
last six years of my life has been The
Open University (OU).
I started studying with The OU in
2008 at the age of 20. At the time, I
had no real direction. Despite being a
high academic achiever through my
GCSEs and A-levels, I dropped out of
brick university due to a combination
of immaturity, financial difficulty and
not being passionate about what I was
learning.
After a couple of weeks of looking at
The OU’s prospectus, I decided to
study S182 (Studying Mammals)
purely because I’ve always liked
animals. I went on to sign up for S186
(Tsunamis, earthquakes and
volcanoes). However, I found that I
wasn’t passionate enough about the
subject and my lack of good study
practice and discipline meant that I
failed the module by failing to submit
my End of Module Assessment (EMA).
For a few months I was sore about my
module failure and didn’t look at what
else The OU could offer. However, in
2009, I signed up for a variety of six
10-credit modules with The OU.
“
The OU has been ever
present, bringing dreams
I didn’t know I had.
”
Through this mixture of short courses,
I developed better study skills and
gained interest and knowledge in
science topics. So, in 2010, I decided
to aim for a science degree.
I began Level 3 last year however, due
to bereavement I had to defer my
modules. The flexibility of The OU
meant that taking time off didn’t cost
me, financially or academically, and
I’ve already resumed my studies. I’m
now on track to graduate in 2015.
From a naïve 20 year old student with
no direction and lack of higher
education study skills, The OU has
helped me step up to the mark and
become a disciplined student who
achieves good academic results.
I now have my eyes set on
postgraduate study and a future career
in science. From 20 to 26 years old;
through a variety of life events, house
moves, bereavement, and job
changes, The OU has been ever
present in the background bringing
dreams I didn’t know I had and the
means to achieve them.
To all of those new starters with The
OU, those halfway through and those
just getting ready to graduate: enjoy
the journey - it goes faster than you
can imagine, hang on in there on the
tough days - a low grade or a failed
assignment or module aren't the end
of the world even if they feel like it,
work towards your graduation day with
zeal!
Aisha Hussain, OU student
“My fellow students helped me develop as a person”
When I was 17, having been
home-schooled for three years, I got
to the point where I was asking myself
“what should I do next?”
My goal was to go on to university to
study medicine and although I wanted
to go to university, personally and
academically I wasn't ready.
It was my Mum who suggested I look
into doing my degree with The OU;
she had studied with The OU and
had been the first one in her family to
complete her degree.
It was a daunting prospect when
I received my first study material.
There were challenges along the way,
deadlines, TMAs, revision and being
outside my comfort zone. But, it has
been totally worth it.
Nearly four years and 11 science
courses later, I have done things that I
would not have had the confidence to
do 4 years ago. Help from the
University, tutors and my fellow
students has helped me develop as a
person.
So, the challenges of having to explain
to people why I didn’t go to a
conventional university or, how could
I possibly complete a degree at home
will all disappear when I graduate later
this year and be the first Grandchild
in my family to have completed their
degree.
So, this is a thank you to the
University, my tutors over the years
and the students I’ve met who’ve
helped me to get one step closer to
my goal.
#WinWin: We’re now talking to over 7,000 #OUstudents on Twitter, join them! http://bit.ly/Nr1P70
5
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Loan liabilities: What you need to know
Amy Wilkins, OU Centre Manager,
Fees Projects, explains everything you
need to know about loan liabilities...
If paying for your Open University
module fees using a part-time tuition
fee loan you must ensure that you:
1. Complete and submit your loan
application to Student Finance
England (SFE) or Student Finance
Wales (SFW) as soon as possible
with all of the evidence they require
to assess your application.
If they request any further
information from you please supply
this promptly so your application is
not delayed. It is your responsibility
to submit the application in good
time so that your fees are paid
otherwise you may be liable for the
fees yourself.
2. Return your Student Finance
Declaration Form. If you’ve applied
online (available only for students
applying to SFE at present), when
your loan is approved you will
receive a Student Finance
Entitlement Letter. In this letter is a
very important document called the
Student Finance Declaration form.
You must sign and return this form
to complete your loan application.
Until you’ve returned this form to
SFE your fees will not be paid.
However, if you’ve applied using a
printed application form
(available for students applying to
SFE or SFW) you will also receive
a Student Finance Entitlement
Letter, but you will not receive a
Student Finance declaration form
as this was part of the printed
application form you have already
completed;
3. If you do not receive your Student
Financial Entitlement letter within
six weeks of submitting your loan
application you must contact SFE
or SFW for an update. The Open
University will contact you to ask
you about the outcome of your loan
application and the payment of your
fees, so it is important you know the
status of your loan application.
Remember, when you completed your
enrolment using a tuition fee loan as
your “payment method,” you accepted
the Conditions of Registration. This
means you have full fee liability with
The Open University.
Your loan liability commences when
SFE or SFW make the first payment to
The OU. Fee liability always remains
until fees are paid by the method
indicated at registration. If you
experience problems with your loan
application, or if your study plans
change, it’s important that you contact
us straight away so that we can advise
you of your payment options and
current fee liabilities.
Falling behind on your
OUSBA repayments?
If you find that your financial situation has taken a turn
for the worse and you’re struggling to make your OUSBA
repayments, please don’t worry, there’s help at hand!
As a separate Limited Company,
OUSBA, the Open University Student
Budget Account Ltd, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Open University
(OU) and has been giving OU students
financial access to OU modules and
qualifications since 1998. It’s a secure,
quick and easy way to fully pay your
fees as each module is completed.
As your Students Association, run
by students for students, we want to
encourage anyone who finds
themselves unable to make their
repayments to contact OUSBA as
soon as possible. They understand
that life is often unpredictable and
may be able to offer solutions to your
repayment issues.
However, we understand that being a
student can be tough, juggling
everyday life with your studies is hard
work. Falling behind on your OUSBA
repayments doesn’t have to be the
final straw.
Remember everyone at The OU wants
to see you succeed in your studies,
so, if you’re facing difficulties contact
OUSBA now on:
T: 08457 697937 or 01908 655777
W: www.ousba.co.uk
Further support is also available, there
are a number of not-for-profit
organisations that will be able to give
you free, confidential advice on how
best to tackle your debts and deal with
your creditors.
The National Debtline also provides
free information to people with debt
problems. T: 0808 808 4000
#TopTip: Assessments? This website is a “must visit” for some essential info bit.ly/1c4DptT
6
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Liz Hull, OU student
“Keeping up the good work!”
Meet Liz. As a teenager, Liz found
herself a bit lost in the education
system. Not being able to get the idea
of returning to study out of her mind,
Liz enrolled on The OU’s Science,
Technology and Maths Access module.
We’ll be following Liz’s journey as
she discovers the highs and lows of
returning to study and what it means to
be an OU student. Find out how she’s
getting on...
Hello 2014! Like many other OU
students the Christmas period was a
busy one for me. However, I’ve kept at
it, caught up with work and I’m really
excited about my study this year. It’s
now week thirteen and I have
completed two TMAs, hooray!
Whenever I feel overloaded and
wonder how I’ll get everything done
I remind myself of my achievements
over the last few months and it gives
me that extra push to keep myself
motivated.
What I’ve found so useful about this
Access module are the mechanisms it
gives to help you cope with study. For
me, this is a revelation. My tutor
continues to be supportive and
encouraging which is so good to have.
I find it interesting to read other
student views in the OU student
forums about how they are managing
their studies. It’s helpful to see topics
other students are finding difficult and
amusing to realise the subjects I enjoy
are other people’s idea of a nightmare.
The conservation of the red grouse
debate springs to mind!
I personally enjoy the variation in
course content. Being able to explore
a range of subjects is ideal and I like
that I don’t have to limit my study to
specific areas so early on.
Studying isn’t easy but not continuing
and not achieving my potential, that is
the harder option.
It’s just like the Archers but
without the cows!
Imagine, if you will, a Faculty where the Dean is found in the
Faculty swimming pool, where academics are found in the
sauna, gym or living in gingerbread houses…
Well, this is the World as imagined by
The PodMag, a new audio download
produced by the Faculty of Social
Sciences.
If this sounds like it’s not a serious
audio with a mission to help students
then, think again. Whilst it is clear that
the presenters - Dave Middleton and
Karen Foley - do not take themselves
too seriously, their goal is deadly
serious.
Confronted with the reality of often
isolated students studying alone and
finding it hard to maintain their
motivation, The PodMag includes
interviews, reports, TMA advice and
student emails punctuated by the
cheerful banter of the two presenters
and their guests.
Initially conceived of as a means to
promote the upcoming online student
conference ‘Student Connections’,
which takes place from Monday June
30, the PodMag has started to take on
something of a life of its own.
It’s accompanied by a new audio
drama, This Student Life, which
creator Dave Middleton describes
as "like the Archers but without the
cows". It’s a 6 minute weekly drama
in 24 parts following the lives of three
students - single mother, Katie,
downtrodden wife Donna, and working
class lad Neil. Set in the fictional
Kentonville, This Student Life follows
these three new to the OU students as
they embark on DD101 Understanding
the Social Sciences.
Like many new students the three,
who become friends in the most
unlikely of circumstances, face the
challenges of juggling their lives,
families and work with accommodating
their studies. Along the way they face
the anxieties of submitting their first
TMA, passing and failing, struggling
with the demands of study, attending
(and missing) tutorials in addition to
tackling debt, plagiarism and dyslexia.
These initiatives show that the Faculty
of Social Sciences takes seriously the
goal of creating a community of
scholars where students, rather than
being the passive receivers of
whatever academics give them, are
being asked to think of themselves
as equal members of an academic
community.
#WinWin: We’re now talking to over 11,000 #OUstudents on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/Nr2e9o
7
OUstudents - CAREERS
Spring 2014
Donna Courtice, OU graduate
“My OU study led to a great and innovative business idea”
I studied Art History amongst other
topics with The Open University from
2004 until very recently.
Whilst studying various iconic art
works at The OU I realised that art was
a perfect vehicle to facilitate personal
growth and to introduce themes such
as perceptions, judgements and
empathy, assertiveness, goal and
visualisation boards, spirituality and a
host of other established tools for work
and personal development.
After meeting Susie, a creative
well-being practitioner on the
University of East Anglia’s person
centred counselling course, I realised
that my dream of a business just
needed a very talented and creative
Susie! And so, Blue Arbour Creative
Well Being was born.
“
Without The OU, Blue
Arbour would never have
been created!
”
We offer courses that consist of
between 5 and 10 sessions weekly (or
5 days for corporate clients). During
these sessions we study iconic art and
themes such as answers and beliefs
and human motivators. We spend time
together creating art with Susie
facilitating and end every session with
a group discussion.
Blue Arbour brings together the steps
to well-being required and promoted
by the Government: active learning,
connectivity, being involved and
engaged, being active and giving to
others.
I’m passionate about The OU and
intend to mention the inspiration and
opportunities the University offers to
my students.
To find out more about my business
idea visit: www.bluearbourcreativewellbeing.co.uk
Have you visited the Careers forums yet?
Each year the Careers Advisory Service runs careers forums where you can get help from
careers advisers and share experiences with fellow students. Everything you need to know
can be found on the Forums page of the careers website.
In 2014 the service will also be running
some subject related careers forums in
collaboration with faculties. Details of
these will be posted under “Common
Room” on the appropriate qualification
websites, so check your qualification
website regularly for relevant forums.
Quick Queries Forums
The Quick Queries forums enable you
to post questions on any careers topic
you choose. Our careers advisers will
give you initial advice and information
and point you to further sources of
help if needed.
Teaching Forum
During March we’ll be running a forum
on teaching - the career area we get
asked about most.
Whether you’re at the beginning of
your studies and making long term
plans for a career in teaching, or near
the end of your degree and considering methods of training, our careers
advisers will be happy to help you.
Topics discussed in previous teaching
forums included:
• What are the different training
routes?
• What qualifications do I need?
• What work experience do I need and
how can I get it?
• Will I be too old to enter teaching
when I get my degree?
• What qualifications do I need to
teach abroad?
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “Feeling antsy about my lack of study.”
Teaching related resources
Getting into teaching advice, including
videos to help you consider: what area
of teaching would interest you, the
importance of work experience,
different routes into teaching in
England, Wales, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and RoI and how to make a
successful application for teacher
training.
Take a look at the ‘The Accidental
Teacher’ Blog, otherwise known as
Cath Brown, an OU student with
twenty years’ teaching experience,
who gives insights into life as a
secondary school maths teacher.
8
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Resubmitting, resitting or reporting
special circumstances...
Your Vice President Student Support,
Alison Kingan, met with Jenny Bull,
Head of Examinations and
Assessment, to gain some clarification
on the changes to OU policy.
Submitting special
circumstances
Q: Is the online form for submitting
special circumstances
accessible to screen reader
users with visual impairments?
A: Yes, the form has been developed
in an accessible format. Hardcopy
forms are also available from
regional and national offices for
students unable to complete
online.
Q: There have been concerns
raised about the time limit
to report special
circumstances and students
not realising they have up to a
fortnight to send in evidence.
Some think everything has to
be done by the next day.
Would the OU consider
extending that initial reporting
time for everyone?
A: The initial reporting time is
non-negotiable. The tight
deadlines have been driven by
the timeframe for determining
The following Questions and Answers
relate to reporting examination and
EMA special circumstances. Take a
look at the winter edition of
OUstudents for more information on
results where some students will
have a resit/resubmission
opportunity within six weeks of
getting their results.
Q: What details about the student
needs to be included in that
initial online reporting and
what details about the special
circumstances should be
included then and what
can/should be sent later?
A: It is the student’s responsibility to
tell us about any circumstances
and how they have negatively
impacted on his or her module
assessment via the online
process.
Evidence should then be
provided to back up what the
student is claiming. Students are
guided and advised throughout the
online process.
Q: Does the ‘within 14 days’ for
submitting evidence of special
circumstances mean that the
evidence needs to be at the OU
within 14 days of the exam/EMA
deferral with assessment banking and
postponement and resits/
resubmissions.
submission or posted within
that deadline?
A: Any supporting evidence should
be submitted to the University
within 14 days of the submission
(i.e. 14 days after the submission
that should take place by midnight,
UK local time, on the day following
the examination/EMA submission).
If students submitting hardcopy
evidence can prove that it was
posted within the 14 day deadline
then we will accept the
information.
Q: What happens to students who
cannot report online within the
next day?
A: Students need to let us know as
soon as possible why they could
not submit within the stipulated
timeframes, providing evidence
to support their reason(s). We
then may be able to accept a late
special circumstances
submission.
Kit the cat joins the cast of Library shorts!
You may remember, in the winter
edition of OUstudents, that the Library
asked for your help in choosing a
name for OU student Bob’s newly
adopted cat. Well, the response was
overwhelming!
With over 1,000 entries, choosing a
name proved difficult but after much
deliberation the library are pleased to
introduce Kit, who was named by Rae
Moran from Omagh. Kit was a very
popular suggestion, so our winner was
chosen at random.
You can see Kit again in the new
Library short video to be launched in
February. In the meantime, you can
find out more about Bob, Fin and
Kit as they explore library resources
through the collection of Library short
animations.
Thank you to those
who entered, there
were some great
suggestions!
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “There’s life beyond TMA03 but OMG it’s TMA04.”
9
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Keith Oldfield, OU student
“Ever felt like you’re bursting with ideas?
Well, that’s me!”
My natural ability is not for playing the
piano or for painting or for fixing cars,
but I am someone who can look at
things in a different way and is able to
generate ideas.
But, turning an idea that is usually just
a sketch or a sentence on a piece of
paper into something that is useful or
something that people want, is not so
easy. How do you know what material
to use or what steps you have to take
to move an idea from inception to
completion?
For me the OU was not a route to a
degree. The OU is the opportunity that
is almost impossible to get in any other
way, the chance to step back into an
educational setting, learn new skills,
and follow a dream.
Like many people when I left school I
had no particular plan and I went in the
direction life took me. This has led to
an interesting life but not the one I
perhaps would have chosen had I
thought more deeply about it but who
thinks deeply when they are young?
So in 2011 I signed up for U101, a
design course that took me through all
of the basic steps; from generating an
idea; creating a design; to making a
prototype. The following year I
continued with another design course,
T211, which built on the first year
design skills. Both courses were
inspirational and I met some great
people.
In 2013, I started a company called
Streetlight Games, and the first
creation for this company was a board
game (where your home is the board)
called Hidden!
For me the OU was not a
route to a degree.The OU
is the opportunity that is
almost impossible to get
in any other way,
First, of course, my family and my
partner. Then a particular fellow
student, Mike, and tutor, River, and the
OU, of course, for the opportunity.
“
”
The practical help and skills I learnt
have enabled me to realise a dream.
One of the many lessons in life you
learn is that to accomplish a dream
usually means you have had help on
the way and this is certainly true in my
case. A list that could stretch to many
has been boiled down to a few.
Perhaps now it’s time to follow your
own dream?
If you would like to see the result of
mine then visit:
www.streetlightgames.co.uk
David Bell, OU graduate/student
“Thanks for keeping my dreams alive!”
When I retired at fifty I had this fantasy
of becoming a writer.
It wasn’t a passing fancy; I had been
aware of this ambition for a long time
but pressures of work and family
always kept it on the backburner.
I started writing short stories and
took a short Creative Writing course.
Then in 2007 I took A174 Start Writing
Fiction; a level 1 course with The Open
University.
I became addicted to OU courses and
kept taking them. I continued to write:
children’s stories, short stories, poetry
and even a short play.
“
I became addicted to OU
courses and kept taking
them.
”
In April 2012 I graduated with a BA
(Hons)(Open) in Literature and
Creative Writing. I continued to write
but struggled to get an agent or the
interest of a mainstream publisher.
#TopTip: Have you seen the OU podcasts page at http://podcast.open.ac.uk
This year I self published four crime
novels in my ‘Niall Bard’ series on
Amazon Kindle. The eBooks are now
beginning to sell.
Anyway, the point of my story is that
without The OU my dreams of
becoming a published author would
have died years ago.
Thanks for keeping my dreams alive.
P.S. I’m still taking courses with
The OU!
10
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Avis Pearson, OU student
“I was delighted to be reassured by the OU”
I had to take early retirement from my
nursing job because of osteo-arthritis,
but didn't want to sit at home
vegetating.
Apart from some voluntary work, I
remembered that thirty-odd years
before, at school, I had been unable to
take the Classics courses I wanted
because they clashed with other
courses, more job-orientated.
I’d never had the time or opportunity
to take them since, particularly as the
squeeze on Local Authority Education
budgets led to fewer and more
restricted opportunities to study
part-time.
Then I thought of The OU, got a
prospectus, and saw that they offered
classes in Ancient Greek and Latin.
Bingo! I thought and went to sign up,
but the subject specifications stated
that there were three hour exams.
I knew that I could no longer (a) sit at
a desk (b) write, for three hours at a
stretch. Another door closed.
“
Without the support of
this service I would not
have ended up with my
OU degree.
”
Luckily The OU student advisor put
me on to the Services for Disabled
Students helpline and I was
delighted to be reassured that as a
disabled student (of course you have
to provide medical proof of that!) not
only would The OU allow me to use a
computer for the course, they would
even provide an invigilator just for me,
to come to my home on Exam Day,
and that I could apply for short breaks
during the exam, to stretch and
un-coke my joints.
Later, as my disability worsened, they
even provided a home computer,
together with appropriate programs,
and an audio recorder so that I could
attend tutorials without having to take
notes.
Without the support of this service I
would not have ended up with my OU
Open degree - after ten years, but I
got there!
Could you be a Frontrunner?
Disabled OU students are being given the opportunity to be part of a course looking to
support and develop the leaders of the future.
The Frontrunner course, by Common
Purpose, an independent, international
leadership development organisation
for university students with disabilities
across the UK, explores leadership by
taking students behind the scenes of a
city to find out how it works.
university students embarking on
careers, developing the confidence of
and empowering a significant minority
group, addressing differing conditions
for disabled students at universities
and helping to establish and grow a
future generation of disabled leaders.
Students will visit an incredible range
of organisations, and their leaders,
across different sectors (many of
whom will be potential employers),
examining the issues, how leaders are
tackling them and the value of diversity
in the workplace.
What are the benefits for
students?
Now in its fourth year, the course is
supported by Santander with the aim
of: tackling the rising pressures facing
• Accelerated leadership skills
• Increased employability
• Add value to your CV
• Develop your communication and
presentation skills
• Opportunity to collaborate with
peer students and form long lasting
networks
#new2OU: “Lots of help on OU sites and nice to talk to other students via twitter.”
• Work with senior leaders from across
the country
Beyond the course...
Internships: Alumni of the course will
be eligible to apply for sponsored
internships with Santander. This is an
exclusive offering and will take place
over the summer months for the next
two years.
To find out more about this course and
how you can apply visit:
Click here
11
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Studying in isolation: Life as an OU student
Three OU students share their different experiences of working in isolation and overcoming
obstacles to successfully continue in, and complete, their studies.
“Living on the Isle of Man presented some challenges”
I left school with one O-level and an
expectation that I would work in the
Lancashire slipper mills; my mother,
however, had other ideas. Having
done this all her life she was definitely
not going to see her daughter make
the same mistake!
We moved to the Isle of Man in 1975.
However, in 1984, I felt something was
missing and a chance meeting with
someone who had done an OU degree
made me think distance learning was
a possibility.
Living on the Isle of Man presented
some challenges over the years.
Attending day schools was quite
stressful including the additional
expense. The additional expenses
however, really help to focus the mind.
Your planning and time management
needs to be effective as failure is not
an option. Fortunately, you can sit the
exam on the island which is a real
blessing.
To help combat the feeling of isolation
OU Students Association self-help
groups were formed on an ad-hoc
basis. OU graduates on the island
were particularly encouraging and a
source of information for students.
OU Live and the forums also provided
more opportunities and relationships
with OUSA. The virtual world has been
very positive because geographical
location can no longer limit your
dreams!
The OU was such a positive and
life-changing experience for me. I
never did end up in the mills of
Lancashire! Thanks Mum x.
Ravina Talbot, OU graduate
“The demands of studying online caught me unprepared”
Frankly, the demands of studying
online caught me unprepared in terms
of my time in-front of the PC,
especially at night after work. I don't
think I’m managing it as well as I
should be.
Working on the modules was a huge
sacrifice because I just wanted to relax
and unwind at home instead of reading
materials online or writing TMAs. In
hindsight, I should have thought more
carefully about strategies on how to
adjust to studying and working full
time.
“
I’ve found it invaluable to
try and participate in the
online forums.
”
I’ve found it invaluable to try and
participate as much as possible in the
online forums. I’ve not found this an
easy thing to do as I get daunted by
reading the contributions by other
students who seem far cleverer or
better than me.
It’s taken me a few months to pluck
up the courage to post on the forums
rather than just lurking. However,
I’ve found that when I do post my
comments aren’t subjected to ridicule
rather, many of the other students
tend to be helpful and friendly in their
follow-up comments.
“Despite my hardships,
I persevered”
I was introduced to The OU through
Ravina. After looking further into it I
decided which path I wanted to take
and registered for my first openings
course in 2006.
During my years of study I have
been married followed by divorce,
diagnosed with severe depression
as well as having to deal with my
son who was diagnosed with
various mental health issues.
Living on the Isle of Man made me
feel isolated in my studies. I had to
find additional monies to fund travel
and accommodation to any tutorials
which were all held in England and,
due to the high cost of doing so, I
only attended 2 in all my years of
study.
Despite my hardships and obstacles
during my years of study I
persevered and gained my degree
in Criminology and Social Policies.
Posting in the forums also alleviates
the sense of loneliness that I might
have as I discover that other students
might also be feeling the same way. It
gives a feeling of solidarity, that I am
a part of a community of fellow OU
students.
I feel like I have eventually achieved
something in my life I never thought
was possible and now plan on
further enhancing my studies whilst
looking for some form of work in
fields that are of interest to me.
Zorah Abu Kassim, OU student
Sheena Oates, OU graduate
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “I bounce around subjects like Dr Who on a pogo stick.”
12
OUstudents - VOICE
Spring 2014
Anne Cleave, OU student
“Isn’t OU study supposed to be about ‘remote’ students?
How important is your tutor? Well,
that might seem like a silly question
but it seems that, to some people,
the tutor is not at all important. I don’t
mean this from the student angle. I
think it’s fair to say that ‘we’ think our
tutors are akin to some minor god.
After five years of OU study I have
a deep appreciation of my tutors. I
never managed to meet my tutor
for AA100, my first OU module. The
geography was at fault, not us. And
this is the whole point of OU learning,
distance!
From then on I made a big effort to
meet my tutors at least once, face
to face. It makes so much difference
and you can build some kind of
rapport. Not just rapport but an
affinity – an understanding of the
subject that you just might not get
either online or in telephone tutorials.
So, why do things seem to be going
so wrong? More and more I see
unhappy posts from students who are
allocated tutors who may be several
hundred miles away (it isn’t just me,
then). Maybe those who undertake
the allocation need to study some
kind of geography module.
Simple research would show those
who do the allocation that there are
such things as ferries from islands
to the mainland (Orkney to John
O’Groats) or even airplanes (Tiree
to Oban and then to Glasgow), that
people do have to navigate obstacles
such as the Severn Bridge and
Spaghetti Junction and that
cross-country travel, by any kind of
transport, is atrocious.
What do we need? Well, for a start,
a little joined up thinking would help.
Someone who can co-ordinate a train
timetable with the appropriate ferry
A rant? Yes, I’ll grant that. But isn’t
OU study supposed to be all about
‘remote’ students?
The University of the Highlands and
Islands are making a big effort to
help remote students. The OU said
they were doing this forty years ago.
Where are we now? The words ‘two’,
‘steps’, forward’ and ‘back’ spring to
mind.
Have you had a similar experience
to Anne? Get in touch by emailing
[email protected].
David Knight, Director, OU Associate Lecturer Services
I’m sure many students will echo
Anne’s comment on the key
importance of her tutor to her
studies and I’m sorry she feels
frustrated at not being able to meet
her tutors face-to-face for all of the
modules she has studied.
Every year my colleagues in
Faculties and AL Services seek to
create over 12 000 tutor groups for
over 200 000 students and 6 000 ALs.
It is a complex logistical challenge
and we always try to put the quality of
the student experience at the heart of
our decision making around location
of tutor groups, especially for those
modules with a face-to-face element to
the tuition, which account for over 70%
of The Open University’s curriculum.
For those modules which are delivered
with on-line tutorials, usually through
OU Live. The geographical location of
students is much less of an issue. For
a standard module with 20 students
per group and face-to-face tuition we
do our best to cluster students around
reasonably easy travel distances to
tutorial venues and this is done by
colleagues in our Regional and
National Centres who do have an
understanding of the transport and
geographical constraints.
When the final enrolment date for a
particular presentation passes every
AL Services team in our 13 Regional
and National Centres are working flat
out to create tutor groups so that we
can fix the groups and notify tutors and
students, usually within a two week
window before the start date of the
module.
Teams will need to deal with the
sometimes very patchy distribution of
students across the UK and Republic
of Ireland, and our commitment to
maintain employment for our AL staff
colleagues in their decision-making. It
is increasingly likely that many
students will register for modules at
the very last minute and need to be
fitted into groups, along with an
increasing number of international
students across Europe and the rest
of the world. There is no doubt that if
you live in one of the more rural areas
of the UK it is less likely that you will
have a study centre close by as a
natural consequence of how OU
students are distributed across the
population.
Where possible the OU will offer
alternatives to face-to-face tuition for
those students in the UK or abroad
who do not have a realistic prospect
of attending tutorials. The 5 February
2014 Senate will be discussing a set of
group tuition principles, one of which is
to offer all students more choice over
their tuition arrangements. After the
Senate discussion we are expecting to
consult students widely on the
proposals and the views of Anne and
other students will be very valuable.
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “There’s a reason studying ends in the word dying...”
13
OUstudents - VOICE
Spring 2014
Your voice…
As your Students Association, we love
to hear from you and as your student
voice we want to know what’s good
and what’s bad about being an OU
student. It’s your magazine!
In every edition we feature a wide
range of student stories so write in and
More like full-time hours
I would like to agree with the letter on
page ten of the winter edition of
OUstudents. The time given to study a
course is not a true reflection for
someone with learning issues, it would
be helpful if a better guide was given
to reflect this.
I have spent many additional hours
going over the materials and using the
daisy books for my course for me it is
more like full-time hours than
part-time hours which, can sometimes
be demoralizing.
Fiona Robertson, OU student
Admitting your disability
Having read the article by Helen
Collingwood regarding her surprise at
being able to declare her epilepsy as a
disability when she regarded it as just
a nuisance - I totally understand how
she feels.
I was born with malformed veins in my
right arm and, being very right handed,
I have had to learn to cope with the
pain and being unable to write for long
periods of time, having done so I have
always regarded it as just a nuisance.
It wasn’t until I was faced with the
prospect of writing for three hours in
an exam that I had to admit it was a
disability.
The OU came to my rescue
immediately by allowing me to use
a computer for the exam (in my own
home) and also by supplying me with
Dragon so that, when the need arises I
can speak my TMAs instead of having
Finding time to study
let us know what’s on your mind.
In the last edition of OUstudents two
students got in touch with us
explaining their different experiences
of being a disabled student with The
OU. We had a great response, here’s
what you told us...
to type them all by hand. All the help I
have received has made my studying
so much easier.
The University provide the
following guidance with regards
to weekly study times. Everyone
works at a different pace and there
may be minor variations in how
long modules last:
• 30 credits: around 8 to 9 hours
per week
• 60 credits: around 16 to 18 hours
per week
• 120 credits: around 32 to 36
hours per week (equivalent
to studying full time)
In reply to the article by the
When you begin to study towards
anonymous student, I have to say
a qualification the University will
that when I first applied to study with
make sure that you
the OU I had a full time job plus an
understand how
evening job which was almost full
much time you’ll
time (about three quarters).
If you have any
issues you would like need to complete
I was informed right from the
to voice, contact us at: your modules as
you select them.
start that even studying at Level
[email protected]
1 would require a minimum of
sixteen hours a week and, yes,
most weeks it went way beyond that.
it also allowed access for study,
However, I wanted to study and
anywhere at any time but more
somehow I found the time.
importantly my way (printed
I find that the joy of studying with The
OU is that I can fit my study around
everything I have to do. I’ve certainly
never considered that I should receive
the same benefits as student studying
away at brick Universities.
Ruth Smith, OU student
A balance of learning styles
Being a mature student with learning
disabilities can present some
varied challenges. For me, my learning
challenge is my dyslexia and how it
frustrated me over the duration of my
OU Masters in Education course.
I found, as my last year of study
approached, more and more modules
were turning to online study, which for
me, was an instant switch off.
The first two years of studying were
great - printed study guides and
course readers – brilliant! Not only did
it provide something physical in my
hand that quantified the module fees,
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “I simply detest word waffle #fact.”
resources, allow me to use a colour
overlay, making it easier to read).
My Tutor at the time questioned
whether I had contacted The OU to
discuss my learning needs in more
detail. Simply put, no I hadn’t
contacted them. Why would I as
I didn’t really consider my level of
dyslexia unmanageable? All I wanted
was the ability to continue studying
using a printed study guide and course
readers.
Following my Tutor’s advice, I
contacted Learning Support with
regards to my concerns over my final
module choice and the lack of
‘physical’ reading materials. The lady I
spoke to was sympathetic,
understanding and genuinely cared
about my learning requirements. To
this unnamed lady: thank you for
spending your time discussing my
concerns and organising The OU to
print out the Study Guide. I was, and
still am,extremely grateful.
JB, OU student
14
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Christine Pearson, OU Associate Lecturer
“The stupidest question?”
I was talking to a member of learner
support, one of the helpful people who
answer student queries on the phone
or email. He said that that many
students don’t like to ‘bother’ their tutor
or are afraid of ‘appearing stupid’.
As an Associate Lecturer for more
years than I care to remember, I was
shocked to find that I might be perceived as someone who shouldn’t be
disturbed.
Helping students is what I do. The
most frustrating part of my job is the
TMA answer that has obviously had a
great deal of work put into it but has
taken off at a tangent. Frustrating,
because, I know that a short
conversation with the student could
have put them on the right track to
answering the question.
The other frustration is the email that
starts ‘I have been struggling with
the concept on page 50 of Block 2
for three nights now and I really don’t
know what to do’. At least with the
latter, I can respond but I could have
potentially saved a student a great
deal of heartache if the email had
come two days earlier!
All students in higher education have
to wrestle with understanding their
chosen subject and its assessment.
The trick is having just enough
confidence to ask for help when you
need it.
Those sources of help may be family
(I wonder how many partners have
read OU essays?), friends, learner
support or other students through
social media or tutorial groups.
However, the most obvious source
of help with your module is your tutor
whether the question appears trivial:
“Where is my TMA?”, “What does this
abbreviation mean”, to sorting out
complex equations or concepts.
Of course, no tutor is available 24/7
and no tutor will tell you the answer to
your TMA but we can try to put you on
the right lines. If something in the
module is acting as a barrier to you
moving on, then it is the basis of a
valid question.
So, the stupidest question… is the one
you didn’t ask!
Your new Student
Support Teams
Throw out your dusters, TV and
chocolate, no longer will such
avoidance techniques be
needed.
If you have your newly allocated
Student Support Teams (SST)
contact details, use them, they
should be able to answer most
queries.
Basing SSTs on subjects
being studied, rather than where
students live, could result in less
confusion about who to contact
if there is a problem. However,
tutors will still be an important
source of information.
SSTs should be able to answer
queries covering a range of
subjects. From what module to
study next to how to get
accessible study materials;
questions about financial support,
residential schools or degree
ceremonies; or wondering what
support is available for pregnant
students.
So, pick up that phone or write
that email, the Support Team in
your SST might have the solution.
By Alison Kingan, Vice
President Student Support
We asked, you replied...
When did the OU Students Association first come across your radar?
At the beginning of my studies in
2012 but, I never quite understood its
purpose. Initially, I believed it was all
about university parties and social
activities that, being a full-time
shift-worker, I hardly had the time for.
Then I discovered the merchandise.
Hoodies! I shamelessly bought both
colours, one blue and one red; and the
scarf! But OUSA did not become a big
part of my student life until 2013, when
I discovered them on Twitter. I followed
both @OUStudents and
@OUSALondon and liked them on
Facebook, giving me the opportunity to
interact and exchange information.
This became my portal to a university
social life which I could balance with
my work commitments. I could interact
with OUSA and other students from
other parts of the country and indeed
the world from anywhere I might be. I
felt supported by OUSA who
encouraged my prolific writing
#new2OU: “It’s going very well and I am learning so much.”
activities. In fact, I now concentrate on
writing for them rather than any other
publication.
The strength of our Students
Association is that it is made up of OU
students who understand how precious
time is in the life of a fellow virtual
classmate.
Conn Bardi, OU student
www.connbardi.com
15
OUstudents - FORUMS
Spring 2014
Everything in Moderation
If you’re a regular participant in OUSA’s forums you’re probably aware that it is student
volunteers who ‘moderate’ these spaces. The truth is that without this generous input, the
Students Association wouldn’t be able to provide this fantastic online resource.
As an OU Student you’ve probably
often wandered into the realms of
OUSA’s online forums and quite
possibly taken part in the discussions.
Our very large group of volunteers
do a brilliant task, working within their
teams, ensuring that all runs smoothly,
that minor disputes are solved
peacefully and that The OU’s
Computing rules are upheld.
We are, however, always on the
lookout for new moderators to join
this team of volunteers. Ideally they
should be current students who enjoy
using the service and are familiar with
OUSA’s online space.
We need individuals who enjoy
working in a team, are skilled at
communicating online and who feel
they are effective negotiators and full
of good common sense.
“
We’re always on the
lookout for new
moderators to join our
team of volunteers.
”
You need to tell us a little about
yourself; why you think you’ll make a
good forum moderator and which of
Could you take on a
Mentor Moderator role?
Are you one of OUSA’s current
accredited moderators of the Online
Forum service with at least 12
months experience under your belt
and lots of understanding about
handling difficult online situations,
settling disputes and resolving
contentious issues in the forums?
We’re now looking for suitably
experienced moderators to join the
team of mentors who look after our
newbies who are starting to learn the
moderating ropes.
This role involves providing advice,
guidance and support on any
moderating matter during the first six
months of a new moderator’s career.
Mentor Mods might also be asked to
step into the breach when there is an
occasional shortfall of experience on a
forum that is in difficulty.
If you feel that you fit this bill and
would like to help, send a written
application to the OUSA Controller
at: [email protected]
stating how you feel that you could fit
this role effectively.
In your application you should provide
some examples of challenging online
situations that you’ve had to deal with
in your current moderator post.
Applications will be considered by the
OUSA Controller’s Advisory Panel
(CAP), who are the team of senior
elected students charged with
overseeing OUSA’s online presence.
There’s more information about the
role in section C of OUSA’s Guide to
the OUSA Forum Service which can
be accessed at the top of all OUSA
Forums.
the forums you’d be willing to help on
(No more than 300 words please).
All applications will be considered by
our senior team of elected students
who oversee the service. All
successful applicants will also be
given online training and the support
of a mentor for the first six months trial
period.
If you feel that you can help and that
your skills and experience could fit the
bill, then contact: ousa-controller@
open.ac.uk. This could be your chance
to get more involved, we’re really
looking forward to hearing from you!
The oddest place
you’ve ever done your
OU study?
Having read about the student
who filled their unwanted toilet
time when the train door refused
to open in the last edition of
OUstudents reminded me of my
own efforts, in a caravan, in the
middle of a muddy field in middle
England…
Outside raged a battle of the
Sealed Knot Re-enactment
Society, and furious rain shook
the van.
Writing by hand I wrote on earth
plate tectonics and achieved my
first A for a TMA. Much to my
surprise! I had barely three years
of schooling behind me and was
studying social sciences.
Ann Curry, OU student
#TopTip: If you’re going to do a varied course, scour charity shops for chunky reference books.
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OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
Louise Whitehill-Smith, OU student
“I’ve changed my life for the better.”
There’s nothing better than Facebook
for procrastination. Or Twitter. Or
looking at videos of cats. But what gets
in the way of my intention to study isn’t
my newsfeed or hashtags; it’s ME.
I had studied with tThe Open University before; I loved the freedom it gave
me to study at my own pace and the
ability to connect with my tutors and
fellow students online.
In 2012, after many, many trips to see
my GP, I was diagnosed with
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). I
suffer from debilitating fatigue,
exhaustion at the slightest bit of
exertion, random muscle pains and
weakness, frequent colds and
infections and headaches that make
opening my eyes a huge chore.
Having all the materials in my living
room and on my laptop made studying
so much easier. Now that I’m living
with ME, there really is no other way I
can study.
I have to rest a lot. And it’s frustrating.
I’m 27, and most people my age are
living their life to the very fullest, taking
hold of every opportunity they can. My
life is a lot less interesting and mainly
involves a duvet. I needed to keep my
mind occupied, stop it from going stale
while I slept my life away. In 2013, I
took on my biggest challenge since my
diagnosis: studying for the Certificate
in Mental Health Studies.
Quick links...
Make a donation to your
student charity
Get your NUS Extra Card
Get your OUSA
membership card
Join your Disabled Student’s
Group (DSG)
Volunteer with us
www.open.ac.uk/ousa
“
If it wasn’t for The OU,
I’d never have this
opportunity.
”
I have a huge passion for mental
health issues and want to help others
and make a difference in the world.
Having previously suffered mental
health problems myself and also
having volunteered with local mental
health charities, I decided that I should
follow what I loved and really try to
make a contribution to promoting good
mental health.
Right now, January 2014, I’m over half
way through my course. Although I’ve
enjoyed every bit of it, it’s not to say
there weren’t struggles. Lucky for me,
The OU and my Learner Support Team
have helped me with any problems
and offered me a range of solutions.
I’d definitely advise disclosing any disability or health problems to The OU,
it’s always confidential and they can
really help you along your path.
I’m due to finish my Certificate in the
summer and can’t wait to put my
qualification to good use. It hasn’t
been easy being a student with a
chronic illness, but without the OU, I
wouldn’t even have the opportunity to
be a student now.
I’ve changed my life for the better; ME
can’t hold me back.
Book review: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane Eyre follows the life of its
eponymous heroine, Jane. We watch
her come of age, from a parentless
child living with her self-obsessed,
often cruel aunt and cousins, and see
how she blossoms into the resilient
and capable young woman who truly
finds a home with the troubled Mr
Rochester.
Charlotte Bronte's most famous novel
excels in its descriptions as well as in
its depiction of Rochester's fallibility
and Jane's courage in always striving
to do what is right.
The novel makes its readers aware of
the restricted possibilities for women
like Jane in the mid Nineteenth century
yet the character herself is
inspirational in the kind way that she
responds to all of life's vicissitudes.
The novel allows for some comic
moments too when Mr Rochester
dresses as a gipsy and discomposes
Jane's deeply unpleasant rival. This
also serves to narrow the bridge
between the rich Rochester and
governess Jane.
It also features suggestions of the
supernatural which increases the
tension at crucial points, like when
Jane gets sent to the infamous 'Red
Room' by her wicked aunt.
Jane Eyre is a classic in English
Literature; a tale of love tested beyond
measure, of hope in dire
circumstances. It is a wonderful read
for all!
Carys Peasgood, OU student
#TopTip: If you have time, leave your finished EMA for a few days then go back and check again.
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OUstudents - SOCIETIES
Spring 2014
Spotlight on...
OUPS Weekend
The Law Society (OULS)
At the The Open University
Psychological Society’s (OUPS)
March weekend (7th – 9th March,
University of Warwick), several
different courses will be offering a
full weekend’s tuition:
The Open University Law Society
(OULS) is an active and friendly
society for current and past OU law
students and other OU students who
might be interested in law.
We arrange a number of events
throughout the year including
mooting workshops, internal
competitions and careers evenings.
We also enter OU teams into
competitions against other universities
and in 2013 OULS members won two
prestigious national mooting trophies
for The Open University, and we hope
to do even better next year!
We’re always open to new ways to
engage with members, and it only
costs £5 to join for the year!
Check out our website: www.ouls.org
or find us on Facebook or Twitter
(@OULawSoc).
DSE212 Springboard Weekend:
for students who are starting
DSE212 in February 2014 to help
them gain understanding and
insight.
ED209: Consolidation & Inspiration
Weekend: provides a mid-module
overview.
Quantitative Research Methods
Workshop: explains key concepts
in statistics and experimental
research methods in an
understandable way.
Get in touch:
T: 020 8315 0049
E: [email protected]
W: www.oups.org.uk
Best overheard #OUstudent comment: “2 down, 4 to go. The end is not nigh.”
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OUstudents - VOICE
Spring 2014
Hoodies, goodies and exam papers,
what do you think?
We’re looking to improve our
merchandise and we need your help!
OUSA Services Limited (OSL), the
Association’s private Ltd Company,
already offer OU students a wide
selection of study aids, practical
merchandise and high quality
memorabilia but, we’d like to hear your
thoughts on how these goods and
services can be developed.
Your answers will help us to add real
value whilst continuing to raise vital
funds to support students in financial
hardship and enhance the reputation
of your Students Association.
Click here to let us know
what you think!
in touch and let us know:
T: (01908) 652026
E: [email protected]
If you’ve not visited the
webstore yet then
take a look around!
It only takes 5 minutes, promise!
If you do have any questions or you’d
prefer to complete a paper survey, get
How representative is your
OUstudents magazine?
We received an email from a student
who wanted to tell us that they found
the Winter Edition of the magazine
too female orientated. They asked
the question: how representative is
OUstudents?
Well, we love hearing from you and
receiving your feedback, it’s what
drives us to make OUstudents an even
better student magazine.
However, we can only publish what we
receive so, we’d like to throw this back
to you OU students and ask you to
submit your stories for the next edition
of your magazine.
Your short and tweet
challenge...
In the winter edition of OUstudents
we asked you to write a super-short
story about OU student life in a
Tweet.
You can write about any experience
you’ve had as an OU student. You
might have achieved something
against the odds, feel passionate
about a certain issue or topic or, you
might just want to share your journey
with your fellow OU students.
That’s just 140 characters in which
to develop your plot and characters.
Here’s our favourite from Aisha
Hussain, OU student...
Whatever your story, we want to hear
from you!
‘Ok lets do this assignment, two
hours and it will be ready’!
Two Hours later....
‘What’!
‘oh no I fell asleep’!
Same time
tomorrow then ;D
All we ask is that you write around
200-300 words and (if you like)
accompany your story with a
high-resolution image of yourself and
send it over to: [email protected]
OUstudents survey winner
bags top discount card
Congratulations goes to Russell Dunn,
winner of our OUstudents magazine
survey prize draw who won a 12
month NUS Extra Card.
Russell said: “Finding out I had won
an NUS Extra card was a wonderful
surprise, such a diverse range of
discounts too, thank you!”
We’d like to thank everyone who took
part in the survey, all your feedback
will now go back into making your
student magazine better than ever!
To get your discount card visit:
http://www.open.ac.uk/ousa/
shop-ousa
#TopTip: Anyone who’s studying with the OU is eligible for student licence software.
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OUstudents - FOR FUN
Spring 2014
Look what we found...
We’ve been doing a spot of spring cleaning here at the
OUSA offices and, whilst rumaging through some old
boxes, we came across these little gems!
This is the OUSA bus, in Rome! The trip was specifically
organised for disabled OU students as part of the creation
of the book, ‘Have Wheels, Will Travel: Open University
Disabled Students’ Study Tour of Rome’.
We’d love to hear from you if you
remember the OUSA bus or, if you were
lucky enough to travel on it, if you’ve got
pictures, even better!
The images also got us thinking, if we had
a Students Association bus today, where
would we go?
Get in touch: [email protected]
Just for fun: OU students wordsearch
Following your feedback in our ‘OUstudents: What do you
think?’ survey (Winter 2013/14), we’re planning to put
together some ‘just for fun’ items for you. To get you started
we’ve put together an OU students wordsearch.
For the next edition we’d like to put together an OU
students crossword so, if you have any suggestions of
questions and answers, let us know: [email protected]
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#TopTip: Doing a language course? Read newspapers for extra practice.
Association
Charity
Community
Conference
Discounts
Educational
Elections
Exam / Papers
Facebook
Forums
Fun
Hoodies
Influence
Merchandise
Nations
News
Online
OUstudents
Peer /
Supporters
Regions
Representation
Research
Resources
Shopping
Societies
Twitter
Volunteer
Webshop
20
OUstudents - COMMUNITY
Spring 2014
What we’ve been up to...
University Challenge: Let’s meet the teams…
The future looks bright for a team of
OU Students on their way to the
televised rounds of University
Challenge, after 15 years without an
Open University team featuring on the
show.
The auditions highlighted the brilliance
of the OU Students competing for a
place on the OU team. The selectors,
your Vice-President Educational
Support and Research, Jon Rainford,
and Vice-President Representation,
Nik Morris, had a tough task choosing
the ten students who went for
interview with the production company
in Oxford on 20th January. They made
a good choice, and the teams put in a
great performance.
The contestants are already used
to the limelight, after being followed
throughout the process by a
camera crew who are putting together
a behind the scenes show to be aired
on BBC2 before the next series
commences. We’ll let you know when
to tune in to catch the programme.
We leave you eagerly expecting to see
your fellow OU Students representing
the OU on the new series of University
Challenge in the autumn. Watch this
space…
We gave #new2OU students a freshers week
Think OU Students don’t get a
Freshers Week? Think again! This
year we created a brand new website
for new students to welcome them into
the OU student world.
The website was the culmination of a
project which set out to discover what
OU students really want and need to
know in their first few weeks. A big
focus of the site was to help new
students become part of the OU
student community, making
connections with other students and
giving them the student’s perspective
on key sites like StudentHome.
We’re hoping this will become a
regular feature.
We made Government
listen!
We asked you to help us back the
campaign to save funding for
disadvantaged students, lots of you
did and you’ve helped make a real
difference!
Until students across the country
started making lots of noise, the
Government funding that supports
access to Higher Education for some
of the most disadvantaged students
(the Student Opportunities
Allocation), was set to be cut.
By joining forces with the NUS, OU
students have helped to shine a
spotlight on the Government’s plans
and most importantly, make them
rethink their decision.
What’s changed? Well, the war isn’t
won yet but, we’ve certainly
contributed to making it a lot harder
for this funding to be cut.
OU students
discussed key issues
Our Senate Reference Group met,
bringing students together, on
Campus, to discuss key issues
relating to being an OU student.
Note from the Editor: If you don’t want to receive future editions of OUstudents, unsubscribe by emailing [email protected].
The editorial team reserves the right to accept or reject any article submitted to the OUstudents magazine and to edit submitted articles in
any way deemed appropriate and necessary. The majority of the articles are written by students, for students, therefore, we can not
guarantee the original source of all articles.
#TopTip: Don’t panic. You usually only need 40% to pass. Just take things one step at a time.
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