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YXM130 allows you to select your own curriculum so that you can study the subjects you are most interested in. This gives you the opportunity to learn more in the subjects you have chosen for your Highers or broaden your study to include topics that are not offered at your school.
Structure of YXM130
YXM130 covers 300 hours of learning split between your choice of curriculum and the materials and assessments provided via the YXM130 module website. You select 150 hours of learning, of which up to 50 hours can come from your Highers, and the module team provide materials and assessments which consolidate your learning filling the remaining 150 hours.
Choosing what to study
OpenLearn offers 100s of free courses which you can select to make up your own personalised study plan. The OpenLearn website groups courses into 9 broad subject areas to help you find the things you are interested in. All our free courses - OpenLearn - Open University
Although your YXM130 tutor will help you develop your study plan, it is best to have some ideas on what you might include ahead of the module start.
Assuming you plan to go onto further university study, we recommend you select both study skills and subject based courses. Developing your study skills will help you perform well in your Highers as well as preparing you for the future.
To give you an idea of the range of courses available, below are some examples from four popular discipline areas. There are many more courses available on OpenLearn covering a wide range of topics so YXM130 offers a really flexible way to study.
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The courses listed above are
just some from the huge catalogue available.
Some study skills courses you might want to consider are:
Study skills courses
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Taking your first steps into higher education
Learn more to access more details of Taking your first steps into higher educationWhat is university study like? Is it for me? If you are asking yourself these questions, this free course is for you. Taking your first steps into higher education provides insights into how subjects are studied at university. This introduction to carefully selected materials helps you decide what you might want to study. You will be ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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All my own work: exploring academic integrity
Learn more to access more details of All my own work: exploring academic integrityAre you currently studying? This free course, All my own work: exploring academic integrity, is designed to help you build confidence in producing your own work for academic purposes. You will explore what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, and learn how and when to reference. The course also includes an interactive to work through, which will ...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Diagrams, charts and graphs
Learn more to access more details of Diagrams, charts and graphsDiagrams, charts and graphs are used by all sorts of people to express information in a visual way, whether it's in a report by a colleague or a plan from your interior designer. This free course will teach you how to interpret these tools and how to use them yourself to convey information more effectively.
Level: 1 Introductory
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Reading and note taking – preparation for study
Learn more to access more details of Reading and note taking – preparation for studyReading and note taking are two essential study skills. How do you read? This free course, Reading and note taking preparation for study, will introduce you to different techniques to help you to alter the way you read according to the type of material you are studying. You will also learn the techniques behind successful note taking and how to...
Level: 1 Introductory
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Essay and report writing skills
Learn more to access more details of Essay and report writing skillsWriting reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. Learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report. This free course, Essay and report writing skills, is designed to help you develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes.
Level: 1 Introductory
Most YASS students select
OpenLearn courses aligned to what they have applied to study at other
universities in the following year. If you are unsure about your future choices
YXM130 offers the opportunity to test different subject areas, and you can
change your study plans as you progress through the module.
Another way your course choices in YXM130 can support you is through selecting courses that directly support your current Higher study. For example, if you are studying a language Higher you might select an Openlearn course in that language to develop your skills and widen your vocabulary.
When looking at the OpenLearn website you will see that the course listings indicate the number of hours and the course level. We recommend selecting introductory level courses (Level 1), unless you already have expertise in a particular topic.
The YXM130 module website and your tutor will give you further guidance on your final study plan which will need to include 150 hours of learning that you have chosen.
As a YASS student you are able to use your Higher study for up to 50 hours of your chosen learning, to which you need to add 100 hours of courses from OpenLearn.
There are also some example study pathways created by OU members of staff, based on subjects they would be interested in studying if they registered for the module. If you would like to look at some additional subject pathways collated by the module team, click here.