How to study this unit
This unit is slightly different to other OpenLearn free courses: although you could just study this unit, it is also the first unit in the free Succeed with maths – part 1 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] course, which is being launched as a pilot. This is an exciting new approach to give you more flexibility and a pathway to expand your learning, so please bear with us if things are not quite right.
Succeed with maths – part 1 is for people who would like to become more confident with some fundamental maths, using a calculator effectively and learning to develop problem solving strategies, while being able to practice general study skills and how to use a computer to become an effective learner.
The unit is designed to be studied within a week and should take around five hours to complete, although you can take as long as you like; however, if you are studying the unit as part of the Succeed with maths – part 1 course, you may like to aim to complete each unit within the week.
Please note: if you are studying this unit as part of the Succeed with maths – part 1 course, once you have enrolled we recommend you go straight to the badge activities section if you have read the following in the previous unit.
Working through this unit
As you work through the unit, breaks will be important. You will have to determine how long you can study this material before you need to stop and relax. Be sure to take advantage of all of your resources – friends, family, the Internet.
Pay close attention to how maths is written in the unit and how you write the corresponding details in your maths notebook. Maths is a language, so how we write it really does matter.
Maths notebook
As you work through the unit it is a good idea to keep a notebook where you can do all the activities that you come across and also make notes of key words and concepts. To learn maths, you need to try problems on your own and write things down. Make a note of the section that a problem or fact came from and give each entry a specific, meaningful title. This will make it easier to find the original place the item came from.
Thinking about how you are getting on with your learning is also very helpful when it comes to improving how you are learning or simply looking back on your progress so far. You can use your maths notebook to do this as well. Consider things such as whether you have found the best time to study, whether you are taking enough or too many notes, and whether you have understood all the concepts covered in a unit.
Keep your learning active. Consider using coloured pens or highlighters to mark up different aspects in your notebook; for example, blue for important definitions, yellow for useful techniques, pink for questions that you want to come back to, and so on. This will make things easier to find if you need to scan back over your work later. Alternately, you may find a traffic light system works well for you – red for things you do not understand, yellow for areas that need more work, and green if you do understand the topic – and can apply it.
Some students like to use a fairly big notebook with one page for the mathematics and the facing page for notes and comments on how a concept works. Writing things down in your own words will help your understanding. This will give you a handy review of the main ideas that you can refer to later. People learn in different ways, and it is important for you to experiment to find out which methods work best for you. Your maths notebook is yours!
Support
While there is no official support on this unit, we hope that the community of learners studying it will build the confidence to support each other and share ideas. However, because this is the first time that the unit has been run, the OpenLearn team will be monitoring the comments and forums to assist where we see common issues.
Comments and forums
You can share your ideas and ask questions either via the comments function or in the unit forum. If you have questions or (because this is a pilot unit) suggestions for the OpenLearn team on how we could improve the unit/course, please post these in the forum discussion titled ‘Questions for OpenLearn’.
Pencasts
This unit also features pencasts, which are animated PDF files with an audio commentary. In order to view these you will need to have Adobe Reader X or higher with the volume on your computer/device turned up.
Badges
We know that recognition for studying our units is important to you. Although you can still access the statement of activity that records your progress through a unit, you can also now gain a unit badge. If you choose to study all the units in that make up the Succeed with maths – part 1 course, you can also gain a course badge.
What are badges?
Badges are a means of digitally recognising certain skills and achievements in OpenLearn. Acquiring badges is entirely optional; they do not carry any formal credit from The Open University, as they are not subject to the same rigour as formal assessment and nor are they proof that you have studied the full unit – but they can be a useful means of demonstrating participation and recognising informal learning.
There are three types of badges within OpenLearn that are based on the type of unit or course you are participating in: technical skills, knowledge and understanding, and professional and personal development.
How can you gain a badge for this unit?
To gain a badge for this unit, you will need to agree to the badge trust statement and complete a number of set activities. When you have met all the criteria to gain the unit badge, it will be issued. You will receive an email to notify you that it has been issued and it will automatically display within your MyOpenLearn, usually within 24 hours of completing the last activity to gain the badge.
What is the badge trust statement?
OpenLearn’s non-accredited badging system relies on trust. We trust you to answer the questions in this unit drawing on your own skills and knowledge because we do not have formal exams or invigilation as part of these Succeed with maths – part 1 units and course. The badge trust statement asks you to agree that the answers you submit to activities are your own work and that you will not share answers with other learners.
What can I do with my badge?
Once you have your badge you can use it, along with your statement of activity, to show that you participated in selected badged units on OpenLearn. You might like to share your badge with your friends and family, either via email or through social networking sites; alternatively – because the badges used in OpenLearn support Mozilla Open Badges – you could add your badge to your Mozilla Open Badge Backpack, which will allow you to display your badges on your blog or web page.
Currently, if you would like to print your badge details, you will need to use the Print Screen function on your computer.
Enrolment
This unit is for people who are thinking about making changes in their lives, such as returning to study or taking a different direction at work. It will help you build on what you already know; consider the choices open to you; use your skills and qualities to achieve change; and make plans for the future.
Although you can view this unit without enrolling, in order to participate in its activities and quizzes, and gain the unit badge and a certificate of participation, you need to enrol.