Transforming professional practice
This module comprises a guided enquiry which develops your knowledge of a particular field in social work practice and leads to recommendations for improvement in your personal/work based context. During this module you will undertake an investigation of both evidence and experience. Enquiry focuses on one of three possible improvements within practice skill, service delivery or system development. You will explore the most effective means to disseminate the best practice that you have discovered, through publication, presentation at conference, preparation of a consultation paper and the making of a case for change to others.
Foundations for social work practice
Are you interested in social work or social care? Whatever your starting point, this key introductory OU level 1 module will develop your knowledge of the key roles of social care/social work, and introduce the standards and codes of practice relevant to each UK nation. You will also build key skills in information and communication technologies (ICT), information literacy and reflective writing. This module includes completion of a practice portfolio based on your current experience (within six months of module start) of paid or voluntary work in an appropriate social care setting. Your work experience should include provision of information on accessing services, and contribution to assessment, planning, delivery and review. The module also includes participation in three online practice skills workshops, and four online tutorials.
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History & The Arts
What makes a great speech?
Throughout history great orators have been able to capture a shift in the zeitgeist, and tap into an audience’s emotions. Speeches by John. F. Kennedy and Winston Churchill are considered among the greatest speeches of all time; but what made their speeches greater than the sum of their parts - and how did their structure and delivery manage to strike a chord that continues to resonate with people today? With contributions from Tony Blair’s ex speech writer Simon Lancaster and Tom Clark Editor of historic 20th Century speeches, this audio collection explores the methods and techniques used in great speeches that have allowed them to stand the test of time. This material forms part of The Open University course A150 Voices and Texts
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Health, Sports & Psychology
Working for health
What does your health mean to you? What features in society affect it? The tracks on this album explore influences such as stress, housing and employment on everyday health, and examines debates about the relative importance of individual lifestyles and looks at wider public-health concerns and the impact of changes in NHS policy and practice on the delivery of health care. Health is increasingly ‘everybody’s business’. This album will provide you with insight into the debates that surround human health, and will enable you to appreciate and review your own and alternative standpoints and values in this important area of study. This material forms part of The Open University course K203 Working for health.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Business operations
This series of tracks examines the operations management in four service industries. Each has unique problems associated with their sector but they all have operational processes to ensure smooth delivery of their product. Material is taken from The Open University Course T883 Business operations: delivering value.
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Education & Development
Lord David Puttnam on New Media Opportunities
In this wide-ranging and provocative interview, David Puttnam spells out the impact that digitisation will have on both traditional TV broadcasters and on specialist providers such as the OU. Essentially, viewers will be able not only to control what they see amd when they want it, but also use technology to interact with the content in exciting new ways. This trend towards ‘narrowcasting’ rather than ‘broadcasting’ could be very good news for the OU, providing they choose delivery partners with the same strategic public service objectives, endeavour to make their content more relevant, and embrace innovative new approaches to learning.