Archived OU course materials and partnership projects shared as OER for repurposing or inspiration for up to date courses and resources.
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Managing Organisational Knowledge for Sustainability and Competitive Advantage
This unit examines the number of challenges associated with personal and organisational learning.
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4 hrs
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Performance measurement and evaluation
This course was last presented in 1999, it was designed for senior managers in all types of organisations who wanted to understand how performance measurement can contribute to effective management and decision-making.
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24+ hrs
- Copyright: University of Exeter
Developing communities of eco business practice
This unit examines the development of eco-business practice and local eco-business communities and will outline the public, participatory and inclusive imperitives.
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4 hrs
- Copyright: The Open University
Masters Programme in Education
This compilation of materials is a valuable resource for postgraduation students involved in educational research, either from a professional or an academic standpoint.
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24+ hrs
- Copyright: iStockphoto
An introduction to technology and innovation policy research
This is an interdisciplinary module that provides an introduction to technology and innovation policy and research in this field. The emphasis is on examining issues of interdisciplinary research embracing economic, sociological and managerial orientations. The approach is to build understanding of technology policy and technology innovations processes thereby providing a robust grounding, before exploring research methods employed to investigate technology and innovation policy. It is important to appreciate that this is not a research methods course as research techniques are not actively taught. Instead, a selection of research tools are introduced and applied to technology policy and innovation. Thus, it focuses on methods and skills best suited for technology policy and innovation rather than being comprehensive.
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24+ hrs
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Career and life planning workbook
You’d like to step back and take stock on your career and life to date, and decide which way your life should be going. This workbook allows you to review your current situation so that you can make informed and considered plans for the future.
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15 hrs
- Copyright: OU
Computers: bits & bytes
If you have no idea how your computer works, then this unit is for you. You will learn the basic operating principles and what the various components do. The unit will explain what factors affect the power of a computer and what the difference is between mainframes and PCs. A gentle introduction to the workings of a computer.
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3 hrs
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Democratisation in Eastern Europe
This is an undergraduate level 2 course from the Faculty of Social Sciences presented between 1992 and 2001. The materials accessible here were recorded in 1999.
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1 hr
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Early professional development for teachers
This course was presented between 2001-2003, at postgraduate level. On completion of the course techers received the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development (Teaching and Learning), which could also count (30 points) towards the Master’s Programme in Education. The original course was suitable for teachers in the early stages of their careers who wanted to structure their continuing professional development. It was suitable for all subject teachers, and was designed in consultation with several curriculum associations.
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24+ hrs
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Ecology
Ecology is the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environment – a truly vast area of biology. The original course examined the biological principles that are the basis for analysing and understanding ecological situations, and should give you some of the skills and knowledge needed by professional ecologists.
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24+ hrs
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Educational management in action
This course formed part of the master's programme in education, enabling teachers to develop the skills and understanding they needed to contribute to the improvement in the quality of education through investigating management issues and reflecting on professional practice, both their own and that of others. The final presentation of the course was February 2004, a 60 point course, at postgraduate level.
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24+ hrs
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Educational research in action
This course was last presented in February 2007. The course was presented as part of the Masters in Education Programme as well as an element of the Doctorate in Education.
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24+ hrs
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Effective leadership and management in education
The module provided here was last presented in February 2002. The module formed part of a masters programme in education and is based on the premise that all who are involved in teaching and learning can have a role in educational leadership.
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24+ hrs
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Elements of statistics
This was the core text for students of the Open University’s practical introductory course on statistics, M246 Elements of Statistics. Written to support self-study it provides an excellent foundation in statistics.
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24+ hrs
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Engineering mechanics: solids
These materials comprise the core teaching text of T235, which is an introductory course to mechanical/aeronautical/materials engineering. Engineering mechanics: solids was last presented in 2003.
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24+ hrs
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Healthcare technology management
In modern healthcare, healthcare technology has a major role to play in order to serve the objective of high-standard healthcare provision. The planning and management of healthcare technology is complex and diverse. It requires combined knowledge, which includes engineering, commercial, logistics and planning, and management skills.
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15 hrs
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Introduction to animal physiology
Physiology is the study of how organisms function. The emphasis in this unit is on the functioning of vertebrate animals, including humans, and a variety of solutions to the problems posed by different habitats and ways of life are illustrated. This unit will be of particular interest to those who have a general concern for biology and those engaged in teaching and research.
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24+ hrs
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Introduction to International Economic Law
This unit is an introduction to the subject of International Economic Law. It includes a historical development of the subject and refers to the principal organisations related to International Economic Law.
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8 hrs
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Issues in deafness
Undergraduate level 2 course from the Faculty of Social Sciences presented between 1991 and 1996. The materials accessible here are from 1995.
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24+ hrs
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Language and literacy in a changing world
This unit explores the rapidly changing field of language and literacy studies and its relevance to teaching and learning. It’ll help you gain a deeper understanding of the nature of language and literacy, and to learn a range of ways of analysing different kinds of language in context.
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24+ hrs
- Copyright: The Open University
Law, the internet and society
The Internet has changed our lives. This unit will help you to understand how the development of the internet led to an explosion of innovation and creativity, the creation of a ‘commons’ envornment and how reactions to these developments could affect opportunities to use and share ideas in the future.
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24+ hrs
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Learning schools programme
The programme was built around the concept of networks of Local Advisers consulting and negotiating a training package tailored to the needs of all or part of a school staff. These LEA Adviser teams provide support for schools and teachers and are equipped with a range of text and audio-visual resources to assist them. Teachers on the Programme undertook their own needs assessment and prioritise various professional tasks and activities to help meet them. The programme materials and support structures facilitated the completion of their selected tasks. The materials consisted of booklets, textbooks, a resource-led web site and subject/phase-based CD-ROMs of examples of good classroom practices using ICT. The support structures include contact with LEA Advisors, face-to-face and by e-mail, and access to a series of moderated local and national electronic conferences. The materials comprise both generic and subject specific content covering Primary and 16 Secondary subjects and country versions where required, including teacher packs in Welsh.
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24+ hrs
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Learning to teach reading
This material is taken from a discontinued Open University course. It is intended for re-purposing and re-use by educators rather than for use directly by learners. Learning outcomes appropriate to the original course may be provided within the material, but it is intended that educators will construct new learning outcomes appropriate to the re-use they make of this material.
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24+ hrs
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Liverpool slave city first
This is an undergraduate level 2 course from the Faculty of Social Sciences presented between 1995 and 2005. The materials accessible here were recorded in 1994.
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1 hr
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Living arts
The Living Arts series of study modules introduced pre-degree students to the key ideas and skills involved in studying humanities. The complete series included study modules on: Words, Sounds, Images, Places, Ideas, A Living Culture. Here we present Words and Sounds. The Living Arts course has now been replaced by Y160 Making Sense of the Arts.
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24+ hrs
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Market Research Methods
Conducting market research can involve employing both quantitative and qualitative research models. This unit gives an overview of both and how they can be used effectively to investigate your customer service levels.
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8 hrs
- Copyright: The Open University
Mentoring in Primary Schools
This material is taken from a discontinued Open University course. It is intended for re-purposing and re-use by educators rather than for use directly by learners. Learning outcomes appropriate to the original course may be provided within the material, but it is intended that educators will construct new learning outcomes appropriate to the re-use they make of this material.
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24+ hrs
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Open Educational Research Assets
The proposed OER will pull together existing internal and external resources under five themes to act as a collection of Master’s level training resources that focus on educational research methodology and techniques.
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24+ hrs
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Political Ordering
This unit discusses ways in which our lives are ordered by the state. The focus is largely on the question ‘How is society made and repaired?’ But you will also be looking at questions of differences and inequalities. You may find you need to work harder to see the significance of this second key question, but the effort will be worthwhile.
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1 hr
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Preparing for development
These materials comprise a preparatory pack for the courses U213 International Development: Challenges for a World in Transition and TU871 Development Context and Practice.
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24+ hrs
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Professional development with ICT
This course was originally part of the MA Programme in Education but could also be studied on its own. The last presentation of this course was February 2004. The course aimed to develop a teacher’s understanding of issues fundamental to the analysis of change in the school. Both professional and school development were considered, linking teaching using ICT (information and communication technology) to theoretical concepts. Methods such as ‘evidence-based’ practice and crticial evaluation were explored in relation to personal and school priorities.
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24+ hrs
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Project mathematics update
Project Mathematics Update was a collection of materials produced by the Open University’s Centre for Mathematics Education (CME) for use in Local Education Authority courses for retraining teachers as mathematics teachers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The materials are typical of CME in that they consist largely of tasks with limited commentary.
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24+ hrs
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Research methods in Education and the Social Sciences
Undergraduate level 3 course from the Faculty of Social Sciences presented between 1993 and 1998. The materials accessible here are from 1998.
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24+ hrs
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Researching student learning
This book Researching Student Learning: Approaches to Studying in Campus-based and Distance Education by John T.E. Richardson, first published in 2000, is an important resource for all those concerned with leaning and teaching in universities and colleges, whether in campus-based or distance learning institutions.
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24+ hrs
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Responding to Customer Needs
This unit uses SWOT and PEST analysis and SMART targets models to help you to identify your current market position, identify your customer’s needs and plan for future changes.
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24+ hrs
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Science for primary teachers
PS458 Science for Primary Teachers was a course designed to help promote knowledge and understanding of science. This unit also contains some relevant material form the course S624 Primary Teachers Learning Science.
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24+ hrs
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Self Regulated Learning
This course provides an introduction to the new learning technologies that empower self-regulated learning and personal learning environments.
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3 hrs
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Social problems and social welfare
Undergraduate level 2 course from the Faculty of Social Sciences presented between 1988 and 1997. The materials accessible here are from 1997
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24+ hrs
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Spanish: La historia piedra a piedra
If you already have a working knowledge of the Spanish language this unit will help to improve you ability to describe places, events and routines in the past. By using Medieval Spain as the setting you will learn crucial grammatical points regarding the preterite and imperfect tenses.
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12 hrs
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Statistics in society
This course was presented for the last time in February 2006. The course materials covers statistical information and the ways of dealing with it, playing an increasingly important part in our lives. This course offers an uncomplicated yet critical introduction to current (2006) statistical ideas and practice, and demonstrates a variety of applications of statistics in everyday life. Statistical concepts are introducted to help make sense of practical problems and to help answer such questions as: ‘Are we becoming better off?’ and ‘Is my child developing normally?’
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24+ hrs
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Sustainable product innovation
This unit will outline the concept of sustainable product innovation, explore the benefits of ‘green’ designs and examine the social-take up of such approaches.
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4 hrs
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Teaching and course design in higher education
This course was designed for people teaching or supporting teaching at higher education level, such as teachers, tutors, lecturers, supervisors and student support staff (such as librarians, educational technology and e-learning managers or academic supervisors). The course was originally accredited by the Institute of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (ILTHE, currently part of the Higher Education Academy) as a route towards membership. The work of a teacher clearly involves much more than classroom performance and the traditional activities that have always aimed to engage students in learning. Teaching embraces planning and running sessions, designing learning environments, supervising and mentoring students in practice situations, marking and giving feedback on student work, undertaking the associated administration, coping with a multifaceted workload and managing complex relationships with colleagues. Successful teachers will also be reflecting across the range of their experiences and planning for continuing development.
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24+ hrs
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Teaching and learning with ICT
This course was part of the MA Programme in Education but could also be studied on its own. The last presentation of this course was September 2002.
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24+ hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: Art
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: Art booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching art to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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20 hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: English
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: English booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching English to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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24+ hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: Geography
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: Geography booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching geography to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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20 hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: History
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: History booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching history to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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20 hrs
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Teaching in primary schools: mathematics
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: Mathematics booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching mathematic to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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24+ hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: Music
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: Music booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching music to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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20 hrs
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Teaching in Primary Schools: Technology
The booklet provided here formed part of the Primary Post Graduate Certificate in Education course which ran between 1994 and 1998. The Teaching in Primary School: Technology booklet was designed to help student teachers understand the issues surrounding teaching technology to primary pupils and provide some strategies to aid their teaching.
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20 hrs