Open University

That's not very inspiring is it Caz? Hope it's just a minor glitch... everyday thinking sounds interesting - look forward to hearing more soon.

First day of the "Everyday Thinking" course, and there seemed nothing too demanding. Unfortunately the site went down and I spent a couple of fruitless hours trying to re-access the comments page. I did wonder if this was a test. Positive thinking and all that!!

Edx, oooh, another site to check out. Thanks for that. I'm half way through my first FutureLearn course and am enjoying it a lot. It's very well presented, lots of useful links and downloads and it's been interesting reading the comments of other participants on each element. I'm learning loads - did you know, for instance, that there are forums for credit card thieves and they use pm's to agree deals to buy and sell data? It's being analysed by web scientists, apparently!

Very interesting info on this thread, I was also unaware of these free courses but have spent the morning browsing and have signed up with a site called edX for a course starting in March on "The Science of Everyday Thinking." Really looking forward to that and also another one, a free course with FutureLearn starting in April on "Start Writing Fiction," so some challenging and rewarding projects to come.

Wisewoman/lefthanded - interesting to note the relevance of degree opportunities in the old-style civil service. In my day - a long time ago - the Civil Service would only pay for relevant evening classes or sometimes correspondence courses but my advancement through HMC&E from Clerical Officer to the Waterguard to Landing Officer was via pretty stiff Civil Service Commission Competitions, exams and interviews. Gruelling but rewarding. I always thought it was a pity to break up the old C&E. but there you are, these things happen. Nice to catch a whiff of nostalgia, even though its all ancient history now.

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Lefthand one of my friends did exactly what you did with the OU. She worked for the Inland Revenue and then was privatized. I finished in 1988 and like yourself went in as an EO and retired as an SEO or equivalent grade. I was in C&E before it was integrated. Thoroughly enjoyed it too.

Thanks for that, Wisewoman, I'll look out for it. I've just finished week 1 of the web science course and I'm hooked! I like the format and the subject and now I've got lots to think about and research until week 2 begins on Monday.

Mollie Tutor on philosophy course says it is presented twice a year. Have spent an afternoon on the "philosophy of mind" lectures and my brain
(?mind) feels like mince!

I wonder if these are on a rolling programme because I'd like to do that Philosophy course! I think mine was first rolled out last year so I'll keep my fingers crossed...as you say, wisewoman, all this free learning is a definate bonus! Suits me fine because it's short term commitment so no fear I'll get bored and give up!

That is great mollie. I am really enjoying the Introduction to Philosophy course The lectures are really good and, as you say, you get handouts as well. At the end of each section there is a "quiz" where you can see how much of the lecture has been retained! Starting "Causes of War" one in March. All this free education is wonderful.

Just a quick catch-up... I started my first MOOC today via Futurelearn. I'm doing a Web Sciences course and have spent a couple of very interesting hours on the history of the web. The presentations were great, the downloadable materials excellent (so no need to take mad notes as transcripts of the talks etc were available to download) and there were lots of links to other sites for related materials to supplement what the course offered. The FutureLearn site is easy to navigate and use. And even better, it's all free! I'm looking forward to continuing and have already signed up for a couple more (these courses are short at around 3 hours per week for six weeks) - thank you to those who pointed me in their direction !

I did an OU degree in the 70s/80s and most of my fees were paid by the local authority. When I got to the last year, the policy and changed and they were not paying grants for OU study but luckily for me my father-in-law paid the last year's fees for me.

For me it was a life-changer. I left school at 16 (in 1967) with three "O" levels and in the early-eighties I was working as a manufacturers representative for Izal (yes - the toilet-paper people) - but with my OU Degree which was IT-based, I applied to the Civil Service and got a job as a EO-grade programmer. I retired from the Civil Service as SEO. I would never have got that job without my degree.

I did my MA in Education over 3 years with the OU when I had 4 young children. This led to amazingly good job opportunities and I ended up being an OU associate lecturer on a 3rd level course. Highly recommend this method of study. The materials are superb and means very little extra expenditure. Fees are now very high though due to government shift of focus from education for all to vocational agenda. Priority for funding goes to those wanting to gain first degree or vocational progression. Pity! Open University philosophy started as being a liberal provision to those who missed their opportunities in their youth for Further Education. My father was one of the first students, having missed out on a chance to go to uni due to WW2. Achieved his longed for degree BA in Education at the age of 56.

One advantage of OU that is different from most distance learning is the high quality support structure from allocated tutors (ALs).

Oh, yes, so he does ga. He looks like he's still in his late forties.

I googled his photo when and he looks exactly the same as he did twenty+ years ago. I want some of whatever he's been having!

.....by the way, ga he was chair of the British Psychological Society last year. Knows his stuff.

We'll meet one day and discover we've been sitting in the same room in years gone by ga

Yes, when, same tutor - small world.

Isn't it great that so many of our grans have done so well with the OU? Who was it said that education is too good for the young? I'm almost sure that I would have gained a better degree if I'd been more mature.

I started my OU courses in the late 70s, and during my years of study I had my three daughters, three years in total between the three of them. It was hard but very worthwhile - I recall at least the first year or two was fully funded by the old ILEA. Following my degree I then qualified as a solicitor. I cannot speak to highly of the OU. A couple of years ago I looked into doing further study with the OU, just for fun and to keep my brain in shape, but decided the cost was unacceptable. It is sad the OU is no longer readily available to all due to the cost restraints.

ga I wouldn't be surprised if we did have the same tutor. Mine was Peter Bannister - he was based at Manchester Uni. I attended Saturday morning tutorials on Oxford Rd - Social Psychology was my favourite course. Long live the OU!

Another one here who did Social Psychology with the OU. I wonder if we shared the same tutor when? I completed it a couple of years before going on to do Social Work at university in Manchester.
Now I'm going to have a quick mooch around these free courses that have been mentioned before toddling off to bed.

I loved the OU. It had such a high standard standard in every aspect. They were very supportive of mature students who were returning to study often after a number of years. I did it for 3 years, culminating in a Shakespeare course which I enjoyed so much I was really upset when it ended.
I did go on to Uni after the OU.
Highly recommend it. It has an excellent reputation, well deserved.

Wisewoman - yes, I'm really looking forward to it.