1.2 Response to winter: understanding at different levels
In this unit, we study one aspect of the fluctuating nature of an organism's environment. We consider how organisms living in a temperate climate, such as that in Britain, are adapted to cope with winter. You will see that there is much diversity of adaptations among organisms, with different species coping with the demands of a fluctuating environment in quite different ways. As cyclic variations are a widespread feature of environments, the range of adaptations to them is an important source o
1.2 Response to winter: understanding at different levels
In this unit, we study one aspect of the fluctuating nature of an organism's environment. We consider how organisms living in a temperate climate, such as that in Britain, are adapted to cope with winter. You will see that there is much diversity of adaptations among organisms, with different species coping with the demands of a fluctuating environment in quite different ways. As cyclic variations are a widespread feature of environments, the range of adaptations to them is an important source o
5.3 Appreciating your basis for understanding
Do you need to change the way you think when faced with a complex situation? This unit examines how systemic thinking and practice enables you to cope with the connections between things, events and ideas. By taking a broader perspective complexity becomes manageable and it is easier to accept that gaps in knowledge can be acceptable.
4.1 Understanding the relationship between data and space
Cars have sat nav systems, mobile phones use GPS: maps are important in everyday life whether captured by aerial photography, satellite imagery or simply drawn. This unit looks at how we read and evaluate the information in maps and assesses the values embedded within them. From mental maps to public transport and street maps: how do they affect your life?
Stage 5: Understanding and learning the course material
Do you get stressed at the thought of an examination? Does the idea of revision fill you with dread? This unit will provide a host of tips to help you improve your revision and examination techniques and enable you to manage your time effectively by creating a timetable for your revision.
Memory and Understanding
Do you get stressed at the thought of an examination? Does the idea of revision fill you with dread? This unit will provide a host of tips to help you improve your revision and examination techniques and enable you to manage your time effectively by creating a timetable for your revision.
Understanding process words
Do you get stressed at the thought of an examination? Does the idea of revision fill you with dread? This unit will provide a host of tips to help you improve your revision and examination techniques and enable you to manage your time effectively by creating a timetable for your revision.
2.2 Memorising, understanding and doing
How do we learn? Understanding ‘how’ is the key to learning more effectively. This unit looks at the three main categories of theories: the acquisitive, constructivist and experiential models of learning. There is no right way to learn but developing an active approach will ensure that you are open to new ideas.
2: Understanding the importance of thinking skills
Diagrams, mind-maps, tables, graphs, time lines, flow charts, sequence diagrams, decision trees: all can be used to organise thought. This unit will introduce you to a variety of thinking skills. Asking and answering questions is at the heart of high-quality thinking. Questions naturally arise from the desire to know and learn about things and may be the starting point for a journey of understanding.
Understanding operations management
Operations management is one of the central functions of all organisations whether producing goods or services, or in the private, public or voluntary sectors. This unit will provide you with a basic framework for understanding this function and discusses the role of operations managers, in particular the importance of focusing on suppliers and customers.
7.2 Understanding the limits of rationality
Do you hate making decisions? Does the ability of others to make snap decisions really frustrate you? This unit will help you understand some of the processes involved in decision making. Attention to the psychology of decision making and the social context in which decisions are made can improve your understanding of others and yourself.
1.1 A shared understanding
Graphs are a common way of presenting information. However, like any other type of representation, graphs rely on shared understandings of symbols and styles to convey meaning. Also, graphs are normally drawn specifically with the intention of presenting information in a particularly favourable or unfavourable light, to convince you of an argument or to influence your decisions.
3.3 Understanding why some parents decide not to be partners
In this unit we look at the notion of parents as partners. We identify a cluster of reasons why partnership is considered important - for children, parents and practitioners - and give examples of ways in which it can be interpreted in practice. We also outline a conceptual framework to accommodate the possible range of parental involvement and partnership practice.
1.3 Ways of understanding ‘difference’
Interpersonal communication in health and social care services is by its nature diverse. As a consequence, achieving good or effective communication – whether between service providers and service users, or among those working in a service – means taking account of diversity, rather than assuming that every interaction will be the same. This unit explores the ways in which difference and diversity impact on the nature of communication in health and social care services.
Understanding the need for presentations
Effective communication is the key to a successful presentation. This unit will provide you with a systematic approach to develop the necessary skills. It is important to understand that effective presentation skills can be practised and learned. It is the content of your presentation, and the simple delivery of clear and reasoned arguments, which will help you to achieve your objectives.
7.4 Understanding RFID tags
Are you a technophobe? Bluetooth, Ethernet WiFi – are they terms that mean nothing to you? This unit will gently guide you to an understanding of how devices 'talk' to each other and what technologies and processes are involved. You will also look at wired and wireless communication technologies, introducing you to some of the key methods involved.
Y158: Understanding health
Alcohol abuse, healthy living and Alzheimer’s disease all regularly hit the headlines. This unit will take a brief look at these issues and introduces you to the type of issues that you would be asked to examine should you wish to study OU course Y158 Understanding Health.
Extract one from Y158 Understanding health
Alcohol abuse, healthy living and Alzheimer’s disease all regularly hit the headlines. This unit will take a brief look at these issues and introduces you to the type of issues that you would be asked to examine should you wish to study OU course Y158 Understanding Health.
Extract two from Y158 Understanding health
Alcohol abuse, healthy living and Alzheimer’s disease all regularly hit the headlines. This unit will take a brief look at these issues and introduces you to the type of issues that you would be asked to examine should you wish to study OU course Y158 Understanding Health.
Extract three from Y158 Understanding health
Alcohol abuse, healthy living and Alzheimer’s disease all regularly hit the headlines. This unit will take a brief look at these issues and introduces you to the type of issues that you would be asked to examine should you wish to study OU course Y158 Understanding Health.













