An introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER)
In this free course, An introduction to Open Educational Resources (OER), you will look at some institutional OER initiatives. These will include MIT's open courseware, Carnegie Mellon's Open Learning Initiative and The Open University's OpenLearn. You will get a flavour of how different OER initiatives design and present the content for their audiences. This OpenLearn course will also give you the opportunity to find, discuss and redesign some OER material. You can choose your audience for the
Introduction Learning how to learn is a process in which we all engage throughout our lives, although often we do not realise that we are, in fact, learning how to learn. Most of the time we concentrate on what we are learning rather than how we are learning it. In this course, we aim to make the process of learning much more explicit by inviting you to apply the various ideas and activities to your own current or recent study as a way of increasing your awareness of your own learning
Careers education and guidance (Chinese)
本å…费课程是“èŒä¸šç”Ÿæ¶¯æ•™è‚²ä¸ŽæŒ‡å¯¼â€è¯¾ç¨‹çš„䏿–‡ç¿»è¯‘ç‰ˆæœ¬ï¼Œè‹±æ–‡åŽŸç‰ˆä¹Ÿåœ¨æœ¬ç½‘ç«™ä¸æä¾›ã€‚ This free course is the Chinese version of Careers education and guidance which is also available in English.
First published on Thu, 17 Mar 2016 as Author(s):
Understanding society: Families
In this free course, Understanding society: Families, you will explore how different families have different ideas about how work in the home should be divided. You will also investigate the diversity of families. We will see how any discussion of the division of labour has to recognise that families differ in terms of shape and size.
Learning to learn: You and your learning
In this free course, Learning to learn: You and your learning, the focus is on the perspective that you have on your own learning. However, as you gather evidence about this perspective, we hope that you will begin to re-evaluate it and to think about the possibility of change. PLEASE NOTE: this course is currently being reviewed. An updated and improved version of the course can be found here: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/succeed-learning/content-section-overview.Author(s):
Learning to learn: Reflecting backward, reflecting forward
This free course, Learning to learn: Reflecting backward, reflecting forward, gives you an opportunity to review what you have learned, and allow you to think about how you will take forward what you have learned, perhaps building and developing an Action Plan in order to support other aspects of change. PLEASE NOTE: this course is currently being reviewed. An updated and improved version of the course can be found here: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/education/succeed-learning/content-section-ov
Introduction There is an ongoing ‘revolution’ in the running of UK state schools and this is making the position of the school business manager (or bursar) both significant and necessary. Government thinking, together with profound changes in society generally, will affect every institution both in terms of pedagogy and the physical environment, particularly technology and levels of security employed. This course will look at how you – an existing or aspiring business manager – can work effe
Introduction This course looks at visualisation as it relates to mathematics, focusing upon how it can be used to improve learning. It will also identify ways in which to make more use of visualisation within the classroom. Find out more about studying with The Open University by visiting our online prospectus.
Learning and practice: Agency and identities
This free course, Learning and practice: Agency and identities, introduces you to a sociocultural approach to understanding and analysing learning in educational institutions, the home and the workplace.
First published on Thu, 14 Apr 2016 as Author(s):
Parents as partners
In this free course 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.
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Teachers sharing resources online
This free course, Teachers sharing resources online, is designed to help you learn about how learning resources can be shared using online repositories, i.e. websites that allow for the uploading of electronic materials that can then be used and adapted by others. One of the leading examples of such websites is TES Connect. While the course draws its examples and activities from this site its principles are designed so that they may be applied to others.
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Introduction This course is designed to take you on a journey of understanding. You will be introduced to a variety of thinking skills and ways of extending and developing your thinking. You will begin by looking at why thinking skills are important in education, and what kinds of skills are valued. You will then move on to some practical strategies and ideas for further activities and reading. Find out more about studying with The Open University by Author(s):
Learning to teach: becoming a reflective practitioner
This is the third of four courses which comprise the course Learning to teach. Critical reflection is crucial to becoming a successful teacher. This free course, Becoming a reflective practitioner, explains what is meant by reflective practice and how to ensure that reflection leads to learning. As a beginner teacher you will encounter many contradictions and challenges in school; you will learn to teach in a particular context but will need to be able to transfer your learning to new contexts.
Networked practitioner: open or closed practice?
This free course, Networked practitioner: open or closed practice?, starts a debate to support the decision-making process around openness and the different preferences we each have.
First published on Tue, 10 Apr 2018 as Author(s):
Succeeding in postgraduate study
This free course, Succeeding in postgraduate study, will help you to become familiar with the requirements and demands of postgraduate study and to develop the skills and confidence to pursue your learning further. First published on Mon, 15 Jul 2019 as Author(s):
Introduction Teaching assistants, and similar learning support staff, are a substantial part of a workforce that spans the public sector. They are sometimes referred to as ‘paraprofessionals’ – workers who supplement and support the work of qualified professionals. We would argue, however, that teaching assistants have a distinct professionalism themselves which often overlaps with and which is comparable to that of teachers. Since first being introduced into in the 1960s as ‘aides’, ‘helpersâ
The power of infographics in research dissemination
Infographics are becoming an essential tool in data representation and research communication. In this free course, The power of infographics in research dissemination, you will explore when and how infographics can be useful to your work. You will look at some good and bad practice in making and using infographics, and will learn how to evaluate infographics that appear to be presenting research evidence. The course concludes by introducing some free resources that can help you produce effectiv
Attachment in the early years
This free course, Attachment in the early years, covers theory and research in the area of attachment in early childhood. In the 1950s, John Bowlby was the first person to develop a theory about the significance of early attachments between caregivers and very young children. His work has stimulated a massive and very productive field of research with important implications for childcare. This OpenLearn course describes Bowlby's theory and the work that has built on it, illustrated with video re
Beginners’ French: Food and drink
Improve your language skills by learning to communicate more easily and effectively in French. In this free course, Beginners' French: Food and drink, you will also gain an insight into French societies and cultures through focusing on food and drink. You will listen to French speakers in a variety of situations, and you will be provided with some skills for coping with reading texts.
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Leadership and followership
This free course, Leadership and followership, will help you to explore what makes a good leader, recognise common leadership challenges, and identify the skills you need to develop if you want to enhance your own leadership experience. First published on Thu, 09 Aug 2018 as Author(s):