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The incredible shrinking chip

The Open University — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:41:03 GMT

One of the most important technologies in use today is also one of the smallest. The microchip was invented in Scotland in 1947 and is now at the heart of the electronics industry. This unit uses video clips to explore how the microchip is made and how it works, and to predict the future of this incredible technology.

Forth Road Bridge

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:20:59 GMT

Scotland's Forth Road Bridge may not be the most beautiful bridge over the Firth of Forth, but it is an incredible feat of engineering and is integral to the economy of the entire area. However, rust is threatening to destroy the cables that suspend the road. This unit uses video to explore the issues associated with the potential demise of this great bridge.

Studying the arts and humanities

The Open University — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:08:11 GMT

This unit is an introduction to studying the arts and humanities. It takes you through a series of exercises designed to develop your approach to study and learning at a distance and improve your confidence as an independent learner.

War memorials and commemoration

The Open University — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:41:05 GMT

This unit gives you the opportunity to practise good study techniques using the theme of commemoration and memorials. It will help you to begin to think about how form influences meaning in the arts and how ideas influence approaches to the humanities.

Commemoration: visual texts

The Open University — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:15:17 GMT

This unit explores the commemoration of war through treating two war memorials – the Sandham Memorial Chapel and the Royal Artillery Memorial – as 'visual texts'. By helping you to respond to visual cues the unit aims for you to develop your understanding of these memorials, not only as memorials, but as artefacts or 'made objects'. It does this through consideration of such factors as the location of the monument; its function and purpose; its symbolism or realism; use of materials and overall form.

Form and uses of language

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:28:43 GMT

In this unit we will consider how language can be used in different ways for different purposes. To do this we will use the theme of memorial and commemoration. In the first section we briefly discuss the life of the poet Siegfried Sassoon before examining both his poetry and prose. Through this we will see how he conveys meaning in different ways for different audiences using different forms. Following this we discuss more generally how different meanings can be conveyed using prose and poetic language.

History as commemoration

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:44:01 GMT

Commemoration – remembering and marking your past – makes an important contribution to our sense of community. Written texts, memorials, letters and photographs can all serve to commemorate events, people and values we wish to remember from our past.

Studying religion

The Open University — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:17:32 GMT

This unit will give you an opportunity to think about some of the key concepts and methods of the discipline of Religious Studies. You will meet examples of different forms of religious practice and belief, mostly from Britain and India.

Picturing the family

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:35:38 GMT

Besides being simple mementos family photographs can offer insights into the past. This unit looks at some of the ways photographs can reveal, and sometimes conceal, important information about the past. It teaches the skills and provides some of the knowledge needed to interpret such pictorial sources.

Start writing fiction

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:36:44 GMT

Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This unit will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and the settings for their work. You will also be able to look at the different genres for fiction.

What is poetry?

The Open University — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:16:57 GMT

Have you always wanted to try to write poetry but never quite managed to start? This unit is designed to illustrate the techniques behind both the traditional forms of poetry and free verse. You will learn how you can use your own experiences to develop ideas and how to harness your imagination.

Heritage case studies: Scotland

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:07:45 GMT

The heritage traditions of Scotland are unique in comparison to the rest of Britain. This unit uses two case studies to demonstrate how heritage sites have helped to forge the Scottish national identity and history.

Aberdulais Falls: a case study in Welsh heritage

The Open University — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:03:57 GMT

This unit looks at the Aberulais Falls in Wales, and considers the key issues affecting the decision-making of the bodies which are responsible for looking after our heritage. We examine the heritage debates: who decides what should be preserved from the past as our heritage, who is this heritage for, and how should it be presented and explained?

Dundee, jute and empire

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:02:29 GMT

Britain was the first country to industrialise, and it acquired the largest empire ever during this same period. But its sphere of economic influence extended far beyond the boundaries of the formal British Empire. This unit focuses on the economics of empire, using a case study of one town, Dundee in eastern Scotland, to explore this huge topic.

The origins of the wars of the three kingdoms

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:00:28 GMT

From Catholic rebellion to Civil War, what happened during the latter years of the reign of Charles I that caused people to take up arms against their fellow citizens? This unit looks at the background of the wars between England, Scotland and Ireland and how the king’s actions led to the rift between royalists and parliamentarians.

The Enlightenment

The Open University — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:38 GMT

The unit will examine the Enlightenment. To help understand the nature and scale of the cultural changes of the time, we offer a 'map' of the conceptual territory and the intellectual and cultural climate. We will examine the impact of Enlightenment on a variety of areas including science, religion, the classics, art and nature. Finally, we will examine the forces of change which led from Enlightenment to Romanticism.

Napoleonic paintings

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:39:08 GMT

In this unit we will examine a range of Napoleonic imagery by David, Gros and a number of other artists, beginning with comparatively simple single-figure portraits and moving on to elaborate narrative compositions such as Jaffa and Eylau. In so doing, we will have three main aims: to develop your skills of visual analysis, to examine the relationship between art and politics and to introduce you to some of the complex issues involved in interpreting works of art.

Robert Owen and New Lanark

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:08:51 GMT

Childcare, education, working conditions, healthcare, crime … these issues are hotly debated in today's society. They are also issues that Robert Owen, seen by some as a visionary and by others as a knave and a charlatan, sought to address in the early 1800s. This unit uses a series of essays written by Owen to explore the ideas of this important and controversial figure.

Schubert's Lieder: settings of Goethe's poems

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:50:21 GMT

This unit looks at the short poems in German that were set to music by Franz Schubert (1797–1828) for a single voice with piano, a genre known as ‘Lieder’ (the German for ‘songs’). Once they became widely known, Schubert's Lieder influenced generations of songwriters up to the present day.This unit then discusses a selection of Schubert's settings of Goethe's poems, and recordings of all of them are provided. You can find the poems, in German with parallel translations into English and the music scores of four of the song settings, on the unit home page. You are not expected to be able to read the music, but even if you are not very familiar with musical notation, you may well find the scores useful in identifying what is happening in the songs.

David Hume

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:49:50 GMT

This unit examines Hume's reasons for being complacent in the face of death, as these are laid out in his suppressed essay of 1755, ‘Of the immortality of the soul’. More generally, they examine some of the shifts in attitude concerning death and religious belief that were taking place in Europe at the end of the eighteenth century, through examination of this and other short essays.

Goya

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:43:18 GMT

What influenced Goya? Did Napoleon's invasion of Spain alter the course of Goya's career? This unit will guide you through the works of Goya and the influences of the times in which he lived. Anyone with a desire to look for the influences behind the work of art will benefit from studying this unit.

French Revolution

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:54:55 GMT

This unit provides basic historical background to the French Revolution. It will show that the Revolution accelerated intellectual, cultural and psychological change, and opened up new horizons and possibilities. In fact, while much controversy and scepticism remain as to the real extent of underlying change in the social and economic structure of France, it is generally agreed by scholars that the Revolution stimulated a widening of expectations and imaginative awareness: a belief, inherited from the Enlightenment, in the possibility of progress, as well as a conviction that state and society could be reconstituted with a view to realizing social and individual aspirations and human happiness generally. As it degenerated into violence and bloodshed, however, the Revolution also provoked scepticism and pessimism about progress and human nature. The two basic types of modern political outlook, progressive and conservative, date from this experience. Which, if any, of these sets of beliefs was true is not at issue here. What matters is that the Revolution gave rise to them and gave them lasting life

Delacroix

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:46:28 GMT

In this unit you will be introduced to a variety of Delacroix’s work and see how his paintings relate to the cultural transition from Enlightenment to Romanticism. You will study Delacroix’s early career, his classical background, the development of Romantic ideas and their incorporation into his work. You will have the opportunity to study some of his most important paintings and compare them to works favouring a Neoclassical approach. You will also be able to see how his themes, subjects and style were influenced by Romantic ideas, the exotic and the Oriental. Through this you will develop an understanding of the classic-Romantic balance that how his work was influenced by cultural change of that period and to some extent contributed to the progression from Enlightenment to Romanticism.

Brighton Pavilion

The Open University — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:21:30 GMT

In this unit we examine the Royal Pavillion at Brighton, and its relationship to nineteenth century romanticism and exoticism. We begin with a biographical discussion of the Prince of Wales, afterwards Prince Regent and eventually King George IV, to whose specifications the Pavillion was built. With the help of video and still images we take a tour of the Pavillion, examining the exterior then a series of interior rooms as a visitor in the 1820s may have experienced them. Besides this we look at contemporary aesthetic, cultural and political reactions to the building, its contents and its social millieu.

Wilberforce

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:22:16 GMT

William Wilberforce, the politician and religious writer, was instrumental in the abolition of slavery in Britain in 1807. This unit explores Wilberforce’s career and writings and assesses their historical significance. In particular it examines the contribution that Evangelicalism, the religious tradition to which Wilberforce belonged, made in the transitions between the Enlightenment and Romanticism. Throughout it relates Wilberforce’s career and writings to wider social and cultural developments in Britain, with special regard for British reaction to the French Revolution.

Approaching plays

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:32:06 GMT

Do you want to get more out of drama? This unit is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary plays. You will learn about dialogue, stage directions, blank verse, dramatic structure and conventions and aspects of performance.

Approaching prose fiction

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:33:12 GMT

Do you want to get more out of your reading? This unit is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about narrative events and perspectives, the setting of novels, types of characterisation and genre.

Approaching poetry

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:32:38 GMT

Do you want to get more out of your reading of poetry? This unit is designed to develop the analytical skills you need for a more in-depth study of literary texts. You will learn about rhythm, alliteration, rhyme, poetic inversion, voice and line lengths and endings. You will examine poems that do not rhyme and learn how to compare and contrast poetry.

Introducing philosophy

The Open University — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:55:37 GMT

Ever wondered what it would be like to study philosophy? This unit will introduce you to the teaching methods employed and the types of activities and assignments you would be asked to undertake should you wish to study the OU course A211 Philosophy and the human situation.

Two concepts of freedom

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:51:07 GMT

What defines individual freedom in a civilised society? Philosophers have argued over such questions for centuries. This unit looks at various concepts of freedom, asking you to think carefully about how freedom is restricted by our place in society and how it can vary from state to state.

Writing what you know

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:51:30 GMT

Do you want to improve your descriptive writing? This unit will help you to develop your perception of the world about you and enable you to see the familiar things in everyday life in a new light. You will also learn how authors use their own personal histories to form the basis of their work.

Musée du Louvre

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:10:34 GMT

The Musée du Louvre houses 35,000 works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, but how were they brought together as a collection? This unit examines the importance of art through history and the impact of personality and conflict.

Textiles in Ghana

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:56:07 GMT

Textiles in Ghana carry a far greater importance than you might expect. This unit will help you to understand how textiles can carry an assortment of meanings and values, including wealth, status and office.

Medicine transformed: on access to health care

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:24:14 GMT

Access to healthcare is important to all of us. Did the arrival of state medicine in the twentieth century mean that everyone had access to good medical services? If you fell sick in 1930 where could you get treatment – from a GP, a hospital, a nurse? This unit shows that in the early twentieth century, access to care was unequally divided. The rich could afford care; working men, women and children were helped by the state; others had to rely on their own resources.

The history of medicine: a Scottish perspective

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:12:03 GMT

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the approach to medicine was vastly different from today. Health is now recognised, at least in most European countries, as a universal right, but what was it like in the past? How did social and political boundaries affect access to treatment, and what were the treatments of the day? This unit examines how Scottish healthcare institutions were influenced by these underlying social, economic, political and cultural contexts.

Health, disease and society: Scottish influence in the 19th century

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:11:35 GMT

This unit examines the role that Scots played in contributing to the developments in healthcare during the nineteenth century. The radical transformation of medicine in Europe included the admission of women as doctors and the increased numbers of specialised institutions such as asylums. Such developments were also influenced by wider social, economic, political and cultural backgrounds – these are also examined.

Introducing the Classical world

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:52:31 GMT

How do we learn about the world of the ancient Romans and Greeks? This unit will provide you with an insight into the Classical world by introducing you to the various sources of information used by scholars to draw together an image of this fascinating period of history.

Getting started on Classical Greek

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:54:03 GMT

The aim of this unit is to enable you to get started in Classical Greek. It has been developed in response to requests from students who had had no contact with Greek before and who felt they would like to spend a little time preparing for the kind of learning that takes place on a classical language course. The unit will give you a taster of what is involved in the very early stages of learning Greek and will offer you the opportunity to put in some early practice.

Getting started on Classical Latin

The Open University — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:43:58 GMT

Latin is the basis for many languages in the world. This unit will provide you with a general introduction to learning Latin allowing you to assess whether you would like to learn more. You will look at the links that exist between Latin and English, examine the structure of sentences and gain an awareness of the fundamentals of pronunciation in Latin.

Lewis Grassic Gibbon: Sunset Song

The Open University — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:43:31 GMT

Sunset Song was written in the early 1930s and is still one of the best-known and most-debated Scottish novels. In this unit, we discuss whether Sunset Song succeeds as critique of capitalism and whether it has value as a work of literature separate from its propagandistic ambitions.

The poetry of Sorley MacLean

The Open University — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:21:58 GMT

Sorley Maclean (1911-1996) is regarded as one of the greatest Scottish poets of the twentieth century. This unit will introduce you to his poetry and give you an insight into the cultural, historical and political contexts that inform his work. MacLean wrote in Gaelic and the importance of the language to his work is also examined.

Helen Langdon's ‘Caravaggio’

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:36:25 GMT

Accounts of Caravaggio's life are filled with suggestions of murder and intrigue. But does knowing more about this dark artist's experiences help us to interpret his art? Or does understanding his motivations cloud their true meaning? This unit explores the biographical monograph, one of the most common forms of art history writing.

Philosophy: the nature of persons

The Open University — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:06:34 GMT

What is a person? This unit examines this philosophical question concerning the nature of personhood. You will examine whether a ‘person’ is the same as a ‘human being’, and look at whether it is our free will that in the end defines us as a ‘person’.

Christopher Marlowe, Doctor Faustus

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:26:09 GMT

What does Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus tell us about the author and the time at which the play was written? This unit will help you to discover the intricacies of the play and recognise how a knowledge of the historical and political background of the time can lead to a very different understanding of the author's intended meaning.

Composition and improvisation in cross-cultural perspective

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:00:40 GMT

Improvisation and composition are words frequently used in the western world to describe the creation of music. But are they really two distinct processes, or are they aspects of the same phenomenon? In this unit we will explore the relationships between the two using examples of Asian music to help us clarify the concepts.

Reception of music in cross-cultural perspective

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:06:09 GMT

Music is created to be performed, in most cases for an audience, whether in a concert hall, at a street fair or through a radio. But how those listeners receive a piece or style of music influences future music production. This unit explores how audience reception, changing social situations and technology impact musical performance.

Late nineteenth-century Britain and America: the people and the empire

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:20:38 GMT

In this unit we shall look more closely at the evidence available to assess the truth of this argument. Were the working people, as opposed to the political leaders, interested in the issue of expansion? Was such interest evident only among certain sections of the community? Was it predominantly an enthusiasm for empire or not? We shall also try to identify some of the reasons underlying the nature of the response. And we shall be interested in how far politicians found it worth their while to ‘play to the gallery’ and to manipulate popular opinion. Through it all, we shall be facing some acute problems of evidence: is it possible to discover what ‘ordinary’ people thought about expansionism?

Minds and mental phenomena: an introduction

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:27:08 GMT

This unit examines the philosophical questions surrounding the mind. You will examine how beliefs have changed over the centuries and be able to contrast the views of Descartes with more modern ideas.

Emotion: an introductory picture

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:30:52 GMT

What is emotion? This unit takes a philosophical approach to this question in an attempt to understand why people respond to events in a certain way. Is there a difference between an emotion and a bodily feeling or is one a consequence of the other?

Language and thought: introducing representation

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:28:16 GMT

How does what you say come to mean something? Does what you say inherently represent what you, the speaker, think it means, whatever that might be, or does what you say carry its own meaning, separate from your intentions in saying it? This unit introduces you to the key questions about how meaning is conveyed in language.

Imagination: the missing mystery of philosophy

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:25:45 GMT

What is imagination and can philosophy define it in any meaningful way? This unit will introduce you to some of the possible answers to these questions and will examine why philosophy has sometimes found it difficult to approach imagination. It will then go on to examine the relationship that imagination has to imagery and supposition, charting where these concepts overlap with imagination and where they diverge.

Introducing consciousness

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:29:09 GMT

What is consciousness? How does the brain generate consciousness and how can a science of the mind describe and explain it adequately? This unit will introduce you to the slippery phenomenon that is consciousness, as well as some of the difficulties consciousness presents to science and philosophy.

The Roman Empire: introducing some key terms

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:28:13 GMT

This unit will define basic concepts and terms that are essential for an understanding of the culture and identity of the Roman empire. Terms such as ‘Roman empire’ and ‘imperium’ will be introduced in the context of the formation and expansion of the empire, and the unit will provide you with the background for further study of the Roman empire.

Exploring a Romano-African city: Thugga

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:21:45 GMT

From Rome to Pompeii and Ephesus the excavation of Roman remains is well known, but what of Roman remains in Africa? This unit looks at the Roman city of Thugga and examines the influence that Roman architecture and art had on Africa and its people.

The repute and reality of being a Roman emperor

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:26:17 GMT

The Roman emperor had key relationships with several differing groups within the Roman empire, including the senate, the populace of Rome, the army and the provinces. This unit will focus on exploring the emperor’s relationship with the provinces and will show you how this relationship was represented and mediated, manifesting the culture of the empire in the figure of the emperor.

The Holocaust

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:30:01 GMT

This unit explores the Holocaust, as the destruction of European Jewry is commonly known. The mass killing represented by the Holocaust raises many questions concerning the development of European civilisation during the twentieth century. This unit, therefore, covers essential ground if you wish to understand this development.

Voice-leading analysis of music 1: the foreground

The Open University — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:15:50 GMT

This unit introduces ‘voice-leading’ or ‘Schenkerian’ analysis, perhaps the most widely-used and discussed method of analysing tonal music. In this unit, this method is explained through the analysis of piano sonatas by Mozart. The unit is the first in the AA314 series of three units on this form of harmonic analysis, and concentrates on the ‘foreground level’ of voice leading. As you work through this unit, you will become familiar with five complete movements of Mozart’s piano sonatas, as well as shorter extracts from some of his other sonatas.

Voice-leading analysis of music 2: the middleground

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:13:56 GMT

This unit continues our examination of ‘voice-leading’ or ‘Schenkerian’ analysis, perhaps the most widely-used and discussed method of analysing tonal music. In this unit, this method is explained through the analysis of piano sonatas by Mozart. The unit is the second in the AA314 series of three units on this form of harmonic analysis, and concentrates on the ‘middleground level’ of voice leading. As you work through this unit, you will become familiar with the deeper levels of harmony in Mozart’s piano sonatas.

Voice-leading analysis of music 3: the background

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:03:58 GMT

The music of Mozart has been used to examine the foreground and middleground of harmony in units AA314_1 and AA314_2. Now you will use Beethoven's Eighth Symphony to consider the largest-scale stage of voice-leading analysis.

Religion today: themes and issues

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:19:05 GMT

There is a widespread perception in the West that we live in a secular age, an age in which religion is at best an optional extra, if not a false delusion completely out of place. However, religion still arouses passion and causes controversy; it controls and transforms lives. An informed understanding of the contemporary world thus requires an appreciation of the role of religion in shaping ideas, world-views and actions that have an impact on the social as well as on the personal life of the individual. This unit gives you a glimpse into this fascinating area.

Europe's awakening

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:18:20 GMT

One of the most remarkable features of modern European history is the gradual emergence of that theoretical reasoning and experimental practice focused on the natural world that today we call science. In this unit we throw light on that eventual emergence of modern science in Europe by examining its beginnings in Greece and making comparisons with the early achievements of Chinese and Islamic science.You then return to medieval Europe in order to understand the intellectual and social origins of what has been called the 'scientific revolution'.

Science in the Scottish Enlightenment

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:06:48 GMT

How is it that a small, poor country in northern Europe became one of the most dynamic centres of Enlightenment thinking? This unit examines the cultural, intellectual and religious characteristics of Scotland in the eighteenth century that led to the emergence of such intellectual pioneers as James Hutton, Joseph Black and William Cullen, and briefly describes their key ideas and findings.

An introduction to business cultures

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:45:26 GMT

Disney and Google are just two companies renowned for their ‘business culture’. Have you ever wondered why the company you work for is different from others? This unit explores how the concept of culture developed to the point where it is now possible to see and (feel) the difference between companies.

Business organisations and their environments: culture

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:11:16 GMT

We know that culture guides the way people behave in society as a whole. But culture also plays a key role in organisations, which have their own unique set of values, beliefs and ways of doing business. This unit explores the concepts of national and organisational culture and the factors that influence both.

The concept of innovation

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:26:56 GMT

Just what is innovation? This unit examines the issues surrounding the concept of innovation. What is the difference between innovation and invention? How are organisations affected by innovation: are all of the outcomes positive? You will learn how to analyse this concept and its impact on resources, capabilities and competencies.

Social marketing

The Open University — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:04:26 GMT

Never before have social issues been more at the centre of public and private debate. From concerns about sustainability and the future of the planet to the introduction of smoking bans, there is a growing recognition that social marketing has a role to play in achieving a wide range of social goals.

Human resources: recruitment and selection

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:15:03 GMT

Does the recruitment and selection process fill you with dread? Discrimination and equal opportunities legislation can make this area feel like a minefield. If you are faced with appointing a new employee, then this unit will provide a straight-forward guide to the process: from writing job descriptions to finally assessing who to appoint.

Managing relationships

The Open University — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:26:06 GMT

Do you find fundraising difficult? Are others around you making your role as a fundraiser more difficult than it need be? This unit will help you to understand your role by analysing a variety of issues about the fundraising and the dilemmas and problems that organisations involved in winning resources and support are likely to face.

Building relationships with donors

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:36:01 GMT

Legacy fundraising, big-gift seeking are all part of the professional fundraiser's role. This unit will help you to gain the skills necessary to persuade individuals to become donors. How do you change people's ideas about methods of giving, moving them from casual street donations to regular direct debit giving?

Campaigns and organisations

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:29:34 GMT

If you've ever been involved in campaigning for change, you probably know that getting the desired result is much harder than it seems. Moreover, the decision to campaign on a particular issue can expose tensions and cracks within an organisation itself. This unit explores effective approaches to campaigning.

Introduction to the context of accounting

The Open University — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:25:31 GMT

Revenue, profit and loss, balance sheets – are these accounting terms that intimidate you? This unit will help you to understand the very basics of accounting, from its historical beginnings to the objectives of modern day accountants. You will learn how an accountant in business balances conflicting demands to maximise market share and profit.

The market-led organisation

The Open University — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:22:25 GMT

Marketing means different things to different people. How do you decide who to aim a campaign at? If you already have a background in marketing, this unit will improve your understanding of market orientation and (going to market). It also assesses the importance of managing key internal and external relationships.

Understanding operations management

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:00:09 GMT

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.

Strategic view of performance

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:31:41 GMT

Strategic management and planning are no longer the preserve of senior executives. This unit looks at three different approaches to strategy before analysing the direction that strategic management may take now that it has become an accumulation of small tactical decisions rather than a top-down process. If you are interested in ‘ how’ a business ‘ ticks’, this unit could provide some of the answers.

Preparing a project

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:32:58 GMT

Managing projects is something most managers will find themselves doing at some point in their career. This unit aims to provide an overview of the features of a project and the issues that arise in managing a project.

Planning a project

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:31:08 GMT

Gantt charts, critical path analysis, SMART objectives and estimation skills are just some of the topics covered in this unit to help you understand how to plan for a project. You will gain an appreciation of the range of planning techniques available and the situations in which it is appropriate to use them.

Managing projects through people

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:34:12 GMT

The importance of managing people for the success of a project cannot be underestimated. This unit identifies the groups and individuals whose appropriate involvement in a project is important for its success, and considers the ways in which their contribution might be maximised.

Implementing the project

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:47 GMT

Day-to-day monitoring of a project is essential to ensure that work is progressing according to the plan, and it will often be necessary to review and revise the plan as circumstances change. This unit will introduce some of the key techniques that help managers to monitor and control projects, and consider what approaches work best in particular circumstances.

Completing the project

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:35:18 GMT

This unit will examine the particular issues that arise in bringing a project to a close, and ways of evaluating a project on its completion. The key components of project closure will be identified and discussed and their importance in ensuring that the aims and objectives of a project have been successfully attained will be explored. After studying this unit, you will be able to plan an effective project closure.

Project management

The Open University — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:10:19 GMT

This unit is based upon a case study scenario – it simulates the experience of moving around an organisation, talking to people, and looking at organisational documents. Many managers find that they are required to manage projects. In this unit we aim to help you work through a series of tasks associated with a project set in a realistic context and give you experience of grappling with the issues that arise in managing a project. The unit takes a problem-based learning approach and you work through a series of tasks drawing on case study materials and project management resources that describe approaches that have proven effective in managing projects.

Entrepreneurial behaviour

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:35:55 GMT

Have you ever wanted to start your own business? This unit will give you the opportunity to consider and reflect on the personal aspects involved in transforming an innovative idea into an entrepreneurial product. You will also learn how to identify the requirements for building an appropriate entrepreneurial team.

Investment risk

The Open University — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:00:26 GMT

Risk, in a financial context, is a synonym for uncertainty. This unit will allow those with some background knowledge of the area to explore investment risk. You will examine how and why investors are risk-averse and look at the risk factors involved in making a decision to invest.

The financial markets context

The Open University — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:04:39 GMT

How do financial markets match providers with users, and how efficiently does the market determine prices? Can investors rely on notoriously volatile stock markets to function efficiently? It can be difficult to determine whether successful investments are a matter of skill and luck. In this unit, you will interrogate whether markets can function efficiently, and what factors might militate against this. You will also learn the importance of the Efficient Markets Hypothesis.

Environmental factors and organisations

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:37:07 GMT

The interactions of business with the non-commercial enviromnent are under increasing scrutiny. This unit looks at the relationships between business and social and ecological environments, often referred to under the umbrella term of Corporate Social Responsibility. The unit examines efforts to reconcile what often look to be competing demands by moving towards a more ethical environment.

Managing local practices in global contexts

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:37:35 GMT

It is hard to think of a part of the world that has not been touched by globalisation. From ‘Big Macs’ in Moscow to Blockbuster video in Beijing the world seems less distant and twenty-four-hour-a-day news makes foreign places more familiar. This unit examines the dimensions of globalisation and the processes that connect people together.

Knowledge technologies in context

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:38:11 GMT

This unit explores knowledge technologies, that is, software systems that can represent, interpret, formalise or interrogate phenomena and create models of how the world works. It demonstrates how a well designed system can have positive effects on the work ‘ecosystem’, potentially allowing more time for people to concentrate on their strengths. Emphasising core concepts of representation, interpretation and situated use in context, this unit will help masters students and those involved in specifying and designing software for business understand how such systems can help manage knowledge as well as providing a framework for evaluating claims made by technology vendors and researchers.

Creating an ethical organisation

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:38:48 GMT

Businesses are increasingly making explicit their committment to dealing with ethical concerns. This unit explores the business case for an ethical approach to human resources management and examines whether a more 'human-centred' approach can bring dividends, and how an ethical approach fits within an organisation's strategy.

Marketing communications as a strategic function

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:39:15 GMT

Marketing communications help to define an orgaisation's relationship with its customers. This unit emphasises the strategic importance of such communication and its long-term effect on consumers. Communication models can act as a predictive guide, but in the end it is important to recognise the autonomy and unpredictability of consumers.

Making decisions

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:39:42 GMT

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.

Influences on accounting regulation

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:40:19 GMT

Financial reporting is a complex issue. This unit looks at the historical development of financial regulation and reporting across Europe and the world. You will also examine how both Anglo-Saxon and ‘commercial code’ accounting have expanded to become the two main accounting systems used today.

Influences on corporate governance

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:40:43 GMT

Corporate governance and shareholder activism have gained in importance over recent years. This unit will enable you to consider the issues addressed by corporate governance. You will examine some of the recent scandals and the regulatory reactions to them, before looking at the elements that continue to drive this area.

Equity finance

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:41:07 GMT

Private equity, venture capital, stock exchange listing: all are methods of raising equity finance. This unit looks at the processes used and the markets available across the world for raising such finance, as well as looking into the reasons why some companies choose cross-listing on stock exchanges.

Choosing a human resources consultant

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:41:30 GMT

Human resources consultancies have become invaluable to businesses looking for improvements and efficiencies in their operations. This unit explores the issues surrounding how you might go about selecting and using a consultant, examining the risks involved in the venture, fitting the consultant to the task, setting fees and evaluating work. If you are in business and looking to hire a consultant, are a consultant yourself or are studying business at masters level this unit will be useful to you.

The public policy – action relationship

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:41:52 GMT

Much literature on the public policy process focusses narrowly on the policy-making part. This unit widens the focus to examine the implementation phase, and how change happens as a result of new policies: that is, policy – action relationship. It does this by looking at four different models of how this relationship can work through examples from varying fields. The unit will be of interest to public sector managers, their staff and the general reader.

The life sciences industry: an introduction

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:42:15 GMT

This unit covers the emergence of the Life Sciences sector out of its precursor the pharmaceutical industry. After examining some historical perspectives it uses case studies to look at developments in the science, business and, primarily, management strategies used in Life Sciences. It also briefly considers Life Sciences' place in the wider story of health provision. This introductory unit will be of interest to managers in the Life Sciences sector and to the general reader.

Working life and learning

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:59:14 GMT

What is your experience of work and what did you learn from this experience? This unit will enable you to reflect upon what you have learned from work and support you in improving how you learn at work. It will encourage you to think critically about work-based learning and review your own professional knowledge and skills.

Learning Clubs QuickStart Guide

The Open University — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:10:57 GMT

This guide provides an overview on how to create a Learning Club.

Cohere QuickStart Guide

The Open University — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:10 GMT

Knowledge mapping for Web 2.0

Re-using, Remixing and Creating Content

The Open University — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:26:29 GMT

This guide provides an overview of the ways you can re-use and remix our content, and how to contribute back to OpenLearn.

Welsh history and its sources

The Open University — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:02:07 GMT

This unit is a teaching and learning resource for anyone interested in Welsh history. It contains study materials, links to some of the most important institutions that contribute to our understanding of the history of Wales, and a pool of resources that can help you understand Welsh history and the way it is studied. Included in the material is a taster of the Open University course Small Country, Big History: Themes in the History of Wales (A182).

Sport media and culture: Who's calling the shots?

The Open University — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:50:22 GMT

The media play a huge part in sport; we find out what’s happening, how our team is doing and it creates great sporting moments and sports celebrities and stars. This unit looks at the role played by the media in sport and how this has changed with the development of internet and satellite TV. Who calls the shots – athletes, teams or the media moguls? How do social scientists explain this relationship between sport and the media?

Who belongs to Glasgow?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:34:11 GMT

How is your image of a place influenced and changed? Does it depend on whether you are a resident or an outsider? How do government and tourism campaigns and stories in the media affect your perception? This unit uses images of Glasgow to explore this multifaceted concept.

Social Problems: who makes them?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:53:39 GMT

Anti-social behaviour, homelessness, drugs, metal illness: all problems in today’s society. But what makes a problem social? This unit will help you to discover how these issues are identified, defined, given meaning and acted upon. You will also look at the conflicts within social science in this area.

Note taking in relation to the Social Sciences

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:21:28 GMT

Do you find it difficult to know what is important when taking notes? This unit will enable you to decide the value of taking notes and improve your understanding of the methods that can be used.

Social construction and social constructionism

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:22:05 GMT

Within the field of social sciences the terms social construction and social constructionism are frequently used, particularly in relation to social policy. This unit will enable you to achieve a greater definition and understanding of these terms.

How arguments are constructed and used in the Social Sciences

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:14:39 GMT

This unit will enable you to understand how arguments are constructed and used in the Social Sciences. Using extracts from a Radio 4 broadcast you will look at the different viewpoints that are taken by the participants and analyse how the different arguments are being put together.

Children’s rights

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:15:19 GMT

How do children fit in to our society? This unit will help you to understand the issues surrounding children's rights as well as examining the implications of seeing children as citizens. You will also explore the meaning of childhood and analyse children's needs.

Engendering citizenship

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:16:24 GMT

How do you create citizenship? How do you feel you belong? This unit examines social citizenship. With particular reference to women and disabled people, you will look at the rights and obligations that develop within society to link people together.

Developing reading skills in relation to the Social Sciences

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:15:59 GMT

Have you ever wondered what skills are needed to get the most out of reading social science materials? This unit looks at how reading skills are developed and provides three questions that should be kept in mind when working through Social Science texts and extracts.

Welfare reconstruction

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:16:56 GMT

This unit examines the approach adopted by Tony Blair and New Labour to welfare reconstruction in the United Kingdom. Using extracts from speeches made by Tony Blair, you will listen to a discussion on how the Welfare State was remade by the ‘New Right’.

What do we mean by "family"?

The Open University — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:02:55 GMT

The idea of ‘family’ is very powerful in contemporary UK culture and policy. Family lives have been the subject of many anxieties both at the personal and policy levels. How do public debates relate to people’s everyday experiences of families? In this unit, you can explore the many attempts at defining ‘family’ and why these complex and contradictory meanings are important to us. We begin to unpick questions of power and inequality, to test our everyday assumptions about families, and to reflect on the values underpinning them.

The problem with crime

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:13:58 GMT

This unit looks at the issues of order and disorder. Can the way these issues are represented change your view of a city? Taking Glasgow as an example, you will look at the problem of crime and how misrepresentation can easily occur.

The technology of crime control

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:17:31 GMT

How big an impact does CCTV have on your life? This unit provides the opportunity to listen to an argument surrounding the purpose, efficacy and regulation of CCTV. Is it there for crime control or is Big Brother really watching?

Does prison work?

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:24:58 GMT

Does prison work and what purpose does it serve? This unit allows you to listen to a discussion surrounding the purpose efficacy and regulation of prisons. Does prison benefit those serving the sentence or simply satisfy a public demand?

The politics of racial violence in Britain

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:26:19 GMT

The material presented here focuses on the politics of racial violence in Britain. The material is an audio file, originally 30 minutes in length, and examines the issues around this subject. It was recorded in 1995.

Racial violence: European perspectives

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:19:45 GMT

Economics explains discrimination in the labour market

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:54:12 GMT

Discrimination in the labour market exists in many forms: the ‘glass ceiling’ ageism, racism, etc. This unit will help you look at this problem with a new perspective: through economics. You will learn how economists have tried to understand what drives this distortion of the labour market and why women and the ethnic minorities seem to suffer the most.

The social in social science

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:54:43 GMT

In a complex and rapidly changing world, social scientific study examines how we produce things, communicate, govern ourselves, understand our environments, and how to solve the problems we face in the organisation of social relations and processes. This unit provides a basic overview of how social science contains deeply embedded cultural assumptions and outlines the important relationship between philosophical thinking and practical research methods in social sciences.

Themes in discourse research: the case of Diana

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:55:09 GMT

This unit introduces some of the main themes and issues in discourse research using Martin Bashir's famous interview with Diana, Princess of Wales as a case study. Through this it examines the role of discourse in shaping social interaction and its psychological implications for the study of minds, selves and sense-making. The unit aims to demonstrate that in studying discourse we cannot help but study social life.

Understanding media: the celebrity in the text

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:19:19 GMT

Kylie Minogue, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman are all prominent celebrities, but how has the media created their status and how does what we read in the press influence our opinion? This unit will teach you how to analyse media texts and look at celebrity in a new light.

Studying Darwin

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:13:37 GMT

This unit brings together a collection of units from the OpenLearn site that would be of interest to anyone wishing to study Darwin’s theory of evolution and natural selection and how his work has gone on to influence other work around this theory.

Personal finance: Debt and borrowing in its wider context

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:32:15 GMT

Debt has now become a part of everyday life, with personal debt in the UK topping £1.1 trillion in 2005. In this unit, you will explore the different types of debt and loans and some of the associated concepts, arming yourself with more information to plan your financial future.

The meaning of crime

The Open University — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:53:42 GMT

‘Tough on the causes of crime.’ A famous phrase, but what is crime? This unit examines how we as a ‘society’ define crime. You will look at the fear that is generated within communities and what evidence is available to support claims that are made about crime rates.

Reading and note taking - preparation for study

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:33:52 GMT

Reading and note taking are two essential study skills. How do you read? This unit will introduce you to different techniques to help you to alter the way you read according to the type of material you are studying. You will also learn the techniques behind successful note taking and how to apply them to your own notes.

Identity in question

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:33:16 GMT

Why is identity important and how are identities formed? This unit looks at the many different ways in which identity can be categorised. By examining the requirements of the state, how a child views gender, and the importance of race or place of birth, you will start to understand how each individual can have more than one identity.

Reading visual images

The Open University — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:16:32 GMT

What does a picture or image tell you? This unit is an introduction to analysing and interpreting photographs as social data. Who controls what the image is saying? You will look at how photographs provide visual evidence and how they can illustrate and support our ideas about society.

Why maps are made

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:34:36 GMT

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?

Reading evidence

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:35:02 GMT

What is active reading? It is reading with the aim of understanding and grasping something. While studying this unit, you will be focusing on the variety of methods for presenting and organising qualitative and quantitative evidence in the form of numbers and text, and learn how to understand the ways in which evidence is presented and to read it actively and with purpose.

A Europe of the Regions?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:57:23 GMT

What role will the ‘regions’ play in the emerging governance structures of the European Union? This unit examines the rise of the regions and regionalism in Western Europe. You will look at the possible development pathways for Europe: will it become a Federal super-state or a decentralised ‘Europe of the Regions’?

Who are Europeans?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:57:54 GMT

What is Europe and what defines a European? This unit looks at the development of identities within Europe and the European Union. You will assess the mechanisms through which a new identity commitment is being formed and the limitations of and oppositions to this process. Can a genuine European identity ever be created in an expanding multi-cultural European Union?

What is Europe?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:58:23 GMT

The European Union (EU), formed out of the ashes of the Second World War, continues to expand in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite the EU's growing size and significance the question 'What is Europe?' still resonates through the continent. This unit looks at a range of different views on the question, contrasting different conceptions of Europeanness and outlining competing visions for the future of the EU.

Managing the European economy after the introduction of the Euro

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:59:12 GMT

The Euro was first adopted as a currency in 1999, but what impact has it had on the European economy? This unit looks at the key developments in the economy since that date and examines the challenges of economic policy formation and governance of the EU's expanding economy.

Living and working in the new economy

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:20:57 GMT

The new ‘service economy’, is it a direct result of globalisation? This unit examines the switch from manufacturing to services and looks at the impact of information and communication technologies on the economy as a whole. The ‘new economy’ has many benefits, but at what cost?

Information technology: a new era?

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:34:10 GMT

Do the advances in information technology equate to a new industrial revolution? The advances by IBM, Dell and many other manufacturers have resulted in massive changes to our working lives. This unit looks at whether it is possible to predict the future of this industry by comparing it to the development of the automobile industry in the USA.

Innovation, markets and industrial change

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:38:37 GMT

How does a firm emerge as ‘leader of the pack’? Why do most of the small firms so common in the early years of new industries disappear? This unit looks at how and why change occurs through the industry life cycle, at the role of innnovation and at how production costs, demand and technology interact to shape industrial structure.

The politics of devolution

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:59:42 GMT

This unit, which contains material from the current Open University second level Politics course DD203 Power, Equality and Dissent, is pitched at the intermediate level. It should take you about 8 hours to study if you attempt the recommended exercises and make summary notes of its key points. Doing so will allow you to practise the crucial academic skill of summary and précis – extracting the gist of an argument – which will be of particular help if you go on to study in related areas: perhaps the related politics units on the openlearn website or in the Open University courses from which they come.

Nationalism, self-determination and secession

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:14 GMT

What makes a ‘nation’ and what makes peoples strive for nationhood? This unit will provide you with an introduction to studying political ideas by looking at how people who see themselves as nations challenge the existing order to assert their right to a state of their own.

Living in a globalised world

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:00:47 GMT

Using the US and Mexico as the main example, this unit examines how inequalities in access to material wealth can lead to border tensions. You will also learn how many developed economies are now reliant on immigrant labour to perform jobs that their own citizens do not want to consider. How equal is the globalised world?

Claiming connections: a distant world of sweatshops?

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:02:10 GMT

Sweatshops and the exploitation of workers are often linked to the globalised production of ‘big brand’ labels. This unit examines how campaigners have successfully closed the distance between the brands and the sweatshops, while others argue that such production ‘kick starts’ economies into growth benefiting whole communities.

Climate change: island life in a volatile world

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:18:12 GMT

What impact will global warming really have? This unit examines the potential problems faced by the people of the Pacific Island of Tuvalu as a result of rising sea levels. Where would you go if your island is only a few feet above sea level? Who would you blame?

Oil industry in Scotland: making photographs, making demands

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:33:03 GMT

The oil industry is perhaps the archetypal globalised industry, and it is this global scale that poses the challenge. How can the full dimensions of the oil industry be adequately represented in a photograph? This unit looks at a series of photographs made with the intention of affecting the way a globalised industry is seen and understood.

Learning from audio-visual material: Introducing surveillance

The Open University — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:17:30 GMT

Looking at the theme of surveillance as a multifaceted everyday practice, this unit will show you the value of using audio visual material in your learning. It will show you how to develop the skills you need to make the most of learning from DVDs.

Learning from audio visual material: Migrants and borders

The Open University — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:37:25 GMT

This unit focuses provides you with a further opportunity to practise the learning from audio visual material skills you learned in DD208_1. You should have completed DD208_1 before commencing with this unit.

‘Problem’ populations, ‘problem’ places

The Open University — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:37:20 GMT

This unit looks deeper into the entanglements of welfare, crime and society. It encourages you to think through these entanglements through a focus on ‘problem populations and problem places’. It includes treatment of the victims of Hurricane Katrina that hit the US in 2007, and also of the governance of urban populations in the context of Britain (council estates) and France (banlieue).

Attention

The Open University — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:41:29 GMT

What does ‘attention’ mean to you? This unit will help you to examine how we ‘pay attention’. How do we manage to single out sounds and images that require attention and how easy is it to distract someone and why?

Sexuality, parenthood and population

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:39:50 GMT

Sexuality and parenthood encompass some of the most ordinary and yet most profound experiences that life has to offer. In this unit, we look at how attitudes to parenthood and sexuality and the links between the two have changed, with specific reference to the fertility decline that began in the mid-nineteenth century.

Who counts as a refugee?

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:43:40 GMT

The words ‘refugee’ and ‘asylum seeker’ have a wide variety of connotations in Britain, many of them negative. This unit explores how changing social policy and terminology help to shape, and are shaped by, the experiences of people seeking asylum in the UK.

Retiring lives? Old age, work and welfare

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:44:34 GMT

Retirement, pensions, care homes – old age may not be as rosy as we think. This unit looks at old age taking us from the Workhouse to the basic state pension. Why are people expected to stop work at a certain age and what impact does this have on their lives?

Remaking the relations of work and welfare

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:46:44 GMT

How do ‘welfare to work’ programmes such as the New Deal take into account and shape people's personal lives? This unit looks at how participation in, and drop-out from, ‘workfare’ programmes are interpreted within different theoretical perspectives, and uses two case studies to connect the theory with the reality of people's lives.

The body: a phenomenological psychological perspective

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:02:53 GMT

The body has traditionally been treated as a biological object in psychology. However, is there more to our bodies than that? Some psychologists recognise that we relate to other people and the world about us through our body. This unit explores the theoretical perspective on embodiment: the phenomenological psychological perspective.

Understanding dyslexia

The Open University — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:07:00 GMT

Dyslexia is a condition affecting literacy skills. This unit analyses how our image of normality affects the way we as a society define such conditions. You will learn how important it is to integrate the different psychological accounts of dyslexia in order to provide a full explanation of potential causes and strategies for remediation.

EPOCH Psychology history timeline

The Open University — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:35:07 GMT

This unit uses an interactive resource (EPoCH) to gain a better sense of how the historical and social context influences psychological inquiry. You will examine the different methods used by psychologists to investigate human behaviour and learn to identify the different perspectives that exist in psychology.

Psychology in the 21st century

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:05:11 GMT

Psychology is not a simple subject. This unit examines how different aspects of human behaviour provide the focus for different psychologists. Using learning as an example, you will discover how many different approaches can be adopted thus illustrating that there is no single way of answering psychological questions.

Getting started with SPSS

The Open University — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 13:51:36 GMT

Handling statistical data is an essential part of psychological research. However, many people find the idea of using statistics, and especially statistical software packages, extremely daunting. This unit takes a step-by-step approach to statistics software through seven interactive activities. No statistics software is needed.

The autistic spectrum: from theory to practice

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:59:59 GMT

Most of us have a very vague and narrow concept of what autism is, based mainly on such stereotypes as Dustin Hoffman's character in the film Rain Man. In this unit you will discover that there is a wide spectrum of disorders associated with autism, and an equally wide range of approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

Rights and justice in international relations

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:25:34 GMT

Can the concept of human rights be applied across borders or are rights culturally specific? Is it realistic, or even desirable, to aim at an international system based on universal principles of justice? This unit takes a critical view of the assumption that ‘rights are a good thing’ and looks at the problems that arise when they are applied in the international arena.

Developing countries in the world trade regime

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:05:46 GMT

Free trade or fair trade? This unit will help you to analyse the relationship that exists between developed and developing countries under the World Trade Organization regime of Development Round negotiations. The current world trade regime has a very mixed record in promoting growth and reducing poverty.

Teaching assistants: support in action

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:46:08 GMT

Teaching assistants are an important resource in education. This unit looks at how this role has developed over time. You will also explore why this workforce is predominately female and why there is a marked under-representation of minority ethnic assistants. Finally you will explore what the future hold for this paraprofessional role.

Funding elite sport

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:49:08 GMT

Training and preparing to compete as an elite athlete can take significant financial support. Where does the money to support such athletes in the UK come from? This unit will examine the question of funding in UK elite sport.

Improving aerobic fitness

The Open University — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:34:13 GMT

Aerobic fitness is integral to successful sports performance and to maintaining good health. But what sort of exercise should you be doing to develop your aerobic fitness? This unit will help you to answer this question by introducing you to principles of aerobic exercise prescription.

Thinking about how I work with other professionals

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:47:02 GMT

This work-based unit encourages early years practitioners to think about the values and principles underpinning how they work with other professionals. It explores beliefs about teamwork, examines frameworks for professional communication and concludes with identifying possible changes in practice.

Parents as partners

The Open University — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:40:51 GMT

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.

Working with young people: roles and responsibilities

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:48:19 GMT

In this unit, we look at the roles that are taken when working with young people. We focus on what those working with young people actually do, starting with some analysis of roles. We show that, in the context of work with young people, the term is more than simply a statement about who does what: it also says something about the kinds of relationships we form with young people and the values we bring to our work. We then move on to discuss roles in relation to the ‘bigger picture’ of organisations and projects that are concerned with young people.

The role of play in children's learning

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:51:06 GMT

Has the emphasis on raising educational standards in the UK led to adult-led learning replacing play? This unit will help teachers assess the importance of spontaneous play and socialising in the playground as well as looking at the value of play and the varying attitudes that adults have towards the activity.

Knowledge in everyday life

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:51:36 GMT

This unit is designed to help those working with children between the ages of 3 and 8. You will be encouraged to explore your knowledge, feelings and attitudes in language, mathematics and science in order to understand the place that these subjects have in the life of both individuals and society as a whole.

What children's perspectives tell us about inclusion

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:52:21 GMT

The underlying premise of this unit is that we are all experts in different ways, and that our different experiences and understandings are of value. Inclusive education is presented and discussed as under construction, both in educational settings and as a concept. The materials to be found in this unit are largely rooted in the social model of disability and human/disability rights frameworks.

Word and image

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:17:36 GMT

Why does the way a page looks influence how we interpret the information it contains? This unit looks will examine how typography and images can be combined to improve literary creativity and allow a document to communicate more readily with the reader.

English grammar in context

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:31:15 GMT

The use of grammar is more complex than it appears. This unit looks at the way grammar can be used as a tool for adapting our communications (both written and spoken) in ways which present us and our message in different lights.

School Governors: being strategic

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:06:18 GMT

Why are schools in the UK run by school governors? This unit will examine how the role has developed and the main tasks and responsibilities that exist today. We will also look at the need for self-evaluation and how the setting of a clear strategic direction can help governors achieve the required targets.

Play, learning and the brain

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:03:24 GMT

This unit examines the area of the brain based learning with a particular focus on the development of the young child's brain and is of particular relevance to those who work with young children. We begin by looking at the structure and functions of the brain, and the impact that sensory deprivation can have on these. We consider the implications of current understandings of brain development for teaching and learning, particularly in an early years setting, and finish by exploring the value of play (particularly outdoor play) in children's learning and the development of their brains.

Global warming

The Open University — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:42:02 GMT

This unit provides an introduction to global warming. We will be considering the history of global warming by looking at the pattern of ice ages and analyisis of recorded temperatures. We will aim to gather meaningful information from this data. We will briefly assess the impact and influence of humans on global warming and, finally, we will examine climate models and how to predict future changes.

Teaching using digital video in secondary schools

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:53:09 GMT

This unit explores the role of digital media as a teaching tool, focussing on video in particular. we will examine the process of how you can start to use digital video in the classroom, and how to manage your project from objective setting, through story boards and filming, to assesing the success of your project.

Active, healthy lifestyles

The Open University — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:55:08 GMT

In this unit, aimed at teachers of Physical Education, we begin by looking at some of the common misconceptions relating to fitness and activity levels together with accepted definitions of these concepts. We consider how active young people should actually be, and discuss how PE teachers can ensure they are making an effective contribution to this area of public health.

Teaching for good behaviour

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:53:53 GMT

The quality of our teaching inevitably has an impact on the behaviour of our students. This unit considers some of the factors that can contribute to misbehaviour in the classroom and some of the steps that we can take as teachers to re-engage students with the learning process. This unit considers the format of lessons, how lessons are delivered, how to present lesson content in an interesting and creative way, and the development of "engaging lessons".

School Governors: organisation and practice

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:04:37 GMT

How does the board of governors of a school work? This unit looks at the roles of Chair of Governors, Vice-chair and Clerk to the board and examines how the workload can be shared between the members. The governing body should focus on the quality and delivery of education provided by the school, not on daily management.

School Governors: building relationships

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:07:20 GMT

School governors need the skills to develop working relationships with the school community. This unit will help you to understand what each stakeholder within the community needs, from headteacher to pupils and parents. Effective interaction between all parties can prevent problems from arising.

School Governors: planning for improvement

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:07:43 GMT

School governors do not work in isolation. This unit will help you to understand how planning for school improvement must take into account the wider education system including government initiatives and the LEA education development plan. You will learn to use techniques such at SWOT and STEEPE to assist in the process of forming a plan for your school.

Governors' target setting: primary schools

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:08:08 GMT

Target setting for pupil attainment is seen as being a means of raising standards in schools through placing pupil achievement at the core of school planning. This unit will help governors of primary schools ensure that appropriate targets are set and provide guidance on assessing the data that needs to be evaluated to come to such decisions.

Governors' target setting: primary schools

The Open University — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:10:19 GMT

School Governors: primary school monitoring

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:08:51 GMT

School governors need to be involved in the monitoring and evaluation of primary schools. But what areas should you be monitoring and how can you ensure that monitoring is effective. This unit will help you assess these matters and also look at the kind of evidence you should be sourcing, and how that evidence should be evaluated.

School Governors: secondary school monitoring

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:09:12 GMT

School governors need to be involved in the monitoring and evaluation of secondary schools. But what areas should you be monitoring and how can you ensure that monitoring is effective. This unit will help you assess these matters and also look at the kind of evidence you should be sourcing, and how that evidence should be evaluated.

School Governors: performance management

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:59:16 GMT

School governors are responsible for establishing the performance management policy of the school and for reviewing the performance of the headteacher. This unit will guide you through these processes, including the appeals procedure should the headteacher have any concerns. You will also learn the importance of linking performance review to pay review.

Involving the family in supporting pupils' literacy learning

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:54:11 GMT

Teaching children to read is one area where collaboration between teachers and parents/carers is of vital importance. You will examine how families and schools work together to establish the links that underpin childhood literacy development and the ways in which educational institutions respond to the diversity of needs amongst students.

Curriculum framework in Scotland

The Open University — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:45:44 GMT

In this unit you will find a discussion of the national curricula framework in Scotland. This is discussed in terms of the literacy curricula, and compared to the framework set up in England and Wales.

Language as a medium for teaching and learning

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:54:33 GMT

Are you interested in English language education? This unit examines the use of language as a cultural tool which allows humans to become involved in a two-way process of constant change. The unit will help those within the teaching environment to relate theoretical discussion to professional practice.

Evaluating school classroom discussion

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:55:06 GMT

It is important to learn from classroom discussions, both for pupils and teachers. This unit will help you, as a teacher, to evaluate such discussions in order to help students develop their understanding and use of spoken language. The ability to use language as a tool for constructing and sharing knowledge is applicable across the whole curriculum.

Inclusive education: knowing what we mean

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:55:27 GMT

This unit introduces you to the contested area of educational inclusion. You will look at differing perspectives on inclusion, in particular the way that medical and social models have influenced and shaped current thinking. You will also think about barriers to inclusion and the difference between integration and inclusion. In addition, you will consider some of the key documents, such as the Salamanca Statement, that underpin current thinking in this area.

Am I ready to study in English?

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:53:37 GMT

Even if you feel confident using English in everyday situations, studying in English at higher education level might present extra challenges. This unit provides an opportunity for you to reflect on your English language skills through a series of academic exercises.

Exploring children's learning

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:32:49 GMT

How can you analyse children and their development? This unit allows the learner to analyse how children's cognitive shills develop over time. You will also learn about how various different investigative methods have developed over time and how different techniques can produce different results.

Parents and toddlers: teaching and learning at home

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:56:00 GMT

How do young children learn? This unit looks at the way toddlers interact with their carers in the home environment. You will learn how adults use different methods of teaching to encourage a small child to expand their boundaries and develop new ways of thinking.

Chartered teachers in Scotland

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:12:18 GMT

Teachers often have little spare time to reflect on the day's lessons and challenges. However, this evaluation of teaching and learning experiences is vital to their professional development. This unit is an extract from the OU's Chartered Teacher Programme for Scotland and will help teachers to evaluate their practice and development opportunities.

Introducing observational approaches in research with children and young people

The Open University — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:57:29 GMT

This unit introduces you to analysing academic writing and, in particular, the way an article might be structured to clearly explain an investigation to other researchers. It explores observation of children and young people using qualitative observation approaches in small-scale studies.

Introducing ethics in Information and Computer Sciences

The Open University — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:50:11 GMT

Although ethics is often viewed as an academic specialism or an add-on to training programmes in technology and science, it is in fact an area of the utmost relevance to professionals and, indeed, everyone. The unit draws upon examples taken from dialogues, plays and the media to discuss ethics and ethical issues within the context of Information and Computer Sciences. The unit explores the importance of language and the role of rhetoric in everyday ICS practice, providing a resource of interest to ICS students and professionals alike.

Forum QuickStart Guide

The Open University — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:34:37 GMT

The forums on OpenLearn give the OpenLearn community a place to meet, discuss and share ideas. It might be useful to think of the forum as an online message board where you can post messages and read those from other learners.

FM QuickStart Guide

The Open University — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:28:25 GMT

FM is a one-click video conferencing tool. It allows a dispersed group of people to meet from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, running in a standard web browser window, with the Adobe Flash 'plug in'. If you have a properly installed web cam and microphone you will be able to communicate with friends and colleagues anywhere they are.

FlashVlog QuickStart Guide

The Open University — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:08:53 GMT

FlashVlog is a tool allowing you to create video diaries online, almost instantly.

What is good writing?

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:35:30 GMT

Does the idea of essay writing put you off the idea of studying? This unit will help you to realise that essays are not to be feared. You will learn how important it is to answer the question that is set and that your style of writing is as communicative as possible.

Working with diagrams

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:35:57 GMT

Working with diagrams is essential for students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This unit is packed with practical activities and tips which make learning from and with diagrams more enjoyable and rewarding. One part of this unit deals with the reading of diagrams and the other part with the drawing of diagrams.

Reading

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:20:30 GMT

Reading is an essential skill for all of us and developing our skills in reading is a good investment. This unit is packed with practical activities which are aimed at making reading more enjoyable and rewarding. This unit also includes sections on how to read actively and critically.

Processes of study in the arts and humanities

The Open University — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:50:55 GMT

This unit is essential reading if you want to look at, and think about, people's ideas, practices and products to try to understand what they mean. Developing your skill in analysis–interpretation–evaluation and communication is a good and worthwhile investment. Aimed at learners of arts and humanities subjects, you will find this unit invaluable whether you are new to study or more experienced.

Effective ways of displaying information

The Open University — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:07:26 GMT

The power of graphics should not the underestimated. They can express information clearly and simply. This unit will help you to assess which style of graphic to use in different situations.

Accessibility of eLearning

The Open University — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:10:51 GMT

It is part of a teaching professional’s skills to understand the needs of a diverse population of students. This unit introduces the challenges for disabled students who may use computers in different ways when taking part in eLearning or may need alternative teaching methods. It covers the technology and techniques used by disabled students, the adjustments to teaching methods that might be reasonable, design decisions which affect the accessibility of eLearning tools and strategies for evaluation.

Caring: A Family Affair

The Open University — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:35:07 GMT

Care is needed at all stages of life. This unit makes care in the family its focus because the overwhelming majority of care, including health care, is supplied in families, much of it in private, much of it unnoticed and unremarked upon. The meaning of the term (informal carer) and the word (care) itself are explored.

Caring in hospitals

The Open University — Mon, 11 May 2009 10:53:49 GMT

This unit considers the type of care offered in hospitals, using Leeds General Hospital as a case study. The unit looks at the people who have roles within the hospital, how they interact with each other and patients and what they consider to be 'care'. The different approaches and contributions to care by doctors and nurses are explored and patients give their perspective on the care they receive.