The course materials :
§rom home (or wherever you choose to study)
§ printed course materials,
§ set books,§ audio cassettes,
§ video cassettes,§ TV programmes,
§ cd-rom/software,
§ web site,
§ home experiment kit.
Support:
The OU is strong community, and many of their students receive more individual tutor support than students do at campus-based universities. The students are fully supported throughout their studies, with a tutor to guide, advice and offer comprehensive feedback on their coursework. They can connected with tutor by phone or online, and will lead group tutorials and seminars. Support is also offered by other OU staff and by fellow students at tutorials, or as part of the global community of OU students who can be reached through online forums.
Student- teacher interaction :
students are supported by tutors who provide feedback on their work and are generally available to them at face-to-face tutorials, by telephone, and/or on the Internet.
Student – content interaction:
In October 2006 the OU joined the Open educational resources movement with the launch of OpenLearn. A growing selection of current and past distance learning course materials will be released for free access, including downloadable versions for educators to modify, plus free collaborative learning-support tools.
Student – student interaction:
Also students can meet each other face to face, at tutorials and informal study groups. There are even clubs, societies and social events organized by the student union, which is the biggest in the UK.Also they can connect each other by internet forum that the university provides.
Open learn :
The Open Learn website gives free access to Open University course materials. This is the LearningSpace, where you'll find hundreds of free study units, each with a discussion forum. Study independently at your own pace or join a group and use the free learning tools to work with others.
OU Registration
1 The need for registration
You will not be allowed to register, or to continue to study or carry out research, for any award of the University unless you meet the registration requirements below (regulations OU 8.2 to OU 8.8).
2 Registering as a student
To be registered as a student of the University you must:
a register in the way we ask you to and agree to follow our rules and regulations (which may change from time to time);
b be accepted as a student, be allowed to register for a course, or be allowed to register for the award in the case of a unitary award;
c pay or agree to pay the appropriate fee when you register;
d not be in debt to us or our agent; and
e live in the European Union or in a country in which we have agreed to allow registration (at times and during periods that the Senate agrees to) unless the Senate says otherwise.
3 Continuing registration as a student
If you are registered on a course, you are a registered student of the University during that course. Registration entitles you, in each of the next two 12-month periods, to reserve places on courses equal to 60 points for which places are available.
4 Lapsed registration as a student
If you do not register for another course during the two 12-month periods (see regulation OU 8.3), you will no longer be a student of the University but we will maintain your record of study. You may re-register, if places are available on your chosen course, by following the rules in force at the time.
5 Course registration
5.1 Entitlement
In line with our rights, as set out in these regulations, being registered on a course as a student entitles you to the tuition, assessment and material for the relevant course.
5.2 Limitations
At any one time, you must not register to study courses that are worth a total of more than 120 points unless your total points score of not more than 150 includes:
• up to two related standalone residential school courses; or
• a course presentation overlap of not longer than one month.
Examination resits, deferrals and resubmissions count towards the 120 points.
6 Award registration
As well as being registered as a student of the University, you may, if you want to, be registered for one or more credit-based awards as long as you meet the registration requirements of the specific award regulations. If there is a time limit for registering for an award, you must keep to this time limit and your award registration might not be held open for the two 12-month. If you register for a particular award of The Open University, you must meet the specific award requirements when you register. Even if you have not registered for an award, we may grant it to you if you meet all the requirements. The award regulations are published separately.
7 Cancelling registration
You can cancel your registration with The Open University if you want to end your studies completely.
8 Student progress
If, in three eligible presentations of study, you do not complete at least one undergraduate course successfully, you will not be allowed to register for another course without special permission.
