Hi Luke
I am currently studying for an OU degree. My experience is that you need to
be quite specific about your needs regarding materials in alternative
formats. Last year, for example, I did Creative Writing, (A215), which is a
Level Two module. The materials were all accessible, and my tutor was
really friendly to approach. This year, I am studying a Level Three module
called Children's Literature, (EA300). The materials are less accessible,
and there has been a large reading list. Most of the set texts have come
from the RNIB Talking Book library which haven't been marked up for study
purposes, in other words, no page numbers in the books which you need in
order to reference them. There are generally workbooks or readers you use
for a lot of these modules, and this year's have been littered with mistakes
where whoever transcribed them didn't do a good enough job with the PDF
versions. However, I've got the DAISY equivalents and am able to do what's
required. The tutor is helpful, and I've alerted her to some of the issues
I've come across with the materials. I find sending in my assignments easy
enough as there is an online service you use to submit your work. What I've
asked my tutors to do is to write their comments on my assignments in full
rather than use different colours and track changes which work less
satisfactorily with a screen reader. I tend not to join in with online
forums and webinars because I'm generally exhausted by the time I've done
some work during the day and want to give it a rest to enjoy something else.
Studying at degree level, as anyone will tell you, is a challenge, but
especially distance learning where your own motivation is absolutely
critical. I'm incredibly lucky to have my husband's support as he completed
his BSC Honours in Psychology some years ago with the OU when cassettes were
very much the order of the day, so he's been a tremendous help for sharing
ideas. In fact, I couldn't have done this without him.
After this module, I have one more Level Three module to do to complete my
OU degree. I'm enjoying it, I would recommend it, but it does require a lot
of determination. And, as I say, you do have to make the OU aware of what
you require or you'll be left to it.
I hope this helps, but do shout me off list if there is something specific
you want to know.
The very best of luck.
Kind regards,
Jackie Brown
Email: jackieannbrown62@xxxxxxxxx
-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Luke
Scholey
Sent: 03 February 2019 12:49
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Studying at the open uni
Hi all
Has anyone studied at the OU before? If so, would you mind telling me about
what it was like as a blind / VI student. I know their disability support is
meant to be excellent and am just looking for peoples opinion and a chance
to ask some questions.
Thanks
Luke
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