ADULT EDUCATION

[CHICagoMUM]

With dh working so late every evening I'm toying with the idea of doing an O.U. course(at home in the evenings once the kids have gone to bed), something for my enjoyment say literature or history of art. Now I know diddly squat about this so am looking for advice from any of you lot who have done one.

(1) Is it all done at home or do you have to attend any courses/seminars?
(2) How much does it cost?
(3) Over what period of time do you have to complete the course?
(4) Is this a sensible idea as a "hobby" or am I understimating how involved it will be?

TIA

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Answer to all is 'depends' i think!

I did my teacher training with the OU, which took me two years of hard study. None of it is watered down IYSWIM. All their courses are very well regraded.

Summer schools depends on what you study, I think.

Costs vary, mine was paid by the governmant, who gave me a grant to do it. you do have to pay for other courses.

have a look on their website www.open.ac.uk (IIRC) and you can look for courses , get info on costs, time scales etc

Thanks for that MB. Has anyone done it purely for their own satisfaction rather than for career enhancement etc.?

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{http://www.open.ac.uk/about/ou/p5.shtml\Here} is a bit about it, I never went ahaed but I sent for all the blurb.

There are all levels of courses from short access courses to ones you do once you have a degree. You can mix and match courses to suit your interest or career. Each course is wirth so many points and you have to have enough points at each level to get a degree. You can get and BSC or a BA depending on what side the majority of your study falls on.

Previous further education such as HND's can count towards your total points.

You can do courses purely for interest or add them all up and work towrds a degree. Each course has a suggest length of study. Some involve week long residential courses and some require a PC. The course details tell you quite clearly the details for each one and what will be required.

Have a look at the "Becoming a student" and "How studying works at the OU" for more info on it all.

\link{http://www.open.ac.uk/about/ou/p5.shtml\OU here}

\link{http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?A01\Good place to search for and see how the different levels of courses work.}

Thanks for those links skribble.

Hope you see something that interests you, it has sparked my interest again looking that up .

I am in my sixth year of study with the OU. Is I pass this year I will achieve a BA(Hons)Degree with a Diploma in Music and a Diploma in Religious Studies. All of the work is done at home, however, there are monthly tutorials that are optional - these are located in regional centres. The cost depends on your income and there is now a grant available for students. The course runs from February until October, with on average seven Tutor Marked Assignments to be completed within that time (one a month) and an examination in October - I think there is now the option of studying from October but don't know much about this as the October finish suits me. When the new course material arrives it can be quite scary but if you have a real interest in the subject to be studied it can be very rewarding.