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Do not study IT particularly Digital technologies

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“Do not study IT particularly Digital technologies”

Written on: 17/05/2012

I find it upsetting that I am writing this evaluation of the OU. I am a student of the University ( 6 years +). I have two degrees already ((BA) one from a mains stream university the second (BCL) from the OU.
My four years of Law were amazing, great tutors, well informed and interested in their students.
I have this academic year started IT with the OU, poorly organized and rude tutors, who sit on their laurels and come to tutorials with nothing prepared, expecting students to run the sessions. if you have the misfortune to miss a session then its tough as the tutor will not provide any material from the day ( as he has none) I have a disabled child
(single parent) and attending tutorials not always possible,especially when I work as well as a teacher.
when I am paying a lot of money to attend a course the minimum requirement I believe is that all students have access to equality in education the fact that this tutor thought he could attend having nothing prepared is a disgrace and an insult to all learners.
This is made even worse by the fact that the OU now believe they can charge over two thousand pounds for a course ( with material that is to be honest very out of date and provide no support is a joke, for a university which prides itself on its distance learning credentials.
Having spoken with the OU about my concerns their view is that their tutors are not obliged to provide any notes nor even prepare anything.
what does that say about an educational institute?

Feb 2007 to date

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Peony's Comment

Written on: 11/09/2012

I have for years (I am somewhat deaf) been requesting of the OU for tutors to provide notes at tutorials, but the staff do not have authority to make tutors have notes or even any handouts. I find it bizarre that tutors have no notes, including at level 1 courses (where it might be a person's first experience of the OU) and level 3, where you especially could do with some notes.

In contrast with this experience at the OU, I went on a basic web course at my local college. The tutor there always had sheaths of notes at every session, was on hand for questions and always very helpful, and you could even telephone or email him from home when you were not on the course, I was very impressed with this super service. Needless to say, most of us scored over 90% with this super tutor.

The Ou do not seem bothered about student's performances, I find this odd. They are just not interested at all. One thing that would aid with performance are a few simple notes, a necessity for people like me who cannot hear!

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Twitcher001's Comment

Written on: 30/04/2013

I would say when the tutors are bad they are very bad. When they are good, they really are. Sadly, through my experience, I'd say it's a 50:50 ratio of good to bad which isn't good enough.

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