Student Forum

Student Community (Selected courses only)

We understand that studying from home may be a new experience for you. You could even be excused for feeling a little daunted since you will not be studying in a traditional "classroom environment". To help our students overcome these concerns we have developed the Student Zone. The Student Zone encourages a high level ofinteraction with your tutor and other like-minded students.

All of our students receive access to the Student Zone,within this area you can:

• Access the student forum which allows you to share ideas and chat with other students.
• View your tutor's feedback on your marked assignments.
• View optional reading lists for your course (where available).
• Access free online games, for when you need a break from studying.
• View the study guide with plenty of useful hints and tips on how to get the most out of your course.
• Access free courses such as: Improving Learning Skills, Job Interview Skills, The Effective Learner, Goal Setting and Time Management, Ten Tips to Complete a Good Test Paper.
• Find details on our generous Referral Programme.
  

Also FREE when you enrol (Selected courses only)

But the UK Open College Advantage doesn't end there. Because whether you're looking to broaden your skills, update your expertise in a particular field or get a competitive edge on that job you're after, we have the distance learning course to fit your needs... And to help you do this we have also included all the resources below absolutely FREE for you to use when you register for your course:

• Study Guide
• Improving Learning Skills course
• Job Interview Skills course
• The Effective Learner course
• Tutor Support
• Games
• Library
• Student Forum
• News Zone

1) Study Guide

This section is designed to help you with your study. It will help you to work more efficiently, manage your study time, improve your presentation of work, increase your ability to remember facts and concepts, and get the most out of your chosen course.
 
2) Improving Learning Skills course
 
Studying is more than gathering information and reproducing it in assessment tasks such as essays and examinations. Studying involves knowing how to approach a problem, analysing the problem, identifying what you already know, deciding how to gather more information, and much more. This course will help you gain and improve your skills in studying.

Course outline:

Studying is an active process. Open learning materials enable adult learners to take responsibility for their own learning. This course has been prepared as an open learning resource for people who wish to undertake a learning programme that involves them preparing for a period of studying. It is designed either to form part of any course of study or may be used as a freestanding guide by students.

You can use this course, as an active learner, to identify: 

• what you know already
• what you need to know
• what interests you
• how to use your knowledge to enhance your critical awareness.

This course will enable you to improve your study skills and it is designed for students, practitioners and other people involved in learning and/or being assessed.

Syllabus:

• Introduction and Objectives 
• Learning to Learn
• Setting Aside Time for Study
• Concentration
• Effective Reading
• Effective Note-taking
• Preparing to Write
• Planning and Writing the Assignment 
• Assessment
• Basic Research
• Introduction to Computers
• Spreadsheets and Excel
• Using Databases and Access
• Word Processing with MS Word 

 
3) Job Interview Skills course

Getting the job you want is not about following rules or giving the 'right' interview answer. It is about presenting yourself in the most authentic way that takes care of you and the interviewers at the same time. So many people throw their chances away: they do not take enough care and interview preparation time so that the whole process is enjoyable, stimulating and informative for both parties. This course aims to show you how.

4) The Effective Learner course

This course will consider the importance of study skills and how we can identify and enhance our current skill set. We will then take a closer look at different learning styles and how knowledge of our own preferences in this area can make our learning more effective. Finally we will look at some basic time management techniques to enable you to plan and organise your studies and stay motivated.
  
And remember - Registered students also get complete access to a range of features, including:

5) Tutor Support

Our friendly tutors are ready to help with any queries you may have. You need never feel stranded or cut off from help!
 
6) Games

A collection of games to sharpen your concentration or just take time out from studying.
 
7) Library

A collection of reference materials, links to e-journals, and reading lists compiled by our tutors.
 
8) Student Forum

Looking for a second opinion? The forum is the place for students to share their thoughts and information with each other.
 
9) News Zone

Regularly updated links to the latest news items!