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The internet is playing a bigger role in our lives, as we buy our groceries, manage our finances, share social experiences and otherwise live our lives online. But how many of us have considered studying online?

FREE
This course includes
Hours of videos

6 hours, 19 minutes

Units & Quizzes

32

Unlimited Lifetime access
Access on mobile app
Certificate of Completion

In this online course, Get started with online learning, you will find out what online learning is and what it can offer you. You’ll discover the skills required for online study and evaluate your own study skillset. You’ll also examine how students form online communities and how they benefit from flexible study arrangements while still being supported by dedicated tutors.

Studying online takes advantage of technology to simulate or improve upon traditional methods of teaching. This course draws on the expertise of The Open University to introduce you to some of these teaching methods, including looking at two periods of European history, teaching chemistry through the online OpenScience Laboratory and using free apps to practise writing Chinese characters.

Studying at a campus university isn’t for everyone. If you have caring responsibilities, want to re-skill to change careers or develop professionally, or simply wish to earn while you learn, then online study may be for you.

By enrolling on this course you can track your progress and gain a Statement of Participation for completing the whole course.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

  • Understand the key aspects of online study
  • Recognise the main differences between online study and study at a campus-based university
  • Assess how studying online can match personal interests and preferences, and help to develop skills.

Course Currilcum

    • Introduction 00:07:00
    • Living online 00:05:00
    • What do you do online? 00:10:00
    • From going online to learning online 00:10:00
    • Your online learning experiences 00:10:00
    • The informal–formal spectrum 00:20:00
    • The elements of online study 00:05:00
    • Online teaching materials 00:20:00
    • Online assessment 00:10:00
    • Nothing to be scared of 00:10:00
    • Your study motivations 00:10:00
    • Online study skills 00:10:00
    • Finding and interrogating historical data 00:15:00
    • Search for yourself 00:15:00
    • Summary of Week 1 00:07:00
    • Introduction 00:15:00
    • O’ Fortuna: can you survive Early Modern Europe? 00:10:00
    • Chinese@OU 00:10:00
    • The OpenScience Laboratory 00:15:00
    • The flame test results 00:10:00
    • What did you think? 00:05:00
    • Who do you work with online? 00:10:00
    • Managing your own study 00:20:00
    • Your study community 00:10:00
    • Your personal tutor 00:20:00
    • Moving onto formal study 00:10:00
    • Using what you’ve learned 00:15:00
    • Making hard choices 00:25:00
    • Planning your next steps 00:15:00
    • Developing an action plan 00:10:00
    • Becoming an online student 00:10:00
    • End-of-course summary 00:05:00