About your 2009 Residential School

A residential school not only gives you a better understanding of your course, it also boosts your

confidence, gives fresh impetus to your studies and provides great opportunities for making new friends and study partners. Naturally some students are quite anxious about If you still have questions about your residential attending their first residential school. However, by school, you may find the answers below. If not, you the end of the week most enthuse about the will find up-to-date information as well as our online experience they've had and want to return the next booking facility on our website at: year. www.open.ac.uk/residential-schools or look at "I didn't want to go at first but being a full-time the Contact Us section at the end of this leaflet and student for a week was a totally exhilarating get in touch with us. We’ll be happy to help you. experience." 1. What is a residential school? 2. How do I book my school? 2. How do I book my school? You can book using the online booking facility on our website or by phone or post. Just follow the 3. What is included in my course fee? instructions in the attached letter. Here are some tips: 4. How do I request additional support? • Places are limited so please book as early as 5. How do I book additional nights’ possible. Bookings are taken on a first-come accommodation? first-served basis. 6. I need to stay in accommodation • Some school dates and venues are very popular so you may not get the booking you want outside of the venue, how do I arrange straight away, even if you book early. If this this? happens, ask the Residential Schools Team if 7. I cannot attend my residential school, you can be put on a waiting list for your preferred school. what must I do? • If booking by post, it is to your advantage to give 8. Alternative Learning Experience as many preferences as possible. The more information you give us, the more likely it is that 9. Do I need a visa to attend my school? you will receive a school that is suitable for you. 10. Can you tell me more about my venue • Some venues are very large and may involve such as travel, accommodation and brisk walks of up to a mile between buildings – arrival times? perhaps six times a day. Please contact the Learner Support Team in your regional or 11. Contact us national centre if you have any concerns about this. 1. What is a residential school? 3. What is included in my course fee? Residential schools offer you a unique opportunity The full cost of the residential school, including to: tuition, meals and accommodation are all included in your course fee. However, you should bear in mind • gain practical skills and experience that travel costs are not included. • attend stimulating lectures by experts in their field 4. How do I request additional support? • develop your communication and group working You may require additional support to enable you to skills attend your residential school because of a disability, health condition, mental-health disability • develop your study skills and examination or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia). This techniques includes temporary circumstances such as • meet and socialise with other students on the pregnancy or a broken leg. If you require additional same course. support, contact the Disability Resources Team. If you’ve already told the University that you need considerable amount of effort, and cannot deliver additional support, you should receive a copy of our the breadth of learning opportunities offered at the booklet Meeting Your Needs at Residential School school. Consequently you are strongly advised to along with a Facility Request Form 2 (FRF2) by the attend the school if you can. end of February. It’s important that you fill in the form and send it to us. The information you give us 8. Alternative Learning Experience on this form will make sure that you receive the right A214 ALE information and dates facilities and support for your school. Please do not In order to obtain credit for A214 you must achieve assume that we’ll know about your requirements satisfactory participation in either the residential either from the Facility Request Form 1 (FRF1) that school or the ALE. We realise that some students you gave us at the beginning of your course or from may find it impossible, for reasons beyond their your Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) control, to attend the residential school. The ALE is assessment. You must tell us in good time about available for these students and will deliver the any additional support you may need for your same core learning outcomes. The ALE cannot, residential school, since some arrangements cannot however, provide the breadth of cross-learning be made at short notice. opportunities available at the residential school and 5. How do I book additional nights’ for this reason attendance at the residential school accommodation? is the preferred route for all students. Most schools last for a full week – Saturday Structure of the ALE – In order to achieve a level afternoon to Friday afternoon. For exact times see of participation in the ALE that will satisfy course the venue information below. If, in exceptional credit, you will need to work through the materials in circumstances, you need to stay an extra night at the ALE study pack, which comprises Book 1 and the beginning or end of your schools, you must Book 2 of the study materials, two resource books arrange this through the OU team who represent the (Summer School Scores and the Student venue you are booked at (see the contact for your Workbook), three CDs (CDs 25–27), the Notes for venue below). You’ll have to explain why you need these CDs (ALE CD Notes), and the Assignment the accommodation, and an additional charge will Guide. be made. It’s not usually possible to arrange an Spend approximately 33 hours working on the ALE. extra night’s accommodation for D319 or L(ZX)204. This is equivalent to the time you would have spent participating in lectures and seminars at residential 6. I need to stay in accommodation school. Complete the A214 ALE assignment. outside of the venue, how do I arrange Submit your assignment by Friday 04 September this? 2009. Residential schools have intensive academic The ALE study pack and instructions for submission programmes that typically run from 09:00 to 21:00. of the ALE assignment are scheduled to be mailed For you to get the most out of your school we during June. If you book a place on the ALE after recommend that you are fully resident – the cost of June, the materials will be sent to you within two your accommodation is included in your course fee. weeks of your booking. You can start your studies Families and friends are not normally allowed to as soon as you receive the course materials and will stay on school premises so you will need to make need to have submitted your assignment to reach us arrangements for the care of any dependants during by 04 September 2009. The deadline for registering your school. for the A214 ALE is 21 August 2009. You should If you do need to be resident outside of the contact the Residential Schools Team if you miss accommodation provided please contact the OU this deadline. team who represent the venue you are booked at D319 ALE information and dates (see the contact for your venue below). If your There is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) request is accepted, there is no rebate on your which runs as an alternative to the D319 school. course fee, unless you have children less than two The ALE will take place from 25 July to 31 July years of age and incur extra accommodation costs 2009. To obtain credit for D319 you must achieve by living out. satisfactory participation in either the residential 7. I cannot attend my residential school, school or the ALE. The D319 Course Team advises what must I do? all students to go to the half-week residential school rather than choosing the week-long ALE, if possible. In exceptional cases you may find that it becomes The ALE is available for students who for reasons impossible to attend your residential school. If so, beyond their control cannot attend the residential contact the Residential Schools Team in Milton school. The ALE cannot, however, provide the Keynes immediately. You may be able to transfer to breadth of cross-learning opportunities available at a later school or participate in an Alternative the residential school and for this reason attendance Learning Experience (ALE) where available. ALEs at the residential school is the preferred route for all deliver the same core learning outcomes as the students. The ALE provides training in research residential school. However, they usually require a skills for you to complete your project for the tutor- L203 ALE information and dates marked assignment (TMA 06), but note that if you There is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) do not go to residential school you can only choose which runs as an alternative to the school at Jena. the Literature Review module for your project. Please note that the ALE increases your workload at Structure of the ALE – There will be online tutorials a busy period in your course when you will be mirroring the literature review covered in the preparing your final TMAs and revising for the exam. residential school. You will be required to carry out The ALE is delivered via Elluminate, the OU voice reading and research and to engage in online and visual conferencing system. The ALE activities discussion. You will be encouraged to use the have been specifically designed for the online ’s online library. Students will environment. The four-week course requires communicate with one another through online approximately 20 hours study time and comprises forums, leaving and responding to messages via the four online tutorials, including an introductory internet. Tutor support will be given online and by session, pair or group work – activities requiring phone. You will need access to a computer and the student interaction between scheduled meetings, services of an internet services provider. You need individual work – students select work from a bank to plan to spend an average of three hours a day of grammar activities according to their needs and online and it is estimated that around 25 hours work interests. will be required to achieve a level of participation in Tutorials will start in September. Please specify the ALE that will satisfy course credit. which one of the ALEs you wish to participate in DD303 ALE information and dates when you book. There is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) Each one comprises sessions on four separate which runs as an alternative to the DD303 school. dates. The ALE will take place from 08 August to 28 Elluminate group 1: Wed 02 Sep 19:00-20:00, Sun August 2009. We realise that some students may 06, 13 and 20 Sep 10:00–11:30. find it impossible, for reasons beyond their control, Elluminate group 2: Tue 01 Sep 19:00–20:00, Thu to attend the residential school. The ALE is 03, 10 and 17 Sep 19:00–20:30. available for these students and will deliver the The computer specification for the use of Eluminate same core learning outcomes. The ALE cannot, is available from the following website: however, provide the breadth of cross-learning http://www3.open.ac.uk/personal- opportunities available at the residential school and computing/courses/L2032009.shtm for this reason attendance at the residential school is the preferred route for all students. L(ZX)204 ALE information and dates Structure of the ALE – The ALE consists of a There is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) series of interactive, online activities using our which runs as an alternative to the school at online conferencing system, which culminate in a Santiago. Please note that the ALE increases your piece of independent project work. You will workload at a busy period in your course when you therefore need regular access to a computer and an will be preparing your final TMAs and revising for account with an internet service provider. Details of the exam. The ALE will be delivered via Lyceum, the tasks which make up the ALE and information the OU voice and visual conferencing system. The about how to begin the ALE will be available in the ALE activities have been specifically designed for Residential School/ALE Handbook (which will also the online environment. For students without be posted on the DD303 eDesktop in March/April access to the appropriate computing equipment, 2009). You will be supervised and guided through there is a fallback option of telephone tutorials. The the experience by dedicated ALE tutors, chosen for four-week course requires approximately 20 hours their enthusiasm for online teaching and learning. study time and comprises four online tutorials, You will need access to a computer and the including an introductory session, pair or group work services of an internet services provider. – activities requiring student interaction between scheduled meetings, individual work – students will The ALE starts on 08 August 2009, and requires be given preparation work to do in between tutorials. approximately 36 hours study time over a period of three weeks. There are no requirements to be Tutorials will start in September. Please specify online at precise times, but you will need to which one of the ALEs you wish to participate in participate regularly. Importantly, the scheduling of when you book. ALE activities means that key activities, for which Each one comprises sessions on four separate you must receive participation credit, occur during dates. each of the three weeks of the ALE. For this Lyceum groups 1 and 3: Sun 06 Sep 10.30–11.30, reason, we strongly advise you not to plan an Sun 13, 20 Sep 10:30–12:00, Sun 27 Sep 10:30– absence of more than three days if you find that you 12:30. must do the ALE rather than residential school. Lyceum group 2: Wed 09 Sep 19:00–20:00, Wed 16, 23 Sep 19:00–20:30, Wed 30 Sep 19:00–21:00.

Telephone groups 1 and 3: Sun 06 Sep 10.30– weeks before the school starts. All venues offer a 11.30, Sun 13, 20 Sep 10:30–12:00, Sun 27 Sep vegetarian option at mealtimes. For more specialist 10:30–12:30. dietary needs see ‘How do I request additional Telephone group 2: Tue 08 Sep 19:00–20:00, Tue support?’ above. 15, 22 Sep 19:00–20:30, Tue 29 Sep 19:00–21:00. , Bath, BA2 7AY The computer specification for the use of Lyceum is The University of Bath is situated one and a quarter available from the following website: miles outside the city. It is accessible via the M4 http://www3.open.ac.uk/personal- (Junction 18) and the A46/A36. Tourist traffic computing/courses/Standatd2007.shtm congestion is high during summer weekends. The L211 ALE information and dates site is relatively compact and level. Students cover There is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) a minimum distance of approximately 1.5km per day which runs as an alternative to the school at Caen. between residencies, tutorials and the dining area. Please note that the ALE increases your workload at Travel by train a busy period in your course when you will be Bath Spa station is on the London Paddington to preparing your final TMAs and revising for the exam. Bristol line, 90 minutes from London (hourly service) The ALE is delivered via Eluminate, the OU voice and 15 minutes from Bristol. Services to the and visual conferencing system. The ALE activities Midlands, North and South West connect at Bristol. have been specifically designed for the online Local buses, close to the train station, run to the environment. The four-week course requires university approximately every 15 minutes. approximately 20 hours study time and comprises five online tutorials including an introductory Travel by air session, pair or group work – activities requiring Bristol International Airport (0870 1212747): the student interaction between scheduled meetings, airport operates a bus service 'Bristol International individual work – students to select work from a Flyer' to Bristol city centre from where you can get a bank of grammar activities according to their needs connecting bus to Bath city centre. The most direct and interests. route is by taxi from the airport to the university Tutorials will start in September. Please specify (approx. cost £40). which one of the ALEs you wish to participate in Accommodation when you book. Single study bedrooms with ensuite facilities are Each one comprises sessions on five separate provided. dates. Elluminate groups 1 and 2: Tue 01, 08, 15, 22 and Arrival and departure times 29 Sep 19:00–20:15. School registration: Saturday between 13:00 and Elluminate groups 3 and 4: Wed 02, 09, 16, 23 15:00. School finish: Friday 13:00. and 30 Sep 19:00–20:15. (D319 is a half week school and runs Saturday to Elluminate groups 5 and 6: Sat 05, 12, 19, 26 Sep Tuesday or Tuesday to Friday). and 03 Oct 19:00–20:15. Contact The Open University in the South West The computer specification for the use of Lyceum, is about this venue: available from the following website: Tel: 0117 929 9641 http://www3.open.ac.uk/personal- Email: [email protected] computing/courses/L2112009.shtm Université de Caen, Campus 1, 14070 CAEN 9. Do I need a visa to attend my school? CEDEX 5, France If you’re not a national of the European Union you Caen is the capital of Basse-Normandie, in Northern may need a visa to attend your residential school. If France. Campus 1 is located to the north of the so, please make sure that you apply for it in good town about 5 minutes by car from the town centre. It time. is a large site which will involve walks of 10-15 10. Can you tell me more about my venue minutes several times a day between the such as travel, accommodation and accommodation, catering and teaching areas. arrival times? Travel by train Below is further information on how to get to your Contact Rail Europe (08448 484064) for details of venue, what time to arrive and the type of both Eurostar services from London to Paris and for accommodation provided. The attached letter will the regular SNCF services from Paris Gare St tell you which venue(s) is available for your course. Lazare to Caen. You will have to cross Paris from Most schools run at only one venue. You’ll find Gare du Nord to Gare St Lazare by bus, metro or more detailed and up-to-date information on our taxi. website www.open.ac.uk/residential-schools and in the Residential School Booklet sent to you three Travel by air Accommodation There is only one UK airport ( Shoreham) Accommodation is in single study bedrooms with with a direct flight to Caen. Most low cost airlines washbasins. Baths, showers and WCs are easily operate flights to Paris. From Paris airport you will accessible. need to transfer to Paris Gare St Lazare station for a Arrival and departure times direct train to Caen. Allow two hours for the journey across Paris. School registration: Saturday between 13:00 and 15:30. School finish: Friday 15:00. Travel by ferry Contact The Open University in the North about There are channel crossings to France for car this venue: and/or foot passengers from Dover, Newhaven, Tel: 0191 477 6100 Portsmouth, Southampton, Poole and Plymouth. The most direct route to Caen for foot passengers is Email: [email protected] travelling on Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth – Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, SR 28/29 Caen/Ouistreham crossing. There is a bus shuttle Universitätshauptgebäude, Friedrich-Schiller- service direct from the ferry port at Ouistreham to Universität Jena, Fürstengraben 1, 07743 the central bus station in Caen. From there it is a Jena, Germany short tram/bus journey to Camous 1. Jena is located in eastern Germany, 240 km south- Accommodation west of Berlin and 96 km south-west of Leipzig. Rooms are single study bedrooms with washbasin, Teaching takes place at the Friedrich-Schiller- shower and toilet. The course fee covers Universität in the centre of the town. Please note accommodation for Saturday to Thursday nights that there are fairly long corridors within the inclusive. university itself, as well as a considerable walk from Arrival and departure times the university building to the Mensa (student refectory). School registration: Saturday between 14:00 and 18:00. School finishes: Friday 12:30. Travel by air Contact The Open University in Milton Keynes There is no airport in Jena itself so it is about this venue: recommended that you fly to one of the following Tel: 01908 653235 destinations and follow the suggestions for onward travel: Email: [email protected] Berlin: There are flights to Berlin from several UK University of Durham, Hatfield College, airports. Berlin has more than one airport: Durham, DH1 3RQ Schönefeld: The Airport Express train runs every 30 Durham is off the A1M, between Scotch Corner and minutes from the airport to Hauptbahnof, from where Washington. The introduction of a toll barrier has there are direct trains to Jena. made vehicle access to Hatfield College (A214 only) Tegel and Tempelhof: Both of these airports have very limited. The University of Durham is a complex good transport links to the Ostbahnhof and the site involving some steep inclines, steps and uneven Zoologischer Garten, from where there are direct surfaces. trains to Jena. Travel by train The rail journey from Berlin to Jena takes about Durham is well connected by train. For Hatfield three hours. College, Durham County Council operates a public Frankfurt am Main: There are flights to Frankfurt bus service between the railway station and Durham from several UK airports. Frankfurt has two airports: Cathedral, Palace Green (adjacent to Hatfield Frankfurt International: A regular train runs between College) and costs approx. £0.50 per journey. the airport and the main station. The journey takes Travel by air about 10 minutes. Newcastle airport: there is a direct Metro line (local Frankfurt Hahn: The airport is 96 km west of railway) to Newcastle Central Railway Station Frankfurt. There is a coach transfer to the main (25min – approx. £6 return). Newcastle to Durham station, which takes 45 minutes. by rail is 15 minutes, approx. £10 return. The rail journey from Frankfurt to Jena takes about Durham Tees Valley Airport: a free coach service three hours. (SkyExpress) runs to Darlington train station, from Leipzig: Leipzig has two airports: which there is a regular and frequent service to Leipzig: Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) fly direct from Durham. The current cost of a single ticket is London Stansted, the onward rail journey from approx. £5. Leipzig to Jena takes just over one hour. Leipzig Altenburg: Known as Flugplatz Altenburg- Nobitz. Take a shuttle bus to the station, and travel to Jena via Gera (not Leipzig). The rail journey Travel by coach from Gera to Jena takes about two hours. The nearest inter-city coach station is at the Munich: Direct flights are available from several UK Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham: onward travel by airports. The S-Bahn runs every 20 minutes from taxi (approx. £8) or bus. National Express Enquiries: the airport to the main railway station, from where 08705 808080. there are direct trains to Jena. The rail journey Accommodation takes about four hours. Single study bedrooms, most are fitted with a Nuremberg: Direct flights are available from several washbasin. The toilets and washing facilities are UK airports including Air Berlin (www.airberlin.com) arranged in single sex areas. from London Stansted. The U-Bahn connects the airport to the main railway station, from where there Arrival and departure times are direct trains to Jena. The rail journey takes School registration: Saturday between 13:00 and about two and a half hours. 15:00. School finish: Friday 13:00. Travel by train Contact The Open University in the East Rail travel within Germany can be booked in Midlands about this venue: advance with Deutsche Bahn: Tel: 0115 962 5451 Website: www.deutsche-bahn.co.uk Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Telephone: 08702 435363 Residencia Universitaria Monte da Condesa, Travel by coach Campus Universitario Sur, s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain There is no direct coach service to Jena from the UK, however, it is possible to reach Jena from the Santiago de Compostela is situated in Galicia in the UK via other German locations. Please consult your North West of Spain. Some long walks and steep travel agent or visit www.nationalexpress.com or inclines are involved at this school. phone them on 08705 808080. Travel by train Accommodation It is possible to get to Santiago by rail, the RENFE Students are accommodated in single occupancy railway station is a five to ten minute car journey rooms with en suite facilities at the Hotel Schwarzer from the university. Details can be obtained from Bär or the Hotel Steigenberger Esplanade, both of your travel agent or UK rail stations. which are in the centre of Jena. Travel by air Arrival and departure times Ryanair offer direct flights from London Stansted to School registration: Saturday between 14:00 and Santiago (www.ryanair.com). Iberia do not fly to 17:30. School finish: Friday 12:30. Santiago direct but do operate a service to La Contact The Open University in the West Coruna, 40 miles north of Santiago. Many more Midlands about this venue: flights are available via Barcelona and Madrid, with internal flight connections on to Santiago. Santiago Tel: 0121 426 1661 de Compostela (Lavacolla) Airport is 12km, a 20 Email: [email protected] minute taxi ride, from the university. The taxi fare is , University Park, approx. €17 single. Alternatively there are buses into the city. Nottingham, NG7 2RD The university is situated just off the A52 towards Travel by coach Nottingham City Centre (M1 Junction 25). It is a It is possible to reach Santiago by coach from large and undulating campus involving steep Victoria Coach Station. You should consult your inclines. We would advise you against bringing your travel agent or National Express. This is a very long car if possible as only a limited number of car journey. parking spaces are available on site. Travel by ferry and car Travel by train Ferries operate twice a week in the summer to Nottingham Station: onward travel by taxi (approx. Santander from Plymouth (Brittany Ferries) and to £8) or by bus. Nottingham Bus Timetable Bilbao from Portsmouth (P&O European Ferries). Information: 08705 808080. You should be aware that this route can take some time, because of the length of the crossing and the Travel by air geography of this mountainous part of Spain. Nottingham East Midlands Airport: onward travel by taxi (approx. £27) or by bus (approx. £5). Accommodation Accommodation is in single occupancy study bedrooms with en-suite toilet and shower or bath. The course fee covers accomodation for Saturday to Friday nights. If you wish to book additional nights Accommodation in Santiago visit www.santiagoturismo.com. Single study bedrooms, each room fitted with a Arrival and departure times washbasin. The toilets and washing facilities are arranged in single sex areas. School registration: Saturday between 14:30 and 18:00. School finishes: Friday 14:30. Arrival and departure times Contact The Open University in Milton Keynes School registration: Saturday between 13:00 and about this venue: 15:00. School finish: Friday 13:00. Tel: 01908 653235 Contact The Open University in the South East Email: [email protected] about this venue: Tel: 01342 327 821 University of , Kent House, , , Brighton, BN1 9RL Email: [email protected] The university is on the between Brighton 11. Contact us and about four miles (six kilometres) from the If you have some outstanding queries use the table centre of Brighton. The campus is a large site with below to to identify your contact. steep inclines. Travel by train Query Contact Falmer Station via Brighton Station: 10 min walk to campus; no taxi service available. Free Service Bus I have a specific query The contact listed in the from Falmer Station. Brighton Station: bus (from about my venue. venue information ) or taxi to campus. I need to stay in above. Travel by air accommodation outside of the venue. Gatwick Airport: take the train to Falmer Station (via Brighton). Heathrow Airport: take the underground I need to stay for extra to Victoria Station, train to Falmer Station (via night(s). Brighton). Alternatively, coaches (number 747) run I have a query relating Disability Resources from both Gatwick and Heathrow Airports to the to additional support for Team centre of Brighton (from Heathrow this is a good my school. Tel: +44 (0)1908 idea if you have lots of luggage). 653745 Travel by ferry Email: disabled-student- Passenger ferries operate between Dieppe and [email protected] Newhaven, which has a direct train link to Falmer. I have a query about my Residential Schools From Portsmouth or Southampton, take the train to ALE. Team (Milton Keynes) Brighton and change there for Falmer. From all other ports, take the train to London and travel from I have a general Tel: +44 (0)1908 London Victoria Station via Brighton or Lewes. residential school query. 653235 Email: residential- [email protected]

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