A Singer's Story
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sesame The Open University Reaching the OU community worldwide Spring 2006 Issue 229 A singer’s story 2 SESAME 229 Spring 2006 Spring 2006 SESAME 229 3 COMMENT CONTENTS News round-up Pages 4 - 7 7ag]c`8]PbOYW\U On the road again Page 8 Cover story g]cW\bVSe`]\U Lose your maths phobia Page 9 INTERDEPENDENCE DAY New course NLESS you have been living under a rock these past few months you can’t have failed to Letters Pages 10 -11 RW`SQbW]\- Your views notice the recent media frenzy surrounding increasing energy prices and the impact this Uwill have on the British home and business owner. sesame examines this issue by talking Epidemic of fear Pages 12 -13 to OU Research Fellow Steve Lunn who is one of the key players behind Britain’s first wind Research farm project in Oxfordshire, and former OU student Peter Bennett who believes if we are to 7aWbbW[Sb]`SbVW\Yg]c`Tcbc`S- sustain our present energy consumption then nuclear power is the way forward. Our current Playing it by your rules Pages 14 -15 energy crisis along with climate change and globalisation are just some of the themes at the Living with Asperger’s OU’s Interdependence Day set to take place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on 1 Teens want to chat Page 17 /`Sg]cZ]]YW\UT]`O\SeO\R July. If you are interested in attending please see the story on page 6. FirstClass for under-18s? SfQWbW\UQVOZZS\USbVObUWdSa Last year the OU came top in the first-ever National Student Survey which asked students how satisfied were they with their Higher Education Institution. The OU ranked first on overall Running on empty Pages 18 - 19 g]cOPSbbS`_cOZWbg]TZWTS- satisfaction, assessment and feedback and organisation and management out of 128 HEIs. The The energy debate OU also ranked highly for its quality of teaching. Just how satisfied you all are was the subject Bright young things Pages 20 - 21 of a recent Course Survey research project carried out by the university’s Institute of High achievers 2]g]ceO\bb]VOdSO Educational Technology. Of those surveyed, 95 per cent of students said they were satisfied and 61 per cent very satisfied with their overall study experience with The Open University. For Bienvenue à Caen Pages 22 - 23 `SeO`RW\UQO`SS`OaeSZZOa the full story see page 5. The best way to learn French Meanwhile, students going to conventional universities this year are shunning the traditional bVS^]bS\bWOZb]SO`\O\ No refuge for Kermit Pages 24 - 25 ‘academic’ subjects in favour of more vocational ones. This news prompts sesame to start a Many species can’t be saved SfQSZZS\bW\Q][S- debate: what are universities for? How far should what we study be related to the ‘real’ world of work and citizenship? Is it whimsical or self-indulgent to suggest that benefits of higher Help for book hunters Page 26 education are intangible and un-measurable (or indeed immeasurable)? Write or email sesame When you just can’t find that text BVS\Z]]Y\]Tc`bVS` with your views. Reaching for the stars Pages 28 - 29 Yvonne Cook, Editor Latest news from space Smile Pages 30 - 31 Support Virtual Employment Fair Pages 32 - 35 0SQ][SO:WUVbS`:WTS1]c\aSZZ]` Careers Crossword Page 36 :WUVbS`:WTS]^S`ObSaOeSWUVbZ]aa>`]U`O[[Sa^SQWTWQOZZgRSaWU\SRT]`^S]^ZSeWbVbV`SS ab]\S]`[]`Sb]Z]aS2WRg]cY\]ebVObbVS`SO`S![WZZW]\]PSaS^S]^ZSW\bVSC9- WITH THIS ISSUE – Page 37 OU STUDENT 3OQVVOabVSW`]e\`SOa]\T]`PSW\U]dS`eSWUVb1]cZRg]cVSZ^bVS[c\RS`abO\ReVg- Not the end – but a new beginning – A round-up of the Open University Students Association’s latest activities ESO`SSf^O\RW\U]c`\Sbe]`Y]T1]c\aSZZ]`abV`]cUV]cbbVSeV]ZS]TbVSC9O\RO`S Z]]YW\Ub]`SQ`cWb[]bWdObSRaSZTabO`bS`ab]`c\bVSW`]e\PcaW\Saac\RS`bVSaSQc`Wbg]T]c` Windpower: Are wind farms the answer to the UK’s future energy crisis? \ObW]\OZP`O\R Editor: Yvonne Cook Published by: The Open University. sesame email: [email protected] The Open University, Walton Hall, BVWaPcaW\Saa]^^]`bc\Wbg]TTS`aQ][^`SVS\aWdSO\ROQQ`SRWbSRb`OW\W\UeWbVO\&:A1 telephone: +44 (0)1908 653011 The editorial content of this magazine was Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA 1O`SS`2SdSZ]^[S\b:]O\OdOWZOPZSPcaW\Saaac^^]`bO\R^S`a]\OZRSdSZ]^[S\beVWZab correct at the time of going to press. No part email: [email protected] Assistant Editor: Sheila Forman of this publication may be reproduced in any telephone: +44 (0)1908 653761 ^`]dWRW\UO[SRWQOZZgO^^`]dSReSWUVbZ]aa>`]U`O[[SbVOb]TTS`aO\W\Q][S]T#9 email: [email protected] form without the prior permission of the website: www.open.ac.uk/sesame telephone: +44 (0)1908 653761 publishers. 7Tg]cVOdSO`SOZRSaW`Sb]VSZ^^S]^ZSQVO\USbVSW`ZWdSa Printed by: Artisan Press, Leicester Creative Director: Maxine France Views expressed in articles are those of bVS\QOZZ6OgZSg]`9ObWST]`O\W\T]`[ObW]\^OQY]\ ISSN: 0267-033X email: [email protected] the contributors and not necessarily of &%"" "%""]`S[OWZ(\Se5ZWUVbS`ZWTSQ][ telephone: +44 (0)1908 652585 sesame or The Open University. Advertising: McMillan-Scott Publication of an advertisment or loose email: [email protected] or eeeZWUVbS`ZWTSQ][ Head of Publications: Debbie Dixon insert in sesame does not imply Open email: [email protected] email: [email protected] University recognition or approval of the telephone: +44 (0)20 7878 2300 telephone: +44 (0)1908 652451 goods or services advertised. 4 SESAME 229 Spring 2006 Spring 2006 SESAME 229 5 More news online at More news online at NEWS www.open.ac.uk/sesame www.open.ac.uk/sesame NEWS Celebrate culture this Happy but hard-worked HE vast majority of students are happy with the OU, but friends (71 per cent) and an extended deadline/special arrangement substantial numbers find study takes longer than expected. (63 per cent). summer with the OU TNinety-five per cent of students who responded to the recent Q Learning materials are highly rated by students – particularly the Courses Survey said they were satisfied, and sixty-one per cent very course guide (97 per cent satisfied) and the printed teaching material CALLING all culture vultures – The Open University is sponsoring Open University is sponsoring Access All Beckett, a programme of satisfied with their overall study experience with The Open University. (96 per cent). 72 per cent or more were satisfied with all printed and cultural festivals across the UK in 2006. classic Beckett prose pieces performed by the internationally The results from the November 2005 Courses Survey also show that electronic components provided in support of their learning as part of The Cathedral Quarter Festival, Belfast, 27 April - 7 May, takes to renowned Franco-Irish company Gare St Lazare Players. The recitals students are highly motivated to gain an award, with 82 per cent their course. the streets with the cream of local, national and international artistic will be performed in site-specific locations, taking Beckett out of the reporting that they were studying their course as part of a programme Q 85 per cent of students were satisfied with tutor support on their talent. The focus this year is on World Cultures and highlights include theatre and into the city. www.brighton-festival.org.uk or call +44 of study to achieve an OU qualification or award. The Survey also course overall. 87 per cent were satisfied, and 60 per cent very satisfied a Bollywood Brass Band and a group of Tuvan Throat Singers. Literary (0)1273 709709. found that: with tutor support received at tutorials. 85 per cent reported that talks, readings, debate, comedy, theatre and music all combine in a Swindon Festival of Literature, 1 - 13 May. Authors and speakers Q 98 per cent of students were satisfied with course choice feedback from their tutor improved their understanding of the course. fast-paced, exciting programme of events. www.cqaf.com or call +44 not only from the world of literature but also from politics, science, information in OU publications or OU websites, while 83 per cent were The Courses Survey is carried out by the Student Statistics Team in (0)289 023 2403. sport, entertainment and television contribute to this exciting festival satisfied with the advice and guidance from an OU member of staff. the OU's Institute of Educational Technology, who sent out Brighton Festival, 6 - 28 May. The largest multi-arts festival in of exploration and ideas. Highlights include the Clive Brain Memorial Q 48 per cent of students found the amount of time studying their questionnaires to 38,497 students on 122 courses and achieved a England celebrating its 40th anniversary. The 2006 festival features Lecture, the Swindon Performance Poetry Slam Competition and course more than expected and 57 per cent fell behind the study response rate of 49 per cent. Using the survey results, the team will more than 700 events across theatre, dance, music, books and the Children and Families weekend. The OU will be running a calendar – around the same level as reported in 2004. continue to work with the OU's Student Services and Central debates. To mark the centenary of the birth of Samuel Beckett The creative writing workshop at this event. For further information Q Personal motivation was the most important factor in keeping Academic Units to investigate ways of improving student retention visit www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk or call +44 (0)1793 students going (96 per cent), followed by support from family and rates and the quality of the learning experience.