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By Peter Taylor-Whiffen

OU STUDENTS are more impressed with their university In the “overall satisfaction” section, the OU tied for than students at any other higher education institution. first place with the Royal Academy Of Music – both The first-ever National Student Survey asked learners institutions scoring 4.5 out of a possible five points. The at HEIs across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to Conservatoire for Dance and Drama was third, ahead of rate their learning experience – and The Open University St Mary’s University College. came out on top. The OU ranked first on overall satisfaction, Tribute for all assessment and feedback and organisation and In “the teaching on my course” category, the OU was management out of 128 HEIs. And students were just as placed second behind the Royal Academy Of Music and impressed by its teaching – under several general subject for “academic support” was third behind Stranmillis headings, the OU was ranked first in ten, second in two University and the Royal Welsh College of Music and and third and fourth in the others. The survey was taken Drama. OU Director, Students, Will Swann said the result to coincide with the launch of the Teaching Quality was a testament to OU staff across the university. “This Information website, which gives existing and excellent result is a tribute to all those who work in prospective students access to official information Walton Hall, and in all the regions, and all our associate about the quality of Higher Education in UK universities lecturers and other staff,” he said. and colleges. More than 60 per cent of students in England, Wales The OU through the Centre for Institutional Research and Northern Ireland took part in the survey, with four in in the Institute for Educational Technology (IET) had a five of them “satisfied” with the quality of their courses. major role in the survey’s development. It piloted the Across all the institutions as a whole, 85 per cent agreed techniques used in collection and helped develop the “staff are good at explaining things”, 82 per cent thought questionnaire. The OU’s Professor in Student Learning their course “intellectually stimulating” and 75 per cent and Assessment John Richardson headed-up the analysis said “staff have made the subject interesting”. operation and Project Officer Jane Wilson was the main Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) researcher throughout the work involving 26 other HEIs. Chief Executive Howard Newby called the results “an More than 170,000 students in their final year at HEIs overwhelmingly positive thumbs-up” for Higher in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were asked to Education. “Any organisation in the public or private “definitely agree”, “mostly agree”, “mostly disagree”, sector would clearly be delighted with an endorsement “definitely disagree” or “neither agree or disagree” with a of this kind. The results are a tribute to the hard work and

I’m loving it: The OU tied for first place with the Royal Academy of Music in the “overall series of statements under headings including “The dedication of lecturers, managers and support staff in satisfaction” section teaching on my course” and “learning resources”. universities and colleges,” he said. Assembly review for Welsh students

OU DIRECTOR for Wales Dr Heather Graham time – unlike England – as the introduction of research to define the term part-time. “It can has been appointed to chair an assembly top-up fees. “I’m delighted to have been asked mean so many different things,” she said. “It’s a review group that could have a direct impact to chair this group,” said Dr Graham. term that covers everyone from those on how the country’s part-time students are “It is crucial that the OU is at the centre of attending a class once a month to students funded in the future. these discussions because we have the doing MBAs. Dr Graham will head a group of 12 “The research will be quantitative representatives from education and “In Wales part-time learners make up and qualitative and also look at how business institutions that will 49 per cent of all HE students” part-time students respond, for recommend how the Welsh Assembly instance, to the issue of debt and how should use recently acquired powers greatest experience of part-time education they relate to their studies in terms of their concerning tuition fees and student support and it is essential that we achieve a solution work. schemes. which gives part-time students parity of “The Assembly is very keen for our The deadline for the group’s report is Easter esteem with those in full-time Higher recommendations to be based on strong 2006, to enable the Assembly to introduce Education.” evidence, and our research will give us that.” provision for part-time students at the same Dr Graham said the first priority would be The Assembly’s Education and Lifelong turn to page 2 Heather Graham

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Quality of materials and student retention – are they linked? The living daylights FREDERICK Toates gives a valuable insight into materials production at the OU. (Comment in open house, issue 399.) He states that early handover of “IF WE work hard, we can defeat global in Milton Keynes. The programme the delegates heard six plenary teaching materials can “make the academic vulnerable poverty.” was titled Connecting people and presentations, including one by OU to interminable rounds of critiques, whereas late That was the message from the places and the delegate list alone Professor of Economics Maureen handover avoids this. For academics to produce the Secretary of State for International achieved that, with visitors from Mackintosh, who highlighted what kind of material that will drastically increase retention Development Hilary Benn when he countries including Zambia, Ireland, she called the “perverse subsidy” of would have immediate costs in terms of time…” addressed an audience at The Open Brazil, Australia, Nepal, Swaziland, African doctors and nurses coming It does indeed take time to produce high-quality University recently. Japan, India, Norway, Malaysia and to Britain to help a richer nation's materials: time to prepare, review, test, edit and check He added that people must believe the USA, and from a host of health service. materials. Judging from the pages of errata on some they can change the world, or its other nations and international For further details about the courses, for example, this preparation time is not problems of poverty and injustice organisations. conference and its speakers visit always spent. would never be solved. During the three-day programme www.devstud.org.uk “Cynicism scares the living daylights Teaching materials out of me,” he said. “Cynicism will not I am not sure that increasing quality of materials would save a single starving child or a single “drastically” increase student retention, but at the very mother from dying in childbirth.” least increasing quality could significantly increase Mr Benn, who had been welcomed by retention. As it happened, the Forum in the same issue Vice-Chancellor Professor Brenda of open house was on student recruitment and Gourley, told delegates at a conference retention. No mention was made of materials beyond of the Development Studies the usual “students receive first rate teaching Association that he became materials”. Do they always? “depressed” by those who thought it A related issue is the preparation of TMAs. Do they impossible to effect change. “It’s a bit always undergo rigorous checking for ambiguities and fashionable to say politics never errors? As Toates points out, every hour spent checking changes anything, all politicians are someone’s TMA is another hour off research. liars,” he said.

“Course teams are often too close Moral obligation “Because politics is not about what to the materials to spot politicians do on their own. Why do inconsistencies and ambiguities. politicians move? Because people Sometimes it needs a fresh eye. demand.” And he suggested there was a moral One approach is testing on students, obligation to rid the world of such but this can be expensive and tragedies, adding: “We can’t say we difficult to organise” didn’t know it was happening.” Mr Benn’s address was the keynote Of course, any solution requires more resources, speech of the biennial DSA conference, though simply increasing the rounds of critiques which attracted 300 delegates from from fellow academics may not be enough. Course more than 130 organisations to The Vice-Chancellor Professor Brenda Gourley with Secretary of State for International Development, teams are often too close to the materials to Open University’s Walton Hall campus Hilary Benn spot inconsistencies and ambiguities. Sometimes it needs a fresh eye. One approach is testing on students, but this can be expensive and difficult to organise. Another approach is review by Associate Lecturers, Assembly review for Welsh students who could often easily spot omissions and continued from page 1 inconsistencies (not to mention typos) simply because they have a fresh eye. If ALs are also new to some of the Learning Minister Jane Davidson welcomed Dr Graham’s “Devolution has enabled government to subject matter, they can evaluate the material from the appointment. “Dr Graham brings immense experience and focus more directly on the issues in Wales” perspective of a learner as well. skill to the role of chair of this important review group,” she Indeed, the whole area of AL involvement in materials said. “The work of this group will have a great influence on 1 August, 2005. production is an important topic – but that is perhaps how the Assembly government meets the needs of part-time “The Welsh Assembly is much more supportive of the subject of another article. students in Wales in the future.” institutions that offer part-time learning because in Wales, Michael Oatey is an AL (London Region) and has a background in Other group members come from organisations including part-time learners make up 49 per cent of all HE students,” producing open learning materials. local education authorities, higher and further education said Dr Graham. institutions, the National Institute of Adult Continuing “Devolution has enabled government to focus more Do you have a gripe or would you like to share an Education, the Wales TUC and NUS Wales. directly on the issues in Wales and with the rapidly changing interesting fact with other staff members? If so, send industrial base, it is very keen to boost the economy by us an article of no more than 300 words to The Editor, Responsibility putting substantial money into education and skills. open house, or email your contribution to open-house The Welsh Assembly took over the responsibility of Widening access to HE is very high on the Assembly’s agenda @open.ac.uk Please include contact details. funding of HE – through the Higher Education Funding and I hope we will come up with recommendations that Council of Wales – from the UK Parliament and HEFCE on support that.”

Editor Features Editor Editorial Panel No part of this publication may be reproduced in any Debbie Dixon Peter Taylor-Whiffen James Coleman, Catherine Colohan, Mike Follows, form without the prior permission of the publishers. [email protected] [email protected] Edwina Jones, Mike Lowndes, Peter Sheldon and Published by the Communications Group, The Open +44 (0)1908 652451 +44 (0)1908 652451 Elizabeth Woods. University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK 7 6AA. If you would like to be considered for the editoral panel Next issue Deputy Editor Creative Director for three issues of open house please contact the Editor. Yvonne Cook Maxine France The next issue of open house will be published in [email protected] [email protected] The Communications Group would like to thank the November. If you would like to contribute an article +44 (0)1908 653011 +44 (0)1908 652585 following contributors: Louis De La Forêt, John Kirkaldy, please contact the Editor, Debbie Dixon, at open-house Christofer Lloyd, Mike Lowndes, Michael Oatey, @open.ac.uk Deadline for submissions is 21 October. News Editor Publisher Catherine Pain, Dick Skellington, Stuart Thorogood, Robin Wilson and Alan Woodley. Sheila Forman Derek Prior Printed by [email protected] [email protected] The editorial content of this supplement was correct at Spin Offset, 32–36 Thurrock Commercial Centre, +44 (0)1908 653761 +44 (0)1908 653791 the time of going to press. Aveley, South Ockendon, Essex, RM15 4YG.

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OU staff nominated in Times Higher awards THE OU is the most-nominated university in the first What’s sport got to annual Times Higher Education Supplement awards to be presented on 23 November. Those up for awards are Professor John Zarnecki of the Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) in the Research do with it? Project of the Year category, Dr David Hesmondhalgh of Social Sciences and Tot Foster of Learning and Teaching Solutions in the Most Imaginative Use of AND the winner is… long pause… London. Before the retention. In 2005, at GCSE and A level, Sports studies is one Distance Learning and Director, Students, Will Swann in decision to hand the 2012 Olympics to our capital city, of the fastest growing subject options in the UK. the Outstanding Support for Students with Disabilities university staff were already talking about the role of sport The decision to bring the Olympics to London promises to category. Results will be on OU Life. in our curriculum, writes Dick Skellington. revitalise interest in sport and provoke much debate. 2012 So far sport has been confined to the margins of a few represents an educational opportunity for the OU. courses and has never been really taken seriously as an area In recent years the State has profited enormously from OU Life of study, despite its increasing importance in and relevance sport while investing relatively little, especially compared SINCE the open house OU Life website went live it has to our everyday lives. Academics have tended, for whatever with other European countries. For every £1 the government been a huge success, with staff using or contributing to reasons, to ignore it. Now that neglect is changing. invests in sport, it earns nearly £9. In England alone £21 of it in some way. A popular part of the site is the Notice An open meeting to discuss how sport might feature in our public money is spent on sport per head of population; Board area where staff are able to buy and sell items future provision has been planned for Friday, 4 November at Germany spends £30 and France a shocking £110 per head. and post notices. These messages are posted directly Walton Hall and will be led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor However, in the last two years there have been signs that to the site and appear immediately with no editing. Brenda Gourley. this is changing. Last year the government announced a However, anyone submitting a notice should read the Guest speakers include OU honorary graduates Sir Steve half-a-billion pound boost for physical education and sport in guidance notes fully and be aware of what is allowed Redgrave and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson and Barry schools. Currently, 3.5 million pupils in 12,000 schools are and what isn’t. Staff may not be aware that it is also Houlihan, Professor of Sport Policy at Loughborough now in school-sports partnership. Each partnership receives possible to post news stories and diary events to the University. £270,000 in government funding annually. E-xtra News and Diary sections but, unlike the Notice The day is devoted to exploring several possibilities Sport in the UK provides full-time employment for 400,000 Board, these messages are edited before final posting. including an openings course in sport and the feasibility of a people, 2.2 per cent of the workforce. Consumers’ This enables us to keep to our particular style guide and foundation degree in sport. sports-related spending is running at £20 billion a year and also add any further information we feel may enhance But why do sport, and why do it now? Sport studies are continues to rise. the notice. Attachments and web links can also be becoming increasingly more important vocationally. Sport Sport is all around us and without it our lives would be added to the E-xtra News site along with photographs, science is developing fast, mainly through further education less enriched and fulfilled. Can the university continue to which should be no more that 32k in size. Anyone colleges and some sport-based universities such as ignore the increasing importance of sport in our daily lives experiencing problems with the site should contact Loughborough. UCAS data shows more and more would-be much longer? Ian Roddis at [email protected] or telephone Ian on students see sport as a viable and relevant area of study. For further details about the event contact Tom Power 01908 653430. In addition, sport could help raise student numbers, attract at [email protected] or Dick Skellington at more students from different backgrounds and assist [email protected] Have I got news for you

A MEDIA Studies degree is a popular choice among young students going to conventional universities, but despite its pioneering research background in popular culture, the OU hasn’t offered ‘media studies’ degrees to its students. Until now. Thanks to DA204 Understanding media, a new 60-point course launching in February next year, OU students will not only be able to explore this topic but will have the option of taking named degrees in social sciences or humanities with media studies. They can do this by including two other OU courses, AA310 Film and television history, and D318 Culture, media and identities, in their degree profile. Although in the past it’s been decried as trendy, media studies ranks third in the country in terms of employability, said Dr David Hesmondhalgh, the DA204 Course Chair. It doesn’t aim to provide vocational training but, said David, ‘if you look at the media now, more and more people who are coming into it are coming out of media studies courses – people like Michael Jackson, a former BBC Controller. The course is aimed at people who want to gain a better understanding of one of the most pervasive and influential forces of our age. People who watch TV and want to know more about what lies behind what they see; people who are interested in issues of media control; those curious about the media as a global force; the media has many facets and the course is expected to draw students from the education, technology, business and law areas, as well as arts and social sciences.

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Crimewatch BRITAIN’S prison population has soared over the last 10 years to 70,000, but is locking offenders up the best way to deal with crime? The Persistent Prison, a new Widening participation book edited by Professor Clive Emsley, Co-Director of the International Centre for Comparative OU STAFF can see the huge difference the Widening In September 50 staff viewed the DVD at a workshop at Criminological Research based at the OU, gathers Participation (WP) Programme has made to individual the Leeds Regional Centre. The main launch event will take together a range of experts to explore imprisonment students – by watching a brand new DVD. place at Walton Hall on 24 October. “In the morning everyone now and in the past, and alternatives ranging from Entitled In Partnership With You, the DVD demonstrates will view the DVD, and then we will break into groups to electronic tagging to ‘restorative justice’. The just how much the programme has turned round students’ discuss the best ways in which it can be used internally and Persistent Prison is published by Francis Boutle. lives. The DVD, which was externally,” said Margaret. produced by Learning and “It’s a good way to show people the “In the afternoon we will Teaching Solutions, has look at the consultation Putting the OU in the frame outcome of the WP pilot schemes we been put together by launched three years ago” paper for redeveloping the TWO OU researchers believe they have come up with a WP Programme Manager WP strategy and ask people way that can confine badly designed software to the Margaret Hart, based in the Manchester Regional Centre, for their views as to how the OU should move forward.” history books – and they’ve received an IBM award of and features a series of short films with OU students. The OU’s Director, Students Will Swann said the disc was US$27,000 to help them prove it. Husband and wife “One film features a young man of Black-Caribbean origin in an ideal way to keep people up to date with the WP team Dr John Hall and Dr Lucia Rapanotti of the Nottingham who is still at school but is doing a short science programme. “It’s an excellent way to disseminate Software Requirements Engineering and Design group course, and he is so enthusiastic about having been given the information,” he said, “and more effective and immediate in the OU’s Department of Computing, are developing opportunity to learn.” than asking people to read a lot of reports. It’s a good way to the use of ‘problem frames’ – tools that can analyse The DVD is full of similar stories. One woman in the show people the outcomes of the WP programme pilot what a user needs from a piece of software, before the north-east who cares for her mother tells how she learned schemes we launched three years ago and to help us develop design process begins. The award from IBM about the OU at a carers’ centre; she has since given up our strategy further.” demonstrates that the OU is seen as a world centre of her job in a call centre to train as a health professional. Copies of the DVD are available in all Regional Centres and problem frames research, according to Dr Hall. Young Muslim women in Halifax and Belfast, who historically central academic units. To book places for the event on 24 have had to leave school to marry and bring up children, are October contact Christine Barber on 0161 998 7272 or email taking health and social care courses. [email protected] Habitats of SA frogs endangered TIM Halliday, an OU biology professor, has recently conducted research in Africa into ghost frogs and the effect their water supplies have on them. The project, which is funded by the Declining Amphibian Populations Setback for University of MK Task Force (DAPTF), aims to investigate areas where the ghost frog and water levels in breeding streams can THE Open University says government College. They want to create a facility would help to identify more specifically be monitored throughout the year in the Cape refusal to finance plans by the which would meet what they see as a the OU’s role in UMK and its curriculum. Mountains of South Africa. A wide range of frogs is in Universities of Milton Keynes (UMK) need for a second university in Milton “The Open University would like to danger of becoming extinct due to their habitats being partnership for a second university in Keynes. The project, is also backed by demonstrate its strong commitment to decimated courtesy of human intervention. Milton Keynes will not deter it from the Milton Keynes Partnership, the the local community,” said Edmund. giving the project its full support. Milton Keynes Economy and Learning Professor Vincent is also undeterred The Deputy Prime Minister’s office Partnership and Milton Keynes Council. by the government’s current decision Library online resources rejected a bid for £9.5 million to buy a It will offer full- and part-time not to fund the purchase. “The delay building in the city for the new venture courses with a heavy vocational won’t actually have a direct impact on FROM 1 November OU staff and students will only need – but the OU believes this is a emphasis. our plans for UMK,” he said. “The work to to use their Open University Computer Username temporary setback and a future bid will Edmund Dixon, who is Head of plan the curriculum is still going ahead, (OUCU) and password to access most Library be successful. Strategic Partnerships in the OU’s and we are continuing to coordinate the online resources. This will replace the current dual “There was no objection in principle,” Planning Office, told open house that preparation of a business plan which password system. For further details visit said the OU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor the bid’s lack of success was down to “a will undoubtedly help us to gain http://library.open.ac.uk/resources/passwords/ (Strategy, Planning and External question of timing”. support. athensda.html or email the Library help desk at Affairs) David Vincent. “It was merely a “UMK was in a position to bid for “All that has changed is the level of [email protected] OU staff and postgraduate question of a few details needing to be the funds rather more quickly than it activity, which is a little less without research students can now borrow books from the sorted out and they will be. had expected and the feedback this funding, but when the funding does Society College of National and University Libraries The Universities for Milton Keynes suggested the consortium just needed come through, as we expect it to, the (SCONUL) Research Extra scheme. Those interested in partnership is a consortium of the OU, to be a bit more specific with its plans,” activity will intensify. As far as the OU the scheme will need to register with the OU library De Montfort University, the University he said. is concerned the project should still go first. of Luton, University College He said a forthcoming meeting of the ahead and we will play an important Northampton and Milton Keynes Vice-Chancellor’s Executive (VCE) role in rolling it out,” he said. VC’S VIEW

ONE of the most dramatic changes The more technology is used to perhaps the most important is that staff across the university to in Higher Education wrought by enhance the learning experience, those institutions which are skilled deliver the learning advantages technology has been the capacity the more we come to understand in the use of technology to improve available through e-learning that it has given institutions to that students learn differently learning will be seen as more technology. offer their courses anywhere in the using it. This is something the OU dynamic and of higher quality than Our position as a leader in the world that has access to the has long understood and is the their less skilled competitors. The field relies precisely on our ability internet. There was a time when basis for our employment of a OU probably has a competitive not only to innovate but to The Open University had a very variety of professionals to advantage now but it is an migrate the innovations across the great advantage in the “ education” construct our learning experiences. advantage that will have to be university, to scale them up market but that advantage is being Some of these professionals are fiercely guarded if we are to appropriately and to exploit fully eroded every day that passes as not the kind of people that flourish in this much more our research and knowledge in the more and more universities add traditional universities saw as competitive world. To this end the field of educational technology. e-learning opportunities to their fundamentally necessary to the university is also undertaking a However, it is a tough new world. portfolios. Interestingly, technology teaching endeavour. That too is major upgrading and development Academics find it difficult enough is also supplanting the traditional beginning to change. programme with respect to its to stay ahead in their own teaching model as people come to e-learning applications; that is, the disciplines much less stay abreast realise that it offers ways to Dynamic development of its virtual learning of educational technology. Indeed, PROFESSOR improve the learning experience There are several important environment. This venture will that is a whole new ball-game. Are BRENDA GOURLEY for students. messages for the OU in all this but need the active engagement of we ready?

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Finding Beagle PROFESSOR Colin Pillinger of the OU’s Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute has new hope of World record for solving the mystery of what happened to the Beagle 2 spacecraft, which disappeared in 2003. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter carries cameras capable of spotting a lost spacecraft on the Martian surface. The OU scientists orbiter is due to arrive at the Red Planet in March 2006.

THE people at Guinness World Records always keep an eye ALs accept university offer on spectacular achievements to include in their yearly FOLLOWING the outcome of a second ballot, sent out compilation of the best of the best, reports Louis De La by the Association of University Teachers (AUT) Forêt. headquarters, to confirm the wishes of Associate David Hawksett looks at science for GWR: “We’ve always Lectures (ALs) regarding assimilation to the HERA included space exploration in the fifty years Guinness World single pay spine, the OUAUT executive have now Records has been published. This year we saw a lot of confirmed AL acceptance of the offer to the OU significant things in unmanned planetary exploration… management. The offer is backdated to 1 August 2004 pictures from Mars and the Cassini images from Saturn.” and ALs are expected to receive their back pay by the But, in a new category called “Most remote planetary end of December. The motion to remove most of the landing,” GWR has given a special recognition to the Huygens OUAUT officers – put forward as a result of an EGM team from The Open University for its work in placing a called by ALs – was defeated at the General Meeting of scientific lander on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. It was David Hawksett of Guinness World Records (left) presents the certificate to Professor John Zarnecki and the Huygens team the local association held on 13 September at the a journey of more than two billion kilometres. Walton Hall campus. A ballot will now be conducted by Principal scientist Professor John Zarnecki leads the Huygens team is grateful to be recognised by Guinness World the Electoral Reform Society to enable all members to Huygens team. He told open house: “Huygens and the OU’s Records”. vote on the motions put to the meeting. Surface Science Package mission was a magnificent space Hawksett says the best-selling Guinness World Records odyssey, but the knowledge we obtained in that success is reaches everybody with its records across a range of still being distilled and will continue to add to our subjects. “We know that a lot of kids read it and I hope it can Professorial appointment boosts understanding of the universe for years to come. The be a catalyst for getting more children interested in science.” OU Business School team THE Open University Business School has been boosted with the promotion to Professor of Dr Mark Fenton-O’Creevy, the School’s Director of Programmes New enterprise for OU and Curriculum.

OU COMPUTER files and records will Project Officer Jed Cawthorne, “is will be saved into a central 'pot' be stored and accessed more going to be a big deal for most which enables people to access work Close encounters of the third kind efficiently than ever before after the members of staff. others have done, which will stop THE Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the university purchased a new Enterprise different departments reinventing the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and equal to the Content Management System. Integrated system wheel and will make the OU more largest in the world, is now at work revealing deep The latest “buzz-word” in IT does “ECM systems provide the efficient.” space images. Astronomy students at UK universities exactly what it says – manages content technologies, tools and methods to He added that sensitive documents and observatories can use their PCs to spot stars that – and will help to organise and sort capture, manage, store, preserve and and records that were relevant only to appear as small as a candle on the Moon using this records and other documents across deliver content across an organisation,” one department could be protected to record-breaking new telescope. Dr Andrew J Norton, the whole university. he added. prevent others seeing them. Senior Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy at The Open The OU signed a deal with ECM “Information tends to exist at the OU The new system is being University, says the size and unique features of SALT Documentum at the beginning of at the moment in divisional silos. This implemented in stages including will make a huge difference in astronomy research. September to provide the software will give us a new, more integrated developments for Regional Centres and “We’ll be able to see how the light from stars changes on which, said the university’s Enterprise system which will enable people to Associate Lecturers. It is expected to very rapid timescales.” Content Management (Procurement) share files more easily. Documents be fully operational by 2007.

OPEN SUDOKU Win a £20 book token

SUDOKU addicts rejoice! OU mathematics complete each grid so that each of the professor Robin Wilson has rushed to the aid nine letters appears just once in each row, of all those hooked on filling in those fiendish once in each column, and once in each little squares, with a new book called simply 3 × 3 box? How to solve sudoku. Robin – who’s a Gresham If you do so correctly, you will find a hidden Professor of Geometry and has recently been word appearing in one of the rows or columns. made Professor of Pure Mathematics by the This hidden word is a subject taught at the OU. OU – became a fan himself when the numbers The first puzzle should be straightforward – puzzle first hit Britain last November. its solution is given on page 9. “Everyone says sudoku is ‘not mathematical The second is more difficult, and is set as a but logical’, ” Robin told open house, “but in fact competition. When you have solved it, send the

you are doing maths, although it is not completed grid, with the hidden word, which is Puzzle 1 arithmetic, it is combinatorial mathematics. also a subject, indicated, to Debbie Dixon, Although I think a lot of people would be Editor, open house, Communications Group, horrified if they knew that.” The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. No need for the maths-phobic reader to Closing date is 27 October. worry about this book, though. “It’s a A copy of How to solve sudoku will be step-by-step guide on how to approach sudoku awarded for each of the first three correct puzzles, what the techniques are, and by the solutions opened, along with a book token for time you have finished it you should be able to £20. The solution will be given in the Nov/Dec do most reasonable ones,” said Robin. issue of open house. ROBIN WILSON If you would like to see other puzzles or PROFESSOR OF Competition crosswords in open house then please contact Here are two sudoku puzzles, each containing the Editor on 01908 652451 or email Debbie PURE MATHEMATICS nine different letters for you to try. Can you at [email protected] Competition puzzle

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LETTERS LETTERS NOTICE BOARD To advertise on An exercise in bias The fact that this is presented as Regional AL representatives were also Response last 30 years proved to be unjustified. seconds holding up an OU document at figures for recognition of OU Notice board journalism shows how far house magazines very unhappy with the proposed ballot The OUAUT committee has achieved the end. Blink, and you’d miss it. involvement are for long-running AA PURDY I WAS pleased to find an article in the last are from being independent. letter, so a group of ALs urgently petitioned 1. THE ballot letter was produced and many gains for the part-time staff. None of the extensive radio or TV series such as Rough Science 78 per QUALIFIED CARPENTER please call edition of open house – ‘Rebel ALs rock the Martin Moloney circulated in accordance with decisions Initially part-time staff were paid on trails or magazine/Radio Times cent and about average for 45 per cent AND PROPERTY for an EGM to prevent the letter being MAINTENANCE boat over HERA deal’ – on the current pay Associate Lecturer, London sent. This petition was ignored by the made, without dissent, by a properly piece rates with no job security. Our articles and newspaper reviews about for Child of our Time. John Eaton All interior and exterior work dispute. On reading the piece, my pleasure Vice-Presidents, and the ballot went out convened meeting of the OUAUT Executive position has improved considerably the programme mentioned The Open Coast, like many of the OU’s high undertaken. 020 7878 2317 evaporated quickly. regardless. In addition, it emerged that, Committee. over the years with most of the gains University. The Open University’s profile series, is a co-production, No job too small. Firstly, the account omits crucial facts, Editor’s comment 2. The ballot was consultative, was resulting from the efforts of the contribution wasn’t even referred to on funded by both the university and the Painting/decorating, tiling, contrary to branch rules, there had been no fencing, kitchens etc. or email pertinent to an understanding of the issues. THERE is nothing unusual about the independent scrutiny of the distribution of conducted in accordance with normal OUAUT. The most recent agreement the BBC website which complements BBC. This does mean a reduced level of 24 Hour Emergency call-out [email protected] Secondly, it lacks any sense of balance in report’s construction or the fact that ballot papers, and regional reps received practice and was not in breach of the rules. which assimilates Associate Lecturers the programmes. Why can’t our name branding on the programme itself Security advice. Locks fitted. the relative weight given to explanation of some people quoted wanted to conceal numerous complaints about failure to 3. The so-called “Emergency General to the same pay scales as full-time at least be mentioned more often – compared with a fully-funded High standards. Free quotes. the causes of the ALs’ actions and to the their identity. The Guardian ran a similar receive ballot papers. Meeting” held in London in July was not staff is another positive move in the and promoted in broadcast trails, programme, but co-production allows Milton Keynes 310342 (eves), same direction. That is why I voted supporting web pages and reviews and us to reach high audience numbers mobile 07889 618806 Boxed adverts responses of senior OU management and story on this subject matter using the same Over thirty people, including three convened or conducted in accordance with or Yvette Purdy, extn 53559 the Vice-President of the OUAUT. Thirdly, style of language and quoted anonymous members of the OUAUT executive and a the rules. The decision to “destroy” a “yes” in the recent ballot, and that is articles? Other recent ‘co-productions’ through large-scale, prime-time cost £30 per the author employs several stylistic devices AL sources (see educationguardian.co.uk deputy general secretary of the national democratic ballot was, therefore, quite why I hope that ALs will continue to have been treated in the same way. programmes which otherwise we could which introduce subtle but significant bias 29/7/2005). The fact that management AUT, attended the EGM, which was properly correctly disregarded by the President. have confidence in the OUAUT This really isn’t a good way to get the not afford to produce. At the end of insertion plus into the account. Let’s note a few devices have more quotes than Associate Lecturers convened and quorate. The only unusual 4. The actions taken by the principal officers Committee. OU noticed. Making a 13-part programme 13 we have had 34,000 MK Pet Sitting Services Dr Alan Slomson MK Trees & Landscapes employed in the “report’s” construction. was simply down to the fact that the feature about the meeting was that it was of the OUAUT were supported by a properly prime-time series must be very requests for the activity pack. vat Director of Undergraduate Studies Dr Sally Crompton Work including: Patios, Paths, Decking, Lawn 1. ALs “claim”, while a senior OU manager original copy submitted by the author did convened General Meeting which took place expensive – surely we can spend the Treatment, Hedge Trimming, Tree Lopping & held in London rather than Milton Keynes. School of Mathematics Head of Open Broadcast Unit, “explained” and the Vice-President of the on Tuesday, 13 September 2005. money on more effective promotional Pruning, Turfing etc Fully insured. carry more AL quotes but they were cut They passed resolutions instructing the University of Leeds Walton Hall Free competitive quotes Alan Carr activity – or at least get our name put OUAUT “went on to explain”. This device, along with other parts of the story due to OUAUT Executive to cancel the ballot and Vice-President, OUAUT forward more prominently in these often used in press reports on industrial lack of space. destroy the ballot papers unopened, and to For display co-productions? conflict when representing the respective resume negotiations with OU management. Editor’s comment positions of union activists and A divided society David Clover advertising call It is a matter of record that the President IT Support Manager, Walton Hall SEE article on page 11. management, implicitly questions the ALs rock union boat of the OUAUT ignored these resolutions and AUT support for I COULDN’T agree more with what David Lancaster reliability of ALs’ accounts, while accepting went ahead with the ballot count, although Ormond Simpson says in his article ‘Do EveEve 01908 01908 674265;528889; Mob Mob 07889 07889 665745 665745 part-time staff oror Denise Denise onon extn extn 55766 55766 accounts by management and the OUAUT We are glad that open house published an the results have not been officially published. we want to be an e-OU? (open house, 020 7878 2316 official as in need of no qualification. article about the unease felt by many At all stages, the petitioners made I WAS a member of the group which over 30 issue 400). The full picture HAPPY TAILS MK 2. The position of the “rebel” ALs is Associate Lecturers over the way in which strenuous attempts to involve the national years ago negotiated the arrangements by A couple of years ago there was a THE feature article “New technology, summarised in two brief paragraphs, the ballot for the new pay deal has been AUT in resolving this dispute, but it was only which part-time OU tutors (as they then paper published by the Social Sciences competition and globalisation. It must Pet Sitting Services whereas the response of senior OU handled. It was, however, a very one-sided were) were given the opportunity to join the Research Council (SSRC) about the at this late stage that Sally Hunt, the be the nineties” (Open Eye spring Who makes sure your pets managers is given six paragraphs and account, and we would like to set the record General Secretary of the national AUT, got OUAUT. The group was set up by a meeting future society being divided between 2005, mailed out with open house, are okay while you are away or at work all day? another paragraph is devoted to the OUAUT straight. involved. She sent out a letter, variously of part-time staff held at Walton Hall which the technology rich and the technology issue 400) contained some very Vice-President’s reflections. Firstly, the ballot letter was sent out expressed dissatisfaction with our poor. We can provide: called an “enquiry”, a “consultation process” interesting reminiscences. x Feeding • Small animal care As he points out ‘the OU is introducing x Dog walking • Vet taxi 3. The following observations may appear (unsigned and undated) in the face of and a “ballot”, asking OUAUT members if conditions of service and sought trade union My personal ‘wake-up call’ was Gary Family Mediation x Play time • Home security checks rather trivial, but given the overall bias of unanimous opposition from the AL members support to help improve things. e-learning into its curriculum for many Child contact issues? they wanted the result of the ballot to Alexander’s pioneering short course Need to sort out finance and good reasons’ but there must be Contact Adrian on: the report, they are significant. The Director of the OUAUT committee. There was no stand. There was no consultation with the We approached a number of trade unions. XT001: Renewable energy technology, Tel: 01908 520835 property? ‘computer-free routes both into and Mobile: 07837 356042 of Students is first introduced as “Will formal recommendation for acceptance in petitioners and no background information Because of the Bridlington agreement, only launched in October 1993 with 24 Divorce/Separation agreement? through the OU.’ Email: [email protected] We can help! Swann”, but thereafter becomes simply the letter, but it was heavily biased in favour in the letter. The letter was so obscure that the AUT expressed willingness to represent e-learning students. Gary and his team, www.happytailsmk.co.uk If not, the OU might leave out Offices in Milton Keynes & St Albans “Will”. Such informality seems strange and of acceptance, if only because it threatened some (perhaps most) ALs did not know why part-time OU staff, and we eventually including Ches Lincoln (pictured left in precisely the people who need us most. Qualified and accredited family misplaced in a report which attempts to dire consequences if the offer was rejected. they were being consulted. concluded an agreement under which we Response the Open Eye story), not only created mediator (and OU tutor). If Postman Pat is enough to reach Are you Nicein the Club? Ring 01727 - 859596 for a no mimic journalistic conventions of balance It also made a number of contentious points, Because of the failure of the executive to could join the OUAUT and the OUAUT the first Interactive Learning Support the students and to complete the AN ARTICLE publicising the Coast obligation confidential discussion and impartiality. chiefly that if the full-time members of represented our interests. For a short Environment (and coined the phrase), ForFrench a monthly membership Riviera fee of observe the resolutions of a properly series and the OU’s involvement in Legal Aid enquiries welcome 4. Reference to the OUAUT member who staff took action in support of ALs, this period I became a member of the OUAUT course successfully, why a compulsory just £1.76 you could benefit from... convened EGM, or even to talk to the but indeed had already been writing • • computer component? broadcasting appeared in The VeryThe UK’s comfortable cheapest domestic onegas “preferred not to be named” points to would constitute illegal secondary action. Committee representing part-time staff. about it for several years by the time The UK’s cheapest domestic electricity petitioners, a new petition by over 100 ALs Dr Lucila Makin Independent on the 5 July 2005. Just a • bedroomUnlimited FREE apartment, calls to other Club another of the report’s peculiarities – this is The letter came out less than three weeks It was recognised at the time that it would of XT001. memberssleeps • Guaranteed 2-4, 100 savings has now called for an EGM to remove the Associate Lecturer, Cambridge few points from that article to note: • a well-known convention in news reports after a bullish AL newsletter promising that be difficult for many part-time staff to play Another pioneer from that era was compared to BT’s best prices on your officers, and an official complaint about the Q The OU involvement in peak time homemetres phone service from • Great sea value with low when unnamed respondents claim to fear the OUAUT would negotiate “long and hard” an active role in the work of the OUAUT Tony Hasemer (pictured second from viewscost internet over services historic • Discounted old behaviour of the OUAUT has been submitted series started in 1996 with The prices at our unique online shopping Relax – Balance – Energise reprisal of some kind for their disclosures. for a fair assimilation of ALs to the Committee and some concerns were left in the Open Eye story), who mallharbour, • Receive up25 to £50euro “cashback” taxi to the national union. Chemistry of Almost Everything. By Seated Acupressure OUSS-USS pension ride fromevery year airport • Why, one wonders, would anyone expressing Framework Agreement. In the event, the Further developments are awaited. expressed about whether the Committee 1998 this had grown to three series; conceived and implemented the OU’s Shiatsu Treatment such an innocuous view feel it necessary to offer bore no resemblance to the proposals would really act on our behalf. first eTMA system for his own course Call 0800 093 8347 Japanese Yoga David Knowles over the last year the tally is around 20 Fromfor full £235 p/w transfer on site or in the clinic. conceal their identity? in the June newsletter. Associate Lecturer, London In my view these concerns have over the peak time series with OU involvement. DM863: Common Lisp for Artificial membershipTel 020 details 7731 4030 DID you transfer from OUSS into USS Vincent-Smith Limited StressAway Series are to be shown across BBC Intelligence, and had eTMAs running as www.niceprovence.com after 1992 and before the recent ONE, TWO ,THREE and FOUR as well as early as May 1994. t: 01908 679834 merger? If so please get in touch. I’m Much Ado About Studying Radio 4, Radio 1 and the World Service. Blaine Price (pictured at right in that e: [email protected] THE VOICE OF REGION particularly interested in hearing from Open Eye story) immediately grasped VeniceTUNEY Apartments LOONS www.shiatsuhealth.com Q Examples of audiences reached for staff who have lost accrued years. the broader significance of the OU’s these programmes include 4.15 million VeniceROADSHOW Fraser Robertson ‘web-centric future’, and had the vision AFTER the dazzling degree know we had to drink in seven in their luxury en suites, we went discarded OUSA booklet did for Project Officer, Technology, Walton Hall for Coast, 4.6million for the last series Centre.Mobile DJ/Disco to launch the OU’s first public-facing For Parties of all ages, ceremony I thought I’d check different pubs before finding the again in search of sustenance. We her. She slipped, and with a yelp of of Child of Our Time and British Isles: a Easy website containing generic brochure- Weddingsaccess to and Special Events out our scintillating residential perfect plateful? Oh, how they decided to go deep under cover and surprise and a momentous splash, Natural History 6.4 million. FLAT IN LUXOR, Egypt available for level information, working with content Lido, holiday lets £150 per week. 2 schools, in the interests of mocked my requests for sushi – mingle further with the aspiring plunged headfirst into the canal. A Editor’s comment Q High quality OU/BBC programmes bedrooms, large lounge, kitchen, developed by PhD student Simon Rialto, St bathroom. 10 minutes from Nile, 10 are receiving recognition and most furthering our understanding of the “Pie and Mash – like it or lump it,” I academics; we would (deep breath) taxi was called forthwith and she FRASER Robertson can be contacted Masterton from departmental Word Mark’s. Luxury apartments mins from 5 daytrips. 15 minutes from strange and unique species that is was told. eat in the refectory! was whisked off mumbling recently the Stardate broadcast, airport. Optional tour guide available, on extn 55087 (01908 650877) or by documents, and also worked with Ben (terrace/garden available) air £40 per week Transit of Venus, has won a Royal “OU Student”. I’d heard intriguing We trawled the sprawling campus something about having seen email at [email protected] Palmer in Exams and Assessment to con, competitive rates. BELLYDANCING HOLIDAY with tales from the old lags in the office Luggage-laden students clutching our precious meal tickets. someone called Dirty Den amid the Television Society Award for lifelong Contact Adrian Purdy professional Egyptian dancers, Feb 8-15 bring the eTMA system into the or Feb 15-22, 2006, £400 plus airfare. of the “last chance” discos leaving By one o’clock we were sated, At last, like some mystical oasis, supermarket trolleys. learning and multimedia. The African Tel: 01908Tel: 310342 01536 or 416448 07889 618806 mainstream. Contact: School series received a very high people heading off in entirely seated and smiling. The doors the canteen loomed ahead. But wait? The rest of the week passed Mike Brayshaw (second from right in Dr. Penny Walters 0117 935 9040 OU/BBC partnership profile during Africa Season; Gordon www.everythingegyptian.co.uk different directions at the end of opened and luggage-laden students What was this? Those previously without incident. Thank heavens for the Open Eye story) worked with Tony, Boxed adverts the week than they’d come from at flooded in, fully clothed and tearful and twitchy students were the relative peace and quiet of the – or is it? Brown requested a copy and as far as Ches and Blaine to create the cost £20 plus VAT the start – both literally and weighed down with books, for now lounging leisurely beside the regional centre – particularly now we know it was the first OU/BBC er Nen I WATCHED the first two “UK infrastructure for our successful D309: iv e figuratively. heavens sake! Perhaps I had canal dissecting Shakespeare and we have something called VOICE series to be included as part of the perR issue or buy TLR Coastline” programmes – and they Cognitive Psychology Virtual Summer Queen Mary College is on the completely the wrong idea? Most Schopenhauer. Once more we were controlling/helping us. summer viewing for the Queen. three and get the were quite good – but as a way of School in August 1994. MOBILE DISCO Mile End Road, former stomping seemed anxious, waving tearful filled with the warmth of another And what of the outcomes? The For Parties of all ages STUART bringing the attention of the general John Naughton not only pioneered fourth free. They ground of the Krays, and not the goodbyes to loved ones. job well done. But, ah, how pride Open Broadcast Unit (OBU) Weddings and Special Events public to The Open University (and home computing policies together with can either be THOROGOOD most savoury of areas, but that’s We wore our most welcoming comes before a fall… commissions market research to increasing retention and new course Jake Chapman, but also ensured that designed by you or where I was headed to welcome faces and began the afternoon’s Marsha went rushing forth, monitor the performance of the STUDENT registrations), they were almost the OU undertook its online activities awardfor winning you. Send those eager students to our work: “Yes, that’s one of our best meal-ticket aloft, and exclaiming partnership and has targets to achieve. organic vegetable boxes completely useless. at a scale and pace never before SERVICES fabulous, if somewhat shaken, city. rooms/flats/tutors – you will have a “Food glorious food!” like some Our TV programmes during ’04–’05, up boxeddelivered adverts to your todoor There was a very short (old style) imagined: John teamed up with Martin now available Gleefully reunited with my mate wonderful week,” we trilled and sent demented extra from Oliver. to June, were recognised as coming open-houseorder ASSISTANT, logo on the closing screen for a few Weller, Gary Alexander, Ches Lincoln 0845 o78 6868 local call Marsha and Team-Leader-Trixie, them on their way. Emerging moments later with a from the OU by approximately 47 per today! Contact Adrian Purdy seconds and the presenter spent a few and the staff of the Electronic Media in @open.ac.ukwww.rivernene.co.uk REGION 1 cent of our viewers. The highest Tel: 01908 310342 or 07889 618806 lunch was our first priority. Do you Once they were safely ensconced plate of whelks en croute, a cruelly turn to page 9 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 OH 402.qxd 10/10/2005 10:15 Page 8

See more news on the Intranet OU Life IN BRIEF NEWS //intranet.open.ac.uk/oulife/news

Editor’s note FORUM and research sections will return for the Nov/Dec issue of open house. OU takes part in Back to school EARLIER this year 16 Year 9 students from St Paul’s Catholic School in Milton Keynes experienced an Black History Month insight into working life at The Open University, through the Equal Choices initiative. All the students, THE enormous contribution of black and again at the Mulberry Bear Day introduced by the university’s Head of from minority ethnic backgrounds and whose language and minority ethnic people to the Nursery at 2.15pm for children. the Open Broadcasting Unit Sally at home is not English, spent the first day engaged in a success of The Open University is to be The history of soul music is Crompton and will be webcast to all variety of exercises to introduce them to the world of recognised with a series of OU-based celebrated at the OU Library Service, OU regions. work. On day two, students were allocated a mentor events marking Black History Month. where as part of the Milton Keynes Staff can also learn about the from different areas of the university and they spent Black Voices and Stories research and development the day shadowing their mentor and doing a variety of at the OU ties into the “Black History Month provides work in which the Ferguson basic tasks. The initiative was jointly organised by annual national celebrations an opportunity for us to promote Centre for African and Asian COUNTEC and Human Resources Development. If any and highlights some of the Studies is involved, through a member of staff would like to get involved with university’s work to promote Black history, culture and heritage prominently located display, volunteering activities in local schools, please get in equality, diversity and within British society” and in their lunchbreaks touch with Stephanie O'Halloran, Active Community understanding of different there will be a chance to Programme Adviser on 01908 654051 or email cultures and histories. Film Festival there will be a public sample the taste of Africa, Asia and Stephanie at [email protected] Exhibitions, workshops, films and showing of the BBC series Soul Deep the Caribbean with a dish-of-the-day on storytelling will feature during on the evenings of 6 and 13 October, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays October’s programmes, said Tony while in the Berrill Theatre staff can see in the Walton Hall refectory. Walk this way O’Shea, the university’s Policy Officer lunchtime screenings of the acclaimed For further details visit http:// STAFF from Region 13 (East Grinstead) put their best for Equality and Diversity. BBC/OU television series The Slavery intranet.open.ac.uk/pdg/p4_9.shtml foot forward earlier this year and walked 26.2 miles “Black History Month provides an Business, which takes a fresh look at Alternatively, contact Penny Burgoine through the streets of London and raised £2,938 opportunity for us to promote black the subject by interviewing black and on 01908 655920, (email towards breast cancer research and care. The team of history, culture and heritage within white descendants of some of the [email protected]) or Angela nine walked through one of the hottest nights of the British society generally, as well as our most notorious slave traders. The Schroeer on 01908 655256 (email year in their decorated bras to complete the walk in local communities and in the university,” broadcasts, to be shown at 12.30pm Angela at [email protected]) eight hours. “We were sitting in Hyde Park drinking he said. on 21 and 27 October, will be for event updates. champagne in the sun at 8am. It really was an amazing “Since it was first celebrated in experience,” said Office Manager, Linda Hordyk. The Britain in 1987 as part of African team consisted of Olga Cross, Lynne Thurston, Gill Jubilee Year, it has grown to celebrate Lister, Janet Topping, Maureen Bye, Sandra Harley, achievements and histories of African, Diane Shelley, Debbie Wright and Linda Hordyk. They Caribbean and Asian people, and the OU were some of 15,000 women and 1,000 men who events will reflect this.” annually take part in the walk. They trained for 16 weeks leading up to the walk, culminating in a Beginner’s guide 20-mile walk two weeks before the event. ‘When you In Hackney, east London, the OU hosts see someone walking with ‘This is for you Mum’ written a family day on 16 October. Among the th on her back it really brings it home why we are doing it’ highlights is a “beginners’ guide” to 18 said Linda. Anyone interested in doing the walk next century black Londoners, which takes year should visit www.walkthewalk.org the form of an interactive session of images, games, period writing and poetry for adults and children to show how black Londoners lived more than 200 years ago. Sandra Agarde, described intriguingly as a “high energy storyteller”, will tell tales of Anasy the Spiderman and other fables from across the sea, and visitors can also take part in a Black History family trail. This includes a poignant reminiscence exhibition produced with Hackney Caribbean Elders entitled Coming to England. There’s a chance for youngsters to try Back row (left to right): Maureen Bye, Debbie Wright, Lynne Thurston on Tudor, Georgian and Victorian and Gill Lister Front row (left to right): Sandra Harley, Janet Topping, Olga Cross, costumes and play with period toys, and Linda Hordyk and Diane Shelley an opportunity for all to take part in a cookery demonstration showing off the OU Club Card different cultural culinary tastes of the people of Hackney. DISCOUNTS for club members have been arranged with The event takes place from 12 noon various suppliers based in Milton Keynes or national to 4pm at the National Trust Sutton organisations. To qualify for these discounts, you will House in Homerton High Street. need to show your new OU Club Card or your staff identity card, which will be with your September wage Open to all slip. The club is legally bound to point out that it The OU’s mission of being “open to all accepts no responsibility for the quality of goods or people” is also true at the university’s services supplied by these firms; neither does their central campus at Walton Hall, appearance in the list imply a recommendation on their Milton Keynes on 20 October. The part. Members should satisfy themselves as to the Vice-Chancellor will be opening an validity of discounts shown. For the latest discounts African story-telling session at St please check out the OU club guide (mailed out with Michael’s Church where Francoise open house issue 401) or visit the OU Club page at Parent-Ugochukwu and husband http://www.open.ac.uk/ouclub/discounts.htm Clifford will be telling folk tales from Igboland (Nigeria) at 12.30pm for staff, The OU/BBC Slavery Business programme takes a fresh look at the slave trade

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LETTERS EXTRA

continued from page 7 Response many other OU units, with benefits to the Regional Centres, let us know what you are Education Research Group (EMERG) to larger OU community and beyond and reflect up to as our readers want to know! create course T171 (You, your computer, PROFESSOR Morris is right to say that only our wish to foster good practice throughout and the net), a blockbuster success since its experience as an Associate Lecturer will all aspects of OU course provision. pilot in 1999. count for progression to the third salary Will Woods Senior Learning and Teaching Technologies Ambassador – no thanks I am deeply indebted to these visionaries point. The development of a system that Manager, Walton Hall and many others who continue to make the could fairly assess the experience of 7,700 I HAVE just been reading the July/August OU the thought leader in new technologies ALs gained from their work outside the OU, edition of open house and note the for education. and assign it appropriate value relative to comments on page 2 concerning efforts to Marc Eisenstadt experience as an OU AL, would be a major A waste of money bring to the attention of school sixth- Chief Scientist, Knowledge Media Institute, undertaking. In agreeing with the AUT that I AM writing as the same day I received the formers that studying with the OU is a valid Walton Hall there should be a fundamental review of the latest copy of open house (a good read as option. Two or three years ago I undertook AL role leading to a new model in three usual) I also received my monthly copy of the job of OU “ambassador” for my home years’ time, the university has recognised the Psychologist – a magazine written for town of Walsall: the idea was to raise the that our current model is not sustainable in people working in the area of psychology profile of the university, and as part of my the long term. We need to turn our attention and was delighted to note that three of our efforts to do so I wrote to all the heads of now to designing the future. Considering own academics had articles featured in secondary schools in the borough offering how we should recruit and reward staff in there (I almost had to check that I wasn’t to go and talk to the sixth form about support roles will be an essential aspect of reading an OU publication at one point!). studying with the OU. Not one replied. Head the review. On a slightly less positive note, however, I teachers do not wish to know about the OU Will Swann also received a copy of the OU Club Guide and they do not wish their students to know Director, Students and wondered what use this is to someone – presumably they do not think that having a who lives and works about 100 miles from student gain a place on an OU course carries For those who missed the spring issue of Open Eye; here Milton Keynes. Can I pop into tai chi on a the necessary kudos or enhances their is the picture Marc Eisenstadt is referring to IET oversight Monday? Surely it is a waste of money league-table status. I soon gave up this role. IN THE “Focus on” section of the last edition Lem Ibbotson sending it to all ALs, although of course we Associate Lecturer, Birmingham Important omission of open house (issue 401) there is a piece do value being seen as members of staff, about the Institute of Educational but there are limits I feel. I AM writing to correct a small but Technology which makes reference to Sally East important omission in your article ‘Rebel Please email or post your letters current projects. Unfortunately, and Associate Lecturer, East Grinstead ALs rock boat over HERA deal’ (open house to [email protected] or fax perhaps an oversight, but the two projects issue 401). You state that ‘progression to to 01908 652247 Debbie Dixon, that have been selected are both very the third salary point should be based on Editor, Open House, internally focused and don’t demonstrate experience’ and that this will be evaluated Communications Group, Walton some of the work we carry out for the rest according to ‘a new points score that Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. We of the OU or indeed for the wider Higher measures the amount of teaching reserve the right to edit letters. Education community through our work on experience each AL accumulates’. Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) The true position, as I understand it, is projects or collaborations with other UK that only OU teaching experience will Higher Education Institutions. This is a contribute to this score; all other shame and may continue to create the “ivory experience, however relevant, will be tower, self-serving” perception of IET which ignored. I wonder whether the same is, in my opinion, damaging and untrue. We principle will be applied to full-time OU are currently working on (amongst other academics? things) the DALS project (Developing I doubt whether the university would find Associate Lecturer Feedback), with Student it easy to recruit senior staff were they all Services, the Enterprise Content to be placed on the bottom rung of the salary Management System (ECMS) project (see Editor’s comment ladder and allowed to progress only as they story on page 5), the Virtual Learning THE OU Club Office did contact all the accumulate experience within the OU. Environment (VLE) project, the JISC-funded Clare Morris Regional Centres asking for details of Professor, University of Gloucestershire and Learning Design and OpenMentor projects events in their areas and only a couple Associate Lecturer in Region 03 (Bristol) which are all collaborative projects involving responded. So this is my plea to the Solution to sudoku puzzle on page 5

IN THE HOT SEAT In with the in crowd

I WAS very impressed when I saw impression that there are the community has been reinforced as even this sense of community has the information about the OU Club, “proper” staff, and then there are we move towards the October now gone. which came out with the last issue the ALs. I don’t want to get involved course starts. While I am a strong I suppose the point I am trying to of open house (401). Lots of things with the current pay dispute here, supporter of dual starts, there is no make is that the great majority of of interest to me, if only I didn’t live but it does occur to me that the doubt that the result has been ALs do an excellent job for the OU, 500 miles from Walton Hall! problems might have been fewer if smaller and more dispersed and usually do far more than they It did make me think, however, ALs had felt they were an integral student groups, and in my case are paid for. They deserve to feel about the OU as a community, and part of the OU community, and were telephone tuition starting to that they are valued members of the place of Associate Lecturers in treated as such. replace face-to-face. the academic community within the it. There certainly seems to be a I agree that we must be looking university. As long as we feel that community feeling amongst staff at Lack of community at alternative means of providing we are a different and slightly Walton Hall, and probably in the I am perhaps fortunate that as academic support, but my inferior sort of staff, this will Regional Centres as well, but as an an AL representative I am more relationship with my students has simply build up problems for the AL I do not feel part of it. involved than most with what is changed quite significantly. In the future. I think this is very unfortunate, as happening at the centre. However, early days of the OU, I was able to Something to think about? most of us like to feel an integral at many of the meetings I attend feel part of a learning community part of an organisation for which (no, not all of them Anne) I feel I am involving an active group of regular MIKE LOWNDES we work, and for many ALs the OU is a visitor from the outside world, tutorial attenders. While I know CHAIR OF THE AL their major or sole employer. and not a member of the team. This that some ALs do manage to keep Despite the best of intentions, really shouldn’t be the case. a close relationship with their COMMITTEE there still seems to be a general I think this feeling of lack of student group, in my case I feel that

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REGIONAL FOCUS LONDON Sowing the seeds

The OU in London has joined forces with four other universities and Aimhigher to help the capital's youngsters get a foot on the Higher Education ladder. Peter Taylor-Whiffen talks to London’s Regional Director Rosemary Mayes, Project Officer Sue Mueller and teacher Bob Littlewood from Little Ilford School in Newham to find out how the scheme is benefiting those from all walks of life

“LONDON has the highest proportion of graduates of English is not their first language). the city has met the government’s target of at least 50 per anywhere in the UK,” states the city’s Open University Although The Open University and its London-based staff cent of school children entering HE, but in some areas Regional Director Rosemary Mayes. “But a lot of people are central to the scheme, Aimhigher is not about pushing (notably parts of east London) that figure is significantly don’t realise that London also has the highest proportion of the OU option. Rather, it’s about promoting the general idea lower. In Barking & Dagenham, for instance, it’s currently people with no qualifications. We’re trying to bridge the gap of Higher Education, hence the partnership with City only 14 per cent. between the two.” University, the University of East London, Queen Mary Project workers are helping to improve these figures with It’s quite a challenging starting point for anyone trying to University and London Metropolitan University. The five a series of initiatives involving individual schools and entire encourage young people into Higher Education. But the OU institutions jointly won funding from the Higher Education boroughs – across a wide range of ages. Aimhigher uses has teamed up with four other universities in London to help Funding Council for England to provide the service under school visits, open days and a travelling roadshow to sow youngsters achieve the standards they need in order to four headings: Raising Aspirations; Information, Advice and the seeds of Higher Education in students as young as 13 or think of HE as a realistic goal. And it’s all under the umbrella Guidance; Raising Attainment and Progression; and Staff 14, while encouraging Year 11 pupils to join week-long of a nationwide government initiative appropriately titled Development. summer schools that point them towards specific types of Aimhigher. “We talk to teachers and offer one-to-one advice sessions HE courses. And Aimhigher – which runs until 2006 – also “What we’re trying to do is to get young people to see all with pupils,” says Sue, who is Project Officer for Information, helps teach pupils the reality of following particular careers. the possibilities,” says Rosemary. “We are working to give “A large number of youngsters in east London have them the opportunity.” “Pupils tend to be very positive ambitions to work in the City,” says Sue. “So we’ve organised It’s an opportunity that has never occurred to many of the about things that are not part various events at which staff from some of the major school pupils and their families in the area of the city in financial institutions have spoken about what their jobs which the consortium is focusing its work. of the average day” involved – and how their education got them there. The The London East Thames Gateway Aimhigher Partnership pupils and the schools find it very useful.” reaches out to schools in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Advice and Guidance (IAG). “More than 50 per cent of my Aimhigher is also successfully bringing together different Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Havering – boroughs time is spent going into schools and listening to what they providers of HE, explains Rosemary. “Initially it took all the which, although already producing many pupils that go on already do and seeing how we can help them identify and fill institutions a little while to find their feet. Because there successfully to Higher Education, also include some of any gaps. IAG is about enabling young people to make are five universities involved in this part of London it meant London’s – and Britain’s – most socially deprived areas. informed choices, not only about Higher Education but us each establishing an individual partnership with four about their own skills and abilities.” other institutions – and although we are working together, The full picture Jenny Fox, a schools career advisor based at City of course we’re also in competition with each other. There “A lot of these pupils will be first generation Higher University, agrees. “The partnership is about promoting was a lot of circling around each other at the beginning, but I Education,” says the OU’s Sue Mueller. “Going to university is different pathways into HE. It helps to be in a group of think it’s become a great success.” something that has simply not previously been seen as an institutions that can work together while showing all the “Not only do pupils learn more about Higher Education option by them or their families.” different options,” she says. through the scheme – many thoroughly enjoy it,” said teacher So Aimhigher ensures pupils get the full picture – by Aimhigher staff are put in touch with schools via a Bob Littlewood. working with schools, further education colleges, employers borough co-ordinator before project workers such as Sue Bob said his students at Little Ilford school in Newham and advisory services such as Connexions and ensuring the and Jenny establish more direct links with teachers. Such were very enthusiastic. “Pupils tend to be very positive activities it offers are appropriate to children’s ages, needs locally based research is key in a city of such varying about things that are not part of the average day,” he said. (such as disabilities) or backgrounds (for instance where academic aspiration – average figures across London show “Aimhigher brings something different and really gets the children motivated.”

Balancing demand He added that the students, who are mostly in Year 9, had enjoyed a range of different activities that made them think about Higher Education and their careers. “Aimhigher gives us an opportunity to put on events that focus students on Higher Education,” he said. “And it’s really varied. Sometimes we get people in from local businesses or other role models – recently we had a visit from Oxford University students who had gone to school in Newham. “But Aimhigher also organises events. On one day we had a roadshow where students could learn about media training, and we recently had a theatre company put on a play for us about the choices you can make. It’s all about showing children the possibility of what they can do.” And what of the future? The Aimhigher project officially runs only until 2006, but Rosemary is optimistic that with so many schools and colleges involved, the scheme can continue to benefit youngsters well beyond that. “I think we’ve done very well. We are genuinely succeeding in balancing demand with supply and opening doors to a lot of young people. We’ve seen how much this scheme has raised young people’s aspirations and motivated them towards pathways which perhaps had never before occurred to them. I sincerely hope we’ll all be able to do this for a long time to come,” concludes Rosemary. For more information about the national projects visit www.aimhigher.ac.uk School pupils from a wide range of backgrounds in east London are benefiting from the OU’s work

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OPEN HOUSE INVESTIGATES Points of view

The Open University may have moved from the late night slot on BBC TWO to prime-time TV and radio, but how many viewers and listeners are aware of the OU’s involvement in the making of shows such as Coast and Child of Our Time, and is the cost to the OU really worth it? Peter Taylor-Whiffen reports

WHEN housewives’ favourite Alan Titchmarsh plodded round Britain for the BBC series British Isles: A Natural History, six-and-a-half million people tuned in. Almost as popular was the breath-taking Coast, which drew four million viewers. Professor Robert Winston’s Child Of Our Time Spot the OU? Coast attracted more than four million viewers but how many of those knew the programme was funded by both the university and the BBC? attracted 4.6 million. Every one of these hugely popular BBC shows was produced with The Open University – but did That’s the deal: to get a bigger budget and a prime BBC OU? Will they attract viewers into the university? And a anyone notice? TWO slot, the OU has to content itself with more subtle question already asked by many viewers with existing OU All of these series and many others in the OU Open promotion. But it’s an agreement that certainly paid off with connections is: Will they have the new logo? Broadcast Unit’s increasingly prolific prime-time output Coast. Said Dr Crompton: “At the end of the final show of The reason they ask is because for all the talk and cost of featured an Open University logo and an address for a the series we had received 34,000 requests for an the OU’s new brand, many of its highest-profile series this relevant OU website. But these both appeared at the end of accompanying activity pack.” summer – including Coast – sported the old logo. the credits, when fewer viewers would still be glued to the “These things take a little time to change,” said the OU’s screen. So as the OU is contributing financially and Kipper-ties-at-dawn image Senior Brand Manager Jane Faulkner. “We are well aware we academically to the making of these shows, is it getting Such figures are surely a testament to the quality of OU need to get our BBC programmes rebranded and we are enough of a return on its investment? programming, which has long since shaken off its 1970s working to do that. The new brand should soon be used on Viewers are noticing the OU connections, says OBU head kipper-ties-at-dawn image to earn enormous respect among OU television programmes.” Dr Sally Crompton. “Our TV programmes during the year up broadcasters and viewers alike. Its first peak-time series The value of the BBC partnership is continuously to June 2005 were recognised as coming from the OU by was The Chemistry of Almost Everything, which aired in monitored by market researchers commissioned by the approximately 47 per cent of our viewers,” she said. 1996. In 2004 to 2005 there were about 20 prime-time OU OBU, which does have broad targets in terms of the number This, she says, is about average, although figures vary shows across BBC ONE, TWO, THREE and FOUR, Radio 1, of students it hopes to gain as an indirect result of its from show to show. More than three-quarters of all Rough Radio 4 and the World Service. television programmes. Science fans know their programme is made by The Open This season’s output is, if anything, as impressive as it is However, Sally added: “I’m sure we can do better and University. This may be because, although a very diverse: African School highlighted the continent’s pupils’ indeed we are working hard with Media Relations and our entertaining show, it has a more overtly didactic element experiences of education; history fans will enjoy Liberty: BBC partners to raise the profile of the partnership.” than many other OU programmes – but is more likely to be Peter Ackroyd's Romantics and Adam Hart Davis’s What The In the meantime, one thing remains clear: The Open because it’s fully funded by the OU. The reason fewer people Ancients Did For Us; Radio 1 is hosting a regular two-hour University makes excellent television programmes which recognise, say, Coast as an OU show is because its production weekly show Sunday Surgery On Sexual Health; and among are admired in the very highest circles. The Stardate is jointly financed with the BBC – which means the OU cannot the wealth of others are the return of familiar favourites – broadcast, Transit of Venus, won a Royal Television Society promote its own brand as blatantly as it might like. Child Of Our Time’s Millennium children reach their sixth Award for lifelong learning and multimedia. Chancellor “When a show such as Coast is funded by both the OU and birthdays, The Mark Steel Lectures affectionately Gordon Brown requested a copy of African School “and as the BBC, it does mean a reduced level of branding on the lampoons Chaucer and Chaplin and the Rough Science team far as we know,” said Dr Crompton, “this was the first programme,” said Dr Crompton. “But co-production allows heads for Colorado. And even David Attenborough’s latest OU/BBC series to be included as part of the summer viewing us to reach high audience numbers through large-scale, epic series, Life In The Undergrowth, is a BBC/OU for the Queen.” prime-time programmes which otherwise we could not production. For more details of forthcoming OU programmes visit afford to produce.” But will these shows be as successful in promoting the http://www.open2.net/programmes.html WOODLEY WISE IET and sympathy

IET: Hi Alan. Long time no see. What the South Pacific. IET: But am I sympathetic? ALAN have you been up to over the summer? IET: Where’s that then? AW: And it was the rainy season in AW: I’ve been doing some face-to-face WOODLEY AW: At their main campus in Fiji. Suva. teaching. IET: You jammy so-and-so. IET: Look at my face – do I look SENIOR IET: Not much of a rest then? sympathetic? AW: But I ran the risk of deep RESEARCH AW: No, it was really hard work. It took AW: I won’t mention the cruise I went 30 hours and four flights to get there. vein thrombosis and had to wear on afterwards then. FELLOW, Then I had to single-handedly teach a a “Clinically-proven Graduated class of 25 people with very different Compression System”. INSTITUTE OF backgrounds. The classes ran from IET: Yeah, flight socks – big deal. 8.30am to 5pm every day. EDUCATIONAL AW: Fiji is a dangerous place! They had IET: Sounds tough. Where was it? TECHNOLOGY an armed coup in 2000 and are due AW: Well, it was at the University of another one anytime now. PAGE 11 OH 402.qxd 10/10/2005 10:16 Page 12

THE INTERVIEW Ormond Simpson Senior Lecturer in Institutional Research, Region 6 (Cambridge)

A life less ordinary Once described as the OU’s Willie Wonka, Ormond Simpson’s ideas may seem out of the ordinary. For instance, courses on How to get fired lead you to wonder whatever next? Listening to our students perhaps?

How long have you worked at the OU and why? Complete the following sentence: The OU would be isn’t it? But it’s an excellent read. I started as a tutor in 1974 and joined full-time in 1977. better organised if...? In those days it was youthful idealism. Now it’s elderly The balance between the ‘Open’ and the ‘University’ What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given? idealism that keeps me going. tilted a little more towards the ‘Open’. ‘For heaven's sake Ormond shut up’.

In your opinion what does the OU do well? What new courses should the OU be introducing? What do you miss most from your childhood? It’s very good at helping students who ask for help. It’s The OU’s provision is beginning to look a little out-dated The V2 that landed in the next street on my first not so good at helping students who (for whatever compared with other universities. We should be asking birthday – actually more a case of it missing me. reasons) don’t. people what they want to study. Mind you, perhaps Marketing already does? What do they hear if they do? If you were Prime Minister for the day what would you How do you think the OU could attract and retain more change and why? students? If you could create an open university for the 21st I’d resign and send for Gordon Brown. To attract them – start from where they’re at rather than century, how would you go about it? what we offer. I’d make it like the now sadly defunct Open University of Who would you like to banish to the North Pole and why? To retain them – work out how to apply the amended Washington DC who used local people to run courses in Let us not speak ill of the Early Retired… Seidman Retention Formula: stuff they knew. My favourite amongst its over 250 R = Ac + E(PaC) + ExS courses were B200 How to get fired! – taught by two Who would you like to be stranded with on a desert where R = Retention, Acc = Accurate course choice, E = former employees successfully fired and B424 How to island, and why? Early, PaC = Proactive Contact, and ExS = External write love letters. HTTP 404 Answer Not Found. This desert island may support from other students, families and friends. have been removed, had its location changed or is Nothing about e-learning here you notice! What single thing would most improve your working day? temporarily unavailable. Being able to say no to surveys like this… What’s been the biggest change since you started What are your top three holiday destinations and why? working here? Describe yourself in three words? I’d love to revisit two of the places where I first started The de-personalisation of student support – we no A colleague once described me as an ‘OU Willie Wonka’. I teaching – Ghana and Connecticut. They weren’t as much longer know our students. We can reverse this. just know she meant it as a compliment. of a contrast as you might think…

What do you like best about your job? What are your hobbies? Choose ten people from the OU you would like to be in Having had the opportunity to innovate such things as Oh dear, I was afraid you’d ask that. the Big Brother house with and why them? taster packs, students’ course reviews, proactive This will sound appallingly pompous but I can’t watch Big student support, enhanced external support and What’s your favourite film and why? Brother. It feels manipulative and harmful – like a ‘marxonline’. Monty Python’s The Holy Grail. It reminds me of the fate non-lethal equivalent of the Roman Coliseum. of a number of my projects. And what do you like least? If you would like to be featured in The Interview The difficulty of mainstreaming innovations. Trying to What book are you reading at the moment? please email your contact details to the Editor at change things in the OU is sometimes like trying to drill Yorke and Longden’s Success and Retention in Higher [email protected] holes in sherry trifle. Fortunately I like sherry trifle. Education. This is nearly as bad as having no hobbies

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