Open Learning

Many of our courses are available in open learning format. This allows you to choose when and where you want to study, with support from your individual tutor by telephone or email.

There may be certain start and finish dates, but these still allow a great deal of flexibility.
When you enrol on an open learning course you will receive a pack with all your course materials plus the name and contact details of your tutor. You will be invited to attend an induction when you collect your materials. This will help you understand how the course operates.
Your Tutor will maintain regular contact with you throughout your course and in most cases complete an individual Learning Plan with you, which sets targets for completion of assessments. Your tutor will give you individual feedback on your progress by phone, letter or increasingly by e-mail and will let you know at what times he or she can be contacted. Your tutor is there to help you succeed, so do not hesitate to contact him or her if you are unsure about any aspect of your course. If you are still not clear, keep asking!
Open learning does require good study skills and self-discipline in order to succeed. However, please remember that your learning centre manager and tutor are there to assist you throughout your course and they do understand the demands that many of our students have on them while they are studying. If you feel that you need additional assistance during your course, please do not hesitate to speak to your local learning centre or your tutor.

If you feel that you cannot continue your course or require a deferral, please ask for a withdrawal form or speak to your tutor about extending your learning plan. Sometimes a break from your course or additional support for your studies will help you to keep going.

OPEN LEARNING COURSE STRUCTURE

When you enrol on an open learning course, you will receive a pack containing all your course notes and the information you will be required to know to complete your course.

Most open learning course materials include the following:

Activities and Self Assessed Questions (SAQs)
These let you test yourself to make sure that you understand what you have been reading.
Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs)
These are usually at the end of each section and allow you and your tutor to make sure that you understand what you are learning and are working towards the formal assessments.
Completed TMAs are sent to your tutor either by post or email. Your tutor will give you feedback on these assessments and let you know when you are ready to sit the final assessments. They may ask you to resubmit your TMAs for correction.

Learning Outcomes (LOs)
These are your formal assessments and must be completed and passed in order to gain the qualification.
The learning outcomes are not usually included in your pack and you will need to telephone your learning centre to arrange to sit these. Your tutor will let you know when you are ready to sit your learning outcomes. LOs will either be open book or closed book:

Closed Book assessments:
These are completed in the centre, under supervision, without reference to books, notes or course materials.

Open Book Assessments:
These are completed either at home or in the centre and you may use any course notes, books or other relevant materials.

Tips for sitting Learning Outcomes

• Don’t panic! They are usually not as bad as you think and as long as you understand the materials you have been working through, you should not have any problems. There will be no trick questions!
• Try to relax before you come in to sit your assessments. You will think much more clearly if you have a calm mind.
• If you are unsure whether you are ready to sit a Learning Outcome, contact your tutor, who will be able to advise you. As long as you have been sending in your TMAs, then your tutor will know if you are ready to sit the final assessment.
• You are normally allowed a re-sit so don’t worry if you don’t pass first time around.

European Computer Driving Licence Tests
This course is certificated by The British Computer Society and is structured somewhat differently from our other courses. To complete the ECDL course, you have to sit a 45-minute test in the centre after working through each of the 7 modules. Make sure that you have completed a sample test and that your tutor has marked it before booking your test. More information is included in your open learning pack, or ask your centre staff.