You Said, We Did

How your voice has made a difference

Accessibility statement

This page provides an opportunity to see the valuable feedback received from students across a wide range of communication channels, and to see what the OU has done in response.

Please note this video is now a couple of years old so some people no longer have the same title. The current Students Association leadership can be seen on their website.

Choose a topic from the drop-down list below to see how students can have an impact on their university experience and be empowered to help shape the University. Next time you are asked to give your opinion, you know that the OU is taking this feedback seriously and will respond.

Select a topic

You said...
That more start dates for Access modules would give better flexibility for students to study at a time of year that works for them.

We did...
We have introduced a May presentation of Access starting in May 2021
Access
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
The option of a “fast track” version of Access modules was a good idea to allow students to study at the right pace for them.

We did...
We are offering a pilot “fast track” version of Y031 (YXFT031) in May 2021 and will roll this out to all Access modules if it proves successful.
Access
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
It is a good idea to introduce alternative forms of assessment (such as videos, posters, audio etc) to give people the opportunity to learn new skills. However, these should be optional to allow students to continue to focus on written assignments if they prefer.

We did...
We are introducing some optional activities in Options weeks to allow students to practice these skills if they want to.
Access
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
You don’t want to wait until level 2 to start studying your chosen subject in depth.

We did...
What we've done is create two new modules for the second part of Level 1. Each new module contains just four arts and humanities disciplines rather than eight, and by the end of both modules, you are working exclusively in the discipline you intend to go on and study at level 2.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
Our induction resources and bridging materials are a bit disorganised, and you don’t find out about them soon enough.

We did...
To address that, we have refreshed our induction and bridging resources as well as updated the Arts and Humanities subject site as a whole to make it easier for you to find what you are looking for. You can find these resources here: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=1698471.

We also now send out regular messages over the summer to both new and continuing students to let them know about these resources and where to find them, as well as including relevant information in the MILLS M1 message.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
You want access to a tutor and other students in your discipline in between modules.

We did...
In response, we have introduced year-round discipline forums on the Arts and Humanities subject site. These are moderated by tutors who are experts in that discipline, and often feature threads where specific modules can be discussed. These forums are linked to from module websites so that you can find them quickly and easily. You can find them here: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=207009&area=forums
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
Studying full-time can be a real challenge. Extra support and advice would be a big help.

We did...
We’ve put lots of extra resources on the Arts and Humanities subject site, including, planning advice, a time management tool, combined study guides for popular module combinations, top tips from other full-time students, and links to material helping you to decide whether full-time or part-time study is best to you. We have also introduced a dedicated forum for students studying full-time. You can find the resources and forum here: https://learn2.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=207009&cmid=1534296. In addition, our Student Support Team contacts everyone registering full-time on level 1 to see if they need any help.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
There is a lack of clarity about the support that students studying collaborative modules at other institutions are entitled to from the OU.

We did...
We recognise the difficulties here. Since 2019 new modules have followed a simpler format: start online, move to a print chapter, and then finish online. We are also encouraging modules undergoing midlife review to consider making changes which will facilitate a better study pattern between print and online. We hope that this approach will make it easier for students to study in this blended way.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
Timings of online tutorials could be more flexible: including weekday daytimes, as well as evenings and Saturday mornings.

We did...
Modules with larger student cohorts are already experimenting with a wider range of online tutorial slots, including Friday mornings and on Sundays. This is not always feasible in modules with fewer students and tutors, but we are aware of the need to run tutorials across a range of different days and times wherever possible.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21

You said...
You don’t like assignments requiring you to produce shared work for a shared mark.

We did...
Whilst interacting with others is a really important part of the learning process for most students, we recognise that collaborative assignments can be a challenging experience. Many modules still have assessed activities that ask you to work and engage with other students, but that work is always your own and so is the mark that you get for it.
Arts and Humanities
Posted on: 08-Feb-21