How your voice has made a difference
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.
You said...
During our first student consultation forum in 2017 we asked about the information you need to help you choose modules and the preparation you make for your next module. We received some well thought through and helpful responses.
We did...
Based on your suggestions, we identified and gathered together a selection of data on our modules which was then put onto the qualifications forums to help module choice.
Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
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You said...
We gave students in the consultative forum access to the pilot preparation website created for the new module S309 Earth Processes. You responded that preparation websites would be useful on other modules.
We did...
Module teams in EEES created three additional preparation websites for our Stage 1 and 2 modules starting in 17J. Over the next year, we plan to introduce preparation websites for all our modules.
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You said...
In our second consultative forum we asked you about what you’d like to see on the new subject websites planned to replace the current qualification websites.
We did...
You gave us lots of great ideas which we are using as we build the subject websites in 2018.
Thank you so much to everyone who took part in these forums and I encourage you all to take part in our future consultations.
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You said...
This year our new Stage 3 Earth science module started, S309 Earth processes. Several students took part in piloting sections of the material ahead of the first presentation.
We did...
The module team incorporated your suggestions into the study material for Earth processes (S309) and we were pleased to see the excellent student feedback for this module.
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You said...
Thank you to those students who take the time to give us feedback on our modules and qualifications via the Student Experience on a Module (SEaM) survey and the National Student Statistics (NSS) survey.
We did...
We are using your comments to plan significant changes to our current Stage 2 modules (S206 and S209) for 2018 and to inform the production of the two new Stage 3 environmental science modules starting in 2018 (SDT306 and S397).
Please keep talking to us via the surveys but also on our qualification forums. We really value your ideas and creativity thoughts.
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You said...
You’ve given us feedback that having multiple tutor group forums – one for each week – makes it difficult to find and keep up to date with discussion threads.
We did...
We are introducing single tutor group forums, covering all study weeks, across all of our modules.
MA in Online and Distance LearningPosted on:
You said...
You suggested that module H809 is only relevant to a limited range of teaching contexts.
We did...
We have designed the replacement module for H809 – H819 The critical researcher – to be relevant to a wide range of education and training contexts, including FE, schools, the voluntary sector and commercial training. We will do the same with our newest module H880 Educational technology foundations and futures.
MA in Online and Distance LearningPosted on:
You said...
You suggested that our module H800 would benefit from more collaborative work and a glossary.
We did...
We will be including collaborative work and a glossary in our newest module H880, which replaces H800.
MA in Online and Distance LearningPosted on:
You said...
Students have asked to meet their elected leadership team and Association staff, and for them to facilitate location and fresher’s based meet ups. [November 2017]
We did...
Every two weeks, the Vice President Communications hosts an online drop in on Adobe Connect for students to take part in. The Students Association has over an hour as part of the OU Students Consultation Face to Face events to speak to students and consult them on hot topics, and will trial events called “Meet Your Students Association” in April 2018.
OU Students Association
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You said...
It would be useful to have an introductory pack for new students with signposting information posted out to every new student. [November 2017]
We did...
We currently organise Freshers Fortnight to promote the Students Association and its offer. We also send a welcome email to new students starting in the February and October cohorts based on the OU’s data. This signposts students to our site and Freshers activities. In 2017 the Association began being mentioned in emails being sent to students beginning a new module. We are working with the University on proposals for Student Induction in which we hope to have details of the Student Association and the services it offers firmly embedded in any future induction package.
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