UV_facilitator Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Hi all - many thanks to Robbersdog for holding the fort and fielding the questions. The answers given are pretty much spot on, as far as I can see. I am an Ultraversity Learning Facilitator and have been for the last three years, working with the pilot cohort to go through the system. This group (about 150 people) are graduating later this year. I don't want to use this space to advertise or do shameless plugs, and I appreciate the invite to come in and discuss the course with you all. The members of Edugeek are one of the main groups of people we think benefit most from the work we are doing. Ultraversity started off as a research project, as so many Ultralab ideas do. We set out to change the face of higher education and look at how we could engage people in learning who wouldn't normally have a chance, or who missed their 'traditional' chance when they left school. We wanted to create a degree path which was tailor made to each individual and not be stuffed full of content. To this end we designed the course to be one that involves reflective practice and action inquiry, focussing entirely on your work place. What this means is that you look at what you do in the work place, what your work place does in its community and try to understand better how it fits together. You learn about the processes and theories that underpin action research and then apply this to what you do. You also get the opportunity to undertake some action research, which sounds very grand, but is in fact something you probably do every day. Whenever you do something to 'fix' a problem you usually think through what the problem is and what the likely solutions are. You would normally select a solution and check to see what impact that has on the initial problem. If it works, great, if not, you have to think again. This is exactly the process behind action enquiry, except in an academic sense you do it more formally. The degree is accredited by Anglia Ruskin University and is a full credit British Honours degree. On completion of the first year you are entitled to a Certificate of Higher Education award. At the end of year 2 this would be a Diploma level award, but completion of year 3 brings about graduate-ness: BA (hons) Learning, Technology, Research. The degree thus involves you using technology, doing research and, erm... learning! Throughout the degree you are engaged in thinking and reflecting on what happens at work and looking at ways to better understand how you can be more effective. It is a degree designed to help people be better at what they already love doing, and hopefully then open up other 'doors' for career progression. It isn't any good for people who don't really have an opportunity to reflect on their work during the course of their day (I would think most trades folk would not get much from this kind of approach), but we have people from education, health, IT, Parents (carers) and it fits very well with these kinds of backgrounds. There is loads more I could tell you about the research findings we have arrived at, but it gets a tad boring to read and I've already banged on a lot anyway. Sorry for the monster post... I seem to be worse than Robbersdog! Please do ask whatever questions you would like to and I'll do my level best to answer them for you. Thanks again for agreeing to let me come in here, and thanks also to Robbersdog (who is in Cohort 3 of the degree, halfway through the three year course).
Robbersdog Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Hi UV, Many thanks for picking up this bone. Nice bit of text there - got any fingers left? There was me thinking I could type the hind leg of a donkey. Main thing is that you have said it a lot better than I would have. Robbersdog
ninjabeaver Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Damn, I looked at being part of the First Cohort group when it was first starting, and am now kicking myself around my office for not following up, but money issues stopped me from progressing it. Money seems to be my problem again this year, as I'm moving house during this summers holidays. My other issue is that I've already got a BTEC HND in Computing and the OU has scored it as two years worth of degree (240 Points). I'm almost loath to re-start from the beginning. Is there anything that can be done there? I'm gonna look at the website at lunch time when it's a bit quieter in here. Perhaps I should also add that I am seriously considering going into teaching, but as other members have posted, I'd also hate to move away from this rewarding job of Network Manager where I can still get my hands dirty. It's always about the money!! Was there a site for looking at grants etc for myself to do this Degree? Many Thanks
UV_facilitator Posted June 30, 2006 Posted June 30, 2006 Hi Simon, there are three things that can be looked at here - first off, that BTEC may well carry some credits which are valid for the UV degree as well. Without knowing the BTEC content it's hard to say, but generally the guidance is that if there is some content in the BTEC modules that is similar enough to the BALTR modules then you can APL them (that is, be given the credits towards the degree APL = Accredited Prior Learning). With the OU running such a wide range of degrees there is almost certainly going to be more flexibility in their APL procedures, but overall it takes a lot longer to get through the required credits when on an OU course. If we could APL that number of credits then you would only *need* to do the final year for the degree (although it would be important to do a lot of background work to understand what is required in y3 anyway). To avoid you falling short in Y3, I would recommend that you did at least two of the Y2 modules anyway, if not more. We could be more certain once we have seen your BTEC work. The second thing is that many of the first cohort are deciding to go into teaching and we have spoken at length with the Teacher Development Agency about the possibilities. The UV degree is not teacher training, but you can certainly go from it to either a PGCE or into a Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP). If you were heading in to Primary teaching the path is a little easier, in that you only need to gain curriculum knowledge alongside class management technique, etc, and a GTP is ideal for that. For secondary there is a requirement to have a specific subject, but I would think ICT would fit the bill here. Finally, the degree allows you to stay in full-time employment - the idea is that you earn whilst you learn (to coin a phrase). If you are in receipt of benefits then fee waivers can operate, but otherwise you are looking at a student loan if you need one. Since the degree is a third of the price of other degrees (currently it is £1200 per year) then you would be looking at a far lower loan to begin with. Student loans operate in an odd way in that you repay them when your earnings allow, and at a vastly reduced interest rate. It's a bit of a black hole for me, that one, so do ring up and ask someone who knows more about it (ring the UV number and ask for Lindsey or Rex). Does this help?
ninjabeaver Posted July 4, 2006 Posted July 4, 2006 Sorry to take so long to get back to you. The student loan idea came up earlier when I was showing a colleague the Ultraversity site. She's had her degree for a while and decided to go onto teaching. The BTEC was an HND in Computing, but that was nearly 9 years ago now. It was when they still taught programming and how the internals of computers worked. Thanks for the heads up though. I'll get in contact ASAP, but it will be after the move. Just about everything in our house is packed and ready now.
kingswood Posted July 4, 2006 Posted July 4, 2006 Does that amount need to be paid up front, or are there payment schemes (a la Open University)? This degree would be ideal for me- I want to go into teaching ultimately...poor thing...
kingswood Posted July 4, 2006 Posted July 4, 2006 Scrub that- just found the information on the web site. Thanks anyway!
russdev Posted July 4, 2006 Author Posted July 4, 2006 This degree would be ideal for me- I want to go into teaching ultimately...poor thing... dont do it noooooooo lol They doi have payment scheme think it is over 7 months.. russ
UV_facilitator Posted July 4, 2006 Posted July 4, 2006 Sorry to take so long to get back to you. The student loan idea came up earlier when I was showing a colleague the Ultraversity site. She's had her degree for a while and decided to go onto teaching. The BTEC was an HND in Computing, but that was nearly 9 years ago now. It was when they still taught programming and how the internals of computers worked. Thanks for the heads up though. I'll get in contact ASAP, but it will be after the move. Just about everything in our house is packed and ready now. There is also a lesser used system which credits you for experienced gained whilst at work - Accredited Prior Experiential learning (APEL). This is a trickier route to use since in effect you have to provide strong documentary evidence that you have got the experience you are claiming for, which most people liken to doing a module anyway. However, it is a possibility and deserves a mention. Hope the house move goes OK - look forward to hearing from you.
acb_ Posted July 20, 2006 Posted July 20, 2006 I did a week's secondment at another local secondary school last month. I passed on the ultraversity link to my opposite number there and he's enrolled already. Keen as mustard he is!
witch Posted July 20, 2006 Posted July 20, 2006 Am seriously thinking about it Looks good but I am wondering what good it would actually do my career - I don't think having a degree will change my life as a techie (well, I know it won't coz I've got one already) so I need to look at where I would go with it after how ever many years of hard work it takes
Robbersdog Posted July 20, 2006 Posted July 20, 2006 Hi Witch, Speaking solely from my own experience, studying for the degree (I still have a year and a half to go) has opened up all sorts of opportunities. I initially embarked on it because it seemed like a good way of learning to think more and also to apply that thinking to my work. Since then it has moved on in leaps and bounds. I am starting to look at my world (and my life) in a very different way and realise just how much more there is to it. At the very least, on completing you would be a far more critical and reflective thinker with a whole new range of intellectual skills and knowledge that you could apply to a wide range of situations. What you do with these would be up to you. Like so many of my fellow researchers (students) you might find it is a voyage of discovery - you don't know fully how it will affect your career/circumstances until you set out on it. From their comments it is clear that it has so far had a very positive impact for many of them. Robbersdog
witch Posted July 20, 2006 Posted July 20, 2006 WOW! Bit evangelical! Great that you are so switched on by it all BUT can't really afford money or time to start on something that may or may not affect my career and circumstances (recently widowed mother, husband,3 teenagers, cat, dog, four guinea pigs, rabbit, two rats, big dirty house,etc etc etc) I would be very interested to hear how it has impacted on people's lives and how their careers have changed because of it. Still Thinking!!
russdev Posted July 20, 2006 Author Posted July 20, 2006 WOW! Bit evangelical! Great that you are so switched on by it all BUT can't really afford money or time to start on something that may or may not affect my career and circumstances (recently widowed mother, husband,3 teenagers, cat, dog, four guinea pigs, rabbit, two rats, big dirty house,etc etc etc) I would be very interested to hear how it has impacted on people's lives and how their careers have changed because of it. Still Thinking!! so i always wondered if there was a zoo at dorset.... Russ
witch Posted July 20, 2006 Posted July 20, 2006 Well, I have one at home, and sometimes I think I work in a couple! Actually, dealing with the menagerie at home isn't a lot different to dealing with certain people at work - although at home the zoo inhabitants are at least fairly grateful when I do something for them..The sulky unhelpful teenager-ness at home is certainly similar to the behaviour of some elsewhere! I really need a holiday
Robbersdog Posted July 21, 2006 Posted July 21, 2006 Yeah, I know what you mean about menageries and people. Animals are easier to deal with sometimes and a big plus is that mucking out is a lot easier. One of the things I used to really get annoyed with as a tech was clearing up after people who should have been able to deal with their own digitial mess Hmm, enough on that for the mo. I'm not promising anything, but I'll see if I can persuade some of the techies in UV to either join this forum or give some contact details so you can find out more. I do come across a little evangelical sometimes, especially concerning things I am passionate about. Also, I usually realise this and the importance of getting other views - warts and all. A lot of people will not be online now - 2 months break from studying (another REALLY big plus over the OU) - but I'll try. Woof!
Netman Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 Well I have completed year 1 of the degree - very interesting and pretty worthwhile. Particularly of interest to those who might want to go into teaching or like me, want to understand what goes on in the classroom better in order to provide the best resources and training... I can thoroughly recommend it. Below is an email from my Learning Facilitator which gives some more info for anyone thinking of starting in September... "The BA Learning Technology Research degree is open for September recruitment. This course as you well know is a radical online approach to studying for a workplace-based honours degree. Could you suggest to someone in your workplace, a friend, member of the family or a neighbour (but they must have the same sticking power as you), to take up this course? You are proof that this degree is real, does work and can change lives. Do you know someone who would benefit, perhaps someone aspiring to develop in their job role but held back by confidence or the need for such a qualification? Share your experience and encourage others. It’s not too late for a September start. Remember there are no formal entry requirements and also for low-income households there is fee assistance. Distance and location do not present barriers-we have researchers taking part from all over the world! So help a friend or family member to fulfil their potential. Help them be all that they can be, give someone a second chance to learn today by sending the information flyer (attached to this message) and also at the following link: http://firstclass.ultraversity.net/~Geraint.Lang/uvpublicity/UltraVersityEmail_Final.html (directly to a friend or colleague or to your employer to distribute), sharing your story and spreading the opportunity. They might not believe its possible unless it comes from you. Everyone can thrive in learning – but only if there is a place to. Please, help us to give opportunity to all. Share your learning discovery." If anyone wants anymore inside info feel free to ask me...
kingswood Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I'm still thinking about this one. Could I ask what you studied this past year and how you put it all together? I'm just a little worried that it's *too* loose to be useful. Does that make sense? Thanks! Paul
Netman Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I'm still thinking about this one. Could I ask what you studied this past year and how you put it all together? I'm just a little worried that it's *too* loose to be useful. Does that make sense? Thanks! Paul That makes perfect sense - it is a little on the 'loose' side, but I put that down to me being too used to technical subjects myself. It is a BA not a BSc after all! It starts with an intro to online learning and technology which was mildly informative. Then you investigate your work setting which is really quite revealing. The last two modules were introductions to the concepts of reflection and action research - both of which are particularly useful to teachers, but I also found useful. All four modules were 6000 words each and you have around six weeks to complete each one - I struggled for time with a new baby in the house but it is doable - even with a job and family! Bottom line is I feel I am learning about Learning - not just my own, but how others learn too. I think that it has relevence to anyone working in the education sector, not just teachers. I am already starting to understand a teachers job better than I did which can only help me improve my practice. It teaches you to look at what you do and how you do it and provides methods to question that and improve on it. There is more on the content at http://www.ultraversity.net/structure if you haven't seen it already. If you need a chat I can recommend you call them as they are really excellent and certainly won't try to push you into the course, but will help you decide whether or not it is for you... Or if you want to call me for a chat, just drop me a PM and I'll let you have my number. Good luck... Al.
GrumbleDook Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I've had to put this on hold due to work commitments after only getting the first 2 modules sorted ... but will be getting back on board from September. Making sure you have regular amounts of time to do this, as well as the support for your workplace, is very important. I had the latter .. but nowhere even approachable of the former. At least for the next 2 years I have ready made projects that can be used.
beeswax Posted July 4, 2007 Posted July 4, 2007 I'll add my twopennorth. I've just completed the first semester and it's certainly been all those things that people above have mentioned. I found it difficult to fit around all the other things I was doing, and at one point I was worried that I wouldn't complete the second module on time. The Learning Facilitators were very fair and helpful during a stressful period, and I can't thank them enough. I went into this because I want to explore the ways people learn, how they react to various stimulii, and then look at ways of delivering work which appeals to and engages those who learn online. The course costs £1200 a year at present, and there are several methods of paying. Choose the one which suits you. I can only echo what Netman says. It will really open your eyes, and what may seem "loose" to begin with is anything but. Even the first module, designed to "ease" you into the course, makes you see things in a different light. It's too late for me to go further tonight, I should be up at 5:30. If anyone one wants any more info, other than from the website, just pm me and i'll do what i can.
kingswood Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 Thanks all. I have sent an enquiry in to Ultraversity, and should hear from them soon. The course looked like it would take a lot of time- I am worried that this will be a major battle for me. But like I said, talking to them about my concerns first would be a good way to go. If I do start I will be going in on the September intake. At the least it sounds like it will be rewarding. And that's a good thing. Since I still have plans to become a teacher (yuck!) it would be perfect for me. If I have any questions/points, I will get back to you all. In any case, good luck with your ongoing studies! Paul
GrumbleDook Posted July 5, 2007 Posted July 5, 2007 No .... turn away from the dark side before it is too late!!!!
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