Open University Library

[garethEds]

Through the course I am sitting now with the Open University, I have access to their vast online library.

 

Can anyone recommend any Computer based journals I should be reading? Any technology based ones? and so on...

 

Gareth

[dhicks]

Can anyone recommend any Computer based journals I should be reading?

 

Dr. Dobb's Journal, maybe?

 

--

David Hicks

[NikChillin]

Through the course I am sitting now with the Open University, I have access to their vast online library.

 

Can anyone recommend any Computer based journals I should be reading? Any technology based ones? and so on...

 

Gareth

Hi,

I'm doing one too! As if I don't have enough to do! T215 course I'm doing.

[Potato-Peeler]

Im glad someone is doing it, i know its off topic but how good is the open uni? Do you get a lot of support?

[Chunky]

I remember subbing to Dr Dobbs - used to be quite interesting.

[NikChillin]

Im glad someone is doing it, i know its off topic but how good is the open uni? Do you get a lot of support?

 

I did one before but sufferred a bit as the support was really only by telephone. There were 2 meetings but they were over an hour away and circumstances made it hard to attend them.

[steve]

Hi,

I'm doing one too! As if I don't have enough to do! T215 course I'm doing.

 

Snap, doing T215 too!

[garethEds]

Hi,

I'm doing one too! As if I don't have enough to do! T215 course I'm doing.

 

Hi Nik,

 

I've done M150, half way through T175 ahd have just started M123 (a maths module). 215 will start in October.

 

All workng towards B38 which is a BSc in Information Technology - I may change that yet but that is where I am going at the moment.

 

Best thing at the moment about the OU is that I can pay for it using Tesco Clubcard vouchers. I've collected then all from my family (all the ones called Edmondson) and registered them. Remember that £1 = £4 and that includes the OU.

 

Last time I tested other people's vouchers and they worked too under my Tesco account name :-)

 

I buy the vouchers off my family for face value - giving them the cash. Lately though they are worth double. I am still saving money really. Not paid a bean in cash yet to the OU.

 

Gareth

Edited January 26, 2010 by garethedmondson

[garethEds]

I did one before but sufferred a bit as the support was really only by telephone. There were 2 meetings but they were over an hour away and circumstances made it hard to attend them.

 

I use a lot of the forums to chat - the FirstClass software is very good and works fine on my Mac.

 

GJE

[NikChillin]

I use a lot of the forums to chat - the FirstClass software is very good and works fine on my Mac.

 

GJE

They don't use that anymore as far as I am aware, but it is all web based so that's fine. I used to find the font changed to 'tiny' when I used First class which was a pain.

[garethEds]

OU have just announced T155 Linux: An Introduction

 

This is the blurb I had today in my email:

 

Maintaining ones current technical skill set, developing new skills as well as gaining industry certification in the IT sector is of paramount importance to many of our students at the Open University.

As someone who has participated in an associated course, you may be interested in the May 2010 launch of Linux: an introduction (T155). As a short course, it is designed to introduce you to the concepts and technologies involved in the Linux operating system as well as offer the opportunity to study towards certification with the CompTIA Linux+.

This ten week course covers:

• installation of the operating system

• adding new applications and tools

• compatible and comparable applications

• understanding the command line

• the structure of Linux

• a short history of Linux

• an introduction to system management

• the file system

• basic networking

• basic security, users and groups

• creation of a bespoke user interface suited to an individual’s personal preferences.

Additionally, with the support of CompTIA, the Open University is able to offer you a substantial discount on the final Linux+ certification exam.

For more information, please visit, http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/course/t155.htm the first course commences in May 2010 and runs every six months thereafter.

Edited January 28, 2010 by garethedmondson

[NikChillin]

Hi Nik,

 

I've done M150, half way through T175 ahd have just started M123 (a maths module). 215 will start in October.

 

All workng towards B38 which is a BSc in Information Technology - I may change that yet but that is where I am going at the moment.

 

Best thing at the moment about the OU is that I can pay for it using Tesco Clubcard vouchers. I've collected then all from my family (all the ones called Edmondson) and registered them. Remember that £1 = £4 and that includes the OU.

 

Last time I tested other people's vouchers and they worked too under my Tesco account name :-)

 

I buy the vouchers off my family for face value - giving them the cash. Lately though they are worth double. I am still saving money really. Not paid a bean in cash yet to the OU.

 

Gareth

 

I struck lucky, all paid for by the school!

:D

[NikChillin]

Snap, doing T215 too!

Great stuff:D

[powdarrmonkey]

OU have just announced T155 Linux: An Introduction

 

This is the blurb I had today in my email:

 

Your link tries to open your webmail client....

[garethEds]

Your link tries to open your webmail client....

 

Fixed. Cheers Powdar

[NikChillin]

How's the course going for you Steve? Glad to have TMA 2 out of the way!

[steve]

Its not going too bad, its a bit of a hard slog at times.

 

Just got the module 4 stuff - another report to write :-(

[NikChillin]

Oh No!

I looked on the site and it said block 4 would be posted on 11th June! I hope I get it earlier than that then. :-(

[Rydra]

Doing M263 at the moment, one more assignment to go and an exam.

 

I have 2 chemistry/science modules under my belt already from a couple years ago, S103 and S205, as well as the residentials to go with them.

 

OU is all about self motivation. If you're not easily motivated, and find it hard to stick at something, it's not for you.

 

And what's this about tesco vouchers and the OU? I've not heard about it...

[NikChillin]

I think they have finished.

 

The T215 is a new course and there have been a couple of minor issues but all in all I would say that it has been ok. The self motivation isn't a problem or I certainly wouldn't be doing distance learning.

[garethEds]

I think they have finished.

 

The T215 is a new course and there have been a couple of minor issues but all in all I would say that it has been ok. The self motivation isn't a problem or I certainly wouldn't be doing distance learning.

 

From what I remember, you can use Tesco Clubcard Vouchers to pay for Level 1 courses but not levels 2 or 3. This caused quite a stir amongst the students - many of whom would not have started courses if they knew this was happening. The OU said that the scheme was only meant to run for two years anyway.

 

There was a cut off date up to which you could use CC vouchers to pay for Level 2 courses and I managed to get enough in to pay for one of the £750 modules on Level 2. Thank god for that.

 

Still I believe the OU finance option is very attractive and will be looking at that sometime in the new year.

 

T175 has just been confirmed as a pass and I have three assignments left on 123 - the dreaded maths module. Luckily I've been getting some tutoring from a mate of mine who teaches in the school. If you can get any sort of tutoring with bits you are stuck on then great stuff.

 

As for the support - I mentioned First Class in an earlier post. T175 and 150 used that but now we use the web for M123. For online tutorials we use Elluminate which is a Java based application and is a sort of interactive whiteboard with chat application. It's good when everyone gets their speakers and microphones sorted.

 

Gareth

[GrumbleDook]

Had my letter to say I have passed M150, so have cashed that and T171 for the Certificate in Information Technology and Computing ... but probably going to work on an Open Degree (with Hons) rather than a discreet degree. There just isn't a combination of what I want to study that works for me. I'd rather study a broad but linked range of courses.

[GrumbleDook]

I'm going to miss First Class, mainly as it has been a fantastic conference system, allowing for offline use as well as having a broad range of tools which could be well tailored. Elluminate is quite good, a bit more handy that FlashMeeting, but still not as good as LiveMeeting IME ... but that costs more.

 

I haven't signed up for any courses this year (paying for them myself and still waiting to see how my finances sit with my appeal against the pay review in Northants still awaiting) but hoping to go for TM128 if I find out in time. If not ... a few 10 point courses perhaps whilst I still try and make OU understand FITS as a course to be credited.