The Open University

I had an ambition to complete and gain a University degree for a number of years. It was something that I put off until time allowed; until I decided that time would never come. I would just have to make the effort to fit it in with my busy life. Other people did it so why not me? I signed up in 2001 for a 30 point course T171 You, Your Computer and the Net. I completed and passed this course. I enjoyed the challenge, writing for me had always been a problem. It had taken me until I was over 30 to gain an 'O' level or by the time I took it a GCSE in English and I found I enjoyed writing a report, especially using the computer with a spell check and being able to move text around and delete or add to it as necessary, I was hooked!

I slotted in a couple of short 10 point, 12 week courses in October 2001, which were S191, Food and Health: a chemical story and S193, Fossils and the history of life which I found informative and most enjoyable. In 2002 I moved on to a 60 point level two course T209 Information and Communication Technologies: People and Interactions another demanding course, from using voice recognition software to programming a microwave oven to interact with my voice, encryption with modular maths, a unit on Cyborgs to Mobile communications and Networking.

The OU began the new Certificate in Web Applications Development, I had become interested in Web page design after doing T171, and I enrolled for TT280 Web Basics, Design, Development and Management in the autumn of 2002. This is a 10 point level 2 course and there was a lot to fit in the 12 weeks including a 2000 word report and some web page designing for the end of course assessment.

In 2003 I decided that I needed to brush up on my Maths before I went any further so I enrolled for MU120 Open Mathematics which was based on everyday uses of maths such as earnings, prices, music and even maps. I wanted to take it easier this year as I changed my job, a Web Administrator for a large school of over 2200 pupils where I have the job of designing and constructing the school web site and helping the partnership schools, first and middle, with updating and constructing their sites. All due to my studies with the Open University!

In the autumn of 2003 I took the second part of the Web applications course TT281 the Client Side of Application Development another 10 point 12 week course which ended on the 23rd December! It involves using JavaScript so I would advise anyone going for the course to try and brush up on JavaScript before the start of the course. I didn't and I found the course very intensive but enjoyable.

I had decided that I would have a break in 2004 but the OU came up with the new course MI50 Data computing and Information which I passed on the way to gaining the new Foundation Degree in Information and Communication Technologies.

In 2005 I studied another new Open University course which is a compulsory course for the Foundation Degree in Information and Communication Technologies, and this was T224 Computers and Processors. I passed the exam for T224 in October 2005 and I did two more 30 point courses to gain my degree.

I completed and passed T121 Information and Communication Technologies at work, a new course with the Open University. The final course for my degree was T226 ICTs, Change and Projects at Work I completed and passed this early in 2007 and I now have my Foundation degree in Information and Communication Technologies.

After completing this degree I have decided to take only courses I knew I would enjoy, the last twofor my degreee were a hard slog as it was subjects I didn't really enjoy, so in May I took the new short course (12 weeks) with the Open University T189 Digital Photography: Creating and Sharing Better Images which introduced many new things from using my camera and taking better pictures and sharing them with other students on the course, to the final portfolio which was the end of course assignment. If you are like me and interested in digital photography and would like to improve your knowledge this is a great course.

My final course (for now!) now completed was another short course T187 Vandalism in cyberspace: understanding and combating malicious software This course provides an introduction to junk email, hoax messages, electronic viruses and worms and how to protect yourself. I use the Internet a lot at work and home and I considered it would be a good thing to be more aware of all the problems that entails. Once again an enjoyable intresting course highly recommended for techies or non-techies alike on how to protect yourself in cyberspace and practice safe computing..

At last I think it's time to take a break from studying for a while to give me more time to pursue my many other interests. It will be nice not to be working to deadlines and trying to finish assignments on time. The buzz you get from studing is great but it will be good not to have the pressure for a while.