Once upon a time, OU tutors worked hard
in their back bedrooms making beautiful
jewels, but felt sad that nobody ever saw
their creations. One day a friendly parrot
offered them a large nest where they
could all store and share their treasures.
They could visit any time, just to be
nosey, to borrow things or to add to the
ever-growing collection. Tutors liked
seeing what jewels others had fashioned,
sometimes sniggering at their poor taste,
but often borrowing them and parading
them in front of their students. They soon
realized that their small, lovingly crafted
jewels, collected together, made up a very
valuable treasure.
(30 second presentation given at JISC
Programme Meeting, 7-8 July 2009,
Leicester)