Free online learning with
The Open University’s
OpenLearn
A Reaching Wider project for North and Mid Wales.
Project briefing sheet – Winter 2013/14 – Year 3
Summary overview
Through OpenLearn, www.open.edu/openlearn the Open University (OU) holds the biggest repository of
FREE on line educational resources in Europe. There are over 600 courses including beginners Welsh, debt
management, Welsh history, internet shopping, study skills, maths, science, creative writing and hundreds
more.
Working with the Reaching Wider partnership in north and mid Wales, the OU in Wales is bringing this
resource to mid and north Wales and running a series of training events and pilot projects to help people in
the community access OpenLearn and use it as a pathway to formal learning.
This is a widening access project, aiming to raise aspirations and opportunities for those underrepresented in higher education and is primarily targeted at those living in Communities First areas.
What is the project about?
We are now in the 3rd and final year of this project. Through this Reaching Wider project, the Open
University is working with partners across the region to help build capacity and knowledge of OpenLearn in
Communities First areas. We offer a FREE one day training course for practitioners to be OpenLearn
Champions. By the end of the day, participants will have a good overview of the resources available, have
some ideas about how they will use them and have plenty of practical hands on experience of using the
website. Many participants also value the networking opportunities over lunch.
After the training, ‘Champions’ have another tool in their toolbox to help people engage in learning. So far
107 people have attended our 1 day Champion training course. Once Champions are trained, we ask that
they actively promote and share the resource with others. They can join our virtual community, access
additional resources and support and this year we will also be running networking events for Champions.
How are Champions using OpenLearn?
Our existing Champions are using OpenLearn in a number of ways depending on the settings they are
working or volunteering in. Some are organising regular drop in sessions in their community centres and
using the OpenLearn resource as part of the training programme they offer. Others are signposting
individual clients to OpenLearn and using the resource during specific events like Adult Learners Week or
Carers Week. One Champion is also starting to use OpenLearn as a progression route for learners as part of
a digital inclusion project.
“I deliver job search sessions to parents who are furthest away from the labour market but are required to
be available and actively seeking employment. Some of the activities [on OpenLearn] are a great
introduction: using IT, Career options..”
“[I’m ] using [OpenLearn] with a family learning group and group of silver surfers. We had taster sessions
then the learners chose a course and followed it in my library with me acting as a support. The ladies also
carried on in their own time at home.
Who can be OpenLean Champions?
Champions so far have come from a variety of backgrounds and could be……
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Communities First Cluster staff or volunteers
Tutors or trainers from community organisations and colleges
People working in adult community learning or promoting learning as part of their job role
Library staff
Union Learning Reps within the workplace
Job centre staff
Careers advisors
Anyone else with links in their community or workplace and a genuine interest in helping others to
access learning.
OpenLearn Champions are unpaid, being an OpenLearn Champion should complement their ‘day job’, and
will be another resource they can draw on to promote learning.
Where and when will the next OpenLearn Champion training be held?
Monday 10th February 2014
10-3pm
At : Glyndwr University
Places limited please book ASAP.
For more information about the project or to book on the Champion training please
contact: Gayle Hudson, Widening Access Manager North Wales - gayle.hudson@open.ac.uk
BLOG :
www.open.ac.uk/blogs/OpenLear
n_in_North_and_Mid_Wales
http://www.facebook.com/ReachingWiderOpenLearnProject
#OLRW