Open University Course

The OU has just started a new photography course in May this year.

The next course is due to start up in May 2008 (the October slot has already started)

if anyone is interested the link to OU is below:
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01T189

And you can usually useyout Tesco Clubcard vouchers for OU courses.

I don't know much about the OU.. how does it normally work? Is it effective at all?

Iv heard its good for newbies. Its all online. I believe they send you a CD with elements on it and other software you need. If you want any help, apparantly they have a forum ect to use.

I want to learn a certain programming language so wonder if they have a course for it try anything once!

I study through the OU - am on the Diploma in Management this year - aiming for a full MBA in 2 years time.. Their mix of residential schools, on line discussions and face to face tutorials works pretty well for me...

Not all courses have each of the above elements though - and some courses have different mixes of the above....

I guess some of the questions to ask yourself are -

* What does the course offer that I don't already know
* What's the course content? Is it practical or theory? Is it history based?
* Can I afford it?
* What will be the benefits to me if I took it?
* Could I learn the same by joining my local camera club?

What I suspect they don't teach you even if you pass the exams is how you can turn it into a business. I doubt very much if they would point you in the right direction in how to get started running your own photography firm or how to go about starting one, let alone account management-tax-vat returns- salaries- marketing-sales-advertising-legalities etc. All of which you will also need to find out about as well.

Yes by all means learn how to take a photo the best way possible but that is as far as it goes.

Bazza

I have only just seen this, and I am seriously thinking about enrolling, as though some pics I take are okay,I really want to understand how to put all the different functions together. It sounds interesting.

I have studied with the OU before and found their courses really good, with excellent support, either via a forum or in person, or phone.

A 10 week course and you only submit 2 photos to be assessed??????

You can take part in weekly assignments but these pics are NOT assessed.

how on earth would they know how you are getting on?

not for me i think