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"Learn and Live" - a guide to the Open University

by Anna Grace Lidstone
Editor of TYMES
Member of UK Government Working Group on ME/CFS (Children's Section)

History

The Open University was founded in 1969, by the Prime Minister of the time, Harold Wilson. It pioneered a system of supported open learning and now provides over 300 different courses for mature students. Thousands of people have taken courses with the OU, for many different reasons; to further their career, change direction or pursue interests.

Studying with the OU is not without its hurdles but it does remove many of the difficulties of 'conventional' university life for those with ME. Lectures and tutorials are infrequent and, although attendance is encouraged, they are optional. Instead, information is broadcast by television and radio, which means that, as long as you remember to record the programmes(!), you can choose the best time of day to study and take rest breaks whenever needed. And all in the comfort of your own home!

Exploration

So, how do you go about finding out if the OU is appropriate for your needs?

Firstly, if you are trying to decide between going away to university, studying in your home town or taking an OU course, Jane Colby's document 'Students and ME' gives advice on accessing the right sort of Higher Education for your needs and practical pointers on coping with study commitments.

If you consider the OU a possible option the next step is, of course, to contact the OU and request their prospectus, published in January each year. Tuning in to the OU programmes, broadcast nightly on BBC2, allows you to explore life with the OU and consider which course to take. Detailed programme listings can be found in Open Eye, the magazine of the OU alumni community, published on the first Thursday of each month in The Independent. The Open Advice programmes are made specifically to guide and inspire prospective students and can help you decide if you would be able to cope with a return to study. In particular, look out for A University Without Walls which focuses on students juggling study with family life, work, disability - or all three!

Having decided you fancy supping at the fount of knowledge what more do you need to know? Read on...

Philosophy

Other than being 18 or over, you do not need any entry requirements to study with the OU, but self-discipline, motivation, enthusiasm and a space to work are all musts! If your long-term aim is a degree, or you have not studied for some time, starting with a Level One course is recommended. These provide more support than other courses and concentrate on developing study skills. They are also useful if you know which area you want to study but are unsure which particular subject. Level One courses include:

• An Introduction to the Humanities
• Modern Languages
• Society and Social Science
• Understanding Health and Social Care
• Open Mathematics
• Using Mathematics
• Discovering Science
• Living with Technology
• Personal and career development

All OU courses can be taken singly, or accumulated to build a diploma or degree. Each course is measured in 'credit points', with most being worth either 30 or 60 points and you need 360 points to gain a degree. The prospectus states that 30 point courses take at least 7 hours of study a week and 60 point courses at least 14 hours. There is no time limit for completion of a degree, so you can easily take a year out between courses if necessary. One advantage of the OU is that you don't have to commit yourself to a particular subject area as you accumulate credit points, so you can combine an interest in Inorganic Chemistry with your love of Literature! However, if you are aiming specifically for a BSc or a BA, or your chosen career depends on being accredited by a professional body, you do need to consider the overall balance of courses.

Most courses run from February to October each year and reservation forms must be submitted before 30th September the previous year. Once you have been offered a place you have a few weeks to decide if you really want to take the plunge and return your registration agreement! During this period you will be sent detailed course descriptions, information about support services and details of payment.

Economics

Course fees vary greatly. In 1998/9 most cost between £200 and £700, depending on their points allocation and whether a residential school is part of the course. Just to make your eyes water though, courses in Law and Business and Management can cost up to £2000! Mmm... thankfully, there is help available. Fees can be paid in instalments, with interest kept as low as possible, or you can apply for a Financial Award. There are two main categories of award. Type A bases eligibility on state benefit status and Type B on household income. To find out if you meet the criteria for financial assistance contact a Student Advisor at the OU. If you do qualify for an award you must apply early in the course reservation period.

Disability issues

The OU's policy is "to encourage and enable disabled people to participate fully in every aspect of University study." (1) It is very important that you remember to indicate you have disabilities or health problems on your reservation form, as this sets the wheels in motion to ensure you receive support. You will be sent a guide to support services called Meeting your Needs. Topics covered include:

• Study aids. Comb-bound materials, audiocassette versions of printed material or transcripts of broadcasts and cassettes may be of use to students with ME. If you find writing difficult, or using a computer keyboard causes you pain, you may be able to borrow special adaptations through the Access Technology Loan Scheme
• Disabled access at study centres. This varies, although the University may be able to provide facilities such as nearby access, ground floor rooms or a comfy chair.
• Residential school. This provides a particular challenge for people with ME. Facilities vary and it may be necessary to travel some distance to a school that can meet your needs. The University will bear the cost of a carer's accommodation etc. or provide a volunteer helper, and will advise on balancing attendance with rest. If it would be detrimental to your health to attend, excusal from residential school can be obtained by providing medical evidence. This needs to be discussed with your tutor/counsellor and dealt with promptly in order to make alternative arrangements and reclaim part of the course fee.
• On request, the University will send you Open Links, the newsletter for students with disabilities. This includes updates on services, special events and technology.

A major concern for students with ME is coping with limited energy, both mental and physical. If you find attending a study centre difficult, tutorials can be conducted by 'phone or face to face if the tutor is able to visit. If you are unable to attend tutorials it is important to find an alternative way to engage in valuable interaction with other students. Students are encouraged to establish informal study groups to support and converse with one another. Find out about the arrangements for your course - some groups 'meet' by telephone or there may be a couple of fellow students willing to visit you at home. The M.E. Association's OU Students Group provides another form of support, linking sufferers studying the same course. You can also connect with other students through the Internet and have access to JANET, the Joint Academic Network of UK universities and colleges.

Courses are assessed through regular Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) or Computer Marked Assignments (CMAs) and an examination. Should you have a relapse, or need a break to stabilise your health, it may be possible to withdraw from an assignment. Many courses allow 'substitution', a representative score calculated from the scores you obtain for completed assignments which replaces the mark of the missed assignment. This needs to be arranged with your tutor well in advance of the TMA 'cut off date'.

The three-hour exam at the end of the course normally takes place in October. Special arrangements can be made for this, including sitting the exam at home, rest breaks, use of a scribe or amanuensis or sitting the exam over three days or at specific times of day. Again, this has to be arranged in advance with your tutor and Walton Hall and verification from your doctor will be necessary.

All the measures above call for prompt action by the student and good communication between the student and his/her tutor/counsellor. In this sense, the OU is probably like any other education establishment at present, in that how difficult it is to receive what you need very much depends on your tutor's understanding of ME. The University's policy for assisting students with disabilities is very good (ME even gets a mention in the Meeting Your Needs guide) but accounts from students with ME vary enormously. Some have received great sympathy and understanding from their tutors, with home visits and lots of practical help. Others appear to have been left to fend for themselves. At the end of the day though, it is up to the student to communicate with the University, make needs known and provide information on ME for tutors. Useful documents to pass on to tutors include 'What is ME?' and 'Brain Problems in ME/CFS - Is there a Simple Explanation?' both by Dr Betty Dowsett (2). These cover clinical and epidemiological descriptions of ME and explanations of cerebral malfunction and ensuing educational difficulties. If assistance from your tutor is not forthcoming you can take the matter further by contacting your Senior Counsellor, the Regional Disability Officer or the Office for Students with Special Needs at Walton Hall.

Study Skills

• DON'T assume you won't have anything to do until the start of the course in February! Mailings start arriving as soon as you reserve a place. You can expect a Taster Pack soon after this and, if you are studying a Level One course you will receive a Preparation Pack in November. Around this time you will also receive details of your tutor and/or counsellor. Take the time between then and the start of the course to establish contact with them and make known any needs or difficulties.
• DO be organised. There is an awful lot of paper and it looks much scarier if you don't file it promptly. If possible, DO have a space specifically for study, away from distractions, so that you don't have to waste valuable energy transporting course material from shelf to table.
• DO make use of study aids. Don't think you can 'manage'. As Betty Dowsett so succinctly put it: "Energy is more valuable than gold dust and must be conserved" (3). Your brain is going to be working overtime so do all you can to save your physical energies.
• DO learn to spot the early signs of 'brain fatigue' and act accordingly - it's far better to take lots of short breaks than to work yourself into relapse.
• DO watch the Open Advice programmes, they include information on study skills, revision, residential school etc., and DO record all programmes relevant to your course - you'll need to watch them again!
• DO take the opportunity to watch some of the relevant programmes prior to the start of your course ~ more to familiarise yourself with key words, language and style than to learn a great deal! If you have the energy, and you feel you need to do more to prepare yourself, there are study packs available which include assessed essays. These will indicate which study skills require more practise.
• Finally......Do ENJOY your course (it's good for the immune system!) and ALWAYS put your health and wellbeing first. The OU's motto is 'Learn and Live'. The ME OU student's motto should be 'Learn, Rest and Live'! And do remember to tell us when you graduate!

Research

1. OPEN UNIVERSITY Courses, Diplomas and BA/BSc Degrees 1998/9 p.70
2. Documents available on the YAOnline website www.youngactiononline.com or by sending 3 2nd class stamps per document to YAOnline, PO Box 4347, Stock, Essex CM4 9TE
3. DOWSETT E.G. Time to put the exercise cure to rest? TYMES magazine, Issue 25, 18-19, Summer 1998

Geography

The Open University Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA
Tymes Trust PO Box 4347, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9TE

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