Working and learning: developing effective performance at work
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-course assessment | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This course provides an introduction to the skills of work-based learning (WBL). There are three reasons for considering WBL as a component of your OU degree. First, it provides a stimulating link between degree study and your day-to-day working life, with the chance to study issues that are particularly relevant to your work or home life. Secondly, WBL changes the way you can study, focusing your attention on the question ’Will this work?’ Finally, at a practical level, studying through WBL can offer genuine opportunities for lightening your study workload as you can locate some, perhaps much, of your learning within your day-to-day job.
There is a version of this course specifically designed for people working in delivering public services – see course code BUXS130
Course content
This work-based learning course will help you to build a career and give you the skills to improve your performance at work. Most courses are designed around a particular subject (for example, management or marketing) and so provide you with an academic area for learning. This course is different! It provides you with an opportunity to negotiate your own learning experience to help you develop an ability to learn and so to improve your practice at work. The course includes the creation of a personal learning contract that you will develop as you work through the course. Some students find designing their own learning to be quite tricky to begin with, but they ultimately find it a hugely satisfying process.
You will be directed to learning resources and activities, (much of which will be found on the course website) that cover a range of topics and issues linked to your work. Online learning will be a major part of this course. Topics include self management, work-life balance, persuasive skills and decision making. The resources will be drawn from a number of high-quality sources such as the Open University’s supported open learning materials and learndirect’s online course Working and learning: an introduction to higher education and the workplace. A key point in these learning resources is that they will focus on you doing things differently, rather than just knowing more. Throughout the course, you will have access to the OU student resources and online library. These learning resources and activities will be underpinned by tuition that will include active involvement with your tutor and access via online forums to a community of peers. The assessment for this course focuses on your learning experience and your reflection on that experience.
You will learn
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- understand your own learning, its role and impact in the workplace so as to plan and manage your learning towards the achievement of aims and objectives that fit your career
- engage in reflective learning by reflecting on, evaluating and applying experiential learning in your own professional, occupational and workplace contexts
- focus your learning on important issues in your day-day work
- communicate arguments, ideas and issues effectively using appropriate styles and language
- read and interpret information presented in a variety of forms and perform relevant tasks for analysis and evaluation
- develop the skills you need for making the most of university.
Vocational relevance
This course is for students working in either formal or informal settings. Its content is directly relevant to providing you with the skills to develop your ability to learn. Please note that involvement in a workplace will make completion of the assignments easier.
Entry
This is an ideal first course if you are thinking of studying at university level, and might want to go on to a foundation degree in business or an undergraduate certificate, diploma or degree in business studies or management. To be able to complete the course successfully you must be participating in a workplace either formally or informally. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
This course is relevant to students in both a UK and non-UK context.
Qualifications
BU130 is a compulsory course in our
- BA (Honours) Leadership and Management (B54)
- Foundation Degree in Business (G07)
- Foundation Degree in Leadership and Management (G08)
- Foundation Degree in Financial Services (G16)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Business (E42)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Leadership and Management (E43)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Financial Services (E54)
BU130 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
The course is taught using printed and online texts, which will be available as readable PDFs. Content from the ‘Learning through Work’ website is available as Word documents. The course also uses interactive online activities, resources and forums, all of which will be accessible. You will be expected to submit your assignments electronically. If you think you may have difficulty handling text material or operating a computer, please talk to our Student Registration & Enquiry Service about the support that can be given to meet your needs.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course website, online activities and resources, including the course study guide, a course file, online forums and a printed text.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. If you are new to The Open University, you will find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day-schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where tutorials are held depends on the distribution of students taking each course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The end-of-course assessment (ECA) must be submitted online using our eTMA system.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May and November 2010. We expect it to be available twice a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Business and Management.
Study explained
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- Credit points
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- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Student Reviews
I only took this course because it was compulsory for my degree, and I wouldn't recommend it for any other ...
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An interesting course to do. Was apprehensive about doing it (although needed it for Cert in Bus Studies ) due ...
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