Engineering: an active introduction
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At this residential course you will experience laboratory, field and creative work as carried out by engineers. You’ll also gain practical skills invaluable for an engineering, technology or science-based degree: taking measurements, analysing data, seeking and evaluating information, modelling, problem-solving, and design for decision-making. Working in a small team, you’ll develop these skills through enjoyable, interactive learning activities. You will define your learning needs and plan ways of meeting them with the support of experienced tutors. The school is held in a UK university with a choice of dates in July – register early if you have a preference, as unfortunately we can’t always offer your first choice.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TXR120 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| End-of-module assessment |
| Residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
The core of this course is a residential week that includes laboratory activities, fieldwork, group activities and workshops. It provides an environment for intensive study and support activities appropriate to Level 1 study.
Throughout the week you will experience working in an academic community and meet students with similar interests from a wide range of backgrounds. This will give you an opportunity to develop team skills such as collaborating, negotiating and communicating effectively.
Before the residential week there will be some preparatory work to assess your educational skills and knowledge, together with some introductory learning on the topics covered at the residential week. Afterwards, you will use the skills acquired at the residential week to complete an end-of-module assessment that includes elements of a report and reflection on the learning outcomes achieved.
You will take part in five main activities:
- Energy conversion: Operating as a small company, each group will carry out various steps in a laboratory to extract copper from an industrial waste material, including crushing the waste and setting up a circuit to extract the copper by electrolysis. You will be measuring the yield and energy use, and considering the accuracy and cost. You will then be able to model the process before deciding your bid price.
- Structures: Working with a partner to design and build a bridge, you have to work out which parts need to be flexible and which must be rigid. You will learn and apply some of the methods of structural engineering and use some interactive computer-aided design (CAD) software to explore possible designs. And finally, you have to put your bridge to the test, to see how well it supports a load!
- Robotics: Working as a member of a team you will use a prototype mobile 'rescue robot' to explore a simulated hazardous environment. You will compare several ways of controlling robots, including remote control and teleoperation via video link. You will also program your robot so that it can perform its rescue mission autonomously.
- Noise: Noise level measurements and noise reduction are a topical subject in the area of environmental engineering. As part of a group, you’ll conduct noise level measurements off campus at a city centre location. Each group will work to analyse and compare their measurements with standard models, with an aim to consider potential future control of noise levels.
- Materials processing: You will examine the behaviour and processing of materials. This will involve practical experimentation, the collection and collation of information from a variety of sources, including the internet, and a short presentation of your findings.
The residential school will be held at a UK university, probably in mid- to late July and possibly early August. You will be asked to choose your week when you register for the course. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis, so you should register as early as you can. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Vocational relevance
The course offers opportunities to develop and practise a range of key skills, including communication skills that you will find useful both for studying and learning, and in the workplace. In particular, you will be applying technical skills to real technological situations as you work with others, communicate your findings and monitor and evaluate your own performance.
Entry
Level 1 courses provide core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning, to help you to progress to courses at Level 2.
This course will appeal to a wide variety of people, especially if you are interested in or curious about engineering, science and technology, and the technological decisions that influence our lives.
It is suitable to study before or alongside one of the Level 1 technology courses: Engineering the future (T173) or Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101).
If you would like more information about how this course fits with other engineering and technology courses you can visit our Engineering website.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Outside the UK
Preparatory work for this course can be done outside the UK. However, it is essential to travel to a UK-based site for the short residential period.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Elements of this course and some of the assessment is delivered online, if you use specialist software or hardware to assist you in using a personal computer or the internet and have any concerns about accessing these types of materials you are advised to talk to the Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.
Every effort has been made to optimise access at the site of the residential activity. In addition, the practical work is carried out in small teams, allowing work to be shared according to aptitude and ability. Written transcripts of any audio components and 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 mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
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 publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study 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.
Study materials
What's included
The residential school week includes full-board accommodation and tuition at the residential school. Preparatory materials; online learning materials and self-assessment; Residential School Handbook and other printed materials; assignment book.
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 2005 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
Before the residential school you will have access to an online forum for the course where you can discuss your preparation for the school with other students and get help from the course team. Specialist tutors will guide you through the activities at the residential site, assist with optional evening tutorial sessions and help you prepare for the final course assignment.
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 must submit your end-of-module assessment (EMA) online.
There is an interactive computer-marked assessment (iCMA) before the residential school – this is to help you gauge how well prepared you are for the residential week – it does not count towards your final grade. The EMA, completed after the residential school, will involve writing about different aspects of the various residential school activities and writing a summary of achievements with respect to the learning outcomes of the course. You will also be assessed on your satisfactory participation in the residential school activities.
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 2012. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year and the last starting date to be in 2017.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Engineering and Technology.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | TXR120 |
| Credits | 10 |
| OU Level | 1 |
| SCQF level | 7 |
| FHEQ level | 4 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| End-of-module assessment |
| Residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
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