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For the attention of: education/health/editors PR4804
17th February 2004
NEW OPEN UNIVERSITY COURSE SET TO WIDEN ACCESS TO CHILDCARE STUDY
The Open University academics involved in the co-production of the recent BBC flagship series, Child of our Time presented bySir Robert Winston, are launching a childhood studies course that shares core themes with the programmes.
The course, Understanding Children, is for parents, professionals and those hoping to work with children.
Understanding Children is part of the university’s Openings programme, a suite of courses specifically designed to widen participation in higher education by those groups who are traditionally excluded.
Child of our Time, aunique 20-year observational documentary of families whose babies were born around the millennium is a central video resource used inUnderstanding Children.
The course, which will be launched at Regent’s College,London, on Saturday February 28, will bring together the OU course production team, BBC producers and the children involved in the making ofUnderstanding Children.
More than 30 children will join academics to celebrate the course launch and the success of the television series.
The launch will provide the opportunity to view the programmes, sample the excellent printed and audio-visual course materials and hear how the collaboration between course and television programme originated. There will also be OU robotic activities, including a model of the Mars Lander, and a female clown, Bonzo Mary, for the visiting children.
Understanding Children is a short course, and takes no more than 20 weeks to complete; students have one-to-one tutor support and there is no exam. On completion, students are awarded 10 academic points and can progress towards the OU’s foundation degree in early years, the specialist teaching assistant certificate, and the childhood studies degree, as well as a range of courses in the caring professions such as health, social work and nursing.
New teaching techniques for the study skills elements of the course were developed to meet the needs of students who have experienced disadvantages in education and those who feel nervous or lack confidence in their ability to undertake the rigours of university study. M/F
Students will actively be encouraged to build upon their own formal and informal educational experiences to help develop effective study skills.
The course aims to develop the understanding needed to promote confidence, growth and self-esteem in children. It focuses on children up to the age of 11 and explores the importance of consistent, open and honest communication with children. The experiences of children throughout the course are considered in the context of diversity and recognising the importance of choices and rights.
Understanding Children consists of three units, each integrating appropriate study skills such as essay writing, note taking and reading. The course units are:
- Attachment and competence in babies
- Diversity, expectations and involvement of children starting formal education
- Relationships, experiences and contributions of pre-adolescents to the family and beyond.
Lucy Rai, OU lecturer in social work, anticipates that the link with the on going observational study, Child of our Time, will open the door for an increasingly broad audience to deepen their insight into children and parenting.
She said:“The response to Child of our Time in terms of viewing figures, hits on the website and requests for the series activity cards has been overwhelming. We are already beginning to see evidence that the programme is helping to attract more students who have been under represented in the university. We hope that the course will open doors not only into education but enable people to use their skills to qualify for employment.”
Notes to editors:
The launch of Understanding Children is on Saturday February 28 at Regent's College Conference Centre Regent's College, Regent's Park Inner CircleLondonNW1 4NS from 5.30pm-7.30pm.To sample course tasters and articles developed from the course and television programme log onto Journalists wanting interviews with the course academics or to attend the event please contact the OU media relations officer at the telephone number below. For more information about Understanding Children and other OU courses click onto the Open University website
Media contact:
Eulina ClairmontOU Media Relations 01908 653248