The Student Hub Live Podcast

What is normal and what is good? Focusing on your strengths - 28 Apr 2022

In all areas of life, we can be fed idealised images – and the same applies to study journeys. You may come across certain ideas of what is ‘normal’ or what you should do to be a ‘good student’. Sometimes it can even feel like you don’t fit the mould of what a good student should be. The great thing at The Open University is that we’re different from other universities. Here at Student Hub Live, we recognise that everyone has their own aptitudes and their own ‘OU normal’. In this interactive live broadcast, we’ll look at some ways of identifying your strengths and explore how to make the most of them within your unique study journey.

 

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Interpreting and using other people’s theories and facts - 09th March 2022

Within your studies you are often presented with facts, theories and information that you need to use within your assessment. Working out how to select the best parts and how to represent them in an effective way can be tricky. Do you use quotes? Do you give your own interpretation of what they might mean? Can you even say which parts are relevant to your argument? In this live broadcast we will be looking at some of these questions and suggesting different ways to use other people’s ideas within your own work. We will also look at why it’s important to give credit where it’s due. We’ll focus on experience-led tips and ideas on what works well and some things to avoid.

 

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Lost in translation: Navigating the challenges of communicating in a globally connected world - 2nd Nov 2021

Do you work or study with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures? Do your words sometimes get ‘lost in translation’? Is English an additional language for you? This session brings together experts from our School of Languages and Applied Linguistics with colleagues working in business and health and social care. They will discuss the challenges of interacting in a globally connected world, considering the impact of language, culture, time zone, and whether you are online or communicating face-to-face. As well as helping you recognise the complexities involved, this highly interactive session will offer top tips and strategies to use in your work and study.

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Access: Making a great start - 7th October 2021

This session will help you make a confident start to your Access module. We will explain how the module is organised, what to expect from your tutor and what assessment is all about. Access students nearing the end of their module will share their experiences and pass on lots of top tips and advice to help you. The module teams will also be on hand to answer questions. This session is designed to ensure you get your studies off to the best possible start and develop your confidence and understanding.

 

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Returning to your studies with confidence - 30 June 2021

We all need a confidence boost to feel study ready. It doesn’t matter whether your studies have been paused for years, months, or just over the summer, we want to help you feel ready to restart. In this broadcast we’ll hear from real students and discuss how tough they sometimes found it – and why they’re glad they carried on. We’ll look at the practicalities of coming back to study and have careers experts on hand to help you focus on the end goal. Don’t feel stuck – join us to take the first step towards rediscovering your study ambition.

 

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Final module assessment: Making it your best! — 5 May 2021

Whether this is your first or 12th end of module assessment, pulling together a years’ worth of work can be a little daunting. End of module assessments can be more challenging than tutor marked assignments because of the scope of the content as well as the complexity of the task. In this broadcast we discuss how to work with key themes and concepts and how to balance breadth and depth of discussion. We’ll also think about how to plan your time effectively as you work on either a prepared end of module assessment or for an exam. Join members of staff and other students to make a plan and pick up some new ideas to apply to your study.

 

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Your first assignments - 29 March 2021

First assignments in a new module are always exciting – a chance to work with your Associate Lecturer in developing your skills. Theoretically speaking, your first assignments are the starting point for improvement, and you will learn more each time. However, assignments can sometimes create feelings that can get in the way of learning. One of the things we know at SHL is that many students feel anxious or worry that they’re not as good as others – we also know that sharing these feelings helps us realise that we’re not alone. So please join us for this hour-long broadcast in which we discuss how to establish what you need to focus on in assignments, and what is important in terms of marks. We will also cover some of the technical and procedural details that will be helpful if this is your first piece of assessed work at the OU.

Starting your OU studies - 18th January 2021

Starting out with the OU is very exciting. Before the module officially begins, and you gain access to your learning materials and the OU systems, you may want to spend some time thinking about what lies ahead. At this event we’ll introduce you to some key people at the OU and offer advice about setting yourself up for the best start. These sessions are a great opportunity to meet other students who are also beginning the journey, to share your own tips and experiences, and to learn from other, more seasoned students.

Developing your academic writing - 9 December 2020

Whether you’re beginning your academic journey or are some way through, it is worth investing time in developing your writing style. Higher grades are often associated with clear and well-structured arguments, appropriate use of evidence and good communication skills, however is very common for students to put most of their energy into generally understanding module content. At this event we focus specifically on enhancing your writing skills, in particular how to use an academic voice, conveying your understanding of the question, planning and structuring your work, and referencing. 

This hour-long remote broadcast will start at 12pm and will feature interviews with staff and students, tips and worksheets and you’ll be able to share your own experiences and ask questions of our guests — and each other — in the live chat. 

If you have already attended our essay planning and writing workshops you will benefit from this session, but it is not necessary to have any prior experience of these events. You don’t need to prepare anything in advance, and you can choose whether to get really involved in the discussions or to sit back and reflect.

Different Perspectives: Why talking across subjects sparks new ideas

What does psychology have to do with climate change? Why are politics, medicine and supply-chain management all equally important when it comes to the smooth running of the Olympic Games? And how can artificial intelligence improve agriculture for better food security? 

Growing evidence suggests that possessing knowledge and understanding across a range of different subjects is key when facing global challenges. Join our expert panel as they tackle a host of different perspectives in a fun and informal way to address some of these issues. If you’re wondering which topics will be chosen... the Student Hub Live 'Wheel of Fortune’ will decide! 

Please open this event page on SHL site to view the resources associated with this broadcast.