IT and Computing from OpenLearn - Free learning resources from the Open University: from basic principles of computing to exploring the boundary between the analogue and digital realms

If you would like to follow up your interest by taking a course, the OU offers a range of courses and qualifications designed to fit you.

Which type of course is best for you?

• Not sure you want to commit to a long course?
• Have study experience and looking for more?

Short Courses

Relevant Knowledge is an evolving programme of user-friendly short courses about various aspects of technology. The courses are designed to be accessible to anyone - you don't need to be a techie to study them. So if you're interested in acquiring some new skills, or exploring the relationship between society and technology, or just plain curious, why not see what we have to offer?

Design and the Web (T183)
This ten-week online course, based on a course website, shows how design principles can be applied to the creation of well-designed web pages and websites.  It explores the elements of web page design, text, colour, images, and assembling them as layout. The course also covers usability issues such as navigation, access, interactivity, and designing virtual experiences.  You will get to play the role of a designer commissioned to design a website for the course team for your final assessment.

Robotics & the Meaning of Life: A practical guide to things that think (T184)
This online course will introduce you to robotics and the design of intelligent machines. It allows you to investigate the relationship between robots and humans, and to question what it means for a machine to be intelligent in the context of what it means to be human. Even if you are a complete beginner, you will be able to build simulations of autonomous robots according to easy-to-follow instructions.

Vandalism in cyberspace (T187)
This is an introduction to the downside of computing -- the junk email (spam), hoaxes, viruses and other kinds of malicious software (sometimes called malware) which are making life a misery for internet users. Working on the basis that the worst kind of fear is fear of the unknown, the course is designed to demystify these nuisances and to teach you how you can protect yourself from them. 

Details of all the OU's short technology courses can be be found on their technology courses page.

Longer Courses and Qualifications

Open University courses are the main 'building blocks' of our qualifications. You can take a single course or take several to build towards an Open University diploma or degree.

• Are you interested in IT or Computing?
• Know what you want and already have work or study experience in computing or ICT?

Where to Start

Starting a degree and confused about whether to study IT or Computing?

Appreciation of IT
You are interested in learning about the effects of information technology on society, together with acquiring some skills in communication and in using a computer, but you do not envisage taking more than a couple of courses of this type. Your main interest probably lies in a different area, but you feel the need to know something of the potential applications of new technology, and to be aware of recent developments. You do not wish to learn about programming computers, but you may wish to know how to use them more effectively.

If this sound like you then you will probably want to start with Networked Living: exploring information and communication technologies (T175).

Appreciation of Computing
You are interested in learning something about how software is developed and in acquiring some programming skills, but you do not envisage taking more than a couple of courses of this type. Your main interest probably lies in a different area.

If this sound like you then you could start with the Computing course Data, computing and information (M150).

Higher level study

Information and communication technologies: people and interactions (T209)
The convergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) – rapid processing and global transmission of information, and mobile communication systems – has brought radical changes in the way society, organisations and individuals function. This course provides a broad overview of the concepts behind these new systems and services, and a repertoire of ideas and tools for analysing ICT. It provides an introduction to the design and deployment of these technologies in the debates that will shape our future.

Putting computer systems to work (MT262)
The course tackles the problem of how to get a computer to do something useful. It sets out to analyse problems and design solutions so that a computer program can be written to implement the solution. The course develops skills in analysis and design. There is also a lot of practical programming in the widely used C++ language, using both non-object and object-oriented approaches. 

Building Blocks of Software (M263)
This course is for you if you intend to specialise in computing. It is an introductory course covering essential formal and theoretical concepts needed for further study of computing. The course covers fundamentals of computer science such as specification and abstraction in code; data structures; and data types and classes. It then moves on to efficiency and proof of correctness of programs, providing a basis for formal methods of software development. The course also includes an introduction to formal logic. Mathematical ideas (such as sets and functions) are introduced where they help to clarify computing concepts.

MSc in Computing for Commerce and Industry (F05)
Software and information technologies continue to develop and evolve at a stunning rate. As well as learning to use the latest software applications and tools, professionals must also understand the background of history and theory that underpin these software packages and their effective use. We offer a range of postgraduate and post-experience courses that can be studied on their own as part of a personal programme of professional updating, or can be studied as building blocks towards a postgraduate diploma and then an MSc degree. 

For further information on all the short courses, undergraduate and postgraduate courses and qualifications to choose within this area, visit the OU's Information Technology and Computing courses page.