Open Learning allows students to attend a full complement of evening classes divided between two evenings a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The teaching hours amount to roughly half of those offered in
the full-time format (about 10 hours as opposed to 20 hours).
The lessons are organised in such a way as to allow
students to structure their time around other commitments and do
more of the required coursework work in the convenience of their
own home or office.
The Open Learning format is offered for the following
degrees:
AKTO offers these four validated BA degrees from Middlesex
University over four years, with an eight-week, pre-BA crammer
course in the summer between the third and fourth years. This
consists of supervised projects interspersed with teaching arranged
as follows:
- Two weekends in July
- One weekend in September
- One weekend in October
The crammer course is also available in a winter format with
teaching arranged as follows:
- One weekend in November
- One weekend in December
- One weekend in January
- One weekend in February
A non-validated certificate is awarded by AKTO at the end of the third year.
New enrolments begin in February
2011
How you are taught
Lectures: Hourly lectures with audiovisual aids.
Projects: Students are given project descriptions with
detailed instructions, bibliographies, a tutorial schedule and
grading criteria.
Seminars: These can take the form of group discussions
with other students over a given topic, or a lecture followed by
questions and answers by a visiting professional or academic.
Criticism: At the end of each project, students display
their work and constructively comment on each other's work.
Workshops: Students receive training in specific
tasks.
Software Workshops: AKTO offers weekly tutorials in
major software packages that form part of the curriculum. Students
have access to AKTO's computer labs throughout the day, which are
fully updated with the necessary software.
What are the advantages?
The advantages of Open Learning programmes as opposed to
full-time degree programmes are that:
- You don't have to give up your job or your family to invest in
new knowledge and skills. You can arrange the degree course around
your commitments, spending just two evenings a week on campus.
- Your teaching hours are compressed and concentrated, allowing
you to structure your time according to your needs, and do more of
the coursework in the comfort and convenience of your home or
office
- You don't have a daily commute to AKTO campuses. You only go in
twice a week, meaning less time and money lost waiting for trains
and buses.