What is happening?
Positive changes seem to be happening across OCA, with more group sessions now taking place across Programmes, inc some tutor involvement, giving students more opportunity to meet each other, share work and study together. Hopefully, we will get more tutor involvement, I believe the OCA is working on this after feedback received from you all, thank you all for participating in this. Many programmes now offer ‘Q & A open session’, where students can speak to their Programme Leaders directly as well as meeting other students, this is great progress and is needed so much within our virtual learning environment, helping us come together and keep in touch.
Together Everyone Achieves More
Many units are currently being updated...good news! As so many links etc within the coursework material are out of date and don’t actually work.
Programmes under periodic review
Some OCA Programmes have lately gone under periodic review, with changes scheduled and planned to take place 1st September 2021. Other Programmes are currently going under periodic review, so we have been informed these changes are unlikely to take place before the 22/23 academic year at the earliest.
As it stands, OCA has 3 units at Level One, 2 units at Level Two and 3 units at Level Three. (3.2.3). Analysis of student journeys through the Programmes has shown that students can often struggle with the change in the tempo of study when moving from Level One, 3 x 40 credit units to the longer Level Two, 2 x 60 credit units and then back again at Level Three. The curriculum will move towards a more regular tempo of study, where all levels will have 3 x 40 credit units.
Once courses are developed, students will transition across to this new format once they have successfully completed Level One. If students have already started Level Two (2 x 60 credit units) when these changes go live, this will not affect you: you will continue with these 2 x 60 credit units.
We do have voluntary students, taking time out of their busy schedules to act as Co-opted reps for some of these Programmes, whilst these changes are going under review. They will be working alongside Programme Leaders and fellow students. Should any student not understand how these changes may affect you, please feel free to get in touch with the Co-opted Programme rep (see below for further information), or myself you can take any queries up directly with your Programme Leader via the OCA Learn forum or ‘Q&A open session, should this be available on your OCA Learn Programme timetable.
1st September 2021
Programmes changing from 2 to 3 units at Level Two
Photography; Co-opted Programme rep - Michael Green
Vis Comms; Co - Studies rep - Vivian Spry.
Creative Arts; Co - Studies rep - Vivian Spry.
Painting; Co - Studies rep - Vivian Spry.
Creative writing; Co - Studies rep - Vivian Spry.
Textiles; Co - Studies rep - Vivian Spry.
Programmes currently under periodic review. Changes scheduled to take place no earlier than the 22/23 academic year
Illustration; Co-opted Programme rep - Emma Clements. . (Emma is also our Co - Accessibility rep)
Graphic Design; Co-opted Programme rep - Craig Roberts.
(Craig is also our Co - Brand Design rep/consultant)
Drawing; Co-opted Programme rep - Sarah Davis.
Fine Art; Co-opted Programme rep - Felicity Talman.
Music; Co-opted Programme rep - Emma Arandjelovic. (Emma is also our Social & Comms rep)
Moving Image;
(Moving Image is a degree that has been closed to new students for quite some time now, but OCA have advised they are committed to existing students and will work with them while they remain on the programme, so there is no official end date, the degree will naturally end once current students have completed their degree or choose to exit).
All Co-opted Programme reps named above are voluntary students currently enrolled on the Programmes they are representing, so they have first-hand experience with current course material and are aware of some of the problems, difficulties, they and their fellow students have encountered themselves along their learning journey. They are happy to listen to other fellow students, where improvements or changes may be suggested and passed on to Programme Leaders.
Please feel free to contact any of us using the online contact form on our website.
Plans ahead
Due to many courses being updated, we are looking at ways to get more students involved in proofreading these course materials, as we are aware that students are struggling with understanding briefs. This is on the agenda, and we are currently in discussion on how we can push this forward. How we can make life easier for all students, as it is quite difficult learning in an online environment for some of us, not understanding what is required in a brief, compared to studying in a bricks-and-mortar environment, where we can get answers immediately. We believe more tutor support and student involvement from different backgrounds is the best way forward. If anyone should wish to be part of this plan, please feel free to get in touch. Together we can make things better.