OUPS DSE212 'Taster Weekend': For students about to start in October 2010

This is a relatively new weekend set up by OUPS to help students who are about to start DSE212 prepare for the course. For many students this may be the first time that you have studied for a long time and or it may be the first time you have studied a subject like psychology. The weekend school is intended to give a very gentle ‘hand-holding’ guide to DSE212. It aims to give you a foundation for your studies by providing you with an overview of the important aspects of the course and giving you a framework for studying psychology and DSE212 in particular.

Aims of the DSE212 Taster Weekend

A weekend of discussions and lectures which aim to offer a broad look at DSE212.  The weekend will introduce some of the more accessible parts of the course as well as some of those likely to give trouble (based on past experience). It will look at some of the broad over-arching themes of the course such as the different schools of psychology and how they relate to each other. The lectures will deal with the issue of what is the basis of understanding within the different perspectives, comparing and contrasting them. It will give signposts as to how to approach the chapters and how to be critical of them. General guidance will be given on writing essays in Psychology and on exam technique. In addition there will be a gentle introduction to experimental methods and statistics, which is an important part of DSE212.

What does the weekend offer?

The DSE212 Taster Weekend will offer a full programme of nine talks, running from Friday evening (registration from 3pm; dinner at 6pm; evening lecture at 8pm) until Sunday tea time (3.30pm). As well as providing an introduction to and overview of the course it will be an ideal opportunity to meet with other students who are about to start DSE212 the same time as you and also to talk to some of the course writers who will be tutoring on the weekend.

The weekend is being held in parallel with our revision weekend on other OU courses so there will be the chance to meet and talk with students who have already studied DSE212 and get some first hand opinions and tips from them.

The weekend is not all hard work! On Friday and Saturday evenings there will be social events which give you ample opportunity to relax and socialise with other students.

Both tutors are highly experienced and are authors of some of the chapters on the course:

• Professor Frederick Toates
• Dr Graham Edgar

Some of the things previous students said about the DSE212 Taster Weekend:

"Really interesting – great lead up to course and very relaxed atmosphere"

“Both our lecturers were very informed and I enjoyed both of their styles”

“Superb introduction to the course and a very valuable experience'

“The lecturers passion for their students and subject which shows through”

'Fantastic, superb, excellent venue and incredibly knowledgeable speakers.'

'Perfect level, speed and content.'

'Informative and useful for any student embarking on psychology for the first time. Highly recommended.'

'Has got me fired up to begin the course. I now feel able to approach the course with confidence.'

Venue

The weekend will take place at Conference Park , Warwick University. For more details go to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/conferences/conferencepark.

For directions on how to get to Warwick University go to http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/conferences/howtofindus/

Bookings for this event will open up mid-2010